The Copper Penny

My wife and I were brought here by our friends last night. I was totally blown away! I got the roasted pork sandwich and onion rings my wife got the bbq burger! Both were delicious and the portions our huge! Love the local craft draft beer selection as well. Atmosphere feels like an old sports bar with all modern updates. This place is a must try if you come to Wilmington.

Spent a week in Wilmington and this was our go to place twice that’s how good it was. Staff and manager were very friendly and attentive. Food was amazing! The burgers, steak and pork sandwiches and sweet potato fries are the best around. Can’t wait to visit again.

Nice pub atmosphere, which is typically busy but well worth the wait if you are in the Wilmington, NC area. The Copper penny has an outstanding menu and local beer selection on draft and as well as cans. The Family requests to go to this spot every time they come and visit from Ohio. The Copper penny was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives where Guy Fieri smashed the restaurants featured sandwiches hot roast pork sandwich, and the 109 chestnut chicken along with their mouthwatering beer battered onion rings. I’ve enjoyed most of this menu and haven’t ever had a bad item from this establishment. This burger was a simple “classic pub style” which was cooked to perfection and juicy to the last bite. It's hard to put this burger down and not eat it start to finish but the sides that they offer are just as delicious to not partake in between bites. I paired this burger with a local beer from Wilmington itself from Waterline Brewing company - Kölsch which accented it perfectly with its crisp and clean smooth taste. If you’re in the historic downtown Wilmington area this is a must stop for a cold beer and a bite to eat! The only downside is the parking but it's in a city, and city parking sucks everywhere ! Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Atmosphere: 4.5/5

We tried it for the first time and it is a hit! Don't miss out on the great food and service with a smile! Jennifer our waitress was absolutely amazing! You won't be disappointed!

The food is so delicious. Everything is fresh and plentiful. The portion sizes are large. Every item was seasoned to perfection. We had a regular burger and a black bean burger. We also ordered a basket of sweet potato fries. We all started with tomato soup. The service was great. The atmosphere was lively and enjoyable. There were multiple TV's with various sports programs being shown. I would highly recommend this restaurant.

We got the Pork loin sandwich with sweet potato fries and Beef on a Weck with onion rings. Both were good but liked the Pork better. Impressive onion rings. Ate at the bar. Bartender Devan let us sample a few brews.

Amazing place. Great food. My wife had the philly cheesesteak, and it was better than the actual cheesesteak from Geno's in Philadelphia. The Bacon burger was awesome, too. Grace took great care of us and learned it was our first time there. She made us feel welcome. If we were local, we would eat here every week. Highly recommended.

I visit bestie in Jacksonville at least once a year and in those times we have been trying to get in here, but always after opening only to find a line. On this last visit (Presidents Day weekend) we were determined to sample the fares everyone keeps bragging about. Saturday had us out of the hotel at 7, rolled down to Holly Ridge/Sneads Ferry for some geocaches until 9am where we then make our way to Wilmington. Who woulda guessed we'd make it there in an hour so we had time to kill. And we spent that hour watching Harry Potter fans on a virtual tour. Some of them were simply adorable! Now, there really isn't much I can expound on from previous viewers as CP is all they said (and more!) but we both really enjoyed our burgers (I had the BBQ minus jalapeños and bestie had the Black & Blue) but I must make mention of just how friendly the staff was. They were quite attentive, accommodating and seemed to be very concerned about our dining experience. My burger was cooked perfectly and was one of my most favorite burgers of all time. It had the sweetest BBQ sauce and I licked every drop of it that fell on my hands, as if I was in my own home and didn't care who saw me. It was just that good. The multi fried onion rings were HUGE and superb. You can always tell a good onion ring if it separates as you bite it. Bestie and I both had the Penny Punch. It was so full of liquor that bestie (who was our Jeep driver of the day) couldn't finish hers. You bet your Penny panties that I finished hers off too! Long story short, it was worth the wait and I'm glad we weathered the howling winds and Potter fans. We will most definitely be back! Thank you everyone at CP for making our visit an enjoyable one. *** I post reviews on a couple of sites so this is on another platform too ***

I visit bestie in Jacksonville at least once a year and in those times we have been trying to get in here, but always after opening only to find a line. On this last visit (Presidents Day weekend) we were determined to sample the fares everyone keeps bragging about. Saturday had us out of the hotel at 7, rolled down to Holly Ridge/Sneads Ferry for some geocaches until 9am where we then make our way to Wilmington. Who woulda guessed we'd make it there in an hour so we time to kill. And we spent that hour watching Harry Potter fans on a virtual tour. Some of them were simply adorable! Now, there really isn't much I can expound on from previous viewers as CP is all they said (and more!) but we both really enjoyed our burgers (I had the BBQ minus jalapeños and bestie had the Black & Blue) but I must make mention of just how friendly the staff was. They were quite attentive, accommodating and seemed to be very concerned about our dining experience. My burger was cooked perfectly and was one of my most favorite burgers of all time. It had the sweetest BBQ sauce and I licked every drop of it that fell on my hands, as if I was in my own home and didn't care who saw me. It was just that good. The multi fried onion rings were HUGE and superb. You can always tell a good onion ring if it separates as you bite it. Bestie and I both had the Penny Punch. It was so full of liquor that bestie (who was our Jeep driver of the day) couldn't finish hers. You bet your Penny panties that I finished hers off too! Long story short, it was worth the wait and I'm glad we weathered the howling winds and Potter fans. We will most definitely be back! Thank you everyone at CP for making our visit an enjoyable one.

Copper Penny is always packed, so I usually avoided it, but yesterday I found out why they're always packed. This place is AMAZING! Great, friendly and fast service. I got their BBQ burger, two 1/4 pound patties, cheese, bacon, a huge fried onion ring, tomato and BBQ sauce. It was so incredible! Their sweet potato fries were equally good. Really impressed. Beware it is in downtown Wilmington so parking can be tricky, especially during busy season, but it is worth it in my book.

Our third time here. I still love the consistency of this place. The food is always tasty and the service is lovely.

There's a reason that Guy Fieri visited the Copper Penny and it's written all over the food! First off the staff were all super friendly and attentive, we were there as soon as they opened and they filled up fast afterwards, but the staff handled everything like they were totally used to the hustle and still really appreciated us being there. Sitting in a bar I knew I had to order something to try out their wares so I snagged the Penny Punch and let's just say I got my monies worth! I'm a lightweight by drinking standards, but this drink had a great flavor and enough booze in that glass to get me a quick buzz lol only drinking around half. My bestie ordered the onion rings for us to share as an appetizer and they are seriously the best onion rings I've ever had, lightly battered, cooking and seasoned to perfection! Next came out my behemoth of a burger, the Black & Bleu burger, which did not disappoint and definitely one of the best burgers, or maybe even THE best burger I've ever had. The burger patty was cooked perfectly and well seasoned, and each additional topping did not take away from the quality of beef they used. The tomato was fresh, the blue cheese and onions were scrumptious, and OMG I could've taken home a bottle of that garlic aioli and used it as a dipping sauce for everything! The whole burger was delightfully messy and I would definitely go back for another. The fries were also well seasoned and yummy, but don't hold a candle to those onion rings and the burger from heaven.

Staff is super nice and very attentive. Food is fast and delicious. Drinks are 100% on point, especially for a lunch time stop. Lights are dimmed to give you that pub setting and feel. Everyone on staff helps out to keep food coming out of the kitchen right when it hits the window!

Adorable little pub like atmosphere. We are from out of town and solely picked this place based on their amazing reviews... well they did NOT disappoint! My hibiscus margarita was incredible and our food was exceptional! The owner Christine came over to check on us and wound up sitting and chatting for a bit! We loved it! I highly recommend!

Great little spot for a cold beer and good food. Came in with a party of 6 and got a table right away on a Tuesday night. They have large booths which fit all 6 adults pretty easily. Your whole party must be present to be seated, so just keep that in mind. Service was fast, friendly, and knowledgeable! We ordered an array of food and all of it was delicious and came out quickly. 9/10, super solid spot.

Black bean burger was room temperature as well as the sweet potato fries. My wife's fish & chips were underwhelming. Atmosphere was dingy, sticky tables and way too loud to carry on a normal conversation. Not worth all the hype with triple D. Won't be back. Note: our server however, was pleasant.

We had winch a great lunch here! Wonderful service, and the food was great. We split the 109 chestnut chicken sandwich (there is a split charge, but you get an additional side--totally worth it). The sandwich was so good--even better, they donate 1.09 from each sale to a different charity each month. This month, it is the Special Olympics.

Loved this place! Signature joint that's been around for longer than I've been alive. Menu had a handful of staples that sounded delish. We started with the red pepper hummus which was served with warm pita. Then we each had the 109 Chestnut Chicken Sandwich, the Philly Cheesesteak, and a blackened chicken Greek salad. Everything was fresh and I really enjoyed the salad. The chicken sandwich was rather dry, but still had a decent taste. The Philly cheesesteak was awesome, super juicy. The bread that they use is from locally Apple Annie's, ugh fantastic. Perfect! Place could be a tad cleaner, went here on a Friday afternoon but I hear it gets super packed at night! Service was prompt and friendly. Would definitely return! Also, the sweet potato fries are awesome!

Stopped by Copper Penny for a quick bite. I ordered the Philly cheese steak and onion rings. The onion rings are huge! They are also very very tasty. Staff was really nice and kept beverages full. I really enjoyed my apple pie drink. Back to my Philly cheesesteak , it was so cheesy and came out warm with the perfect amount of grilled onions. I loved the fun vibe in the place. It was so inviting and I wish there was a place like this back at home. Prices were exceptional and I appreciate the prices. I found out about Copper Penny through Diner , Drive ins, and Dives and it was totally living up to they hype ! This place is amazing

I love Copper Penny so very much. The lines are crazy and the waits can be nuts so learn from me and call for a to-go order of the hot pork sandwich! It's phenomenal and you can have a wonderful dinner experience walking down to the water to eat it in the evenings or at lunch time.

Copper Penny was great! We were visiting in town and decided to try this local establishment. Loved the Philly pub theme as someone who lived there for a bit. I got the fish and chips which were lightly battered and crispy - definitely a little bit of a unique batter which I loved. The fries were amazing and went great with the house tartar sauce. My husband had the smoked tomato soup which was so delicious and packed with flavor. The prices were extremely fair, especially compared to the surrounding restaurants. Definitely recommend!

When I called to make reservations for our party of 7, I learned they don't take reservations but they encouraged us to come as close to opening as possible since it's a rather small place. We did and we only had to wait a few minutes to be seated. Our drinks and appetizer (onion rings) were served promptly. These were the best onion rings I've had in a really long time, The southwest chicken pita was perfect - great balance of chicken and bacon, pepper jack, fried onion, lettuce, and tomatoes. I asked them to hold the jalapeños and they did. I highly recommend a visit to the Copper Penny and wish I lived closer as I'd be a regular!

The food was good, the server was kind of slow but a nice kid. The restaurant had unique feel. It was clean. I wasn't especially impressed by the rules. Kind of got the feeling that ownership feels that since Guy was there "come if you want, but we don't need you." Is the attitude. It didn't knock my socks off by no means. Skip this place and go to Sweet N Savory. NOW that was KNOCK your socks off good.

Not a fan of the batter they use for their fish/onion rings. Zero flavor. Get a burger, it's the best thing on the menu. Killer play list tho.

Outstanding lunch served fast, and a wonderful staff. The perfect balance of attentive but not intrusive.

I finally got dine at Copper Penney. Several of us ate here a couple of weeks ago. I ordered the "109 Chestnut Chicken Sandwich", which had a big portion of sliced chicken, cheese, mushrooms and caramelized onions. The sandwich was huge and quite filling. While I loved the flavors, it was just to heavy of a meal for me. Fun atmosphere and packed!

Friendly Service, great atmosphere and excellent food. Our favorite of many good Wilmington Restaurants. We had onion rings, Beef on Weck and the Hot Pork Sandwich.

We have been hearing about this place and had to try it!! Wish we didn't wait so long!! The food is amazingly yummy!! Jess and the team very friendly; been here 6 years says sooo much!! Very friendly environment; will be back with friends!! Oh and the onion rings are better than any picture; and they look darn good in the pictures!!

Really solid wings. Probably goes well with any sauce. Fried to a perfect level of crisp. Outstanding. Service is excellent. Everyone so friendly. Grace W should be requested. You won't have a need for a single thing. Onion rings and Hot Roasted Pork Sandwich are as good as advertised. I'd come back just for that. It's Philly good. Then I look around and see a bunch of Philadelphia memorabilia and it comes full circle. Dining room reminds me of a row house. How's that for ambiance? They nailed it..

Food was amazing, if you try the shrimp you'll never stop eating same with the fry's. The service was good but instead of getting you a new cup for a refill she dumps the new glass into the old glass. Beach styled and really normal 80's beach style. you should definitely try this place out

Found this place on Yelp while touring the Battleship NC in Wilmington. Wow!! Food Network's Guy Fieri was right. Onion rings are quite possibly the best I have had. The 109 Chicken Sandwich was phenomenal. Ambiance is that of a pub. It's very loud. Service is prompt, but not exceptional or terrible. Minor dings thus not 5 stars suck as water running out. Wasn't a lot of options our 12 year old found desirable, but he is picky.

This is a Wilmington favorite. Limited menu, mostly burgers, sandwiches and salads. Full beer selection. Only nine tables usually requires a wait, so stop by and put your name in and take a walk. Attentive service and warm atmosphere.

Been here many times and was excited that the Onion rings are back! Also excited that we were seated right away! This place is so popular, you usually have to wait, especially on the weekends! Service was excellent! Seems like the food was out in about 15 minutes! Husband had the Pork Sandwich, which was featured on DDD a few years back! It didn't seem quite as good as before, but Onion rings were on point! I ordered the steak and cheese, excellent quality, but I should have added some Mayo to it! I got Sweet Potato fries with Ranch dressing! Yum! If I didn't have to drive 30 minutes downtown, I would frequent here more often!

Me and my boyfriend shared 2 appetizers-- cheesesteak eggrolls and sweet potato fries! We were impressed with the portions! The cheesesteak eggrolls were DELICIOUS I highly recommend!

4.5/5 Triple-D and it's spike haired host did nothing to diminish the popularity of this downtown historic-district pub. Wait times especially during summer, weekends and UNCW big events can be past an hour so we recommend the 2-5pm window for a late lunch or early dinner. They occupy the first floor of a 2 story standalone building. Parking is all on street and metered so be wary. If you can get bar seats, thats the way to roll as large parties and families are attracted to the big booths like glaze on a donut. Plus you get a great view of the lofted ceilings and walnut bar from your stool. NOTE **The first two seats past the front curve of the bar are sub-zero in the summer thanks to a huge AC vent** Service and kitchen are fast, accommodating and get things right. Bar staff pays attention and moves quickly. Burgers and onion rings along with their highlighted roasted pork sammich are the best choices in our opinion; we agree with other Yelpers, their seafood is just standard pub fare. The reuben was excellent, large and well toasted with good fries as accompaniment. Onion rings are generous, fresh and not overbreaded or fried. This is probably the best genuine large food-centric pub in Wilmington's historic area and does not attract barflies, giant frozen drink fans or partiers. We hit CP at least once a trip and you should too.

We were gladly seated here party of 8 & a high chair after a short wait on one of the busiest nights of the week. The waitresses were top notch- efficient and friendly! Wait time for food wasn't bad at all! They had our freshly cooked appetizers out within no time! Our drinks were out in no time as well, which is not always the case when #1 you're at a big party table and #2 anywhere else besides the bar. So we were very surprised and pleased with our alcoholic beverages! I had a dirty martini and my sis had a strawberry lemonade marg, I believe it was! Great pours and tasty! My hubs beer was ice cold! The food was delicious! Pricing is what you would expect in a downtown city! Great ambience here and good vibes! Overall, I would recommend and I would eat here again!

Alright..if you are in Downtown Wilmington and looking for the BEST Onion Rings you will ever eat this is the place to be!!! While all the food is great, the huge amount of rings is the best food you can place in your mouth in Wilmington!! The batter is seasoned perfectly with flaky layers. The onions are firm but tender, not a soggy mess like others. Pair it with any sandwich or burger and you will make your stomach happy happy happy. Get some!!

One of the top spots in Historic Downtown. Typical bar food but elevated and well prepared. Burgers and fries are excellent. We had the Philly cheesesteak spring rolls and were floored. Grown up grilled cheese was the show stopper for the kids. Excellent food and above average service. Be prepared to wait for a table but we'll worth it!

Been here a few times and have never been disappointed. This time my wife and I split a Dip sandwich and onion rings, both were amazing and homemade. Service was perfect and beer was cold. What else can you ask for? Oh, cleanliness...spot on! I did notice while there that people would walk in during lunch time and due to its popularity, there was a wait of about 20 minutes without a reservation. 3 people in a row got nasty with the hostess and was mad at her? Why? People just amaze me. If you want to be sure to get a seat without a wait, make a reservation. Or wait for a whole 20 minutes and grab a cold beer from the bar in the meantime.

Excellent food service great starters delicious drinks. Salads are great. Cheeseburgers too. Or have a steak just the way you Like it. Don't miss this downtown treat!!

You lost a customer! Zero stars. Bring back normal burgers!. I don't like overdone hockey puck smash burgers. The only people who like these type of patties must be the line cooks because they are fast to make. Ask your customers if they prefer juicy tasty thick patty burgers cooked to desired temperature or bland flat over done dry hockey puck smash burgers . Why change your menu ? We're people walking in everyday begging for smash burgers? Did a number cruncher tell you it would save time / Money and your customers don't count?

While on a 4-day work trip, I ate here 4 times! It was that good. Updating my review after the first visit because it got better! Cheeseburger/cheesesteak (can't remember) egg rolls were SO GOOD! Crispy, cheesy comfort food. Sweet potato fries matched well with the honey mustard. Hot pork sandwich disappointed me on the 3rd visit, but turns out they forgot to give me the side of au jus to dip it in. I didn't want to give up on them-- the sandwich is a well known favorite, and mistakes happen, so I went back a 4th time and talked to the manager (owner?). Here's where that extra star comes in-- he was so genuinely apologetic and determined for me to try it as intended, and I'm glad I took him up on it. It was AMAZING. He provided stellar customer service that went beyond just words and talk, but he was proactive and took action to show how much he values his business and his customers. He was so kind and it seems to rub off on his staff. Everyone I contacted was so friendly and welcoming!!! I look forward to visiting when I'm back in town.

This place is bomb.com! It's no wonder it made it on Diners, Dives and Drive-thru's but that not why we even came here. It was just "random perfection" that we ended up here for lunch. They've got a good selection of beers which were all tasty and a bunch of them local microbrews, which I'm a sucker for. I got the fish and chips because our server said they were a big hit and purple constantly rave about them. I love me some fish and chips and these are delicious. Perfectly braced and cooked to perfection. Crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. Coincidentally the two menu items that were showcased on Diners, Dives and Drive-thru's were the ones that the wife and my pops were interested in and ordered. We now see why because they both were hella good. Juicy meats and the bread was just right; not too hard but not too soft. The service here was great. Not to fast but not too slow; not too bothersome with interruptions but not leaving us stranded on an island all alone. We highly suggest this spot if you're looking for some quality eats and service. We will definitely be back come our next visit to NC to try more from their menu. It's in town so parking is street or paid lots but then there's a bunch of cute ships around to check out and walk of some of those calories.

The sandwiches are excellent and the slaw is a great side. Great draft beer selection. It's always busy, but service has always been awesome no matter how crowded they are. It's a dark pub with booths and bar stools and TVs - so it is fairly noisy.

The food was great and the service was very friendly and helpful. We were able to slide into seats at the bar on a very busy Friday afternoon. The only thing we wish they would've had, was Dr Pepper... otherwise, we were VERY happy with our lunch. The beer, battered onion rings, were surprisingly not soggy or soft at all. Unlike so many others. What a delightful surprise. Definitely recommend the Beef on Weck sandwich. No question that this is a must stop if you're hungry while in Wilmington. It's no wonder why that the Copper Penny already has so many wonderful reviews.

Excellent food, fantastic service! Had a great conversation with the owner. Class act!

Solid local bar with good food. The service was super friendly and all of the Philly related memorabilia gave us a little bit of home. The classic pub style cheeseburger and the grilled salmon sandwich were very good. With neighborhood bar vibes and a good draft beer selection, I can see why locals come here.

We went there during the Christmas season. It was lively with bar activity but fun! The food was very good and generous. Service was attentive and helpful! Very good experience!

Great find here in Wilmington on an unexpected layover. Didn't realize it was visited by Triple D until we sat down. Good beer selection. Great service !!! The hot roasted pork sandwich is not to be missed!

The service was outstanding! Abby was very attentive to our needs but not intrusive. I had a burger and my husband had the fish and chips. Both dishes were excellent. It was not too crowded on a Monday night. We enjoyed our experience at the Copper Penny and we will be back.

Exceptional service and great food: Had the Philly Cheesesteak and it was excellent. Great beef, good amount of cheese and onion and good soft but crispy roll: Loved it. Had the onion rings with it and they were excellent Large crispy and salty. Great selection of beers including great selection of local beer: Buy local!

Typical pub grub and bar atmosphere. I had a salad which was very good. I will go back the next time I'm in Wilmington

We have been looking forward to trying the Copper Penny. We arrived and immediate found a seat for dinner at the bar (wait for a table was about 15 minutes), we typically prefer the bar! However I would say this was one situation in which I would t recommend that. They weren't super friendly, but also not off putting. We ordered drinks and decided to split the famous Chestnut chicken sandwich. It does come out very quickly but the lack of service made us feel like we were part of a "get in, get out" meal line? It just wasn't it. Don't get me wrong the sandwich and fries were plenty edible. I appreciate that they let you share. I think a fee to share a sandwich is crazy, but understand where they are coming from. Overall checked a box off, but won't necessarily come rushing back.

Shhh. This is a poorly kept secret. Great staff. Seriously good location. Brunch on the weekend. An Ahi Tuna Appetizer that I really enjoy. I love the shrimp tacos with the sweet potato fries. The food is worth the trip and worth the price.

The service was great! All the staff were friendly and attentive. Nice atmosphere. The food was all very good. Nice portions. We went on a Friday mid day and only had a ten minute wait.

Wow. We waited almost two hours to get in here, wait was worth it. Portions are big. Service is good. Place is nice and clean... but the food. The food was awesome. Tried a number of things, everything was 10/10. Can't go wrong with anything. Highly recommend. Classic American done right!

Great pub food, cool, dark interior makes it a great spot to rest on hot summer days.

Great food, service was amazing and I couldn't stop eating those egg rolls! Lots of food given for the price and I am all for that! Super super tasty, as the younger generation says, it was "bussin" haha!