Had the steak and my husband had the tuna. Service was good. Food was good. The price was very fair! Will go again!

We came in and ate supper! Food and service was great! Young man waiting on us was very attentive! Then we had a drink at the outside bar while we waited for the 2nd floor to open .. 9pm went up for karaoke! At first I was skeptical because the place was empty! A crowd developed quickly and everyone was there to have a good time.. definitely worth going to see! read more

I ordered the pimento cheese sandwich and they literally brought me what looked like a block of cream cheese resting on bread. I was so disgusted. I took a small bite and it sent me to dark places. I ate none of it. However, the sweet potato fries were divine. read more

Reel Cafe? More like Reel Disappointing. Two members of my party attempted to order the Steamed Seafood Platter and were told the kitchen was out of clams. They refused to allow them to substitute another item that was already included on the platter for the clams. They decided to get a Shrimp Platter instead, which was a sad looking plate of luke warm, barely seasoned shrimp. I've had better shrimp from the clearance section at Kmart. Another member of my party's meal was completely forgotten. She had to wait an additional 15 minutes for her meal to be brought to the table after everyone else was already served. When it was finally brought out, the platter was missing several items. She waited an additional 10 minutes for the missing items to be brought to the table. And it STILL wasn't right. In all honesty, I wish my meal was completely forgotten because the food was exceptionally below average. I'm waiting for the food poisoning to set in. Try Long John Silver's. It's better. read more

First time to Wilmington, and first time to Reel Cafe! The Ruben sandwich is a favorite for a reason....it's delicious!!!! As amazing as the food is, the service is just as too notch! Thank you to Terry for his great service!! read more

Reel's definitely a typical sports bar, just with added seafood. The food and drinks are average - they don't try very hard but hey, if you're here just to watch a game or grab a beer with friends - it doesn't matter so much what the food is like. I came here with a party of about 10 and the service was pretty attentive to our needs, which was nice considering how loud and boozy my friends can be. We were seated quickly and drinks arrived shortly after. We ordered various dishes ranging from steamed seafood to shrimp and grits to crab cakes. Everything was okay, nothing too impeccable. The shrimp and grits and nachos were probably the best. The pasta was definitely the worst (wet noodles and salty clams). Overall, a decent option for downtown Wilmington. You could certainly find better but it's not bad at all. read more

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Fun spot to hang out in late nights, karaoke is fun though I wish they had newer music and drinks are pretty strong. All the negative comments are usually from old people that expected a 5 star dining experience. Never bothered trying the food, the vibes carry read more

My 5 star is about the compassion the staff showed to us during a tramatic time. We were enjoying an appetizer at lunch on Sunday in the outside dining area when my husband all of a sudden wasn't feeling well he then stood up thinking he would feel better stumbling around and then passed out while my friends & I were in a panic mode someone dialed 911 for us. The waitresses an waiter brought us a cold rag an some water for him an tried to help us any way they could. When EMS got there his heart rate was very low an had to be transported to the hospital. Thank God he is fine now. But what a scary day. But thank you to the staff that helped us an to the customers there that came over to assist us as well. Sometimes its just not about the food. read more

We went here for a friends birthday dinner because he really wanted crab legs. We personally ended up getting crab dip, chicken nachos, and Alfredo with chicken. The crab dip was tasty. But that was it. I wanted pork for my nachos but they were out so I chose chicken. There was barely any chicken on my nachos at all. And by the time all our food came out my queso was already starting to congeal which wasn't pleasant. My husbands alfredo wasn't great either. It came with about 4 slices of chicken and he said the sauce was just ok. My friends crab legs were cold the first time but the second time was hotter. Overall, we probably won't go back for food. However, waitress and drinks were the reason I gave more stars. read more

Atmosphere: I have not visited during day hours, so I'm not sure how they are as a restaurant... but the reel is a place my friends and I like to visit on the weekends for drinks, dancing , and a good time! It's not high on my list of drinking spots when I go out just because there's just such high competition nearby and other places I love. It's usually one of the last stops Customer Service: I can't say too much about the customer services because I've pretty much only dealt with bouncers and they seem pretty nice! Food/ Pricing: drinks are not crazy expensive and overall seem fair!! read more

Looking for a quick bite to eat before going on a boat ride, lots of places around were closed so we stumbled into this gem. The service was great! So attentive to our short time. The food was great too! read more

Good food, slow service but exceptionally kind and friendly staff, strong mixed drinks.

I feel really terrible for the server who tried hard to make the best of things, but just don't waste your money on food here. There are a hundred other restaurants worth your time and money in Wilmington. Do come here to drink tho! The rooftop bar is awesome, and drinks are reasonably priced. That said, here's our experience with the worst restaurant we've ever been to: - Waited 50 min to get a table (not a big deal, just hung out on the rooftop and had a few). - Then we waited 20 min to order after being seated. Took another 40 min for the appetizer to come, then another 15-20 min for main course. - Total wait time for main course after being seated was 1hr 15 min. - Then, received one complete wrong order, and then a seafood pasta that the shrimp was left out. - The chicken tacos I didn't order were cold, drenched in Mayo or salad dressing, with stale lettuce and tomatoes. - Server mixed up the bill, but he did fix it graciously I hope they shut the kitchen down, and just stick to bar/fried food and drinks, cuz it really is a cool place, and it's truly a pity that the food is this awful. They somehow managed to make a bad chicken taco, which I didn't know was possible. read more

Place sucks, service sucks and they're rude. A lot of underage looking patrons drinking here.

Do yourself a favor and go elsewhere! The service was beyond pitiful. We had to repeatedly ask for a few ordered items. The waitress rarely checked on us to refill drinks, confirm that all ordered items were received, provide condiments, etc., as she was too busy conversing with other staff members. And to add insult to injury, without any notification (we double checked the menu and sought bar signage) there was a gratuity of 20% tacked onto our tab. While placing our dinner order, we were told that they did not have three of the desired items (mozzarella sticks, potato fries, and the only dessert item on the menu). Not to mention, the lack of the staff's familiarity with the menu. Lastly, despite our less than pristine dinner experience, we were convinced by a local to go back and give the rooftop bar a try. We did around 1am and were greeted by scowling faces behind the bar (1st floor) stating in a less than friendly way that they were closed. This would have been perfectly acceptable had there not been a sign out front stating that the rooftop bar was open and if the staff had politely stated that the bar was closed. A little courtesy goes a long way and the staff at the Reel far from possess this common hospitality trait. read more

We went here on Friday night and got upstairs on the rooftop before they started charging. They had live music and then a DJ set up. The band was great. It was like a country band but they did songs by Prince and rock artists. The singer actually walked up to us and thanked us for listening. The DJ afterwards was good also. We did witness someone saying their tab was not right and they were being overcharged. Ours was correct. It was a nice laid back vibe. Plenty of outdoor seating. We came back the next day for lunch and drinks. I had the Nachos and Grill Cheese. Both were awesome!!! My husband had a cheese steak and said it was good but the meat lacked seasoning. He still enjoyed it. The waitress was attentive and sweet read more

Reel Cafe - Nachos were AMAZING (asked for chicken on the side) - American Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Used to be a solid place to eat. Last couple of visits the food quality definitely left a lot to be desired. Today we waited for 20 minutes after being seated and no one came to the table. We got up to leave and one girl asked if we would like to order. I informed her that we didn't need to order now since we waited for 20 minutes. Her response was "thats cool". This business has sadly gone down hill for a while now. read more

Popped in for an afternoon snack while shopping. Cool atmosphere. Had the chicken nachos and they were GREAT! Fresh ingredients with yummy cheese. Would definitely stop in again. read more

Funky place! They have live music on the street level patio bar, and was there for a band playing on their rooftop bar. The food was typical bar food, so it gets 3 stars. I'm a big Buffalonian wing snob, so had to try their wings....not worth it. Not crispy enough and their blue cheese was more like a chunky ranch. Friends loved their burgers and chicken sandwiches though! And service was speedy and friendly for a busy Saturday night :) read more

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Stumbled into this pub during the azalea festival. They were not skipping a beat during this time but our drinks were always full. Their menu offers a variety of options to suit anyone. We enjoyed their delicious calamari as an appetizer. It was full of flavor and not fishy. As our main meal we devoured the Philly cheesesteak and steak ravioli. Yumm-my!! These two dishes were awesome. You will not want to miss out on what this pub has to offer. Be it entertainment or food. read more

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We saw the rooftop part of the venue from the street and thought we'd check it out. There were signs everywhere downstairs "masks required" "maintain distance" the usual. Once you get up to the rooftop bar- all rules are off. Ten people deep to get to the bar, so many people you can barely move around, no masks in sight, staff didn't seem to care at all. Restrooms were atrocious. One stall was missing a door, but that didn't stop people from using it. Several other stalls were in desperate need of attention. Saw an employee in the restroom and she said "yea idek what's going on with all this." Yikes. Got out of there as quick as possible. read more

Came here expecting an ok time. I like it here but its usually fine. But when bailey served us, my whole mood changed. She was great, friendly, fun attentive and outgoing. If you come ask for bailey (like the irish cream). 4 thumbs up (there were 2 of us). Will be coming back again just for her! read more

Filthiest food establishment I've ever been to in my life. After seeing the stairwells and the bathroom, there was no way I would eat one thing here...could imagine their kitchen standards. I can't believe they're allowed to remain in business. They have done absolutely zero improvements over the years. Every square inch is disgusting--black gum circles all over the floors, burned & permanently disfigured toilet seats--not to mention a missing stall door and two others that bang together when you're exiting the stall. The patio on the street level is the only part of the restaurant that looks decent. But on a Saturday night at 10 p.m., who wants to watch football on a gigantic screen? Ridiculous. Too bad they have good bands playing on the roof, which is also totally filthy, and almost everybody on the roof is smoking and blowing smoke right on you. I would never go back up on that roof again. This place would be shut down by the health department were it in California. It needs a complete overhaul and new management. Two thumbs way down. read more

I have never been to Reel for anything but drinks, so I can't really comment on the food offerings. As for the boozing it, the only true attractions to Reel are the front deck seating and rooftop bar. Neither is overly impressive and there are better options for both in the downtown area (just not at the same location). The whole place has a slightly dirty feel to it, especially the bathrooms (yuck). This is unfortunately the norm in Wilmington. I guess since it's near the beach or downtown, bars feel that they can get away with it. The standard selection of domestic beers and liquors are available at bars on each of the three levels. Lots of nightly specials, but nothing fancier than a miller lite or well drink. I tried the $3.50 bloody mary and it was no name mix, with cellar vodka, in a tiny cup, and no garnish. It was barely drinkable. Basically if you want a cheap beer and I good view, this is a decent choice, but I would head a little further down the street to Level 5. read more

Reel Cafe - view from the roof bar - American Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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Was the only restaurant we could find that didnt have a 40min wait on Veterans Day Weekend, which should have been the first red flag. 1 waitress for the entire restaurant on a busy weekend so service was obviously terrible (not her fault). Mahi "Flatbread" was a fried fish stick with lettuce on a slice of untoasted pita, no sauce or extras. It was pretty bad, not even worth taking home the leftovers. Do not recommend at all. read more

Went to Reel for an appetizer on Friday (7/27) before heading to Sunset Celebration. It's one of the few places that has comfortable outside seating. Ordered the nachos. Processed cheese. Stale chips. Old jalapeños. Dry chicken. The pimento cheese dip was bland and tasted like mayo. How do you fail at 2 basic appetizers?! Place wasn't that busy. Would have been nice if they wiped off the table. I have been told they have good seafood but they sure can't cook anything else. I have given up on eating at Reel. May be a beer but every time I have ordered a meal or appetizer, it's below average. Such a shame. The food used to good. I do not recommend ever eating at Reel Cafe. read more

I've always been a fan of the place, and when I went back during COVID to enjoy the patio, I enjoyed the fact they had some new specials I've never seen before, as well as all staff were complying with safety regulations. I'm thankful a long standing favorite downtown restaurant has survived the insanity of this year. I enjoyed a lovely lunch and drinks with my friends- and as always, enjoyed our meal. Loved the curly fries too :-) read more

Me and my friends went out downtown and we decided to stop by the reel cafe and get some food. Based on first impressions the atmosphere is great nice people seated us and took our orders honestly I'm so glad businesses are able to be open during corona buttt.... when I ordered the blackened tuna with the broccoli and mashed potatoes and it got served it looked good but when I dug in to the tuna it was a bit tough and the broccoli was cold and the mashed potatoes were almost as solid as a potato I told the waitress she was great she gave a little discount and was polite. The restaurant was clean and tidy. Will I eat here again probably not~KR. Blackened Tuna read more

Alright, i'm not sure why there are so many bad reviews on here, I love this place!!!! The Food: I always get the fried chicken sandwich (which comes on an english muffin but i ask for a regular bun). It has chipotle maple bacon and chive aeoli that is to die for!!!! They also have a bunch of unique chicken wing sauces. I love the wu tang sauce, if you like Asian flavor the spicy thai is also good. The fries are just ok and I didnt care for they're mac and cheese. The ambiance: It's a regular bar setting, there's movie posters and what-not. They have a bunch of local beers on tap which is cool. If you are around for night-life, the second floor is a game-room/lounge and they have a cool rooftop bar that overlooks the city and the river The service: I've gotten the same server several times and I love her! I wish I remembered her name so I could give her a shout-out. She's always attentive and polite and she lets me try the different wing sauces before i order them :) I've been several times and I will be back again!!! read more

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If I could go back and do it again, I would have NEVER went to this "restaurant". The food was terrible, service was mediocre, and the bar service was a joke. For starters, I had to explain to the waiter AND bartender how to make a martini. I asked for other beverages and was told they were not available by the waiter only to be told they were in fact available. I ordered a caesar salad with chicken which was almost inedible. The caesar dressing tasted like it was over a year old and the lettuce was not fresh. (I ended up getting sick). They were obviously short staffed as our waiter only checked on us 3 times while we were there, which was 2+ hours. All in all a VERY disappointing experience and will NOT be returning. read more

Great place to either start off your night or to end your night when in downtown. There was a local band playing that night and it was great. Sat at the bar on the patio and just chilled and listen to the music. Greatness.... read more

Reel Cafe - Live music on Sunday night! - American Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

friends of ours was sitting at a table or drinks was sitting on the table they got up to leave I went up to the bar to pay my husband turned his back but two seconds and our drinks were already gone....our drinks are drinks are in a small little plastic cup and they charged us $19 for two drinks. This place is way overrated and I will not be back read more

My friend and I ate dinner at about 6:00pm on a Thursday and it was pretty much dead in there, but our server was extra nice and attentive so that was good. We both got the grilled cheese, mine with bacon added for an extra dollar. It was very good with the prominent flavor being pesto (as opposed to the goat cheese, thankfully). The fries were delicious!! It was pretty chilly in the restaurant which made us uncomfortable at first. But the service and food was great, so I'd go back! read more

Reel Cafe - American Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Found this place through Yelp and decided to try it out. Myself, my wife and my 2 year old son came to eat dinner at 4:30 on a Saturday and didn't have to wait at all for a booth. The wait staff was extremely friendly and my son really enjoyed the 20something crayons they gave him to color with :) They have a wide selection of beer on tap, including many imports. My wife and I both ordered the Alexander Burger that was topped with a crab cake and it was phenomenal! The service was exceptional and we would definitely visit again! read more

Reel Cafe - American Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

6 of us stopped in for dinner last Saturday- what a mistake- waitress was awful- got 4 orders completely wrong and then blamed us for the mix up!! 3 of us are in the restaurant business so we are well aware of how things are in this trying time but jeez girl get off your damn phone and pay attention!! Had to bring it to the attention of the manager, who was very nice, but we won't be going back and wouldn't recommend read more

Not too bad if you want to sit outside with your doggie downtown. They obviously need more wait staff, kinda slow getting another beer. Wings were good and the sandwiches looked good, fries a little soggie (hand cut always are soggie). read more

Worst drinks, lousy and rude service and horrible management. Food is horrible. Worst place in Wilmington. Do not go there unless you want to waste your money. read more

Good food and great atmosphere. Had the crab dip and oyster Rockefeller. Was delicious! read more

Reel Cafe - American Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

The five stars are strictly for the manager (Terry) and bartender (Morgan), downstairs. After waiting for a solid 25 minutes at the upstairs bar (continually being passed over and talked down to), I decided to try downstairs. I can not sing higher praises to Terry and Morgan. read more

This place was cool ! We sat on the patio outside at the bar to listen to live music and enjoy a few drinks! The bar tender was fantastic!!! We didn't order any food but the drinks were good ! There is a roof top bar located right above this place ! read more