In the beginning, Pine Valley Market was just a market and a butcher shop. Its prepared food made it famous as a caterer, and now, under the leadership of owner Christi Ferretti, it has become a wonderful place to eat.
It’s still a custom butcher, and still a boutique market with shelves of interesting groceries for sale, but the moment you step inside, the aromas of bacon and burgers sizzling, chili brewing, and biscuits baking tell you to sit down and have a meal, right now!
The menu is eclectic and, and given the fact that everything I’ve eaten is really yummy — masterfully (and often creatively) prepared, I’m pretty sure there won’t be any clinkers coming from this kitchen.
A day’s special burger is a big, juicy round of Angus beef cooked medium rare as ordered and topped with house-made pimento cheese and a big dollop of sweet, smoky bacon jam. It’s a fantastic combination, but for all its swirling flavors, what stands out is the fresh mineral power of the meat itself. Only from a real butcher shop!
To accompany the swell burger are first-class French fries or, even better, freshly-made potato chips that are crisp, see-through thin, and salted just enough to bring out essence-of-spud taste. They’re unimprovable … except perhaps by a a dip in garlic aioli available on the side.
Good ground beef also stars in one day’s special chili, which is billed as Texas style, but is in fact more about comfort than pepper punch. For those allergic to red meat, or interested in a lighter kind of comfort food, a good alternative on this day is chicken chili, which is more soup-like, albeit more edgy in its seasoning than grandmotherly chicken soup.
Regular menu items include “old school fried bologna” on soft sourdough, a grilled Reuben, club sandwiches and wraps, soups, and salads. “Avoid the disappointing drive-thru and visit us for lunch,” the Market advises.
The Pine Valley Market website lists daily specials and, for those who can’t come to it, suggests using Uber Eats to have the food delivered.
Other Nearby Restaurants
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Dixie Grill
Wilmington, North CarolinaWilmingtonians of every stripe flock to the Dixie Grill, a vintage diner serving square meals with a pronounced Dixie accent and plenty of hash house sass.
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Winnie’s Tavern
Wilmington, North CarolinaDeluxe dive bar at the edge of Wilmington’s downtown, Winnie’s Tavern is famous for spectacular, well-dressed hamburgers.
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Crabby Oddwaters
Sunset Beach, North CarolinaOddwater’s steamed buckets come packed with a classic low-country boil of seafood plus potatoes, corn, and Carolina sausage with a crisp, charred crust.
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The Basics
Wilmington, North CarolinaCreative versions of southern classics make The Basics a cozy, casual downtown destination for great meals prepared with flair but no pretensions.
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Cast Iron Kitchen
Wilmington, North CarolinaIn a strip-mall location, the Cast Iron Kitchen offers rustic decor and downhome food. Grits, corned beef, and pimento cheese sandwiches are notable.
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Sweet N Savory Cafe
Wilmington, North CarolinaThree meals a day and a vast menu make Sweet N Savory Cafe a good choice for groups of diners with different tastes. From-scratch bakery is an asset.