http://www.circa1922.com/It is so easy to dismiss Circa as THE snob eatery of Wilmington, NC. This is Ash Aziz's flagship location; his other places have a bit more of a laid back feel. It's been around for many years, and the clientele is a mix of lawyers, doctors, developers, and other members of the local aristocracy. Those people bring their friends and family there to impress them because, let's face it, the place is very impressive.
When you walk in, the first thing that hits you is size of the ceilings. Then the magnificence of the bar is the next thing that catches your eye. Dark, stained wood frame mirrored shelves that hold an impressive selection of liquors. The MacCallan 18, please. There are also a few beers on tap, including Guinness and Hefferveisen. Most people opt for a table, but we like to head straight for the bar, where you can get your food and drink quickly with a nod to one of the superb bartenders.
We will probably never say this about another restaurant as long as this site is up and running, but you really can't go wrong with ordering any of the food at Circa. It's all good, baby. You know sometimes when you ask a server what is good on the menu, and the reply is that everything is great? That's usually a lie. Not so at Circa. Lamb Shanks came with snobbed-up grits. Great. Calmari was ordered to go with the Eggplant Rollantine. Fantastic. Sushi? If you
like it, have it here. We could go on, but it would be best if you get your ass in there and start ordering stuff.At about 8 PM an older woman will roll up and start playing some tunes on the piano. She will be joined over the next hour by the rest of the jazz ense
mble that will play well-worn, comfortable tunes until closing; there's no better way to enjoy food and drinks. The staff is exceptional and are probably the most highly trained and professional in town. They know their wines, and they are very helpful with suggestion.So, you may well ask, isn't there ANYTHING you could find wrong in this place. Yes. The men's bathroom door upstairs slams, hard. It is loud as hell and very off-putting when you're trying to take a shit. Other than that, it must be repeated that Circa 1922 is tops in it's class, and probably classy enough for you and your friends.
