If you love trying new restaurants and sampling unique flavors, escape to the North Carolina coast and Wrightsville Beach for a foodie-inspired trip featuring fresh flavors from land and sea.
Read on for our three-day itinerary full of some of the best flavors of the island:
Day 1
Start your tasting tour of the island off on the right foot with a refreshing smoothie bowl from Adapt Kitchen & Juice Bar. Load it up with toppings from fresh fruit to nut butters, granola, goji berries, coconut chips and much more. Or, try an artisanal-style toast on locally baked country sourdough. Prepare to take on your day by grabbing an Organic “Japanese-Style” Iced Coffee, which is made with strong, hot coffee brewed directly over ice to extract a wide range of flavors that are locked in when it is flash-chilled.
A landmark for decades, Fish House Grill is a prime spot to enjoy your midday meal waterside. Located at the foot of the Wrightsville Beach drawbridge, dine on the outdoor deck and enjoy scenic views as you watch boats pass by on the Intracoastal Waterway. There are plenty of mouth-watering options to choose from, like the Ahi Tuna Tacos or the Po’ Boy with fried shrimp or flounder and chipotle remoulade. Other lunch options include a variety of salads like the Apple Walnut Salad with granny smith apples, blue cheese crumbles, candied walnuts and a blueberry walnut vinaigrette.
For dinner, head to EAST Oceanfront Dining at the Blockade Runner Beach Resort to savor incredible ocean views and award-winning creative fare. Nosh on seafood-centric and vegetarian dishes, reflecting influences from California, Mexico, Asia and the Mediterranean. You’ll taste the freshness in each bite thanks to the restaurant’s use of fresh local seafood, produce from its own garden and other ingredients harvested from local purveyors. Try the Scallops with a soy ginger glaze or one of the seasonal fall dishes like the Pomegranate Goat Cheese Salad or the Pork Porterhouse with an apple cider bourbon glaze.
Day 2
Not only does The Workshop offer gourmet espresso and quality French fare, this unique spot also offers the chance to browse unique handmade fossil jewelry. Get your caffeine fix with one of their signature drinks like the Lavender and Honey Latte served alongside an almond croissant or ham, egg and cheese sandwich. Peruse the collection of jewelry handmade by the shop owners from mako great white, tiger and megalodon shark teeth found in the area.
Sit inside at South Beach Grill to enjoy the interior that pays homage to the building’s art deco origins, or dine outside on the covered patio overlooking the scenic Banks Channel. Try a daily chalkboard special for some fresh, local seafood and the flavors of fall, like the Autumn Squash Frites. Or, opt for one of their delicious signature dishes, like the Crab and Seafood Nachos or Grouper Linda with a spiced pecan crust, pan seared with backfin crabmeat, spring onion and a cream sherry beurre blanc sauce.
Located on the sandy shores of the Atlantic Ocean, Oceanic Restaurant boasts a unique coastal atmosphere indoors and plenty of covered al fresco dining space on its pier. Foodies will be in their happy place thanks to dishes showcasing creative and exotic flavors, like Seared Diver Scallops served in a green curry-coconut broth and Tropical Pan-Roasted Salmon served with a passionfruit-chile glaze and mango-cucumber relish.
Day 3
For your third day, relax at SUNday’s Café, a casual, locally owned coffee shop and cafe located above South End Surf Shop. Grab a Honey Cinnamon Latte or a simple cup of coffee or tea with plenty of alternative milk options for diets of all kinds. Fill up on a delicious smoothie or an acai bowl loaded with toppings like granola, chocolate chips, coconut and peanut butter, and enjoy the laid-back atmosphere. SUNday’s Café also offers local baked goods from Spoonfed Kitchen & Bake Shop and The Veggie Wagon.
Shark Bar & Kitchen offers a coastal casual lunch experience in a bright and airy atmosphere. The kitchen uses locally and sustainably sourced seafood, meats and produce, and the fresh catch varies daily based on what the boats bring in. Whether you order the fresh Flounder au Gratin, the Tuna Poke from the raw bar, the Shark Bar Burger with their secret sauce or something else entirely, your taste buds will be impressed.
End your getaway in style as you watch the sun set over the water with panoramic views of the Intracoastal Waterway from the dockside patio at Bluewater Waterfront Grill. Go all out for your final meal, starting with Roasted Oysters, Spicy Calamari or a Tuna Crudo. Move on to your entree with Grilled Island Mahi Mahi, Baby Back Ribs, Bluewater Shrimp and Grits or the NC-Style Calabash Platter. Celebrate your successful foodie trip with something sweet, like a slice of Caribbean Fudge Pie or Key Lime Pie.
Indulge your inner foodie with a trip to Wrightsville Beach to experience all the flavors of the island. With so many locally owned restaurants to choose from, it’s easy to customize your itinerary.
