Seabird is undoubtedly one of the best dining/cocktail experiences you can have in Wilmington. We've been several times for both coffee and for dinner. If you have friends & family visiting the area and you want them to have one incredible (local) dining experience, I highly advise making a reservation here and splurging a bit. Breakfast/Brunch: Their seasonal coffees are great. We always get whatever iced-latte they are promoting at the time. You also can't go wrong with one of their more simple options. You'll also want to grab their daily olive oil donuts! The flavors change regularly but we've had so many of their flavors (hibiscus, matcha, etc. etc. etc., all really good!). Also, don't sleep on the foccacia. They top it with some sort of magic green herb mixture that is just so delightful. Dinner: + Local oysters| $4/ea | (We got Dukes) on the half shell - So fresh & good. Served with cocktail sauce, mignonette, horseradish, lemon & spiced saltines (uh I wanted a whole sleeve of these!) + Tuna Tartare | $18 | - a literal work of art on toast with avocado. Also yummy/fresh. If you love tuna this is a good dish! This changes seasonally but we went in the spring and it was lovely. + Peel & Eat Shrimp | $17| - It's so simple, but also, I can't stop thinking about these? Really fresh and the sauce it was served with was like...decadent but also not too heavy. + Pork Ribs | $17| - Sticky, sweet, fall of the bone. Get these for your meat eating friend/partner/parent etc. who doesn't care for seafood but is being a good sport so you can dine here lol. + Fried Softshell Crab - UM HECK YES. Wow. So so good. I am a big fan of softshell crab and this was a really good dish also. Hard to beat this spot for date night, special occasions, or just a treatyoself Tuesday. read more

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Awesome experience! We just happened to walk by and decided to stop in for a drink and light dinner. Glad we did.

Was excited to try Seabird after seeing great press, but it fell short on expectations. The oysters were good-had Kinnekeaters on the half shell and Rockefeller to start. I ordered the Smoked NC catfish 'n grits. The catfish was fried. Which was not stated on the menu. Hubby got the fried (stated on the menu) rockfish sandwich with fries. It was served on a huge hunk of baguette with an overpowering garlic sauce, and very little fish. It was very disappointing, as the flavor profile was nothing but raw garlic and bread. And the fries were served in the sandwich, so the lovely crispy fries ended up steamed. To top it all off, we wanted cappuccinos for dessert, after seeing the espresso machine on the bar, and were told that they don't do espresso service at brunch. We walked down to 24 South Coffee and got great cappuccinos. Service was good, but the meal certainly didn't deliver for that caliber of establishment. read more

Three friends and I had brunch last week. It was our first visit (except for one friend that's been here a few times). We waited about 10 minutes for a table which was fine since we didn't have reservations. The menu was limited, but maybe that was because it was a Sunday. We decided on buying a bottle of wine, but was quite surprised at the prices. The least expensive was $52 (the top end was $70)!! We were a little stunned. Many restaurants have bottles of wine starting in the mid $30's. This place isn't a fine dining, so why the high prices? This place was a diner, not fine dining. Two of us ordered the shrimp and oyster po-boy sandwich. Too much bread, two shrimps and maybe 3-4 small oysters. It was very disappointing. And it was $20. One friend ordered the Caesar salad with fried oysters. The salad was overly drenched in dressing. When she mentioned that there was way too much dressing to the waiter, he barely acknowledged her and walked away. He should have offered to bring another salad (not oysters) with dressing on the side. Our vegan friend loved her dish. Maybe as far as the food goes, we were on a off day. I see lots of 5* reviews. For us, it was 3*, maybe even2*. I expected more of this place based on friends reviews and Yelp reviews. Very disappointed. read more

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So much YAAAASSSS. We sat at the bar and enjoyed cocktails, stone crab and oysters to the max. This is a very hip and beautiful spot, the menu is inspired and clearly looking to differentiate with some fun variety. We loved it, we will be back and we just found out our own Cheeni here in Durham is headed down for a benefit dinner. Awesome! read more

This place is a must go-to. My boyfriend and I often go for apps and drinks and we have a great time. We love the vibe and amazing dishes! read more

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Great seafood spot. We got the platter that allowed us to try clams, oysters, all different types of fish, lobster and crawdads. Great experience. read more

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This was my second visit and there will definitely be a third! Great service during a busy Saturday evening. So many good options on the menu that it's hard to choose (in the words of my carnivorous husband, "I can't believe I'm saying this but I'm going to order the vegan dish" - he loved it). We also got oysters, I got the fried oyster salad, and friends got the cioppino and lamb hugo - everyone was happy. We'll be back. read more

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They always have amazing and fresh seafood options but I'm here because of the cheeseburger I had for lunch. By a mile it was the best burger I've ever had. I don't know why but it was perfect in every way and delicious down to the last bite. Perfectly seasoned, perfectly done, perfect meat to cheese to bun ratios and just the right amount of greasy. The french fries were damn good to with shoestring fries very much like McDonalds. read more

We had an amazing meal at Seabird! We've had great experiences at Pinpoint in the past, and were excited to give Seabird a try. We started with a couple of cocktails - I had the Hummingbird, and my husband had the Harvest Moon. We split the Blue Crab 'Nduja for an appetizer, and it was fantastic - like a big crostini with lots of interesting flavors. For entrees, I had the Cioppino, and my husband had the Swordfish Schnitzel. We asked our waiter, Matt, for wine suggestions to pair with our entrees, and we were not disappointed. We finished the meal with the brownie trifle, which was unlike anything I've ever had. Light with hints of banana, and the perfect size to split. We had a fabulous time at Seabird, and we will definitely be back! read more

Seabird - Cioppino - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Seabird yet again did not let us down at our 2nd time eating here. We always recommend our friends to try Seabird. Made reservations ahead of time for four people on opentable. I noticed to make a reservation for five people, you will need to provide a credit card. We parked at the parking garage around the corner on Market Street, which is free for the first 90 minutes. For our 2nd visit we brought our close friend and my father-in-law to try Seabird for the first time. Claire, our waitress was wonderful. All of the food was great. The complimentary cornbread with sorghum syrup tasted better than our first visit. It was so buttery, soft, and warm. For appetizers, we tried raw oysters, baked boiled hollandaise oysters with crab, and the roasted beet salad small plate. Jamie, one of the staff, remembered us from our last visit and gave us baked bbq oysters on the house. The Hollandaise oysters were cooked well probably cause it was deep fried. The baked barbecue oysters were still on the raw side. The roasted beet salad was delicious, with different textures from the pecans and pomegranate. The only thing that could be improved is maybe a bit less vinaigrette on the salad. The salad came with goat cheese, which I usually don't like so I asked for it to come on the side. To my surprise their goat cheese was not gamey at all as my past experiences with goat cheese have been. It was also more creamy and had a lighter texture. Their goat cheese was sweet, which made me wonder if it was really goat cheese at all. It blew my mind. Guess all goat cheese is not bad after all! For entrees, we ordered Bavette Steak, Eastern Cioppino without sausage, Smoked yellowfin tuna (my dish), and Crispy Fried Catfish. Even though I wasn't craving seafood that night, I loved my dish. Usually their seafood is locally caught. There was only one exception in our visit in that they ran out of one of their local raw oysters, so they substituted oysters from Maine. We ended our meal with the warm brownie trifle sundae and their homemade ice creams: coffee donut, banana bread and chocolate chip, and burnt cinnamon with black walnuts. The warm brownie trifle sundae was delicious! The brownies were the best fudgy brownies I've ever had. All of the ice creams were good but I would say my favorite was the coffee donut. I loved that they put pieces of donut in the coffee donut ice cream and pieces of banana bread in the banana bread chocolate chip ice cream. Since we had a lot of appetizers, most of us couldn't finish our entree. We had enough leftover food that will make it a small-medium sized meal for another day. It was a nice touch when Claire wrote down the name of the dish and date on each to-go box. This is one of the best restaurants in Wilmington! read more

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My girlfriend and I stopped in for a drink. Both bartenders were some of the most kind people we had come across. My GF is gluten free, and the staff went way way way out of their way to make sure she was taken care of. Cheers to the bar staff at Seabird! Awesome guys. read more

Had a very enjoyable meal at the bar. Bartender and servers were efficient and helpful in making decisions about what to order. We had the swordfish schnitzel -- It was outstanding -- along with a couple of appetizers and dessert. Not inexpensive, but worth it. read more

The food was good not over the top great. Glad we tried it but will go to other places next time we visit. read more

Seabird - Seafood tower. - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

What a marvelous dinner experience. Service was amazing, Food was so good. I've never had char boiled oysters that were that good. read more

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Went here last night for dinner and was very happy with the food, service, and atmosphere. Highly recommend you try this place out. read more

Seabird - Fritto Misto - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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The service was very good and the vibes near the water was nice. The place was quite expensive as expected. It is 4$ an oyster but they were really fresh. I went for brunch and the grits the fish and the biscuit thing were really good. read more

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If you asked me where to go in Downtown Wilmington for the BEST oysters, seafood, bar and more...RUN don't walk to Seabird Restaurant. Recently, I enjoyed an early dinner and absolutely loved talking with Chef Dean Neff about his passion for NC coast seafood. After experiencing the stylish restaurant interior, the creative craft Cocktails and Wine perfectly paired with the impressive and perfectly shucked raw & baked Oysters , delicious peel and eat NC Shrimp, and signature dishes like Eastern Cioppino & seasonal Soft Shell Crab, we knew we had found an excellent place to dine in Wilmington! Save room for dessert, especially the warm Brownie & Banana Trifle which is gluten free because they use pecan flour! Like everything else on the menu , it is truly phenomenal Seabird also serves breakfast & lunch, which I plan to have next time we travel to Wilmington, NC. read more

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The space is very cool and they've done a great job with the remodel. The people who work there are friendly and the prices are fair. However, the food was just okay. I had the chicken salad and it was so heavy on Mayo and a specific spice that it was too much! The fries were cold and were the thin frozen kind you can get in the frozen section of any grocery store. My friend had the po' boy and she said it was just okay; she only ate half. The oysters were good though, so maybe stick to those. read more

Although our server, Logan, was phenomenal, we received equally good service from all the other members of the staff during our visit for my husband's birthday. My steak was one of the best tasting I've had in decades and the cheesecake mousse was innovative and delightful. My husband and sons enjoyed the seafood tower thoroughly along with the rest of their meals. read more

We arrived in Wilmington after dark and were walking around town enjoying the scenery when hunger struck us like a bolt of lightning. Several places were open and available, but Seabird wasn't super busy and so we grabbed a seat at the bar. Two seats actually. One seat would be weird. Our bartender / server was friendly and attentive. I ordered some baked oysters and an oyster chowder (pot pie) thing. Both were really good and went down quickly. Dessert was a rice pudding because I can't think of the last time I had one, and I like to live dangerously. It was excellent and I couldn't stop eating, even though I was most certainly full. Overall really good food and service. read more

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I've never had a favorite restaurant in Wilmington, until my experience here last night. I'm happy to say I finally have a restaurant to recommend to others and a go-to for date night! The whole experience was a 10/10! The decor is so beautiful, you can tell they really put a ton of thought and money into the space compared to what it was previously. The staff are all kind and attentive. We loved our server if only I could remember her name to give her a shout out! She recommended everything we ended up ordering and it was all phenomenal. She checked on us and refilled our water frequently, which was such a nice change compared to other restaurants. Now the food...just WOW! We started with the seafood tower since many of the small plates we wanted were included in it. It was the most beautiful presentation of a seafood tower I've ever seen. There were accompaniments for each item that complimented the flavors so well. Our favorite was the seared tuna; it had a light smoky flavor to it. The chef was also kind enough to give us an a extra small plate of yellowtail. We split a main course of soft shell crab, which they perfectly portioned into two plates for us. It was crispy and light - the perfect entree to split after the tower! For dessert we had the olive oil cake. It was unlike any dessert we ever had. I would be remiss not to mention the cocktail "from the ashes". Stunning presentation and delicious! Overall this was the best date night in a while! Wilmington and Carolina Beach are really lacking in restaurants to rave about, so I'm thrilled we finally have one! read more

Seabird - Seafood tower - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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This is a really cool spot in downtown Wilmington. We enjoyed drinks at the bar, the Fillmore, and After Hours hit the spot. The food was really delicious, I'm a vegetarian, and the mushroom dish was so tasty. Feedback from the rest of my family My father loved the pork ribs. The broiled hollandaise oysters were so tasty and the farmers vegetable chopped salad was perfect . Most of my family really enjoyed the swordfish schnitzel. It was great to see chef very engaged involved in each order read more

Made a reservation for 5 and arrived about 20 minutes early but our table was not ready. They texted us when it was, which was right on time for our reserved time. The restaurant was beautiful on the inside and had a relaxed but fun vibe. We ordered all 3 cooked oyster apps. All were delicious. Our favorite was the Rockefeller! Everyone enjoyed their dinner very much. Everything was cooked and flavored very well. We would definitely come back to try other options. read more

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This place is fabulous!! Great attentive service, (Colby was our server) drinks and the food was delicious with a great presentation. Outstanding Chef!! Smoked Catfish and oyster pie was delicious and unusual. Peel and eat shrimp with focaccia bread and crab butter and the Eastern Cioppino was so savory. Cheesecake Semifreddo for desert. What a great birthday dinner. read more

After an interaction with drunk bar patrons and the lack of care or interest exhibited by the staff, we decided it was our last time coming here. It is a shame because the food is really good. Oh well! There are plenty of better-managed restaurants in the area. read more

Way overpriced but an excellent addition to downtown ILM. I used to frequent their Castle Street initial location where the prices were more reasonable. Seafood is fairly fresh and service, if at times spotty, is always friendly. Clean. Partaking is the usual hassle one anticipates with downtown locations. read more

I visited Seabird on Memorial Day with my husband and two friends. We walked in without a reservation around 7:15pm. We were told that they wouldn't have any availability for the remainder of the night because they were so busy with reservations. I thought that was odd because when I glanced in the dining room there were multiple table that were open, but we left anyway. My gut told me to check OpenTable and to my surprise there were a ton of time slots available to book. I can't seem to fathom why we'd be turned away... Nonetheless, we returned to the restaurant (my dad raised me on the importance of principle), I let the host know that we indeed did have a reservation (that I just booked) and they sat us. No apology for them telling us the opposite a few mins prior. Anyway. Our server was lovely. Very nice and attentive. We explained our issue to her and they sent out a few extra oysters to make up for it. We got a few order of the shrimp, the hollandaise oysters, catfish and oyster pie (it's a soup), fries and drinks. I would honestly only come back for the margarita (it was delicious) and maybe the soup . We didn't order entrees based on our lackluster experience with the small plates. Maybe their entrees are where they shine. Give it a try - just be sure to have a reservation :) read more

Four of us waited six weeks to get a reservation that wasn't too early or too late, so I guess with all the hype we expected more. Don't get me wrong...the food was good as was the service, and the atmosphere, while way too noisy for our taste, was lovely. But nothing was truly memorable with the exception of the olive oil cake for dessert. Our entrees were flounder, swordfish, steak and cioppino. I'm a HUGE fan of cioppino and order it whenever it's offered on a menu, but this one fell short. I like my cioppino to have a generous amount of broth and this had little to none. The steak was delicious, but it should be noted my husband ordered it medium and it came medium rare. That's fine though. I'm a true believer that steak should never be eaten medium and I think the chef agrees with me. The flounder was bland and the swordfish, while good, was a little fishy. I had oysters Rockefeller for an app and they were the smallest I've ever had. I felt like I was just eating spinach in a shell. Definitely not worth the $15 price tag. Dessert was outstanding! Olive oil cake came with a marshmallow and strawberry topping that complimented the cake well, and our friends shared some blueberry ice cream that was both creamy and rich. Drinks were very good. It appears they're generous with the hard liquor in their mixed drinks, so bonus points for that. The biggest negative here is the noise level. I suppose if you're dining with someone whom you don't really want to have a conversation with, it's perfect. If not, you're out of luck. The decor consists of nearly all hard surfaces...floors, ceilings, chairs, etc. Virtually nothing to absorb the sound, just amplify it. We may return at some point though. Breakfast anyone? read more

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My friends and I stumbled upon Seabird as a post-bachelorette breakfast alternative to the nearby closed-on-Monday's Dixie Grill. As disappointed as we were to skip our greasy spoon homage to One Tree Hill, we were also satisfied by the opportunity to dine at this blue hued establishment. What a delicious way to wrap up a weekend in Wilmington! We each ordered the bacon, egg, and cheese on a biscuit breakfast sammies with a sampling of the voluptuous cinnamon doughnut and olive oil muffin for the table. These bites were the perfect way to fuel up our bellies with some good ole southern comfort before embarking upon our long road trip up north. The decor at Seabirds is beautiful and the decor is reminiscent of an afternoon by the sea. The staff are knowledgeable and attentive; our water glasses were never empty and our food arrived promptly. Tip: the sign outside mentions a newly more extensive (than before) lunch menu. Be sure to stop by for some sips n bites! read more

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Best meal in recent memory. we were fortunate to get a seat at the chef's table and watch Dean Neff, put finishing touches on all the food. appetizer of fried shrimp, crispy with a side sauce and hogfish and swordfish for mains.. Hogfish was in a thin cream sauce, served on mashed potato with fennel, pineapple, dill on top. my wife and I both had buttermilk ice cream with a small pastry for dessert. Think fine buttermilk pana cotta for taste. Service was wonderful and it was a great dining experience with the incredible food and conversation with Chef Neff. read more

I hate to write a bad before review but given the odd treatment we received and the terribly slow food service here it is. My wife and I arrived for our 5:30 PM reservation. We're old, lol. The host directed an assistant to seat us at the single worst table in the restaurant. We were a party of two. There were 8 two tops that were not occupied. They had just seated a party of two on a four-top. When we declined the lame table they dug in and started to explain why they couldn't just give us a different t two top. The dining room was 10% full. We chose to sit at the chef's table, which was fun. Unfortunately, despite the great cocktails, the timing on the food was not good. From when we sat to when our entrees arrived it was 90 minutes. And so many of the two tops that we couldn't be seated at were still empty. For a dinner that ran +$200 it was a disappointment. Too many options in Wilmington- we won't be rushing back. read more

We live in Columbus Ohio. Saw an article about Seabird in either Southern Living or Garden and Gun. We were in Chesapeake Va. for a family trip. Drove down to Wilmington to check them out. This was before they changed their hours. Had a great time. Food,Service and ambiance on point. Went back 2 years ago during the Azalea Festival. Again all did not disappoint. Will try and make it back again this summer. One of our all time favorites. Do not miss if in the area. read more

Not only is the food and service amazing, the vibe is perfect. Colby, the wine director, is a wealth of knowledge and can pair any dish with a unique and memorable wine. Highly recommend. read more

Hey now this place rocks. Get their early and sit at the bar and enjoy great service with super nice bartenders and people watch. The bar is in the perfect corner in the restaurant that's on the corner of busy streets with windows down both sides looking out to the downtown. Only had Sunday brunch but we going back to explore the other selections of a small but great looking menu. Check it out ! read more

Seabird - Me and my wife loved this place Seabirds. - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Menu made it difficult to choose, got help from the bartender. Wonderful recommendation of beet salad and ribs. Italian Sauvignon blanc was delicious as well. Service was great, oh yeah and the beet margarita like cocktail was very good as well. I'll be back for sure! read more

Seabird - Beet Salad - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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Food is incredible! We'll known for its oysters. I had a refreshing salad here last summer as well that I absolutely loved but was seasonal. They have fresh made ice creams and super tasty olive oil cake. Service is spectacular- bartenders are great! Very classy, upscale restaurant that was needed in town! They have a private dining area and bar seating as well. read more

Seabird - Seasonal salad with fresh fruits - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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This is a most amazing restaurant that offers absolutely delicious food made with the freshest local products from great farms, prepared & assembled with care and love. Four of us enjoyed a superb experience that did not break the bank. So glad Chef Neff has built this great place for us all to expand our pleasure! All our meals, from cornbread to drinks and coffee were so good we are planning a return trip soon. read more

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Oysters Rockefeller were delicious. Staff was extremely friendly and service was quick. Really cute atmosphere as well read more

Seabird - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

My husband and I had reservations here during the Memorial Day weekend. We started off with a dozen oyster and two martinis. Mine was their house martini and my husband had a dirty martini. For dinner we had the swordfish schnitzel with spaetzle and the spaghetti with clams. Both were delicious! I recommend making reservations and I don't think you'll be disappointed! read more

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