Santino’s Italian Trattoria

This place has been crowded every night we have been here. We went to the beach early and came here at 4:00 to make sure we could get in.

Sophie and Lawson are having a napping moment as we wait for some fantastic Italian cuisine.

Lawyer
and I agree… sausage, 🍕 pepperoni and 🍄 mushrooms.

Just down the road about a half mile is Santino’s. The lasagna, shrimp and chicken Alfredo were all delicious.

Sunrise 🥯 Bagel Company

Check out this cool rack of fresh 🥯 bagels!

Conveniently located next door to the Fractured Prune doughnut store and less than a mile from our rental house, we tried the Sunrise Bagel Company this morning.

Asiago Provolone 🥯 bagel with 🥓 bacon, 🥚 egg and cheese. This sandwich is called the High Rise. The Asiago and Provolone is toasted on the bagel and then put on the griddle to make it a hot sandwich. I ate this on our top deck with beachfront houses and the Atlantic Ocean in the background. If Word Press had sound effects you could hear the waves 🌊 rolling in. This is a winner!

JM’s On The Water

JM’s On the Water is located on the sound and just north of the Topsail Island bridge. You can get a seat outside along the dock or inside. We chose inside due to a 🌬 windy evening. Actually, after we came in from the beach 🏖 for lunch and also before 🌧 rain, it has been a bit windy the rest of the day.

A sound is a channel connecting two bodies of water. In this case, Topsail Island is a barrier island off the coast of North Carolina and the water between the mainland and the island is a sound. (Teaching moment.)

Bang!Bang! 🍤 Shrimp. Fried and topped with sesame seeds and a sweet chile sauce. I then squeezed some 🍋 lemon juice over that. Nicely done!!!

Edward Teach, also know as Blackbeard the pirate… I ordered Teaches 🍑 Peaches which is brewed in Wilmington, however, they were out. I settled for a Pacifico on tap.

🍤 Shrimp, 🦪 oysters, fried zucchini and a baked 🥔 potato.

Shaka Taco

My Pogue friend Braden also recommended the Shaka 🌮 Taco and folks, let me tell you, it was really good. It is in Surf City and is a taco stand where you order at a window and dine outside at a picnic table.

Rae had the taco bowl with veggies and it was fantastic! I will get that if we return.

There is a chicken quesadilla beneath the chips and with a dollop of sour cream, it was delicious.

This restroom sign was actually at The Crab 🦀 Pot. It was a good dinner, however, this sign is the memory I am tanking home with me.

The Dockside: Wrightsville Beach

When deciding on vacation locations, Sophie said if we went near Wilmington that we could eat at The Dockside. She is a huge Nicholas Sparks fan and in the movie “The Choice” a scene 🎥 is shot at The Dockside restaurant. It is located on the Intra Coastal Waterway in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina.

I had the shrimp 🍤 🍔burger. The burger part is that it is on a bun. Six fried shrimp fried to perfection with a remoulade sauce. But dig these hush puppies! The butter is for them and they were fantastic. I ate every one of them!

Liam had a grilled chicken on pita bread and the house made potato chips.

🌴Andrew and Sophie🌴 between the palm trees.

We confirmed with the waitress and a movie clip that this is just about the exact spot where they filmed the movie scene in The Choice.

Daddy Mac’s Beach Grille

Daddy Mac’s is located on the beach on Topsail 🏝 Island in North Carolina. It was recommended by Braden and Luke, two local boys that are awesome skim boarders and were hanging out at the same beach as us today. I asked them if they were Pogue’s or not. 😆 The service was wonderful and everyone’s food was delicious.

Shrimp and Grits in a creamy remoulade sauce. This garlicky dish was outstanding. I have tried this dish from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean and Daddy Mac’s has got it going on!

Lawyer had the fried 🍤 shrimp and they were very good.

Kiley had the shrimp scampi linguini and after she tasted the shrimp and grits, she was trying go figure out when we could visit again. we are enjoying this area with all of our kids and grandson and look forward to a week at the beach.

Fractured Prune 🍩 Doughnuts

I didn’t even get a picture of the dozen as they were quickly snatched up. 🫐 blueberry, key lime, salted caramel to name a few. Heidi says we are returning later this week to try the Peanutbutter glaze!

The Fractured Prune is located in Surf City on Topsail 🏝 Island on the coast of North Carolina.

These doughnuts were steaming 🥵 hot and made to order. We just kind of hovered around the box until they were gone. Multiple flavor opportunities as all the doughnuts are the same and they personalize the topping. Cool story on why it is named the Fractured Prune. A competitive woman in her 70s named Prunella was a champion 🏓 ping pong player as well as other sports and would compete against men and often win. She would some times get injured/ fractured and was know as Fractured Punella.

Red Neck BBQ Lab

Only in The South can you find delicious BBQ at a gas station. Reminds me of Ed Orgeron recruiting Michael Oher in The Blind Side. Located right off the exit in Benson, North Carolina is this gem. There is a Blue Grass version of Living On A Prayer playing while I type. Yee Haw!!!

I had the brisket, ribs, Jalopeno Mac and cheese and corn bread washed down with the local favorite, Cheerwine soda. Kudos to the jalapeño Mac and cheese as it made my forehead sweat. We are at a picnic table outside the restaurant. This is a happening spot.

Excellent Mac and cheese and cornbread. The inner portion of the brisket was tender and flavorful. A bit dry on the outside.

I like the BBQ Lab angle. Very scientific.

Greek’s Pizzeria: Franklin

Greek’s Pizzeria, which started in 1969 was a “Go To” establishment for me in Muncie, Indiana and Ball State University from 1981-1985. They have beefed up their restaurant with the Tapp Room here in Franklin.

The pizza is as I remember it and this location, near Franklin College, is just another part of the cool downtown area of Franklin.

Sausage, pepperoni and mushroom. It’s what’s for dinner.

Options!!! Unfortunately, I was on a responsible mission and didn’t partake in a Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy. 🍋 🍺

Penne Pasta Shrimp 🍤 Alfredo

This girl is on 🔥 fire!!! Nope. Not Alicia Keys. But, yes; yes it is Sophie Kreis!!! She nailed this evening’s dinner. Cheesy garlic toast to a golden brown, and throwing in some shrimp with the penne Alfredo was genius! I think we may leave her at home alone all day more often! (Actually, Heidi was home if you are fact checking me.)