service was great- server was extremely nice, refills without asking, checking in frequently, everything ya frickin want. food was effin amazing, fried ravioli had me hollerin. would definitely come back if i wasnt from beautiful cleveland. bring ya kids, grandkids, second cousins, and that one auntie on her 4th divorce here, you will not be disappointed read more

Unique flavorful dishes. Perfect portions. Delicious salad options as well as hearty burgers and seafood. My favorite restaurant so far. read more

Kistler Chardonnay, and a canned beet salad? I wrote a review of Boro about 8 years ago, it may be interesting to go out and compare the two. I have to say my wife and I are confused by our latest dinner experience more than anything. We could not get into Il Cigno Italiano, a fantastic restaurant (I recommend to the eggplant meatballs), who suggested we visit their "sister site" Boro. We love Il Cigno and thought, wow this going to be great. I did not realize the two were related under one organization. Like all my reviews, I try very hard to keep drama and non factual commentary out as much as possible. I focus on setting expectations based on my experience. Ambiance - Boro has changed since we were there last. The bar was walled off from the main dining more than before. The walls were empty with no art or really anything... pretty sterile...not a romantic setting, but more of a family setting. In fairness, they may be remodeling, I did not ask. One last critical item, we were sitting under a HVAC wall unit, that leaked on us through the meal. I would have asked to move but we moved to the far end of the booth, it was fine then. The outdoor patio is still nice though, and is fun to go watch bands and relax listening to music. We do this frequently as we are "locals". Service - our waitress was attentive, very nice and did check on us. The hostess was great, and was able to seat us right away. So service was pretty spot on. ....except, I am no longer paying credit card service fees that are not verbally noted when I sit down (small print on the menu does not count). These fees, have been added as "Covid era" item to help restaurants. I had no issue with it then, however, we are not in Covid anymore. I run a business and feel this is a cost of doing business and needs to be in the pricing (more helpful for customers) or absorbed. 3% is well over $200 per year for our eating out budget. Food - this is where I left scratching my head. My wife and I both ordered the Beet Salad. It read on the menu it had arugula, butter nut squash and a combination of greens. When it arrived, there was very little arugula, very sparse squash and it had canned beets on it. The greens were very scarce, more of a garnish than a salad amount. At best it looked like it was a small side salad, not a dinner salad. It was not a good price point for what we received in my opinion. However, the Tuna Takati was nicer for $15 and much closer to an Il Cigno level of offering. Another strange dynamic was they offered Kistler Chardonnay, which runs for about $90 a bottle. It is a world class wine, but Im not sure how well it matches the restaurant, or the level and quality of the food we were severed. In summary, if I was the owner of Il Cigno I would be hesitant to send folks to Boro who may looking for an Il Congo experience. In fairness, I did not ask about decor or the HVAC. However, the food is not at par for the pricing or the quality I would expect after eating at Il Cigno. Aug 15, 2026 - This is a follow up to this review. Boro up charged my credit card after I clearly wrote the intended tip and why I cut it short. See the new picture of my credit card statement. I want to say is was a mistake, but both pictures tell a hard story. We will not be back. read more

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Absolutely amazing! A local little gem! So many unique twists on their menu. They have daily specials too. I had to try their unique take on Shrimp & Grits, which was well seasoned shrimp with sauce, veggies over polenta. The appetizer we chose was fabulous...crab tostada. And the fish sandwich was fresh and delicious. The service is so personalized you feel like family, and the lovely patio is also pet friendly. Wonderfully relaxed vibe with upscale menu choices! You can't ask for better than that read more

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The scampi was plain but the curry was phenomenal and the outdoor seating was lovely! Server was young and didn't know the menu or drinks well, but attentive and kind. read more

Boro Restaurant And Bar - Curry and shrimp scampi - Tapas Bars Near Me - Swansboro, North Carolina

We sat outside because we had our pup. Water bowls and cold water provided for pets. Food was ok; not great but not bad either. Service and waiter was great and very helpful. read more

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Had a great meal at the Boro restaurant. We walked in off the boat and were able to be seated immediately outside in the courtyard. Our server, Ethan, was fantastic. We all thoroughly enjoyed our appetizers and meals. The calamari was delicious the breading was crispy but not too heavy and the chargrilled pineapples were amazing with it. The Philly cheesesteak rolls were excellent and our party enjoyed the crab dip. The burgers were a fan favorite. Us Pittsburgh folk's were happy to see Heinz ketchup. We enjoyed the fried shrimp and shrimp curry dish! Would definitely recommend. Bonus....we could hear some live music from down the street....apparently the streets are closed off for Sunday Funday. read more

Boro Restaurant And Bar - Burger - Tapas Bars Near Me - Swansboro, North Carolina

Decent food nothing crazy. Inside is very very loud when there's a lot of people there... read more

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Boro is a waterfront location with heated outdoor seating and a fun dog menu for the pups that tag along. Our waitress was so friendly and helpful, recognizing we were cold and bringing tea options and telling us about the potato and leek soup of the day. The Icehouse Grandwich was huge and flaky to the point of falling apart. I was also a big fan of the beet salad, the butternut squash and goat cheese balanced the beets very well. read more

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This is a great place for seafood and pasta along the water. They have a nice outdoor patio space and indoor space for the bad weather days. The potato and leek soup was a great starter on a cold day. The best salad was great, if you like beats would recommend! The grouper sandwich was good with the side of fries, with a generous piece of fish with tartar sauce was great. Service was good even though we were outside though it was a little chilly and they don't have many outside heaters. They also have a dog menu if you want to bring your dog, you can sit outside with them. read more

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We were seated quickly. The food was amazing I had salmon that was cooked perfectly. My husband had the crab cakes. The service was excellent. Our servers and others checked on us frequently and cleared the table when necessary read more

We come to this little area often, there are several great restaurants and lots of cute shops to check out too. We had been here before to the lower outdoor restaurant which has a simpler menu. This time we went to the upper restaurant, kind of a craft beer and wine bar and restaurant a few steps up from causal sitdown options but still very casual with a marina vibe and outdoor seating. We had started outside but it was too cold and windy but easily found a nice table inside. The host and wait staff were accommodating and did not mind us moving around. Inside were groups of locals, people at various tables knew one another. Everything we ordered was outstanding. From crab cakes that had crab, scallops, and other fresh fish. They were light, crisp, and full of flavor. Even the tarter sauce was elevated. I ordered the Cejan pasta with chicken and andouille sausage. I wish it included shrimp for the price. It was a very nice flavor, spicy but not too hot, I like medium to mild heat and this was about right for me. We also ordered and shared the beat salad, it was a very good salad worth ordering again. Original and full of light fresh flavors. Why not five stars? Realizing this is a touristy area but in February I think most people were locals. I found it rather expensive for lunch. Our bill for the two of us with just a soda and a glass of water was over $80 which is outside our normal range for lunch. We would like to come back more often but at the price, this will be a rare treat. read more

I've now been here 4 times. Each time, it was clean and the noise wasn't bad at all. The food was great once again. Hot, fresh, seasoned. It hasn't failed me yet. The service has always been wonderful. We've had a different server each time. This is the first place that has been consistent each time. I'm moving soon but when I come back to visit this will be my first stop. read more

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Their menus online are misleading and unorganized. I came here expecting certain options but was disappointed with what they had. Went with the large Caesar salad but was kinda a small portion. The table ordered tuna tar tar, never came but was charged. Tried their swordfish and that was good tho. read more

This place never disappoints. I had the Steak burger with no bun and our waitress Taylor made sure I had extra lettuce to use as the bun. I tried the French fries and they were very good. The coleslaw was good but I like mine with just a little extra mayo. Service was great. Taylor was friendly and paid attention to our needs. The Boro was quiet inside when we came in on a Wednesday at five but the outside was full. Kudos to the Boro... successful dinner again! 5/22/24 read more

We've been before and everything was great. If tonight were our first time, we'd never come back. Let's start with the lighting. The overhead can lights in the main dining room were a little bright when we arrived. After a few minutes the lights dimmed. A short while later, they got bright again. We mentioned it to the server and she said the light bulbs are compatible with the dimmer so keep doing that. It was really annoying and ruined the ambiance. We assumed our server was a newbie because she couldn't answer a lot of other questions- and didn't know the beer menu at all. She didn't think to bring app plates after delivering our 2 apps. We were missing silverware for 2 of the 4. It's the little things that matter. Our apps were tasty though. We got calamari and the seafood cakes (eventhough they forgot to bring the tater sauce.. which wasn't worth the wait once she finally brought some at our request). The server came by and confessed she forgot to put our main course order in (we all ordered salads with added protein). She wanted to know if we still wanted her to order them. "Yes, they are our entrees and we are hunger". :) Everyone's salads were good. Last complaint - We noticed a server cleaning a near by dining table with a spray bootle of Clorox bathroom cleaner. No one wants to smell bleach or cleaner while eating. Yuck. Final take away. Good is pretty good but this place needs some finessing. read more

Good food, good service and good atmosphere. Plus it's located in such an adorable little downtown - a bonus!

The food has really gone down. Ordered our favorite cajun chicken pasta. No spice and something was gritty. The staff has almost completely turned over. Hopefully they figure it out. read more

This place is fantastic! I had the Shrimp and Grits and the server, who was phenomenal, said it would be the best I've ever eaten. He was right on the money. These were amazing and was in fact the best I've ever had. The other three at my table had similar experiences as the food across the board was terrific. We sat outside under an umbrella and though it was warm the breeze off the water was phenomenal. Can't say enough about the waiter, he was great. read more

Boro Restaurant And Bar - Shrimp and Grits the best on the planet - Tapas Bars Near Me - Swansboro, North Carolina

Food was excellent! All staff including the chef who came out to advise us of a wait while he had to make a fresh batch if sauce, communicated wonderfully and was friendly! Definitely a place to visit! read more

Mediocre at best! The staff were super friendly but the food was not anything to write home about. Wouldn't come back but glad to have tried it! read more

The Good: + The Boro is one of the few restaurants in town open after eight, which is a win in itself. + The vibes were right! Set on a stretch of historic buildings, they have a beautiful and expansive patio which overlooked a country music concert that was going on in the parking lot across the street. The Meh: + Service is okay + Food is a lackluster: The fried seafood platter was super bready. The crab dip chips were overcooked and the crab dip a weird gloopy texture and taste. My chef's seafood platter which consisted of grilled scallops, flounder, and shrimp was also pretty meh. The scallops were super tough and the rest of the food under seasoned. We were hungry and it was late so we ate it but otherwise not someplace I would recommend driving out of our way for. read more

A nice restaurant with a nice patio out front. The inside seating area isn't huge but it seems perfect. The server was friendly and helpful. The food was delicious. A really nice menu selection. read more

Boro Restaurant And Bar - Entrance - Tapas Bars Near Me - Swansboro, North Carolina

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PA-LEASE slap yo mamma- they put their foot in it! This food is stupid amazing! I swear my mouth and my body was dancing. We had the shrimp n grits, the curry shrimp and pecan praline cheesecake! By the time the cheesecake got here I forgot to take a photo and dove in! read more

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Great visit to Boro for a late lunch. Our server, Diane, was excellent. She said she is still in training, but showed considerable knowledge of the menu and beverages - as well as being very friendly and helpful. We enjoyed several dishes - Fried Calamari, Cesar Salad topped with Beautiful Tuna, Seafood Cakes appetizer (have it with Thai Chili Sauce instead of tartar sauce), Oysters Roc (gorgeous), Shrimp Tacos, and Onion Rings (nice and crispy). Also - great beer selection and a delicious currant cider. This is a great location - right on the water and even on a rainy day has a nice view. Cosy and friendly. We'll definitely go back. read more

We've been regulars here for awhile. The vibes after the renovation are just off. The food is still good. The dinner over the weekends tends to be better for whatever reason. But the walls are so barren and it's a underwhelming beige color. It lacks the welcoming warmth it used to have. Love that you've opened up the bar but would love to get the same welcoming cozy feeling Boro has always had. We used to always bring guests here when they vacationed at our home, now I'm not so sure... Definitely think some wall decor or lower hanging lighting would go a long way. read more

First let me thank our server, Abby, for trying her best to make our experience better. Tonight's dinner at this restaurant was mediocre at best. My family of four arrived and asked for a table outside in the patio. We were quickly accommodated. However, soon we were basically forgotten. We waited patiently for over 30 minutes. We finally decided to speak up. Over half an hour, no server, no greetings, no water, nothing. Everyone else around us was being served, was eating and leaving. Poor Abby felt bad for us. She offered a free appetizer. Thank you for the gesture. We were so concerned that we would be ignored once again that we put in our food and drink order's simultaneously. Then we waited. And waited. From our seats in the patio, we enjoyed the karaoke singing coming from the bar next door. That was a lot of fun. We noticed that for a restaurant with so many patrons, the issue was simply that the restaurant was extremely understaffed. Our food, not bad but truly nothing to really rave about. Not sure if us having to wait over an hour for service even though we were seated had anything to do with our overall experience. There are a few other restaurants nearby. I recommend that you try those first before venturing into this restaurant. We didn't bother asking for the dessert menu as we felt that ordering dessert would put us at that table an additional hour. Please, improve your service by adding to your staff. Please consider keeping salt and pepper on the tables as this will avoid your customers waiting 15 minutes for your wait staff to bring it over when requested. Abby, thank you for trying to make our situation better. Clearly this was not a reflection on you. The hostess sat us down and simply forgot about us and then, well, from that point on, our experience wasn't what we had hoped for. Salmon was great. Fish tacos also great. Blacked flounder, we could have done without as it wasn't cooked well enough and was a bit mushy. This restaurant will be filed under "one and done". We are leaving five stars because I do not want to tarnish the restaurants rating. I am hopeful that your future customers will read this review and decide for themselves whether they want to spend over $100 for four meals not including appetizers and desserts. Thank you read more

Love this place. Every time we are in the area we have to make plans to go. Food, service and atmosphere are so good!

No complaints! We came for lunch on a girls day. They have inside and outside seating. Staff was super friendly. I had a reuben and some rum drink that was amazing. Our tostada appetizer was so good... though its not a tostada Friend had fish tacos and they were large and looked so good. Definitely would go back read more

Boro Restaurant And Bar - Tapas Bars Near Me - Swansboro, North Carolina

This was my first time eating at Boro in Swansboro, NC, but it will not be my last. I arrived just before noon on a chilly Saturday morning in April. I did not have a reservation, but I was ahead of the lunch rush, so I was seated straightaway. The temperature inside was perfect, and that was a welcome benefit. Within a minute of being seated, a nice college age gentleman arrived with a tall glass of filtered water and a bottle of water for refills. I love water, so Boro's already had my good thoughts. The menu and wine list followed shortly after the water. It was a delightful menu, with something for everyone. Even a toddler sitting a few tables away, was delighted she could get a Hot Dog (even though Boro's is definitely not a Hot Dog type of restaurant). The owners of Boro's must know that toddlers will soon be social influencers! I ordered a salad, and was presented with the masterpiece pictured below. The Chef knew how to use an ice bath for the salad vegetables so that they were as crisp as the moment harvested. I ordered Raspberry Vinaigrette, and it was perfect, with the correct balance of taste and seasoning. It was a good sized portion so after finishing it, I had to opt out of dessert. Next time! After lunch, I continued to explore the quaint historic town of Swansboro. BTW, both visitors and locals are charming and represent the best of Southern Coastal Hospitality. Try a visit. read more

Nice quaint place with a great outdoor area & cozy interior. My wife & I were finishing a morning at the nearby hammocks state park beach & stopped here for lunch. Place was popping at 2 pm on a Tuesday. We had no wait for inside seating. The waitress apologized when we l were seared that they were short staffed in the kitchen so some options were not available & they were trying to move as quickly as possible. Always good to be told at the beginning. I ordered the crab tostadas as they were heavily featured on here & I've never had crab in that form. Also had the Buffalo chicken tender app to share with my wife while she ordered then fried chicken BLT. The tostadas were out of this world good. I also love that they provided Thai sweet chili sauce & ranch to dip them in, both were great with them. The tenders were also really good but the tostadas stole the show. Wife said the sandwich was tasty but I didn't try it since I was too busy finishing the tostadas off. Would come back if in the area as they had a nice selection of option in the menu. Full bar with cocktails as well. Would be a nice spot for a dinner for two or small group. Service was excellent despite the short staff & busy time. read more

Delicious ! My aunt catered the low country seafood boil for a party of 9 and it was enough food for everyone. 1.5 trays, coleslaw, hushpuppies, and sauces. We would have liked more corn, and sausages mixed it. We got so much shrimp. Everyone enjoyed the meal though, a southern comfort !! They have a catering person who organizes your order with the kitchen, make sure you are very clear on what you want. I picked up the food and it was quick and easy, a server even followed me out to my car with a dish. I would definitely eat again !! read more

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About average . oysters rockefeller was terrible . crab cakes average . Has indoor and outdoor seating . Very pet friendly . Cozy bar area . Service was good . Prices fair . Good location . read more

Nice dog friendly restaurant that has a great.menu of salads, burgers and seafood. Nice large selection of beer on tap and a huge wine and cocktail list. The salad I had was delicious and huge. Hubby had the soft shell crab sandwich which he enjoyed read more

Boro Restaurant And Bar - Tapas Bars Near Me - Swansboro, North Carolina

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My group had a lovely lunch on the patio, with perfect weather. The food was tasty: we were all happy with our meals. Only criticism is that my fries were not double fried so the insides were quite uncooked/soggy (the outside of the fries were perfectly crispy, so I'm assuming they simply forgot to double dip). The cocktails were also good. The atmosphere is very warm and welcoming. Our server was attentive and friendly. I would definitely go back again, for a meal or just drinks. read more

I've been to the Boro a few times over the years. It's a quaint small restaurant with large patio seating in the front. Recently I arrived here by boat and was able to dock and come in for some delicious appetizers. The bartender was friendly and stayed busy throughout her shift. Had a bottle of wine, while others enjoyed the fresh brews on tap. It was a nice evening and will definitely be back. Thank you! read more

Boro Restaurant And Bar - Oysters - Tapas Bars Near Me - Swansboro, North Carolina

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I reviewed this awesomeness before, but today I just want to revere the clam chowder once again and praise the crab tostadas appetizer, they are delicious. read more

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Food is very good, the ambiance is cool, fun night of music on a recent Saturday night. We really enjoyed our walk around SwansBoro. I recommend this spot.... I had a Greek salad and my girlfriend had a massive burger. Both of us were very happy. read more

Anything Bang Bang! They know how to make bang bang shrimp, bang bang chicken- get it! Wait staff was super friendly and helpful. It was a cool atmosphere, we went twice on our trip. read more

Break free, great atmosphere and great staff! Food quality is excellent and worth the dollars