The colorful, contemporary dining room, open kitchen and fresh approach made Cool Springs an instant hit. Cool Springs’ fare is approachable and fun, from subtle seafood bisque to classic stuffed flounder to swordfish in crispy Parmesan crust and grilled tuna with a ginger reduction.

Walter’s is the quintessential Wilmington restaurant. And it serves the kind of food diners always come back to. Long after the foams, infusions and emulsions have lost their luster, you’ll enjoy a grilled strip steak, crab imperial or broiled cold-water lobster tail, all with a salad and baked potato.

Talk about a burger-lover’s heaven. And what goes better with burgers than beer? The 12 taps pull favorite local brews, and there’s a large selection of bottles. There are salmon, tuna, turkey and veggie burgers, too, as well as familiar comfort entrées.

Actresses Elizabeth Montgomery of “Bewitched” and Elizabeth McGovern of “Downton Abbey” are two of the many Elizabeths providing inspiration for the pizza menu at this popular restaurant, which since 1993, has crafted gourmet pizzas in a wood-fired oven.

The concept centers around a build-your-own-bowl menu. Diners pick two bases (spinach, kale, arugula, brown rice, quinoa, red potatoes, for example), two veggies, seeds, a protein and a sauce, like mango habanero or garlic red pepper. You also get two additional ingredients of your choice (think tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers and chickpeas).

From a lot shared with Big Chill Surf Cantina and Liquid surf shop, Taco Reho plies traditional Mexican favorites with experimental flourishes. The results vary from chipotle-and-tomato braised chicken tinga tacos to Thai-inspired curry tacos.