We were in Wilmington for an extended weekend trip and stopped by the Rooster & the Crow after seeing that it had good reviews and a nice, varied menu. This is located very centrally in downtown Wilmington and offers parking validation so don't be discouraged about the parking situation. There's a lot on the side you're free to use. We were seated right away on a weeknight and it was actually pretty full for being a weeknight. They have a good amount of space though. Millie was our server and she was a sweetheart. She was on it from start to finish. Checked in on us very regularly and provided above and beyond service. She contributed to our excellent experience. Fried chicken had to be ordered as it sounded so good and it definitely didn't disappoint. It comes with two sides and all of the sides were fresh. Portions were super hearty and generous. Chicken was fried to a crisp, in a good way!! The chicken sandwich was also great, but the fries are also very memorable, incredibly fresh. We were so surprised by how hot the food was in temperature, again in a good way. Everything was made to order. I loved that we were able to try this place out. I definitely recommend it and we will be thinking of the fried chicken for a long time! read more

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Tl;dr - If you come here for their main event - chicken and fries - it's very good. Anything else, don't waste your time. Vegetarians need not bother. 3.5? I was not in love but I think there are some caveats there because I am not the typical customer. First, we appear to have come right at the height of their dinner rush. It took a while to get seated. The hosts told us to sit at the bar and then the bartender kicked us out of our stools because we were waiting for a table and apparently the bar stools were only for people who were eating, so we had to go find a bench. When we did get seated they put us at a really weird high top in a separate room when there was a much nicer low top available in the main room that we switched to. I got the sense both that this place was kind of hectic and that they didn't think they needed our service. But then as we were eating it cleared out all of a sudden and we were the only people left at like...8 pm. Our server was...accetptable. Not rude, but kind of short. Compared to the lovely personable service we got at other places in Wilmington it felt...I dunno, New Yorky? Then there was the food. And here comes my biggest caveat. I am pescstarian and do not eat chicken. So I ordered a shrimp po boy. It was not good. Not bad. But not good. Especially for the price which, honestly, competed with the prices where I live in DC. Every other person around me ordered chicken. My husband ordered chicken. He really liked his chicken. So obviously, this is a place where you get chicken (if the name didn't make it obvious). Had I ordered chicken I likely would have enjoyed my meal a lot more. But if you have shrimp po boys on the menu, endeavor to make them decent or take them off. Also I subbed a side cesar instead of fries and it was an afterthought. The fries themselves were excellent. If I ate chicken and came back to Wilmington I would maybe give this place another shot but as it stands, nah. read more

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Decided to try Rooster & The Crow during Memorial Day weekend when it was overcrowded and parking was limited. They wouldn't accommodate a party of 5 or more without everyone being present, which delayed our seating. Once we got to the table, the service was excellent (attentiveness to drink refills and quick delivery of food). The ambiance was family friendly, and the fried chicken was superb. There was even an arcade to entertain us while we waiting for the rest of the party to park. I think R&TC knows what they do well: southern style food for an affordable price and a family friendly atmosphere. In Wilmington if you're looking for a downtown location near the waterfront, you'll be hard pressed to find better. read more

I have wanted to try this place out for a while due to the location and high reviews, but we were disappointed today after having a late lunch. I had a burger which was not bad, but the fires were good. My husband had the Rooster Cogburn and didn't like it at all, he said a Bojangles chicken sandwich was better so he was definitely disappointed in his choice. Our other friend had a spicy chicken sandwich which was very messy but he said it was ok. There is definitely nothing interesting on the menu, pretty standard fare you can get at any standard restaurant and the atmosphere is pretty lacking too. Service was ok. Really nothing stood out and I can't understand the great reviews as it is just average in all categories. read more

The service and food hit the spot but the banana pudding... the cherry on top. Thanks to the great bar tender for the suggestion read more

Rooster & The Crow - Banana pudding amazing - Southern Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Small and yummy! The place is smaller than we expected. But had no problem getting a seat, Family friendly. The food and drinks were tasty. Mac and cheese is a winner side! We ate every bite of the burger, it is good and messy! read more

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Best fried chicken ever. Friendly staff. Comfortable space. Look if forward to next visit. Easy parking.

This place is great they have a beer garden multipe places to sit and have a great meal they have live music great place

We stopped at the Rooster & the Crow for a drink after a show. The Rhubarb Gimlet was amazing! It's my new favorite cocktail! Whitney, the bartender was great. read more

The rooster and the crow is a great place to shop for jewelry eat and play arcade games. The fried chicken was amazing but there was no air conditioning in there. The servers were very nice and the wait was not long. Also the decoration of the building not in the shops was cool. overall I was happy I went there but sad that the claw machine stole a quarter read more

Absolutely wonderful liked everything we are planning on coming by it was so good can't wait to come back to try the chicken and waffles. The chicken pot pie is huge. Can't wait to try that. Everything just looks so good. The burgers are absolutely huge. Cannot wait to try everything on the menu. read more

Rooster & The Crow - To the left mac & cheese with pulled pork and a Caesar salad salad to the right country Cuban with french fries absolutely wonderful - Southern Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

The food here is pretty good. The portion sizes are great. The wait here is super long but there are a lot of things to fill your time. They have an arcade in the same building as well as a beer garden in the back of the building. I didn't love their seating arrangement because it's kind of scattered everywhere throughout the building but other than that it was pretty good experience. The server was kind and did a great job tending to us. read more

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There was a wait so get reservations because it seems like a busy place most days. Pretty great place, definitely busy and almost touristy. The food was really good-- chicken and waffles were great and the Mac n cheese was also good (had cream cheese undertones which was surprisingly tasty). We sat at the bar and the waitress was helpful and attentive regardless of being busy. It was a bit pricey for simple southern food was my only complaint. Overall was a good stop for dinner. read more

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Was initially put off by a 30 minute wait but the advertisement of the best fried chicken in Wilmington was enough to get me to Wait. I'm glad I did. The fried chicken was very very very very good. read more

Very average food, not sure what all the hype is about. Fried chicken was fine, very thinly breaded, crispy, a little dry/over cooked. Not great. Not bad. Have definitely had better. read more

So glad I found this place! My partner and I chose to sit at the bar and the service + drinks were fantastic. Both plates we ordered were a huge hit. The ambiance is also really cute and "vibey". Will definitely be returning! read more

Rooster & The Crow - Southern Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Looking for a spot with a great vibe. This is it! Good food, just the right amout of variety! The staff all the way around was great... And the eats... hit da spot!!! read more

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Hands down Best wings in Wilmington! The wings are the right size and have really great flavor. I prefer the breaded

If you can deal with the longer wait of the weekends this place is worth it. Its inside of a larger building with easy accessibility from outside along the waterfront. While waiting, there are other smaller shops you can browse while walking around with a beer from the Cryptid den. This is a bar adjacent from rooster and crow inside of the building. There is also an arcade for the kids making this a place the family could enjoy. When it was time to eat I opted for the Shrimp and grits and was not disappointed. The price felt a little on the higher side for grits at $21 but there was plenty of protein. The grits were plenty cheesy and had a slight kick from the Andouille sausage sauce which I enjoyed. I will be returning here since the menu has many options and hope to try more of their specialties like their burgers and fried chicken read more

Rooster & The Crow - Shrimp & Grits - Southern Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Not impressed. The wait was long. Almost an hour. Interior: Only 7 regular tables, 1 high bar table and bar side seating. Very small eating area and we legit had to have had the worst seat- in front of the front door. The front door open and closing and sometimes propped open. Waiting patrons standing over you while you eat. Literally over you because there's no room. The heat from outside made sitting there so uncomfortable. What I liked about inside is that the restaurant seems to have separate themed rooms outside the eating area. I'm not 100% that they serve food in those though. It's mainly drinks. There's also a garden backyard too. There is seating out front but only 2-3 tables maybe 4, there's a little arcade room too for while waiting on your table or after dinner but you need quarters and to get quarters you need cash (if anyone carries cash anymore). It was also very warm inside especially at the table by the front door. Staff: the staff was very nice. The hostess was very nice and they have a text system to alert you so you can walk around. Attire: definitely a more casual place. Very loud and people bring children so there are high chair boosters for 2-3 children. It's not good for large groups unless they are willing to rent one of those other rooms they have. I'm unsure. Drinks: meh. Nothing to write home about. Even the sweet tea was not as good as other places. My son got his soda refills expeditiously. My tea wasn't refilled until late in the meal and I had no water Food: definitely not spectacular or out of this world! So to me it was very greasy and I was shocked when our appetizer came out on the hot pan from the stove, no plates no extra napkins. We 3 were literally eating off a hot metal oven pan and parchment paper with our forks lol. The fried chicken was very greasy. Mac and cheese very good. The cheesy grits very good. The children's smash burger threw us off because it was huge and tasted ok but pickles on your burger costs extra. Like talking 3 tiny pickle circles lol. The chicken club (grilled) I never ate the bun or cheese or bacon. The waiter, when asked what the sub was for fries said that there were a few things but never mentioned that we'd f had fees incurred. So fyi if you order a replacement. Also, no one mentioned anything about validated parking (i z it on the business page) so I'm unsure if that's true with the meters paid through an app in advance. Or if it's related to a specific place you get tickets like a garage. Location: right across street from an entrance to the river walk. On the cobble stone street. To me it was not worth the wait and definitely not worth $80. read more

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Our party of 6 thoroughly enjoyed our dinner. They seated us fast on a Saturday. Had drinks in the beer garden. Beautiful spot with live music. We can't wait to go back! The chicken & waffles were delicious! read more

Food was good, but upon leaving, they didn't even attempt to assist a 75 year old lady with a walker to open door for her to exit while I went for the car to bring to the curb and pick her up and employee was standing next to the. Door read more

The bartender made me a great rhubarb gimlet. We had the fried green tomatoes for an appetizer followed by the fried chicken and pimento cheese eggs Benedict and a chicken and waffles with sausage gravy. They were large portions, but so so good. The bartender took great care of us, including packing up our leftovers with ice! It was so kind of us. We sat at the bar and had a great brunch. read more

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This was the best meal I had in Wilmington! The chicken- good gracious, it was freshly fried, deliciously brined chicken- a bite of heaven, but wait.... the sweet potato waffle fries were also teasing my taste buds. But I think the chicken tied with the cheesy- oh-so cheesy mac-n-cheese!!! I just remember my eyes rolling back with every bite. We got to them just before close and managed get a table right away (unheard of). They had some big parties waiting for space- but this place is tiny, but the flavor is giant!!! The portions big enough that John and I split a plate and I indulged in an old fashioned while John enjoyed a beer. Service was great too and I enjoyed the other businesses in the building after eating! read more

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I'm not sure if we just came on a bad day but I was a bit disappointed by our meal here. My husband and I both ordered the chicken and waffles and our chicken was so salty, it tasted like it was dipped in sea water before being served. Once we brought it up to the waiter, we got new pieces that were better but still not that tasty. I liked the texture of the mac and cheese but also felt it was missing flavor. The only good part of the food was the waffles and syrup which were tasty. I also ordered the rooster relaxer, which was good but felt like the alcohol content was quite low/barely noticeable. Service tho was great! Our waiter was lovely, attentive, and helpful. When arriving we were also greeted warmly and promptly seated. read more

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Today was an off day for them, chicken was tough, Bloody Mary watery, (their mix is cheap and generic ), the spicy cheese on the Benedict is not, the service by Rob and the hostess were exceptional. We will come back at dinner and hope in the 9 months since the last time we came, they are bigger and because of that hope quality hasn't dropped. Maybe their fault for setting the bar so high on that first visit. Do not order the bloody Mary's read more

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Always delicious, friendly and polite!!! Highly recommend. Not too expensive and it is worth it. read more

Me & my husband were vacationing & was on the search for some southern food. We arrived 4:30 opening time. It's located in the downtown area. They have a parking lot beside the restaurant where they validate the parking. The staff was very nice and attentive We ordered their famous fried chicken.collards, Mac& cheese, fried green tomatoes and loaded fries. The chicken was cooked perfectly, juicy & crispy. The Mac& cheese was really cheesy. The greens were ok & tender. I wasn't crazy about the green tomatoes because of the sweet jelly, but did like the pimentos cheese. The rooster cocktail was fabulous. I will definitely visit again. read more

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The service, the atmosphere, and the food is phenomenal! We had a great experience for our party of six. I highly recommend the fried chicken! It lives up to being called "the best". Location is great, right on the river front and they recently added a new bar area. This place surpassed all of my expectations. read more

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Best Fried Chicken I've ever had!! Great service. Lively atmosphere. Convenient to the Riverwalk.

I love how they have decorated for Christmas and have opened up more space for dining. They basically have the whole building now. I came with a party of 5 and everyone loves their food. I had the chicken, corn and potato chowder and there was so much fresh chicken in it. I also had some grilled shrimp and they were very good. Everyone else has the friend chicken. That Mac and cheese is promise for. The fried cabbage is also really good. It's so inexpensive This place is legit! Our server was really nice, too read more

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In town for work and here are my thoughts: * Friendly service .. * Excellent grilled chicken club sandwich..the bacon really brought out the flavors. * Fries were good ..could have been warmer. Will return when in town .. read more

Highly recommend Rooster and Crow for weekend brunch. We ordered Chicken & beignet, Chicken and Waffle, French Toast and an omelette. Location is in a nice spot downtown where there is an arcade across the hall and a beer garden out back if you're passing time waiting for a table. There is street parking or a lot next to the building & the restaurant will validate your parking if you let the hostess know. read more

Rooster & The Crow - Chicken and beignets - Southern Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

This restaurant is a gem! I was pregnant and craving fried chicken and it did not disappoint! Perfect fried chicken and amazing sides. I also love the arcade right across. Very family friendly and fun! Service was excellent. read more

Great food! Amazing service in the heart of Wilmington. Best Mac and Cheese hands down. read more

Rooster & The Crow - Southern Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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Loaded fries and nachos for apps were delicious Salad with coconut cashews and super fresh fruit so good Service impeccable Beer selection vast All around great experience read more

We were assured that their chicken was the best we would ever taste. On that, we ordered the fried chicken. Unfortunately it was dry and obviously over cooked. The outside frying was perfect but the chicken inside was dry snd chewy. read more

Delicious Mother's Day brunch! Really cool atmosphere. I got the eggs Benedict with fried chicken and pimento cheese, amazing! We will be back! read more

Always great food, consistent, clean and great service. If you're looking for the place for everyone, this is it.

Do not miss having brunch here! Service was impeccable - Logan was prompt and friendly. The food was ridiculously good! Lump crab Benedict was perfect - fresh and the biscuits are AMAZING. My picky biscuit husband said they're the best he's had in quite awhile. The French toast was perfectly done and had the perfect amount of cinnamon and brown sugar. Cute ambiance. And we didn't get it but they had a mimosa flight - you can get a bottle of Prosecco or champagne with 4 different juices. Looked cute! We will definitely return if ever back in Wilmington. read more

Rooster & The Crow - Lump crab Benedict with Cheesy Grits - Southern Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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