3.5 was not my experience. Shrimp is incredible! Steaks to perfection! If you don't like charded sirloin, tell them up front. Seafood awesome! Atmosphere cozy - several different spaces. Views are insane. Parking is a challenge.. would like velvet but well worth the challenge. Service? Perfect! read more

We were seated promptly and service was attentive without being hovering. The ambiance was relaxed and fun. All the staff were cheerful and laughing in the kitchen. Very cool vibe. The menu was refreshing! Lots of choices. Breakfast potatoes were hand sliced and cooked in a pan or on a grill, not deep fried. Yay! They were light and delicious, not oil-laden. Husband had the Paul's omelet and enjoyed it. I had two eggs, taters, and toast for a bargain basement price of $7.75. We will be back. read more

Tasty coastal fare. Fried shrimp, crab cakes and the best crab imperial. Lots of food with coleslaw, fries and hush puppies too! Clean, air conditioned and friendly service! read more

Gulf Stream Restaurant - Outside patio - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

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Our waitresses were very attentive checking on us and keeping our drinks filled. Lucked out for the Tuesday special of meatloaf with choice of two sides. Huge portion of the meatloaf and taters so I have leftovers. My spouse had the oysters, which was a good sized portion, but kinda greasy. She liked the cole slaw, but didn't eat much of the fries. She asked for no seasoning on them, but they did it anyway. Oh, well. read more

Gulf Stream Restaurant - Fried oysters, fries & cole slaw. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

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30 minute wait until waited came, finally sat down and got 10 more minutes until someone waited the ketchup was good if that counts, had no good order of food and took forever read more

A lovely breakfast gem! My family and I stopped by Gulfstream for breakfast yesterday and we absolutely loved it! The French toast was thick, perfectly cooked, and served in a generous portion that hit the spot. The scrambled eggs were real & fresh, biscuit fluffy, and the grits were deliciously creamy. Great french fries, too: big, crispy on outside & soft in inside. Bonus: the coffee was strong and freshly brewed. I was especially grateful for how attentive the staff were with my son's food allergies. Our server Courtney was kind and proactive, ensuring he had a safe and enjoyable meal. That level of care of the manager and the full staff truly made our experience. This sweet little mom‑and‑pop restaurant has a comforting, family‑owned vibe, outstanding service, and great food. We'll definitely make a regular stop whenever we're back in Carolina Beach! read more

Gulf Stream Restaurant - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

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We stopped in on a Sunday morning for breakfast. Surprisingly, there was no wait. We sat right down. Our service was excellent . Very nice lady, and a man came over to make sure we had plenty of coffee. The breakfast was excellent! I really enjoyed the eggs Benedict and my husband said his avocado toast was great too. Smaller restaurant, but they have their own parking lot so it all worked out. read more

Gulf Stream Restaurant - Eggs Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

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Supper service along with great food. Very thoughtful waitress, quick service and continued pleasant attention to assured customers satisfaction. read more

Food, service and folks working or dining here are a great slice of island life in CB. Many other options but we keep coming back as the ppl and food we appreciate and not having to OTB is worth it. Please don't change. read more

Gulf Stream Restaurant has been in Carolina Beach since 1978, so it's somewhat of a local legend. The prices, while reasonable for 2025, won't remind you of how much things cost back then. My dining companion tried the fried seafood, with a choice of shrimp and scallops. She thought it was OK, but uninspired. Her fries were cold and the hush puppies had too much of a bread-like consistency, but with the taste of onion that she enjoys. I tried the chicken souvlaki and it was a bit of a dud. If the chicken had been cooked to order and the sandwich served hot off the grill, it would have pushed this review to four stars. Instead of a side Greek salad, I tried the yams for my side. They were delicious and the high-point of my meal. The restaurant feels like a throwback to the late 70s/early 80s, which I enjoyed. They only take cash, so don't expect to pay with a tap or a swipe either. Our server was attentive, absolutely charming, and working hard to make our meal great. Alas, the food just didn't rise to the same level as the service and last century vibe, so Gulf Stream Restaurant only earns three stars. Pro tip: use the restaurant's parking if possible to avoid getting taken advantage of by The Town of Carolina Beach's ripoff paid parking across the street. read more

Food and service excellent!! Best breakfast on the Island. Love Pam and Toni. Miss Kathy

I have been coming to the restaurant before it was called the Gulf Stream. Overall, it has been a very good place to eat breakfast or lunch. Food is above average, servers are friendly and attentive, and it has good laid-back vibe. Their French Toast is excellent! However, I cannot give them five stars because of two things. First, parking is very, very limited. You will probably need to pay for parking or walk to the restaurant. The parking cost in CB has increased considerably over the years, but if you are an early bird, you can miss out on paying for the parking. Second, the price of the drinks is outrageous, which takes this special place from everyday experience to a once in a while occurrence. You can always order water. However, if you are like me, I like to have a drink with my meal, and I am not fond of paying $3.50 for a soft drink or tea. Proportionally the cost doesn't even make sense, the food items themselves are average breakfast cost. Adding salt to the wound, the to-go cups are coffee cup size. All-in-all, it is a good restaurant, those are the two biggest items of concern for me, which I would have rated them three stars, but they are dog friendly. The outdoor seating gained them a fourth star. read more

The food was decent. Service was subpar. Ambience was beachy & nice! I had crab cakes & they were delicious!

This is good,Home style, southern country food. Everything is delicious for breakfast to lunch. Cash only, but ATM available inside. read more

We had such a nice server, there was no wait and the food was delicious! We'll definitely be back. It's such a cute "mom & pop" feeling restaurant. Prices are very reasonable too. It is cash only though, but they have an ATM as well. read more

Gulf Stream Restaurant - Crab Cake sandwich (requested plain, usually comes with lettuce & tomato) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

Nice little place near the beach. Service was good and food was very quick. Feels a little overpriced like everything else, but that seems to be the norm. My only complaint is that the parking lot was very small and there is no way to get in and out easily. But overall again great food and we will probably back but may park somewhere else. read more

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Cash only business. Ordered some breakfast eggs seemed reheated from yesterday. Asked for a blt, had so much mustard on it i scraped it off. Two tablespoons, completely ruined sandwich. Barely rescued the bacon. read more

In the past I had only had breakfast at Gulfstream but my husband and I decided to go for lunch the other day and I just say I think I like lunch even more than breakfast! It definitely did not disappoint. It was quite possibly the biggest chicken sandwich I've ever had!! Oh and when you ask for ranch... they give you a bowl ... signs we are in the south and they get it! Pro Tip: Bring cash - it's a cash only restaurant. If you forget there is an ATM inside but I'm sure there is some sort of fee for it. read more

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Popped in this morning and the service was super fast. Our server was friendly and was super attentive. I was craving grits this morning and it definitely hit the spot. I think my favorite was the biscuits and gravy though. That gravy is SOOO good. Fruit was fresh as well. It was the perfect amount of food. I want to come back to try their lunch options. I saw another diner order the meatloaf and it looked amazing. Tip: You can only pay in cash, so make that wallet is full! read more

Gulf Stream Restaurant - Grilled pork chop w/ 2 eggs Grilled ribeye w/ 2 eggs Biscuits & Gravy - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

Such a cute place for a lazy brunch! If you're vacationing here, then this is the go to for some early morning/afternoon goodness. It was the Big Breakfast for me during my visit. Every breakfast spot has some variation of this timeless breakfast entree. I indulged in some pancakes and grits as my options. Perfecto. On my next visit I'll go for the NY Strip and eggs. But I'll have to drink a lot of alcohol the night before to make that a reality. Challenge accepted... read more

Gulf Stream Restaurant - Ambiance. #like - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

Gulf Stream breakfast is a ritual when visiting Carolina Beach. We have to make atleast one meal there. We had a rental and brought lots of breakfast food so we stopped at the stream on the way out today so we had less to clean up at the rental. First time I've tried the triple BLT. Really good! My husband had the breakfast burrito with a fried egg over medium and grits. The burrito lacked flavor and he said he wish he would have gotten a traditional breakfast platter. Mom had the Malted Waffle and said it was really delicious! Service was good. Cameron was our server. Prices are reasonable as well. read more

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Called in an order for pick up and received a 4 star carry out meal. Excellent food!!!! read more

Gulf Stream Restaurant - Flounder plate - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

I'm not really sure what score to give this restaurant. We stopped for breakfast this morning. The waitress turned around from the check-in station and tapped the booth behind her with the menus and said "sit here". So we did. I will say, at first, we thought the waitress was going to have a horrible personality. But she ended up lightening up by the end of our visit. There was another waitress there, who seemed very friendly and cheerful. We ordered omelettes which came with potatoes. They were very good. The food was a good experience. The restaurant looked clean and a hometown kind of feel. The music playing was late 50's, early 60's. But it worked! The other thing we noticed was the waitresses were talking about regulars. One guy who comes in is very nice, but his wife is always grumpy. Another man who just left and said "see you tomorrow morning" has a brother who is married. But he's never been married. When a couple of men were walking up to come in, they were discussing them. The young waitress said to another "I will seat them in your section. " with a chuckle. This place is cash only and we luckily had a small amount of cash on us. Apparently they have an ATM. We saw it in small letters on the door as we were leaving. It would've been nice if the "cash only" was in a place where you could see it easier. All in all, I would go back there for breakfast or lunch. But the talking about customers wouldn't fly in other places. read more

Gulf Stream Restaurant - Western omelette and potatoes. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

Might've been the best eggs Benedict I've ever had! The herbed ciabatta really set it apart. I'm glad we got recommended this place. They only take cash FYI. read more

Good Southern breakfast place at Carolina Beach. Friendly staff / regular customers. Clean. However, they take cash only and it is stated on the front door but we did not stop to read the info. Awkward to have to leave to find cash. They have ATM but.. read more

Food was delicious, wait staff is attentive, prices are reasonable. Perfect for breakfast. Place is well kept, ledges are clean, windows sparkling clean. read more

Delicious! Everything was fresh and homemade. We had the French toast, eggs, bacon, pancakes, biscuits, and chicken and waffles. The hush puppies were AMAZING! We're a family of four and it worked out to about $15/person. The service was great. Shout out to our server Britton. They were understaffed and everyone was busting their butts to provide excellent service. read more

Gulf Stream Restaurant - French toast with homemade strawberry compote. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

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A property owner recommended this place. Great breakfast. Fast and friendly service. The western omelette was made with 2 eggs, ham and fresh cut veggies. The hash browns are absolutely some of the best I've had. I opted for biscuit instead of toast and yes great choice. Our sweet server brought our food and said, "your biscuit is coming they're making it." What ?!? I said please take your time then. 5-stars for this clean and great restaurant. read more

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We were seated at 7:45. They appeared to be short-staffed. By 8:05, our order still had not been taken. We left.

So first, I should mention that I've been eating here for about 25 years. Their breakfast is Fantastic. You MUST try the homemade corned beef hash, lord it's delicious. Last few times hubs has got pancakes and bacon, eggs. It was great. Coffee is hot and strong. Great wait staff. If I had only one improvement to make, it would be that they only take cash. I know that having been a long time customer, however, y'all it's 2023. Get a credit card machine. read more

We ate breakfast here on a Sunday morning. Food is okay. Probably depends on what you order. To be honest, this place is vey popular and I doubt the locals who eat here give a crap about Yelp reviews. I got the shrimp and grits. It was a bowl of grits, pieces of bacon, sliced tomatoes and tiny shrimp on top. It didn't suck but probably the most bland shrimp and grits I have ever had. The grits were very good but the other ingredients just didn't come together very well. Highlights - Food is 3 stars, based on what we ordered - Service is 4 stars. Waitress and hostess did a god job. - CASH ONLY! ATM inside if you need it, and I am sure there is a $3 service charge to use it. - Tiny parking lot - Place can get busy. They will put your name on a list. It didn't take long to get a seat. read more

Gulf Stream Restaurant - Bacon and Cheese Omelette - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

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Very clean place with decent breakfast. We went early morning so not sure if it was the hour or not but the server seemed almost like we were bother king her by being there. The food is standard breakfast food, nothing fancy. Good for a quick breakfast if you are in the area. read more

Gulf Stream Restaurant - Omelet, home fries and biscuit - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

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My family really enjoyed this breakfast. Mostly delicious food, although the pancakes were painfully average. You can only pay with cash or local check and (like everything at the beach) it was a little bit more than we might normally pay for a breakfast. read more

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Great place, always friendly staff makes me feel welcomed. Food is always delicious- their biscuits & country gravy are amazing.

Absolutely amazing service! Food was delicious! I would rate 13/10 truly. You have to get their biscuits! The fluffiest I've ever tasted. Right next to the beach and nice and quiet. Great place to come right after watching the sunrise. read more

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Service was good and the omelette was fresh and pretty good just needed salt and pepper at least. I personally would've put a little garlic powder, sprinkle of Cajun or creole seasoning, and pepper probably would've tossed the veggies I put in the omelette in the seasoning then added them to the egg. Very clean, less crowded, and better than Kate's. read more

Arrived around 8:30am on a Saturday, the weekend before Christmas and there were still a few tables available. It is a nice location, by the boats and marina. This was my second time here. Both times the French toast was undercooked. You can see in the picture the top part of the French toast is soggy. The pancakes and waffles were both decent. The syrup here is better than Kate's pancakes-does not have an artificial taste. My partner thought his eggs with cheese were okay. Coffee tasted watered down. Our waitress was friendly. Only accepts cash. read more

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Stopped by for lunch after reading reviews. Old school diner that covers all the bases. They were offering both breakfast and lunch. We opted for lunch but the breakfasts looked good. We started with a fried clams basket. Great size clams fried perfectly. I got patty melt with onion rings. Burger was huge with a lot grilled onions. My wife got the shrimp po boy that had a great sauce. Others got the fried flounder sandwich and the cheeseburger. A lot of food for a pretty good price. read more

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A great place to start your day with a good hearty breakfast! Their grits are delightful, and their homemade buscuits are AMAZING!! Wonderful and friendly wait staff. Just remember to bring CASH because they don't accept credit cards. read more

Gulf Stream Restaurant - Two egg breakfast, bacon and toast with a side of grits and homemade buscuit - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

I visited Gulf Stream yesterday morning with my husband. I enjoyed my visit! Atmosphere : I really liked the overall atmosphere of Gulf Stream, it had a very crisp and clean feel to it , if you know what I mean?! The restaurant itself is clean and inviting! It actually reminded me of a place back home that I'm really fond of. Customer service: Our servers name was Amber she was very sweet and attentive. She did have a good knowledge of the food which was good , and she is the type of server that refills your drinks without you asking which I really like! Food / Pricing : My husband ordered the Biscuits and gravy with a side of the corn beef hash. I ordered the French Toast with Scrambled eggs. Both entrees were delicious and the pricing was fair for what we ordered in my opinion! read more

Gulf Stream Restaurant - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina