Port City Taste is underway with 30 ways to support local restaurants

February 21, 2025

Port City Taste features a three-course menu from Brasserie du Soleil, which features octopus as one of its appetizer options. (Courtesy photo)

WILMINGTON — The most delicious week of winter has arrived, as Port City Taste kicked off Friday across southeastern North Carolina.

The area’s premier restaurant week — hosted by Port City Daily and its sister media outlets 98.3 The Penguin and 93.7 The Dude — takes place for 10 days, through Sunday, March 2. Upward of 20 restaurants are participating with 30 offers that fit all palates and price points.

New this year is a three-tiered pricing structure to fit every budget. Diners will find lunches for $20, from counter service casual dining to more upscale table service, including sandwiches, burgers, seafood and more.

There are also fine-dining options with dinners priced $35 and $50, and quite a few restaurants are offering dinner for two for $50. French, Asian, classic American, Low Country, fondue — the options are plenty, with restaurants located from downtown to midtown, north to south Wilmington, to Wrightsville Beach and Leland.

There are newbies joining the restaurant week ranks — such as Bonita Latin Fusion, Covey Restaurant, and Rooster and Crow — alongside consummate lifers that have been participating since it started in 2009 (we’re looking at you, YoSake, Pilot House and Elijah’s).

Supporting restaurants created and operated by Wilmingtonians helps foster a thriving economy. In essence, the more support diners show for local spots, the more money circulates directly within the region. The nonprofit Business Alliance for Local Living Economies breaks it down like this: For every $100 spent at a local business or restaurant, $68 stays in the community, as compared to $43 retained by a national chain’s footprint.

Aside from keeping more funds in the area, restaurant week also is fun. It gives diners a prime opportunity to be introduced to places they haven’t visited before, new and old. With so many great eateries existing in Wilmington, it also gives chefs and staff a way to get creative with new items — for instance, Elijah’s is rolling out an oyster roll this week — and show off their best.

In addition to showing support for these businesses, we also invite participants to cast their votes for their favorite stops by texting the restaurant name to 910-332-0983 or 910-815-2663. We will crown a winner for Best Of Port City Taste for each price tier and all votes must be in by Sunday, March 2.

See all menus below; click the blue links.