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    Seabird

    4.6 (301 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 1:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

    Seabird Photos

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    SEABIRD ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Intimate
    Romantic

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    Recommended Reviews - Seabird

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    Reviews With Photos

    Ramp Caesar
    Sarah M.

    My family was at Figure 8 Island this past summer, and my husband and I love to venture into Wilmington to try good food. I found Seabird after searching for james beard nominees in the area. We showed up early and were sat immediately. Our waiter was passionate about the menu and had great suggestions. Our food timing between oyster, salad, and entree courses was perfect. The decor was beachy and light, lots of blues. Before our order, they came out with a complimentary cornbread with honey on top added- delectable. Mine was a little cold inside but can't complain. We started with the rockefeller oysters, which came with a homemade fresno hot sauce. They were shucked nicely, perfectly warm and creamy and salty and acidic from the lemon squeeze, and the hot sauce on top added a nice heat. Next up we had the ramp caesar, a definite standout. It was such a fun take on a caesar with seabeans, pickled ramps, and the "swordfish bacon" (although i don't agree with the name bc it was more like smoked swordfish cubes, but delicious nonetheless). For entrees, my husband got the soft shell crab, another standout. The crab was fried and salted to perfection, and the pasta underneath had the perfect chew (you can tell it was made in house). The cioppino was also delicious - every element was cooked to perfection. The scallops and tilefish were so tender, the andouille added an amazing smoke and salt, and i loved how the toast was crisped up/flattened almost. My only gripe is maybe too many potatoes (maybe could have even done without?). Overall, this was such a phenomenal meal. I would come back for every single dish we ate and more. *Rockefeller Oysters: bacon, Pernod, spinach, cornbread crumbs *Ramp Caesar: swordfish bacon, cornbread croutons, anchovies, pickled ramps *Crispy Fried Soft Shell: cavatelli, blue crab, spring peas, spring onion, mint *Eastern Cioppino: blueline tilefish, shrimp, scallops, clams, andouille, potato, toast with rouille

    E M.

    Super cute, loud and bright atmosphere. My husband really enjoyed his food, and I enjoyed mine as well. I ordered one of the only vegetarian options, but it was good and I would definitely come back for it again. My only issue was with the seating arrangement. I had specifically asked only my reservation if we could sit next to each other because my husband is 50% deaf in his left ear. Unfortunately, we were seated across from each other between two other tables, which made it very difficult for him to hear me in such a lively environment. He also could not hear the waiter. I noticed other parties seated closer to each other at tables of 4, so I do wish that accommodation could have been considered for us after I had mentioned it beforehand. Or just not seated in between other parties of 2 and maybe at the end. At the end of the day, we chose the restaurant knowing it could be a louder environment, so it wasn't a terrible experience at all, I just think that small seating adjustment would have made it much more comfortable for us.

    Seafood Tower
    Kennedy B.

    Really enjoyed our meal at Seabird. The seafood tower was amazing, super fresh, and beautifully presented. Everything we ordered was flavorful, the service was great, and the atmosphere was perfect for a nice dinner. Would definitely recommend!

    Tuna Tartare
    Rena H.

    I will be daydreaming about this meal often. Seabird has always drawn us in visually from the street because of its cool/retro exterior and so cutely decorated inside. Finally made it in! We started off with a dozen oysters, all from NC, paired with the recommended martini. Each oyster was phenomenal and we loved the martinis. Perfect way to start the meal. We moved along to the tuna tartare which was unreal. The crispy potatoes paired with the tuna was such a good combination, we absolutely loved this dish. We battled on whether to continue with only small plates or to branch into entrees. The sea bass and swordfish schnitzel looked too good to pass up, so we ordered both. Blown away. We both cleaned our plates. Such a special dinner - can't wait to come back.

    Fresh Oysters
    Erin Y.

    Came here for dinner with my husband and overall the food was great! We ordered got the server to course the dinner out as we were sharing everything. We started with the complimentary cornbread which was good but the drizzle sauce made it quite sweet. Then we had: Raw Oysters - Super fresh and delicious; prepared well Mussels - Good but we just weren't a huge fan of the strong pepper taste; very tasty broth overall Catfish & Oyster Pie - Absolutely delicious and so unique 100% recommend this to be ordered Trout - Popular fish as it was selling out fast, and we could see why; it was so tasty and the herb sauce was so smooth too, would 100% order again

    Hannah H.

    Seabird will always be one of my favorites in Wilmington! Chef Deans rotating menu always highlights the beauty of the coast and the service is always top notch. My favorites are the seafood tower which changes weekly but always includes many different types of seafood all prepped in a different way and any of their desserts!

    Cocktail
    Manda S.

    Grabbed cocktails at the bar at Seabird. The space was lovely, guys behind the bar were attentive and kind, and the whole vibe was chill. Also - Love the fact that we could chat while enjoying our drinks! Will add this to the fav rotation of places to grab a drink.

    View of the kitchen
    Lisa W.

    We chose Seabird because of a local recommendation, and they were spot on. The bar when you walk in has a very cool vibe. We chose to sit at the other bar area in front of the kitchen so we could be served by Andy, who happened to have served us the night before at another restaurant. I had oysters (forgot to photograph them). They had 3 varieties, and I sampled all three. They were excellent! My husband ordered the smoked catfish and oyster pie. He enjoyed it so much that he plans to figure out how to make it. If you're visiting Wilmington, give Seabird a visit.

    You know the sauce is hot when there's a dropper to dispense it ;)
    Dan D.

    Had dinner at the Seabird in Wilmington, what a great experience. The Seafood Tower was outstanding - the items are (as it says) seasonal, which makes for inspired eating. The service is top-tier, attentive yet not overbearing. I'm pretty sure the Owner was also there as the lead chef- ensuring everything coming out was perfect. [Correction, it was Dean Neff, the James Beard nominated chef. I can be pretty dense.] The atmosphere is bright and bustling: great energy. Definitely get on their reservations list.

    Broiled Hollandaise
    Ronald W.

    Fantastic food and service. Split the broiled Hollandaise oysters, Serrano NC pork ribs, Eastern Cioppino. Everything was delicious. Chef sent out a taste of the yellowfin tuna Bolognese and a fried fish ball dish. Coming from up North, everything was really unique with its own taste profile. Only regret was we didn't have more people along to try more dishes. We didn't realize that they validate parking at the garage across the street or we would have taken advantage of it.

    Espresso martini
    Becky J.

    I sat at the bar for a solo dinner and had such a wonderful time chatting with the other patrons and bartenders. I ordered the swordfish schnitzel (they prepared it dairy free for me) and it was wildly delicious. Easily the best swordfish I've had. I unfortunately ate before the camera but their espresso martini is also worth your time. 10/10 all around.

    April L.

    I visited Seabird with a few girlfriends who were visiting from out of town, and it was exactly the kind of unique local spot we were hoping to find. We made a reservation only a few days in advance. The space is beautiful, and every dish, drink, and dessert was plated with such care and creativity. We shared everything, which was nice to try a bit of everything. The staff were friendly and attentive. I would recommend for a special night out.

    Swordfish
    Brendon N.

    I really really wanted to like this place a lot more, but unfortunately, it is difficult to justify the price. Seabirds is a primarily seafood focused restaurant right in the heart of downtown Wilmington. They are an upscale, classy restaurant that has a great atmosphere for a nice date night or special occasion. I had the swordfish schnitzel, it was a huge piece of fish, with a very nice presentation. The fish was fresh, but was a bit heavy handed on the use of fat, which overpowered it a bit. My partner had the smoked catfish, and it was just plain and simple not very good. The breading was soggy and it was overwhelmingly greasy, on an already heavy bed of grits. Again the presentation was nice, but it was not enjoyable. There are lot of great places to get a great meal in Wilmington, unless you are enamored with the location and presentation of their dishes, I would look elsewhere for a classy meal.

    Smoked Tuna Benedict

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    5 years ago

    Such fun. House make saltines and hot sauce for the oysters. Wonderful staff. Interesting dishes

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    4 years ago

    This was our first visit to Seabird. Food was outstanding and service was top notch. Highly recommend.

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    3 years ago

    lovely place. good food. wonderful waitstaff. the owners should be proud of this establishment

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    4 years ago

    Absolutely now my fave in Wilmington! Exceptional service, very cool vibe, great drinks, & the food...the food is just phenomenal.

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    4 years ago

    I dream about the chicken salad sandwich. And the oysters are on point. nice folks, good service.

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    5 years ago

    amazing!!!! Just might be the best food I think I've ever had. Can't wait to visit Wilmington again. It will be the first place I'm going

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    Page 8 of 8

    Ask the Community - Seabird

    Do they offer outdoor seating?

    Hi there! We do have some outdoor tables that are first come, first served.

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    Brunch Thyme

    Brunch Thyme

    4.3
    (28 reviews)
    1.0 mi

    I was staying at a nearby hotel this past Sunday and realized that a lot of breakfast/brunch places…read morein the area did not open until after 10am. At this point it was about 9:15am and I saw Brunch Thyme was open. Not doing a lot of research I walked over and assumed it was a sit down restaurant but quickly learned that it's actually take out. I think the worker saw the disappointment on my face when I walked in and she offered me a small foldable table to place outside which encouraged me to stay. My partner ordered the fish n' grits and I ordered The Frenchie which both turned out to be great choices. The fish was seasoned well, I believe it was whiting and the grits were rich and creamy. It came with a delicious gravy that we didn't notice until the meal was almost finished but ended up spooning like a soup. My French toast and eggs were tasty as well. For drinks they had canned Coke products, apple juice and bottled water. Sitting outside was hot and the bugs were constant but I was thankful to have a place to eat because again, I walked here (about 20 min). I observed many people eating in their cars or simply taking their food to go. With this, I also saw a few groups come and go as they didn't realize it was a take out style restaurant. Minus the heat, we enjoyed our meal and the customer service we received. Prices were responsible and portion sizes were filling. Check it out if you're in the area.

    It was rather shocking walking in the door and realizing that this is not a restaurant but just a…read moretakeout counter. This establishment has been around for some years & the ambience reflects its age. The staff greeted us and were very friendly. The service was excellent, our order was ready in under 10 minutes. If you ask for a table one can be set up outside with a chair or two. Hubby had shrimp and grits. I had BEC and a side of grits. They were delicious and the portions were sizable. We will be back!

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    Brunch Thyme
    Menu 2/13/24
    Menu 2/13/24
    SEC biscuit

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    SEC biscuit
    Rumcow

    Rumcow

    4.3
    (306 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    We were finally able to stop into RUMCOW on Grace Street in Wilmington this weekend!…read more We had a reservation. We were seated within a couple of minutes. Our server Ava knew the menu and read the table well. No overselling, no scripted recitations. She just took care of us. Thanks Ava. The Blackened Chicken Breast came with basmati rice, seasonal vegetables, black bean salsa, and a chipotle cream sauce that worked harder than it had any right to. The flavors didn't compete. They really settled into each other. The Rumcow Salad, loaded with mixed greens, carrot, tomato, onion, cucumber, and wonton strips, we ordered topped with shrimp. It was sharper and more interesting than we had expected. It's a newer spot in Wilmington, and it shows. In The Best Sense. We'll be back for sure!

    We've been to Rumcow many times over the years and always enjoyed it. It's a cool spot with two…read morefloors, a lively atmosphere, and a strong A sanitation rating (96.5), which is always reassuring. The service was friendly and attentive, and we started the evening with a bottle of Cambria Katherine's Vineyard Chardonnay (2023), which was a nice way to begin dinner. Unfortunately, the food this time around just didn't live up to what we remember. We started with the Asian Tots, which used to be one of the best items on the menu. In the past, the peanut sauce was poured over the top so everything came together as one dish. Now it's served in a small cup on the side, and there isn't enough of it to properly coat the tots. They also stopped finishing the dish with the salt they used to sprinkle on top, and even the presentation has changed -- the silver dome they once used is gone. What used to be a great appetizer has been reduced to something that's simply okay. For the main courses, the results were mixed but mostly disappointing. My blackened chicken was a little overcooked. My wife ordered the miso salmon, and that was overcooked as well -- which is especially noticeable with fish. When salmon goes past the sweet spot it quickly becomes dry, and that seemed to be the case here. None of the food was terrible, but none of it really stood out either. Dessert didn't help much. I ordered the carrot cake, but what arrived looked more like a small cupcake buried under a heavy amount of icing, with a large mound of whipped cream on the side. There wasn't much actual cake there, and it wasn't what I expected from a carrot cake dessert. One thing that stood out during the meal is that it feels like the kitchen may be constantly adjusting dishes -- moving sauces, changing presentations, tweaking things that didn't necessarily need fixing. In restaurants, sometimes the best move is to pick a lane and execute it consistently rather than continually modifying dishes that customers already liked. So here's the bottom line. Rumcow is not the Rumcow of yesteryear. Was the food terrible? No. But it was mostly meh, and that may be the most disappointing part. This used to be a place known for memorable dishes and small details done right. Right now it feels like a restaurant that has drifted away from what made it special. The atmosphere and service are still good, but the food just doesn't match the reputation it once had.

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    Rumcow
    Rumcow
    Caipirinha

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    Caipirinha

    Seabird - seafood - Updated June 2026

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