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    Drift Cafe

    4.2 (11 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 4:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

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    Breakfast sandwich
    Katie F.

    My fiancé and I stopped here to grab some food before getting on the road and it was delicious. Our food was also prepared in under 10 minutes which was great for time. I also enjoyed the choco banana smoothie which was delicious! The avocado toast was a bit messy to take to go, so I'm glad I grabbed a knife/fork before leaving the cafe. I really enjoyed the vibe of this place too, it has a lot of natural lighting and was laid back.

    Merch!
    Theresa Z.

    First... SO HAPPY FOR ANOTHER COFFEE PLACE IN CAROLINA BEACH!! Yes! Thank you, Drift! Now... experience and ambiance wise.... Super friendly and nice staff. Very helpful. They have menus at the counter by the to go ordering and paying area for easy access. Everything is also digitized. Easy pay and tip too. Super clean. Love that retractable wall option for exterior seating on beautiful breezy days. They have parking spots for mobile pick up orders. Location: off lake park blvd and easy in and out. Ample parking! Great location to go to before and after beaching it. Drink: One size iced drinks but it's fine, it's ample!! I had an iced amber and my little enjoyed the banana cocoa shake which I stole a sip and loved it! Food: No pastry items were out yet (we went as early as they opened) but I did order an egg and cheese (modified) sandwich. It was REALLY good! the bacon was that thick crispy bacon. Very happy they are finally here and look forward to meeting friends here for coffee.

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    Bill S.

    Fantastic again! Went with vegan wife and she loved the options. Staff was very personable and remember me from last visit.

    Gorgeous drink

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    2 months ago

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    Michael P.

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    22 days ago

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    Michael P.

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    8 months ago

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    Michael P.

    Helpful 3
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    8 months ago

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    Michael P.

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    11 months ago

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    Michael P.

    Helpful 1
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    11 months ago

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    Michael P.

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    10 months ago

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    Michael P.

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    8 months ago

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    Michael P.

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    11 months ago

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    Michael P.

    Always a delight having you. See you soon :)

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    8 months ago

    Food was excellent! Service was great, especially Tia who was a great hostess. This is a must see when at Carolina Beach!

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    Michael P.

    Glad to hear this. Welcome back!

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    9 months ago

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    Michael P.

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    Brunches - Chicken Biscuit

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    4.1(66 reviews)
    0.4 mi
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    Hey guys! So this was my first trip to N. Carolina to visit…read moremy current husband's family and I loved it! We got an Airbnb nearby and my hubby wanted me to try this place because it's super busy on weekends. We got here on a Monday morning the last week of April and it was busy in the patio area. Kid-friendly, dog-friendly and the view was great! The food & service was great too! I forgot the server's name but she was really nice and recommended yummy items. Must try it all! I can't remember what I got to eat but the mimosa was delicious. Just ask the server what they recommend.

    Great mimosa, special and solid breakfast option. This location definitely gives off chain…read morerestaurant vibes, but has a good menu and very obviously specializes in brunch. We were quick to notice that mimosas were on special for just three dollars. They were basically goblets of mimosa and they had four flavors to choose from. I went with the strawberry and also got to try the pineapple. Absolutely delicious! The all-American breakfast was nice. I liked the great big pancake. The potatoes were kind of simple, but we're cooked all the way. Also, I asked for my bacon to be crispy and they definitely delivered on that. Service was friendly, but not super attentive. We were only checked on at the beginning for drinks, when they brought out our food, and then we ended up waiting a bit to get the check. We would've ordered more mimosas, but I think they may have been slightly understaffed. There are definitely better brunch options in Wilmington, but this place had no wait on a busy weekend and I was happy with the food. If you are a brunch person, this place delivers in terms of being really big with lots of seating and having a lot of brunch menu items.

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    Kate's Pancake House - egg sandwich and potatoes

    Kate's Pancake House

    4.1(646 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    If you're looking for a true mom & pop experience, like your grandparents just made you the best…read morebreakfast ever and nostalgic flavors from the south, this is for you. I arrived when they had just opened the doors at 0630 and everyone was so kind. I got the hurricane omelet, home fries, French toast, and a side of bacon. This has been my favorite breakfast I've found in years. They have plenty condiments, free parking, and fair prices. My food came out fast and my waitress (Kerri?) was attentive, informative, & so sweet. The entire experience felt like home and I will definitely be returning!

    I only got pancakes, so I can't speak to the other menu items. But the restaurant has pancake in…read morethe name so it seemed like a must. The sweet potato pancakes were insane. Perhaps some of the best pancakes I've ever had. They had nuts in them and were perfectly spiced. 10/10. Red velvet was good, the cream cheese icing was quite tasty but they weren't anything too special. And the apple pancake was my least favorite; the apple filling on top tasted like it came from a can. Super sweet and didn't taste fresh. But the pancake itself was still good. This place does not take reservations and I was told the line goes out the door in the summer. There was a large line even while we were there in the off season during a storm. So if you want to eat here on a weekend, or the weather is nice, proceed with caution and be prepared to wait (standing outside--there is no seating while you wait).

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    Ocean View Restaurant - Green eggs & ham

    Ocean View Restaurant

    4.4(92 reviews)
    3.1 mi

    Now I know why Ocean View is consistently rated the top breakfast on the island ! If you can't find…read moresomething yummy on the menu at this little restaurant adjacent from the Kure Beach Pier, then you just don't like food ! The wait at 10:45 am was only about 10 min which was surprisingly short considering March spring break. Table service was friendly and accommodating. Our selections for Sunday Brunch were the Crab Benedict, and the Ocean View Breakfast. The Crab dish included homemade biscuits covered with 3 eggs, country ham, and lump crab, with a side of grits. Outstanding and more than the wife could finish so I helped her clean her plate ! My traditional breakfast of two eggs, country ham, grits, and toast, with a house made strawberry jam was also delectable. We are certainly planning on coming back soon either for breakfast, brunch, or lunch soon.

    We came here at the end of March on a Saturday morning and the place was very busy, but we were…read moreseated right away. Server was very attentive and friendly. I ordered a veggie omelette and the portion was really good. It was full of spinach, tomatoes, and mushrooms. My husband had the chicken and waffles and had to take some home with him because the portion was so good. The chicken was crispy on the outside. Unfortunately, it did not have an ocean view, but you are in walking steps to the ocean, so during peak season expect to pay over six dollars an hour for parking.

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    Drift Cafe - breakfast_brunch - Updated May 2026

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