Our first time dining at Michael's Seafood Restaurant. Only our second time to Carolina Beach. The wait wasn't too bad, about 30 - 40 minutes. Once seated though things moved pretty fast. Our waiter Noah T was very attentive, answered our questions and we were off and running. We chose a couple of appetizers; a bowl of Chowder (only because of the raves from fellow Yelpers) and the Athenian Bruschetta. Both were very good but my expectant bubble was burst as it wasn't "the best I have had" as many of the Yelpers had described it. The Athenian Bruschetta though was A-amazing. For Entree I had the stuffed Flounder and Norma had Shrimp and Scallop Scampi. Both were very delicious. Atmosphere was nice, a bit crowded, as you would expect where the food is really good. Tables were tight. Hard to navigate with Norma's wheelchair, but we made it through. Large helpings, took tomorrow's lunch back to the hotel. A definite come back to place. read more

We arrived super hungry after being on the beach. My family ordered various entrees for takeout -- crab cakes with corn on the cob and baked Mac and Cheese; seafood chowder; chicken tenders; oysters; and hushpuppies. The vibe is fairly casual. Fairly affordable prices. I am a tough critic on seafood because I grew up on the coast eating fresh seafood, so others may have differing opinions. I had high expectations as a result of the reviews. The chowder was the star for me and could be elevated to excellent with a little more seasoning (I added a lot of pepper which was enough to give it a kick and make it exceptionally tasty). The oysters were good. The crab cakes didn't have enough lump crab for my taste -- more cake than crab, if that makes sense. And the hushpuppies were a bit bland. My son enjoyed the mac which came in a large portion. Although we were just there for takeout, the employees were friendly and helpful. read more

This is truly the best chowder! We have had chowder all over the country, this is it! Ashley provided great service in the bar area. The food We had grilled mahi-mahi and seafood jambalaya , so good. A lot of mussels , great spice and we sat by the fish tank so we had dinner with Nemo! read more

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We heard such great reviews so came for some seafood for dinner. Got there at 530 & it was packed. Indoor & outdoor seating, love the tiki bar ambiance. We got lucky & got a high top by the bar seated next to the large aquarium. We ordered the scampi mussels app & it was delicious. Then ordered the stuffed flounder & the sea scallops for entrees. Prices on menu were reasonable. The only negative was it took 30+ min for entrees & one of the sides wasn't brought until dinner was complete. That being said the meal was cooked perfectly - Caleb was great server & was so busy. This was a Tuesday night so in season this must be the best place for seafood & we will come back everytime! read more

Michael's Seafood Restaurant - Scampi mussels appetizer - Seafood Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

Server: Asya H Time Arrived: 2:12 PM Time Seated: 2:14 PM Drinks Arrived: 2:35 PM Ordered Food: 2:40 PM Food Arrived: 3:09 PM We are locally based at our beach house for the beginning of summer and stopped into a new restaurant that was highly recommended by a nearby business. We were excited to try it based on the great things we had heard, but unfortunately we left with the complete opposite impression. We liked the casual grill style atmosphere that still felt family friendly. The host was prompt and welcoming, seating us almost immediately. Our server, Asya, greeted us, provided menus, and gave us time to review everything while ordering drinks and our toddler's food. Initially, things seemed promising. As someone recovering from cancer, I am mindful about what I eat and often ask questions about menu items, daily specials, and popular dishes so I can find options that aren't overly heavy or greasy. When I specifically asked about specials and recommendations, I was directed first toward the seafood boils and then several of the highest priced menu items. What was surprising was that we later discovered a daily specials menu that was never mentioned to us despite my direct questions. It felt less like guidance and more like an attempt to steer us toward the most expensive choices available. As time went on, our experience continued to decline. It took over 20 minutes just to receive our drinks, and throughout our visit our server was frequently unavailable. At one point we needed new crayons for our daughter because the ones provided were broken, and after being unable to locate our server, another employee..a gentleman with silver hair...kindly stepped in to help. Ironically, he was more attentive to our table in that brief interaction than our assigned server had been for much of the meal. The wait times became excessive. From the moment we sat down until our food arrived, nearly an hour had passed. For a mid-afternoon meal that wasn't during a rush, this was difficult to understand. Communication was minimal, there were no updates regarding delays, and we were repeatedly left wondering what was happening. What disappointed us most was that the issues weren't related to the food itself but to the overall service experience. We came in excited to support a local restaurant that had been highly recommended and instead left feeling overlooked, uninformed, and frustrated. There are too many excellent restaurants in the area that value their guests' time and provide attentive service for us to justify returning after this experience. read more

Still looking for a good seafood place in the Wilmington area since I moved here. The family came here last week and it was pretty good. Glad I got here at 3:30 on Fathers Day, because they were packed by 4:30PM. The waiter was nice but the appetizers took forever to come out. The Oysters Rockefeller were tasty, though not a true Rockefeller recipe. Everyone thought the seafood chowder was good, but we were wondering why there wasn't a clam chowder on the menu. The Shrimp & Grits were one of the best we've had, LOTS of shrimp, so that was nice. The Seafood Roll was really good, the roll was nice and buttery with plenty of seafood. The "garlic" smashed potatoes were bland and not very garlicky though. I would definitely be back to give it another try even with a 1/2 hr drive. With everything be freaking expensive now adays, this wasn't that bad. read more

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this place, literally never disappoints. My sister and brother-in-law come here almost every weekend when they are in town and they've never had a bad meal. Everything that we ordered was excellent The standout was the crab cake, the award-winning chowder, cornbread, and snow crab legs. their chowder is on the thicker side with many different kinds of fixings included and it's also saltier your side. It's perfect. I thought the cornbread also stood out because of the flavor and texture. It did not overly crumble, and the sweetness level was just right. It complemented the crab cake really well. The crabcakes were huge, and it was so evenly seasoned and not overly breaded, it was satisfying and again just right. The rest of the meal was as expected fresh cooked right and just delicious Service was quick and friendly they do not have a birthday celebration treat, but we still got their turtle cheesecake and it was perfect and to our delicious meal. read more

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The food the service and the ambience where amazing!! They were really accommodating with us. Highly recommended!!

We ordered ahead of time "to go" just for the Seafood Chowder and hush puppies. It wasn't bad but wasn't the best I had (compared to Maine and Boston)...but had chucks of good seafood in there. The base was mid, spices/salt was uneventful, but will say the ratio of good seafood items made up for it. If you get the base and seasoning down right, this could be amazing. Go to New England chefs and learn a thing or two. Hush puppies were also mid. Oyster crackers were stale by the time we open up the bag. read more

This was one of the best seafood places I've been to at the beach! Everything we ordered was fresh and flavored to perfection. The waiter was super nice and the atmosphere whis friendly and beachy! It was very crowded and popular so we had to wait for like 45 minutes. Be prepared for a very expensive tab though because everything is very expensive. For instance, many of the dishes had a limited number of seafood in it to cut costs. I would recommend going here just because it was flavored very well! read more

I really wanted to enjoy this meal, but it was a mixed experience. Let's just say I've never had seafood chowder leave grit in my teeth before. The crab cake was excellent and easily the highlight of the meal. The crab dip was also very good. Unfortunately, the sweet tea tasted old, the corn wasn't fully cooked (though it had good flavor), and the mashed potatoes were so bland that I couldn't eat them. The biggest bright spot was the staff. Everyone was friendly and helpful, and our server, Paige, was especially attentive, pleasant, and provided excellent service throughout our meal. Her hospitality made the experience much better than the food alone would have. This version is candid without sounding harsh, and it gives meaningful credit to the staff, especially Paige. read more

Great seafood restaurant in Carolina beach. They have something for everyone. Love the menu full of gluten free options. The menu is marked with G-has gluten, GFA-gluten free alternative, unmarked is all GF. We ordered the crab dip with gf and reg pita bread, jambalaya, seafood mac n cheese, and fish special. The food came out quite slow but it was worth the wait. A bit expensive but the portion comes big. Monday specials are awesome. They had excellent waiter and bar service. Will come back again when in town. read more

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Seafood chowder was excellent, even on a hot July evening. It would be just incredible on a cool night. Stuffed flounder was under seasoned and slightly overcooked. Mahi Florentino special was excellent. The front of the house is a disaster. We waited 45 minutes for a table on Friday evening. At one point from the bar I counted seven empty tables, cleaned and with set-ups on them, ready to go, but no one was getting seated. Lots of people were waiting. Those tables sat unused for more than 20 minutes while a slew of people were waiting (including my party) to be seated. Two 6 tops, two 4 tops, and the rest were booths. If I were the owner I would be pissed. How much revenue are they losing by not turning those tables due to ineptitude? Hire slowly, fire quickly. You have a business to run! read more

They were super busy when my husband and I went but they quickly sat us at a high top in the bar area. The service was good and attentive. The restaurant had a good vibe and lots of fish tanks around with little fishies. We got the crab dip appetizer, and it was very good. My husband got a Mac and cheese appetizer (I can't exactly remember which one) and I got the shrimp and scallop scampi. Very good food, definitely worth the price. Seemed to be very popular as well. read more

Michael's Seafood Restaurant - Shrimp and scallop scampi - Seafood Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

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Visited with my family of 7. Parking was ample, but it was a slow time. We were immediately, greeted and seated. The vibe was a bit corny with tiki features. The service was fine, but nothing special. The food was good, but nothing great. We got lots of apps and entrees. We were autograt, which was fine, but I didn't see any notice of it. After tax and tip, we paid nearly $280 for the 7 of us. We wouldn't return. read more

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Honestly, this place was a disappointment. For a restaurant that advertises as a seafood spot, you would expect for the seafood to taste fresh. The crab dip was good, a bit salty, but not really a fan of being served with pita. Why not warm/toasted bread? The seafood roll was a mix of shrimp, crab and lobster. Hubby's thoughts: not the most memorable seafood roll. The bun could have been buttered and toasted, so the whole roll tasted too cold. The scampi was meh. The flavor was bland. The shrimp was good, but the scallop was not. I've seen enough cooking shows and watched chefs to know that scallops are to be cooked on both sides and can get cold when sitting out too long. These scallops were barely grilled on one side and they tasted like they were frozen previously. I wish I tasted more butter and garlic and seasonings. Even the garlic bread on the side was bland, how is that possible? 2/10 - I would not recommend this place for fresh seafood. Apparently their chowder is their only best seller, which we didn't even try. Oh well. read more

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A great place to eat! Me and my parents came here for lunch as we heard it was highly rated. Getting there was a little tricky but that was the GPS' fault. It has a nice big parking lot and we were shocked that on a Thursday afternoon, it was packed. When we walked in, we were greeted nicely and seated at a booth. The booth was nice and spacious. The table was clean, silverware was mostly clean, and there was salt, pepper, and I believe paprika shakers already on the table. One thing that impressed me heavily, is that there was a napkin dispenser already on the table. I can't tell you how frustrating it is when you have to ask for more napkins at other restaurants, and your server is nowhere to be found, or when they bring you some, but it's not enough. This is huge for a food critic like myself and this should be the standard at all restaurants. Our server was nice. She was knowledgeable about the menu and honest about what was good and what wasn't as popular. The food was good! I got the swordfish tacos with garlic mashed potatoes and a side of baked mac and cheese. The baked mac and cheese was excellent (it's quite big! You may want to make that your only side or share it with someone). The garlic mashed was good too. The swordfish tacos were good, but would've liked a little more meat in there. Still, flavor was great. My parents both got lobster rolls which they liked and my dad got the crab chowder and he said it was fantastic. Their chowder's is what they are famous for; will try that when I go back. Server was attentive, brought us refills and did an overall great job. Food is reasonable priced too and it looked like the store manager checked up on us a few times which was nice as well. Overall a great seafood restaurant to eat at. I recommend going if you are in the area; would like to go back in the future! read more

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We were surprised with how good the food was. The shrimp Alfredo and chicken Alfredo was excellent. I was afraid it would be a heavy thick cream but it wasn't. The cream was very light and I normally don't like chives and peppers but it all blended so well that I didn't give any regard to them and just enjoyed it all. The meal really is big enough for two to split. My family was very happy with their crab cakes and macaroni and cheese meals. My wife said the chowder was fantastic. The service was very good as well. We were very happy to have chosen Michael's Seafood for dinner tonight! read more

We have been driving past Michael's Seafood on the way to Carolina Beach for years not knowing that they are well known for an award winning seafood chowder. Their website states that they won 1st place in the 2009, 2010 and 2011 Great Chowder Cook Off, Seafood Chowder Division in the birthplace of chowder, Newport, Rhode Island! A 3-Time winner and Hall Of Fame inductee. Do yourself a favor and get yourself a bowl! It is only $1 more than the cup and worth every bite. They also have pre packaged chowder that you can order to take home! It is rich, chunky, and creamy with clams, crab meat, scallops, veggies, potatoes, herbs and spices. We finally made it there for an early Friday night dinner. By 6pm there was already a 40 minute wait. We checked in and were given a buzzer that we were told would allow us to wander down the strip while we waited. Thankfully, we only had to wait for 15 minutes to be seated so do not be discouraged if you are told there is a bit of a wait. They have cocktail servers that will happily take your drink order while you wait out front. There is ample indoor and outdoor patio seating but after sitting on the beach all day, we were in need of AC. The entire restaurant is decked out Tiki style. We were seated at a high table in the bar area by the aquarium. Our waitress was friendly, quick to greet us, got our order in right away, and even though she was very busy she still managed to check in with us periodically, and kept my drink filled. Our food came out fairly quickly for such a busy evening. Every staff member from the server, manager, food runners, to the bus boy where friendly and helpful. Their customer service was on point from the moment we checked in to the minute we walked out the door. (Which seems to be rare these days. More often than not, you are lucky if your table gets pre-bussed or a water refill.) We weren't really thinking when we ordered because usually we try to sample a variety of menu options but we both ended up with rich garlic, cream based dishes. The Tuscan Shrimp served with toasted garlic bread as was the delicious stuffed flounder casserole Everything we tried was similar to the chowder but they know what they are cooking out there. The next time we visit, the seafood roll and the baked seafood mac and cheese are on the list to try out! read more

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Food was fabulous! I got the crab legs and my husband got the blackened Mahi. Would have given 5 stars but the service was average. Would go back again for the food! read more

Had an early dinner here on a Saturday night. We drove by this place many times back and forth from the beach and it is always busy. We were seated right away in a booth. Michael's has a very tropical atmosphere with the tiki roofs and the aquatic themes throughout. Very fun and relaxing. Our server was Samantha and she was very friendly and upbeat. She made many recommendations for drinks and appetizers. We tried the house made watermelon lemonade. Delicious! Prices are very fair here. Restaurants will charge high prices for some special drinks, even non alcoholic, and they are not worth it. Ask for the watermelon lemonade We started out with the Pearls and Prawns, as per Samantha's suggestion. It was a nice combo app with just the right amount of seafood selection. I tried the seafood chowder. Great balance of flavors and very filling. I got a bowl, but definitely worth the extra dollar from the cup order. For entrees we tried the shrimp and scallop scampi and the stuffed flounder casserole. The scampi was tasty, but I was hoping for more lemony flavor there. There was some chopped tomatoes and some cheese, but it lacked the lemon/parsley/wine taste I was looking for. I heard the stuffed flounder was quite good. Looked tasty too. For dessert we tried the key lime cheesecake. Very rich, but not too heavy. Good sized slice. I had a few bites from it and it's tasty. I'd like to get there when they have some different specials and to try other menu items. Great seafood place away from the Carolina Beach mayhem with their own parking lot read more

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Nice atmosphere. Yummy fish tacos. Sat at a high top table near the fish tank. Good fun. Server was top notch. See yall next summer!!

After reading many reviews of this restaurant I needed to see for myself if it a 4 star venue or not. Well, the Seafood Chowder was hot and delicious. I also ordered the Cajun Jambalaya that was the best I have ever tasted and I've been to New Orleans many times. Service was impeccable as our server, Teddy was excellent. We received our food fast and were seated right away when we arrived. The tables were decorated with a seashore vibe and the place was clean and orderly. My final rating has to be a 5 star as everything about the place was on point, delicious and hot! This is a must visit when you are near Carolina Beach! read more

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Food was good, server was good. When we walked in I thought the A/C was out. When I asked our server she stated that this is an every year issue. It was literally so hot inside that my wife and I took out food to go because we were too hot to eat. You would think that the owners would upgrade the A/C . I have never experienced this lack of concern for a customers comfort and enjoyment. My recommendation would be if you insist o coming here, not to shower before hand and bring a fan with a mister. Just saying!! read more

Just ok food, nothing special. My husband and daughter enjoyed their steaks though and there was no wait.

Food was really good. Service was fine and it's nice there was a place in Carolina Beach that you got free parking. Everything around the boardwalk the parking had to be paid. read more

Definitely a tourist restaurant, but with that being said it was pretty good . Service was flawless and food and drinks arrived quickly. We had four adults and one child and felt ad though we were the focus the entire time there , which was awesome. The food itself also tasted really good and not reheated like some places in the area . The drinks were definitely heavy which was awesome. We would try it again read more

Michael's Seafood Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

Great clam chowder always a staple. I would recommend just coming here for the chowder alone as it is that good. The staff is usually nice and I haven't had any major issues yet. As i've been going for here years. I have done to go orders a lot of just chowder but I havent eaten here a lot in the restaurant. read more

The atmosphere might be nice but set your expectations low when it comes to the mixed drinks. I'm convinced the restaurants policy stating no refunds on mixed drinks is because they are that bad. We ordered painkillers and it was missing a key ingredient, the coconut puree. When asking the manager about it and expressing our concerns about the drink not being made correctly, he reiterated the restaurants policy of no refunds on alcohol. When told him the drinks were missing a key ingredient, he brought out shot glasses of coconut puree syrup instead of having the bartender fix them. Not a good service experience. read more

Yummy food and drinks. Cool decor inside the restaurant. They have indoor and outdoor seating. Popular restaurant so we did have about an hour wait for dinner. read more

Michael's Seafood Restaurant - Crab and shrimp Mac and cheese - Seafood Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

Maybe it was a busy night, maybe it was the end of the night, but our experience was just ok. Salads came out dry- asked for the dressing and it was watered down so mush we had to ask for more. The "award winning" chowder was also very runny and bland according to my family. The mains came and one of our Caesar salads came without any Parmesan- so we had to ask for that. My fish was overcooked and a very small portion for the up-charge- so all in all- not the best experience. We were looking forward to dining here thanks to all the stellar reviews, however next time we visit CB we will try somewhere else. read more

I'm typically not one to leave a review but felt that this was necessary. The atmosphere was relaxed and generally enjoyable. However the rub came when it came to the table service and general safety. My wife had not only her drink spilled on her by the wait staff, but when they served her entree, the plate's juices and melted butter were also slopped into her lap and down her shirt. The staff apologized with a quick "sorry" but it was never revisited. Beyond those incidents, I excused myself from the table after eating and a leg of my chair completely snapped off resulting in me tumbling into my wife's lap, and subsequently onto the patio. I'm 6'5" and no stranger to less-than-sturdy furniture but I also learned through conversation with the wait staff that this was the fourth such incident in the past week. I can be an understanding individual but all this issues strung together and not a word from management is something that needs put to words. The only interaction we had was with wait staff and the only response was "sorry." read more

We dined with a large party on a Friday night and from start to finish the server made us feel unwelcome and rushed. It seemed any request we made was met with a sigh and it was just very off putting. The food was good, not great. We had the speciality clam chowder that was tasty but overpriced. The rest of our entrees were a mix of local seafood favorites and a steak. There weren't any highlights. I go on vacation and expect relaxed meals that make me happy. This night was a big disappointment. read more

Walked in at around 6:15 on a Wednesday for dinner & put our name on the list. Ended up waiting at the bar for about 30 minutes. Bartenders were friendly & attentive! Once we got seated, we ordered some of the famous chowder & immediately understood what the hype was about! My boyfriend got the fresh catch BLT as his entree & I went for the stuffed flounder casserole. He absolutely loved his & the tuna he shared with me was delicious! While the flounder was a rich menu choice, it was unfortunately completely swimming in heavy cream. I also chose to upgrade the side to the parmesan risotto and that was subpar, too. The vibes of the place were good though! We got seated by the fish tank and enjoyed looking at the sea life. We would return based on service and some great dishes! read more

Attentive wait staff, despite being so busy. Had a nice outside seating area. My wife really enjoyed the dinner special, and my daughter's mac and cheese was very good. The crab dip was also worth getting. However the fish, steak, and mussels we got were criminally over cooked. Oh, the tater tots are baked... gross. Hopefully it was just an off night, but have to go with what I got. read more

It's a friendly place to meet your friends. A variety of foods are on the menu. The ambiance beach welcoming. We go there for birthdays and special events. Everything I have ordered is delicious! read more

We stuck to our word and returned to Michael's Seafood a year later, and we're very glad we did. This visit completely redeemed our previous experience and reminded us why this spot is so popular. I ordered the Fish Market Special: blackened yellowfin tuna steak with a side of broccoli and an Asian cabbage salad. Everything was delicious. The tuna was cooked perfectly to order, and the blackened seasoning added just the right amount of flavor without overpowering the fish. My partner chose the Galley Sampler, also with blackened tuna and the same sides, and he was just as impressed. He was especially glad he made the same main selection as last year, it hit the mark this time. We went early on a Sunday evening and were seated right away, no wait at all. Overall, it was a great experience from start to finish. We're happy we gave Michael's another try. Also, the aquariums were a nice touch, they added to the relaxed, coastal vibe. read more

Michael's Seafood Restaurant - Penne Rachelle 14 Penne pasta tossed in a Parmesan cream sauce with fresh mushroom, sun-dried tomato and scallion served with garlic bread - Seafood Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

My first trip to Michael's Seafood was wonderful! Our waiter was awesome and I loved the food. We will definitely be back.

First, a well stocked bar has JW Red scotch and when a customer orders a 2nd drink, use the same glass. The world famous chowder was so thick you could push it all to one side of the bowl and it would stay. Must have been old. Full of good seafood, just not very appetizing. Crab legs were ok. Service decent at the bar. read more

Fantastic experience once again on our beach trip! Last night we had a bunch of appetizers, including the crab dip (Mouthwateringly good), and the tuna (also amazing)! I got fresh salmon made with the hollandaise sauce, and it was one of the best salmon dishes I have ever had. I savored every bite. Great service, pretty clean, and not too loud for being a restaurant and bar. Thank you for a great date night!!! read more

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