There are a lot of ways restaurants offer something special to bring people in – lunch specials, oyster deals and happy hour menus. There are a few eateries that have planned unique evenings and menu additions in recent weeks and months.
Here’s a look at a few ways to do something different with friends or on a date night at Wilmington-area restaurants. Let us know if you have a favorite spot for a unique experience by emailing [email protected].
Petite plates
The new owners of Caprice Bistro have several themed nights for specials at the classic French restaurant at 10 Market St. in downtown Wilmington. Their famous mussels are a feature on Mondays, and champagne specials on Sundays and a new Coq Au Vin special on Tuesdays. They’ve also re-introduced the popular ‘happy hour’ menu, now called the Petit Plates, available daily at the bar 4-6 p.m. It features calamari, saucisse, spicy olives, and frites for $5 and a Croque Monsieur, Crêpe Caprice, and those mussels for $7.
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Hot Plate Tuesdays
Chef Carson Jewell at manna restaurant in downtown Wilmington has been serving up a bar-only special on Tuesday nights. It’s fresh fried chicken, with house-selected sides – like mashed potatoes and broccolini topped with gravy and pickled onions. The plate is available for $20 and there’s a special price on sparkling wine, too.
Hotdogs at Beat Street
In Wilmington’s South Front District, the Beat Street restaurant focuses on a variety of street foods. They’ve started Glizzies After Dark with 30 different hotdogs available 7-10 p.m. every weekend – and sometimes coinciding with the outdoor movies at Alcove Beer Garden (which screens classics like “The Breakfast Club” and “The Goonies”).
Tres francais
Speaking of movies, Far From France restaurant at The Pointe at Barclay is hosting a monthly Soirée Ciné & Dîner on the third Thursday of the month. Look for a French film and a special thee-course menu for $40 per person.
Art and food
Speaking of dinner and a show, CAM Café at the Cameron Art Museum in Wilmington is open in the evening on Thursdays. Look for half-priced bottles of wine, live music and free admission to the current exhibitions until 9 p.m.
Longest happy hour
This summer at South Front Tavern, there are a variety of specials available, including a Mardi Gras gumbo Tuesday. They’ve also introduced what they’re calling Wilmington’s longest happy hour, with an extended $5 Happy Hour Bar Bites menu starting at noon and lasting until 6 p.m. Fridays…