Marina Cafe

Really cool location tucked away in a marina even a Saturday afternoon we were able to park easily and get seated quickly. Views of the water and boats and port cranes in the distance. Staff is friendly, and the margarita special was a deal. Had Bloody Mary nice and spicy with a bacon celery olive garnish. Ordered the soup flight and the hot mess to try lunch and breakfast and both were delicious. Who has seen a soup flight? Menudo, Pozole and Potato Chowder. It was all so good but the Pozole was my favorite. The hot mess biscuit is melt in your mouth good and the sausage and potatoes and egg on top with all that gravy I had to take about half home it was so rich. The gravy is the bomb.

I've been living in Wilmington my entire life, I am 38 years old, and I just checked this place out a few years back. This place is hidden in the marina, but it is so worth going! Staff is super friendly and they have the cutest set up to sit down. Pricing is not too bad. The food is also great. Typical American dishes and some Mexican ones too. This is one of my favorite places for brunch. You also have the view of the boats.

Ambience is like being in the middle of the marina somewhere on the Gulf Coast s with American/Tex/Mex, The service is highly attentive once seated and simple folding chairs. They even went out of their way to give a carafe of ice coffee for my son. kudos to Jessica!

Finally got a chance to visit this hidden gem in the middle of the Wilmington marina. I'd been having a craving for authentic menudo & recalled a friend had recommended this place a while back. It's a lil twisty & turny to get there, but once I did it was a lovely experience. Our hostess Jennifer was really sweet & pleasant & the actual menudo was really good & came with all the fixings. I plan to go back & try their famous, in-house clam chowder! This cafe was a nice, cozy lil place that is obviously loved by the locals & the dockworkers.

This review is 3 years late! Was looking for a pre-golf breakfast for our 4-some as we headed to RPV from East OC for a buddies bday outing on a Saturday morning. We all got the Hot Mess and LOVED it. I would def consider this place a hole in the wall. Not fancy by any means but the view of the boat slips was fun for folks who don't have boats or who have boat envy . Service was good to great as there was only 2-3 servers. Best Sausage Gravy I have had on the west coast! I grew up in the dirty southeast so sausage gravy is a staple. Very hard to find good ones on the west coast. 2nd visit a year later with the wife was not as great. Service was slow but it was a weekday. Sauce bottles on table were expired by several months.

I had heard a few things about this place, but never had a chance to make it there. Finally came around and I'm so sad that it took me so long. first the view is spectacular. Saturday was a beautiful cool sunny day and we had a table right on the waterfront and it really just made the whole experience even more enjoyable. If the view wasn't enough the food was also absolutely amazing. We tried their waffle with fruit on top and it was perfectly crunchy and soft. We also had the omelette and chicken fried steak and it was really good. They also had a very good selection of drinks.On top of all of that, the service was amazing. Our waitress explained everything to us, since it was our first time and even brought us samples of the clam chowder, their chili Verde sauce, and the posole. I can't wait to come back on a chilly day and have a bowl of clam chowder as I look at the marina. As much as I want to keep this place a secret, I really hope other people come and enjoy everything about them.

We typically love Marina cafe the views are great, the service is always helpful and friendly. This week we visited them for their breakfast with Santa. I'm not sure if they hired new cooks or were under staffed in the kitchen, but 2 of our orders were wrong and the food wasn't as great as it had been in the past. Mediocre at best. We love the gals there and feel a loyalty to them & the restaurant almost sad to even share our disappointment with this visit. But it is what it is, an honest review.

Short:Charming café with down to earth people, no frills menu. Staff is friendly & the environment is calming. Dog friendly patio.Long:Parking is abundant in the marina lot. Exterior vibe is boaty lol as the café is tucked away between the Wilmington Marina & surrounded by boats. There are booths & a counter inside but why would you sit inside if the outside is refreshing? LolThere is usually a pup or two on the patio that is generally calm. There are occasions the pups go a little nuts over the birds or ducks around. Lol Yes, there is a small menu for dogs. Staff is friendly, professional, & efficient. Food is simple but good. A couple surprises: the French toast & the menudo. Both are delicious!WC: Key required, separate facilities for ladies & gents.

Went for the first time to the Marina Café. Looked for a breakfast place in Wilmington and this popped up so we thought we'd give it a try. We were not disappointed. This is a hidden gem or at least it was to us.Wilmington Shores!! Yes that's what the sign said!Not only was the location so quaint and peaceful but we had the nicest server- Jessie!. While we were eating, the owner came over to see how we were doing and it was nice to meet her. Sherri really cares about her guests and their experience. I highly recommend the fish and chips , but all four of us cleaned our plate!

Came a few times mainly for the breakfast burrito.Excellent balance of ingredients and size. I love the use of beans in them too. Their other breakfast dishes are tasty as well. Only downside here can be the service. It can be hit or miss. Felt neglected at times; possibly because i'm not a regular local. The vibe here is awesome too. Right by the water and it's especially lovely on a sunny day. I will return for more.