Rooster & The Crow
1 / 10

Rooster & The Crow

4.6
·491k reviews·,

Easygoing Southern restaurant in an industrial brick building, known for hearty staples and a cozy vibe.

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Social content

Social

From TikTok & Reddit

Best Time

Wed/Fri 18-21h

Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

CrowdLow
Rooster & The Crow

Rooster & The Crow

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Easygoing Southern restaurant in an industrial brick building, known for hearty staples and a cozy vibe.

4.6
(491k reviews)

"This place is excellent! The fried chicken was hands down the best I've ever had."

TIP

Dine in 'The Nest'

Request seating in The Nest for a charming and cozy dining experience.

Visit during off-peak hours

To avoid long wait times, consider visiting during non-peak hours.

Third hero image

Quick Facts

Closed·Opens Saturday 11AM

Cuisine

Southern

Price

Mid-range

Phone

(910) 399-4780

Address

225 S Water St Suite G & H, Wilmington, NC 28401, USA

Insta-Factor

Medium

Highlights

Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Legendary Fried Chicken

Legendary Fried Chicken

Juicy, crispy fried chicken praised as the best ever, served in hearty portions. A true Southern staple.

Google Review+2
Cozy Ambiance in The Nest

Cozy Ambiance in The Nest

Dine in 'The Nest' area for a uniquely cute and cozy experience, perfect for a relaxed meal.

Google Review
Abundant Southern Staples

Abundant Southern Staples

Hearty Southern comfort food like Cheesy Grits and Loaded Cheese Fries, served in generous portions.

20 Best Things To Do In Wilmington, NC (See, Eat, Drink, Stay)Google Review
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Insider Tips

from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit

Brown dirt cowboys- Rooster and the Crow Wilmington North Carolina. #Browndirtcowboys #fyppppppppppppppppppppppp #foryourpage
@drummerboy243
70 likes • 582 views

Dine in 'The Nest'

Request seating in The Nest for a charming and cozy dining experience.

Visit during off-peak hours

To avoid long wait times, consider visiting during non-peak hours.

📍 Wilmington, NC #wilmingtonnc #cmow #childrensmuseumofwilmington #wilmingtonnorthcarolina #toddlers #childrensmuseum #northcarolina #fallinnc #momstuff #familyday #katarinastrode #sahm #familyfun
@katarinastrode
464 likes • 14K views
Still vibin… #linedance #linedancers #roostercrow
@vikingqueen_27
189 likes • 4.8K views

Order the Fried Chicken

The fried chicken is frequently recommended as a must-try dish.

Try a Catfish Poorboy

Catfish Poorboys are a popular and satisfying choice on the menu.

Make The Rooster Crow ft. me landing on the wrong wall 90% of the time 🤭 & with the music slightly off cause TT hates me lol. @Emilie, MA se making me look 8 feet tall like always! + shout out to @Lauren Michaelis for teaching this dance on NYE 🥳 @Khaotic Country Dancers @Roughstock Dancing Co #fyp #linedance #foryourpage #dance #dancer #2025 #newyear
@alliedanielleee
9K likes • 150.7K views

Tips

from all over the internet

Dine in 'The Nest'

Request seating in The Nest for a charming and cozy dining experience.

Visit during off-peak hours

To avoid long wait times, consider visiting during non-peak hours.

Order the Fried Chicken

The fried chicken is frequently recommended as a must-try dish.

Try a Catfish Poorboy

Catfish Poorboys are a popular and satisfying choice on the menu.

What Travellers Say

4.6
(491k reviews)

Reviews Summary

Rooster & The Crow is lauded for its exceptional fried chicken and hearty Southern comfort food, with many reviewers praising the generous portions and reasonable prices. While the cozy ambiance, particularly 'The Nest,' is a draw, some diners have noted long wait times during peak hours and occasional inconsistencies in food preparation or service.

"So happy my son picked the Rooster & The crow for Mother’s Day Brunch! The host who seated us was was very friendly it definitely starts at the front door and sometimes can make her break a meal for sure! Millie was our server and she was just the best. Great service knowledgeable, so friendly patient and kind. Thank you Millie ! I think I had one of the best cocktails in a very long time. I believe it was called the tequila Daisy. I have eaten here for dinner a few times, but never for brunch. Definitely a winner. Will be back for sure. One of my favorites in downtown Wilmington!!"

Margaritte Malfy

"On vacation and decided to stop here for lunch and we really liked it. We were seated in The Nest area, so cute and cozy in there. Our waitress was very friendly and attentive. My son had the brisket mac & cheese and I can honestly say that was delicious and with the price. I had the grilled chicken sandwich and my daughter had a fried chicken sandwich. They were good but honestly nothing special and not worth the price. The fries were really good, cooked perfectly and seasoned really well."

lovely t-rex

"The place is cozy, and the ambiance makes it look spectacular. The first time I went there, the service was nice, I ordered to go since the apartment was right across the street, as it was a business trip. I ordered the Crow's Call with the grilled chicken with mashed potatoes, and it was good. So I went the next day because I liked the place and I wouldn't have to walk around guessing for another place to eat. By the way, the girl who served me was very nice and attentive (I didn't ask her name, but the receipt said Abi) she recognized me and even remembered my name 👍🏼. This time, I ordered the loaded nachos and asked to add chicken, also to go. To my surprise, they didn't serve me the chicken, so unfortunately, I was left with half of the experience. Still, I think it's a good place to dine."

Ramiro Rodriguez

What People Like

Exceptional fried chicken
Hearty Southern comfort food
Generous portions and fair prices

What People Dislike

Long wait times
Occasional service issues

Frequently Asked Questions

Rooster & The Crow is most famous for its delicious, hearty Southern staples, especially its fried chicken, which many consider to be among the best.

Google Review+1

The Nest area is a popular spot for its cozy and cute ambiance. It's recommended to ask for seating there if you're looking for a unique dining experience.

Google Review

Yes, reviewers consistently mention that Rooster & The Crow serves huge portions of food at reasonable prices.

Best Local Lunch Spots | Wilmington NC Magazine

Other popular dishes include Loaded Cheese Fries, Cheesy Grits, Shrimp or Catfish Poorboys, and the burger.

20 Best Things To Do In Wilmington, NC (See, Eat, Drink, Stay)

To avoid potentially long wait times for a table, it's advised to visit during off-peak hours.

Google Review

The menu notes that some items may be prepared gluten-free, and specific inquiries can be made.

Mentioned in

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Wilmington Best Breakfast & Brunch Places

For a spin on a breakfast classic, try Rooster & The Crow’s chicken beignets. This dish features crispy fried chicken served with scratch-made yeast beignets, dusted with powdered sugar and topped with a whiskey cream sauce. True Blue Butcher & Table crafts brunch dishes like the burrata frittata and the ultimate biscuit, which features a buttermilk biscuit, fried egg, white cheddar cheese, sausage, gravy and fried chicken.

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20 Best Things To Do In Wilmington, NC (See, Eat, Drink, Stay)

Located in an industrial brick building, this restaurant and bar focuses on hearty Southern staples with their fried chicken being a stand out (huge portions), and the mashed potato is incredible. Other popular dishes include the Loaded Cheese Fries, Cheesy grits, Shrimp or catfish Poorboys, fried green tomato BLT, fried cabbage, and the burger!. Sit on the sidewalk, indoors, at the bar, or in their nice courtyard space.

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wilmingtonncmagazine.com

Best Local Lunch Spots | Wilmington NC Magazine

Branded for colossal portions at reasonable prices, Rooster & The Crow was a welcome addition to the Chandler’s Wharf’s dining scene in 2019. The pet-friendly patio just off the riverwalk is a hotbed for socializing and chowing down on some seriously good southern food. The Port City Hot Chicken Sandwich with “Nashville style” hot sauce, slaw, and pickles is the worth every bead of sweat.

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Wilmington Star-News

Find chocolate desserts, sweets at these Wilmington area restaurants

This Southern restaurant in downtown Wilmington has become well-known for many of its dishes, like fried chicken and brisket. There's also a lot of love for their Flourless Chocolate Torte, a dense-and-decadent dessert drizzled with chocolate syrup, whipped topping, strawberry and sprinkled with powdered sugar. Details: https://www.roosterandthecrow.com/, 225 S Water St., Wilmington.

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Let’s Shake Things Up A Bit And Look At These Fun Restaurants In Wilmington NC!

225 S Water St Suite G & H | Wilmington | roosterandthecrow.com. Proudly boasting on their website as having “the best Southern food in Wilmington!. ” The Rooster & The Crow started with two best friends Zach and Allen, who came up with the idea to make a spot where everyone can come, enjoy good food and drinks while dining in the historic Chandlers Wharf Building!

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Allen Tate Blog

35 of the best restaurants in Wilmington, NC

Named after its owners, Rooster & The Crow dishes out the best Southern food in Wilmington. You don’t want to miss their Sunday brunch, featuring culinary delights such as chicken and beignets, bananas foster French toast, and the smothered hoop cheese biscuit. They also host a beer garden with live music and the Fowl Play gaming arcade.

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Known for its amazing fried chicken and cozy vibe, this gem guarantees a memorable experience, even if there's a bit of a wait!. This place is excellent!. Small, so you might have to wait.

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