What to know about the patio and wine dinners at this Wilmington restaurant
The owners of Blue Surf Café near University of North Carolina Wilmington opened their second restaurant, Blue Surf Arboretum West, at 414 Arboretum Drive in 2021. While the eateries share a name, they have a different focus and clientele. The cafe serves students and workers counter service breakfast and lunch. The restaurant between Mayfaire and Ogden, though, is a full-service restaurant offering dinner, and indoor/outdoor bar and dining areas.
“We have a good balance and affordability,” said Colleen Kochanek, one of the owners. “We definitely have items you want to order once in a while, but we also want to have enough options so you want to come every week.”
A winter patio: One of the standout features of the Arboretum West restaurant is the 1,500-square-foot covered patio. It's also winter ready. There’s a fireplace, as well as heaters. Kochanek said they’re installing moveable partitions to hold in the heat.
Wine with dinner: Many restaurants offer pairing events; but here chef Jon Webb takes pride in their monthly gatherings – tasting the wine and getting creative with just the right dishes. They are usually planned for the last Tuesday of the month, and their website offers a special portal to make reservations for the events.
It’s special: During the past two years, the staff and owners have tweaked the menu. Now, they’re highlighting certain features to draw diners in. That includes daily specials, and weekly specials. On Wednesday nights, for example, you can get a house-carved strip steak for $10, with sides ordered separately. And look for a monthly mystery cocktail and a selection of wines on special every Tuesday.
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Allison Ballard is the food and dining reporter at the StarNews. You can reach her at aballard@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Blue Surf Arboretum West restaurant in Wilmington
