Party of 6 came for dinner on a Monday at 6pm. 50+ minute wait time to be seated (happens). 5 year old got his food in 25 minutes (positive). Rest of the food came out 50+ minutes later minus one dish (fried shrimp) which came out 20 minutes later after everyone was finished. Food was mediocre at best. Lots of excuses from staff, minimal accountability. Overall, very disappointing. Won't be back. read more

Absolute horrible experience. Went for breakfast on Sunday October 5th. Waited over 50-minutes for food and it came out incorrect. Sent it back to fix and was told it would be warm. Food came back correct but ice cold. Tremendously disappointed. read more

Stopped by after a couple of hours on the beach the Saturday after July 4th. There was a wait to sit outside but no wait for inside. Several minutes went by before our server came by to acknowledge us. However, they were super helpful in avoiding gluten (fried foods may be cross contaminated) and said yes to pretty much anything we asked that was not exactly on the menu. I wanted my spouse to try the grilled sound shrimp, and they came out as an appetizer. The shrimp were okay but might have been overcooked? We also got the Gaff (mahi sandwich) on a gluten free bun with Cole slaw, and the citrus tuna salad with a side of fries. Our fish were cooked perfectly, and the flavors were great--especially the house made Cajun tartar sauce with a kick and citrus vinaigrette. We did not get any dessert because they all had dairy. Our server would go missing at times but was overall nice and friendly. The bathrooms are gendered and multi stall. They were clean and appeared to have plenty of room for mobility devices. The interior decorations were fun, including some awards for fishing tournaments. Overall we had a great experience and will likely be back. read more

We really love Gaffers! It's such a fun spot to visit for a great meal. We have had Lauren as our server each time we have been and she is amazing! Everyone is always friendly, helpful and attentive. The mahi sandwich has the largest piece of fish and is so tasty! And the shrimp BLT is also delicious. I also love the pasta salad. Their sip and shop gift shop next door is so fun to explore and have a glass of wine too. read more

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Freshest local seafood you can get!! GRILLED PAMLICO PLATTER Shrimp, Scallops, Mahi and Tuna 58.99 read more

Gaffers - Seafood platter. - Bars Near Me - Emerald Isle, North Carolina

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We were at Birdies, and The food was amazing. We had the chicken parm and the protein bowl. Our server Rob was as amazing. He was attentive and the drinks kept coming! Highly recommend, especially if Rob is on the bar!! read more

Always a good time with great service and food! The live music is always amazing. Can't even count how many times I've been but every time it's a top notch experience. read more

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This place is AMAZING from the service to the food, as soon as we came in it was a total vibe everyone was extremely welcoming! Definitely would come back! read more

Gaffers - French toast meal - Bars Near Me - Emerald Isle, North Carolina

Cruised in with a friend on a Sunday morning and had a solid breakfast with a loaded Bloody Mary to start. Had the Eggs Benny, and the mixture of asparagus in the entree made for a good combination. The bartenders were friendly and the bar seating was comfortable. Thanks for having me. Had a great time! read more

Gaffers - Bloody Mary - Bars Near Me - Emerald Isle, North Carolina

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We went on Thursday for karaoke and the server was so rude and ill to us. Then we got one appetizer and few beers and 3 drinks and the bill was $122. We will never go to that establishments again. Lesson learned. They need friendlier staff and better priced drinks. read more

I am so glad that I found another cool spot in EI. I called for a pick up ordered and Carrie answers the phone. She was honestly the most friendly, helpful and relaxed person that I have ever slime with taking a to go order. I was blown away and thought to myself..even if in some like the food I was so impressed with the customer service. About 15 minutes later I arrived to a beautifully laid out outside bar and seating area. They have nice lighting and a comfortable atmosphere. I went to the inside bar where I was greeted by Carrie. She told me about all of the cool things that they do and I was also greeted by some locals the bar inside was tiny but I could totally see myself hanging out there There is an inside Seating area but I didn't see it. I ordered The Galf which is huge majority filet that I ordered grilled. Ten down was excellent . My only complaint was that the tartar and dill will not on it so it was plain. I imagine the sauce would have made it even better I had the pasta salad as my side and it was awesome. I also ordered a $5.00 side Salad with their homemade ranch. Omg!' What a wonderful salad!! I love everything about my meal and experience. read more

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We had so much fun at Gaffers. We loved the food and atmosphere. The live music was great. Our server Ashley was very helpful and kind.

I really wanted to like this place but alas, it really did disappoint. Seems like mostly a touristy trap type place. We arrived around the dinner hour looking for outdoor seating. Love their newer outdoor section. Very rustic looking with a nice bar and a very small stage for live music. Our server came right over and offered us drinks which we ordered. Hubby ordered an old fashion which is his trademark drink. He said it was terrible and had to switch to something else. I ordered one of the specialty cocktails (smoky jalapeño margarita) which was watery and weak. When I complained to the server, she offered to bring me another shot, which was tiny, and which added another seven dollars to the total for that drink. So $22 for a crappy watery drink. Disappointing to say the least. If you were going to go there to drink, I'd recommend the beers. It's hard to screw that up and prices were much more reasonable for beer. Now onto the food. We ordered several appetizers to split between the four of us. First was the blackened shrimp nachos. Huge plate of chips, good sauce but very minimal shrimp included. Next was the beer can shrimp. These were reasonably good flavor-wise but one of the shrimp that I picked was clearly old and mushy. It seem to be mixed in with the other, fresher shrimp. Finally, we ordered the hush puppies which were very good. All in all, the appetizers were OK and the drinks were disappointing. read more

Gaffers - Shrimp nachos - Bars Near Me - Emerald Isle, North Carolina

I've come many times since opening. I want to love it. I can't. I want to totally support local. Great space, but they have to be better with the food. read more

Good was very fresh and hot! Steamed shrimp best on the island by far. Service was great and enjoyed everything my wife and I got

Cassie, our server, made us feel welcome from the moment we sat down. Helped us with drink and food recommendations! Everything was spot on!! Highly recommend!! read more

Gaffers - Grilled Pamlico Platter - Bars Near Me - Emerald Isle, North Carolina

Food and service was definitely not what it was a year ago. Idk what the owners are thinking but the menu is not southern seafood. Totally disappointed. read more

Oh my word, what can I say??? Never had a problem with the food or service. This restaurant just was recognized for being such a charitable entity. They are constantly giving back! read more

We went for the first time on Friday to listen to a band. The music was great but the food was disappointing. We ordered two dinner specials which was crab cakes. Both plates of the crab cakes had shells in them...a lot. I told the waitress because only 1/2 was eaten on each plate. She simply said oh - sorry! read more

The food was amazing Service was great They had live music and a great atmosphere It is pet friendly also which is always a plus for us read more

Food was fabulous. We were with 5 people and all said their choices were great. The hostess that greeted us was so pleasant and energetic. Our waitress was very friendly and polite, My "mermaid juice" drink hit the spot. The setting was nautical/ beachy with indoor and outdoor seating. I will definitely return. I would imagine in summer they are busy. read more

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Drove 35 minutes & showed up almost an HOUR before they closed just to be told they weren't seating any more tables. This is AWFUL business! If you have closing hours then you should serve until closing. This was very rude & disrespectful. Don't waste your time going to this place - you'll show up & they'll refuse to sit you!! read more

Laid back atmosphere with beach decor. The shrimp nachos were huge and delicious. Drinks where on point and had kids mocktails which where good. Service was good and the food came out quickly. It gets crowded for dinner so get there early, or have a plan B. The only complaint is the table we were at was small and became quickly crowded as used plates/cups where not cleared in an efficient manner. A small inconvenience for delicious food and drinks. read more

Ate here with friends. We had appetizers, drinks, main meal and dessert. Everything was delicious and our waitress (forgot her name ) was wonderful. Will definitely be back. read more

Our buddy with a fabulous Air BnB in Atlantic Beach invited our entire workout group in Raleigh and booked a table for 13, which was waiting for us after a little confirmation snafu the day before. Our sweet, friendly server Ashley erased all the trouble with her smile all the way through the ordering process and delivery of lunch. She even stepped up to take a photo recording the 75th birthday we were celebrating!! And the many sports fans among us really appreciated the screens helping us keep track of developments during the NCAA basketball tournament! It was a day to remember! read more

Gaffers - What a birthday It was! Thanks, ladies and thanks Gaffer's!! - Bars Near Me - Emerald Isle, North Carolina

So happy to have found a restaurant in NC that has a BLOODY MARY BAR. If you don't drink bloody marys...you wouldn't understand... but if you do.... YOU KNOW that a bloody mary bar is the crem de la crem of a grand brunch outing!!! The spread was 100. I will for sure come back here every time we go to Emerald Isle now just to make myself a Wasabi bloody with bacon. Haha The food? Very fresh! I got the fried shrimp plate and boyyyyy. Let me tell you. The shrimp was very plump, very buttery, very premium. Kind of an expensive visit for the family but considering portion sizes.. you can't be too mad. I wouldn't recommend ordering anything non-seafood though... the burgers/chicken dishes were sub par / alright. Then again if you are that close to the water... why are you ordering chicken or beef anyways!!!?!?! ....I MEAN if you are allergic tho....ok I dont blame you. LOL read more

Gaffers - Shrimp plate! Fried and crispy - Bars Near Me - Emerald Isle, North Carolina

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1st time here and the only thing I hated about my experience was not finding this place sooner. How good was the food? Our plates were left spotless. Shrimp and Grits were perfectly balanced allowing you to taste every single ingredient from sea to land creating the perfect mixture of taste that left our taste buds wanting more. Perfect combination of smoky from the sausage and sea from the perfectly cooked shrimp. Omelette had additional Jalapeño and Avocado and everything was perfect! Chorizo was perfectly cooked and made the dish perfect! Paired with home fries and the biscuit was perfect! Staff was extremely friendly and were the most helpful in picking the best choice for us , making this a very personal experience. We will definitely be returning here more often ! Do your self a favor and come check this place out, eat inside, outside or at the bar with a drink. read more

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Food was amazing best place in the isle hands down! the service was also super quick! the atmosphere was good it wasn't very loud!

Then service was great the waitress was really good and attentive. My wife had a burger and said it was good. I had the shrimp and grits. The flavor was great but I'm a sopper I like a piece of bread with my meal and when I ask the waitress brought me some crackers which was okay but for almost $30 I would expect some bread. I spent most of the time pulling out the bell peppers, some is fine but if you don't like a lot of bell peppers I wouldn't recommend it. read more

Went to Gaffer's today for lunch with work colleagues. Staff were super friendly & attentive. We sat outside because it was so beautiful. It was a little chilly but they did have heat lamps so that was nice. My Garden Pasta was excellent! Will definitely go to Gaffer's again with my family! read more

Gaffers - Garden Pasta with Garlic Bread - Bars Near Me - Emerald Isle, North Carolina

We went for dinner and really impressed with the food and the drinks. We sat outside on the patio and listened to live music while enjoying our meals. Our waitress was great and really good service, especially with how busy they were. We didn't have to wait long after we ordered. I had the tuna steak which was medium rare and paired well with a great sauce, rice, and green beans. The pain killers were outstanding, heavier on the coconut but not too sweet. Found a new favorite when I'm back in Emerald Isle. read more

Gaffers - Tuna - Bars Near Me - Emerald Isle, North Carolina

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Solid service and great staff. Food is pretty decent. Ate at this place twice during our beach week. First day with a party of 8 on checkin day and we were seated immediately even though they were busy. And they handled our party well. We sat outside and one rude customer did decide to smoke at the edge of the patio which was not far enough away but that was not their fault. We enjoyed food and cold drinks. Came again just my hubby and I. Got apps and a drink. Drink was great and the apps were pretty amazing. The egg rolls he loved. I loved the gaffer tatters. Amazing! Staff again very attentive. read more

Gaffers - Gaffer tatters appetizers - Bars Near Me - Emerald Isle, North Carolina

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Gaffers is awesome and a true asset to Emerald Isle providing fresh seafood and live entertainment, and operated by good people. Gaffers was originally located in Ocracoke on the Outer Banks. After Hurricane Dorian, they moved to the crystal coast for the higher elevation. The menu changes when fresh fish is available. The fish is often mahi or grouper. I almost always order whatever the special is as I like trying new things. If you want a classic, the shrimp and grits is great & so are the shrimp tacos. The appetizers are great. It's just a great place! They're open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and have a great atmosphere both inside and outside. As with all restaurants on the island, be prepared to wait in the summer. Between Gaffers and Fish Hut I am in paradise. Fish Hut for smaller lunches, and Gaffers for a sit down meal for me. read more

Very nice lunch on the patio. We each had the Cobb salad, and we ordered the crab dip for an appetizer. Everything was delicious, generous serving sizes and excellent service! read more

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Amazing food and service. Well worth the stop. Come up every now and then for their sandwiches. read more

Gaffers - Club sandwich and onion rings. - Bars Near Me - Emerald Isle, North Carolina

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Food was mediocre and way overpriced especially for kids meals. They add upcharges on sauces and charged an adult price on addition of shrimp to a kids meal. Total kids meal price came to $25 for a small cup of pasta with alfredo, a few tiny shrimp, and an applesauce cup! Would have been better off ordering two separate kids meals. The tortillas in the fish tacos did not taste fresh and mahi was served in long pieces on top of taco which made it challenging to eat. Prices of specials were not disclosed and explanation of menu options were not provided in a helpful way. Interior seating area was uncomfortably hot and crowded. read more

This restaurant was recommended to us by our host. Needless to say, the food was outstanding! My husband had the beer can shrimp and I tried the special which was a steak burrito with queso, avocado, rice, and roasted corn. There is live music which is nice to listen to while eating and visiting. There was also indoor and outdoor seating depending on your preference. The hostess, Kimberly, was outstanding! She helped us choose items since it was our first time dining there. We ended up taking the Atlantic Beach Pie home. It was so good with the perfect balance of sweet, salty, and tartness. Everything on the menu looked delicious. This is definitely a repeat stop when we come back to Emerald Isle. read more

Gaffers - Beer Can Shrimp - Bars Near Me - Emerald Isle, North Carolina

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Have you ever been to a restaurant where you can't decide if you like it or not? Gaffers is one for me. I was visiting family in E I North Carolina and we needed a place to have dinner. Gaffers is "in the neighborhood", so that's where we went. Gaffers has a tropical decor. It was very hot outside but we sat outside in the Tiki Bar area because there was a loud live band. I guess we didn't care much for conversation because this was toward the end of our trip and we were kind of talked out, could just about shout our orders to the very nice waitress. The kid wanted onion rings as an appetizer . It was a large platter of good size rings with a creamy dipping sauce. They were very good. The Southwest Egg Rolls, with a creamy dipping sauce were very good as well. Fish dominated the menu and according to my dinner partners the tuna and salmon dishes were very good. Cheeseburgers were cooked according to request. The MAHI taco wasn't as good as expected, the fish was too chunky and not very flavorful. French fries were hand cut and very good. So Gaffers is good. Not great and I don't know if I would return next time I'm in Emerald Isle. They do serve breakfast and lunch, maybe if I sit inside and there is no loud band I will try breakfast. It is right in the neighborhood. read more

Dined on Sunday 5/4/25 - The service was extremely!! slow. The food was cold when served(had to send back to rehea). From order until food served took 35 minutes. "Eggs Benny"(overcooked), "Home fries"(burnt), had to beg waitress for refill on water & tea. I will not return here again. Bad experience all around. read more

The service was great and the prices pretty normal for the island.. the kids meals were a big let down. Super expensive for literally noodles with marinara no meat and even the marinara was an up charge. If you're going for a date night or out with adults it'll be great just don't recommend for kids! read more