Tidewater Oyster Bar, located in Wilmington, NC, has quickly earned a reputation for its exceptional seafood offerings, especially its oysters. Visitors rave about the freshness of their menu, with many highlighting the superb quality of their oysters and the inviting atmosphere of the restaurant. Customer Mailyn Guedez praised a diverse selection of dishes, including a pot of oysters and clam showers, experiencing "delicious and fresh" flavors. Kat McGrath mentioned the icy cold oysters paired with tangy cocktail sauce and crisp vinegar dip, though she found the Tidewater stew slightly salty. Dennis Wildberger emphasized the friendly service, adding to a memorable dining experience. Notably, Jeff Surratt shared his joy of finally finding fresh oysters that met his expectations, while Jon M lauded the vibrant flavors throughout the menu. Tidewater Oyster Bar prides itself on sourcing its oysters from local growers, ensuring a farm-to-table freshness that’s hard to beat. The attentive staff, such as Bella, contribute to a warm dining experience, making it a must-visit spot for seafood lovers in the Wilmington area. With its combination of excellent food and welcoming service, Tidewater is a treasured gem on the local dining scene, where every visit feels both satisfying and delightful.
Amenities and More
Accessibility
Has wheelchair-accessible car park
Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
Has wheelchair-accessible seating
Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
Service options
Has outdoor seating
Has no-contact delivery
Offers delivery
Offers takeaway
Serves dine-in
Highlights
Has fast service
Has great beer selection
Serves great cocktails
Popular for
Popular for lunch
Popular for dinner
Good for solo dining
Offerings
Serves alcohol
Serves beer
Serves cocktails
Serves coffee
Serves comfort food
Serves happy-hour drinks
Serves healthy options
Quick bite
Serves small plates
Serves spirits
Serves wine
Dining options
Serves brunch
Serves lunch
Serves dinner
Has catering
Serves dessert
Has seating
Amenities
Has bar on site
Has toilet
Atmosphere
Casual
Cosy
Trendy
Crowd
Good for groups
Popular with tourists
Planning
Accepts reservations
Payments
Accepts credit cards
Accepts debit cards
Accepts NFC mobile payments
Credit cards
Children
Good for kids
High chairs available
Has kids' menu
Parking
Free of charge street parking
Free parking lot
Plenty of parking
Pets
Dogs allowed outside
Photos
Reviews For Tidewater Oyster Bar
Mailyn Guedez
May 23,2025
We ordered the pot. Oyster. Clam shower and tuna taco. Everything was delicious and fresh. Great service and place.
Kat McGrath
May 19,2025
Oysters superb!! Icy cold. Tangy cocktail sauce. Crisp vinegar dip. Fried oysters crisp. Bella our server was a doll with a great braid hairdo she is proud to have done by herself!! Only teeny negative, the tidewater stew was a little bit salty; the taste was awesome, but salty for the old lady dietary needs.
Dennis Wildberger
May 9,2025
Good food, great oysters and friendly staff! We really enjoyed our visit to Tidewater and will stop in again the next time we visit Wilmington!
JEFF SURRATT
Apr 30,2025
I grew up in Wilmington, eating oysters fresh from the water. It’s so disappointing going to restaurants and trying to find fresh oysters of any size now. Friday I decided to try Tidewater and get some oysters. I didn’t get my hopes up but I was craving oysters. Jean greeted me and introduced me to Justin. Explaining that I was often not happy with the oysters served at other bars he assured me that would not be the experience I would have here. 24 oysters later accompanied with horseradish, crackers and other sauces I was full and let them know that this would be the first time in YEARS I left an oyster bar satisfied. Hands down the best oyster bar, best employees and atmosphere in Wilmington
Jon M
Apr 22,2025
I always have a great experience here! The food is amazing! Fresh, and I mean, FRESH, oysters!!! Delicious! They source their oysters from local growers and always have a great selection. Their combinations with their other food is wonderful as well. An explosion of amazing, vibrant, flavors in every dish they serve. If you don't give this place a try, You're Missing Out!!! The service is always polite. If you have questions they'll take the time to explain and seem happy to be there.
Della “D” L
Apr 5,2025
This was me and my husband’s first visit. We were Googling seafood restaurants and we were glad that we picked this one. The food was amazing and fresh. The staff were nice and very attentive.
Ryan Pettigrew
Mar 31,2025
I had a great experience at Tidewater. Raw oysters and Tidewater Stew were both delicious, however the service was what really stood out. Solo business travelers are easy to forget about on a busy night but staff at Tidewater were attentive and friendly. Easy spot to recommend for fresh seafood.
Shannon P
Feb 15,2025
We went and sat at the bar last night. Food was really good, and very friendly staff. We had raw oysters on the half shell and crab dip, for our appetizers. Both were great! My husband had fried catfish with French Fries hush puppies and slaw. Which he loved. I had chicken tenders that were real chicken breast cut and battered, not from a frozen bag, with fresh broccoli, corn on the cob and red potatoes that were all seasoned very well. We left full and happy! Oh and my spicy margarita was really good too!
Reviews For Tidewater Oyster Bar