Top Eateries in Wilmington Boasting Stunning Waterfront Scenery
In the heart of New Hanover County, two eateries have captured the hearts of local diners – Elijah's Oyster & Fish Camp and The Pilot House. These charming waterfront restaurants received an impressive 96% of the votes in a recent StarNews readers' poll for Best Waterfront Restaurant in the county (Sources [1], [3]).
Elijah's Oyster & Fish Camp and The Pilot House stand out as the top dining choices, according to local readers. The Bridge Tender, another waterfront gem in Wilmington, was also highlighted by StarNews, making it a notable contender (Source [5]).
While it's easy to assume that shrimp served in local Wilmington restaurants are local or regional, this is not always the case. Most of the shrimp consumed in the U.S., including those served in Wilmington, are imported (Source [6]). This raises an ongoing issue about knowing if seafood is what it claims to be.
The Wilmington area has been fortunate to land on the final lists of the USA Today network's Restaurants of the Year and Bars of the Year projects (Source [7]). In fact, a local speakeasy was named among the 29 bars of 2025 in the latest Bars of the Year project (Source [4]).
August is a month filled with food and drink events in the Wilmington area, but the details about these events were not provided in the article. For updates on these events and more, follow Port City Foodies on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/portcityfoodies) and Instagram (@port_city_foodies).
The history of shrimping in North Carolina runs deep, and it's exciting to see the local food scene continuing to thrive. If you have suggestions for local restaurants that should be among the upper echelon of restaurants, the writer invites you to email your suggestions to [email protected] (Source [2]).
Sources:
- StarNews readers' poll results
- Writer's call for local restaurant suggestions
- StarNews article about Elijah's Oyster & Fish Camp and The Pilot House
- USA Today network's Bars of the Year 2025 list
- StarNews article about The Bridge Tender
- Source about imported shrimp in the U.S.
- USA Today network's Restaurants of the Year project
The local media frequently covers the Wilmington area's thriving food-and-drink scene, with top restaurants like Elijah's Oyster & Fish Camp and The Pilot House being highlighted in lifestyle features (Sources [1], [3]). For those interested in home-and-garden topics, following Port City Foodies on Facebook and Instagram can provide updates on local events (Source [8]).
