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    Gaffers

    4.1 (272 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated 3 months ago

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    GAFFERS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Live music
    Casual
    Touristy
    Trendy

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    Recommended Reviews - Gaffers

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    Shark attack
    Jared C.

    Server was nice Ambiance was chill and tropical, with wood planks Go to inside hidden bar for a quieter experience when busy We got the shark attach which we were not a fan of (too sweet for my SO and good sweetness for my sweet tooth) Especially enjoyed the gummy shark surprise! Don't plan to come back any time soon but was nice to stop in for a drink

    Coffee bar menu
    David A.

    What I ate: Blackened Shrimp Nachos - $18.99 The Gaff - $16.99 Reuben - $15.99 The blackened shrimp nachos were served on a giant tray and easily satisfied four people. Generous portions, and great flavor despite some odd choices that I wouldn't make back home in SoCal (shredded lettuce and banana peppers). The Gaff GRILLED was so fresh-tasting and thick. A two-hander, for sure. I almost didn't have room for the half of the Reuben that ended up being the highlight of the meal for me. I know the seafood is front-and-center, but that house made corned beef and house 1000 island sauce won me over. They didn't go easy on the sauerkraut, either, which is what makes or breaks a Reuben. 4.5 stars!! Accommodating and friendly staff. They let our party switch locations because we didn't want to get rained on in the typical bipolar North Carolina weather (it was raining on/off). They forgot to serve my sweet potato fries during my meal, but they still gave them to me 'to-go.'

    Fried Mahi Mahi
    Sean R.

    Have you ever had a baking sheet completely loaded with nachos? Evenly distributed with shrimp, cheese, jalapeños, a delicious sauce, and other assorted and necessary nacho toppings? If you haven't and want to, look no further than Gaffers on Emerald Isle! Everything we ordered and shared from the menu was lovely but the nachos still stand out in my mind as a new standard for how the dish should be served. Every bite could have the same volume and flavor, and nothing got soggy. Our server was cracking jokes with us all night and regularly came by to make sure we had not drowned in the entrees we ordered. The restaurant itself was very cute, very islandy, and a whole lot of fun. There was an outdoor bar and seating area that I imagine is a heck of a good time in the summer.

    Parmesan crusted Mahi Mahi
    Alex K.

    Hadn't heard about this place but I now see why it is so popular. The vibe is very beachy which is fitting considering I came from the beach right beforehand. Our waitress was very knowledgeable and had some great recommendations on the menu. Ended up getting the Parmesan crusted mahi mahi and it was fabulous. Would definitely recommend it! The only single thing I was a little disappointed about was they don't do anything for birthdays (no birthday desert). Can't wait to dine here again next time I'm in town!

    Troy B.

    My wife and I spent a week in Emerald Isle in May.. we were told to go to this place for dinner one evening. It was not a very good recommendation It reminds me of a beach area Red Lobster... with a mandatory 20% gratuity! And the food nor the service warranted that. I had to go hunt them down to get the check so we could get leave.

    House Made Onion Rings
    Scott H.

    It's been a while since I last visited Gaffers, but remembered my last visit was a great one, so we came for lunch as a party of 3 with a toddler. We were warmly greeted and received a high chair as requested. The bacon wrapped scallops appetizer was delicious and the scallops were very large and cooked nicely. I got the Down Sound Shrimp and Grits, which was a beautiful play on the traditional shrimp and grits. It had sausage, peppers, onions, and mushrooms and a nice Cajun cream sauce. 10 out of 10! The Gaff Mahi sandwiches had a substantial piece of fish and were grilled to perfection. The only knock is the time it took for my granddaughters grilled cheese sandwich with fries. We were constantly assured the food would be out much quicker than it actually was delivered. But all in all, Gaffers is still a great place to eat. The menu is diverse and the food delivers good value and flavor.

    Out door seating
    Bob G.

    Gaffers on Emerald Isle is a fun place. It is a beach resort establishment, not some fine dining place. We go to EI every summer, and like the islandy places, we were looking for this. We were there on a Friday for lunch on our last day at the shore. The weather was sweltering, so we asked to be seated indoors. The hostess checked and had someone clean off a recently vacated table, which was super. Gaffers was busy and adequately staffed, but the servers were scrambling. About 4 minutes after we were seated, Tracy, our server, apologized profusely for our wait. We were on vacation and just laughed at her concern. Tracy got our drinks, and we placed our order when she returned. We sat and gabbed, and in a little bit, Tracy came back and replaced our sodas and said how sorry she was for our lunch to arrive. We did not think the wait was long. Our food arrived with another apology, but this time, it was unnecessary. I had The Gaff, a generous portion of fried, fresh, local mahi topped with lettuce and tomato on a brioche bun served with a side of house-made Cajun tartar sauce 16.99. My wife had the NC Shrimp BLT, a towering stack of fried or grilled NC shrimp, thickly sliced bacon, lettuce, tomato, and Cajun tartar on toasted sourdough bread  16.99. We both ordered the sweet potato fries and were pleasantly surprised by the substantial portions. The food was not just good; it was excellent. The sweet potato fries were outstanding, and the Cajun tartar sauce had just the right amount of kick for us both. This place is enormous, including the outdoor seating. It has an inside bar and an outside tiki bar. The cocktail menu was interesting, although we only had soda. We left stuffed and very satisfied with our visit to Gaffers.

    Honey bourbon glazed salmon

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    3 years ago

    Gaffers has great food, drinks and atmosphere! I have visited this restaurant a handful of times and love it.

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Ordered 4 prime rib dinners for shut it-Did not get potato-Upset over $ 200 -- give me a break!

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    3 years ago

    Cassie, made the whole evening fun with her great service and smile! The food was good; I always recommend their specials!

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    2 years ago

    Food was great. Service was really good. They had live music which was cool. Would definitely go back.

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    4 years ago

    Down East Clam Chowder is the best I have ever eaten. The service was impeccable and the atmosphere was great.

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    3 years ago

    Good food. Quick service. Fun drinks. Good band on Friday night. Scallops were delicious.

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    4 years ago

    Food was good & service was quick. Prices seemed pretty high for how laid back the environment was. We were in and out in about 45 minutes.

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    4 years ago

    Great food and drinks every time we go!!!! Excellent service as well! Lauren is one of my favorites, great server!!!

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    3 years ago

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    Page 5 of 7

    Gaffers Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Gaffers

    What And when are the specials?

    We have lunch and dinner features daily.

    What are the times the breakfast menu is available?

    If I remember correctly, breakfast is until 11. We stopped in the way out of town at 1045 and breakfast was still being served. We opted for an early lunch, shrimp nachos- super yum!

    View All 3 Questions

    You might also consider

    Beachside

    Beachside

    4.8
    (6 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    This shop is close the water park and public beach parking close to the bridge end of the island…read more It has a good selection of frozen slushie alcohol drinks which my wife really enjoys. The hours are a little weird so you need to either check the hours on the door or expect to find them closed. I think when we were there they were closed M-W. THere is plenty of parking and the drinks bring us back

    Beachside on Emerald Isle: A Slice of Paradise!…read more After a day of sun, sand, and pretending I could surf, I stumbled into Beachside and found my new happy place. The frozen margarita? Absolute perfection - like a beachy, boozy kiss from a margarita-loving mermaid. Chef's kiss indeed! Shout out to the beach yoga crew - nothing like a little downward dog at 8am to justify that 5pm margarita. Check out Isle Sol Collective for the yoga schedule with the best teachers around. It's donation-based and just a minute from the west side beach access. Trust me, you'll earn that drink! The locals at the bar? Hilarious. They should start charging for comedy hour - I haven't laughed that hard since sunscreen in the eyes at high noon. And the staff? Pure sunshine wrapped in tank tops and flip-flops. 10/10 - would recommend this spot to anyone looking to end a perfect beach day with a perfect margarita. Cheers, Beachside!

    Photos
    Yoga play anyone- frozen drinks after? Yes- please!!!
    Yoga play anyone- frozen drinks after? Yes- please!!!
    Beachside
    Miami Vices with a floater to go . They were AWESOME!! Best drinks we had all week

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    Miami Vices with a floater to go . They were AWESOME!! Best drinks we had all week
    Velvet Anchor Bottle Shop

    Velvet Anchor Bottle Shop

    5.0
    (3 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    We have been going to Emerald Isle, NC, every summer for decades. We have looked for a place that…read morehas an extensive collection of high-quality beers from local craft breweries. We had met with at best limited success. This year, I found The Velvet Anchor Bottle Shop online and have been following on FB since February. The Velvet Anchor Bottle Shop rocks. Nick was behind the bar on our first visit. Nick was super. He was massively informed about a ton of beer from the Carolinas and further afield. They had a sweet selection of beer from Germany, Great Britain, and Japan. I even saw a 12-pack of Bud-lite hidden away. There are eight taps with a mead and cider on tap. We got there at 1 pm and there were dead, so we grabbed Nick. We talked about local places to go and Big Ten Football. Nick went to Indiana, and I attended Ohio State. When things picked up, everyone was a local, which we thought rocked. We socialized with all sorts of folks, and after two beers, we were off to the beach to have a delightful afternoon with some great beer. The Velvet Anchor is not a large place, two 4-tops, a 2-top, and maybe 10 stools. They did a fair amount of to-go business. This is not the place for children and large groups. But if you and your significant other want a quiet, friendly place to try some great beer, or want to take some back to your place, this location is a gem. We liked it so well that we took our two friends back later in the week.

    Seeing such an ample selection of beer that doesn't break the bank in the same place makes my heart…read morehappy. You definitely need to check out this place when you're in Emerald Isle. The staff was very friendly and welcoming and most of all knowledgeable. Plus it helps there's a few locals that know just as much about what's in stock. They have games all around to keep entertained while you sip on a cold one and have a few beach chairs outside in case you want to sit and people watch. They don't serve food but there's a pizza place around the corner so you'll be fine. There's also plenty of wine in there for you boring people. I'll definitely come back if I'm in E Is. again. PS if they have that Or Xata beer... GET IT.

    Photos
    Fun things we took with us.
    Fun things we took with us.
    Cooler one
    Cooler one
    Cooler two

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    Cooler two

    Gaffers - bars - Updated July 2026

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