SOUTHEASTERN N.C. — If stuffing the bird, whipping the mashed potatoes and piping the whipped topping onto the pumpkin pie brings more anxiety than solace, put away the roasting and baking pans. Plenty of restaurants are open for Thanksgiving.
Below is a list to consider this holiday, with restaurants primarily located in the Wilmington area. Be sure to call ahead for reservations, if applicable, to ensure a table is available — or order ahead for pickup.
Community events, including vegan potlucks and free meals or other potlucks hosted by community organizations, are also listed below.
Happy Thanksgiving!
RESTAURANTS OPEN
Bluewater Waterfront Grill
4 Marina Drive, Wrightsville Beach • bluewaterdining.com
Enjoy a meal overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway. Thanksgiving plates at Bluewater are $40 for adults and $18 for kids. Servings include roasted turkey or Black Forest baked ham, mashed Yukon Gold or sweet potatoes, sausage apple stuffing, homemade gravy, collards, cranberry sauce, and rolls or cornbread. Dessert is a choice of pumpkin cheesecake torte or pumpkin pie.
A Thanksgiving family meal is also being served to-go. Four to six people can be fed for $160 and there are whole pies available for $29.
Call 910-256-8500 for a reservation or to place to-go orders.
Bridge Tender
1414 Airlie Drive • thebridgetender.com
The Bridge Tender will open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, serving a varied menu of traditional items plus seafood and more.
Prices are a la carte and offered $10 to $49. There is turkey breast, grilled grouper, tortellini, prime rib and more, plus a bevy of sides including sweet potato, succotash, roasted carrots and others. Desserts include pumpkin cream cheesecake and fudge brownie.
Buzz’s Roost at the Beach
8 Pavilion Ave S, Carolina Beach
Annually, Buzz’s Roost on Carolina Beach opens up free food to anyone who comes through its doors from noon to 5 p.m.
This year will feature a low-country boil, including crab legs, shrimp, oysters, clams, mussels, crawfish and oysters with potatoes and corn. Plus, chicken and pastry will be available.
Anyone interested must RSVP on the event page here to receive a free meal as limited options are available.
Casey’s Buffet
5559 Oleander Drive • caseysbuffet.com
Homemade country cookin’ is always available at Casey’s, whose buffet is stocked with turkey and dressing, ham and fried chicken and seafood. Of course, don’t forget the sides — mashed potatoes, squash casserole, turnip greens, sweet potato souffle, finished off with choice of pie or banana pudding.
The buffet is open from 11 a.m. to. 5 p.m., first-come, first-serve on Thanksgiving Day.
Elijah’s
2 Ann St. • elijahs.com
Elijah’s will have a Thanksgiving buffet from noon to 6 p.m. on Nov. 27. The price is $42 per person or $20 for kids 12 and under. Served will be turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, crab dip, sweet potato casserole, shrimp and grits, green bean casserole and other sides, plus dessert like banana pudding and pecan pie.
Call (910) 343-1448 to reserve a spot or place an order.
Fork n Cork
122 Market St. • https://theforkncork.com
The Fork N Cork in downtown Wilmington is opening its doors at 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. for the second annual Fork n Cork Thanksgiving Cluster Fork.
Thanksgiving plates will be $14, and will include BBQ Turkey Sandwiches and “Leftover” Mashup Sandwiches. The bar will be open for service, too — however, no Fork n Cork staff is required to work. Ownership and volunteers run the show, so patience is appreciated. The dinner also acts as an open potluck if folks choose to contribute.
Owner Dustin Smith restaurant started the tradition last year to serve loners and downtown neighbors with nowhere to go for the holiday, as well as emergency personnel who often have to work on Thanksgiving.
Front Street Brewery
9 N. Front St. • frontstreetbrewery.com
Open from 11:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Nov. 27, Front Street Brewery always has traditional turkey plates to enjoy while dining in or to take home and enjoy while watching the games. It also has its full menu — food and beer — available for purchase.
The Thanksgiving plates are also economical at $13.99 and include turkey, green beans, mashed potatoes and gravy and stuffing. No reservations are required.
The Harp
1423 S. Third St. • harpwilmington.com
Located in the South Front District, The Harp will bring back its Thanksgiving Day buffet. It will consist of all the traditional holiday items. It’s open from noon to 5 p.m.
Reservations can be made by calling 910-763-1607 and the restaurant will accommodate walk-ins, if available.
Junction 421
5104 South College Road • junction421.com
Though not open, Junction 421 is offering a $120 Thanksgiving to go package, to feed four people. It comes with roasted turkey or sliced ham, as well as three sides — roasted corn chowder, mashed potatoes, cornbread dressing, sweet potato casserole, broccoli casserole and house salad. There is also apple sangria and cran-apple cake available for purchase.
Folks can order by calling 910-392-3490.
La Duna Paradiso
275 Waynick Blvd. • ladunaparadiso.com
The restaurant is open in Trailborn Surf and Sound hotel on Wrightsville Beach and will have a feast for diners for $85 a person and $45 for kids 5-12; it’s free for kids under 4.
La Dun Paradiso’s meal will start off with a house bread basket, including crunch baguette, focaccia and sourdough rolls. The main course will include Joyce Farms roasted turkey breast and pure maple glazed Carolina ham.
Side dishes include chestnut and cranberry stuffing, sweet potato puree, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, Brussels, haricot verts, Cranberry compote, and dessert to include pumpkin and pecan pie.
Reservations can be made here from noon to 6:30 p.m.
Oceanic
703 S Lumina Ave. • oceanicrestaurant.com
The beachside restaurant is opening from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and though reservations are not needed, they’re suggested.
Adults eat for $40 and kids under 10 for $18. The entree will consist of herb-roasted turkey breast and homemade gravy, whipped garlic potatoes, cornbread stuffing, green beans, and cranberry sauce. Dessert comes with a choice of pecan, Key lime or pumpkin pie.
The full Oceanic menu will also be served. Call for reservations at 910-256-5551.
The Pilot House
2 Ann St. • pilothouserest.com
Reservations are being accepted at The Pilot House overlooking downtown’s Cape Fear River, with seatings starting at noon.
The restaurant will have traditional Thanksgiving classics served as a four-course meal. The first will consist of a choice of crispy Brussels or crab and shrimp-stuffed portabella mushroom, followed by butternut squash bisque or an apple crunch salad.
The entree will be either turkey or prime rib, served with cornbread stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, roasted veggies, sweet potatoes and cranberry sauce.
Dessert is a choice of pumpkin cheesecake, pecan bread pudding and apple cobbler a la mode.
Call (910) 343-0200 for reservations.
PinPoint Restaurant
114 Market St. • https://pinpointrestaurant.com
Pinpoint Thanksgiving dinner is served family-style, for $95 a person, with seatings from 12:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
The meal includes a fall salad, roasted turkey breast, dark meat confit, ham with Gran Marnier glaze, cranberry sauce, roasted garlic mash, root vegetables, ciabatta stuffing, collards, smoked cheddar mac, fried Brussels, corn bread and apple bread pudding for dessert.
Reservations are required by calling 910-769-2972 and the event always sells out.
Ruth’s Chris Steak House
301 N. Water St. • ruthschris.com
Opening at 11 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day, downtown Wilmington’s Ruth’s Chris Steak House is serving a three-course Thanksgiving meal for $48, with a kids menu priced $20.
The meal starts with a choice of salad or gumbo, followed by oven-roasted turkey, sausage stuffing and gravy, and cranberry sauce. It comes with a choice of side: garlic mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, creamed spinach, or roasted Brussels sprouts — finished off with pumpkin cheesecake.
Ruth’s Chris is also offering to-go catering for Thanksgiving, but it must be ordered 48 hours in advance. Sides are also available a la carte, starting at $30.
Steam
9 Estell Place • https://steamrestaurantilm.com
With a panoramic view of the Cape Fear River, Steam at Embassy Suites will open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 28.
Steam is serving a Thanksgiving brunch for $54 per adult or $26 for kids (6 and under, $9).
The menu includes local oysters, artisan cheese, deviled eggs, plus prime rib, and brined turkey, herb-crusted prime rib and brown sugar and mustard smoked ham, served with poblano creamed corn, green bean casserole, cornbread safe stuffing, brown butter whipped potatoes, sweet potato pecan casserole, and housemade cranberry sauce.
A chef’s selection of desserts will be available as well as holiday-inspired drinks.
Call 910-726-9226 for reservations.
Solstice Kitchen and Cocktails
1706 N. Lumina Ave. • solsticewrightsvillebeach.com
A Thanksgiving buffet will be available from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Solstice is located in the Holiday Inn Resort at Wrightsville Beach.
Cost is $75 per person and reservations can be made by calling (910) 344-6802.
FREE COMMUNITY EVENTS
Beach Community Church
5N 4th St., Carolina Beach • http://beachcommunitychurch.net
Free meals are being served to the community at noon, 1:15 p.m. and 2 p.m. and no reservation is needed to partake.
RSVP by sending a text to 559-536-8902, with your name, time and guest count.
Hampstead Baptist Church Community Thanksgiving
67 Factory Road, Hampstead • https://hampsteadbaptist.org
A tradition for a local congregation, Hampstead Baptist Church, brings together friends and strangers to enjoy a meal together and camaraderie.
It started as a place of respite for anyone without a place to go but the church has opened its annual Thanksgiving celebration to anyone who would like to attend.
Hampstead Baptist Church provides turkey and beverages and asks everyone else to bring a side dish. Dinner is served at noon and lasts until 2 p.m., but the church is open early for anyone who wishes to enjoy fellowship.
The Healing Place
1000 Medical Center Drive • thpnc.org
The Healing Place is opening its doors on Thanksgiving to feed anyone who needs fellowship, friends, family, and a delicious hot meal. Lunch is served from noon to 6 p.m.
The Healing Place helps people with addiction issues and homelessness free of charge. Programs include long-term residential treatment to outpatient care, an overnight emergency shelter and more.
To provide free Thanksgiving meals for the community, THP is accepting donations for its meal through Nov. 25, including turkey, sides, pies, and all the fixin’s. Drop off at 1000 Medical Center Drive from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Myrtle Grove Presbyterian Thanksgiving Project
Myrtle Grove Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 800 Piner Road
For four decades, MG Presbyterian Church has fed the community for Thanksgiving. Annually, it feeds roughly 1,500 people, with this year’s Thanksgiving Project taking place Thursday, Nov. 27, this year.
Volunteers are needed to help. They can make a cash donation, buy and bake a turkey to return to the church fully cooked on Nov. 26, 5 p.m., or carve, slice and prep the Thanksgiving sides at the Myrtle Grove Gym on Wednesday night (bring a knife please).
Day-of help is also needed at 9 a.m. to box meals and deliver them to families throughout the community. Delivery drivers will pick up meals from the church at 11 a.m. and receive their routes; delivery drivers are needed as well.
Sign up here or call 910-617-5619.
Northside Missions Feast of Hope
2501 N. College Road • https://northside.church/feastofhope
A free Thanksgiving meal is offered to those in need from Northside Missions.
Available on a first-come, first-served basis, Northside Missions distribute free meals on Thanksgiving from 9 a.m. to noon. For those who cannot eat on site in the patio area, pick-up is also available.
Each person receives a Thanksgiving meal plate, dessert, and a message of hope.
Call 910-431-0418 to volunteer or learn more here.
ThanksLiving Vegan Potluck
South Front Street Apartments, 1400 S. Second St.
Monthly, a group of vegans get together to host meals and share recipes. November is the most attended, with a ThanksLiving celebration planned for 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at S. Front Street Apartment.
Open to all vegans, it takes place in the great-room area. Everyone is encouraged to bring a homemade dish, sans meat, fish butter, honey, gelatin, milk, meat stocks or bone broths, and the like.
Be sure to bring sustainable dishware to eat on as no utensils, napkins or plates will be available, and bring a drink to enjoy. Dining is open indoors and outdoors.
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