Restaurant Review: Front Street Brewery in Wilmington, NC

My husband and I recently had the opportunity to eat at Front Street Brewery in Wilmington, NC. We loved it so much we ate there twice in our five-day vacation!

This was our first time eating at Front Street Brewery. We just happened to see their advertisement in one of the local "coupon" magazines that are very popular at the beach. The ad was touting a $5.99 lunch and a $7.99 dinner menu, and we figured, "can't go wrong there!"

The restaurant is located downtown in Wilmington, a short distance from the waterfront. If you've never explored historic downtown Wilmington, you should take the opportunity to do so (and eat at Front Street Brewery). In fact, FSB's building is a living history book with tin ceilings, stained glass, and many other architectural marvels from the past. Parking is available on the street and in the nearby parking garage; the first hour in the garage is free for FSB customers.

There are several dining options available at Front Street Brewery - there are tables and booths upstairs and down, a full bar, and a small cafe-style area on the sidewalk out front (If you like to people-watch, that's an excellent setting for doing so!)

If you will be dining before 7pm or after 9pm, be sure to check out the half-price appetizer menu. We ordered Fried Green Tomatoes with a lovely, not-too-spicy chipotle cream sauce. They were cooked to perfection. For dinner we both chose the ribs. FSB offers 1/3 rack of ribs for $7.99, or order the half rack for two dollars more. The meal comes with two sides, we sampled from the potato salad, slaw, chef's vegetable, and beans. All were excellent, but to be honest, I would go and make a very happy meal out of just the potato salad. Yes - it's THAT good. And the ribs... they are fall-off-the-bone tender, bathed in a rich, deep sauce made with brewed on site Scottish Ale.

When we ate there a second time, guess what we had? Ribs. Again. Yes, they are THAT good.

There is a small but exquisite dessert menu. We split a piece of cheesecake drizzled with chocolate, caramel, and raspberry. The word "bliss" comes to mind.

We were able to sample many of their beers, all of which are brewed on site. In fact, if you show up on Wednesday evening, you can meet the brewer and get a tour! The process of making beer is fascinating, and hearing Kevin's passion for his craft made the experience all the more exciting. Our favorite beer? Hands down, the Scottish Ale. We also both enjoyed the Raspberry Wheat - not too sweet, it would be perfect on a hot day.

Portions are generous but not bloated; the meal is an excellent value for the price. Service was excellent both times. The waitstaff is extremely knowledgeable about the food and beer options. There are two ways to sample the beer - simply ask your server, who can bring you a small sample of any of their lineup, or you can order a sampler, which gives you five-ounce servings of each beer for just $5.95.

We plan to eat at Front Street Brewery each and every time we visit Wilmington, North Carolina. Yes - it really is THAT good.

Location: 9 North Front Street, Wilmington, NC 28401-4436
Telephone: (910) 251-1935'Ž
Website: http://www.frontstreetbrewery.com