cleve callison’s blog

Whitey's (Google Street View)

I’ve been searching for the best Southern breakfast in Wilmington, NC. My standard is two eggs, grits, country ham and biscuit. I could get something like this in Cincinnati, but usually only by going over the Ohio into Kentucky. So far I’ve found several I can recommend:

• Salt Works (the original, 6301 Oleander Drive)
• Salt Works II (4001 Wrightsville Avenue)
• Causeway Cafe (114 Causeway Drive, Wrightsville Beach)
• K&W Cafeteria (various locations)
• Whitey’s (4501 Market Street)

Whitey’s has the most traditional old-timey feel, and Michael Jordan earned his first paycheck working here. However I understand it may be closing soon in favor of another cookie-cutter Walgreen’s. More’s the pity.

If you’ve live in North Carolina you know about K&W. Traditional Southern food that horrifies visitors from Up Nawth. Immensely popular regional chain, especially for post-church Sunday dinner, but their excellent breakfasts don’t seem to draw as much.

Causeway Cafe is popular with locals in the off-season and tourists at other times. It smells terrific because of their specialty Belgian waffles. This is a good choice for entertaining visitors, and of course it’s at Wrightsville.

Several people and sources recommended the Dixie Grill downtown, which has the right old-time + downtown hip vibe. But I was disappointed. The grits were Adluh (right choice), but were cooked thin. Portions were small, especially for the somewhat higher prices. Some people say it depends on who the chef is at a given time. I should give them another chance, I suppose.