Los Primos Restaurant

Los Primos Restaurant
3530 Carolina Beach Road
Wilmington, NC 28401
910-443-3840

I am very sorry report that Los Primos has closed. As the best authentic Mexican restaurant on the east coast it will be MISSED. Just proves that even the best have a hard time in a bad location. Wishing the Brian and his staff the best in what ever the future brings them.

Have to be honest and say my first visit was a little disappointing but I went back a week later and am glad I did. Los Primos is  one of my top picks. The management goes out of their way to  make sure you are happy and will be coming back. If you are looking for HOME COOKED authentic Mexican food this is where you want to go. Now if you are a fan of Tamales you have to try theirs. No one else in town comes close. This is not the run of the mill Mexican eatery. You feel more like you are in someones home than in a restaurant. Remember back in the days when I would go to my mother in laws and she would not sit down to eat until she was sure everyone was full and happy.

They are a welcome addition to southwest side of town.
Http://www.LosPrimosRestaurants.com

Boathouse Restaurant

Boathouse Restaurant
6328 Oleander Drive
Wilmington, NC

Near Bradley Creek on Oleander the seafood is among the best in Wilmington. The real surprise is the Friday Special. They serve spaghetti and it is way better than what you will find in most of the so called Italian spots in town. Nice relaxed atmosphere, easy to find and the management makes sure you know  that they are glad you stopped by.

Lane's Ferry Dock and Grill

Lane's Ferry Dock and Grill
11016 HWY 210
Rocky Point, NC

Another great place to have a light lunch. The grill is right at the bridge that crosses the Cape Fear River on HWY 210 between Rocky Point and Hampstead. They have old fashion homemade hamburger and cheeseburgers, patties made on site and on Thursdays and Fridays some of the best barbeque you are going to find on the coast. It is located in the old Lane's Ferry general Store that has been there as long as I can remember and I have been going up there for over 40 years. Try it you will not be sorry.

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.