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The Seabird restaurant, located in the bustling downtown area of Wilmington, provides a local experience like no other. The locally sourced seafood pairs nicely with the perfectly designed space, and keeps people coming back for more. Owned and operated by Chef Dean Neff and Lydia Clopton, the Seabird will reel you in with its classically modern approach to seafood.
When Dean Neff and Lydia Clopton came to North Carolina, they did so with the heart of the community in mind. Neff came from Savannah, Georgia, where he grew up fishing and cooking. Clopton came to town as a Pastry Chef, and together they took their shot at satiating the local scene. Neff opened the popular Pinpoint restaurant on the Cape Fear River. Meanwhile, Clopton opened Love Lydia Bakery, and Café. After much thought and consideration, and some tough luck, they came together to open the Seabird.
What better place to reach the soul of Wilmington, than downtown near the Wilmington Riverwalk. Neff and Clopton found a gorgeous, historic building on the corner of Front St and Market St. If you are familiar with his previous restaurant, Pinpoint, then it should not be hard to find as the Seabird is just down the street from Pinpoint.
Chef Dean Neff and Lydia Clopton worked with local artists, photographers, and a seamstress to catch the seafood culture and release it in the 3,000 sq. ft. building.
Before you walk in you are drawn over by the big theatre-style sign out front yelling, “Oysters.” Say no more. Inside the restaurant is bright white tile, blue leather seating, and sea-colored artwork across the walls. Two bar tops combine with wooden accents and big windows with natural light, to further emphasize the aquatic feel.
When designing the space, Neff wanted it to be for everyone, “We utilize as much as we can, giving people the opportunity to see it and be in it.”
Inside you’ll find:
• Coffee bar, with a self-serve breakfast menu
• Private dining is perfect for any event, accompanied by its own entrance
• Small bookstore near the bar, hand-picked books by Clopton
At the Seabird, you can pop in for a quick bite with a delicious pastry, sit down and get to work, or enjoy fine dining in a calm yet energetic space. It is a great little meeting space enjoyed by locals and tourists alike.
The heart of the Seabird Restaurant is in its ingredients. The main idea behind it was to provide the area with a seasonally driven menu. To do this, Chef Dean Neff partnered with many local farmers and fishermen to provide everything from local vegetables to swordfish, catfish, tuna, and, of course, oysters. He even partnered with an oyster nursery to grow an oyster specific to this restaurant.
A few of the farms he has partnered with are:
• Changin’ Ways
• Seaside Oyster Farms
• Burgeoning Farm
• Anson Mills
• Benton’s
As Neff puts it, “We are uniquely fortunate to have so many small-scale seafood sources for exceptional fish and shellfish straight from the boat to our door; there really is no better place to enjoy North Carolina seafood than here in its home on the coast.”
Well said.
While the focus here is seafood, Neff does not want to leave anyone hungry. That is why he has included fantastic dishes everyone can enjoy, like Fresno pepper sorghum ribs, seared bavette steak, and vegan options like sweet corn stuffed cubanelle peppers and charred eggplant. While seafood is king, and the oysters sit atop the menu (literally), the Seabird has a bite for everyone.
Aside from delicious food and an inspiring atmosphere, the Seabird restaurant has one more thing going for it. Being located in downtown Wilmington, the Seabird can either be the last stop of a long day, or the perfect place to start your adventure. If you are grabbing breakfast or a quick pastry, you can head right out to one of the boat rentals or tours just blocks from the restaurant. Perhaps you would rather head to one of the many museums in the area, also within walking distance, and learn more about Wilmington.
There are more than a few to see:
• Museum of the Bizarre
• Children’s Museum of Wilmington
• Bellamy Mansion Museum
• Cape Fear Museum of History and Science
There are just as many options for night owls as well. The streets are full of bars to grab a nightcap or keep the party going. There are even a few nightclubs if you've got your dancing shoes handy.
If serenity is what you seek, then head over to the riverside and stroll along the Riverwalk towards Waterstreet Park. From there you can look across the river towards Battleship Park and you might just see the historic WWII ship, the USS North Carolina.
After getting accepted to ECU, I started looking for things to do in and around Greenville, NC. However, my searches kept taking me to places in South Carolina! There must be things to do around ECU, so I started asking other students. They kept telling me to graduate and move away! This inspired me to begin exploring eastern North Carolina and build this website as a showcase of the places to go, sights to see, and things to do all over eastern NC. I have fallen in love with this region and started taking up roots here. After graduating, I didn't move away - I bought a house here and continue to explore eastern North Carolina.
