A new fine dining restaurant with a unique setting is opening soon in Wilmington

Allison Ballard, Wilmington StarNews
Updated ·2 min read
Covey restaurant at 1610 Tiburon Drive in Wilmington, N.C. is set to open July 2023. ALLISON BALLARD/STARNEWS
Covey restaurant at 1610 Tiburon Drive in Wilmington, N.C. is set to open July 2023. ALLISON BALLARD/STARNEWS

Covey, set on an out-of-the-way tract near a busy Wilmington intersection, has been in the works for months as one of the area’s newest fine dining restaurants. Now, the long-awaited eatery is now open at 1610 Tiburon Drive. Here’s what we know.

The setting

The restaurant is near the Live Oak Bank campus in midtown close to Independence and Shipyard boulevards. The setting could be called a luxury cabin, and in the main dining room, you can get a feel for that aesthetic with outdoorsy-but-elegant touches of green, plaid and nature-inspired artwork.

There are several other seating areas, too, including a few private dining rooms for small groups. The restaurant also has two bars, one of which will likely focus on wine. Another is home to wine, craft cocktails and more – and is the way to access the patio seating.

The main dining area at Covey restaurant, 1610 Tiburon Drive in Wilmington, N.C. It's set to open July 2023. ALLISON BALLARD/STARNEWS
The main dining area at Covey restaurant, 1610 Tiburon Drive in Wilmington, N.C. It's set to open July 2023. ALLISON BALLARD/STARNEWS

The chefs

In the kitchen, there’s a collaborative effort at work with chefs Parker Lewin and Angus Hicks. Lewin, in addition to other local kitchen positions, was the former chef at The Green House restaurant in Wilmington. Hicks, meanwhile, lists Australia’s Warwick Hotel and the Potager Restaurant in Denver, on his resume.

A recent preview dinner and wine pairing from the chefs featured four courses, from a burrata salad with an herbal tisane to a Paris–Brest dessert with burnt honey mousse. A lamb entrée could come with Lion’s Mane mushroom as a vegan option.

This wine bar is one of two bar areas at Covey restaurant, 1610 Tiburon Drive in Wilmington, N.C. It's set to open July 2023. ALLISON BALLARD/STARNEWS
This wine bar is one of two bar areas at Covey restaurant, 1610 Tiburon Drive in Wilmington, N.C. It's set to open July 2023. ALLISON BALLARD/STARNEWS

The menu

A look at the opening menu, though, shows that there will be a significant Southern influence with elevated details. On the ‘smaller’ plates menu, for example, you can find the Covey Quail, with summer carrots, radicchio and pistachios. The ‘larger’ entrée menu comes with a wide variety of protein options, including a burger, as well as Butterbean Ravioli with fennel, corn and pecorino.

The beverage program includes local and regional beers, and wines by the bottle or glass. A cocktail menu features familiar and specialty selections, or those that combine the two—like a Pineapple Ginger Old Fashioned.

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Allison Ballard is the food and dining reporter at the StarNews. You can reach her ataballard@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Covey restaurant in Wilmington to open soon near Live Oak Bank