Circa 1922 Brings Small Plates and Big Character to Downtown Wilmington

When it comes to blending historic charm with modern flair, Circa 1922 sets the stage beautifully. Located in a former bank building downtown, this tapas-style restaurant layers its century-old brick and wood-beamed interior with a menu that’s as playful as it is polished. It’s the kind of place where you go for a drink and a snack, then find yourself staying for a parade of small plates that keep surprising until the very end.

Walk through the doors and you’re greeted with soaring ceilings, moody lighting, and the unmistakable hum of conversation that only comes from a place well-loved by locals. The bar glows with craft cocktails and a robust wine list, while the kitchen hums with an energy that matches the eclectic crowd. Couples linger over cheese boards, friends swap bites of pork belly and calamari, and every table seems to have a story unfolding alongside the food.

The tapas-style format is part of what makes Circa 1922 such a draw. It invites exploration. Order broadly, share generously, and let the evening unfold as a collection of tastes rather than a linear appetizer–entrée–dessert routine. One plate might arrive with seared scallops dressed simply in citrus and herbs; another brings rich duck confit with a sweet glaze and crunchy garnish. Every dish is deliberate but never overcomplicated.

Seafood, unsurprisingly for Wilmington, shines. Oysters rotate fresh from the coast, sometimes raw on the half shell, other times baked with breadcrumbs and herbs. Shrimp and grits take a tapas turn, scaled down but no less comforting. For those craving land over sea, short ribs arrive slow-braised and melting, a savory counterweight to lighter plates.

Vegetarians will feel equally at home. Dishes like charred Brussels sprouts with balsamic reduction, roasted root vegetables, and creative salads showcase the kitchen’s skill at coaxing depth and interest from produce. And then there’s the cheese and charcuterie—boards that serve as both a conversation starter and a satisfying anchor to the meal.

Dessert at Circa 1922 feels like an encore rather than an afterthought. Think flourless chocolate torte with a dusting of cocoa, or crème brûlée with a shattering sugar top that satisfies the ear as much as the palate. It’s the perfect way to close an evening that’s built less on courses and more on rhythm, like a jazz session that knows just when to hold back and when to soar.

What keeps diners coming back isn’t just the food, though—it’s the balance of atmosphere and hospitality. The servers guide without hovering, the bartenders mix with precision, and the setting itself invites both celebration and casual night out. You leave feeling like you’ve been part of something, not just served by it.

In a city brimming with restaurants that lean heavily on either tradition or trend, Circa 1922 threads the needle. It honors the building’s history while giving Wilmington’s dining scene a distinctly modern expression, and it does so in a way that feels approachable, inviting, and endlessly repeatable.