Had an INCREDIBLE experience here. The shrimp tacos were delicious, the cookie skillet was to die…read morefor, the atmosphere was GORGEOUS, and our server was so so sweet. We have babies, and I wasn't sure how that would fit the vibe, but it went very smoothly and everyone was very gracious to us!!! I highly recommend if you're in the area- we will definitely be coming back!!

We all really enjoyed our meals! We waited a while for a table as it was a busy Thursday night but…read morewe got a drink from the bar and sat outside to kill the time. They have tables inside and outside. Our waitress, Sara, was amazing! Several people in our group had the tuna steak with wasabi potatoes and really enjoyed that meal but honestly everything we had was good. (I'd pass on the shrimp cocktail next time as the tarter sauce was kinda sweet and they didn't have horseradish)

My family gifted me with a special 87th birthday trip to Wilmington to traipse old familiar places…read moreand eat some fabulous foods. Experiencing this with family was a special treat. The culmination was a lovely sun kissed luncheon on the Crystal Pier seated where we could catch the breezes and see the rolling surf. Having grown up in Wilmington, I was blessed to have the delightful experience of enjoying freshly caught fish lovingly and skillfully prepared by my mother. It has been years since I've truly enjoyed fish. On Saturday, my lunch choice was the Fresh Catch which was locally caught Sea Bass, hand cut and pan seared. It was seasoned to perfection with just the briefest dash of salt and spices and lightly browned by the pan searing. It was served with grilled asparagus and a bed of rice with an elegant white sauce. I don't know when I've enjoyed a meal so much. The lovely end to the meal came with a tempting and delicious slice of Key Lime Pie. Vera G.

Ambiance: beautiful seaside restaurant with plenty of seating inside and outside on the peer. Sat…read moreon the pier around noon on a weekday. Since it was so hot, the outdoor seating wasn't very busy at the time. There were a lot of birds and flies swarming the pier. I wish they had some fly fans at each table on the pier to deter flies from landing on your food! The restaurant's bathroom was a bit stinky and off putting for a restaurant of this ambiance. Food: The tuna nachos were alright. I was disappointed with how soggy and stale the chips tasted when they were first delivered. Service: Our server was very friendly!

food was great, service was great, drinks were great (esp the mojito) all around a great spot!read more

Stopped by on a Wednesday night around 5pm and man was it busy! The line was already out the door…read morewith a wait. We sat outside and got a beautiful view with the beach and the pier. For appetizers we got the crab dip and the calamari. I loved the calamari, the crab dip was good but we definitely needed just a few more chips. They bring out bread which is nice as well. For my main I got the salmon, it was delicious! I did the Tuscan garlic butter on top which I really liked. My sides of vegetables and a baked potato were good as well. Our server was so sweet, we loved her. Unfortunately we're giving a 4/5 because we asked the hostess if she could move us to an open table out of the direct sunlight and she states she would check and be right back. Well, we never saw her again. The table was open for a while before another party was sat so I assume she just didn't want to move us. Overall, we still had a great dinner and would come back again to try other food options as we enjoyed what we got. Definitely try this place out!

I paid a visit to Surf's Up a per our usual during our week long stay at Emerald Isle. No matter…read morehow busy they are, we manage to get seated quickly and this year was no different. The hostess guided us to our table suitable for our party which was 4 adults and three children. The environment is lively and spirited; all signs of a good visit to come. Savannah S was our server and did a fantastic job navigating the chaotic children with us and delivering great service with a smile. The food was great as usual. I ordered the smothered chicken while others ordered grilled salmon and sesame glazed salmon bowl. You don't get fine china and plates here, but what you will get is a consistent good time with an abundance of drink and menu items that deliver as promised. It's why we enjoy coming here every year and will continue in the future!

My family and I were vacationing in Emerald Isle and chose this restaurant for one of our evening…read moremeals. On June 24th, we first attempted to call the restaurant multiple times in order to place an order. So my husband and I chose to drive to the restaurant to place a carry out order and wait. When the hostess was placing the order, she said that anything over $100 would impose a 18% gratuity. This was a carry out order. We were not being seated in the restaurant. The hostess got the manager Amber. Amber was not receptive at all to our point that this was a carry out order. Our choice to tip or not is our choice. The order was $103. Really. Wow. My daughter insisted she would pay the tip. But my husband and I will not set foot inside this establishment again. Very disappointing. First we were told that the phones were working, but I got a message saying the voicemail had not been set up. Second, we drove in thinking we had to pay to park. Third we placed the order, but, I had to call my daughter to get additional info about cooking preferances. Fourth, we placed the order with the hostess who then tells us there is a 18% tip imposed on orders over $100. The order was $103 (after my husband and I dropped our meals from the order). This is absolutely absurd. Very frustrating evening for my husband and I. We are on vacation, and this is the hospitality shown to visitors. We asked to split the order, so that I could place an order for my daughter and my husband could place an order for us. But oh no, you can't do that. And then we were told that there would be a charge to use a credit card. Do you know how to rub salt in the wound. We paid $133.89 for a carry out food order that was barely over $100.

They say persistence pays off, and after three visits to Catch, I'm finally ready to believe the…read morehype. While our first two experiences left us wondering what all the fuss was about, this latest dinner proved that sometimes good things really do come to those who wait (and keep making reservations). Our party of four settled in with high hopes and rumbling stomachs. Three of us couldn't resist the siren call of the crab cakes, while our fourth companion went rogue with the shrimp and grits. The crab cakes delivered everything you want from this coastal classic--generously packed with sweet crab meat and impossibly light, paired with creamy mashed potatoes that provided the perfect canvas. The shrimp and grits, while delicious, couldn't quite dethrone our reigning champion (Cape Fear Seafood still holds that crown), but they put up an admirable fight. The real showstoppers, however, were the appetizers. My half-dozen Sneads Ferry oysters arrived like little ocean jewels--impeccably fresh, properly briny, with just enough natural sweetness to make you close your eyes and sigh. The mussels swam in a sauce so good I considered asking for a straw, and the calamari managed that rare feat of being both smoky and completely free of any "low tide" funk that plagues lesser versions. Our Sauvignon Blanc proved the ideal supporting actor, crisp and bright enough to complement without competing. The service struck that sweet spot between professional and personable--attentive without hovering, knowledgeable without being pretentious. The atmosphere isn't quite my cup of tea, but word on the street is they're relocating, so here's hoping the new digs will match the elevated kitchen performance. Sometimes the third time really is the charm. Catch has finally caught up to its reputation.

This review is based off my most recent experience here and I don't think it's too reflective of…read morehow the restaurant is typically as it's super popular in Wilmington. We had a large group and the server was very attentive to us. My soda cup was super super dirty which was gross. We ordered the Brussels and shrimp for the appetizer and those were PHENOMENAL. Shrimp were so flavorful and the Brussels were some of the best I've had. I got the swordfish as my main and it really wasn't hot. Kind of warm but not really as hot as it should have been. I thought the flavor was good but the portion was a little disappointing for the price. We got some coconut cake for dessert which was super tasty and moist. Mixed feelings but I'd give them another shot!

We've lived in the area for about 6 years. Eat out fairly often. This restaurant by far has been…read morethe most consistent in the quality of the food, which is the best of all the restaurants in the topsail area. It is not fine dining and has the sports bar vibe. It is a relatively small place and I recommend going on non peak hours in season. If you are into oysters, they have a great selection of both local and regional on the half shell. If you prefer cooked, chargrilled or steamed is a good choice. While the menu has a great selection of seafood, the chalkboard specials features extremely fresh local catches which change daily. While there are several restaurants in and around the topsail area this is the only one where I have never been disappointed. If you go at peak hours during the vacation season expect to wait but it is worth it. You can't miss with any of the steamed shellfish offerings and if you prefer fried there batter is light and not overpowering. As a sports bar, they have a large selection of tap and bottled beers and a good mixology of liquor options which is only outdone in my opinion by Rick's in Sneads Ferry

Whenever a restaurant puts "market price" next to an item, I'm worried. But Dear Wife and I were in…read morethe low country and we wanted a low country boil. So that's what we got. I could've asked the price upfront (and usually do) but what the heck... we're on vacation. The server suggested we get a "double" and share it. OK. Sounds good. It came out quick. There was a TON of food for two of us. Shrimp, sausage, potatoes, corn. It didn't have a lot of seasoning also on it, but - no problem - there was a rack with every hot sauce you'd ever need, plus salt, pepper and old bay. We both ate our fill and even left a few potatoes. The bill comes and it's less than $40. It might be the cheapest great meal I've had in a long time. Or maybe it's the "greatest cheap meal" I've had in a long time... I don't know. Bar ambiance, but pleasant enough for families. Mostly high tables. It all seemed very nice.

Breakfast was good and the service was on point too. Very clean and I would definitely eat there…read moreagain. The special of a bacon, egg and cheese on a honey biscuit was delicious.

The good: the kale Caesar salad is the best salad I have ever had anywhere. The combination of the…read moredressing with the crunchy chick peas is to die for. The whole restaurant is super cute, albeit it does get really hot inside with only fans when there are lots of people inside. The tables are clean and the staff is friendly. The avocado toast has awesome goat cheese and the bacon you can add on is wonderful. The bad: Honestly extremely disappointed today. This is my third time here and I've been recommending them to all of my friends and family. We came in at 2 pm when they close at 4, drove 30 minutes for lunch, for the "kitchen to be closed". No where on their website or anywhere else do they advertise that they may close the kitchen early and I asked when it typically closes and they said they can just decide to close it when they feel like it, so they're only serving coffee and smoothies. We opted for smoothie bowls and they were completely liquid, we had to drink them and not eat them with spoons. There was also chunks of frozen fruit that didn't get blended and there was no spirulina and zero coconut flavor. Not sure who was working today but it was honestly such a bad experience that I don't think I'll be back or be recommending them to people anymore. $13 for basically a banana and handful of blueberries with melted juice and frozen pineapple chunks is highway robbery. Added two stars for the two prior experiences, I guess.

Amazing food and service. Phenomenal fresh fish and rotating food and drink specials. It's a small…read morerestaurant so I'd definitely make a reservation! On top of the food being great, the staff are what makes this place really special. They are so friendly, kind, and make you feel like family.

I stopped in looking forward to dinner and patiently waited about five minutes for a seat at the…read morebar. While I was waiting, I overheard the bartender say, "These people are standing here looking at me." As a customer waiting to be served, I found that comment unprofessional and unwelcoming. Waiting guests naturally look toward the bartender because they're hoping to be acknowledged and served. That interaction immediately made me feel unwelcome, so I chose to leave rather than stay for dinner. First impressions matter, and unfortunately this one ensured I won't be returning.

We are outside and had great views of the beach! We had fried chicken sandwiches and a mahi…read moreReuben. All were very good. Abi was our server and she was great!!

Came in for a late lunch after spending the day at the beach. Service was great. We ordered the…read moreclub sandwich with fruit and the burger with sweet potato tots. The food was so good and a generous portion size. The burger was huge and cooked to a perfect rare medium rare. The sweet potato tots were so tasty with a little bit of cinnamon sugar and honey on them. They were not busy at 3:30, only a few other people in the restaurant, but there was a private party in the other room. You can sit outside but it was too hot after already being in the water for hours. Definitely a fan. Prices were great, too. All in all a great place to eat!

I have eaten at Crab's Claw 3 times in the last couple of years and can say that I have had a 5…read moreStar experience every time. Look forward to the next visit as well. The food keeps getting better. I was there for a late lunch last week and was lucky that the Mahi sandwich was the special. It was delicious. We also had Conch Fritters for an appetizer. We ate on the deck overlooking the ocean and actually got to see a dolphin swimming by! Service was great and I could tell they really pitched in and got the table next to ours cleaned off quickly when the patrons left their table. I'll definitely be back ASAP.

Dined in last Wednesday night. We got a table on the balcony overlooking the beach after about a 30…read moreminute wait (this was the highlight of the night). Our waitress (Nicole) was very overwhelmed and slow. She was nice enough when she came around but the service was not great. Now the food...we had appetizer bacon wrapped scallops they were good. But the dinners were awful. The Key Lime Shrimp and Lobster pasta was inedible; I really should have sent it back. It had no flavor other than bitter lime (and I love lime!) I see after reading reviews I am not the only one to have this complaint, probably should remove it from menu. The blacked ahi tuna had good flavor but was cold as was the quinoa (not sure if it's supposed to be served warm or cold). Our son had a filet which he enjoyed. Our girls got a side of fries and they were $8 which is crazy to me (no cheese, no toppings). Overall was highly disappointed. Was a waste of $150. It's a shame because it's a great location but the service lacked as did the food.