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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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

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

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

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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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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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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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

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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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 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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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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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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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

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

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

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

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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Terrible wait times, cold food, overpriced, and rude service. One of the worst dining experiences I've had. Do not eat here. 0 stars read more

I would give a 4.5 rating if possible, but this restaurant leans towards five stars. The exception, and it may just be me, the oysters Rockefeller was uninspired and one of oysters was apparently, an infant. Otherwise, everything else was great: crab cakes, mashed potatoes and cole slaw. Service and setup, excellent read more

We got here about 7pm, walked right in and were greeted, sat down immediately. Our waitress (Wendy) was hands down the best. She was super fast and knowledgeable, came with drinks before we knew we needed them. The food was out of this world. Burger was perfectly cooked, hush puppies were crispy, light fluffy. The crabs legs never stood a chance against two hungry teenagers (2lbs). My wife and oldest both had steaks and loved every bite. The restaurant had a down home feel, everyone is super friendly read more

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The food was absolutely wonderful. The staff/service was awesome and the ambiance was casual and clean. We were on vacation and returned so many times they knew our names. read more

Michael's Seafood Restaurant in Carolina Beach was a great find on a recent trip. We stopped in on a Wednesday night and grabbed seats at the bar, which turned out to be the perfect spot for a relaxed dinner with great service and a fun atmosphere. The seafood was excellent across the board. The Fish Market Special, blackened trout, was fresh and perfectly prepared with just the right amount of seasoning. The Mini Crab Cakes were loaded with flavor and mostly crab, exactly what you hope for at the beach. The Roasted Beet Salad was fresh, vibrant, and a nice lighter balance to the meal. They also have a very nice wine list and well-made cocktails that complemented everything nicely. They do offer steaks, but honestly, when you're at the beach and the seafood is this good, why order anything else? The only letdown of the evening was the chocolate dessert, which was not made in house and didn't live up to the quality of the rest of the meal. Still, the overall experience was excellent, and we'd happily return next time we're in Carolina Beach. read more

Back to Michael's at Carolina Beach! What a great place. We tried the Sampler appetizer: two small crab cakes, bacon wrapped scallops and tempura shrimp. My wife got the Penne Rachelle and I got the Shrimp and Scallop linguini. Great food, great service. Nothing is fried. Good atmosphere. They were not packed at lunch, but had a good flow of customers. We took leftovers home and a piece of Key Lime Pie. read more

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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

Service is great! We came in with a large table and they did their best to provide accurate quick service. We were seated outside in their covered patio which thankfully had fans as it was blistering hot outside. The food was fine- typical beach style seafood. My fish ended up being super dry and overcooked but the shrimp was cooked and seasoned well. I think I would opt for a po boy if we were to ever go back. read more

The food, the service, the ambiance.....all were AMAZING! My husband and I were determined to find a great spot that offered more than just fried seafood and Michael's hit the mark!! read more

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We got clam chowder recommended by asst mgr Nicole at golden sands hotel. i told her we are from New England and hesitant but she assured me I would not be disappointed. She was so right. Absolutely delighte. And $9 for a bowl you cant beat it. We also got mini crab cakes $16 for 5. No over breaded cake here. So darn good. i got swordfish. A Litile dry On the thinner end Much better on thicker end and near skin. Helped too when I got extr sauce on side. Broccoli and rice was terrific. My wife got shrimp and scallop scampi over penne. She loved but sauce didn't have any garlic. We should have asked for a side of sauce with garlic. Service and atmosphere was great. read more

We knew we wanted to come here for the food. Their reputation for good seafood seems to be well known. But the service in this place shines as bright as the flavors on the menu. We got the chowder and swordfish tacos! GREAT!! It's a cute place with a great vibe. Aquariums line the walls in various spots and with several patios, it's a fabulous choice, year round! read more

My friend brought me here for my birthday lunch today. We got there shortly after they opened. I had the Mahi fresh caught, friend had salmon. Food was fresh and delicious! Service was good too. They do not give a birthday free dessert. So we went and had ice cream in downtown by the water. Parking lot is very small, so come early for best service. read more

Michael's Seafood Restaurant - Mahi Mahi, collard greens, smashed potatoes - Seafood Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

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Some of the Best Service on the island. Seafood is fresh and not much is fried. Very busy year round and that's one of the best signs to just come and give it a try. read more

Michael's Seafood Restaurant - Bangkok Tuna Special. Yeah, get this when available. - Seafood Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

Cute spot right down the street from the beach. Seafood chowder is DELICIOUS as well as the mussels. Both are a must have! We also ordered the seafood roll and seafood platter which were just okay (scallops were the best part, would get them by themselves next time even tho more expensive), but the chowder and mussels really shine. Service was good, only complaint is that they have a credit card surcharge fee of 3% that they did not tell us about until after we paid. read more

Michael's Seafood Restaurant - Seafood roll and tater tots - Seafood Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

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The servers and hosts were friendly, charming, and very attentive. The place seemed like it wanted to be high end with their seafood but was more if a casual family joint at heart. The food itself started well and went downhill as the plates came out for me and my family. The chowder was hearty and tasty, the tuna appetizer was really good, but all of the fish and meat for the mains was really dry. Definitely overpriced. read more

Michael's Seafood Restaurant - Galley Sampler with a piece of Yellowfin Tuna (catch of the day) and the "premium side" of risotto (not good). - Seafood Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

OMG. BEST MEAL EVER!!!! i've been reviewing restaurants for a dozen years now and this is the best meal I've ever had. I had been seafood lasagna. My wife have the grouper and grits we had crabcakes we had clam chowder. There wasn't one bite that wasn't perfect Larry Elder the chef came over and we ran down praise upon him read more

Michael's Seafood Restaurant - Fish (Grouoer) & Grits - Seafood Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

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Was There on Thursday April 30 at 4pm. Ordered Salmon Tacos, Wrap, Salmon, Red slivered Cabbage , No Cheese , No Salsa, Hardly any salmon, My wife ordered the Mahi Sandwich , it looked like a piece of sliced Ham it was so thin...The bartender was too busy showing her phone and talking shit with the local folks,Now we are local from Wilmington and had been coming here for a while for their Thursday specials. I Guess we can mark this OFF our list...My glass of beer sat empty for a few minutes. read more

Absolutely delicious. Went and had a 30-45min wait time, and had incredible service. The Boil is absolutely mouth watering and the shrimp and scallion scampi was so so good. The seafood Mac and cheese was amazing as well. I will say my boyfriend ordered the blackened flounder and he said it was not worth the price, so I would avoid that...other than that, we were all pretty satisfied. Pictured is the boil and the seafood Mac and cheese. read more

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

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