For over 18 years, the Reel Caf has been Wilmington's premier restaurant and nightlife location. Enjoy dining in our restaurant, live music in our courtyard Oyster Bar, or for a view, our Rooftop Bar overlooking the Cape Fear River. We offer lunch, dinner and a late-night menu. Our menu has a variety of salads, sandwiches, burgers and seafood.
If you feel like making your dining experience a special one choose from our selection of entrees. We also have a large selection seafood steamers and raw oysters, or try the specials prepared daily by our chef. Whether it's a delightful meal, live music or the downtown nightlife, The Reel Caf is the place to be.
If you feel like making your dining experience a special one choose from our selection of entrees. We also have a large selection seafood steamers and raw oysters, or try the specials prepared daily by our chef. Whether it's a delightful meal, live music or the downtown nightlife, The Reel Caf is the place to be.
Reviews (27)
Scott Brown
Jan 09, 2022
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Albert Robinson
Jan 08, 2022
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Needied food and water in a time when I physically needed it. More happy with getting girl up stairs than caring about their patrons trying to feel safe white getting hit on constantly. This is unacceptable and a lawsuit will be filed soon if you do not take approximate action to all accounts. Bar tender turnrd me away because I ordered shot for the troops
Savannah R.
Dec 10, 2021
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Laura Martin
Nov 26, 2021
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April Craig
Oct 29, 2021
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Reto A.
Oct 17, 2021
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Emily Parker
Oct 17, 2021
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Brent Olson
Sep 16, 2021
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Nice place, even for lunch, but DO NOT order the pulled pork. It is very dry and tastes like wet cardboard. I do wish the waitress would have warned me, as they know and have heard the complaints. Apparently the chef disagrees with customer feedback and refuses to do anything about it. I did not finish my sandwich, but it was removed from the Bill luckily. The Mahi Mahi wrap that my wife had was amazing however.
Cathy Bosek
Sep 01, 2021
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Deborah H.
Jun 25, 2021
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Do yourself a favor and go elsewhere! The service was beyond pitiful. We had to repeatedly ask for a few ordered items. The waitress rarely checked on us to refill drinks, confirm that all ordered items were received, provide condiments, etc., as she was too busy conversing with other staff members. And to add insult to injury, without any notification (we double checked the menu and sought bar signage) there was a gratuity of 20% tacked onto our tab.
While placing our dinner order, we were told that they did not have three of the desired items (mozzarella sticks, potato fries, and the only dessert
While placing our dinner order, we were told that they did not have three of the desired items (mozzarella sticks, potato fries, and the only dessert
Larry Beam
Jun 14, 2021
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Greg Howard Caden
Jun 13, 2021
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Randy Herriott
Jun 10, 2021
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Nicole I.
Mar 27, 2021
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Mark C.
Mar 21, 2021
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Used to be a solid place to eat. Last couple of visits the food quality definitely left a lot to be desired. Today we waited for 20 minutes after being seated and no one came to the table. We got up to leave and one girl asked if we would like to order. I informed her that we didn't need to order now since we waited for 20 minutes. Her response was "thats cool". This business has sadly gone down hill for a while now.
Savanah M.
Oct 09, 2020
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Tim S.
Oct 04, 2020
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Nice setting in downtown Wilmington. Place is in a historic building. Inside and outside seating. This is primarily a bar setting with a decent food menu selection.
Service was great. Food is decent. Food is typical American bar food flare.
There are three different bars in this place, that I counted. One on the rooftop, one outside on Front Street, and the main one inside on the first level. Great place to get a drink.
Service was great. Food is decent. Food is typical American bar food flare.
There are three different bars in this place, that I counted. One on the rooftop, one outside on Front Street, and the main one inside on the first level. Great place to get a drink.
Larissa R.
Sep 23, 2020
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We saw the rooftop part of the venue from the street and thought we'd check it out. There were signs everywhere downstairs "masks required" "maintain distance" the usual. Once you get up to the rooftop bar- all rules are off. Ten people deep to get to the bar, so many people you can barely move around, no masks in sight, staff didn't seem to care at all. Restrooms were atrocious. One stall was missing a door, but that didn't stop people from using it. Several other stalls were in desperate need of attention. Saw an employee in the restroom and she said "yea
Feral S.
Sep 19, 2020
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I've always been a fan of the place, and when I went back during COVID to enjoy the patio, I enjoyed the fact they had some new specials I've never seen before, as well as all staff were complying with safety regulations. I'm thankful a long standing favorite downtown restaurant has survived the insanity of this year. I enjoyed a lovely lunch and drinks with my friends- and as always, enjoyed our meal. Loved the curly fries too :-)
Bryce B.
Aug 09, 2020
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If I could go back and do it again, I would have NEVER went to this "restaurant". The food was terrible, service was mediocre, and the bar service was a joke. For starters, I had to explain to the waiter AND bartender how to make a martini. I asked for other beverages and was told they were not available by the waiter only to be told they were in fact available. I ordered a caesar salad with chicken which was almost inedible. The caesar dressing tasted like it was over a year old and the lettuce was not fresh. (I ended up getting sick). They were obviously short staffed as our waiter
Keith R.
Jul 30, 2020
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Me and my friends went out downtown and we decided to stop by the reel cafe and get some food. Based on first impressions the atmosphere is great nice people seated us and took our orders honestly I'm so glad businesses are able to be open during corona buttt.... when I ordered the blackened tuna with the broccoli and mashed potatoes and it got served it looked good but when I dug in to the tuna it was a bit tough and the broccoli was cold and the mashed potatoes were almost as solid as a potato I told the waitress she was great she gave a little discount and was polite. The restaurant was
Rachelle G.
Dec 07, 2019
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Atmosphere: I have not visited during day hours, so I'm not sure how they are as a restaurant... but the reel is a place my friends and I like to visit on the weekends for drinks, dancing , and a good time! It's not high on my list of drinking spots when I go out just because there's just such high competition nearby and other places I love. It's usually one of the last stops
Customer Service: I can't say too much about the customer services because I've pretty much only dealt with bouncers and they seem pretty nice!
Food/ Pricing: drinks are not crazy expensive
Customer Service: I can't say too much about the customer services because I've pretty much only dealt with bouncers and they seem pretty nice!
Food/ Pricing: drinks are not crazy expensive
Kristen D.
Aug 25, 2019
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We went here for a friends birthday dinner because he really wanted crab legs. We personally ended up getting crab dip, chicken nachos, and Alfredo with chicken. The crab dip was tasty. But that was it. I wanted pork for my nachos but they were out so I chose chicken. There was barely any chicken on my nachos at all. And by the time all our food came out my queso was already starting to congeal which wasn't pleasant. My husbands alfredo wasn't great either. It came with about 4 slices of chicken and he said the sauce was just ok. My friends crab legs were cold the first time but the second
Stephanie J.
Jun 22, 2019
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**This review is for the nightlife scene**
Terrible. The bouncers seem to be on a power trip here. You can pay a $5 cover for the "exclusive" rooftop party on the third floor. If you do not want to start a tab you will need to spend over $10 to avoid a 50 cent fee. If you do start a tab be ready to give the bartenders your ID and card to hold (I would expect to show your ID when you close out instead). One of the bathroom stalls was missing a door. On our way out via the elevator, a bouncer ran over to block it. I am not able to walk down multiple flights of stairs currently so he should
Terrible. The bouncers seem to be on a power trip here. You can pay a $5 cover for the "exclusive" rooftop party on the third floor. If you do not want to start a tab you will need to spend over $10 to avoid a 50 cent fee. If you do start a tab be ready to give the bartenders your ID and card to hold (I would expect to show your ID when you close out instead). One of the bathroom stalls was missing a door. On our way out via the elevator, a bouncer ran over to block it. I am not able to walk down multiple flights of stairs currently so he should
Tj C.
Mar 31, 2019
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Group if 4 and we decided to eat outside. Great atmosphere for groups. Our waitress did come over to us right away to get a drink order in . We ordered and app and then our dinner. Both ended up taking anywhere from 20-40 mins to arrive to the table. We sat down at around 8pm. I got the shrimp and grits. For the most part they were pretty good. Shrimp was cooler well and the grits tasted good. There were some harder pieces in it that tasted like peanuts to me which was a bit off putting . Reason I would go back would be for the atmosphere and good drink prices
Jonathan U.
Feb 07, 2019
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Hanging out with a local walking around downtown we ended up in here. She seemed to suggest this just on the fly and I was eager to get something in my stomach so I just said yes. It felt a bit off walking in so we perused the menu a bit first. Saw that it had a good variety of stuff and sat down to eat.
We ordered the longboard nachos to start. I actually ordered them because the other nachos mentioned jalapenos and these mentioned pulled pork and "pimento queso". However, I was incredibly confused when they came out. I asked the waitress if she was sure these were right but even she
We ordered the longboard nachos to start. I actually ordered them because the other nachos mentioned jalapenos and these mentioned pulled pork and "pimento queso". However, I was incredibly confused when they came out. I asked the waitress if she was sure these were right but even she
Christy C.
Oct 29, 2017
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Who doesn't love a good patio in 70 degree October weather????
This place is perfect for that!
I got the hummus wrap add chicken and cheese with fries and my husband got the wings. Other guests in our party with with brunch, eggs Benedict and we all really enjoyed our food.
The service was 5 and the drinks were reasonably priced.
They were able to accommodate our party of 7 which was an added bonus!! The location is perfect.
This place is perfect for that!
I got the hummus wrap add chicken and cheese with fries and my husband got the wings. Other guests in our party with with brunch, eggs Benedict and we all really enjoyed our food.
The service was 5 and the drinks were reasonably priced.
They were able to accommodate our party of 7 which was an added bonus!! The location is perfect.
