caprice bistro

wonderful. my husband and i ate dinner here last week and we had the most wonderful experience. the atmosphere was like a true parisian bistro. the food was incredible, as if i were in france. the wait staff was also very friendly and efficient. i would recommend this place to anyone who loves great french food!

won't be back. i went with a group of six. we arrived around 5:00 on a saturday afternoon and we went to the upstairs part of the restaurant(this is important - the upstairs was empty) and immediately the waitress didn't want to seat us because we were a large party. she suggested three of us sit on one couch and the other three sit on a couch in the back (no where near the other couch).
we said we were there for dinner and couldn't we get a table? no. she wasn't going to move any tables. we pleasantly but firmly insisted we would really like to sit together at a table as we were going to eat dinner (who wants to eat dinner on a couch?)
she huffed and puffed and finally moved two tables together. when we sat down she made it very clear that we each had to get an entree in order to sit at the table. it was extremely insulting like she assumed since we were a younger (mid-20s age range) group we must not have money or that we were super cheap. we had already said five times that we were there for dinner, not just drinks or appetizers. and the restaurant was completely empty so it's not like we were taking a table from someone else.
finally, we got to sit and look at menus. uh-oh. i'm a vegetarian. the only meat-free option was the pasta. that's it. so if you're a vegetarian and you don't like pasta, well too bad. and forget it if you're a vegan. when i asked the waitress for help regarding meat-free options she shrugged and said "pasta". she couldn't even be bothered to answer me in a complete sentence.

the menu was extremely limited and the service was awful. the waitress never warmed up to us even though we easily ordered over $500 in food and wine. i tipped well out of habit but i will not be going back. the rude wait staff ruined it for me.

newish to french cuisine. once i got over the close proximity of the other tables (and a table of snotty dining neighbors, which i admit was not the restaurant's fault), i enjoyed a salad then a fantastically prepared lamb shank. it was one of those dishes that has you talking about it a month later. french food is somewhat foreign to me but our waiter was able to answer questions and describe dishes; he was attentive throughout the meal. we also had dessert there, which was good but not as awesome as the entrees. i would dine there again; my husband was already talking about stuff he wanted to try the next time.

perfection. food and atmosphere are elegant and wonderfully delish! will be back after this great dinner out. very good service to top it off, one of a kind bartending staff.

amazing food!. i live in raleigh and was with friends visiting the area last weekend. this was everyone's first time at caprice bistro. the food is spectacular! now i have two favorite restaurants in downtown wilmington (deluxe and caprice). nice wine selection, service, and atmosphere as well. i will definitely go back the next time i am travelling in the wilmington area again. this restaurant rivals the top restaurants in the durham/raleigh area.

service, impeccable. food, perfect. ambiance, very good. prices, reasonable. stop in sometime and enjoy a classic french meal. it will fill your belly and warm your heart. they have a website for more

lively local crowd on wednesday after xmas; having no reservations, they found a table for me and friend in short time. menu was good, service professional and food came quick. price was excellent, no sticker shock here. will definitely go back!

rare jewel. restaurants like the caprice bistro are like a rare jewel where you can dine in peace, savor an well prepared dish and just enjoy your self.

sounds decadent and it is.

first time i went to caprice was several years ago when we had a convention in wilmington and i've made it a point to come back each time i'm in wilmington. call it self indulgence.

the food is excellent. one of the best country french restaurants i have found in north america and quebec has a fair number of them. odd ot find it in coastal nc but i look at it as my fortune.

the lamb and trout dishes are fantastic. you can acutally taste the primary ingredient and not be overpowered by other seasoning.

the atmosphere is relaxed. food is great, wine is excellent, service is perfections. what more can you ask.

a gem.... this is my go-to place when entertaining guests or recommending to people from out of town . it consistently impresses with the quality, variety of menu items and atmosphere, particularly in the sofa/martini lounge upstairs.
the happy hour bar specials have been mentioned and are worth visiting for, although i have noticed the escargot have been removed from the specials menu. they are worth trying anyway, we can't go without getting at least one order (make sure to ask for extra bread to sop up the leftover cream and garlic sauce they come swimming in) the waterzoii is also a must try, with a generous portion of fresh tasting seafood cooked expertly in a light cream and white wine reduction. the scallops are huge and tender and sweet! the prices are not as expensive as one would expect for the quality, presentation and portion size.
you can tell that the owners and staff really do care about your experience, which is especially rare for a downtown restaurant in my oppinion. lovely low lit atmosphere a stones throw from the river, perfect for lingering over the beautifully prepared meals. will be back again and again!

a lovely little restaurant in a quaint location. we enjoyed a very nice meal here with our 7-year-old daughter. we don't often take her to french restaurants because there are not many options that appeal to her palate at this point. still, the staff at caprice managed to modify the pork cheeks from the small plates menue to include veggies and some potatoes. it was a huge hit! the escargot "petits gris" were very tender and well prepared. i was hesitant to move outside the traditional butter, garlic and herb mixture but this dish was top notch. my wife had the pasta which was nothing special (but one of the only vegetarian options) while i had the trout "caroline" which was very crispy and had a lovely overall flavor if you like almonds and trout (which i do). the chocolate mousse trio was fantastic. we will be back in wilmington next month and our first stop will be caprice bistro.

this is our go to restaurant when we have out of town guests. very, very good.


-----15 jan, 2011-----

really excellent bistro food. it reminds me of old new york mom and pop place with distinct french flair. we have bee many times and enjoyed almost everything. we have learned to stay away from fish dishes with sauces so we keep it simple. mussels are great, frittes, and country pate'. oh, maybe a glass or two of chablis. taxi!

tripadvisor rates #1. tripadvisor rates caprice bistro #1 in wilmington. my experience would support that rating. the smoked seafood appetizer was fantastic. the upstairs "sofa" bar attracted an eclectic crowd. the downstairs cafe area was cozy and inviting.

c'est fantastique!. we just had our mother's 75th birthday celebration here - 30 of us...we wanted to go there because she is belgian and we wanted to have an affair that echoed her heritage. pat and i came up with a unique and elegant menu for the evening. it was perfect. the food was sublime...i'm still getting thank you cards from her friends about the event...and guests saying, "it was the best meal they've had in wilmington". the service was amazing - so attentive. the creme brulee is other worldly...thank you pat and thierry for making an evening which will be remembered for a long time to come. i only wish you were back in nyc so i could enjoy more often! merci mille fois!

the very best chocolate mousse!. i love this place. the upstairs sofa bar is the perfest place to lounge. the food is always spectacular and the chocolate mousse dessert is to die for!

first time i had curry mussels and today i had salmon au vert, both great and a real bistro ambiance!