Wilmington, North Carolina
In April 2025 I moved downtown Wilmington. One block from Three10. This was either the best decision I’ve made in years or a significant threat to my monthly budget — possibly both. I was already a huge fan before I could walk there. Now I might as well ask them to send a monthly invoice.
Let me be direct about this restaurant: I consider Three10 borderline Michelin star. In Wilmington. They get everything right, every single time. Cocktails, mocktails, appetizers, bread, crackers, entrées, dessert — there is nothing on that menu that doesn’t taste good. It’s one of my favorite restaurants in the city, and this particular evening reminded me exactly why.
The Building
There’s a great story behind the name. Three10 is named after the original address of the building that houses the dining room — 310 Front Street. The owners acquired the structure, which was either sitting unused or facing demolition, and moved it to its current location on Fourth Street. The entire dining room is the original building, now over a hundred years old. They added the custom kitchen and restrooms on the back and turned the whole thing into a restaurant.
You’re eating inside a piece of Wilmington history. That matters.
The Evening
I came alone and sat at the bar, which is honestly one of the best seats in the house. From there you get to watch Curran — their bartender, who has the gift of gab and the skills to match — operate. You can also see the chefs working in the back. It’s dinner and a show.
Since I wasn’t drinking alcohol that night, I started with two mocktails.
The Mocktails
A lot of local distilleries now produce zero-alcohol spirits, and Three10 takes full advantage. You won’t find mainstream brand liquor unless it’s very top shelf. The same philosophy applies to their mocktail program.
The Three10 Margherita is their mocktail version of the classic — fresh lime and orange juice, agave syrup, and Tajín salt on the rim. Balanced, refreshing, not overly sweet. It tasted surprisingly like a real margarita without the kick. Three10 always balances their cocktails, and the mocktails are no exception.
Then I switched to the Strawberry Serrano Spritz. House-made strawberry Serrano syrup — the heat of the Serrano balancing against the sweetness — mixed with Lyres non-alcoholic Italian Spritz and fresh-squeezed juices. If I had to pick between the two, the Strawberry Serrano wins. It’s the more unique drink, and the balance between sweet and spice is genuinely impressive.
The Appetizers
I went back to a signature. Their sweet potato biscuits have been on the menu for years, and for good reason. Served with pimento cheese, shaved prosciutto, spiced jelly, and whipped butter. I’ve learned the proper construction: split the biscuit, layer with butter first, then jelly, then prosciutto, then pimento cheese on top to hold it all together. It’s a calorie bomb. It is absolutely worth it. I recommend it to everyone on their first visit.
Then oysters, because Three10 almost always has some of the freshest in town. They typically carry two local varieties from the North Carolina coast. I go for the smaller ones — better texture, in my opinion. What I really love is their mignonette. Light, well-balanced, with just enough unique spicing to set off the oyster’s flavor without burying it. I have strong feelings about people who drown oysters in cocktail sauce. Those people are wrong. Three10’s mignonette is proof of the better way.
The Entrée
The grilled halibut — skin-on, lightly crusted, served over rice that tasted like it had been cooked in chicken broth, with grilled asparagus and a sweet potato purée that somehow pulled the whole plate together. The chef specializes in seafood. They offer duck, pork, and chicken as well, but beef rarely appears on the menu — and honestly, with fish this good, you don’t miss it.
I keep using the word “balanced” about Three10, and I’m going to use it again: that sweet potato purée didn’t dominate the halibut, it complemented it. That’s the sign of a chef who knows exactly what they’re doing.
The Verdict
I skipped dessert — the sweet potato biscuits had done their damage — but I left fully satisfied, as I always do after a meal at Three10. Great food, great conversation with Curran, and a walk home that took approximately forty-five seconds.
Living one block away may be dangerous. I regret nothing.
The Menu
Three10 — Wilmington, NC (Downtown) Cuisine: Seafood / American Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
