Rooster & The Crow — Restaurant in Wilmington

My husband and I go to Wilmington for in-state getaways often, and when we go out of town, we always try to eat local instead of at a chain BUT when we checked out of the hotel, our normal local seafood eatery wasn’t open that early, so we stumbled upon this treasure while driving downtown!

OMG!

There was a short wait for tables, but the bar was 1st come 1st serve which is where we chose to sit. There was a small rush when we came in, but the young bartender handled it perfectly. He took everyone’s drink order, served us drinks, and then came and took all of our food orders, and they came out perfectly despite the fully seated bar!

Ok, so The food was really, really good. The sign out front boasts that it’s the best fried chicken in Wilmington, and after eating the fried chicken breast that came w/the chicken and waffles (and jealously watching the child at the other side of the bar DEVOUR the ENTIRE 4 piece fried chicken meal w/mac) 😂 I wish I would have gotten it as well. We glanced at a few other meals as they came out and everything honestly looked great! We tried the shrimp and grits, which was DELICIOUS as well as the chicken breast and waffle, which came with a few strips of bacon as well. Man, we devoured that food! We’ll definitely be back, soon, and I can’t wait to try to fried chicken! 😆

Oh, FYI, there is a small parking lot next to the bldg, and the host will validate parking for you so you don’t have to pay, as parking downtown can be less than stellar. Also, they had sort of a beer/wine garden outside in the back of the restaurant where there was a guitarist playing. Very nice atmosphere...

TL/DR: Neat waterfront bar/restaurant but don’t get your hopes up, the food is nothing too special.

Visited my daughter for family weekend at UNCW. We decided to get an early dinner here. Tables were clean and we (3 adults and 4 teens) were seated quickly. Our server, a young man named River, was great and had a good knowledge for the menu.

Myself and two teens ordered wings. They're advertised as “Jumbo” and are anything but. It’s just the run of the mill grocery sized wings. Sauces are just poured over the top. While they were cooked appropriately, they’re underwhelming and really should be removed from the menu. Chicken wings deserve better.

My wife ordered the chicken breast with cabbage. The chicken was decent and the sauces hid the dryness of the breast. The cabbage was great. Pretty sure it’s covered in a lo mein sauce, think Panda Express flavored cabbage.

My college kid ordered the chicken and waffle. It was cooked appropriately and tasted nothing special. I’m from the south and admit, it’s tough to find a place that seasons the chicken breading right for this dish. Unfortunately, this entree is just average.

Last two kids were still full from lunch so, one ordered a side caesar salad and the other a side mac and cheese. Both were fine and what you’d expect.

Total bill was $103. The restaurant adds 18% gratuity for parties of 6 or more. So with tax the bill was $133.

The location is nice but there are plenty other places with much better tasting food. It’s probably a good spot for beers at night with friends but, the food isn’t a reason...

I have seen a lot of hype about this restaurant on social media, so today, when we were downtown, we gave them a try. The Hype is legit. This restaurant is the real deal. We ordered the Fried Chicken with Green Beans and Fried Cabbage, as well as the Wilmywood Chicken Sandwich with Fries. The Fried Chicken is excellent. It is some of the best Fried Chicken I have ever tried. It was cooked perfectly, and the flavor was outstanding. It came with a breast, wing, thigh & leg. Every piece, regardless of dark or white meat, was juicy and delicious. (see pictures) The Fried Cabbage was cooked in what looked and tasted like bacon fat. It had small pieces of Bacon in it. It was mind-blowing and fantastic. The Green Beans were the best I have ever had. They had a very flavorful taste, like they are cooking them in a sauce or with some other vegetables. I don't know, but they are really damn good. The Wilmywood Chicken Sandwich was enormous, on a delicious bun & had perfectly cooked bacon on it. The chef obviously knows how to develop flavors. The location is lovely. It is right across from the Cape Fear River. We sat outside, and it was really nice. I believe our server's name was Wes, and he was outstanding. He was also assisted by a lady who also did a great job. This is one of the best restaurants in Wilmington. This Restaurant is a must-try if you visit or live...