A Day in Dining: Wilmington, NC

Ahh, food. We all eat to live, but some of us live to eat. And there’s no better place to do that than Wilmington, North Carolina.

First Bank takes you through a foodie’s fantasy day; if you only have 1 day to explore Wilmington, make sure you stop off at these restaurants, where the food is delicious and the atmosphere sizzles.

Breakfast

Whether you’re going out for Sunday brunch or just looking for that perfect greasy spoon, White Front Breakfast House is the place to go. People are raving about the biscuits, the friendly staff, and the on-point hash browns.

Yelp reviewer Janet C. says, “Best classic, traditional diner breakfast ever. This place is not in a fancy-schmancy neighborhood, and the building is not impressive… never mind that, it’s what’s cooking inside that counts!”

Between the relaxing atmosphere and delicious food, it’s the perfect place to start your food tour.

Lunch

For lunch, head inland to South College Sandwich & Deli on 332 South College Road.

This isn’t your average sandwich. Everything is made fresh, including tasty homemade chips and fluffy, hand-cut bread. Try the beef on weck (the owners are from Western New York, where this is a classic sandwich), and don’t forget a side of what one Urbanspoon reviewer calls “the best potato salad I’ve ever had.”

Order to go and have a scenic picnic!

Midday Snack

If all this eating has made you hungry, it’s back to South Front Street for a quick stop at The Peppered Cupcake.

With sweet, savory, and just plain strange cupcake combinations, there’s something for everyone here. Just check out the TripAdvisor reviews, which unanimously give The Peppered Cupcake 5 stars.

One common theme among the reviewers? The ‘explosive flavor’ of the toppings, cake, and fillings. Sounds good to us!

Dinner

Also on South Front Street (are you seeing a trend here?) is Little Dipper Fondue, which made OpenTable.com’s 2011 list of the top 100 restaurants in America.

Come hungry, because there’s plenty you’re going to want to try, including the Cheddar Ale Fondue (we like the Stella Artois) and the White Merlot & Vegetable Broth. We recommend going with the “Undecided,” so you can customize your meats and vegetables to your liking.

Bon appetit!

After Dinner Drinks

End your evening at Satellite Bar and Lounge, where the cold beer and laid-back attitude will be perfect after your long day of snacking.

Located in a salvaged grocery store at 120 Greenfield Street, this bar is host to comedy nights, live bands, and bluegrass shows every Sunday. Yelp reviewers tout the “awesome, funky vibe,” “genius design and feel,” and “ridiculously hip yet cozy and friendly” atmosphere.

With a huge television screen out back for movie nights, and a dog-friendly attitude, we highly recommend an evening at Satellite.

Wilmington has so many incredible restaurants that it was tough to narrow down the list to just the few we’ve mentioned here. It would take several months to explore the many diners, restaurants, and lounges Wilmington has to offer, and with new places opening up every day, there’s always a hot spot to try. Enjoy!