Delicious bagels that are nice and crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. My everything bagel…read morewas very well seasoned as well. The breakfast sandwiches are the perfect size! During the very busy festival rush, the staff at Bella's Cafe & Catering really seemed to keep their cool and remained composed and kind the entire time. We sat at a nice little table under their beautiful accent wall right near the window which added so much to the ambiance of our breakfast.

Cool little Cafe. Food is sandwiches, wraps, and baked goods. Everything looked delicious. They…read morehave all the coffee drinks. I had the egg, bacon, cheese on a croissant and their daily grind coffee - enjoyed both. Will be back

We had a spectacular lunch at Persimmons recently, highlighted by the amazing service and tasty…read moreofferings. This was our first visit, so we were excited to get a water view when seated at our table - it was a bit too blustery to sit outside overlooking the river and massive boats parked alongside the waterfront restaurant. Our server, Brooke, guided us through everything from the cocktail menu to the entrees, effortlessly - she made solid suggestions from the get-go and was a delight to have helping us. Our two-top started off with a classic Persimmons Old Fashioned ($18) cocktail and a pear vodka, habanero and cucumber lime drink called the Bon Voyage ($14). We chose to split the Roasted Beet Salad ($13) as our appetizer and it was certainly large enough for two to share. The spring mix was topped with delicious red and golden beets, flecks of goat cheese and pistachios, as well as a thick fig balsamic. The salad could have easily been a meal topped with an optional protein. The entree menu features most of the coastal classics, including Fish Tacos ($16), a couple of massive burgers and some heavier offerings like Seafood Pasta ($32) and a huge Fried Seafood Platter ($30) We opted for the Tequila Salmon ($32), served over rice pilaf with green beans and a spicy margarita sauce. I ordered the Unicorn Fish ($30), mostly out of curiosity and upon Brooke's suggestion. The latter was an amazingly flakey fish with the taste and texture of grouper. Topped with honey pecans and served over a lemon scallop risotto with asparagus and spinach - certainly the most nicely prepared fish I've had in a very long time. We wrapped up the meal with a couple more cocktails and enjoyed the late afternoon view - the Wake Breaker ($18) drinks feature reposado, bailey's chocolate and a touch of habanero - the perfect end to an amazing meal.

My small group wanted to eat waterside, so we went to Persimmons for lunch. We were quickly seated…read moreupstairs with picturesque views of the water. Our server Ridley, came to the table promptly, answered our questions and took our orders. Our drinks came quickly and were always full. The food arrived soon after our orders were placed. The presentation of our meals was terrific. Three diners in our party ordered the Fish Tacos and one got the Fish and Chips. It would be an understatement to say the servings were seriously generous. The fish & chips came 3 large fried fish filets and a heaping of seasoned fries. The taco orders each had 3 full vs mini sized soft tacos overflowing with fish filets...the fish was legit spilling out over both ends of the tacos! The fish was lightly battered, nicely seasoned and fried to perfection. The quantity of the food was so generous, only one of us could finish our meal!! On our way out, we stopped and spoke with the manager Kelsey. She is the spirit behind the "the new and improved" Persimmon's ethos. She took no credit for the changes or improvements and instead placed our exemplary experience squarely at the feet of her employees! It's obvious she's a wonderful, caring leader of the Persimmon's team. Cheers to Kelsey, Ridley and the Persimmon's crew!

It's been a couple years since my last review and there's a new chef at the helm. I was glad to…read moresee he kept the old favorites (the burger, egg rolls, etc.) but the menu is much larger now. We enjoyed the watermelon carpaccio, fried green tomatoes, garden risotto with added shrimp. Everything was very good. The tomato portion was enormous and the beer batter was crispy and light. The risotto? It wasn't really risotto, it was more like a creamy rice but it was delicious. And those shrimp were big, juicy and tasted like they just came out of the sea. The watermelon, though, was a shocker. It was grilled! It had a really great smoky flavor that was totally unexpected and the dressing was light and fresh. We always sit at the bar and the service is always on point.

I had been so looking forward to dining at Baxter's 1892 with the speak easy feel and the live…read moremusic. I tried to make reservation but the restaurant would not take a reservation for one so I went early. My options were the bar or in the dark tunnel. I chose the tunnel as I thought I was going to get a table not a high top there. Then where the menu was placed that would have me facing the back wall as the other seat was near the kitchen entrance. So I moved there but I still didn't have a view of the performers. So things didn't start well but I ordered the boba boat mocktail and the mac n cheese with short ribs. My waitress then informed me that they were out of the short rib and would brisket be ok. I hate brisket so I said no and she went and got me the menu to order something else. While I was looking at the menu with my phone flashlight (other tables had actual flashlights, they came prepared) as the tunnel was too dark to see without it, I was given mac n cheese with short rib according to the food runner. I questioned him as I had been told they were out but he went and checked and told me it was the last of the short rib. It was not short rib and someone lied. When the waitress returned, she thought it was burnt ends and checked with the kitchen and they told her brisket. Whatever the mystery meat was, it was not what I ordered. Did they think I wouldn't notice or know the meats are prepared differently. It is dark there so it is hard to know what you are eating. The mystery meat dish was taken back to the kitchen and I asked if they could prepare it with vegetables instead as mac n cheese seemed like the safest option on the menu with the mystery meats. I wish they just had what I originally ordered. The specialty made veggie dish was good but I expected more flavors with the cheese. It was kind of bland. I did try the dessert too. I got the strawberry lemonade cake. The strawberries were the best part as the cake was on the dry side. While eating this, the check was brought to the table. This is my biggest pet peeve to not wait until the guest is finished eating. The most frustrating part was that while they refused to increase the lighting when I arrived and asked as I couldn't read the menu. They immediately turned the lights up when another guest asked as I was finishing my dessert. The chef came to the table from the front dining area. It was my understanding that things were going to be made right. I didn't expect to be charged the full price for the dish without the premium meat. Then there was the service failure of bringing out a dish I hadn't ordered to begin with. The decor here is outstanding, with the copper ceilings and the speakeasy feel. The clock out front caught my attention too. They went all out with the details and elegance. So it is disappointing that the food and service is not up to the same standards.

There is little to no decoration at Sea Glass Cafe. It is basically in just a square-open room…read moreconnected into a small shopping center. Despite of this, the people are great and they have some solid food!! They have a "make your own coffee" station. Unfortunately, the coffee was lukewarm at best. This tells me that the coffee had been sitting in those containers waiting to be poured for a while. We both ordered the kids/senior portion waffle, with bacon and eggs. They have great scrambled eggs (soft scrambled, not hard), and their bacon is pretty solid as well (kind of tough, though). Their waffles are Belgian-style, which means that they were generally a bit crisper on the outside, and soft on the inside. They are filling, and have solid flavor! Contrastively, their bathrooms are not the cleanest. But, in the end, their food is solid and is set at a good price, but needs more character in their restaurant! Where's the decoration?

Our original breakfast plans fell through, so we gave Sea Glass Cafe another try. That was a…read moremistake. There was only one table occupied when we arrived, but the server was in no rush to wait on us. After finally ordering, our meals arrived promptly. My breakfast tacos were huge, but with virtually no sausage or flavor. I gave up after eating one of them. The hash browns were the highlight of the meal, but were so-so. My dining companion was not impressed with her huge omelet, but at least it had a generous portion of ham. My unsweet tea was clearly at least a day old, but came with a premium price of $3.49. According to the menu, my meal was supposed to come with hash browns but after paying I noticed that I had been charged an extra $4.99. This was not good and a poor value.

After more than a decade, we finally made it back to Carolina Bagel--and now I'm kicking myself for…read morenot returning sooner. My husband and I split The Woods sandwich with Maui onion chips, and it was exactly what you want from a great lunch spot: perfectly toasted, flavorful, and not overloaded--just the right balance of meat and cheese. Our server (brown ponytail, floral sleeve tattoo) was fantastic--super friendly and thoughtful enough to split our sandwich onto two separate trays without us asking. Those little touches make a big difference. We grabbed pastries to go and had them later with coffee at home... just as delicious as lunch. The place was hopping (always a good sign), service was smooth, and even the bathrooms were spotless. Safe to say this won't be a once-a-decade visit anymore!

I have nothing bad to say about the place. Everything is…read moregreat. I will say when they say they're closing at 1:30 they are closed. At 1:10 the chairs are up on the tables. They're mopping and cleaning the grill and counting money. You can call in an order at 1:20, but you'd better be on time to get it, pay for it and leave. They don't play about the time.

Captain Ratty's is a good place to dine in Downtown New Bern. They have inside and outside seating…read moredepending on what you prefer. I liked the large menu and the reasonable prices. My waitress was on top of things and very patient with a customer at a nearby table who was struggling to get the words he needed to order. I had the filet mignon with baked potato and did a lava cake for dessert. I enjoyed my meal and would return here again.

BTW, the staff told me this place is changing names - possibly Buzzys Chophouse…read more The inside is a little quaint on the one side by the bar but the main entrance is a bit confusing since they had a salad-ish bar behind the divider. The main room had a lot of room and good bar seating. I read the reviews and wanted some seafood and the fish and chips caught my eyes. I was also going to try the clam chowder but the last two reviews were not appealing so I asked the waitress other options. I was offered the Tomato Bisque soup which was very good . Very creamy and tomatoey. For the main course I changed from the fish and chips to The Bounty, and unfortunately it was NOT. The meal was fried with French Fries and Cole slaw. I mentioned I didn't like coleslaw so they left it off but didn't offer any as a substitute or knock the soup price off. The meal came with 5, average sized shrimp with the tails off, what was supposed to be scallops, and small fried oysters. The fries were better than the oysters and scallops, and I believe the scallops were imitation because they did not have any grain when I cut them. I wasn't asked if I wanted tarter or cocktail sauce and just got tarter. I had to chase down the waitress for water since I didn't want anything else. I'm not sure this would make me a return trip but every place is worth a try

If I were on my deathbed, Cork Wine Bar & Bistro would be the restaurant I'd choose for my last…read moremeal, that's how incredible it is. Growing up in the South, I've had my fill of the same kinds of restaurants, so finding a place like Cork has been such a breath of fresh air. Cork is truly special for New Bern. Every dish is thoughtfully prepared, the service is consistently exceptional, and the hospitality makes you feel like family from the moment you walk in. The wine list is carefully curated, with perfect pairings for every appetizer and entrée, making the entire dining experience unforgettable. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or just looking for an amazing meal, Cork Wine Bar & Bistro is a place you'll want to come back to again and again. New Bern is lucky to have a restaurant of this caliber.

My family and I love this place. Best restaurant in New Bern. Crab cakes and chicken picatta are my…read morefavorites. The servers and owners are kind and personable. They also have a cute outdoor patio eating area we like to sit at in the summer.