22 North (Wrightsville Beach, NC)

We were away for 10 days. Before vacation, we didn't do any blog-worthy cooking. Since we got home, we haven't done anything blog-worthy either. So the next week or so will be a bunch of posts about what we ate on vacation. One of our favorite meals on vacation was at Wrightsville Beach in NC at a place called 22 North.

The menu changes frequently, so the current offerings are printed on a chalkboard menu. The nice thing is that the chalkboard is on an easel and our server brought it over right next to our table. No squinting or contorting to see the menu from afar! I ordered a glass of wine and SP had iced tea while we thought about what to order and our server checked on garlic. Here's what we ate:

First up was a bread basket: blueberry muffin (delicious), cornbread (SP's favorite) and an herb biscuit, which I didn't try but SP said was tasty.

I ate most of my salad before I remembered to take a photo

Mixed greens salad with strawberries, goat cheese, and candied walnuts. The dressing was a creamy garlic, but our server gave the dressing to SP on the side, and brought me small bottles of balsamic and olive oil. Really good salad. 

Bacon Wrapped Scallops with rice and mango-red pepper. Nicely cooked large scallops.

I ordered the Shrimp & Grits which came with a corn-red pepper maque choux. Our server told me there was garlic in the polenta and maque choux but that it had been cooked for a while, it wasn't raw or tossed in right before serving, so I figured I'd be OK (I was). I think she also said the shrimp are cooked in the maque choux. It was delicious. The grits were really good, creamy and if I remember correctly a hint of bacon taste. I don't really like corn, so I tried to push it off to the side, but the red pepper was tasty and added a nice flavor to the grits and shrimp. 

 SP got the King Mackerel. Served with rice and some veggies and a sauce.

 

For dessert we shared a slice of Chess Pie and a scoop of locally made cappuccino gelato that had a bit of a crunch to it.

We both were very pleased with the food and the service. Our server was absolutely fantastic with checking on garlic and other ingredients and she did it cheerfully. She was laid back but also attentive. We'd definitely go back if/when we make it back to the area.