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Food reviews from the Carolinas to the Amalfi Coast

Michelin Stars& Dive Bars.

A Southern gentleman with a worldly palate and a stomach that knows no social class. Grab a napkin. Grab two.

Restaurant Reviews

Honest, no-nonsense takes on restaurants from white-tablecloth fine dining to roadside diners. Every meal judged on what matters.

Travel Eats

From the Amalfi Coast to Tokyo street markets. Cletus hunts unforgettable meals wherever the road takes him.

Hidden Gems

The spots locals whisper about. Hole-in-the-wall joints, gas-station finds, and family-run places that don’t need a Yelp page.

Cletus illustrationBased in North Carolina

The man, the myth, the appetite

Who is Cletus?

Based in North Carolina, but having lived and travelled all over the US and the world, Cletus is a Southern gentleman with a worldly palate and a stomach that knows no social class. From Michelin stars on the Amalfi Coast to grease-stained burgers at a roadside dive, Cletus believes great food can be found anywhere.

Part refined gourmand, part country boy, and all-around food enthusiast, Cletus appreciates the finer things in life but has never met a biscuit he considered beneath him. He’ll happily debate a chef’s sauce reduction over a handcrafted mocktail, then wash down a gas-station hot dog with an ice-cold sweet tea without batting an eye.

These days, Cletus travels the globe in search of unforgettable meals & hidden gems. He’s got a taste for elegance and a soft spot for Southern comfort food. To Cletus, a good meal is where cultures, languages, and folks from every walk of life collide. Even when words fall short, a shared smile and a plate of something delicious says plenty. Nothing makes him happier than bringing people together and loosenin’ that belt for some good food.

Whether he’s dining under crystal chandeliers or sitting on a wobbly barstool: Cletus Craves the good stuff, and he ain’t afraid to get a little gravy on his shirt finding it.

Wilmington, North Carolina

Places worth loosenin’ that belt for

Wandering Cone - Ice cream
Ice cream

Wandering Cone

House-made waffle cones and scoops worth a detour.

Where
Soda Pop District
Casey's Buffet - Southern buffet
Southern buffet

Casey's Buffet

A Wilmington institution. Pace yourself.

Where
Oleander Dr
Seabird - Seafood
Seafood

Seabird

Most unique seafood tower you will ever have.

Where
S Front St
Hidden Grounds - Coffee
Coffee

Hidden Grounds

Garden-tucked coffee shop. Good vibes.

Where
S 2nd St
Genki - Sushi & Japanese
Sushi & Japanese

Genki

Best sushi in North Carolina.

Where
New Centre Dr
Salitas - Pizza
Pizza

Salitas

Cletus ranks number one pizza in Wilmington.

Where
South 16th St
Cugino Forno - Wood-fired Italian
Wood-fired Italian

Cugino Forno

Neapolitan pies from a wood-fired oven.

Where
Princess St
Pizzeria Don Luca - Pizza
Pizza

Pizzeria Don Luca

Named the best pizza in NC.

Where
Brooklyn Arts
S&L Deli - NY-style deli
NY-style deli

S&L Deli

Best breakfast in town.

Where
17th Street

Cletus Craves Goods

Merch is still in the smoker.

Drip so good you can taste it, for folks who aren’t afraid of a little gravy on their shirt.

Coming soon
Cletus Craves

Collabs, tips, or just to say howdy

Got a spot Cletus needs to try?

Chefs, owners, brands and fellow eaters: drop Cletus a line.

Contact Cletus
cletus@cletuscraves.com