I decided to have dinner at Hieronymus on Market Street — a local seafood institution that’s been around for years. A few years back, the consistency slipped a bit. Since the lockdown ended, though, Hieronymus has gotten its act together, and the food has been excellent every time I’ve been since.
The Room
The decor is exactly what you’d expect from a seafood restaurant with an ocean pedigree: heavy nautical touches throughout, including wooden planks you walk across just to reach the front door. The interior leans dark, but well-lit enough to actually see your plate. You can eat in the main dining room, at the bar, or out on the covered patio.
I noticed Johnny was bartending that night, and since he’s one of my favorite bartenders in town, sitting at the bar was an easy call.
Johnny’s Margaritas
Johnny is locally famous for his margaritas, and for good reason. Hieronymus has a full bar and a decent wine and beer list beyond that, but I’m a sucker for what Johnny does specifically — a couple of extra ingredients, a salted rim, finished off with a touch of Grand Marnier. Not too sweet, not too tart. Exactly right. Regulars have unofficially started calling them “Johnniritas,” and once you’ve had one, the name makes complete sense.
Raw Bar
Hieronymus runs as a genuinely full-service seafood restaurant — a full steamer platter of clams, oysters, shrimp, mussels, and crab legs, or any of that shellfish ordered individually. They typically carry a couple of local oyster varieties too. That night I went with six raw oysters, sourced locally (within about 100 miles), and they were good.
If you’ve read other seafood reviews of mine, you know a champagne mignonette is usually my go-to. Hieronymus only offers horseradish cocktail sauce and lemon juice, unfortunately — no mignonette here. I went heavy on the lemon juice with just a touch of cocktail sauce on each oyster, and that combination worked well enough.
She Crab Soup
I often order the she crab soup here, and Hieronymus is genuinely known for it — rich, creamy, loaded with fresh crab, and finished with sherry for that distinctive depth. One caveat: the roux carries a fair amount of vegetable oil, which doesn’t always agree with me. If that’s not an issue for you, the soup is worth the trip on its own.
Every meal comes with a small batch of cheese biscuits instead of bread, and they are more addictive than you’d expect. Strong recommendation: don’t ask for refills, or you’ll fill up before the seafood even arrives.
The Catch of the Day
Hieronymus always has four to eight fresh fish options on the menu, depending on what came in locally that day. I went with the red drum — a whitefish, though as a bottom feeder it’s not the typical choice most seafood spots feature. One of the genuinely cool things about Hieronymus: they offer six different preparations for any fresh catch:
| Preparation | Style |
|---|---|
| Carolina | Kent’s usual default |
| Lemon Caper | Bright and tangy |
| Nut Crusted | Crunchy, nutty coating |
| Greek | Mediterranean-style |
| Blackened | Cajun spice, seared |
| Herb Grilled | Simple and clean |
I’ve worked through all six over the years. Carolina is usually my default, but blackened felt like the right call for the red drum that night, and it was.
I almost always order their collard greens on the side. Done well, they’re an excellent complement to any of the fish preparations, and Hieronymus does them well.
Dessert (Sort Of)
They usually have one or two desserts on offer, but I rarely make it through the meal with room left for one. That night, instead of dessert, I ordered a third margarita and called it a night.
A Good Track Record
Hieronymus has quietly become one of my go-to spots for a first date. I’ve had four first dates here over the years — three of them went well enough to lead to second dates, and beyond. Not a bad track record for a restaurant, and not something I can say about every place on this list.
The Verdict
Hieronymus takes reservations through OpenTable, and I’d suggest booking ahead on busy nights. I came on a Wednesday and walked straight in with no wait. Either way, this stays firmly on my list of the top seafood spots in Wilmington.
The Menu
Hieronymus Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar — Wilmington, NC
Cuisine: Seafood
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
