I've ordered take out from here before but have never dined it until this evening. It's a smaller restaurant, but has outer seating as well a small bar. Service is welcoming and professional. They have daily specials. My husband and I ordered the crab dip and hush puppies for appetizers. The hush puppies were perfectly fried and slightly sweet. They were served with a seasoned butter. The crab dip was served with toasted French bread as an option. The crab dip was delicious. For dinner my husband ordered the shrimp po boy and really liked the shrimp. I had the fried shrimp platter. It came with coleslaw, string fries, and hush puppies. The shrimp were large, breaded but not greasy. They were fresh and very well seasoned. We really enjoyed our dinner here and would definitely go back. read more

We usually love this place! Tonight thou the hush puppy butter tasted like oranges. The Cole slaw was absolutely disgusting. Couldn't even get the bite down. Don't get me wrong. We usually love this place. The oysters have been great. The clam chowder is good! The fried flounder is awesome. Idk what happened today read more

Tidewater Oyster Bar - Fried oysters and fried shrimp - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

This was our first time dining here, and we were really excited to try it. Tidewater has a great selection of oysters, which is what initially drew us in. We started with a dozen oysters. Unfortunately, the presentation and accompaniments were disappointing--cocktail sauce and horseradish were combined in the same container, and the mignonette lacked flavor. More concerning, several of the oysters had small pieces of shell in them. We ordered another half dozen, but they sat on the counter for quite a while. Multiple servers walked past them before they were finally brought to our table, which was frustrating. To make matters worse, my husband noticed a server drop a ticket on the floor, pick it up, and then place it back above the food that was waiting to be served. That raised some serious concerns about food handling and cleanliness. Overall, while the oyster selection is impressive, the service and attention to detail really fell short of expectations. read more

Tidewater Oyster Bar - Oyster variety - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

We visited Tidewater twice during our week-long beach trip! The oysters Rockefeller were fantastic. Everything seemed very fresh, and we loved that the raw oyster menu had changed during our second visit. There is a cool open concept kitchen that you can see as soon as you walk in--I love when a restaurant isn't afraid to hide prep areas! Service was fantastic during both visits. Our waiters were attentive and hospitable. Don't let the strip mall location throw you off--this is good seafood! Can't wait to come back when we're in the Wilmington area again. read more

Tidewater Oyster Bar - Shrimp poboy and fried shrimp platter - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Had The Duo with blackened catfish and shrimp, and this place did not disappoint! I was given this spot as a dinner recommendation while in town, and I'm so glad I went. The staff was incredibly welcoming, parking was easy, and the food was some of the best I've had. I also tried the oysters and highly recommend them. read more

Tidewater Oyster Bar - The Duo - Blackened catfish & Shrimp With sides of hushpuppies, slaw & house fries - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

A family member's visit turned into a day at the beach. Immediately after our ocean adventure, a family meal. We had a blast catching up. Food is solid to very good. We split the fish and shrimp calabash plate for an extra $2. Food was plentiful. My only true complaint was shrimp size. The staff were absolutely amazing! Courteous and helpful. If we're ever in the area we'll definitely stop in. Seafood:4.2 read more

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Staff is great. I went there 4 times in two weeks. Their raw oyster special is my favorite. However their fish specials and French fries are awesome too. Hush puppies.. can't get enough of them. I special request food preparation and their chefs deliver EVERY TIME! read more

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This was the best kids meal - they were able to do sautéed shrimp instead of fried and it came with broccoli, fries and hush puppies. My son loved it and I liked that it came with veggies which you don't see enough! We enjoyed our gumbo and appetizer special. Everything was very filling. The staff were nice and attentive too. It's a small place and we enjoyed our dinner. read more

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Kind staff, but the food needs some work. We ordered a seafood boil with crab and shrimp and the crab was cold. The whole thing needs way more seasoning and more juice/ butter. Not because it needs to overpower the seafood, but that's what you order a seafood boil for. It's supposed to be messy. But stuff was just kind of dry. read more

Excellent! Savory and so fresh. My dad had the flounder and fried fish basket that came with fried and cole slaw, I had the oyster poboy and clam chowder. All delicious. read more

Love it when they have clam strips on the menu. The was the perfect fall day, sunny and warm , and open tables outside. Checked inside if I could grab a table outside. I found a table and was given a menu as soon as I sat down and a beverage order was taken.Clam strips and a side of french fries was what I desired. Asked if I could get a half order of strips, no problem was the response. My beverage was brought out and short time after that my order arrived with house made tartar sauce. The strips were perfectly fried, just the right amount of breading and seasoning, and so tender. The shoestring fries were also perfectly fried and well seasoned. A perfect sized portion, well done. One of my favorite places to go for seafood. read more

Tidewater Oyster Bar - The 1/2 order of clam strips with shoestring french fries. - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Very busy night, the staff waiting on the bar customers were great. The seafood/crab soup was amazing. Great place to eat!!

One of our favorite places to visit for oysters (better when happy hour is happening) and dessert when in the area. Love their steamed potatoes and ceviche too. Service is good, we have visited more than a dozen times and it is a complete different experience every visit. Food is great. Ambience is average. Nothing extraordinary... I love that they have an outside patio. Parking can be a hit or miss depending the time and the day. Overall great place to eat. read more

We LOVE Tidewater Oyster Bar. We first visited last December when we brought our son back from UNCW for winter break. We went when we took him for his sophomore year. Not shows the BOMB crab dip. My son had the catfish only. I had the jumbaliah (not sure how to spell it) and my BF got the seafood boil. read more

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Highly rated but I'm not sure why. Carolina clam chowder was good but a little too salty for my taste, only ate half. Had the catfish and shrimp combo (fried). Catfish was ok the shrimp was better. Coleslaw kinda bland and fries could have been cooked more. Hushpuppies were great Service wasn't the best either. Said she would bring utensils but never did had to go get my own. Never refilled drink Place is ok but there are much better seafood places in Wilmington read more

Best crab I've had in a WHILE. I got the lb of snow crab, husband got the 1/2 lb cramp with shrimp and clams and we couldn't have been happier. Our server Angela was the best, we didn't know you could pick your oysters (never done that before) so she chose for him and they were perfect. Customer service and food was 10/10, we can't wait to come back during our next visit. read more

Yes, I am leaving ANOTHER 5 star review. The oysters I had today were probably the best I ever had ANYWHERE! Service was impeccable and the tuna tartare rack was delish! You cannot go wrong here with anything you order. I love sitting both inside and outside. It's my fav place! read more

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not worth the money $26 for fried oyters (2 orders) got a pile of fries and the tiniest oysters and very few of them. hushpuppies over fried on the outside that the crust fell off andf center rolled out. blacked shrimp so over done with seasoning could not eat save your money. this was second visit stayed away fgor awhile thought we'd give them another chance ,will never go back!!!! read more

Total YUM! Hubby loved the clam chowder! Outstanding Po' Boys with shrimp and crab! Next time I'm trying the clams.

We split the fried shrimp platter and it was plenty to eat. Shrimp was fresh and perfectly cooked, fries were crisp and the coleslaw was very good. We sat outside and even though it was by a busy road it was still pleasant. Waitress was very good. We will definitely stop on the way back from the beach in the future. read more

Great food and cute decor. The shrimp po boy was amazing and so was the seafood boil.

I was in town for a couple days and wanted seafood. This place was right next door to where I was staying so we walked over on a busy Saturday night. We were seated at one of the last available tables for 2, so that was a good start. We started our dinner with two glasses of white wine and 1/2 dozen Oysters Rockefeller. This is a casual place so the wine was reasonably priced. But really, the star here is the seafood. The oysters were prepared beautifully and tasted very fresh and delicious. So good. Next, we had the Low Country Boil and the Flounder & Shrimp Platter. The portions a really big here, they don't skimp on the amount of seafood you get on your plate either. You will leave here full. The meals were reasonably priced for the amount of food you get, plus it is very casual, which makes for a nice atmosphere. Very glad this place was walking distance from my hotel and that we tried Tidewater Oyster Bar. I would definitely come here again. read more

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First time in. Oysters were fantastic as was the shrimp po boy. Will be back ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Ate there on a Friday night on the patio. Outdoor seatinv is nice and avoids the bar crowd. The oyster rockerfeller was huge meaty oysters but the cheese was sparce. The calamari were on point. The hot pot featured steamed crab, shrimp, potato, corn, and sausage. It was hot and fresh but really lacked seasoning. Definitely no Old Bay Seasoning. The service was standard... prompt but not exceptional. read more

Tidewater Oyster Bar - oyster rockerfeller - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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Came in a whim to see if they were any good. It's in a strip mall and not a.large place but it was packed (always a good sign) We ordered some fresh oysters that were excellent. Then we each got the individual steam pot. It was filled with 1/2 pound of big shrimp, potatoes, corn on the cob and smoked sausage. It was soooo good. We will definitely return read more

Tidewater Oyster Bar - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

We did not know what to anticipate because restaurant was in strip mall but hands down delicious! Service was great! Super nice staff. Place was small but it worked! We went Wednesday night. Loved the food and will definitely be back! read more

Delicious!!! It absolutely hit the spot for a seafood craving. Maybe a hidden gem in Wilmington? All I know is I like that there is now a great option for my husband and I to try to get seafood without going through the downtown hassle, as this location is the complete opposition direction and makes your feel comfortable. The seafood options is big and we opted for the oysters Rockefeller and one of their steamed platter options. The oysters themselves were perfectly cooked and had the right amount of toppings. The seafood platter was huge! Definitely enough food for two. The seasoning was just right and the amount of sides they give you is a a lot! The waitress was very attentive and I like the laid back vibe from the employees. This restaurant will definitely be a norm going forward. read more

Tidewater Oyster Bar - Oysters Rockefeller - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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Stopped in hoping for something different from the other seafood restaurants, mainly something away from downtown or closer to the beach. Tidewater was great. Plenty of options, especially (and obviously) seafood options as well as some non seafood. My partner and I opted to share the Big Catch steamed platter. I myself only really eat crab legs and not much other seafood and glad that it was enough crab as well as sausage, corn, and potatoes for me to eat...while my partner ate the rest (crab legs, A LOT of shrimp, clams). The Oysters Rockefeller were perfect. I appreciate all of the sauces offered and the service was great. Our server was a younger lady but still very informative and attentive. Get a very family vibe from this establishment. Highly recommend and will be back when vacationing in Wilmington again. read more

Tidewater Oyster Bar - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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I was back home and was craving seafood and saw this spot was close to home. I was excited to try their crab dip because that's my favorite app at a seafood spot and theirs definitely hit the spot. It had pretty big chunks of crab, melty cheese, and perfectly seasoned chips for dipping. My boil however lacked a little flavor and I feel like I needed a lot more butter to get that real boil vibe. I took it home and doctored it up a bit and loved how fresh everything was. Also the portion was amazing for only $20. I just wished the items were more seasoned, but this is a solid choice to try out especially since the service was excellent. read more

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Never a bad meal and always great service. Their are few restaurants located in Wilmington that i know when I order anything on the menu "it will be awesome". Tidewater always delivers on a good meal and they support local fresh seafood. read more

Tidewater Oyster Bar - The Big Catch steam pot, the perfect meal! - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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Loved it. The raw bar selection was excellent. Staff very friendly and fast service. Will return many times more!

Came home from Calif and my friends took me here for my belated birthday. This place is great. You get a lot of food here. Service is excellent as is the food. I had the Carolina Clam Chowder soup today and it was so yummy. The flavor of the soup is perfect and the texture creamy. I could have had three bowls and been a happy camper. I also had the fried Shrimp. The hushpuppies and coleslaw that come with it is perfect. In fact, I always eat my friends coleslaw since he does not like it. On my next visit I am going to try the Cajun pasta dish. I'll report back soon. read more

Tidewater Oyster Bar - clam chowder - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Absolutely delicious! Graham did a great job waiting on us and the food hit the spot. Oysters and shrimp and tacos. We will be back next year ! read more

I hate to say it, but, after a few years of excellence, my most recent visit was mediocre at best. The star of their menu has always been the ceviche. No matter which sea creatures are used, Tidewater found a way to make it great. Not this time. The ceviche was just seemingly unseasoned amberjack and radish slices and a few bell pepper bits. There was no sauce (there used to be a sauce, and of course seasoning, on their ceviches). There was no flavor. It was like eating a little pile of very wet fish chunks, with underseasoned chips. I sent it back, and they were nice enough not to charge me for it. But, I was still very disappointed, and am unlikely to return. I hoped that maybe there'd be a manager or chef who'd want to talk, but maybe they didn't appreciate my disapproval of the ceviche. The clam & oyster stew was about as good as before. I also got a single oyster rockefeller (why not get a special treat), but it was also pretty flavorless, compared to previous ones. Since the stew was good, and nothing made me sick (in fact, the seafood seemed to still be of very high quality, which makes their flavorless fate a little sad), so I can't rate the place too poorly. But, it's not what it used to be. At least for me. Sorry. read more

First time dining at Tidewater. Great service. Delicious food. 10 out of 10. Seafood was fresh. Really impressed.

Exceptional service by a great waitress (Annette) Very accommodating to our group of 10. Food was very flavorful & the portions were great too. I would come back again & again! read more

Amazing Best seafood spot in town. Thank you Jayden Fried oysters Wow Snow Crab Bool Fried shrimp Blackened Flounder right on delicious read more

The best oysters in the area, no question. We have a great experience every time! Usually we sit outside on the patio where they have several tables with umbrellas. Our servers have always been attentive, super helpful. Today they made sure our food did not have/ was not cooked with dairy. In addition to the oysters, we ordered the blackened shrimp platter and the snow crab platter. Excellent as always! read more

Tidewater Oyster Bar - Dozen oysters--all local - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

My wife and I finally got a chance to have lunch here. We were both very happy we did. The menu had a lot to choose from. The food was excellent. The staff and service were friendly and available; I never had to call out for assistance. The ambiance, both inside and out, was upbeat and clean. We will be regulars here returning as often as possible. read more

Great service. Shrimp po'Boy was very good. Carolina chowder was delicious! My husband enjoyed his raw oysters and tidewater stew also. read more

Tidewater Oyster Bar - Shrimp Po'Boy - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

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