Leaf & Love Brings Fresh, Fast Fare to Carolina Beach

A new eatery has opened in Carolina Beach, bringing fresh and healthy grab-and-go options to the beach.

Leaf & Love, the latest project from longtime local restaurateurs Kori Carter and Vinny Doria, the team behind Uncle Vinny’s Pizzeria, is an eco-focused concept focused on fresh sandwiches, salads, bowls and beach-friendly bites.

The new spot is located next door to Uncle Vinny’s.

“We wanted to provide a great space where you can get a fresh sandwich or salad and go enjoy it out on our patio or at the beach,” Carter said.

Leaf & Love’s menu is built around simple ingredients and customizable options. Offerings include a twist on a classic Cuban sandwich with house-roasted pork and mustard microgreens and an Italian-inspired prosciutto and arugula sandwich topped with pesto, stracciatella and a drizzle of honey.

“We can also do any of the sandwiches as salads, bowls or wraps,” said Carter. “And we have a build your own option because lots of people want to be able to get something that’s tailored just for them.”

Bowls can be made with rice or quinoa, and microgreens from Coastal Greens Farm in Hampstead are featured throughout. In addition to utilizing products from Coastal Greens across the menu, Leaf and Love serves as a weekly pickup location for customers who preorder microgreens through the farm’s website.

Coastal Greens is just one of the many purveyors that Carter has connected with at the Wilmington Farmers Market. She also works with Lite Work Farm to procure fresh mushrooms, including lion’s mane, which is prepared in the style of a ceviche with a citrus and chimichurri vinaigrette.

“I really love the simplicity of mushrooms all by themselves without cooking them,” Carter said. “So, the faux ceviche was born. … It just adds this beautiful flavor to the lion’s mane.”

The café has a retail space that features a variety of products from local artisans, including CBD and beef tallow goods from Restoration Hemp.

On the beverage side, Leaf and Love is staying eco-conscious by serving only Open Water canned water (no plastic bottles). A portion of the proceeds of Open Water supports ocean preservation efforts. The café also serves sparkling waters, THC seltzers and energy drinks, kombucha and locally made teas from Elderberry Mama. A beer and wine permit is in the works.

For those in need of a beach snack or something to grab on the go, the shop will also offer fresh fruit, hummus, chips and crackers and other pre-packaged items, making it a one-stop shop for healthy provisions.

Along with the opening of Leaf & Love, Doria and Carter are also celebrating a revitalization of Uncle Vinny’s, as it enters its 15th year in business. The restaurant has recently undergone aesthetic upgrades, expanded its wine list and hired a new management team.

“We’ve made a lot of improvements that we’re very proud of,” Carter said.

Leaf and Love is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily at 1010 S. Lake Park Blvd. in Carolina Beach.