Hieronymus Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar

After a very busy week my wife and I went back to a favorite classic seafood restaurant, Hieronymus, for a celebration dinner before we stayed for the first time in our new abode! We started with drinks and garlic rolls and oysters followed Caesar salads and balanced with Golden Tile Fish for both with my wife having Herbed Grilled Golden Tile fish and mashed potatoes while I had the Golden Tile fish Carolina style with collard greens! The food was as usual excellent and our server, Jessica, made our evening even more enjoyable while she was making sure we had the best service on this special night!

Somehow this place is both very laid back and also high class at the same time. The server and hostess were both friendly and welcoming, and our server was helpful with assisting me in picking out a fish to try. I've never had seafood before, and she recommended the Golden Tile, which was really yummy. It had a very mild flavor, but the preparation was delicious. My husband got the shrimp and flounder, and he said it was amazing. Their fries were perfect, the salad was fresh and crisp, and the biscuits they served us before our meal were splendid! I also overheard another server telling some other guests that the seashells in the tables are caught by them, and that they switch them out a few times a year. It was really cool!

5 ⭐️ - Hieronymus Seafood Restaurant: Bringing the Fresh Flavors Since '72! If you're looking for a genuine Wilmington seafood staple, you have to stop at Hieronymus Seafood Restaurant. This place has been "bringing the fresh flavors" for decades—since 1972, and it still "rocks”. the house" when it comes to taste. We dropped by for a late lunch and were so thoroughly impressed that we canceled our planned dinner reservations elsewhere just to order takeout from here again. LUNCH: Flavor Overload in the Best Way The crowd was light, the kitchen was clearly on its A-game. Every single thing we ordered was top-notch. We started with the Garlic Cheddar Biscuits, which were buttery, soft, and perfect, but they reached legendary status once we dipped them into the Lobster Cream Grits. This grits dish is the star of the show: a one-of-a-kind, knock-out flavor bomb LOBSTER CREAM that is simply WOW! Seriously, it's rich, savory, and an absolute must-try. The Grilled Seafood Platter (Blackened Shrimp & Scallops) was amazingly tender, perfectly seasoned, and cooked to absolute perfection. It's the kind of subtle flavor that proves they use high-quality, fresh ingredients. Paired with the Sea Crab Soup, the whole meal was a seafood flavor overload that was simply GREAAAAAT. DINNER: The Captain's Platter Wins For dinner, we decided on the Captain’s Seafood Platter, featuring flounder, shrimp, oysters, scallops, clam strips, Brussels sprouts, and, thankfully, more grits with that creamy lobster sauce. Normally, a large fried platter isn't my first choice, but the light, crispy batter and spot-on seasoning left no choice but to dig in. The variety was excellent, with every component tasting perfectly cooked and distinct. Even the Brussels sprouts were perfectly done, providing a nice counterpoint to the rich seafood. From the first buttery biscuit to the last scallop, the quality of both meals was phenomenal. Hieronymus isn't just a community staple; it's a culinary destination. When I'm in Wilmington, NC, this will be my absolute go-to, and I strongly recommend you make it yours too! Creating Exposure…Through Food mP….

The Cajun Pasta and she crab soup was so good! 🤤 Fresh catch was made to order, was also good, just needed more salt. The grits with lobster cream sauce were just ok…The cheddar biscuits unfortunately were not fresh and were not good. Service was good, no complaints! Oh and the oysters with crab dip were amazing. I would return again…this was our 3rd time.

I don’t usually write reviews, however I’m compelled to do one now. This was an accidental find. A very happy accident!! 5pm on Fathers Day and the restaurant was just starting to get busy. The hostess’ looked to be having a good time as I came in and sat in the bar area. Starting off with the She Crab soup. Well worth the praise given. Thick, flavorful soup with plenty of crab meat floating around. Cheddar biscuits were perfect to sop up any of the soup leftover. It would have been rude to lick the bowl clean. Followed up by 6 raw oysters. So local I heard Darryl (hope I spelled it correctly) tell Amber (great server to all her tables) that they would be switching local varieties soon and what they would be switched to. Wonderfully shucked that the went down easily. Beautifully and simply presented, it’s become my Home Screen for my tablet. The grilled combination (all 3) ended my dinner and man, it was wonderful! Scallops beautifully prepared with a touch of crunch from the sear, firm but very properly cooked flesh. I’d have eaten just a dozen of those. But the flounder….ive never had it this good! Firm to the fork, but fall apart perfection in your mouth. The margaritas were well done too, mixed well without being boozy. The staff was great to watch working well as it got busier over the next two hours. It was a fantastic way to end my trip here, thank you to the entire staff.

This place is an absolute must-visit for seafood in Wilmington. My wife and I try to visit every time we are in town. The food is wonderful with big portions. The fried platters can easily serve 3 and are delicious. The different service areas have different vibes depending on your preferred experience from semi formal to casual bar. Highly recommend!

Decided to make the drive to visit. And we were not disappointed. The appetizers were spot on. We ordered the Oysteronymus (spelling) and She Crab Soup. Both excellent. For our meal we went with the platters. The oysters, shrimp and scallops were cooked very well but the star of the day was the flounder. It was so fluffy and delicate I was sad to see it gone. However I was not so impressed with the grits and lobster sauce. It was a little dry. But the food more than made up for the grits. Our waitress was friendly and very attentive. She did an awesome job caring for us. Bottom line, if you're in town go there because you will not be disappointed.

Hieronymus Seafood is a must-visit if you’re in Wilmington and love fresh, local seafood. The atmosphere is laid-back and welcoming, with that classic coastal charm that instantly puts you in a good mood. The service was excellent—friendly, prompt, and knowledgeable about the menu. Our server made great recommendations and made sure everything came out just right. The seafood was incredibly fresh and cooked to perfection. The oysters were a standout—plump, briny, and delicious. We also tried the shrimp and grits and the crab cakes, and both were absolutely packed with flavor. You can tell they really care about the quality of their ingredients. They also have a nice outdoor seating area, which is perfect when the weather’s nice. All in all, a fantastic dining experience. We’ll definitely be back next time we’re in town!

This is easily one of my favorite seafood restaurants in all of Wilmington, and if you like oysters, you gotta check this place out! I highly recommend sitting on their version of a dock; the ambience gives you the emotional impression that you are outside, but you're inside with working HVAC, which is very enjoyable in the peak of summer. The service is always top-notch, and I've never had a bad dish at Hieronymus. The aesthetic is quirky and creative enough to stand out from the crowd. Highly recommend! Great spot for a date or large parties, and they accept reservations for everyone. Because they do get busy, I definitely recommend making reservations in advance.

The ample free parking will the best part of your dinner. Perfunctory table service coupled old smelly seafood. Long, long ago Hieronymus was wonderful. Now, gross.

I love this seafood restaurant! It's one of my go-to's when I'm at the beach. It's closer to downtown Wilmington than Wrightsville, but worth the drive. They allow for reservations, and are quick to seat you. The service is always good and there's lots to choose from on the menu. My favorite part is probably the biscuits, because they're a better version of red lobster garlic and cheese biscuits. They always have 4-5 fresh catch options and you can get them flavored in a variety of ways. I like blackened and lemon caper style the best!

This place is okay. It has a kid's menu which I appreciate with two kids. The options on the kids menu is great from chicken nuggets, to a burger, to a shrimp basket or the fresh catch of the day cooked how you want. We tried the chicken nuggets and flounder fried, both with fries. The fries are hand cut. They were really good. The chicken nuggets were moist on the inside. The flounder was fried well with a thin layer of breading. My baby girl loved it. For us adults, we had raw oysters. Surprisingly the oysters were fresh and yummy! My husband got the salmon blackened and I got a white fish Carolina style. My fish wasn't fresh. It was disappointing. My husband's salmon was okay. The star of both our meals was the green beans.

Was in town looking. Walked in and greeted with southern hospitality is always This place started off on a great note. Hot cheddar biscuits. I'm not a bread person but I had two and had to push the plate away to save room for my food. All the food was good. I got the select 3 ( scallops, shrimp and oysters), and it was fried to perfection. The peel steamed shrimp had the right amount of spice. The staff was friendly and consistent from taking orders, bring the food right to the table when ready, to keeping glasses full.

Service is tops, fast and friendly. Drinks were well made. Fish is the main draw and all is fresh. Decent portions. What this place lacks is atmosphere. Noisy and almost cafeteria style. But you come here for the seafood.

The food is great and service was absolutely the best during the pandemic. The only place they didn't forget to be nice. They have had really good bartenders. A great place to take a client for lunch. Not too noisy. I do miss not having the fireplace to sit in front of

Restaurant has a neat setup, west at the oyster bar. Bar tender was laid back and provided good service, not overwhelming but attentive. Oyster guy stayed busy most of the night, neat to see him preparing the steamed items. Cheese bread biscuits were a nice surprise. Seems like a local spot.

Great food and wonderful service! The shrimp & grits are one of my favs. This time I had the fried calamari, grilled shrimp, grits & brussel sprouts...highly satisfied! Will return.

Great seafood platters, she-crab soup and calamari with prompt & friendly service. Don't miss this great seafood restaurant

Our food was absolutely delicious (the Mahi fresh catch and pecan cheesecake for dessert) Best server award goes to Mandy for making our experience exceptional! You don't wanna miss this place when visiting Wilmington

A really good seafood place. I had the flounder and scallops and was very good. We;; seasoned and cooked. The other in my party had a similar dish (combo plate) and they liked it as well. Our server was awesome and was attentive to us, and I liked the relaxed, well decorated dining room. I liked that they had sides, but what I had was just meh for salads and grits. The actuakl fish was pretty awesome and ate it all.

First time visiting & we needed a good seafood spot! We found it! Service was amazing & friendly. Food was delicious, shrimp & grits were great! Blackened shrimp with fries/grits were good as well! When back in town, definitely coming back! Loved the feel of the place & I bought a shirt

Slow and steady wins the race. This place isn't going to win the pace award, but the quality is very good. I wouldn't have expected such from a place so far inland from the shore, but this place is rather good. The blackened style brings enough spice and heat, while the boil on the crab legs makes for easy deconstruction. The burger is juicy, but the fries lack seasoning. The coleslaw is a nice balance of crunch vs. dressing, and the drink menu has enough to offer. Kudos to variety. Give it a try

Definitely recommend checking this restaurant out if you're in Wilmington and craving seafood! First off the size of this place is deceiving. It's huge on the inside and there's plenty of seating indoor or outdoor. The service was great and everyone was super friendly. We started off with some cheddar biscuits and oysters which were both tasty. I got the shrimp and grits as my entree and it was great. The portions are big fyi. We ended with dessert the server recommended and they did not disappoint. I'd go again if I'm ever in the Wilmington area!

Not sure what they hype was all about. Saw an article about this place in the news and decided to try it. Made reservation, showed up and no one was at the door. We waited a bit, workers walked by, said she'll be right up here, several actually. Empty restaurant the way, could they not seat us? Finally after a while the bartender came over and sat us. The server, bless her heart, had such a hard time remembering things. They brought out the wrong food initially then when our food came out, it looked awful. Whatever happened to presentation? The best part was the snapper itself. Sides were awful- coke slaw and fries. Really a disappointment. And the bill was wrong too. We won't be back. Two stars for the yummy snapper. I'm

The food was great, however a bit on the expensive side for what you get. Found the atmosphere great and the service equally as great. Definitely recommend this place

Always liked this place. Won't be coming back after this experience though. They do not close at 9, they actually close at 8:20. I walked in at 8:20 and told her I was going to order fast and be out by close and they would not serve me. The bartender at the time was a girl I had dealt with for the first time. I have eaten later than 8:20 at this restaurant multiple times, but was really disappointed in the way I was treated this go around.

The seafood here is damn good. This is one of the best seafood places in Wilmington, and I am not exaggerating. They have several catches of the day. When I was there, there was probably a 1/2 dozen fish options. You can have your fished cooked several ways (fried, blackened, grilled, crusted). All the seafood is fresh and you can tell the difference. Be sure to try the she crab soup. Also the sides were great and well done. Full bar with a cocktail menu. The service was excellent. Couple of tips 1) This place is not cheap. You are paying for high quality seafood. 2) Make a reservation (Open Table) 3) Don't miss the cocktail menu

I wanted snow crab legs for my birthday so we decided to try Hieronymus! We had a reservation for 8, but they close at 9. I took that to mean they stop taking reservations at 9, but no, they start closing down. I'd make a 7:30 next time to not feel rushed. I tried the snow crab legs, the house side salad, and the veggie of the day (asparagus). My husband tried a fresh catch of the day with fries. Everything was good all around, food came out quickly and the server was attentive.

It is average, nothing special about it. Food was okay, service was okay, drinks were okay, and it is still better than Cape Fear Seafood but no where as good as Fish Bites. That's all I got!

Great seafood place! Went with my boyfriend's family and it was wonderful! If you love seafood then this is your place to go, very fresh! The location is a bit hard to find but overall a hidden gem!

Looked for a good seafood place and found this through Yelp. We ordered the hot crab dip. It was decent. The bread that was served was cut very very thin. We also ordered some raw oysters. Decent size oysters. Our meal was the fresh catch of the day: black drum with herb grilled with asparagus and salad, fried combination platter with clam strips and fried oysters. The asparagus was cooked just right. It was seasoned well and not overly salty or bland. The fish was good and fresh. The fried combination tasted like any fried seafood you get at any restaurants. Service was great. Our appetizer, salad, main entree all came out within 5 minutes of each other. But we were hungry so we were happy!

The food was great I had mahi when I went in here. The bartender was a class act. I like the vibe in this place. I will be back again for another catch to see what it tastes like .

Love that there are still Mom and Pops restaurants around. This place has been around since 1972 and took a reservation on Open table to find them and glad I did. If you loved seafood cooked all types of way this is your spot. Items to try bucket of oysters/she crab soup and dip their warm cheddar biscuits in your soup and the grits with lobster cream sauce!! My new fave seafood restaurant in Wilmington and will be back!!

Oh my goodness this place is amazing. As soon as I check in I go straight to the restroom to wash my hands. You can try out the sand scrub they sell when washing your hands. My hands fell soft, silky and they smell amazing. As we wait on our table I watched the bartender whipping up some really interesting drinks. By the way he puts on a show. I just had to try one called "Pain Chiller" and wow!!! It was literally one of the best I've had. The side of grits are definitely the signature item for me. I couldn't wait to get these again. They should make this a dinner option with grilled shrimp. The tables are designed to bring that beach vibe inside. They're see through with sand and shells, supper cute! I absolutely enjoyed every minute here.

The service was great, Marsha was super accommodating and kind! She's great at her job. I felt super welcomed!

This place is decorated amazingly inside and out and they have their own personal products they sell. They have the catch of the day on boards all over the restaurant so you easily know what's available that day and everything tastes so fresh. All the servers are very helpful and knowledgeable.

Food was excellent evening at closing time! Drinks were delicious. Matthew our server was an absolute delight and didn't make us feel rushed. Service was quick and efficient. We sat outside and with the fans and great music it was absolutely perfect! Highly recommend them for a date night!

First time. We enjoyed our cocktails with the exception of my wife's martini special. Unless you like a super sweet martini (contains simple syrup,) avoid it. For apps, the oysters were fresh and tasty. The fried calamari was disappointing, especially since this is a seafood restaurant. The pieces were small, tough and overcooked. Entrees were the show. We enjoyed the Grouper and Swordfish specials. You can select different entree preparations, all tasty. Kelley was our server and she was the best. Friendly and fast. We were in an open, noisy room. Not much ambiance. You are there for the fresh seafood.

We had a delicious dinner and wonderful service! We loved the outdoor dining option, and the waiter was so nice to turn on multiple heaters for us!

Very good food and service. I had the fresh catch (Mahi) lemon and caper style, and it was excellent. The scalloped potatoes were good but nothing to write home about. The restaurant has a good environment but when it got crowded it was a little loud, but certainly not unpleasant. I will definitely return!

Excellent little hidden gem for seafood entrees. Friendly & prompt service. The inside dinning and bar area was posted with memorabilia of celebrities, athletes, musicians and more. Cool little place and the food was delicious! Highly recommend the crab dip!!

I give this place 3 stars because I don't want to hurt their Yelp rating, and it was my choice to eat here. But understand that my opinion is a big Meh. Best thing: very nice service. Savannah was very nice, efficient and helpful. If you're familiar with the term, this is your standard calabash restaurant. Nothing special. I have had far better food. All the reviews raved about their grits and lobster cream sauce. Don't fall for it. They are standard Waffle House grits with a very bland sauce that only made the grits thicker/more dense. Their crab dip was the highlight. I like their toasted bread that came with. It was a good size for 2 to share. The rest of the meal (broiled scallops and shrimp with She crab soup) was unremarkable. You could get it anywhere else in Wilmington. I think my experience surprised me because other reviews raved about how good it was. Birthday dinner experience, etc. This place is just nothing special. Not the ambience, not the quality, and though the service was lovely, it wasn't anything exceptional. It wasn't bad, but don't go in expecting something special. There are better places to celebrate at, in Wilmington.

I love the ambiance, food, and the fast friendly service. We've been here several times over the past few years and have enjoyed every experience. The staff are super friendly and accommodating. No complaints really at all. Can't wait to dine here again soon!

We have been coming to the beach every summer for past 7 years. Found Hieronymus and dine there at least twice a week during our stay. April was the first person to take care of us and every year we are always excited to see if she's still there! She remembered us after a year! And even remembered what we ate and drank! Always so sweet and superb service! Asset to the restaurant to say the least! She thanked "us" for coming back every year!

I enjoyed the shrimps and grits and the drinks. Fun ambiance, too. The cocktails were a bit on the weak side. Overall a good experience.

The best damn oysters in town, hands down and bar none. Wife and I make it a point to get here every oyster season and it does not disappoint. Great the rest of the year too but the oysters make it really special.

A Wilmington institution. Always excellent. Catch of the day is always super fresh and tasty. Good people.

This will be brief...... Basically a shot and beer joint for the locals and a very average seafood restaurant for the tourist. She crab soup. pretty decent if a bit too small portion. Shrimp and grits. Creamy and filled with fat well cooked shrimp,way too salty. Mixed fried seafood platter. well fried,not too greasy,clam bellys and scallops were the best part of this dish.way too salty. Key lime pie. a tart really ,not a pie.sweet but little lime flavor unfortunatly. Now here is where we should have just cut our losses..... We ordered a dozen oysters on the half shell and it came to the table quick enough on a tray of half melted ice and at first glance seemed to be rather small but swimming in it's liquor or so I though. Squeeze of lemon and just a small dollop of horse radish and down the hatch....The saltiness of the brine just hits you. I have dined on oysters from the Carribean to the Philippines,up and down both coasts of North America and don't recall tasting a oyster as salty.They appeared to be washed and rebrined. Disappointing.

Amazing local flavor & atmosphere in this fresh seafood restaurant! Never tasted such delicious fish and accompanied sauces! The sides were also outstanding!

Service was superb. Food was very good and the restaurant had a welcoming ambiance. The server was kind enough to take my plate back for some of the food to be redone, when I noticed the juice from the vegetables made my fried seafood soggy.

Two friends and I dined here the other night. We learned this place via a Facebook page. A few people mentioned how good the food was at Hieronymus, but at the end of our meal, we disagreed. We had early dinner reservations at 5:45pm, as other times were booked. The place was pretty busy with customers. We got seats at the bar, where we usually like to dine. It's always fun to chat with the bartender and other customers. The bartender made some tasty lemon drop martini's. Later we had a glass of wine. He gave us several menu recommendations to include a few items that were blackened. I'm not a fan of blackened foods, as I find them too salty or with too many seasonings, so I opted for the combination grilled platter with shrimp and scallops (my one friend as well). My other friend ordered fried fish. We found the food to be very salty that we couldn't enjoy our meal. My dish came with sautéed vegetables - a very small portion and bland. My friend's fried fish was mushy so he didn't eat much of it. Our fried calamari appetizer, the side salads, and cheese biscuits were good. I think the best part of the meal was the praline cheesecake that we shared. Maybe we ordered the wrong entrees, as I've read other reviews that were positive. Maybe I should have mentioned how salty the food was to the bartender and ordered something else. This place won't be high on my radar, if at all. There are other seafood restaurants that I have enjoyed some excellent meals.

This place is a no brainer for awesome seafood when you're in Wilmington. Their menu has something for every type of seafood lover and their daily catch options are always interesting. The service is always great too. Their staff knows the menu inside and out, and is very knowledgeable on the rotating fresh catches and types of oysters available at the bar. I enjoy sitting at the bar. It has a very homie and comfortable feel to it.

I've been in Wilmington over two years and hadn't yet sought out a seafood oriented dining experience. And after my trip to Hieronymous... it's going to be hard to switch it to and go anywhere else! That said - I'm from the Midwest, so don't have a refined palate for specifics when it comes to preparation...or even knowing details of lesser known types of fish. I went with the grouper prepared Carolina style and quite honestly - couldn't have been more pleased. The fish was mild, sweet and tender. The tomato, basil and balsamic topping elevated the dish without overwhelming. The white wine broth & garlic that the grouper was cooked in added a lovely savory note that allowed the fish to "pop" all on its own. I can't say that I've ever had grouper before - and if so - certainly not prepared this well. I am absolutely a fan of it after this and will no doubt seek it out for future dining experiences. The collards were a fabulous mixture of almost creamy and notably tangy, perfection in my opinion. And while a soft potato usually isn't my thing (more of a baked or roasted kinda gal) these were buttery and delicious in a way potato lovers - or not - would enjoy. The volume of food was on point and quality for the price was spot on. I'd looked at other seafood spots and feel Hieronymous does it better - prices are competitive, if not a bit more affordable - the preparations are not overly complicated, letting the fish keep center stage. I don't mind a place with other creative ways of serving seafood - but when you just want really quality fish prepared darn well - this is your spot! We also tried the local oysters and though I'm not generally a fan of the texture - I gave them a try and appreciated the flavor accompaniment options to brighten their freshness. While our server was very friendly and attentive - I was a bit disappointed when she brought the wrong wine for my friend and also wasn't familiar with some of the fish being offered that night. Minor details on my opinion, but still wanted to make note. All in all our dining experience exceeded expectations in the food department (always the hope but not easy to do) so we will certainly be back soon!

Great place to get locally caught seafood. Shrimp and grits was excellent. Server was very attentive and kept my iced tea full the whole evening. If you don't want to sit at a table, they have high top tables at the bar and serve the full menu there.

Stopped in after an eventful day of checking out shops in Wilmington. My motto is to try somewhere new whenever I'm traveling and I found this place thanks to Yelp. And the reviews were right on point, I give it 4 stars due to the waiting time and you had to wait by the door for a 45mins wait since they use the old school method of calling your name. It would've been nice to relax in the car and avoid the Saturday crowd until our table was ready. But once inside the staff was friendly, food came out quickly with large portions. I will try again if I'm in the area.

The food is good, service good. Price on a mixed spirit drink is outrageous. It's a beer joint. I always liked this place but won't be returning.

Definitely a 5 Star restaurant. Excels in ambiance, service and great food. You owe it to yourself to have an excellent early meal or dinner at this restaurant.