27 March . 2019
A Taste of Wilmington
There are many attractions to living along the Southeastern Coastline: the weather, the atmosphere, the relaxed pace of life, and the friendly people you get to call “neighbor”. But one thing that makes the southern coast the ideal place to live is the food. There are many cities along the Atlantic shoreline that pride themselves on their fantastic food, one of which is our very own Wilmington, North Carolina. From the banks of the Cape Fear River, to midtown Wilmington, all the way to the beaches of Wrightsville, Carolina, and Kure, there is always somewhere delicious and unique to dine.
Following its official incorporation in 1899, the town of Wrightsville Beach has grown from a small, nearly inaccessible island to a bustling little beach town with boutiques, history museum, recreation parks, hotels, and restaurants. The Bridge Tender, one of these quaint restaurants, is located along the Intracoastal Waterway heading into Wrightsville Beach and has been a beloved staple for fine dining since 1976. With both outdoor patio and indoor seating that takes advantage of the waterfront view overlooking the waterway, The Bridge Tender is a beautiful spot to enjoy both lunch and dinner with classic seafood and steak options.
Not far from both the shores of Wrightsville beach and the Cape Fear River is JohnnyLukes KitchenBar located in the heart of bustling Wilmington. JohnnyLukes is a two-story restaurant that features 19 local craft beers on tap, an eclectic wine menu, and fresh ingredients for classic American cuisines. They emphasize a wide selection of options on their menu and freshly made signature cocktails. This is a great site to relax with a drink and a gourmet burger when you’re out and about in the hub of the city for lunch, dinner, or Sunday brunch.
Venturing through the historic downtown area of Wilmington, you’ll find no shortage of incredible eateries. But one of the more unique establishments that sets itself apart from the rest is PinPoint restaurant, with indulgent foods considered rooted in tradition. PinPoint’s menu changes daily and uses local offerings from Wilmington farmers, fishermen, crabbers, and oystermen to spotlight the freshness available through regional ingredients. Voted one of “The Best New Restaurants in the South” by Southern Living Magazine, PinPoint offers its dining guests a chance to explore something truly unique while enjoying an evening immersed in the historic allure of the downtown area.
Closer to home and dear to the hearts of RiverLights residents is Smoke on the Water. This modern, unprecedented restaurant presents both traditional American food and seafood along with delicious cocktails. Smoke on the Water is designed with large windows on all sides of the restaurant so that each guest has an opportunity to enjoy RiverLights’ award winning sunset from anywhere they sit, as well as fun outdoor seating that includes a fire pit overlooking the boardwalk and Cape Fear River. With a beautiful gazebo backdrop, this hidden treasure of Wilmington offers its guests the greatest view of the port city sunset along a 1,000 foot stretch of boardwalk.
As a homeowner in the RiverLights community, residents have the chance to wine and dine themselves at some of the tastiest eateries the South East has to offer. There is no shortage of restaurants to experience no matter the location, from the beaches of Wrightsville to the shores of the Cape Fear River. Come explore all of the unparalleled cuisines that Wilmington has to offer when you visit RiverLights.