Beautiful Kitchen, indeed! Beautiful dining room, beautiful lounge, beautiful food. At Bella Cucina you will find Tuscan-style food made with recipes handed down in the family and using only the freshest ingredients, including herbs from a local farm, to achieve the subtle flavors. From Antipasto to Dolce, the dinner menu is filled with delicious selections, such as mussels with a spicy red sauce, Caesar salad, Tuscan chicken, veal Parmesan, shrimp Scampi, pasta and daily specials. Enjoy your meal with your choice of red or white wines by the glass or bottle. Dessert is a must-have with selections of homemade tiramisu, homemade cannoli or New York cheesecake. Follow that with espresso, cappuccino, tea or cordials. Bella Cucina offers a children's menu. Looking for the perfect place to celebrate a special occasion? The folks at Bella Cucina will be happy to help you. For great New York–style pizza, calzones, stromboli and hot and cold subs and pasta dishes, visit their Pizzeria next door. It's open from 4 until 9 PM daily and open late on Fridays; call (910) 454-4357.

Directly across the street from the Southport water tower you will find Dry Street Pub & Pizza. Local art decorates the walls of this cozy restaurant with small tables and a bar. If it’s lunch or a light dinner you want, then you have come to the right place. The food is delicious and can be served with beer or wine. You will find traditional and specialty pizzas with many toppings; tomato bread; crab dip; homemade soups; salads including chef, Greek, shrimp and Caesar; and a variety of sandwiches such as ham and cheese, chicken pita wraps and Italian sausage subs. Save room for the homemade desserts. Daily specials are available as well. All this is served by John and Sheila Barbee and their friendly staff. They're open Monday through Saturday for lunch and dinner.

Don't miss Fishy Fishy Cafe! Whether you arrive by land or by sea, you will thoroughly enjoy the Caribbean flavor of the restaurant and the food. Dine indoors in the main dining room or outdoors either on the deck or at the Outside Patio Bar. Any seat overlooks the Yacht Basin Marina and provides fantastic views of the Intracoastal Waterway. Stop by in the evening for a drink and spectacular sunset views. The menu includes fresh fish, shellfish, pasta, steak, ribs and more. Lunch is served daily until 4 PM and dinner is served every day except Wednesday.

Live Oak Cafe, nestled under one of Southport’s lovely old live oak trees, is housed in one of three historic homes known as “The Three Sisters.” Owner/Chef Sean Mundy and his wife, Jennifer Charron, spent seven months refurbishing the house to spectacular results. When you step inside the door, the original heart pine floors, the vibrant colors on the walls, the intimate dining rooms (there are three), the pub tables, beaded-board ceilings and the decor take you back to a simpler time. Friendly staff will greet you and treat you to superior customer service. During the season, you can be served on the screened porch as well and have your wine in the herb garden if you like. American nouveau cuisine using only the freshest ingredients is the basis for Sean’s eclectic menu. From starters to entrees, you will be pleased with dishes such as crab dip, Cajun-marinated fried alligator bites, low-country gumbo, shrimp pasta, grilled rib eyes, herb-roasted pork chops and more. In addition, there is an excellent wine list with selections from Australia, California and Argentina, among others. Live Oak Cafe is open Tuesday through Saturday for dinner. Reservations are accepted.

Fred and Wilma Workman opened Oak Island Sub Shop adjacent to the post office in 2003. Since then they have become well known by locals and visitors alike for their yummy sandwiches, soups and salads. Not only can you can pick up daily soup specials, cold or hot subs, wraps, muffulettas, foccacia bread sandwiches, cold sandwiches or hot ones that come toasted or pressed for take out, but you also can eat them in their cafe.

If your taste buds are set for authentic Mexican cuisine in an awesome array of mouth-watering choices, San Felipe is an excellent choice. Located in the Live Oak Village Shopping Center, San Felipe serves lunch and dinner daily in a lively and friendly atmosphere where regulars from as far away as Wilmington or Calabash sometimes partake of both meals in the same day. The decor is tastefully Mexican, and seating might be a cozy table or booths long enough to accommodate the whole family. San Felipe's made-fresh-daily traditional Mexican cuisine can be ordered in combinations or specialty entrees, with beef, chicken and seafood. The lunch-only options number more than 26. Another combination list offers 30 more. The menu boasts an appealing list of appetizers, vegetarian combinations, tasty Mexican desserts and a child's plate menu for children younger than 12. Regulars say that San Felipe has the best margaritas, regular and flavored, in town. The restaurant also has all ABC permits and serves Mexican and domestic beer. Ask about drink and lunch specials. Take out is available.

If you are searching for a Southern eclectic culinary experience at a full-service restaurant, Taylor Cuisine Cafe is tailor made for you. For breakfast, lunch or dinner you will find quality fresh foods creatively prepared and friendly service at affordable prices. For breakfast, try eggs any style, pancakes, waffles, French toast, bagels, biscuits and gravy, Walt's famous home fries and more, all served with Barnies Gourmet Fresh Ground Coffee. Served for lunch are such scrumptious items as fried green tomatoes, sweet potato fries, crab cakes, salads and sandwiches, including those served on a croissant or in a wrap. Dinners include daily specials. Taylor Cuisine also offers a personal chef service and catering. (See our Wedding Planning section).

Walking through historic Southport can work up an appetite, and Trolly Stop's long list of dogs is sure to appeal. Trolly Stop serves a specially produced Smithfield all-meat dog, all-beef Sabrett dogs, no-carb veggie dogs and low fat/no-carb turkey dogs. Choose from the Southport (topped with special sauce, mustard and onions), the Oak Island (tomato salsa, mustard and onions), the Old Baldy (plain, of course!) and everything in between. Vegetarian, all-meat and nonfat hot dogs are additional options. Trolly Stop also serves grilled sandwiches, sweet Italian sausage and nachos with toppings. This location also serves Hershey's ice cream.

The BBQ House offers quality pork slow-smoked over hickory logs. The smoking is done at their on-site facility daily, guaranteeing the freshness of their product. They have a choice of sauces, including eastern NC red sauce and Lexington-style vinegar sauce as well as their House Sauce. You can choose pork, ribs, chicken or a combination and sides such as slaw, baked beans, fries, hushpuppies and corn nuggets. The BBQ House will deliver or you can order take-out.

In the area since 1975, Little Bits has become somewhat of a tradition on Oak Island. It's the place for a home-style breakfast or a light lunch whipped up before your eyes and served with a smile. The owner, Little Bit, has transformed a small building into an American-style eatery with red and white decor and successfully incorporated the elegant fans and wall hangings from her native Vietnam in the scheme. Breakfast and lunch are served Monday through Saturday.

Fred and Wilma Workman opened Oak Island Sub Shop adjacent to the post office in 2003. Since then they have become well known by locals and visitors alike for their yummy sandwiches, soups and salads. You can pick up daily soup specials, cold or hot subs, wraps, muffulettas, foccacia bread sandwiches, cold sandwiches or hot ones that come toasted or pressed. The best news is that in spring 2009, they plan to open a seating and eating area.

Among Long Beach residents Russell's Place is one of the most popular diner-style eateries for breakfast and lunch. No matter how crowded it gets, the food is served hot, fast and with a smile and no one will rush you. Table-to-table conversation comes easily as folks dine on large omelets, flaky biscuits, pancakes and Belgian waffles for breakfast then entrees, sandwiches and burgers for lunch. Russell's Place is open daily for breakfast (served all day) and lunch. Take-out orders are welcome.

Turtle Island Restaurant's decor is inviting, casual and tropical, from the coral-colored walls to the jungle-print tablecloths to the tanks of tropical fish. A good variety of wines is available, and the menu is intriguing, including such items as Wings Over Oak Island and hot crab dip for appetizers. In addition to the entree specials, the restaurant serves Calabash-style seafood, pasta and sandwiches, with great flair. Just wait until you see the work of art that is your meal. Visit on Wednesday night, Steam Night, for specials on all steamed seafood items as well as other great meals. Turtle Island is open for dinner only. Come early or take advantage of call-ahead seating (reservations are available only for parties of six or more, excluding Wednesday nights).