Oceanic at the Crystal Pier - NC

Admittedly, I had the burger. I’ve had so much seafood lately, that I was just craving one. With that being said, I had kept my expectations fairly muted given the 4.3 star rating, as I’ve found that anything less than 4.5 is usually a “3-point-something” to me. But, this was very close to my hotel and I just didn’t feel like trying super hard. Glad I did. Though it wasn’t the best burger I’ve ever had, and the presentation was pretty average it was definitely quite good. Good seasoning, juicy, perfectly cooked, and the bacon was excellent. The Old Bay seasoned fries weren’t too bad either. My server Paul was very efficient, and even passed a little test when I asked that a refill of my drink be brought out with my food. He was at my table with a fresh drink right after my first bite. I had read a few reviews stating that the food was overpriced which I actually find pretty surprising, as there just weren’t that many menu items priced very high. The prices were quite reasonable, though I’m sure this is very subjective depending on where you live in the world. I’m visiting from Florida for work and I travel a ton, so it just didn’t seem very expensive to me. Definitely will be back the next time I’m in the area, as the food was good, the service was great, and the views are pretty sweet!

Such an agreeable dining experience. We genuinely enjoy patronizing the Oceanic. Late morning for brunch was delightful. I ordered the All American breakfast my husband ordered the gumbo and a salad. Both were very good. Service was pleasant and timely. On this occasion thru had live music which was the icing on an already lovely morning. Thanks Oceanic! We'll be back

Great location right on the water. We arrived fairly early in the afternoon so we didn't have to wait. The server was great. The food was okay. I ate the fish tacos and they were fine but the fries weren't great. My wife's she-crab soup had to be sent back. Others in our party's food was fine, so a mixed bag.

This was the first time we had ever been to this establishment. It was to celebrate a group of birthdays, and we had a taste for seafood in the area. Once you walk in, you would think that it's very modern but as you walk in towards the tables, it's very old and plain. We asked for a high chair for my 11 month old daughter. We received the high chair and did as any parent does and begins to wipe it down with sanitizing cloths. This might have been the dirtiest high chair I've ever seen. I would expect this from McDonald's but not at an established restaurant like this. Let me say that the only thing that saved this review from being worse than it is, is our server Trevor. He was very nice, and when we voiced our concerns, he immediately took the wipes to the manager, which was very comforting. He was very attentive to our needs and made sure we had everything that was needed. I would recommend taking the high chairs out and giving this a good scrub and maybe even sanding them down.

Oceanic has, without question, one of the nicest views of the ENC coast. Oftentimes pictures don't really capture how gorgeous it really is. The food is pretty good, the service has always been good when we go. We've not been in the evening or sunset yet (being ENC, we don't get sunsets like Florida), but eventually we will & I'm sure it'll be really nice. Definitely go check out Oceanic

Great view, wonderful food and fabulous service! Sat outside on the deck with ocean view. Andrew was our server and he was very attentive and helpful. Try the pimento cheese appetizer - that alone is worth going back for!!

We stopped here for lunch. The service was fantastic and the views of the pier and ocean are amazing. The food was fine. Nothing special but overall, not bad.

This place has amazing food and staff. Our waiter was so nice and helpful. I was a little worried about what my son would get. My son isn’t into seafood so I asked about the burger with just ketchup. He said they can make mini sliders he can just put ketchup on them. That was perfect and so glad they offer that choice. My step son and husband both ordered the Catch of the Day and I tried the cheesy grits and shrimp. WOW!! Everything was fantastic… hats off to the chef. The Spicy Margaritas were made perfect! This definitely a place I would come back to again. They offer seating inside and outside seating. Also don’t forget to walk the pier before you leave!!

This place was so amazing me and my friend who traveled here to see me decided to visit, Camryn, our server was such an amazing server. She shows amazing work ethic and genuinely cares about her customers. Next Time you're there, ask for her, 10/10, definitely recommend.

I visited the Oceanic 23 years ago & had a wonderful experience & tonight was just as memorable. The restaurant is just as beautiful & the view is remarkable. The team was incredible & so sweet & they know the menu like the back of their hand. Their recommendations are spot on. Thank you for making our dining experience so pleasurable.

What's not to like about an oceanfront restaurant with a pier? We stopped by here during the Christmas week, and it was not too crowded. There's a gorgeous covered seating area on the 2nd floor with beautiful views of the beach. The pier and outdoor seating by the pier are on the 1st floor. We ordered a seafood gumbo bowl along with mahi-mahi and island shrimp taco plates. The food was pretty good; especially the gumbo was great. Friendly staff and good service.

As we went here for a work social gathering, it was not exactly what I thought. It is more like a tourist destination as part of their facility is a pier that extends into the Atlantic Ocean. They have live music and that person was taking requests so it was fun. From what I could tell they also do private affairs, but only if you can blend into the pier crowd. The ambiance is great, especially at dusk. A full bar and lots of tasty food make it a good time for all.

The view from any seat in the house here is amazing. The food is not amazing. It's not BAD... but definitely not amazing. My husbands mahi was not mild like it should be and my salad was overpowering. Service was great, drinks were decent- but I'm not rushing back here.

We ordered delivery since we just arrived at our beautiful rental house on the beach to celebrate my sister's birthday ( a Big one) after a long drive . All three of us enjoyed our entrées and the gumbo soup that I ordered as an appetizer was fantastic. I tried shrimp tacos they were good but only 2 came as an entree with the balance of the plastic package filled with tortilla chips. I would of preferred something like rice or asparagus on the side or possibly a third taco. My sister and wife tried the mahi-mahi which was excellent. The problem that we encountered was with food delivery . All our entrées arrived stone cold. Delivery was 30 minutes past the quoted delivery time of 30 minutes ( one hour in total) . Our rental house is less than half a mile down the street from the restaurant so it is hard to understand. No problem that our food was delivered late but being stone cold was unacceptable. Accordingly I recommend that if you try this restaurant pick the food up yourself or eat onsite .

Food was good. Came here for lunch, highly recommend the wedge salad and the mahi-mahi tacos. Everything was priced great in our server Kyle, was amazing. Quick with refills and a great personality. Highly recommend this place for anyone looking for a chill lunch or dinner restaurant with great views. We came on a dreary day when it was raining and still enjoyed the views of the ocean.

Came here as a recommendation from a local. The food and service was great here but above both is the location. Set on the beach with a deck reaching out to the sea, on a late summer evening you cant beat having a sunset dinner here like I did.

I had a new item, the Thai Tuna Salad, which was so delicious! I made an exception from my vegan diet for this. It is ahi tuna, so know: that is raw. So relaxed atmosphere, off season. Our service was prompt & competent. Always a lovely view, even in rainy weather!

My boyfriend and I went for a date night last night to Oceanic. Unfortunately, there was a wedding that took place on a Saturday night on the pier. That's the whole reason for going to oceanic is to be on the pier and enjoy all of Wrightsville Beach. We did quickly find two seats together at the bar and still had a decent view of the ocean. What we noticed was the bartenders were overworked. I say that because it took more than 15 minutes for eye contact from one of the bartenders as well as the offering for a drink. Nonetheless, thankfully, I viewed the cocktail menu before we arrived and knew I was going to order the white sangria. It was delicious and certainly refreshing on the hot and steamy day we chose for date night. We stayed for just a few drinks and a few appetizers that were lackluster. I would definitely go again if I knew we could get onto the pier.

I've always loved this place. The view is unmatched on wrightville beach. On warm weather days you can eat out on the pier and on other days they have both 1st and 2nd floor dinning with ocean views. I ordered the lumina burger which was really good and my daughter got the kids Mac and cheese (white sauce but delicious). With your meal you get complimentary hush puppies which we love. There's parking out front of the restaurant but can get full during peak hours. I recommend going for an earlier dinner to beat the crowd if possible! Can't wait to go back!

Oceanic is consistently good. The atmosphere is always warm and inviting, and you can't beat the view... The food is solid, with great selection. We're never disappointed when we go. This trip we tried the new Scallop and Shrimp linguine, with mascarpone, phenomenal. Service was great, very friendly staff, as always. Highly recommend.

Got a window seat which was nice. We thought it would be too cold outside. Turns out it was warmer outside as they had the A/C turned down low and we and another table were freezing. Service was sub par as it was slow. 10 minutes before a waitress quickly stopped by ti tell us "name" was going to be right with us. Crab dip appetizer was very good. Caesar salad was so drenched in dressing and we had to send back. We split my entree. Stuffed salmon with crabmeat. It was decent. Salmon we overcooked but not dry. Stuffing was good and the sauce was good. Wife loved it but i thought it could be a bit more flavorful. Took us a hour and 15 minutes to eat.

Had a really amazing dinner experience here & we were incredibly impressed! All food was excellent and perfectly cooked for five of us... All with different types of meals. Service was outstanding and the ambience was wonderful. Management stopped by twice to inquire if everything was going well during our visit. We did arrive early (5:30ish) and we were able to get a very nice table upstairs overlooking the water. Every single staff member from the hostess to the server to the management and even the parking attendants are wonderful. We had been here quite a while ago in the past, and we're not super impressed, although the view is always worth it... But this visit completely changed our opinion, and they have taken a serious interest in making sure that the Oceanic experience is a wonderful one for all guests ! We'll be going back on the regular now!

Alyssa was so friendly! Cute personality and very competent server. We love the setting and food. Yummyness by the ocean:)

Had the crab dip & shrimp and grits and both dishes were delicious! Came during the off season so it was not busy at all but looking forward to going back in the spring/summer to check out their patio on the beach.

Food and service are excellent, the ocean side vibe and private pier are cool. I'd recommend eating inside, though. Pigeons and Starlins are all over deck, see feathers landing on food. Eat inside, then enjoy the pier after.

Anna was our waitress and she was SUPER!!! Food was great and such a wonderful dinner

Perfect spot right on the water/pier. I was staying nearby and able to walk over. I went on Friday around 430pm for an early dinner, hoping to sit further along the pier over the water, but I was unfortunately seated just outside of the main dining room. Still beautiful view of the ocean and nice sunset weather. I started with a spicy margarita and then ordered a cup of the seafood gumbo and the shrimp grits. The margarita was pretty good- had a nice kick to it, the gumbo was alright- not super flavorful, but not bad. I enjoyed the shrimp and grits, thought it was a bit pricy for the portion size, but that's to be expected. I also ordered the stumbling islander, a mix of rums with pineapple and grenadine. It was way too sweet and juicy. I couldn't even finish it. Overall, I had a decent experience here. Service was fast and friendly enough, but I would say the quality and flavors were a bit subpar, especially for the pricetag. It's a good option if you're staying in one of the nearby hotels/rentals.

Food is pretty good, service was great and can't beat the views of the ocean since it's in the pier. I would highly recommend this restaurant for the view alone. Tip, for lunch get their right before it opens and wait, it gets packed

I was visiting from Alabama and we decided to eat dinner at Oceanic. When I tell you they had the best fried shrimp ever, I am not lying. I got full but I couldn't stop eating it. I am sad thinking about how I don't live closer to here. Not only was the food exquisite, the service was also amazing. We were seated quickly on the outside patio, but got cold... So the manager helped us upstairs to a table with a beautiful view! All the staff were SUPER helpful and friendly! The Server did a wonderful job keeping up with our tabs and processed/delivered orders quickly. I can't say enough good about this place! Next time I visit my friends in NC, I am definitely coming back!

Oceanic is the No. 1 restaurant that I visited while in Wilmington. The food was great, but it's all about the food plus the atmosphere. This restaurant is located right on the beach! It's sitting on a pier overlooking the Atlantic Ocean! If you sit outside, you can hear the sounds of seagulls screaming and waves lapping at the shore! It's an amazing experience. If you visit Oceanic, I highly recommend getting the hush puppies, if they're available. They're crispy and brown on the outside, and mealy and yellow on the inside, and delightfully corny in general. We got a big basket of these complimentary, and it took lots of willpower to not eat every single one by myself before my food arrived. Being by the ocean, I had to order seafood. So I got the salmon with vegetables, a light meal that paired well with the glass of Riesling I also ordered. The salmon and vegetable is the perfect meal if you want something that feels nourishing and light. We also got a shrimp cocktail for the table, as well as a Caesar salad, because I needed a salad. The Caesar was delicious and perfectly dressed, and the shrimp cocktail came with large shrimp and nose-tingling sauce. They have a kids menu here at Oceanic, with kid favorites like cheeseburger sliders and mac and cheese. My kids got both, and they really enjoyed their meals. Like I said earlier, Oceanic sits on a pier, which happens to be the Crystal Pier. When we finished our meal, we took a walk out onto the pier and looked at the waves and took some photos.It was so nice. Visiting Oceanic was truly a highlight of our trip.

Joined my family New Year's Eve for appetizers and cocktails and it was fabulous out on the pier. Came back this morning and enjoyed parmigiana fried oysters and more truffle fries! I've died and went to heaven! Yummy! Their food staff is also fantastic!

We ate outside, and it was breezy and the beach was nice. The music was OK. I'll waitress, Maggie was great. Tacos were amazing, the She Crab soup was amazing, and the NC style calabash platter was amazing. We accidentally received some crab dip. It became "on the House crab dip". It was OK. Would we eat here again. Yes!

Food: Really good, portions are a bit small, but flavor is there and it's very yummy. Small menu but everything they do, they do it very well. Service is good! I really like attentive waiters/waitresses'. The Ambiance, is probably the best part about this place; connected to a pier and right on the beach! Highly recommend you go! Looking forward to coming back!

Alyssa was a great server! All of our dishes were soo yummy! Our table had a gorgeous view of the ocean. Definitely will be back

This is actually my second visit to this restaurant. About a year ago, my extended family ate here for a family brunch and we were not that impressed. We tried it again this year and found it much more enjoyable. The service was very friendly and the quality of the food was much improved. Combine that with the wonderful location and views, and I will definitely be back for another visit.

Food was phenomenal!!! Best we've had this week. Kyle is an awesome server. Nice view of the water and great atmosphere. Definitely be back.

Serah was so pleasant she took good care of us. We had the best food burger and fish sandwich both perfectly done and delicious. A view like no other on Wrightsville Beach!!

I was so pleasantly surprised at how great our lunch was here today. For years, I thought the food was really subpar and you would dine here for the view. Twice in a row I have been wrong about that. Not Only is this the best view on the island, but the service and food were also wonderful! I had the mahi swimsuit special and it was probably the best mahi I have had in years. I asked for no butter, oil or dressing in it and it was perfect! I tried a bite of the calamari (which was huge) and it was also excellent. The lives have been raised a lot, but it is a touristy place. If you haven't ate here in awhile, give it another shot.

Great food, service and location. I love the fact you can eat by the ocean. The only thing that I would suggest is a better way to place takeout orders.

We took a long ride to Wrightsville Beach in Wilmington, NC, but used this restaurant in our GPS on Google Maps. Got us exactly where we needed to go. We visited on Monday, August 19, 2024. Because it was later in the lunch hour, we were seated right away outside. Our first table did not provide umbrella shade, so we asked to move down 2 tables and still have the same view of the ocean. They were very accommodating. The food is excellent, as well as the drinks. I asked for a Midori Sour, and only if they had Midori (just plain melon liqueur would not do). Otherwise, I wanted their Italian Moscato d'Asti. However, the bright green drink with cherries was set before me. Those go down so easy. But, glad I only had one. It was $12.00. Kind of pricey, but, look where I was sitting! I ordered the fried fish sandwich which had a tasty tartar sauce (not relish mixed with mayo). The homemade potato chips were seasoned with Old Bay seasoning, which was not my favorite. My husband ordered the NC-Style Calabash Platter and was quite satisfied. I tried one of his shrimp, and it was great. He enjoyed the entire thing, and I finished my sandwich. We had nothing to take home, which is rare. So, this lunch with two drinks and no appetizers cost us, with tip, $88. Loved the experience, but not the expense. But, when you are by the sea, far from home, you aren't going out to lunch for low-cost dining. You expect to pay big, and tip well. We did that. We would definitely go again. You should try this place whenever you go to this beach. And by they way, do not feed the birds who like to visit while you are eating. Not a thing you can do about their congregating near food. But their signs all say don't do it. You are steps away from sand and surf. Enjoy!

Living down by Seabreeze, I groan whenever anyone suggests Wrightsville Beach, especially on a sizzling summer day. But, my friend was staying there with her family and I agreed to meet her at the Oceanic. Wow, am I glad I did! I especially liked free parking for the restaurant, I avoid Carolina Beach because of this. I had a bowl of gumbo, truffle cheese fries and a sweet tea, it was so good. The Gumbo was a tomato-based Creole style gumbo. Not the dark roux, Cajun type I've had in New Orleans or I make. But, I'm trying to stop being so stupid rigid with foods. It was satisfying and tasty, I liked it. The fries were decadent, I was happy to split them with my friend, to keep from eating them all! I definitely want to go back with my hubs and kiddo to try brunch and dinner. I am happy to drive out to Wrightsville for the Oceanic!

Great food and atmosphere. Food comes out fast! The staff is awesome, both friendly & attentive. TO THE OWNERS: Few easy fixes. 1) Being right on the beach I get salt water mist BUT you can barely see the beautiful views with the windows not clean. Have a kid clean them daily! Sit at bar and giant windows give you a blurred view. 2) Doors opening constantly drag down the AC temp. Maybe pump up more or do a double entry door? It was kinda sticky inside. 3) Above average flies. Doors are one reason but fruit flies from bar need to be fixed.

Of course we went here for the view - and it was perfect! Everything and more than what I expected views wise. We were told there would be about 30-min waiting, so we decided to head towards the boardwalk. There were barely any people at the boardwalk so made us enjoy the views even more. Our table was ready way sooner .. maybe like in 15-20 min - so that was a plus. Our server was very sweet and courteous. She checked on us regularly and was sweet to our 16-month old toddler too. Food itself was okay - it wasn't the most delicious mango salsa that I had in a taco. Shrimp however was cooked to perfection. My sons salmon was prepared exactly how I asked for and he loved it. We loved the fries, chips and hash brown - chips especially was delicious. There was live music at the time we went for brunch and that just made this beautiful day even better.

This is a wonderful restaurant with a nice ambience, and we were fortunate enough to enjoy live music outside on the back patio with a view of the ocean. To top it off, the food was delicious beginning with a complementary hush puppies and the mahi tacos and the swimsuit special, which was also mahi with broccolini and quinoa rice. We will definitely be back.

Excellent lunch service today. Stepped into Oceanic for my last oceanfront meal of the trip and it did not disappoint. It took a minute for my server to take my drink order, but I think it was a miscommunication between who was working, once that was settled, service was excellent. The waterfront view was beautiful, the second floor seating area was calm and welcoming. I started with the Old Bay colossal shrimp cocktail, this could have been a meal in itself! The shrimp were large and tender. Cooked just right with Old Bay seasoning. Next up were the shrimp tacos, I had hoped there would be a grilled option, however the sweet chile sauce made the fried shrimp a perfect match for the slaw and mango salsa. Chips on the side would have been great with a side of the mango salsa. Great meal, great service. Easy access to the pier for a walk after. Hope to come back soon!

Didn't have to wait very long for a table. The food was outstanding and the service was very good. Can't beat the view of the ocean. The sauce that came with the chicken tenders was AMAZING!

Loved our lunch here out on the Pier overlooking the ocean. Great food choices and Mandy our server was fantastic! Loved her . Will definitely return

Every time I'm surprised how good everything is. Fantastic location and ambiance, friendly staff. Everything we've tried was better than expected

We were there celebrating so we had a huge table on the outdoor deck. Very nice view, atmosphere was happy with music playing. Our server was good and attentive. Being that we were a group, we had a limited selection. Calamari came out right away and was ok. The sangrias were delicious! Nice and fruity! I ordered the crab stuffed salmon. The first plate had a hair in it so it was downhill from there. The crab stuffing didn't have much flavor so I just ate the salmon and the lemon sauce that it came with. The rice pilaf had zero taste, so very bland. The asparagus was pretty good. The burger was ordered well which was very dry. Even the French fries weren't too good. The place was very crowded and had a big menu. I would give it another try where I could order what I wanted.

We were seated at a lovely window table with the beautiful water below us. Server was excellent. One of the best bloody Mary's I ever had. I ordered the flounder basket with fries. Super light, hot, crispy and tasty. I could only eat one piece, big portion. All staff at restaurant were super sweet, great food and great dining experience. We will certainly return during our next beach vacation.

View is unbeatable, service was excellent and the seafood gumbo was so delicious! Highly recommend the tuna poke and tempura fish as well!

Great food Wonderful service Alexandra was the best Incredible ocean view - right on the water

Some of the best shrimp tacos I've ever had the pleasure of trying. Food was great, service was quick, ambiance was extremely relaxing. 11/10 recommend.

This is definitely the place to come for a gorgeous sunset. I thought the food was good. We started with the calamari and this is probably where I took a wrong turn. Probably because I'm not a fan of banana peppers but that's on me for accidentally eating one. My dinner companion on the other hand loved the peppers in the dish. For my dinner, I got the oyster platter with a side of rice. I love fried oysters so I was a happy diner. My favorite part of the dinner was my dessert which was the flourless chocolate torte. I apologize for the lack of a photo for my dessert. I took it to go and ate it all when I got home! I would definitely return to Oceanic for a few cocktails and appetizers and relax by the ocean.

Literally some of the best seafood I've had! Also, some of the best food we had in Wilmington! Our servers were great! The restaurant has such a beach vibe since it sits on the ocean. Everything was fresh! Definitely recommend!!

Another great lunch and service by Maggie, at Oceanic! I got the puck 3 calabash basket. I got flounder and double shrimp. The tarter sauce is still fantastic. Yum!!

What a pleasure it was to eat here. The vibes were very laid back, enjoyable, and you couldn't ask for a better view of the beach. The food was fairly standard and exactly what I expected, but coupled with the breeze and the ocean I would say this place absolutely will get a return visit for me. All of the bartenders and servers I work with were all very pleasant and helpful.