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    The Bridge Tender

    4.1 (592 reviews)
    ModerateSeafood, Steakhouses
    Closed 4:00 pm - 9:00 PM

    The Bridge Tender Photos

    Business Info

    THE BRIDGE TENDER ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Romantic
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - The Bridge Tender

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    Seafood Sampler; Salmon, Shrimp and Crab cake
    Paul M.

    Really enjoyed our dinner for 4 here. Had an earlier reservation; no issues with parking (right across from the restaurant). Seated immediately; drink selection was good. Crab dip amazing as an appetizer. Buffalo shrimp were excellent, coconut shrimp were just OK. All mains were excellent; bread pudding for dessert was perfect to share. Enjoyed watching the boats and birds while eating. Outdoor eating and bar area also available.

    Birthday party!
    Todd R.

    We celebrated my MIL's 80th birthday here last night and we were completely pleased with the experience. Our server was attentive and very helpful with questions and suggestions. The food arrived promptly and was excellent. I ordered the fried oysters and they were fantastic. Usually I am hesitant to order them at some restaurants because they typically are premade/frozen; however they stated these were made by hand to order and they certainly tasted like it. On top of that, the serving was very generous for the price. Others in our party had the fried flounder, swordfish, Brussels sprouts, crab-cakes, etc., and all of them were very pleased. Definitely recommend!

    Horseradish Encrusted Tuna
    David S.

    I think I would honestly drive back to Wilmington just for this place. Holy crap it was amazing!! First, you need a reservation and get there early because parking is a pain. The restaurant is right on the water and they have indoor and outdoor seating, I'd go outdoor for the boat views. The staff was super friendly and even left a card on our table for our anniversary, which was such a nice touch. The food is pricey but the portions are huge and every bite was perfect. You will not leave hungry. The horseradish tuna was immaculate and the salmon was amazing, both cuts were huge. And seriously, GET THE BREAD PUDDING. Every table had one and now I know why. Easily one of the best desserts I've ever had.

    Pesto chicken
    Haley B.

    I came here to celebrate my anniversary and it was not a let down! I did extensive research on nice restaurants in Wilmington and I decided The Bridge Tender looked like the best option for me. We had outdoor reservations and the view of the harbor was absolutely beautiful. Our waiter was so kind and attentive and the food was brought out faster than we expected. The calamari was amazing and the sauce it came with was so unique and outstanding. I ordered the chef's trio while my partner got the pesto chicken and they both tasted amazing. The portions are quite large and the prices are reasonable. I highly recommend if you're looking for an excellent restaurant in Wilmington for a special occasion.

    Warm bread with butter served while we were still considering menu options.
    Phillip A.

    One of my new favorites in Wilmington/Wrightsville Beach. We came here for a special anniversary dinner and we were not disappointed. Our server, Phillip, was very friendly, attentive and engaging. We sat right next to a window overlooking the innercoastal waterway which added to the restaurant's ambiance. The food was cooked perfectly and very large proportions. My grilled shrimp was served as an even dozen. We got keylime pie to go because we were just to full to enjoy dessert while we were there. We'll definitely make The Bridge Tender a regular stop whenever we're visiting Wrightsville!

    Jeff B.

    A great dinner experience. Great staff, good food, great views and fairly priced. Just can't say enough good things about experience. Staff was too shelf and made the experience. Big shout out to Constance our server. We will visit again.

    Bread pudding - big enough to share with many!!
    Lisa H.

    Service started out strong but dwindled as they got busy - food was exceptional / we didn't get a pic of the crab dip because we were so hungry and it was sooooo good! Great wine list - maybe one of the best on the beach! Even with hiccup in service I still give a 5!

    malbec wine

    Food was absolutely delicious, great service as well. I got rj pasta, which was delicious. I was happy to see that I could exclude the mushrooms from the dish, as some restaurants don't allow exemptions to set meals (especially fancier places). My partner got the steak, which was tender and delicious. Got a bottle of the Malbec, which was great as well. Overall, great food, good views, and good service.

    Gorgonzola Walnut Salad with Salmon
    Sam W.

    My fiancés and my favorite place! We have had the Bridge Tender 3 times on vacations to Wilmington, and it never disappoints. Staff is professional, views of the marina are fantastic, and the food is EXCELLENT.

    Swordfish special - capers, wilted spinach, tomatoes, brown rice, butter sauce

    My wife and I went for an early birthday celebrstion and had a great meal and exceptional service. Caity was awesome - highly recommend! We had oysters Rockefeller and split a wedge as apps. Petite filet and the swordfish special with capers, tomatoes, wilted spinach and melted butter sauce. A local staple continues to impress.

    Whipped key lime pie

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    Food, service and outside view were all spectacular! The server (Taylor, maybe) was kind to my kids.

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    9 months ago

    We go here every time we visit Wrightsville Beach! GREAT food, great service & incredible views!!! See yall again on Sat. night!!!!

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    Catherine M.

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    Page 1 of 15

    Ask the Community - The Bridge Tender

    Can the Bridge Tender handle a party of 24?

    Yes they can, they do have rooms with advance notice.

    View All 4 Questions

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    A hidden gem in Wilmington ... a well kept secret of the locals …read more.. From the outside .. it looks like a road side hole in the wall but once youre in, its a whole new world ! Most people enter the bar entrance where the small patio area is .. but on the other side of the patio is the main entrance where you are created by the host stand .. You would never know how big this place is from the outside but once in... its like one of the hamster cage cages with never ending tunnels to different rooms/area... RSVP are definitely suggested since walkins are usually in Bar area or Patio area .. which isnt bad .. but its limited seating .. Staff here are cool but service can be a lil wait if they are busy . Menu is a Panamanian vibe with lots of good eats .. One of the salsas you must get is the Elote salsa its very nommm nommmm next would be the Goat Gauc which is equally amazing. The Ceviche is a must get ... yes get the Quattro which is 4oz of each one so you can sample all ! The scallops and pork belly of mash is pretty good but would be better over the coconut rice . The special of the day was a sheepshead filet over risotto which was pretty damn good ! The corvina was ok but was a little bit over done and ended up a lil drier than expected. Highly recommend asking for the homemade hot sauce ... its amazing and goes on everything! This is definitely a locals Hotspot and an interesting place to people watch... Will definitely comeback for sure .

    This is based on takeout***…read more Great vibe inside. Love the decor. Lobster ceviche is really good. Huge chunks in there and the flavor is great. The tortillas are really hard, difficult to eat and not very good though :( Ahi tuna was seared (not raw like I asked for) and the tortilla was burnt. Half wasn't edible... Coconut rice is sublime. Id go again but make different choices.

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    I attended a private event at Shark Bar and Kitchen recently. I have passed this place many times…read moreheading to the beach and had no idea the gem that was inside. The intimate seating, well stocked bar, and unique decor all made for an inviting location for my team. We enjoyed several different dishes including smash burger style sliders, shrimp cocktail, oysters, fresh sushi, poke, and more. Every bite was tasty and they were washed down with classic cocktails and beer selections that anyone could enjoy. The staff were all friendly and helpful. There were no empty glasses or stomachs. I hear that there's going to be a sushi bar upstairs soon, so I've got to come back for that. All in all, this is a great little spot for classic beach fare and a solid drink while people watching out of the window.

    A quaint place by the beach. We were looking for a place to eat after walking on the beach. Not…read moremuch choice for food here by the beach. Venue: small casual joint with bar seats, high too and table. Food: small menu. For some reason, didn't want anything else on the menu but could not pass for oysters. We ordered what was recommended for oysters. It was good. But I've had much better. Tried their margarita flight - it was extremely acidic. Service: it was good. Slow service I thought. Our server seemed ahead had a lot of hat on. Price: average.

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    So fun. The young woman working was very friendly and knowledgeable, and made ordering was very…read moreeasy. There were so many choices online, it help to go in. We had a little trouble with the cooking, it simmered but didn't boil so took longer than expected. We also used too much of the spice so it was way too salty. That wasn't Topsails fault though! The seafood was delicious and a really fun way to have a meal. I think the cornbread should have been included though. Next time we will make our own corn and cornbread to go with it.

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    Topsail Steamer - Front Entrance

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    Cape Fear Seafood Company - Fish -n- Chips Platter

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    We came in for an early dinner and we were seated right away in one of the front rooms. We have…read morebeen seated in all different place here, but this section is nice and quiet. No through traffic of wait staff or customers. We ordered drinks and started off with small house salads. Salads are a good portion for smalls. However, we were just barely finishing salads, bread had just come out, then entrees. I guess we thought putting in orders together, food wouldn't come out so fast. Server took our salad plates and handed us our entrees. We both ordered shrimp scampi. So delicious but I took half to go. When food comes out too fast, I just can't finish. I will think to wait on ordering entrees. I really don't like food coming out one after the other. I understand the kitchen makes the food as it comes in, but the timing could have been better. Food and service is always good here. Wouldn't mind waiting a few extra minutes for meals so we don't feel rushed out.

    Ok First time trying the location at Monkey Junction. Nice…read morelittle restaurant. Good size bar. They say is in another room each looks like they use for private dinners or overflow. Wish we were in the main room. Anyway, good size menu. Everything you need from chowder, fried platters, broiled dishes and non dish items too. We went with the basic fried platters. The flounder was good, hot and crispy. The fries basic. Cole slaw tasty. The hushpuppies were not good. Small, over cooked and dry. The food came out fast. The service was great. They had good dinner specials and bar specials too. I will be back. It's a good neighborhood restaurant. 3.5 stars. But sure it will be a four next visit.

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    My family gifted me with a special 87th birthday trip to Wilmington to traipse old familiar places…read moreand eat some fabulous foods. Experiencing this with family was a special treat. The culmination was a lovely sun kissed luncheon on the Crystal Pier seated where we could catch the breezes and see the rolling surf. Having grown up in Wilmington, I was blessed to have the delightful experience of enjoying freshly caught fish lovingly and skillfully prepared by my mother. It has been years since I've truly enjoyed fish. On Saturday, my lunch choice was the Fresh Catch which was locally caught Sea Bass, hand cut and pan seared. It was seasoned to perfection with just the briefest dash of salt and spices and lightly browned by the pan searing. It was served with grilled asparagus and a bed of rice with an elegant white sauce. I don't know when I've enjoyed a meal so much. The lovely end to the meal came with a tempting and delicious slice of Key Lime Pie. Vera G.

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    The Bridge Tender - seafood - Updated June 2026

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