Cafe Koa

Took the Fort Fisher ferry over to Southport for the day, and we stopped in for an early lunch…read more They were not busy yet, which was our plan. Eat first, then do all our walking. We were greeted by very friendly staff that seated us in a back corner. No foot traffic over there. Server came by for drink orders and we had some time to look over the large menu. It is your typical diner food. Big portions and all fresh made. We tried the Henny Penny sandwich with side of fries and the Reuben with side of fries. Chicken was cooked perfectly on this wonderful roll. Looked delicious. The Reuben meat was chopped and mixed with the sauce and sauerkraut. Very easy to eat this way. And I love the marble rye bread. Not sure where they get their bread but both sandwiches were amazing. Fries were hot and crispy too. This is a great spot right in the middle of Southport. When we finished and left, almost every table was full, even outside tables. There are only about 8 tables inside, so when they are busy, I'm sure there is a wait. We will definitely return when in Southport. Give this little place a try. Great food and service right in the heart of Southport. 5 stars

The service was quick and thoughtful...very thorough. I had the burger and it was cooked perfectly…read more Other members in our party had the buffalo chicken tacos and the cheese curds both really good! A definite recommend.

Small but great vibes on the interior

Grilled cheese for the Toddler and burgers about gone

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Dining area

Dot's on Howe

4.5

(17 reviews)

Got a double burger with onion and mustard mayo w/side of fries...it was amazing! For something as…read morecommon and simple as a burger, they cracked some code...so good. Cozy, friendly little place. I will be going back.

Cute and quaint with friendly vibes. A simple well made burger that is fast and delicious…read more Definitely recommend.

A pic of my burger with pickles. Delicious!!!

Menu

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Cheeseburger all-the-way... mustard, onions, and chili

Fat Andy's Burger

Stopped in an ordered a Hamburger was pleasantly surprised it was very good, real meat patty and…read moreyour choice of toppings. Waitress was extremely pleasant and service was fast. Nice little outside table setting, only con was its CASH ONLY and their is NO sign stating this so now you know! Would recommend.

Good food and a very casual atmosphere. Definitely not fast food as it is a one person show. They…read morepretty much take one order at a time and prepare. The double cheeseburger I had was very flavorful and the order of french fries was good size.

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Mo's Wood fired Kitchen

Great food and hard working staff! I've noticed yelp has a lot of trolls that review restaurants…read more. it's strange

The place is in a strip mall and belongs there. There is better pizza and I'd recommend the Butcher…read morein same shopping center if you want a good sandwich.

Fish of the day - seabass over fresh pesto spinach

Front

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Wood fired pizza

Shagger Jacks

First, I'd like to give a special shoutout to our waitress. She truly made the dining experience…read morememorable. She was funny, a little sassy, and had a great personality that made us feel right at home. Be prepared for a crowd! We visited on a Sunday evening and the restaurant was very busy and quite loud. We had about a 20-minute wait at 5:00 PM, so I can only imagine how packed it gets around 6:00 or 7:00 PM. For dinner, I ordered the flounder platter with Gouda potatoes and sweet plantains. Everything was excellent--5/5. The Gouda potatoes were especially delicious, and the flounder was perfectly crispy without being greasy. My son ordered the crab boil special and cleaned his plate, which says it all. My boyfriend had the fried oyster po' boy, and it was very good as well. Even my little guy ordered the adult portion of fried shrimp and finished every last shrimp and fry. Overall, the prices were reasonable, the service was outstanding, and the food was delicious. We'd definitely come back again!

Came today with a couple of friends for the first time. Was greeted by three friendly people right…read moreat 11:30 when they opened. We sat inside. They got super busy as soon as we sat down we ordered the fried green tomatoes. They were a bit bland but tasted ok. I ordered the seafood pasta with garlic bread. It had plenty of scallops and shrimp and the sauce was devine! My friends had the haddock and said it was yummy as well. They have outdoor eating as well as a heated patio section. Decent sized bar too. Customer service excellent! Parking lot kinda cramped when it gets busy. I will be back for sure!

Bar and dining area - very small

Blackened snapper

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Grouper fingers

Locals Family Diner

If you want that "where everybody knows your name" kind of place, this is it. The staff remembered…read moreus by our second visit, which says a lot given the amount of folks going in and out. We ended up having breakfast there three days in a row--coffee was always flowing, and our food came out quickly, even with special requests. We didn't get a chance to try lunch, but it's a great spot if you're looking for a yummy, early breakfast with friendly, attentive service.

Very friendly and clean, fast service. I got the fish and chips, I ask for fries instead of chips…read moreand they were very accommodating. For being next to the ocean I expected fresh fish but that was not what I got, I guess I should have asked before ordering so my mistake. It was ok but NOT for the price. I would try again but never order the fish and chips again.

Family dining room.

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Fixins

Fast service and good quality food. Very accommodating and comfortable. Inexpensive as well.read more

This place is ok. Service was ok. I ordered the chicken and dumplings and it was so watery. No…read moreflavor whatsoever. I also found a random egg shell in it. I would rather go somewhere else.

Quiche and fresh biscuit with local honey

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Entrance

Olivers On the Cape Fear

Food/service/wonderful water view Just left…read more Great soft shell crabs/ shrimp. Our waitress was the best! Will be back

Pretty disappointed about our two most recent visits. I feel like their attention to detail and…read morequality is going down hill. Originally reviewed 2 years ago and was so pleased. We have been to the restaurant 6 times over the last several years and our visit in March 2026 and last night, May 15th 2026, has prompted me to lower the rating. First, my wife's shrimp cocktail had not been deveined, for $17 dollars would expect the few shrimp to be pristine and ready to eat. Plus the greens that were under the shrimp were not just wilted but "gooey" like they were past their due date. I had the ribeye and ordered it medium rare. It came out well done without a hint of pink. The chefs potatoes last night were a mashed variety and they were cold and stiff enough to lay brick with. Our server, Richard, was friendly enough but he came to our table a total of 4 times in the 70 minutes we were there. Even if we wanted to communicate about our meals preparation it would require for our service to have been better. The lobster bisque was excellent and my wife had a side of fries that were also good. The ambience is lovely and we like the location, but after two recent visits with really poor food and service, we won't be back. To those about to nosh, you have been warned. Go elsewhere.

Crab Dip, Maryland native approved.

Interior

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Outdoor seating on the river

Eric's Grille

Love and miss this place usually go once or twice a week love the grilled cheese ff and sweet tea…read morefell and broke my hip 2 months ago but almost back to normal can't wait to go have lunch again

Went in and ordered their Biscuits and Gravy. Surprisingly was very good for the price. Service was…read morefast and friendly. Quite a nice little place. Would recommend and definitely will be returning.

Two egg breakfast, home fries, meat (fried bologna) and toast.

Menu

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Front Entrance

Rusty Hooks Dockside Grill

The Great Food, Great Staff, Live Bands, Outdoor Seating, on the ICW watching the boats go by…read more Whats not to Love about this Great place? Watching the sunset too, looking toward the Old Oak Island Bridge! Mother nature paints quite a lovely picture every night, and this is a destination to enjoy all here Beauty!

Awesome spot! Great food, Great atmosphere. Always a good time here. Had the fish tacos with the…read moreflounder and it was delicious...Will be back!

Sashimi grade Tune & Salmon Poke bowl

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Locals Family Diner

If you want that "where everybody knows your name" kind of place, this is it. The staff remembered…read moreus by our second visit, which says a lot given the amount of folks going in and out. We ended up having breakfast there three days in a row--coffee was always flowing, and our food came out quickly, even with special requests. We didn't get a chance to try lunch, but it's a great spot if you're looking for a yummy, early breakfast with friendly, attentive service.

Very friendly and clean, fast service. I got the fish and chips, I ask for fries instead of chips…read moreand they were very accommodating. For being next to the ocean I expected fresh fish but that was not what I got, I guess I should have asked before ordering so my mistake. It was ok but NOT for the price. I would try again but never order the fish and chips again.

Family dining room.

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Southport Smoke House

Great food! The pulled pork was lean and tender, with no excess fat, and there were plenty of…read moresauces to choose from. The sides were just as good. If you're looking for something different from the usual fried seafood around Southport, this is a big win--highly recommend. Also worth noting: there was a steady flow of people coming in for both takeout and dine-in while we were there, which is always a great sign.

Love this location and restaurant. Fast service, Friendly ppl, and really good BBQ with all the…read moreoptions you would want. Meat is always juicy, prepared well and the selection of sauces have something for everyone. Sides are also well-done fried orca or green beans are always a cant miss here and there other locations. Laid back vibe and good food. Might have to wait a minute or two to order, but if ya didnt - the food probably would not be this good.

Couldn't choose just one side! Delicious!

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Thumbs up if you love ribs!

Castucci's an Italian joint

Everything was amazing! So fresh and huge portions. Fair price etc. perfect service and very…read moreprofessional!

Mixed review here. First time going to Castucci's for my husband's birthday recently. Made our…read morereservation for 5:30. Got to the restaurant at 5:15 and was told they had us down for 5 on the patio....okay I'll take it as miscommunication, but unless your patio is air conditioned, not sitting there in 95 degrees. I had never requested it either. We were immediately sat inside where there were lots of open spaces. Another couple came in after and were told their reservation was for the following night. The poor man was so perplexed knowing he had made it for that day. Food: our Caprese appetizer had great flavor but the tomatoes were hard as rocks. Not good. My husband's Veal Marsala was some of the best I've ever tasted. He had enough for lunch the next day. My Seafood Stefano had great flavor. In my opinion if you're going to put clams in a dish, don't use ones where the clams are so tiny you can't taste them. I've never seen clams that little. Would I go back? Yes, for the veal definitely. Give them a chance, but definitely repeat back to them your reservation time.

Eggplant rollatini appetizer. Good flavor but small portion for the price, pass next time.

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Joseph's Italian Bistro

Our party of 6 dined at Joseph's the week of Christmas. Everyone had such a great experience we're…read morestill talking about it. The most wonderful part of the evening was the fabulous service from Carrie. She could teach a master class in hospitality. I really enjoy the vibe of this restaurant. We felt like "regulars" even though it was only our second visit. It was busy that night but not overly noisy, unlike some restaurants in the area. Soft-shell crab with polenta was a special that night and was enjoyed by our party, as well as the carbonara, mussels, saltimbocca, lasagna, and veal piccata. All dishes were visually appealing, as well as seasoned and portioned appropriately. The only reason for 4 instead of 5 stars is because the calamari were so tiny - like the size of Cheerios. I don't know if that's just what they got in that week or they're always that small. And there was a snafu in the kitchen and my plate came out ten minutes later than everyone else's. But we will definitely return! Thank you again Carrie for treating us so well.

This was our first time dining at Joseph's Italian Bistro on Oak Island, and we were not…read moredisappointed. Reservations are a must, as the restaurant gets very busy during dinner--and for good reason. The staff was incredibly friendly, the atmosphere was welcoming and cozy, and the food was beyond delicious. We ordered the tuna entrée, chicken parmesan, and veal parmesan, and every dish was perfectly prepared and full of flavor. The cheese bread was a standout and absolutely addictive. We also loved the drink menu--the lavender martini was fantastic, and the holiday drink selections were a fun touch and very well done. We enjoyed our experience so much that we're already booked to return in two days. Highly recommend for anyone looking for an excellent Italian dining experience on Oak Island!

Wine and complimentary bread & oil

Outdoor patio

Bread and salad

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Southport Gourmet & Sushi Bar

Very good Chinese food here and they take good care of customers. I don't see why there are any…read morenegative reviews unless they are competing restaurants hiring people to bash them. More authentic than anyone nearby and they do not use MSG. Food is outstanding every time. Best dumplings anywhere. Sophia the waitress is the best you can get.

Great food and service. Nine and seven year old kids loved it as much as adults. Highly recommend.read more

Clearly it was very good sushi

Sushi boat

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Sushi

Slice Of Haven

4.3

(12 reviews)

Great take-out pizza with fresh ingredients with individual slices and whole pizzas available…read more Close to downtown waterfront where you can take your Slices of Haven to sit and enjoy the coastal views and breezes for a great dining experience. Also nice that it is right next door to a wine/beer spot. Perfect combo. Highly recommend this cool Southport pizzeria.

Great stop for some slices and salad. Cory was helpful. Music is great (all 90s)!…read more Very conveniently located near the water and downtown.

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Blue Cow Grille

4.4

(163 reviews)

Took the Fort Fisher ferry over to Southport for the day, and we stopped in for an early lunch…read more They were not busy yet, which was our plan. Eat first, then do all our walking. We were greeted by very friendly staff that seated us in a back corner. No foot traffic over there. Server came by for drink orders and we had some time to look over the large menu. It is your typical diner food. Big portions and all fresh made. We tried the Henny Penny sandwich with side of fries and the Reuben with side of fries. Chicken was cooked perfectly on this wonderful roll. Looked delicious. The Reuben meat was chopped and mixed with the sauce and sauerkraut. Very easy to eat this way. And I love the marble rye bread. Not sure where they get their bread but both sandwiches were amazing. Fries were hot and crispy too. This is a great spot right in the middle of Southport. When we finished and left, almost every table was full, even outside tables. There are only about 8 tables inside, so when they are busy, I'm sure there is a wait. We will definitely return when in Southport. Give this little place a try. Great food and service right in the heart of Southport. 5 stars

The service was quick and thoughtful...very thorough. I had the burger and it was cooked perfectly…read more Other members in our party had the buffalo chicken tacos and the cheese curds both really good! A definite recommend.