I just returned from a short stay on Wrightsville Beach. We stayed at Shell Island Resort. The rooms are all ocean front and have full kitchens, two baths and a complete living room. This resort is beginning to show its age. The walls are soiled and it needs refreshing. The reception staff is not terribly capable. Example, I called down and inquired how to retrieve messages off the phone in the room. The response "Dial something like maybe star seven or whatever. I don't really know."

We ate at the Pilot House. It is owned by the same folks who own Elijah's (full with a wedding party the night we wanted to go). The food was good but very spicy (Creole influence). Service was fine but slow.
We also ate at Deborahs in Lumina Station on the lower level. What a find. Great food, lovely atmosphere, very reasonable prices and very good service.
We had one meal at Oceanic. There were fifteen people in my group and most were satisfied with their food but two people sent back the tuna as inedible. Service was average.
The best dinner, best server (Lesley) overall was at the Port Land Grille. Every member of the party said their meal was fabulous. I had a marvelous fresh halibut. I was too stuffed for dessert but most of the group had the coconut cake which they uniformly described as the best ever.
All in all a great trip to a beautiful and growing area.