Traveling through and staying in nearby Emerald Isle. We enjoy a small plates/tapas style restaurant and this one delivers. Our waiter Jamie was delightful. Confident, knowledgeable, and friendly, she actually made our charcuterie platter and watermelon sangria, both of which were wonderful. The chefs sampler board included a lovely selection of meats, cheeses, olives, and pickled iyems such as green strawberries, and eggpant. The chef has a fondness for freshly pickled fruits and vegetables and they are fun and delicious. I missed the more authentic Spanish cheeses, but we finished just about everything on the board. Very very nice. We also ordered Shrimp (local and fresh), charred Brussels Sprouts (in a yummy Haris a sauce) and Potatoes Bravas (a light crispy exterior with a fluffy light interiors perfect). I highly recommend this restaurant for their fresh, inventive, and we'll executed offerings. read more

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We love this restaurant and have never had a disappointment. The food, drinks, and service are always on point.

Best restaurant was started by Chef Clarke Merrill who also owns 4 Beaufort Olive Oils. He also owns Dank Burrito (burritos, tacos, salads) & Social Q (BBQ, pulled pork, sausages, etc) restaurants. Circa 81 was his first restaurant and it continues to be successful. The chef has created small plates (tapas) wherein the diner can enjoy several various small plates. Additionally, dinner is also on the menu. The alcoholic beverages are fantastic, the food is phenomenal, and service is kind. If you're looking for a restaurant to visit while you're on vacation and Morehead City/Beaufort/Atlantic beach, this is the place to go! read more

Love , Love Circa !!! Especially on Martini Night . Food is great ! Would love to see some new things on the menu soon.

Our go to place to celebrate!! The chef is amazing and makes every meal an event to remember. Staff is friendly, knowledgeable and the perfect balance of checking without being at our table constantly. read more

The overall impression was a bit... underwhelming. Pros: The hostess was quick to seat us. The restaurant was clean. The atmosphere was inviting. The napkins were the fancy fiber ones. Big kudos for that. Bathroom... Single stall, lockable, clean (my favorite kind). OH! And they did give us Andes mints at the end!! Not Pros: The service was a bit lacking--drinks were slow, coffee was only warm. Disclaimer: I like my coffee HOT--like, lava hot. The food was generally underwhelming--a reasonable attempt at fancy but nothing to write home about. Flavors weren't developed or complementary. The food came out warm/tepid. The lighting was kind of like an Abercrombie store where it's light enough to know you're wearing clothes, but not light enough to actually see how they look on you. The check took about 20min to get. 4/10 would recommend... As in, if asked where someone should go to brunch 10 times, I would only mention this place 4 of those ten. OR, out of 10 points, I would give this a 4. OR if someone asked for the 10 best places to have brunch, this place would be 4th from the bottom...OR if Tommy has 10 blueberries and you take away six, how many does he have left? Circa 81.... read more

We'd passed it a million times driving to and fro on the main drag, Arendell. "Dan, what's this Circa 81?" He often replied, "Oh it's tapas... It's one of Autumn's favorite restaurants... It's good... We went there the other night." So naturally I wanted to go, we just had never made it there, together. After the fact he'd often recount his various meals there, delighting about the simple but savory eggplant sandwich or the specialty cocktails stirring mini food envy from deep within me. And one lazy Meatless May Saturday afternoon, both of us dreading making dinner or dinner plans, he "announced" "We're going to Circa 81 for dinner." Relieved with anticipation I coolly echoed, "Invite Autumn." Naturally we began the night with one of the notorious specialty cocktails. So many specialty cocktails (33 to be exact), not enough liver function around to taste even a smattering, causing decision anxiety soon to be followed by ordering panic, "I'll have a Pomegranate Martini." Dan gives me a puzzled look for my off the beaten path (for me at least) cocktail choice, "What?! I panicked..." I quipped as I drank my sharply sweet cocktail. Oddly enough, I love how they classify the various beers on the cocktail menu as Cheap Beers and Not So Cheap Beers - definitely a flight of whimsy in addition to informative candor. Meatless May narrowed my menu choices almost thankfully. I vacillated between the Grilled Brie Sandwich with raspberry jam and the Daddy Burrito (Beer cooked black beans, cilantro lime rice, guacamole and pepper jack cheese, wrapped in a flour tortilla) which I eventually ordered with Dan dead set on the Eggplant Sandwich (Grilled eggplant, fresh mozzarella, balsamic vinaigrette, and roasted tomatoes on whole wheat). The burrito flavors melted together pleasantly reminding me of comfort food. Although, I didn't like that the tortilla had been crisped wishing it had been soft. Devilishly I stole a bite of Dan's eggplant sandwich and immediately I wished I'd ordered it as well. The eggplant was mild but the fresh mozzarella and balsamic vinaigrette with the warm roasted tomatoes made me melt. It's crazy- it's so simple and still warm and flavorful. With a bevy of diverse menu options and even more cocktail decisions, Circa 81 has enough to keep the palette amused while stealing the top spot as possibly one of Morehead City's unsung, unlikely restaurant winners. read more

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Appetizers were great, ordered crab cakes "signature dish" it was dry. The waiter was far too comfortable touching people's shoulders and being in personal space. We were a table of 5 women. When I complained about my steak being rare not medium he stood over my shoulder with his head dang near ON my shoulder as I tried to maneuver the steak in a separate plate. read more

Hands down one of my favorite dining experiences from my recent trip to Emerald Isle, NC. The foodie in me was looking for more than deep fried sea platters with a side of cole slaw. I wanted seafood with some flare! I was searching for an out of the box seafood experience with an rocking beverage menu, I mean what's great food without great drinks, right??? Here were the 3 things that made this place a winner! 1) Small Plates/Tapas options: I don't know about you, but when I go to a new place I like to taste all that they have to offer, and there is no better way to do that then with tapas/small plates. They are perfect for sharing. Why settle for just one spectacular dish when you can have 5!! 2) Seafood Mac-n-cheese....yes.....let it sink in for a minute......are you salivating yet???.....think lobster mac-n-cheese x 10!! Yes, it's that good! 3) Champagne Mojito....just get one!!! Maybe two or three if someone else is driving! The service was outstanding, as I expected from a restaurant that boasted 4 stars on Yelp. The wait staff went above and beyond to make sure my dining experience was superb, and I have to say they delivered above and beyond my expectations. Recommendations: 1) Make a reservation ahead of time. We lucked out and were able to walk in and get a table after waiting at the bar for 10 mins or so. I didn't see one open table the remainder of the night. 2) If it's a nice night, sit outside. They do have some outdoor seating which seemed like it would be nice on one of those rare non-humid type of nights. If you just so happen to find yourself at Circa 81 on one of those nights, ask for the outdoor seating. Stay cool...if that's even possible Cheers! read more

Circa 81 - Seafood Mac-N-Cheese! Sooooo gooooooood! - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Morehead City, North Carolina

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This is one if our places that just "wow" me. They have great small plates that are wonderful to share with a nice glass of wine.. Try it out.. read more

Circa 81 - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Morehead City, North Carolina

Just go. I'd end the review there, but they wouldn't share it. So made the reservation online, table was waiting. Didn't need the schpiel on how tapas works, so order in easy peasey and we're off. Kitchen error on another order yielded a free item for us: chicken/ black bean quesadilla- yumzilla. Everything was great. I recommend the shrimp and grits - fantastic cream sauce with a tiny tiny kick, and great flavor. Crab dip was a winner. Perfect MdRare on our beef. Super cheap. Great service. Out in 48 minutes. Will be back. Am currently recommending read more

I never thought I'd find such a restaurant in or near Morehead City, NC. Oh was I wrong. This restaurant is the embodiment of who I am. Meals are offered as small plates (tapas), which gives you the opportunity to try as much as you like. The aioli sauce is beyond amazing. I was told the chef (who is also the owner) makes his own sauces and there's a shelf full of them. If there was a kitchen for me to raid, after hearing that about the sauce, this would be the one for me. The dessert was divine. I'm happy this place popped up on my list on Yelp as I was scared that the buffet or fast food would be the only places for me to eat. I will definitely be back. read more

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Love that Circa 81 works with OpenTable for reservations. We like to go to Circa 81 for brunch (there aren't that many spots in the area that offer brunch) and order a bunch of the smaller plates to share. Baked brie is a staple and one of my favorites. The Seafood Mac 'n Cheese is very seafoody and very cheesy. My husband loves the Medjool Dates. We like sitting at the bar (tvs are usually tuned to sports) or asking for one of the booths. Highly recommend the cocktails. read more

This place was the bomb.com! From the mojitos to the dessert! No disappointment here. We were skeptical of the location but decided to go for it! GO RIGHT NOW Everything was fresh and delicious! read more

Circa 81 - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Morehead City, North Carolina

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This is an excellent restaurant! We enjoyed a good bottle of wine at a great price, 4 small plates/tapas each of which was beautifully prepared, inventive, complex in flavors, and delicious! We also had desserts- the hands-down favorite being the chocolate creme brûlée. The wait staff was incredibly helpful and down-to-earth. A friendly yet upscale atmosphere. A great find in Morehead City! read more

Circa is my favorite restaurant in Morehead City. Combination of inventive food, well presented , by outstanding waitstaff. My family is fond of Sunday Brunch. Here are pics of our table. A lot of food at reasonable prices. read more

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We were a walk in for Mother's Day brunch, and I want to start this off by saying we were very pleased with the food and table service. However, my mother was treated dismissively by the hostess and that really put a bad taste in our mouth. I grew up in the area, and I've seen my fair share of people talking to my mother, who's first language is not English (though mind you she is fluent in English as well as three other languages) like she's unimportant or unintelligible. I went to park the car because it was raining and asked my mom to let the host know we'd like to be put on the wait list for 4 people. After I parked the car and met her up front she told me they wouldn't take her name down. There wasn't enough room, and also she just didn't greet my mom as kindly as she did the other folks coming in with the hello happy Mother's Day southern charm. So I went in and spoke to the host myself, and said what my mom had said - that we have 4 coming, we called earlier and heard about the one hour wait and we don't mind, and what do you know - she has a table for us. Now I don't know the motivations behind this, but it was not how I wanted my mother to be treated, especially on Mother's Day, so couldn't let this slide without comment. She definitely felt uncomfortable, but after we were seated we had a lovely brunch with our friends and a really sweet waitress. The food was good, and despite being so busy, they were fast! read more

Food is fantastic. Staff is very welcoming and professional. It's a perfect place to go to try new dishes. Tapas are just right for sharing. Reservations recommended. read more

My favorite restaurant in town. Delicious food. It's a great place to go with friends and share tapas. High-end food with reasonable prices. Great service and ambience. Also, has great cocktails! read more

Everything and I do mean everything was remarkable! Do try the pork belly or the shrimp $ & grits. Stick around for dessert while you're at it. You won't be mad!! read more

Service was abnormally slow but it was great in all other aspects. The waitress was nice and helpful, food quality was amazing, flavor was abundant, and drinks were well made. Price was also reasonable for what it was. read more

Circa 81 has awonderful Sunday Brunch. But I wanted the lsmb chops on the dinner menu. Here is a picture of what was left. The aftermath of a delightful meal. 5 stars to the staff for pleasing the diner who dared ask for something off the menu. read more

Circa 81 - What was left on my plate of lamb chops. The aftermath of a great meal. Thanks Circa 81. - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Morehead City, North Carolina

Great dinner at Circa 81. I had the She Crab Soup and the Mussles which were both great, but the soup was amazing! Monday night is Mojito night and they have several flavors to choose from for $5. I would definity come back here! read more

Circa 81 - Mussles - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Morehead City, North Carolina

Back again and Circa never fails to please. From the mojitos made with Outer Banks rum to the special of the day soft shell crab tacos, everything was amazing. The shrimp and grits is my favorite with the creamy sauce on top. The rosemary beef was great, cooked perfect with the homemade mashed potatoes. We ended with the chorizo and clams....honestly I think it's my new favorite dish there. The clams were steamed perfectly with onions in a butter sauce. The small pieces of chorizo were tasty and were great on the crispy bread served with the dish. We love this place and they always aim for perfection. We will be back again and again! read more

Circa 81 - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Morehead City, North Carolina

One of my favorite girls night spots. Great brunch also. Martinis are excellent good food and service

This was a nice place. The ambiance was good. Me and my husband came here for our anniversary. We bought a bottle of champagne which tasted nice. I got the pesto seafood pasta which I was completely disappointed in. The pasta tasted more like bacon grease and with a seafood pasta, you would assume there would be more of a variety of seafood on top but it only had shrimp. I personally don't enjoy the taste od bacon and wish I was told that the pasta had a more of a bacon taste then a seafood pasta taste. The dessert was pretty good and they had some great choices. I personally wouldn't return but if you are in the area maybe give it a shot. Also as most reviewers have said, the portions are small so if you are hungry I wouldn't come here. read more

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Great lunch!! The pressed chicken, turkey bacon avacado, crab cake sandwich, sweet potato fries & pasta salad were all great! Personally I love the presses chicken sandwich & pasta salad. read more

Tried this place for the first time one night a couple weeks ago and we do not regret it!! Many of our friends gave it high compliments, rightfully so. The main menu is Tapas, which are smaller entrée dishes for sharing. Essentially you get a handful of dishes and all have appetizers. We ordered the Potatoes Brava, Shrimp and Grits, the Tuna, the special (which was steak stuffed with basil, bacon, and feta over mashed potatoes and green beans), Sweet potato quesadilla, Bruschetta, and Bread sampler. There were even mock tails for those who don't drink, and bigger portions for those who don't want to enjoy the Tapas. The service was great, very speedy and everyone was beyond pleasant. Our server, Sonya, was so awesome and the man who came over taking our plates and filling up our water, Peter, was such a joy. Both get a 10/10. I included a few pics but it all looked so good we forgot to take pictures of everything and just dived right in! read more

Circa 81 - The beef special half-eaten - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Morehead City, North Carolina

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Delicious small plates...great service! Great charcuterie board! Can't wait to be in the area again because we will visit again! read more

Circa 81 - Charcuterie board - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Morehead City, North Carolina

One of our favorite places to dine. Great menu and excellent food. Always great service.

Best brunch in Morehead City. Terrific staff! Make a reservation because it's popular.

I have a love/hate relationship with this place and the other restaurants within the same family. I had been in the love stage until today. We ordered some food to go and it was made in a prompt fashion and staff were exceptional as usual when interacting with them. The restaurant was full on a Saturday lunch service and I see that as a good thing for them. We get take out a lot on Saturday afternoons as our son is usually napping at that time and go home to eat lunch. My surprise was that we were charged a 20% gratuity for take out! What was that for? I would typically tip the person(s) getting our order together, but 20% for take out when most (none I have been to) places do not do so and have an 18% for parties of six or more. We supported the business by going there instead of a chain restaurant and get hit with a "mandatory" tip for take out. What did the staff do to get a 20% tip? Did they come to the car? Nope. Did they offer a drink? Nope. Maybe I would have tipped 100% like I have done at other local places for take out (empty seats in the place), but this just seemed wrong. Now for the food...My wife ordered a salad. Luckily she didn't wait to get home before taking a few bites. The lettuce in the salad was like the bagged stuff at the grocery store that expired a few days ago. The greens were decomposed/spoiled on themselves. We called when this was noticed and since we were still close, the food was replaced. I didn't eat my burger until I got home, but it also had the nasty greens layered on it. The burger had no seasoning (salt) so if was pretty bland. The homemade chips were good though. If you are coming to Morehead and stop here, I hope your experience is better. Do better Circa/Dank/SocialQ/OliveOil read more

Enjoy with every visit. Monday's mojito - many varieties. Also enjoyed their white sangria. Tomato basil soup was fair - not robust with flavor. Special of the day small plates have all been delicious- swordfish, fish tacos, flat iron steak read more

Got the sampler meal with the duck, beef, and tuna. Substituted the normal potatoes for mashed. It was all very good. The only very slightly nitpicky thing I'd say is that the meal came with the mashed potatoes under the three piles of meat. This made a nice presentation but I'd rather just eat the tuna without bits of potato on them. It's hardly noticeable so don't let that put you off at all. Just a slight preference of mine. I think I'd rather have the tuna without the blackened seasoning, or maybe less of it, but it was still very good. The duck was my favorite though. The price of the meal was a bit high for the area but also the best meal I've had here so I think it's worth it. It's by far not the most expensive meal around, however. read more

The location is easy to find, and the presentation of the restaurant has a great vibe. I sat at the bar, and the bartender Sonya was so great and accommodating. All of the waitstaff are friendly and meeting the kitchen staff was great also. We had the duck breast which was so delicious we ordered another! The duck was cooked perfectly and the sauce and garnishes went well together. I also had the special for the day, fried green tomatoes with Cajun shrimp and it was delicious! The dates are stuffed with goat cheese and wrapped in bacon - perfect salty smoky sweet treat. We snacked on tasty olives and shared a bottle of wine all for a very reasonable price. The chocolate creme brulee had a smile on my face with every bite! Highly recommend this place, but do not be in a hurry. Everyone is great and the food is worth it but it can sometimes take a while. read more

Circa 81 - Duck breast with celery root sauce, beets, and reduced apples - YUM. - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Morehead City, North Carolina

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Surprise Surprise. Never expected such an enjoyable experience. It may be our new favorite restaurant. Many menu items at reasonable prices. Friendly servers and fast service. Great atmosphere with indoor and outside seating. Reservations not needed but may have a wait if not made. Worth a try if you are looking for something different. read more

Great tapas food. Mussels are amazing. Nice atmosphere. Awesome charcuterie board, hand delivered by the chef. When friends/family come to visit, I take them to Circa. read more

We went for Sunday brunch and had a wonderful experience! The restaurant allows for a little warm, intimate dining experience. Our server was great, very funny and charming, and the food was delicious. I had the fried French toast and the shrimp and grits. Both were great, and it was nice to have the opportunity to sample multiple dishes. We will be going back here again! read more

Circa 81 - Fried French Toast WITH RASBERRY SYRUP - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Morehead City, North Carolina

Really good food nice people. I go to mored head city once in a while for work & I always make sure I get here for a meal

Best place for great conversations with friends and awesome food to share. Bartender is very knowledgeable too.