We had a wonderful experience at Saltwater Grill in Swansboro! I ordered the Angels on Horseback and loved the flavors, especially the delicious reduction and everything that accompanied the dish. The only thing I didn't care for was the risotto, but everything else was so good that it certainly didn't take away from the overall experience. My husband had the seared ahi tuna, which was excellent, and everyone in our group really enjoyed their meals. We finished with key lime pie and cheesecake, and both were delicious! The drinks were fantastic too. Danielle, our waitress, was an absolute charm. She was friendly, attentive, and a wonderful part of our evening. Great food, great service, and a great time with friends. Definitely a five-star experience! read more

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We recently moved to the area and chose Saltwater Grill to celebrate a special family occasion, hoping it would become one of our new favorite restaurants. Instead, it was one of the most disappointing dining experiences we've ever had. From the beginning, things felt off. Our server was wearing basketball shorts, which seemed completely inappropriate for the atmosphere and setting of the restaurant. The wait for our food was excessive, and when it finally arrived, it was almost entirely inedible. The food was cold, the broccoli was essentially raw, the rice and risotto looked and tasted nothing like they should, and every meal at the table was disappointing. For a bill of over $300, not a single person in our party left satisfied. To make matters worse, we noticed the restaurant had a B sanitation rating, which certainly didn't inspire confidence after the quality of the meal we received. The waterfront location is beautiful, but that's where the positives end. When you're paying premium prices for a special celebration, you expect quality food, attentive service, and a memorable experience. Unfortunately, we got none of those. We won't be returning, and I couldn't recommend Saltwater Grill to friends, family, or anyone looking for a nice meal in the area. read more

I was just disappointed when I visited saltwater Grill recently for a birthday celebration. They were just three of us at the table and it was for lunch. We had a choice to sit outside where it was in the 90° weather range or stay inside in the air conditioner. We chose the latter. People were drinking at the bar which made things loud.an Our only other option was to sit in back close to where the food was prepared. Neither choice was good. There were some screaming children sitting close by, and that ruined it for us as well. On the other hand, we had a wonderful server by the name of faith. She was very good at what she did. The food was so so. I've been visiting this restaurant off and on for the last 20 years. They have a long way to go to get up to par. read more

This place is awesome. We came for lunch and it was so peaceful. The staff is so friendly and welcoming. The menu is diverse yet themed. Side Note: The hand scrub in the ladies room is DIVINE. I would recommend purchasing it. Danielle is AMAZINGG so sweet and experienced read more

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Had the crab cakes a couple of years ago, and got food poisoning and was down on vacation for 2 days.. Not the best time.

The view and the breeze made it all worth it, but overall, a disappointing dining experience. We started off with the buffalo shrimp and she crab soup. The shrimp was exactly as the name would suggest- nothing special but tasty. The soup was probably the best part, taste-wise. I ordered the filet and it came out overcooked and dry- something akin to a hockey puck. Our server was excellent and saw it within minutes and brought me a new plate. The second was juicy and cooked perfectly, however I think this restaurant is scared of seasoning. The garlic butter on the steak was the only hint of flavor- I had to heavily salt the asparagus and mashed potatoes to get them down. No seasoning at all. My partner got the mahi mahi and while the flavor was okay, everything was dry and muted. Eating on the deck made it all worthwhile, but I think next time I'll just got for the view and apps. read more

Saltwater Grill - New American Near Me - Swansboro, North Carolina

Haven't been here for year so decided I wanted to get Eggrolls ($12 for three). Disappointed. Not sure what they have done differently but they were greasy and the outside texture was different. The inside flavors were still good and the sauce yummy, just the shell was not pleasant. Five stars to Breyanna... she was friendly and cheerful. She checked in on us several times. What I did notice is that she had to be a bartender and a waitress so she was not there when I did want something. I would like to suggest that the host/hostess (who was not busy) should be checking around to see if customers need anything when wait staff is short handed. He could have easily filled my glass with water or could have told Breyanna we were ready for out ticket. The property owner needs to change the parking signs to let us know that we can also park where the Looking Glass used to be. read more

Saltwater Grill - Sept 2025 eggrolls - New American Near Me - Swansboro, North Carolina

Great food, great service, beautiful view & setting. Swansboro is a delightful little riverfront town & the Saltwater Grill is the queen. read more

Saltwater Grill - Angels on horseback-so good! - New American Near Me - Swansboro, North Carolina

Our waitress Nancy was outstanding!!! She was on point & we enjoyed her! The deck seats were perfect with a nice breeze. We'll be back!

The entire meal was served cold. It wasn't what we expected as far as quality and flavor. Very long wait time. The flavor profile was very poor. Very disappointing for a restaurant that specializes in seafood. Would never recommend this establishment. The attire of the staff wasn't even McDonalds worthy Location was fabulous. read more

Saltwater is legit. A++++++++++ If you have Danielle as your bartender, she will take great care of you. Impeccable beachside vibes. Definitely need to check out Saltwater if you are in Swansboro!!!!!!! read more

Amazing location and view. Surrounding shops and street shopping in swansboro are a nice addition after a meal. Unfortunately the owners and operators are missing an amazing opportunity. For starters they need to actively and openly address the 85 sanitation rating as of 6/9/26. When you review the document it centers around lack of cleanliness in critical ways. The. When you look around upon entering I'll leave it to you but in general there is complete lack of professionalism which is sad to say for such a long established place with otherwise decent to good reviews. read more

Our waitress was super friendly and amazing, gosh I am bad with names but started with an M! I give her a 5/5 stars but unfortunately only give the food a 3.5!Waterfront dining with amazing views, it was a little hot and stuffy inside (I wish they had all the windows open). The food was decent, not as good as I was expecting. We stopped in on the boat after being out on the water all day. Nice that they have a dock that you can pull up too. We were dressed casual but lot of folks were dressed up! We started with a few cocktails and beers along with calamari and crab dip. My son had a N/A Pina colada served on the rocks (they don't have a blender! It was still good even though we were expecting frozen). I had a side salad which was a generous size and the ranch dressing was delish! Our friends are locals and said the food wasn't as good as last time, they were a little disappointed in this visit. Don't forget to use the restroom so you can use the amazing hand scrub (which you can also buy to take home!) and they have a cute little photo ooo in the front near the hostess stand. read more

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It was very hot in the restaurant, but the food came quickly. I got a blackened chicken Alfredo which was not really blackened chicken. It was great for seating our large party but I'm not sure I would go back. The staff was very nice b read more

Saltwater Grill - New American Near Me - Swansboro, North Carolina

Normally, Saltwater has delicious food, but over the past few days it seems as the managing staff has been lacking. We had a party of 11 people on a Tuesday night, nothing major. My wife ordered Risotto only to be told it was not available as a side; they were afraid they would run out and not have any for a signature main course. The staff was friendly and mostly attentive, but there seemed to be some underlying tension. We ordered, and the food came out, 4 people ordered sirloins; the 4th was told they had run out of sirloins and would be given a ribeye instead. All the sirloins came out overcooked, all were ordered med to med well, all came out well done. A friend went here Thursday of last week and had the same experience. I ordered Mahi Mahi Tacos with coleslaw, and rice. I got my food probably 10 minutes after the rest of the party. The tacos were chicken , not Mahi Mahi, and instead of coleslaw I was given fries and rice. I don't know if this had to do with the July 4th holiday and everyone was tired or if the cooks were having an off day, or what, but not the experience I expect from Saltwater Grill in Swansboro. read more

Service was very quick and the food was good! Location on the water was perfect. Staff were all very nice! Would come back for sure :)

It's always some bs coming here we have been coming for over 10+ years the bar is slow, the food is fine (normally over cooked), over the past couple of years it's like teenagers are running the place when you tell me 40 min wait till think 40-45 not and hour and a half then to check on our time they said "we didn't call you" no crap we know... read more

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No organization, whatever. Poorly managed, when the manager offers a free appetizer because you sat down, waited almost 15 for service, apologies and states there was confusion on whose was taking our table. Placed our order with the server, drinks and food. After 35 min, still didn't even have our water or drinks. Not to mention the free appetizer. Went ahead and peaced out. read more

Had lunch there today. Nice views and the food we had was good and they gave you alot. The calamari appetizer was good and I had the fried flounder and got 2 nice sized pieces. Parking is tough. There's maybe 10 or 12 spots in the lot and brleyond that it's street parking. I ended up several blocks away. It was a nice day but if raining I would have gotten soaked. read more

Had a fantastic dinner at Saltwater! Service from Tori was great and food came out in timely manner and was delicious. Every dish for our party of 4 was really good! The view from the outdoor seating was serene. Will definitely be back! read more

Beautiful weather and seated on porch with nice breeze and good cocktails! A favorite of ours to eat dinner when down at the beach! read more

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A bit disappointed in the food tonight. We were at a bar in town and a local recommended this place. The good: the view is amazing. Our server was extremely friendly. The bad: the food... all of it. The cleanliness. The need for some updating. Food safety rating was 90. My wife ordered the chicken with a butter piccata sauce. The chicken was undoubtedly frozen before served to us. Poor taste for sure. The sauce was unpalatable due to the amount of salt. I ordered the Mahi Mahi with pineapple salsa. The Mahi was certainly not fresh and was likely frozen before served to us. It was overcooked additionally and tough to chew. The "salsa" was basically just chopped pineapple. The outdoor deck, while the view is beautiful, needs some updating/repairs. The ceiling to the deck is just exposed plywood. I would recommend maybe some ceiling fans, or decorative wood rather than sheets of plywood. The flooring on the deck was old, dirty and worn. The sliding door to the deck was disgustingly dirty and in need of just some care. It spoke to the 90 food safety score that was posted. read more

Happy St Patrick's Day! Service was outstanding. Had elderly parents with us and the staff acknowledged and engaged with them. had them all laughing and smiling Specials for dinner were known as my comfort foods when I was younger. Shepherds Pie was wonderful and the Corn beef and cabbage had extra special flavor. Great job Chef! What beautiful scenery of the inter coastal water, and warmth of the sun in the background. You all made it extra special and we definitely will be returning for our next monthly gathering. read more

This place was exactly what I was looking for! Great views and the crab cake sandwich was one of the best ones I've had, with a delicious remoulade sauce. The staff were really friendly. Everything was perfect! read more

Saltwater Grill - The Crab Cake Sandwich - New American Near Me - Swansboro, North Carolina

Very disappointed in our meals on Saturday night. All four entrees, whether chicken, tuna, or salmon were overcooked and dry. Then the mashed potatoes were cold. Not what we have come to expect. Going forward we will stick to the lunch menu that seems to be what they are good at. read more

Nice restaurant on the water. Very good food! Highly recommend the Angels on Horseback. It was an amazing dish! It's a bit expensive but worth it. Staff was very nice and we will definitely go back. read more

Loved our visit to Saltwater Grill in Swansboro! The restaurant is open and airy with a beautiful view of the White Oak River -- such a relaxing spot. Service was super friendly and quick. We started with the southwest egg rolls (crispy and full of flavor) and calamari, which was tender and came with a balsamic glaze, tomatoes, banana peppers, and marinara -- so good! I had the fried shrimp Po Boy for my meal. It was huge, packed with shrimp, lettuce, tomato, and aioli. Definitely had leftovers! Pro tip: get the sweet potato fries -- they're extra crispy and seriously addictive. read more

Saltwater Grill - Key Lime Martini - New American Near Me - Swansboro, North Carolina

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I have been a loyal customer of Saltwater Grill for many years, which makes tonight's experience especially disappointing. This was, without question, the worst visit I have ever had. From the moment we were seated, our experience went downhill. Our waitress, Tori, was rude and dismissive from the start. There was no warm greeting, no professionalism, and no sense that we were welcome. We ordered salads to begin our meal. While waiting, I could clearly see our salads sitting at the kitchen counter for several minutes while Tori attended other tables and socialized with other staff at the bar area. The food was ready. It just wasn't a priority. When the salads finally arrived, our main courses were brought to the table within about a minute, rushed and poorly timed. There was no pacing at all. As I began eating my salad, I discovered hair in it. I immediately became sick and had to run to the bathroom. While I was gone, my husband approached our waitress, who was again standing at the bar talking with other employees, and informed her of what happened. She followed him back to our table and removed both my salad and my entrée. At that point, it was also clear that my steak was cooked incorrectly. I ordered it medium well, and it was brought out rare. Given everything that had already happened, my husband asked that all of the food be taken away. When I returned from the bathroom, Tori came to the table and asked if I wanted another meal or if I wanted the meal removed from the bill. Considering how rude she had been throughout the evening and the seriousness of the situation, the question itself felt dismissive. I chose to have the meal removed from the bill. She turned and walked away without any apology, concern, or attempt to make things right. As we were leaving, I asked to speak with a manager. A woman named Chris approached us. I calmly expressed how disappointed we were with both the service and the food. She stated that she was aware of the incident, which made the situation worse, because no one had checked on me or attempted to address the issue proactively. When I questioned this, she explained that she was not the manager and that they were "in a hiring process." I then asked to speak with the owner and was told I would need to call another day. This entire experience showed a complete lack of professionalism, accountability, and concern for customers. Between the food safety issues, incorrect preparation, poor service, and management's failure to step in, this was unacceptable. For a restaurant we have supported for years, this level of service, food handling, and management response is unacceptable. I will be contacting the owner to share this experience. Unfortunately, I will not be returning to Saltwater Grill, and I will be sure to share this experience with others. Long-time customers should not be treated this way, and no customer should ever leave a restaurant feeling sick, dismissed, and ignored. What was once a place we enjoyed has completely lost our trust. read more

We had a great dinner! Kate was an excellent and sweet server and the place was cute. We had alligator bites, she crab soup, angels on horseback entree, mahi mahi entree, key lime martini, and mango jalapeño margarita. Really impressed with everything we ate and experienced! read more

Saltwater Grill - Angels on Horseback, key lime martini and mahi mahi - New American Near Me - Swansboro, North Carolina

Great service today. We are a party of 12, they made a last minute dash and set us up. Comfortable atmosphere, attentive staff (server and manager), menu with a lot of variety, excellent quality (taste and temperature), clean, and mostly affordable. Can not say enough about this place, maybe the phrase on the glass says it all, "a little saltwater cures everything". read more

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Food: The alligator bites were available (and may or may not be), and were like chicken nuggets, with fried and battered jalapeño pepper slices as a secondary. Also had a shared sample of the Southwest rolls, which were delicious. Service: Super top notch. Cannot say enough good things about the service, which was all the right and appropriate amounts of attentive, and yet not oppressive. Ambiance: We were seated on the eastern/northeastern side and they opened the shades for us on the upper patio/deck area to get more exposure. The weather was great and the seating was good. read more

Saltwater Grill - Southwest Spring Rolls - New American Near Me - Swansboro, North Carolina

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Went for dinner with our dear friends! We were in the perfect side of the building for the cool windy evening. Our waitress was fabulous. The best surprise was that all of the menu is Gluten Free!!! Well, they can make EVERYTHING on the menu GF! At the table was shrimp and grits, Shrimp pasta, Angels on horseback and a cesear salad. No one complained about the main meal. Drinks were great. We had crab dip w corn chips; the corn chips were stale We had key lime pie, chocolate torte(gf) and cheese cake The key lime pie was more like vanilla pudding (they said it was a disappointment, and not like they remembed) , the cheese cake was fabulous, the chocolate was fabulous. Definitely go back read more

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Servers could be more attentive and aware Food was great, definitely recommend the shrimp and grits! View is amazing especially on nice days. read more

Such a romantic date night spot! We went around 6 pm and the vibe was perfect. The alligator bites and calamari were incredible appetizers, and our waitress (a blonde young woman) was so friendly and attentive. Highly recommend! read more

Ambiance is great, however the food left something to be desired. The Asiago risotto tasted like curdled cheese. Tried the crab dip for an appetizer, again way too cheesy not enough of a flavor profile and the flat bread was so hard you could barely bite through it. The service was good. But what does that get you when the food isn't? read more

They were packed tonight and we were seated right away. Our waitress was amazing and very attentive. I took away one star because a waiter in Black jeans saw fit to walk across the restaurant, just to ask us if we were finished. Mister Side part black jeans was SO RUDE! read more

Saltwater Grill - Cajun shrimp and grits - New American Near Me - Swansboro, North Carolina

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I wanted a seafood dinner and was visiting friends here and I took them here as a 'hosting me" thank you. What a mistake. They waiter did admit none of the seafood was fresh (fresh would be cost prohibitive) but I thought i would try it anyway, after telling the waiter i was apprehensive. I ordered the Fried Shrimp Platter with sauteed spinach and French fries. The fries were not even warm - I returned them twice before they agreed to cook some for me -- and they were HOT and yummy - best part of my meal. The spinach was oversalted and inedible, quite heavy on the garlic. I did not get a chance to mention this because after it took three tries to get hot French fries, the waiter never stopped by the table. The shrimp were overcooked, but worse than that, they had not been deveined. I had to remove a tough stringlike strip out of my mouth in the first bite - at first i thought it was a piece of shrimp shell, but it was the same for the next 3 shrimp -- and then I gave up and did not eat any more. When I asked for the check and was paying it I had to speak up to the waiter and tell him how disappointing the meal was -- he did not ask, but one look at my plate full of uneaten food probably scared him. His reply to my discourse on a disappointing meal was "sorry." Good grief. We had to wait as we were leaving for someone (the bar tender) to come and unlock the elevator and she asked how our evening was. My friend spoke up about the disappointing meal and the waiter's disinterest and she said she would speak to him about how to handle situations like mine in the future. No offer for a discount on the meal - no offer for a coupon to try the restaurant again......wow -- so that's why i have taken the time to write this review. PS the Caesar Salad was okay and the Shrimp Tacos were okay - that's what my dining companions had ordered. read more

Great food and atmosphere! Friendly and attentive staff. Check this place out when in Swansboro! read more

Saltwater Grill - Bacon Jam Hamburger - New American Near Me - Swansboro, North Carolina

I would love nothing more than to give this place 5 stars, but there were a few things that made me go four. Let's get into it, as you approach there is an outdoor patio and some stairs. The sign out front could be updated. We took about five minutes to find the entrance as nothing really marks it or where to go. Upon entering, we were greeted right away by a smiling face and sat quickly out on the patio. The interior isn't to bad inside and it seemed fairly nice and clean. Julia was at our table fast and brought our drinks quickly. She was great in recommendations and seemed to truly care about the patrons she was serving. Now onto what everyone likes to hear, the food......I had the buffalo shrimp as an appetizer which was cooked well and tasted great. All five of us really enjoyed them. I was told by my kids and wife that their food was really good and tasted fresh. My wife had one of the pasta dishes, she is not a pasta person, but she said that it was delicious and she would eat it again. That tells you something there about the food they serve. The French fries seemed to be fresh cut and were crispy. I also ordered the fried shrimp. (Yes, I have a love for shrimp. Lol.). I will say that the breading they use is excellent in flavor with whatever it is they use. Most of the shrimp was cooked very well and stayed crispy. There were some that were a bit overcooked which was a little disappointing. I will say that they are a bit more pricey than some places, but for the amount and quality of food you get, it is worth the bill. The service also made a difference as it was an enjoyable experience. I can hope that when we go back, that all the servers are that way and it wasn't just a lucky day. Did I mention that I'll be going back? Lol. Yes, I definitely will! read more

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Casual friendly atmosphere. We went for an early dinner and were not disappointed. They're located on the second floor, but they have an elevator (my wife cannot easily climb stairs). It's not self service, so you have to ring for the elevator. The manager was very friendly and helped right away. The food was excellent. read more