Take a trip to the edge of Downtown Wilmington to dive into authentic Irish cuisine with a visit to The Harp – a subtle little eatery that’s found just a couple blocks away from the Cape Fear Riverfront, and which features a casual but lively and friendly environment where pub fare can be enjoyed at its best.
The restaurant is the brainchild of Irishman Val Cleary, who moved to Wilmington in 1995, and spent 15 years plotting his authentic “taste of home” restaurant. Realized in 2010, the full menu features breakfast fare, soups, salads, sandwiches, and casual and traditional Irish dishes that are sure to make anyone a convert to the full flavors of Ireland. Hungry patrons can start with Scottish Smoked Salmon or Irish Potato Cakes, which are served with sour cream and apple sauce, or hold out for the main course, which can include familiar staples like a house Ruben, blackened chicken sandwich or a Harp Cheese Steak sandwich, or which can border or the more unusual, like the hearty Beef Braised in Guinness, the West Country Corned Beef and Cabbage, or the classic Steak and Chips. Always completely filling, with plenty of prime brews to accompany a filling meal, The Harp will make any southerner become a fan of Irish fare.
