Growing up in a New Jersey suburb, with New York City as my baseline, I find Wilmington to have a lot of small-town charm by city standards. But for those with a more rural upbringing, Wilmington can seem a little busy. Luckily our neighbor to the south, conveniently named Southport, offers the same coastal living experience with a bit more of that idyllic small town appeal.

Visiting the Surrounding Area

Southport has come a long way. When my parents first visited twenty years ago they asked a hotel clerk for a recommendation on a good local pizza joint and were told, “We have all the good ones: Domino’s, Pizza Hut…” The town has come a long way in the intervening decades and dining there is no longer a choice between chains.

One such newer addition is Moore Street Oyster Bar. I wound up there by mistake, intending to visit the eatery next door, but haphazardly approached the first outdoor hostess I saw and sat down for a mistake that I’m glad I made.

What’s On the Menu?

Moore Street offers a classic brick and wood decor with a surprisingly high ratio of televisions to seats. If sports ever make a comeback it will be a great place to catch a game.  It’s comforting and inviting at first glance. They’ll be celebrating their second anniversary in November and if my experience is indicative many more after that.

I opened with the blackened scallops served in the tiny cast iron pot in which they’re cooked. I’m always willing to sing the praises of hearty portions, but I admire the chef’s restraint on these. It’s a perfect appetizer for a single person. And the kitchen is generous with the blackening spices, but the mix is flavorful without being overly spicy.  

I ordered the New Orleans Barbecue Shrimp as an entree and a friendly waitress with a smile painted on her mask suggested a side of red potatoes and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank her for steering me in the right direction.

I was briefly served the Cioppino by mistake, and if you’re someone who would pitch a fit in a restaurant if that happened to you then I suggest you stop reading because this blog probably isn’t the place for you. Honest mistakes happen, and they don’t dampen my enjoyment of a perfectly lovely meal. 

What does dampen my enjoyment is some self-entitled whiner at the next table pitching a fit because he was inconvenienced for 8 minutes. Two servers and a manager apologized so I suspect they’ve had their run-ins with that kind of customer. Seriously, don’t be that guy. Not in the middle of a pandemic and not ever.

Now, where was I? Ah, yes, the Cioppino.  It looked so good I almost kept my mouth shut about the mistake but I was curious about the shrimp and Mom raised me right so I spoke up. Minutes later I sat feasting on my first choice of entrees. Easily half a pound of shrimp in a barbecue broth with equal parts spice and smoke. Those buttery red potatoes made a great contrast and if you’re wondering how much I enjoyed my blackened scallops from earlier then you should know I held on to the cast iron pot to dip my spuds in the remaining blackening seasoning (highly recommended, by the way).

Too Full for Words

I sat fully-sated but pressed onward because readers deserve an account of more than two dishes. I almost took a lobster grilled cheese home for later but opted for dessert. I didn’t have time to wait for the made-to-order cobbler but you can bet on my next visit I’ll be ordering one alongside my entree. Instead, I went with the homemade ice cream sandwich on chocolate chip cookies. Two sandwiches arrived, each halved and presented in a lovely X pattern with a heavily vanilla-ed whipped cream. I only managed one full cookie but not for lack of desire. I’ll make sure to be hungrier next time.

I didn’t intend to eat at Moore Street Oyster Bar that day but I guarantee that my next visit will be on purpose. And there will be another visit.