Dram Yard

Dram Yard offers the kind of experience that instantly transports you — it feels like a mini vacation, even if you’re just popping in for brunch. The interior strikes a perfect balance of charm and sophistication: small, curated design touches give it personality, like a bar crafted from an old post office box, while gold accents and natural tones and fibers create a relaxed yet elevated atmosphere. Upon arrival, we were warmly greeted by the chef. The hostess then seated us and later returned with drinks: a classic coffee and a Tiki Latte. While the regular coffee was smooth and satisfying, the Tiki Latte, though creative, could have used a bolder coffee flavor to match its fun presentation. We started with the O.G. Breakfast, subbing avocado for bacon — a simple, wholesome dish with perfectly cooked eggs. The Avocado Toast was a standout, especially with the addition of a poached egg. The unexpected pairing of marmalade and chile crunch created a sweet, spicy, and savory bite we didn’t know we needed — absolutely delicious! We also tried the Brunch Wrap Supreme, which, while still good, was our least favorite of the day. A punchier element, like a chipotle cream sauce, could take it to the next level. Overall, Dram Yard delivers a delightful dining experience with thoughtful dishes and an atmosphere that feels like an escape. We’ll be returning!

We had the Spaghetti Carbonana which was very light for a carbonara and delicious, the Wagyu which we didn't get a picture of cause we devoured it too quickly. Only tip for that one is if you don't like garlic that much, keep an eye out for larger pieces in the demi. I like garlic so I was perfectly happy with that. We also had the duck breast. For the two entrees, especially the duck breast, the sauces were soooo good and helped the protein sing and the sauce + garnishes were fantastic with the meat. We finished with a cherry cheesecake and the rice pudding. The cherry cheesecake I would absolutely get again. The rice pudding is more of an acquired taste and fascinating, but there were some more solid clumps of rice in it so it’s a maybe on ordering it again for me. I think we ended up ordering three VICTORIA’S TRIP TO ITALY cocktails. So yummy, so refreshing.

We were looking for a great place to celebrate my big 75! We celebrated at Dram Yard and it was superb! We started with 🦪 and cocktails followed by duck breast for my wife and Tile fish for me with Huia Sauvignon Blanc! The food was top notch and the service matched the food! The Team coordinated service to make sure our celebration was the best it could be! Shout out to the best team in Wilmington; Mere, Tim, Camelia, Chef Rhye, Chef Nick and John!

We had dinner at the Dram Yard last night. They were some of the best meals we have had in Wilmington. NC. Our server Pat was attentive and excellent. Great recommendations. We will be back!

We made reservations at this restaurant while hosting family from out of town, as I had enjoyed a previous visit and wanted to share the experience. Unfortunately, this visit didn’t live up to expectations. Service was lacking—our server was not very attentive, and we noticed our food sitting in the kitchen window while several waitstaff walked by without delivering it. We had agreed to have the food brought out as it was ready, but the delay between dishes was excessive. Our meals arrived about 15 minutes apart, which made it difficult to enjoy a meal together. The highlight of our visit was the duck fat donuts—they were absolutely incredible and easily the best item we had. However, the rest of the meal fell short. The biscuit under the eggs Benedict and the sausage and gravy dish was soggy and mushy. Portion sizes were noticeably smaller than on my previous visit; I literally received five small breakfast potatoes with my dish, which felt underwhelming given the price point. Overall, while the food had some high points, the inconsistent service, delayed timing, and diminished value made this visit disappointing. I hope to see improvements if I choose to return in the future.

A nice place with a lovely interior. We came for Sunday brunch with a reservation. Unfortunately, the service was very slow. We waited a long time for the waiter to take our order, and there was also a significant delay between the drinks and the food. My husband and I received our meals at completely different times—I had already finished eating by the time his eggs arrived, and this wasn’t dinner. The restaurant wasn’t even busy. We also had to wait quite a while to ask for the check. The food was good, so we’re willing to give this place another chance for dinner.

Just went for brunch during the week with my toddler and we had the best time. I was obsessed with their tropical wallpapered ceiling! The food was delicious, barely any wait for table or food. Really beautiful environment. The previous time I went was on a date with my husband in the evening, we had tasty cocktails and their "famous" burgers, sat outside which was such a vibe with pretty chairs, perfect lighting, firepits and amazing plants like a secret garden. Highly recommend!

Loved our dinner experience: food was amazing, service impeccable, ambiance top notch. Also love the decor!

Sunday AM Walk to find a tasty breakfast....Ahhh had no idea of this establishment. Small hotel/"Arrive"...offer patio rooms that open to nicely landscape yards. Dram Yard is the attached restaurant. We sat @ bar, quickly greeted by host. Interior well appointed, lots of open windows, wood floors that gleamed. My friend had "The Bear" omelet and I chose the Biscuits & Gravy, 2 eggs over easy, 2 open faced biscuits, lean sausage crumbles with bits of sage, delicious gravy...tasty, damn tasty....next visit I will book a suite room... Certainly, try the restaurant and/or go for the gusto for a weekend to repose in a suite....

Went on the spur of the moment with 4 friends and no reservation. It was a good solid experience, and yet the food was not memorable. I honestly could not tell you anything bout what passed over my fork. The price vs memorable food experience did not really balance out for me. The cocktails were good, solid but did not really knock my socks off either. The best part was the nice bartender and the really cool outdoor seating area. I'll try again but can't say there was much memorable in the way of the meal.

Love Love LOVE the Dram Yard! We went here for breakfast and my farro dish was one of my favorite things I ate in Wilmington. My friends loved there dishes as well and we all agreed we will be back here for sure. The location is ideal and the decor is just downright adorable - love the bar with the old post office boxes. Someone put a lot of care into the decor of this place and it shows.

Dram Yard was a difficult restaurant to review. Upon entering the eatery we where informed by the host that she would have to check to see if they could accommodate our party of eight, after 15 minutes she took us to two different tables splitting our group. No problem just too much confusion on their part The menu was very limited however the food was delicious. The bar was quick on drink delivery so that calmed down any doubts we had. I had the oysters (delicious) and steak( outstanding) Not sure what everyone else ordered but no plate returned to the kitchen with food remaining! Ambiance was a mix of tourist and the local young bohemian style locals. It made for a very interesting experience. Food was a tad bit pricey, but I'll pay for good eats. Definitely would return and hope I have the same server again, she was outstanding.

Cute place, very dog friendly! Great service from Britney would recommend to friends

Delicious food and atmosphere Service was excellent and the Dram burger is the bomb. Yum.

We were staying at Arrive and had to have dinner at Dram Yard. We made reservations because it was a busy Saturday night. We were sat at a table where we could people watch all the passersby in the heart of Wilmington. Our server, Ahna,was outstanding!! She was very friendly, helpful and an all around amazing server. We ordered the smoked trout dip to start. Delicious! For our entrees we ordered the hamachi collar and a Wagyu filet. Again- delicious!!! Our dining experience was perfect! The reason for the 4 stars- We returned in the morning for coffee and breakfast. We were treated so poorly. I asked one the staff a question, and she replied with such an attitude it was shocking. We grabbed a table, and then continued to be ignored so we left. It was a very disappointing start to the day.

Our brunch experience yesterday morning at Dram Yard at ARRIVE in downtown Wilmington NC was exceptional. The host was pleasant and attentive, setting the tone for a delightful meal. The upscale atmosphere perfectly complemented our delicious meals, and the Bloody Mary and French 75 cocktails were spot on. Highly recommend for a memorable brunch experience.

Nice ambiance and great service. My partner had the chicken and waffles. I had the salmon on flatbread. Sat at the bar and definitely will be back.

Dram Yard was delicious. We came in for brunch this weekend and the food was great. We got the brunch wrap and the eggs benedict. The benedict was great although the eggs were more hard boiled than poached but the taste was still fantastic. We asked for a sauce to pair with the food and the server brought a special hot sauce that the chef makes that he calls "Lot Lizard Hot Sauce". It's certainly a must try if you can, the sauce was amazing. The ambiance is very cute and I would highly recommend checking this place out.

Decided to treat myself while I was in town for a conference and wow, this is definitely a place to treat yourself. The cocktails, desserts, and every dish are creative and fun and delicious! The atmosphere is cozy and quiet and perfect for settling in after a long day. It's excellent but not pretentious, which is a hard balance. I can tell everyone is down to earth and yet the food is very high quality. It seems like it would be impossible to go wrong on this menu.

The two stars is for the atmosphere and the wait staff. It's a nice place and the staff was friendly and professional. The problem is that the food was just okay for the price. For less I would have let it go and never reviewed, but at the cost it doesn't work. The portions were small too and we ended up getting another meal elsewhere a few hours later because we were hungry. That shouldn't happen. It was $20 or so for a bowl of dumplings ( a small bowl ), and we were charged for each tea in small glasses. My pork chop had only pickled beats and no other sides. Throw a cheap starch in there at the least. It has potential to be one of the best restaurants around, but the portions need to increase for the prices or the prices need to be reduced. And, never charge for refills on tea. I haven't seen that since the 1990s.

We arrive on time for our reservation for six. We were seated in a timely fashion but then waited more than 15 minutes before a waiter came by for drink orders. We also ordered small plates then sensing a staffing problem. The drinks and small plates arrived piece meal so we had pass cold plates to finish. Then, we ordered the entrees. Within about 15-20 minutes the Dram burger showed up. After about 10 minutes, two more plates showed up. In all, it took over 30 minutes for all six plates to be served. It took over 2.5 hours for our meal! And the quality of the entrees was marginal!

Amazing! Ambiance and service were top notch. Enjoyed oysters, hamachi Kama, beef tartare, and black bass with a Greek flair. Incredible.

So yummy! The cocktails are uniquely crafted and the food is chefs kiss! I loved the kimchi pasta. The trout dip is also amazing. The fried saltines are so simple yet next level.

Been to dram yard many times! This new chef and menu is great. Outside bar before or after your meal works! Great service, fresh food! Enjoy.

Dram Yard is incredible! Creative and very well executed small/med plates, compelling cocktails, and excellent service rounds this place out as a must try in Wilmington. I would go here every night if I could!

The sauce on the Charred Brussels Sprouts. The crispy char on said Brussels. The trout dip. The black olives and mushrooms in the chicken and dumplings. The salad with the duck. The duck. The sauce with said salad and duck. This is a list of my new favorite things.

The food and cocktails at Dram Yard are spectacular. I love coming here when the weather is nice for their patio space, which has all the garden terrace vibes. Flavors are on point, the menu is elevated but approachable (wish it was just a smidge bigger with a few more selections). I would recommend making reservations, the one time I didn't we ended up waiting quite a while for seats at the bar. This is a great date night/special occasion place that we always look forward to.

Great Sunday Brunch!!! Food was delicately prepared, and lush! Portions were spot on and we ate everything! Can't wait to go back!

Went for brunch and sat at bar. Bartender very friendly. Drinks were excellent and food very good. Will return.

If you haven't been to dramyard yet you have to try it! Every other Monday night they have dim sum night at the gazebo bar! The gazebo bar is outside of dramyard, it's the cutest little outdoor bar with an amazing atmosphere! We went for dim sum night & it did not disappoint! The food was so yummy, it is all hand made. The waitress was very bubbly and seemed happy to be there - she was also very accommodating. Adrial the bartender is the best in town! He is the nicest guy! If your ever in downtown Wilmington check them out!

Have had mixed experiences dining here. They are better for dinner than brunch. Had brunch recently, duck, the portion was very tiny and the duck was dry and salty.

No detail in this establishment was overlooked. From the layout, the menu, and the decor, everything pairs well and creates a calm, welcoming environment. The drinks were 10/10. Their scotch cocktail was wonderful, even for someone that doesn't care for scotch. Nothing in any cocktail was overpowering; each ingredient was recognized and complemented the others nicely. Unfortunately, we were just getting drinks and dessert. The desserts we tried were to die for. Made in house which is a big plus. Cannot wait to come back soon and try dinner. They have a chef's choice option as well! $75/person and you get a variety of shareable options. That will likely be a must try. Would definitely recommend making a reservation as it is a small venue and given the impressive quality, is a downtown favorite.

The cost has doubled in 6 months and the say they are serving Wagu steak BS $200 per couple not even close to edible I've eaten there twice before went WAY DOWNHILL Owned by a Facebook multimillionaire... you've been warned

10/10 vibes here. I loved the interior design of the place. Very home-y and intimate. Our waitress was very nice and the food was good as well. Would definitely come here again.

Wow ! First time here and we will be back ! I ended up taking my girlfriend here for a birthday celebration. Neither of us had ever been. It was a lovely evening and we reserved a spot outside. Such great atmosphere. Our server (Virginia, I think...) was top notch ! Sweet and very accommodating. I was torn between two items. One of which was the Shrimp and grits. She recommended them and it was a hit ! Definitely one of the best I've ever had. And I'm a Southerner. Anyway, it was a lovely experience and I wanted to thank our server.

Love!!! Wish the menu had more choices especially appetizers. Love the outside and how clean it is!! Enjoy the soft music playing outside. Service is great!

By far the best brunch I have had in Wilmington. I loved the ambience, service, farm to table food experience, and gluten free bread accommodation. The coffee drinks were also very tasty. I will keep this gem in my list for when family/friends come in from out of town.

We met here to begin a Walking History Tour of Wilmington (Wilmington Walking Tours with Amanda). What a great find! I lovely atmosphere with a great selection of wines. Great service. I beautiful outside seating area with fire pits. I look forward to a return visit to try the menu and stay at the Inn.

Best Shrimp & Grits I've ever had. Great ambience and beverages. Dined at the bar and had a wonderful experience.

Adriel, our waiter, unpacked the menu and presented us with amazing service, spot on drinks and delicious food recommendations. Mocktail drink "Book club" was so yummy! Would recommend whether or not you want alcohol. Last word was traditional and smooth. Now I've seen brussel sprouts on many many menus, and this was a unique spin and pure show stopper! The garlic fondue marries with the bite of cilantro and charred brussels beautifully. Dram burger was the fav out of our entrees. They homemade their pickles, and it paired so well the the juicy juicy burger. Swordfish and farro were both well done, with just tastey layers of vegetables blossoming in the dish. Dessert was a must with a combo of favorite sweets where bread pudding meets cinnamon roll, breakfast met dessert and was the perfect amount to just satisfy the taste buds. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Plenty of seating around the bar, booths and even outdoors by fire pits. Street parking, easy to find. High recommend, and look forward to coming back to taste through the evolution of their menu with the season changes.

We had eaten across the street at Tarantelli's for dinner and we ran across to here to have drinks and the bar and restaurant were pretty cool, so we made plans to come back for dinner. So we showed up a little early and sat at the bar and had a drink or 2 till the family showed up. Adriel provided wonderful service at the bar and for dinner ( although it is obvious he is a little challenged by getting busy, management needs to step in and assist), I Have a new favorite drink, thanks to Dram Yard, I am loving Ghost Town, especially when it is well prepared consistently by Adriel. The Bor and Sis n Law showed up and we sat at the table in the bar area and we ordered apps, starting with CHARRED BRUSSELS SPROUTS (garlic fondue, peanut, nam jim jaew, toasted rice, cilantro), and shared for app: SMOKED TROUT DIP (orange marmalade, cracker, toasted bread) Very Delicious . My Bro N Law ordered the Chicken and Dumplings and a 2nd order of Brussels (He loved them), I had the DUCK BREAST* (yellow curry, eggplant, chinese broccoli, pea, jasmine rice, papaya salad, peanut), The wife had: FLOUNDER (fava bean, english pea, pink-eyed pea, lima bean, corn, heirloom tomato, basil) Said it was good but just very salty for her(?), and Sister in Law had the same thing and it was not salty to her. All in all it was a successful evening with good service, great employees and the ambiance is pretty amazing. Come Check it out!

First, I'd love to emphasize that the food is from garden to table, just can't beat that! Secondly, ambience is romantic during the evening and during brunch, it is so well lit and maybe it's the placebo affect but I believe the oxygen in the air is better due to how many natural plants they have. Last but not least, if you get a chance to eat at dram yard, request to sit at Bri tables. Bri is by far the best server i've had in Wilmy. She's very tentative but not over bearing, she's very lovely, friendly and genuinely cares for her customers. I keep coming back and only sit at her section.

Fabulous brunch at dram yard! Loved their take on Taco Bell's crunch wrap supreme. We also had the French toast. That was great as well. Super light and fluffy! Would definitely come back.

We've been meaning to come here for both dinner and the gazebo bar ever since they reopened and we finally made it last weekend! We started off at the gazebo bar for a drink before our reservation. The space is much bigger than I'd realized - there are a lot of separate seating areas. We each grabbed a drink and they were both pretty great. For dinner, we asked about the tasting menu and learned that for $50 you can also add a cocktail pairing. We decided to go for it and try both. Our first course was smoked trout dip and crispy Brussels sprouts - both amazing!! Next up was scallops and beef tartare, again both were fantastic. Our third course was chicken and dumplings and uni carbonara - if you're noticing a pattern, those were great too. This was followed by the whole fried fish. I generally shy away from ordering this because it feels like so much work, but our server gave us some great tips to get the most meat with the least effort and that was really helpful. Finally, for dessert we had the butterscotch budino (topped with caramel popcorn!) and vegan strawberry shortcake. Literally the only thing on the whole menu that I didn't love was the biscuits on the shortcake - everything else was amazing. We weren't expecting the drinks to be full size which was a nice surprise for the value but was a little much for us - next time we'd order one drink pairing to share. All in all I'm glad we finally made it and we're able to sample so much of the menu! Great spot for a fun date night.

I don't usually do review updates (especially so soon) but I just wanted to reiterate how damn slept on Dram Yard is in this town. They have one of the most interesting menus in Wilmington, and they absolutely crush all the details. We went again for my birthday tonight and everything was amazing. Great food, friendly staff.. a total win. I can't stop thinking about dinner and how great it was. Make a reservation for sure.

Had a gift card and brought my parents one evening for dinner. We came in without a reservation at about 7:00pm and only waited ~5 minutes. Staff was friendly and helpful throughout the meal. We Got: Burrata - burrata would be hard to mess up and this was no exception Smoked Trout Dip - always a staple when I come here and by far everyone's favorite Drum Nam Tok - I think this is an item where they often (?) repeat and rotate the protein. The drum was a great add, I just wish the sauce was a little thicker We also rotated through a few drinks, all amazing, and shared two desserts. Would highly suggest coming here with friends for some drinks, date night dinner or to celebrate any event.

Never disappoints! Fantastic drinks, out of this world food... And great atmosphere to boot. Staff is always been friendly, even accommodating our larger party once last time we brought friends. Hadn't been back in a while, but this is some of the best food I've had in Wilmington! The creativity of the dishes and ingredients are unmatched...highly recommend.

I loved Dram Yard! This will definitely be one of my go to places for date nights or anything. I loved the vibe, the outdoor fire pit and bar, and of course the food! They have valet parking or you can find street parking. We came on a Saturday at 730 with 3 people. Our server was great and she explained many things on the menu. My dirty martini was great, and the Valkyrie and Moscow mile were hits, too. On to the food, I ordered the burrata and beef tartare. The beef tartare had a spicy kick to it. I enjoyed it very much. The greens with it were a little plain but I would order this dish every time I am there. The burrata was delicious but very hard to cut. Excellent flavor. My pics of these two entrees did not come out well. The pork belly was excellent. Just melts in your mouth. The market catch of the day was excellent. However, you will need someone to come over and prepare it for you. I can't wait to come back.

Normally, when a review starts out that an establishment has changed one can expect they've either gone downhill OR upped their game, right? Not here. We've been to Dram Yard before and in fact this isn't my first review, but they've changed quite drastically from what they once were I simply had to share. Their initial approach was what I would call, for lack of a better description, 'Elegant comfort food'. Portions were large and the emphasis was on hearty fare. Now, the chef has taken things to a new level of creativity and taste. They still emphasize 'family style', but only to the extent they encourage sharing. The portions are a bit smaller but still quite satisfying and shareable. Our server was knowledgeable and friendly and her suggestions were spot on. Sorry, don't remember her name nor do I remember the specific names of the dishes other than the burger two in our party ordered, but pretty much anything you order will not disappoint. With six of us we received a fairly good sampling of menu options and loved every delectable bite. Too many people are unaware this place exists. Too bad, because it's a gem.

The food was delicious, the service from Nikki was great. She was very attentive to our table and dealt with several last minute changes/additions to our orders. Amazing service. We would definitely come again.

I love the interior, especially the ceiling wallpaper print. I sat at the bar which I enjoyed watching the bartender prepare people's drinks. The bartender mentioned that they change up their drink menu every now and then so I ordered the 2 newest cocktails on the menu... Ghost town cocktail was my favorite! Just the perfect amount of spicy and a good sipping drink. Astrologist cocktail was a refreshing drink and went down my throat super quick. For dinner, it is more of a tapas style restaurant. I came with 5 friends and we each ordered a plate to share amongst ourselves and it was plenty. Our favorite plates were the Brussel sprouts and the skirt steak. We also ordered the duck which tasted good but I've had better.

Great dinner and impeccable service. The place was hopping so we sat at the bar. Wonderful drinks and fantastic food. Great place for a date night, 10/10 recommend.

Great ambience, fun menu options, and great service. I would recommend to anyone wanting to find a new place for date night or a cute place to go with your friends this is it!

Some of the best food and cocktails in Wilmington. The atmosphere is nice and the outdoor area is excellent.

Breakfast was not good but pleasantly surprised by dinner. Breakfast service was bad but dinner service was really nice.

Dram Yard definitely offers an upscale dining experience in the quaint downtown area of Wilmington. After Yelping several restaurants in the area Dram Yard really caught my eye. I sat at the bar, which is right as you enter the space. I love the open kitchen concept where you can see your dishes being prepped. I also loved that I could see the seasonings were fresh and properly stored so I knew I was in for a treat. My bar mixologist was really sweet and friendly and made a really strong dinner suggestion. She talked me into trying the Half Chicken with Green Charmoula and Charred Shishitos. The chicken was so tender and juicy and with every bite you could taste the perfectly blended flavors of cilantro, garlic, red peppers, parsley, and other herbs that go into making the green charmoula sauce. I also loved the sweet and savory kick of the charred shishitos. Once those flavors are paired with the chicken it is a party in your mouth. With the wonderful food, service, and quaint outdoor seating area you cannot go wrong. I highly recommend Dram Yard for a date night or just a night on the town.

The Dram Yard on Second Street is my favorite spot to get appetizers and drinks downtown. Chef Joe infuses various cuisines at a sophisticated level. Highly recommend the smoked trout dip and charred Brussels sprouts!