If you want the freshest, highest-quality sushi around, look no further than The Bento Box. Chef Lee Grossman earned his stripes under the watchful eye of a master sushi chef and has cultivated his knowledge of the art of sushi over numerous years in the restaurant business. Today he maintains close relationships with some of the finest fish vendors the world over, acquiring amazing cuts of choice fish from Scotland, Japan and many other sought-after fishing grounds. With traditional and contemporary choices, diners will find themselves awash in a sea of delicacies from the cutting board of Chef Lee. Take a seat at the bar and watch as he assembles magical dishes right before your eyes or catch the action from the flat-screen TV featuring closed circuit shots of his handiwork. The Bento Box is closed on weekends and open Monday through Wednesday from 11:30 AM until 9 PM and Thursday and Friday from 11:30 AM until 10 PM.

Located between Wrightsville Beach and Wilmington, Boca Bay's covered outdoor patio, fountain and palm trees provide a relaxed, upbeat atmosphere. When you’re hungry but not quite sure what you’re in the mood for, this is the place to go. Boca Bay’s tapas-style menu allows you and your companions to create your own dining experience by sharing a variety of specialties from around the world, served in smaller portions so you can enjoy several different yet complementary flavors in one meal. Of course, you’ll want to complete your meal with one of Boca Bay’s delectable desserts. Boca Bay is open every day for dinner and for Sunday brunch as well. Reservations are welcome.

Loosely translated as "Eatery of the Sun," the latest jewel in restaurateur Ash Aziz’s crown is nestled in the heart of Lumina Station and continues his tradition of fine dining establishments. Featuring a delightful assortment of appetizers as well as a make-your-own salad option, the starters on the menu are top notch. Follow these with one of the sumptuous fish or steak entrees for a perfectly cooked main course. If you have any room left, the dessert list is superb. With a distinctive interior design, outstanding service and all the right peripheral touches (including a fantastic selection of wines, beers and cocktails), this spot lights up diner’s palates year round.

Want to find a restaurant where upscale quality food and drink meet a casual atmosphere? Look no further than City Tavern. This Charlotte franchise has been a top spot in the Queen City for years and their Wilmington location continues their tradition of great food and tasty cocktails. With lunch, dinner and brunch menus, City Tavern offers top-notch cuisine that’s reasonably priced and sure to meet the requirements of the most demanding diners. The bar menu features more than 40 wines by the glass and more than 45 specialty martinis, along with an outstanding selection of domestic and imported beers. Daily specials go above and beyond the set menu’s fantastic choices, leaving the City Tavern client sated and ready for one of the establishment's sumptuous desserts. If you’re looking for a comfortable spot to enjoy an exceptional meal or beverage, stop by City Tavern.

Featuring a diverse and delicious variety of cuisine, Hiro is one of Wilmington’s busiest restaurants and caters to large parties such as business meetings, birthdays and parties. Centrally located, Hiro is perfect for fans of sushi as well as those in the mood for a little showmanship with their dinner. The hibachi preparation features top-notch chefs who display their remarkable cooking skills while putting on a dazzling display of dexterity, juggling their implements and your food at the same time. With numerous chicken, beef, seafood and vegetarian options available, you’ll undoubtedly be able to find something to your liking. Start off your meal with a custom cocktail or martini from their extensive list.

Located just before the bridge to Wrightsville Beach, Jerry's has been serving the finest in upscale cuisine for the past 13 years. Utilizing the freshest seafood, Jerry's offers gems like the Caribbean grouper, the stuffed flounder and Jerry's favorite, the grilled salmon. In the mood for something on the heartier side? Try the New Zealand rack of lamb or perhaps the mouth-watering Chateaubriand, served with a port wine and shiitake mushroom sauce. Featuring reasonably priced wines from your basic Hess Select Cabernet to high-end labels such as the Latour private reserve from Jerry's exclusive collection, the wine list has something for the novice to the seasoned connoisseur. Executive Chef Jason Godwin has honed his skills at other area restaurants and, along with sous-chef Steve Powell, plies his trade with the skill of a seasoned veteran. Open for dinner seven days a week, Jerry's ranks among the finest of Wilmington's upscale dining establishments.

If you're looking for a healthy meal made with entirely fresh ingredients, Lovey's is the perfect spot for a sit-down lunch or a quick take-out snack. This natural foods spot features a hot and cold bar that offers copious salad options as well as daily specialty items. Try a delicious organic hot dog or hamburger from their menu. Lovey's has an extensive cafe menu with daily specials for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. With a variety of warm soups and beverages for the health conscious, Lovey's is ideal for those watching their diets. In addition to offering carrot and wheatgrass juice at the Juice Bar, they also have an extensive selection of smoothies, made on the spot with only the freshest fruits. Vegans and vegetarians, this is the place for you! If you're near the beach and have the urge for something that tastes great and is good for you, give Lovey's a try.

Fans of tasty microbrews can now enjoy a cold one at Main St. Brewing Company. Transforming the former location of Smokey Bones into a beachy, surf-inspired eatery, the new vibe at this spot is super laid back. Bringing a fantastic compliment of handmade beers from the downtown location, Main St. pours the tasty Port City IPA, the sumptuous Raspberry Wheat, Milk Chocolate Stout and many more, all brewed downtown at Front Street Brewery. In addition, the pub grub is perhaps the best in the general vicinity, featuring pulled chicken nachos, buffalo shrimp with Gorgonzola crumbles and slow-cooked chicken wings that are smoked rather than deep fried. The restaurant is non-smoking and boasts 35 televisions as well as Foosball and pool tables, shuffleboard and video games.

Mama Fu's offers delicious Pan-Asian dishes using the freshest ingredients. Enjoy a stir-fry or noodle bowl freshly prepared in an individual wok with no MSG or trans fats. Mama Fu's also features fantastic appetizers like potstickers, lettuce wraps and sushi grade ahi. Try one of their tasty salads and indulge in entrees like grouper, pork and steak for traditional American fare. Mama's has kid-friendly menu items like chicken tenders, mac & cheese and Ninja Noodles. Domestic and Asian beers, a fine selection of wines and Sake-tinis round out the restaurant's beverage selections. Enjoy dining inside or on the patio. Reservations are accepted. A terrific choice for take out, Mama can arrange delivery for all orders over $100. Mama Fu's will also bring the party to you with their outstanding catering service. Daily specials include half-price wine and beer on Thursdays. Kids eat free on Monday all day long with the purchase of an adult meal. Kids who dine at Mama Fu's also receive reduced admission passes for Monkey Joe's.

Whether you're dining in for lunch, enjoying a late-afternoon snack or ordering from the deli case, NOFO Cafe & Market is a delicious choice in a casual setting. Luncheon choices include two daily specials and two homemade soups in addition to the regular menu of hearty deli sandwiches, meal-size salads and homemade desserts. Can't find a sandwich to your liking? Try it "your way" from a list of deli meats and salads, cheeses, breads, condiments and side items. If you're on the go for lunch, fax your order and they'll have it waiting for you. NOFO also offers an appetizing alternative menu for special diets, corporate lunch boxes, a take-out deli counter and catering. NOFO To Go features a daily menu of supper specials that are cooked and ready to pick up. Also check out the frozen food case for meal solutions. Sunday Brunch adds egg and breakfast entrees to the cafe's regular menu. NOFO is open for dinner, Monday through Saturday, with all ABC permits. A colorful and appealing array of specialty foods awaits you in the market area attached to the deli. You'll find shelves of gourmet foods, condiments and sauces (many from North Carolina) in addition to mouth-watering imported chocolates, specialty teas and coffee beans, imported and domestic wine and much more. Gift baskets are a popular feature of the market. NOFO Cafe & Market opens at 10 AM seven days a week.

Enjoy a slice of Tuscany when you dine at this exquisite restaurant located in The Forum. Featuring brick-oven–baked pizzas, succulent anitpasto selections with traditional items, and knockout house specialties, the restaurant offers an experience that's similar to enjoying the Tuscan countryside. With a fabulous selection of wines to pair with your meal, you'll enjoy all the elements of a typical Italian meal served in an warm atmosphere with elegant interior design. Open for lunch and dinner, Osteria Cicchetti offers all the touches to create la dolce vita.

When you want a freshly grilled burger or chicken sandwich, forget the fast-food mills. Consistently voted Best Burger by Encore magazine's annual poll, P.T.'s can't be beat. Every menu item is a package deal that includes a sandwich (whopping half-pound Angus beef burgers, tender chicken breast, hot dogs, fresh roast beef, turkey and more), fresh-cut, spiced, skin-on French fries (or substitute a side salad) and a soft drink, refill included. Prices are low, and quality is high. You place your order by filling in an idiot-proof order form and dropping it through the window if you're eating on the outdoor deck. Order at the counter if you're eating inside. Your meal is prepared to order and ready in about 10 minutes -- fast food that doesn't taste like fast food. P.T.'s also offers an alternative to beef with the lower calorie, low-fat Gardenburger. P.T.'s is west of S. College Road across from the south end of the UNCW campus. Or try their locations at the Progress Point Center on Military Cutoff Road or on South 17th Street in Wilmington. Take-out orders are welcome and may be habit-forming. P.T.'s is open daily until 9 PM and does not accept checks.

This five-star restaurant alone is worth a trip to the coast. Port Land Grille knows the art of fine dining. The ambiance, indoors and out, offers an appealing sense of style with oversized tables draped with white tablecloths, black and white photographs of Old Wrightsville Beach, comfortable rooms with a view, exquisite service and, weather permitting, picturesque dining on the patio overlooking a landscaped pond at Lumina Station. Though the restaurant is reminiscent of the classy supper clubs of bygone eras, the food is its key to success. Chef Shawn Wellersdick is renowned for his ability to transform quality ingredients into a meal of layered flavors and for his side dishes that rival the entree in taste and creativity. An excellent example is his version of mashed sweet potatoes (the secret involves scented vanilla beans).

The menu includes meal-sized appetizers, especially when coupled with one of Port Land Grille's salads. A favorite is the crab cake nestled on a bed of buttered baby lima beans and served with an applewood-smoked bacon vinaigrette. A popular salad choice is characterized as a simple Southern salad — a chilled iceberg lettuce wedge with crisp bacon and bleu cheese dressing. Entrees feature fresh seafood (“from the sea”) and organically-raised meats (“from the farm”) such as lamb, duck and bison. There’s an entire steak and chop menu devoted to the highest quality beef and veal where you can choose your own cut, preparation and side dishes. Dessert is memorable, especially Port Land Grille's signature coconut cake. This wonderful confection is seven layers of cake with a lemony filling, topped with a pistachio anglaise. The restaurant's award-winning wine list is almost exclusively American selections, especially small-production boutique wines.

A popular spot for drinks and dining is the beautiful, well-stocked granite bar. Seating here overlooks the action in the open theater-style kitchen. The restaurant is completely nonsmoking, and in addition to the main dining room it offers two private dining areas that seat 20 and 65 people, either of which is perfect for parties and corporate events. Open year-round, Port Land Grille serves dinner Monday through Saturday. Reservations are recommended, particularly on weekends, but walk-in guests are graciously accommodated.

Just a short jaunt from the beach, Rafaella offers top-notch Italian food in a comfortable, elegant setting. Featuring a fantastic wine list and a great selection of martinis, the full bar offers a great way to start your evening. Using the freshest ingredients allows the kitchen to create wonderful entrees, from ravioli and risotto to a perfectly rib eye or New York strip. Featuring an impeccable assortment of garden fresh salads and a compliment of pasta dishes that would make anyone give up their "no carbs" pledge, you'll have a wide variety of choices to make at Rafaella.

For a taste of authentic Italian cuisine, New York–style, Terrazzo is a must-visit. A cozy indoor atmosphere, outdoor patio seating, friendly service and a generous menu make dining here a pleasure. Terrazzo's delicious pizza menu offers a wide selection of toppings, including vegetarian, chicken, surf and turf choices, a white pizza and Terrazzo specialty pizzas. For a light snack, anything from the large selection of tasty appetizers is a good choice. Lunch options include a daily special or generously portioned salads that make a great meal when coupled with the homemade soup of the day. Terrazzo's subs come hot or cold and are truly awesome. The Italian Delight entree choices feature homemade pasta dishes with fresh vegetables, meats and cheeses in delicious sauces and served with Ciabatta bread. Nightly dinner specials often include fresh local seafood. The restaurant serves beer and a huge selection of imported and domestic wines and a full bar. Terrazzo is open Monday through Saturday for lunch and dinner. Come early: This is a popular spot in the Wilmington-Wrightsville Beach area.

The Texas Roadhouse story is simple: legendary food with legendary service inspired by legendary folks! Everything here is made from scratch. Steaks cut by hand, award-winning ribs, grilled salmon, fried catfish, fresh-baked bread and delightful sides are all made from scratch with only the highest-quality ingredients. Leave room for dessert, including Granny's Apple Classic, strawberry cheesecake and a Big Ol' Brownie. Every Tuesday night is Kids' Night, when kids get to enjoy games, crafts and lots of fun while you relax and enjoy your meal. Texas Roadhouse is open for dinner every night and serves lunch Friday through Sunday only.