Allison BallardWilmington StarNews
In recent weeks, restaurants have opened across Southeastern North Carolina, offering everything from Honduran specialties to house-made ice cream. They're casual spots, and fine-dining venues. Here's a look at some new eateries, and a few that have closed their doors.
Openings
Ciana Ristorante Italiano: It became official for this Italian restaurant on July 8, with its grand opening celebration. Dinner service includes menu items like stuffed eggplant, lasagna and seafood Fra Diavlo. You can also create your own pasta dish or house specialty with a variety of protein and vegetable options.It’s in the formerAsian Fusion Noodle Houseat 724 New Centre Drive in Wilmington.
Covey: This restaurant opened in early July at 1610 Tiburon Drive Wilmington near the Live Oak Bank campus. The setting, which brings natural luxury to mind, has a dining room, a few small private rooms, a wine bar and a co*cktail lounge and patio. The current menu is a paired down 18 dishes that include options like a baby lettuce salad with beets, peaches and whipped ricotta, as well as a melon soup, blistered peppers, butterbean ravioli, shrimp and grits, and a smash burger.
MAYA Fine Food and Tequilas: In Ocean Isle Beach, near the Publix grocery store at 1564 Market Place Blvd., there’s a new restaurant offering an elevated take on the flavors of Mexico. It's open for lunch and dinner (and brunch on the weekends) serving dishes like duck empanadas, fresh salads, lamb chops with mole poblano, and a selection of chilled seafood as well as dishes like Mahi Al Pasto and Fig Chili Salmon.
Perla’s Restaurant: Another option for Latin fare can now be found in the former MeMa’s Chick’n & Ribs location at 602 U.S. 117 in Burgaw. This Honduran and Mexican restaurant is now open serving breakfast, lunch and early dinner. The menu includes dishes like pupusas, Taco Queto, bistec encebollado and pancakes and waffles.
More: Here's the tea from our interview with Wilmington's Queen Esther
Bowstring Burgers and Brewyard: This sister restaurant/neighborhood bar/music venue to Bowstring in Raleigh serves beer, seltzer, wine, co*cktails and more in Wilmington's Soda Pop District at 1002 Princess St. An early menu includes five burgers, a build-your-own burger, a bacon-egg-and-cheese sandwich and a kid's burger or grilled cheese.
Margherita Pizza Co. This pizzeria and wine bar is new to the Surf City area. It's from the Renna family who moved from the Long Island area, where they also made pizza for 25 years. Look for wood-fired pizzas, salads, and desserts, as well as a curated selection of wine and beer. It's at 112 Charlie Medlin Drive.
Shaka Taco: Speaking of Surf City, this taco restaurant that started there has a new outpost in downtown Wilmington. It's serving its nachos, quesadillas, wings and tacos at Pour Taproom at201 N. Front St. in the Murchison Building.
Four Cousins Ice Cream:The name of this new shop in Topsail Beach comes from the owners’ four grandchildren. They offer house-made ice cream (in flavors like Blondie Crunch, Lemon Italian Ice and Pecan Pie), as well as milkshakes, waffle cones, coffee and dessert. They’re open seven days a week beginning at noon at 718 S. Anderson Blvd.
Outer Banks Boil Company: This seafood company that specializes in packaging all the ingredients for a beach-side feast via take out or catering has a dozen locations from Florida to Virginia. One of the newest is in Oak Island, at5003 E. Oak Island Drive, and they held their grand opening celebration earlier this month.
More: Wilmington sushi restaurateur grows business with new eatery and a warehouse
Closings
Chicken In TheBox: This fried chicken spot has been a hidden gem in Wilmington's Brooklyn Arts District for four years. The owners quietly closed the restaurant at 1124 N. Fourth St. in early July.
Mimi’s Sandwich Shack: In the Southport/Boiling Spring Lakes area, the owner of this comfort food spot at 3148 George II Highway S.E. announced that due to a sale of their building, they'd have to close after only a year in business.
Bottles: This bar opened in 2021 with a focus on natural wines and evolved into a popular gathering spot in Wilmington’s Cargo District at 615 S. 15thSt. It was also home a music venue called The Place that’s also closed.
More: The latest in restaurants: 15 openings and closings in the Wilmington area
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Allison Ballard is the food and dining reporter at the StarNews. You can reach her at aballard@gannett.com.
