SUB STOP

Sub Stop
2400 block of Carolina Beach Road
Wilmington, NC

The Sub Stop has been in business at the same location since 1978 in the old Holly Farms Chicken Restaurant. While other sub shops have come and gone they just keep getting better. The present owner has taken everything that was good and made it even better. None of this prepackage NY Style greasy stuff here. Everything is made when you order it with the freshish product available. You will not find a better sub anywhere. What I really like is the fried mushrooms. The batter is just a little different than all the other places around and really makes a difference and their style ranch dipping sauce just can't be beat. Fast and quick service is what you will get and with a smile and you can have it your way or one of the 19 or 20 subs on the menu, plus things like fried pickles, fried okra, fried mushrooms, etc. and they know how to fry food and not be greasy. Oh Yeah, real Southern Sweet Tea. Just don't get any better.

ENGLESE'S ITALIAN RESTAURANT

Englese's Italian Restaurant
13460 Highway 50-210 Suite 102
Surf City, NC 28445

This was a pleasant find on a short road trip the other day. Great service and fantastic food, something I have learned not to expect at the local beaches.
Let me state first I do not like Salmon once you get past Salmon Patties my mother made. So to my surprise the only thing I saw on the menu that interested me was their Crusted Salmon. Really I was not expecting to like it when it came out. Man was I wrong, added just a touch of salt and pepper and I had a meal that was fit for a king. If that doesn't sound like you would like it, then try something else because they have all the regular Italian foods along with a couple of unique dishes that are worth trying. If you are ever up Surf City way give them a try every one there kids and adults alike seemed to really be enjoying their meals.

HOLLAND'S SHELTER CREEK RESTAURANT

Holland's Shelter Creek Restaurant
8315 Hwy 53 East
Burgaw, NC 28425
910-259-5743

Just 7.5 mile east of Burgaw on Highway 53 overlooking Shelter Creek you will fine one of the best seafood and Cajun style restaurants anywhere. When I say overlooking that is exactly what I mean with the dining area built out over Shelter Creek this rustic style restaurant will remind you of days gone by. You eat your meal in a relaxed atmosphere you just don't find this day in time.

Just a sample of some of the wide range of food available include, catfish, frog legs, scallops, fish, deviled crab, oysters, BBQ, pork chops, chicken tenders, hamburgers, hotdog, BLTs and the list just keeps on going. Soups, salads, plate dinners, sandwiches and submarines fixed Cajun or local Southern style you cannot go wrong. There is something there for everyone and every age.

After your meal save room to get some hand-dipped ice cream on the way out. I promise you will come back.

SZECHUAN BUFFET

Szechuan Buffet
6932-b Market Street
Wilmington, NC
452-2855

Szechuan Buffet has been here for years and has been run by the same family. Over the years it has had some bad press and mostly due to bad reporting and investigation by the local news. As many cases the past our local news seemed to report a story and then investigate it to find out if their facts are correct. In every case that I checked about Szechuan Buffet the reports were wrong. This said I would like to tell what I found during a recent visit.

During our last several visits the restaurant was found to be exceptionally clean and the best service I have found at any local buffet. The food was hot and plenty of choices to pick from. I personally think it is one of if not the best Oriental buffet in Southeast North Carolina. The menu includes the regulars at Oriental buffets, plus steak and fried blue crab. The sushi bar has a wide choice of sushi that should satisfy anyone that is looking for sushi. Good desert selection which include soft service ice cream. The salad bar almost always has watermelon, cantaloupe and fresh pineapple. To top it off you can get hot or real Southern sweet tea or the other standard beverages.

Las Olas Mexi-Q Grill

Las Olas Mexi-Q Grill
1127- A2 Military Cutoff Rd
Wilmington, NC 28405

Even Taco Bell is better. Bland or just no taste. Maybe I have been spoiled by real Mexican food. To call it Tex Mex is insulting to 2 countries. Service was fair. I will not waste my time going back to give this place second try. Really the food was just to bad for it to have been an off day. The black beans were horrible, tasted like they were using one of the old store brands. Chips were oily, but I will say the salsa was fair maybe even good. The chicken and BBQ had no taste, the cheese toast was good, now that I did like, but it would have been better if they had used real cheese and not a cheese food that way it would not have been as oily.

To be perfectly honest the food was better when I was in boot camp.

K'S CAFE

K's Cafe
420 Eastwood Road
Unit 109
910-791-6995
http://www.ks-cafe.net

If you are looking for a good place to eat breakfast, K's is the place. Hand's down the best in the Wilmington area. "Voted Best Breakfast in Town by WWAY Newschannel 3" and they got it right, The food is not only good but it is reasonably priced, maybe even cheap. If you go there you will not be going any where else. Service? TOPS. So what are you waiting on? Try it and let me know what you think. I'll be surprised if I see any complaints, even small ones
.

You will not find a better breakfast in Wilmington. K's has fantastic service, exactly what you expect in a Southern cafe. Drop back into the 1930s 40s or 50s and think of the old time local cafes and the great food and service you could get and that is what K's has. Great cooking and on top of all this it is cheap. 

Lunch? You'll just have to try it. Everything I said about breakfast is true about lunch. You will probably pay a little more, but you will not walk away hungry.

Now dinner is not cheap but it is worth every penny you will spend. Follow the link to their web site http://www.ks-cafe.net and look around then make sure you go and try K's, I guarantee you will become a regular.

All in all it is one of my top 5 places I like to go eat.

ASAHI TING

ASAHI TING
5709 B Oleander Drive
Wilmington, NC 28403
Phone 910-392-1868

A pleasant surprise. This is what I call one of our hole in the wall Chinese Restaurants. Actually it is in the same building as Dunkin Donuts / Baskin Robbins. They have  take out, delivery and dine in. Great food and fast service, probably the best Chinese take out in Wilmington. One of the perks is having  donuts and ice cream right next door. absolutely no reason to go away hungry from this location.

Havana's

Havana's
1 North Lake Park Blvd.
Carolina Beach, NC 28428
910-458-2822

Havana's at Carolina Beach has a Sunday brunch that you may or may not want to try. First I will have to say that the service was excellent and so was the atmosphere. 

The Sunday Quiche was good though served loop warm as was the rest of the meal with some exceptions. The fruit was served cool and was very tasty in fact was the highlight of the meal. The Catfish Po Boy was a disappointment.It would have made a great salad, plenty of lettuce, tomato and bread, BUT the fish what there was of it was so thin you could have read the menu through it. Now my favorite was the Fresh Chips a little on the salty side but the sauce that comes with them to dip with is fantastic. 

All in all for a meal at the beach not bad, but they could improve. Will I try them again? Of course, maybe next time at night and give the dinner menu a shot. Prices? A little high, but you're at the beach.