Cute spot - decorated beautifully - the drinks are amazing - the night I was there the bar was busy so the waitress suggested we order 1 at a time - there was also a band this night outside on the patio - it was November so we prepared in advance - jackets, blankets and the restaurant had a number of heat lamps and fire pit tables so I wasn't cold at all - I ordered the Brie appetizer which was really good - my cousin ordered a steak dish medium rare and when I tell you it was well done - however the owner I have to say was on the floor the entire time watching and serving - he came right over when we got his attention and a medium rare steak came out quickly and was delish - next time I'm in town I will def be back read more

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Perfectly prepared ribeye ... one of the best I've ever had. Music was great- not too loud. Perfect anniversary dinner. Will definitely be back. read more

Good food, great service and a lovely setting. The carrot beet soup was delicious. I did the small plates shrimp scampi dip which was very flavorful and the oysters were excellent. My husband had the Corzina which was very good! We hope to go back soon. read more

Very friendly atmosphere and staff. Dining experience was very nice.Food and service was great. Plus plus was the live music,nice owner and beverages at the bar read more

The meatballs were very tasty although they crumbled apart a bit when you cut into them. The sirloin steak was very stringy and was not hot when it arrived, the short ribs (also not very hot) were very fatty and the bread we paid $5 for came out much later than it should have and was served with very cold hard although attractively seasoned butter. Service was fine besides the long bread wait. Possible they had an off day it the kitchen. I am confident they would they have heated the dishes up more if we mentioned it, but sometimes you don't want to bother. The pizza looked really good and if we were to go back we would try that or the pasta. Nice ambiance. read more

We ate at the Cardinal last night. The waiter was extremely helpful and professional. He knew the menu and had some great suggestions. I enjoyed the Interior and really enjoyed my grouper piccata. My husband had pizza and it was very good. The menu has something for everyone. There are many things that we'd like to order in the future. We will be back and encourage you to dine at the cardinal they have specials different nights of the week and even have piano music on Saturday night. read more

Absolutely amazing food and atmosphere! The service was just as good as the food. Do yourself a favor and try the Brussel sprouts. This place is a gem of a neighborhood restaurant! read more

Saw this restaurant online. Decided to drive from CB to check it out. Glad we did. This is a gem of a restaurant. Neighborhood restaurant vibe with elevated food. Service is incredible. Owner of the restaurant came to the table twice. We were well attended to and felt like our business mattered. Def. Put this place on your list and give them a try!! read more

What a little gem!! So let me just be honest and tell you I am fresh out of New Jersey. NC food for me is challenging if not disappointing. However, The Cardinal brought me right back to those NJ restaurant feels and tastes. Andrew, bartender, amazing! Met the owner, extremely friendly! Seafood is fresh, well cooked with delicious spices and played beautifully! The Apple crumb for dessert is a must not miss!! Thank you for a great meal! ;) read more

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Great food! Wonderful atmosphere. First time I ate there. I'll certainly go back. I had the salmon and my friend had the short ribs. The Brussel sprouts were exceptional. read more

This is without any doubt the best place to eat anywhere near the area. Their owner is fantastic & it's exactly the type of experience you would hope for with the incredible ambiance. read more

The Cardinal Restaurant - Cozy Bar - Sports Bars Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

The food was not worth the price! The salad had very few toppings, and dressing did not taste homemade (and a salad over $15, it should be). The Added protein costs were ridiculous. Sourdough bread was bland. read more

Folks this restaurant is a hidden gem. Service is polite and sharp I had white fish - Corvina , a special on their menu. True white fish complimented by red peppers and small tomatoes. Melts in your mouth. My wife had perfectly browned fresh scallops - the best she has ever had ( and she is from Chile ( known for the finest scallops and fish in the world ) For the price this place is overwhelming. What a gem. This is a true review. Do yourself a favor , don't miss this gem of a restaurant. read more

Hands-down, one of the best restaurants in town. This place is truly a hidden jewel. I've never had a meal at The Cardinal that I didn't just absolutely love. We go quite frequently as we are locals to the area, and we always are greeted with a smile and the best service in town. From the host staff, to all service, even the chef, and owner come around to ensure that everything is up to satisfaction. It is always above our expectations and satisfaction. We continue to go back as it's always consistent! Tonight I had the salmon, which was notably, fresh, and prepared nicely with the most delicious creamy pesto, spinach, tomatoes and perfectly prepared rice. The short ribs are also one of our go favs!! Be sure to stop in and have a drink, some apps, a nice entrée whatever you're feeling. You will be happy you did!! Support local read more

Mediocre at best. From the setting, to the service, to the food. When we arrived there weren't many patrons. We were seated in the very back of the restaurant. Our waitress never went over the specials. We had the Brussels sprout appetizer. There wasn't even enough of the apple butter for half of the appetizer. When we asked our waitress for more she dropped it on the table while not stopping to walk off. I'm surprised it didn't splatter. Our drinks took so long to arrive we almost left. When our food arrived we had mixed reviews. My shrimp and grits tasted good. My husband's steak wasn't even seasoned. The horrible service and being placed in the back of an empty restaurant to begin with killed the vibe. Our waitress barely checked on us. We like to try different restaurants. We definitely won't be back to this one. read more

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The Cardinal is destined to be one of those iconic neighborhood restaurants that attracts locals and visitors alike for a long time to come. The atmosphere is warm and classy, the food is fantastic and beautifully presented and the staff are super friendly and accommodating. What more could you ask for in a local restaurant and bar? I'll be going once a week, if not twice. read more

Nice atmosphere, great pizza and salads, yummy garlic butter shrimp app. Yay. And thoughtful service. Well done!

I ordered the Tuscan Penne which comes with a Sherry cream sauce and added grilled chicken to go. The chicken was cooked perfectly! I didn't taste anything much in the sauce except a lot of garlic. No Sherry flavor at all. If you would like bread with that you have to pay $5.99 for a small loaf it doesn't automatically come with a serving of bread. The bar tender was a great conversationalist and made the waiting time for my to go meal go by faster. The Cardinal is now available on Door Dash which is great however they do not allow free delivery with a Door Dash membership when ordering $12 or more. read more

Highly recommend. My wife & I had filets that were cooked perfectly. Nice atmosphere, good food & service. Our waitress, Chase was great