Wow. Great dinner. Great service. Before I forget Samantha was awesome. Charming and informative…read more Did not hover but provided excellent service. Appetizers both oysters. Rockefeller and Raw. Both were excellent. Well seasoned and fresh. Entrees I had the striped bass. Husband had the swordfish. Every bite was perfect. Great flavors. Mixed textures on the plate and mine with a little heat to finish. The food could not have been better. Truly a celebration on a beautiful day in New Bern.

I dined for lunch at Cypress Hall in Downtown New Bern. The decor is great. I liked the exposed…read morebrick and high ceilings in the historic building. It also feels modern. One half feels historic and the other half feels modern with the artwork, mirrors, and finishes. The lighting is dim but you can still read the menu. It wasn't busy while I was there but quiet enough I couldn't hear other conversations. Initially the host wanted to seat me at the bar but when I declined, gave me a seat near the open kitchen. My waitress was friendly and helped me select the strawberry blonde to go with the strawberry salad. This was smaller than expected and just one or two strawberries. There was a little too much dressing for my taste as I forgot to order it on the side. I did like how the flavors came together. I also had the chocolate torte which was rich and decadent. I left here a little squeamish from what I witnessed. After all, I was seated at a booth table with a full view of the open kitchen. I noticed the food runner repeatedly touching his nose then the plates of food. I watched him reset a table and was touching the silverware by the tines, the part that goes in your mouth, rather than the handles. I'm not sure if the hands had been washed when he added by hand garnish to my dessert. I immediately removed the garnish but should have returned the dish to get it remade. Also, a table of six was seated then left a few minutes later and the glasses and silverware were not replaced while I was there, leaving me to assume they were not replaced for the next guests. I also noticed the restaurant had many cameras, so these hygiene lapses were likely recorded. For an upscale spot, these hygiene issues were disappointing. I truly enjoyed the flavors and the atmosphere, and I would be happy to return in the future if I could be confident that basic hygiene and service protocols were being strictly followed. I'd particularly love to come back and try the strawberry cake next time.

Food was excellent…read more David was a great server Food came out quickly Great place to get something to eat, the restaurant is in a old house makes you comfortable

I really wanted to like this place, but it fell flat. The service staff were kind and attentive but…read moreI definitely felt rushed though the restaurant wasn't full. The menu looked great, but I was surprised that the only option for a fresh catch of the day was on top of a salad. There were several specialty dishes, but many at our table felt they were very under-seasoned. The jambalaya came out looking like soup and was very bland. The pasta dish was buttery but had zero salt. It was like the restaurant was trying to be finer dining but the execution was off. It was fine but not great. They only sell wine and beer. Three dessert options. Again, not a bad meal, but I was surprised at how good the ratings were given our table's food, so maybe we were there on an off night.

This resturant is located inside of the Courtyard Marriott hotel…read more Place is great, ate here 5 days in a row. The food at this hotel bistro is better than most of the restaurants around JACKSONVILLE. They serve Starbucks coffee and it is pretty much rocks the Starbucks menu plus much better food than Starbucks has. I got the ham and cheese breakfast sandwich a couple times. The egg white fritatta, the quesadilla and shrimp pot stickers (not all at once), we ate here a bunch if times. The food was always better than expected and very good made with fresh ingredients. I always got the cold brew coffee, all was great the service was always great. I would eat here again and suggest this place to others.

This place is located inside the Courtyard Marriott hotel. I ate here during the duration of my…read morestay. They serve Starbucks and have a pretty elaborate food menu. I had the egg and ham croissant a couple of times and it was pretty good. The chicken quesadilla and shrimp potstickers were , as well. The food served here was better than most of the food around the area. The Bistro has enough room to sit around and has a bar as well.

We celebrated our anniversary at The Chelsea. From the scheduling of our reservation right to our…read moredelicious dessert our experience was just great. The must have Cream of Crab soup was so good! My husband had the perfectly cooked and presented Candied Bacon Ribeye. We'd been in town for a few days and he was in search of a great steak dinner and finally struck gold at the Chelsea! I had the Horseradish Salmon which was perfectly prepared and so wonderfully seasoned! Thank you to our fantastic server, Karen, who made our experience all the more memorable! Highly recommend this restaurant!

Disappointing Birthday Experience…read more We chose The Chelsea in New Bern to celebrate my wife's birthday. We've been here once before and had no issues, which is why this experience was so frustrating. This visit was below average. The food overall was overly salty, but the biggest issue came when we were packing our food to go. As my wife was about to box up her chicken bruschetta, we noticed a hair stuck between the chicken breasts. We immediately informed the waitress. Instead of allowing us to document the issue, she quickly took the plate away. No replacement entrée was offered. The manager came over and offered a dessert, but since it was my wife's birthday, we already had cake waiting at home. A replacement meal or removal of the entrée from the bill would have made more sense. For a restaurant that presents itself as upscale, the way this was handled was disappointing; especially on a special occasion. Cleanliness and proper resolution matter, and unfortunately this experience missed the mark.

My husband and I stopped by the brand new Waffle House in Richlands for an early breakfast for…read moredinner. It was early enough that there were only a few cars in the tiny parking lot and only 2 other tables with diners. We had a brand new waitress named Kat (it was her first day) and the waiter training her was hilarious, both very friendly and in a great mood. In fact all the employees were friendly and in great moods. The food came out fresh, hot, and delicious and we never did without our waitress or her trainer checking on us for refills etc. The bacon was crispy, the eggs cheesy and creamy, the grits buttery with the perfect amount of cheese, and the pecan waffle was delicious. Definitely the best food Waffle House food in the area!

Karina was hostess this morning and I just loved her energy. She should get a raise. She was pure…read moresunshine, organized and so fast.

we had lunch there yesterday and George, the owner, came over to our table and told us the Surf…read moreCity Smash story. The food is awesome - burgers, tots, fries, tortilla chips and surfer sauce. The service was spectacular and the restaurant was spotless. We liked it so much, we came back today and tried more menu items. We were really impressed with the crispy tater tots. These are the friendliest employees we have ever seen at any restaurant ever!! one of them was a Miami Dolphins guy and another one was a Dallas Cowboys guy.

A++++ Surf City…read moreSmash absolutely lives up to the hype--and then some. I've been hearing about this place for the past year and knew I had to try it the next time we came down to Surf City, where we have a vacation home on the island. After reading all the glowing reviews and drooling over the photos, my expectations were high... and they were completely met. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted by a lovely young lady with a big, welcoming smile--such a great first impression. We ordered the double smash burger with fries and the Surf Philly with tater tots, and wow. Omgeee. The food here is fresh, cooked perfectly, and ridiculously yummy. The smash burger was juicy with that perfect crispy edge, the fries were hot and seasoned just right, and the Surf Philly was packed with flavor. The tater tots? Golden, crispy perfection. You can tell real care goes into the food here--from quality ingredients to thoughtful preparation. Surf City Smash is the kind of place that turns a casual meal into a must-visit spot every time you're on the island. We'll 100% be back, and I'll be recommending it to everyone we know. If you're in Surf City and haven't tried it yet, you're missing out.

Took my oldest grandchild on a date. She ordered an adult entree and devoured it! She thoroughly…read moreenjoyed the creme brulee pancakes, and she usually does not enjoy overly sweet items. She already cooks for herself and her siblings and tends to be quite discerning. Eggs Up Grill is always clean, and the staff appear happy. Our server was a delight. I'm sorry, I don't remember her name

We decided to try this place one day. We figured for how busy they are it might be good. It is…read moreJacksonville, every new place that opens is swarmed for a while. The morning we went was pretty busy. It took a while to get seats at the bar. Also took quite some time to just get waters and a coffee. Another wait to order our food. And then the long wait for our food to come out. As already stated, it was fairly new and very busy. We just didn't expect the whole process to take that much time. It has a promising environment with plenty of seating and menu items to choose from. Our meals were ok. Nothing to rave about. We probably won't return, but who knows. Worth a try.

Another truly outstanding experience at Duck's Bar and Grill…read more From one business owner to another, I have a deep appreciation for what you're doing here. Everything--from the atmosphere to the execution--is top tier. But what really sets you apart is your attention to detail and genuine care for your customers. Our waitress tonight, Kaila, was absolutely phenomenal. She picked up on something most people would overlook--I don't use straws--and brought my drink without one, without me even having to ask. That may seem small to some, but to me, that level of awareness and intentional service speaks volumes. It's those little things that create unforgettable experiences and separate good businesses from truly great ones. Kaila absolutely crushed it tonight, and it's clear your team is operating at a very high level. Keep doing what you're doing--you've built something special.

Had a small work dinner tonight with three people…read more Our server was attentive and friendly. I had the blackened beef tips and pasta. I could taste no blackening seasoning and the portion of meat in the pasta was incredible light. A colleague had the shrimp and grits and he said they were really good. My third colleague had the weekly special - pesto ziti. He said the meatballs were good, but the rest of the dish lacked flavor. The inside of the restaurant is divided into two with a large bar / lounge area that looked inviting. The dining side was comfortable, but dated. I would absolutely give them another try next time I'm in Jacksonville.

I've been dining here for numerous years. My sister and I arrived from Warsaw first seeing a 3…read morelegged ginger cat who was just sublime as we parked. The weather was extremely generous for Feb no jacket sun in 70s with a view you can never buy. Persimmons being on waterfront is huge pull but so much more its the history of a small town which played such a huge history in NC history and all the historical architectural structures and ability to park walk enjoy. The entrance lounge area is so comfortable and filled with local artist portraits for sale. We were quickly seated. My sister thought she reckonized an old family friend they were just ladies who liked our outfits who came over to chat. Toby was our server very gracious and splendid service. We decided to switch previous entree orders plus I added appetizer which was so divine the feta pita was amazing. I am unfortunately plagued by allergies and sensitive to certain spices got a peppercorn during appetizer so had to excuse myself and refresh but the flavor profile of appetizer was worth my fault of chatting too much got pepper rush. Nothing could spoil our time my sister had just had bday day before so it was festive conversation and dining. Her entree of pork chop was a tad rare for her our server was very accommodating and Mananger quickly came over to reassure her that Chef was making her the chicken which I was having fresh to perfection. The plate size here match charger size plus heated and food always arrives extremely freshly cooked even broccoli isn't overcooked so rare. Portions are beyond most dining experiences. I could never eat full entree here always having leftovers is great to bring back to Raleigh. Look at pics there are 3 butterfly chicken breasts buttery mashed potatoes and succulent broccoli the mushroom peppercorn en glaze tie all flavors to a higher taste profile. After dining chatting enjoying as we were leaving I asked staff about ginger cat whom is named Sampson he's quite the legend in marina. Thanks for wonderful time as always will be back soon!

I'm so disappointed with Persimmons on the Waterfront, in New Bern…read more First, the good things: I love that they sell local art in the waiting area, secondly, I love sitting out on the deck. There was a nice breeze off the Neuse, even though it's 86° right now you don't know that because they have these nice shades and there's a nice breeze coming off the water. So what I didn't like first: I feel the menu was really limited, I can get around that, but the red flag right off the bat was their fish tacos and their fish and chips are made with "white fish" I figured they it was gonna be tilapia or something equally horrible. When I asked the what fish it was he said it was Pangasius, which the waiter described as similar to flounder and I also overheard another waiter. Say the same thing to somebody sitting near me so that's the spiel they're told to tell people who ask what kind of fish. I suggest that you look it up. It's Farm raised and not in very clean environment usually... I never eat tilapia and this is actually one rung below tilapia. I wasn't going to get fish. I ended up getting a burger which I normally don't get at a restaurant, but I ordered my burger, medium rare and the waiter said, "We don't do that. We either do pink or not pink." They tried to tell me it was a health department regulation. Nope! Other than fast food like McDonald's and Wendy's and such I've never been to a restaurant especially a supposedly fine dining restaurant where you couldn't order your burger, medium, well medium, medium-rare or rare. I said, try to make it less than just pink please. Then when I cut into my burger. It was well done. Maybe the exact center was slightly pink, but that was just one bite worth. I'm very disappointed, but I have to tell you I would be back just to be able to have the same glass of wine. It was a white wine, a dry white wine from Spain and the appetizer of brussels sprouts while sitting out on the patio, it was a nice experience for that but not for a meal.

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!!

The food is ok, the service is great and the location is almost perfect…read more This is a pool deck and stage area, lots of cement and terraced levels fenced off from the pool but this also blocks the ocean and beach views. All the cement makes it a bit loud but also hot because it soaks in the heat and radiates it back out all day. This is fine in the cooler months or if you have pool access as a guest. There is an inside dining room too but why use that when its so much nicer outside? The food was good, not great, and like most tourist areas a bit over priced for the quality. I'm not saying it wan't good because everything we tried we liked. Only it was nothing to get too excited about for the higher prices. Honestly you're paying for the view and the nice outdoor seating. Note: The closer parking lots are for condo/hotel guests only and they will tow you away. If you're just coming to the restaurant you must park across the street. When we went there was plenty of of available parking but it was a very hot day in the high 90s and high humidity so by the time I parked and walked over I was already sweaty and uncomfortable. On a normal day it would be no big deal for me, but if your with people who cannot climb a steep driveway or do a long walk then I would drop them off at the front door and then go park.