Folks Café — Restaurant in Wilmington

I cannot say enough great things about this place. This is one of the true small business gems where a person can come by and experience some of the true culture of Wilmington. Folks Cafe is not just a place for coffee or lunch. Folks Cafe is an experience. Upon entry, the entire little nook of an indoor eating area equates to a funky kind of art gallery. Original art lines the walls and if you look closely, you'll find homey elements of the owners such as family pictures and origin tributes. The owners themselves are truly remarkable people. Everyone who enters is greeted as if they just came home after a long day with a genuine, "Hey! How are you?" Conversation flows easily and meeting new people is this kind of environment is effortless. Most recently, the yard has been transformed into an outdoor eating and relaxation area and the vibe found on the inside transitions well under the sun. The coffee here is some of the only true coffee you will find in Wilmington. They are one of the only places who buys directly from where the coffee comes from and then roasts it themselves in house. The kind of coffee changes with the season and that's how you know that it's fresh. The same idea goes for the food. The menu will change every day - that's how you mark it's quality. Rather than be restrained by a corporate restaurant and stagnant menu, they create the menu based on what is in season and what gives them creative passion that day. Some of my favorite items over time have been the Wild Java Coffee, the Peach and Mango Muffins, the Fig Latte, Italian Soda, the Fried Green Tomato Sandwich, the Empanadas, the Veggie Quesadilla, and much much more that I can't remember right now having eaten it so quickly. Look, if you want a taste of Wilmington, true, not watered down, or catered to tourists Wilmington, that blends food with experience, go...

I started going to this lovely coffee shop years ago when I taught school at nearby New Hanover High School. Juan and Tammy Pacini welcomed me and my students every time, with smiles, fresh coffee, and treats that fortified us through poetry readings and sing-alongs.

Since retiring, I come to this coffee shop five mornings a week. The coffee beans are organic, Fair Traded, and roasted in small batches of one pound or less everyday. The excellent iced coffee is made with coffee ice cubes, a rarity! The standard sandwich menu is excellent, and the specials, usually was soup, change daily. Everything is made from scratch right there on the spot.

The owners are from Argentina and Ecuador, and many of the special sandwiches have an Argentinian or Ecuadorian flare. These folks are great contributors to the community, and their shop is an anchor, a beacon, and home to many locals. Having said that, they welcome outsiders with open arms! You will walk away feeling as if you...

We went to Folks for the first time today. What a great place to hang out. Their baked treats are incredible (didn't get an empanada today, but will next time) and their coffee is great aaaannnnd it is roasted in house. We liked it so much we decided to get some beans to take home with us. We started talking with Tammy about what kind we should get and that turned into her mixing us a special espresso blend to take home. We also bonded a little with her about having moved to Wilmington from Southern California. When you meet owners who are this welcoming and wonderful it really makes you want to go back as often as you can and when their products are as good as Folks' are it makes you want to go back that much more. Looking forward to our future visits and excited to try our espresso blend...