Centerfire was a great relief from the typical bars and taverns that reside within this corner of…read moreNC. Locals will remember this location as the former Crooked Lotus, but is now a comfy, cozy adjustment into a well stocked cocktail bar. The staff is great (ask for Sara) and the menu is a simple, yet creative blend of simple favorites and original recipes. The ambience is a soft, warm setting with a random but fun mix of playlist music and live performances. Check the placard on stage for the schedule. The liquor selection isn't the world's biggest, but it is stocked with some good, above average choices that non-beginners will appreciate. There is also a good selection of wine, as well as some limited tap options (call ahead to confirm taps are flowing. Seasonal traffic impacts the flow). Whether it's a private affair, celebration of sorts, one-on-one meetings, or catching a breath after a long stretch, Centerfire is a must stop for anyone. The prices are reasonable and the quality stands above the local average of the area. Enjoy!

Stopped in on a Thursday night to meet friends for Christmas. Here is what we liked:…read more* Immediate seating, only one other person when we arrived. A variety of seating, bar, tables or couches. * Decent selection of holiday cocktails. * Variety of spirits to make what you would like. * bartender was helpful and cool. What could of been better: *Not sure what the vibe was supposed to be, brightly lit and very low background music. Almost seemed sterile. * Drinks were just ok, nothing stood out as impressive for a cocktail lounge.

If you love Salty Turtle, you'll love The Cove even more!…read more The Cove is a cocktail bar/event space that is owned by Salty Turtle. They carry a few of their beers to serve as well as wine and liquor. Ever wish you were having a cocktail at Salty Turtle while your partner was enjoying a beer? Well now you can! Hit up the cove and you can have the best of both worlds with no one compromising. The Cove is a "club" so you'll need to sign up for a membership at the bar before you can enjoy some drinks, but don't worry it's free to join! We enjoy coming here on Wednesday nights to play trivia with friends that is hosted by Meeser Eddie. My favorite drink to sip on when coming here is probably the spicy margarita. It's not on the printed menu, but you ask and your wish shall be granted!On Wednesdays they also offer $15 bottles of Prosecco. Yes you read that right $15 for a BOTTLE of Prosecco. Nothing beats coming to play trivia with friends and sharing a great bottle together. The staff here is always so friendly, it's clean, the service is fast & the cove itself provides excellent vibes. We love the cove & salty turtle so the hardest decision is usually choosing which one to go to... and sometimes we just hit up both!!

My friend and I went in here on a whim when we had a ladies night at Salty Turtle. Prior to this,…read moreI thought this was only an event space. Which it is but it is also open a few days a week, one of which being on Wednesday nights at 6:00pm for trivia. The place is smaller but very cozy. The decor inside is super cute and the drinks are great. We got a tequila drink that looked beautiful and tasted very good. They also have beer and wine. Super cool place to check out and really excited for an upcoming event I am going to at their location too!

Phil, Shay and the rest of the staff were very friendly and helpful. Went for a couple of beers and…read moreappetizers. Phil's recommendation's were spot on. If you want a friendly place and good food I would highly recommend this place. Thanks Phil for a great time. The Loomis clan.

The pirate theme is fun and the staff was friendly, although the one waiter seemed a little…read moreoverwhelmed with our order. The food and alcoholic drinks are the reason for the 2 star review. There were 5 in our party. -The meals came out missing the requested condiments (ranch/lemon/etc). -One person said the shrimp po'boy was bland and needed seasoning and more remoulade. -The turkey hoagie had one slice of turkey on it and was missing the ranch dressing. -The piece of fish on the mahi sandwich barely covered half the bun (round bun) and was also bland. -Neither of the adults cared for the mixed drinks we ordered. On a positive note, the mac'n'cheese bites were what you would expect and good, several people liked the sweet tea, and the fried shrimp was said to be good.

Great little beach bar/restaurant…read more The flat breads and burgers are really good! They have a small kitchen so if it's busy prepare to be patient. They have a new manager and she has definitely made some good changes. Food is great and staff is very friendly! Walking distance to the beach!

If you're from out of town, don't waste your time or effort. We've given this place three chances,…read moredespite multiple locals warning us not to. We were told, "Come in--dine-in orders are served before call-in orders." So we did... only to be told it would be a 2.5-hour wait for a kids' pizza. We then tried DoorDash hours in advance, only to call and be told, "Oh, we turned DoorDash off months ago because of the demand." Apparently no one told DoorDash, because they were still accepting orders. The biggest issue isn't being busy--it's the lack of communication and management. Even the waitstaff seemed frustrated and unhappy. Three strikes, and we're done. There are too many other places to spend your time and money.

has great food. They're open now under new management and they often have bands on the weekends.read more

Though the service was friendly, we waited an hour for 2 kids meals and burger /chicken sandwich,…read more and when it came out, 3 of the 4 orders were wrong. The waitress was very apologetic but we then had to wait longer for it to be made right. The buffalo chicken sandwich I had high hopes for but was so thickly breaded, it literally fell off as I cut /bit into it. Just not good. The onion rings were good and same with fries. Overall would not return....

Incredibly slow to seat, be greated, have our waitress hit our table…read more... I'm all for a leisurely Sunday, but when hangry mode kicks in; you're locked in. NOW ON TO THE GOOD When drinks need to be refilled, they were rapidly delivered. The fritters alongside the four sauce pairing *chefs kiss.* Scallops could have been slightly more seared but the fried green tomatoes made up for it!

We ate here two nights in a row. Great food and drinks, waterfront dining and there was live music,…read moretoo. There was a bit of a wait for outdoor dining but it was well worth it.

If you're looking for one of the best hidden gems in the Surf City area, make sure you visit The…read moreSea Witch Lounge. The food, cocktails, atmosphere, and staff consistently make this one of our favorite local spots. The standout on the menu is the Roast Beef Sandwich. The combination of hand-carved roast beef, caramelized onions, brie cheese, arugula, and horseradish crema is absolutely incredible. Every ingredient works together perfectly, creating a sandwich that's both rich and flavorful without being overwhelming. What really takes it to the next level is pairing it with one of their homemade daily soups. The soups rotate regularly and are always fresh, creative, and delicious. If you're having trouble deciding, order a soup flight. It's one of the most unique offerings around and it never disappoints.

Bartender and staff was rude. We were from out of town our friends live in Top Sail. You think…read morethey would treat their locals good be that is who keeps you going in off season. But we were told that we have to ho to the bar when it got busy. There was only 21 people in the whole bar..The Bartender still did come over to us..it is sad..We tip good..because 2 of us have Bartended .I could have bought a bottle for what I paid for a shot of Captain

Driftwood Craft Kitchen was one of the highlights of our visit to Hampstead. The atmosphere strikes…read morea great balance between upscale and coastal, with warm wood tones, modern finishes, and subtle nautical touches that feel inviting without being overdone. We started with The Amelia cocktail, which was refreshing and well-balanced. For appetizers, the Sesame Ahi Tuna was incredibly fresh and perfectly prepared. The C.A.B. Ribeye was the standout of the meal--tender, flavorful, and cooked exactly as ordered. We also shared the chocolate mousse, which was smooth, decadent, and the perfect finish. What stood out most was the attention to detail in both the food and the overall experience. With excellent ingredients, skilled preparationu, and a beautiful atmosphere, Driftwood Craft Kitchen is absolutely worth a visit. We'll definitely be back.

Where do I begin... We ordered martinis,…read moreThe glasses were no where near "full" Wife ordered the chef special, Chilean Seabass. I think it was the special because it was almost ready for the dumpster, She said she thought the sauce tasted odd. But later her stomach wasn't feeling well I ordered the steak sandwich, And specifically asked if the steak was chopped up, As I do not like fat or gristle in the bites of my steak sub. It was large chunks of steak that the fat had not been trimmed off of there were a lot of bites that I had to simply expel onto my plate. When Kimmy our server, asked, how was the meal? I told her and she could clearly see that I did not eat most of my steak sandwich and I had spit out a lot of it. When the overpriced Bill reached our table, A tall man with a big beard came to the table and asked how was the meal? I told you him about the steak sandwich. And he asked, If we were locals I said yes we were. And he said this, Well, maybe we can take care of it the next time you're in... HE SHOULD'VE TAKEN CARE OF IT THERE AND THEN Not sure what that's really means, Since now I will never be going back. And neither should you As you read the other reviews, it is CLEARLY an overpriced menu. With overpriced drinks Just like the Owner's other "bar and grill" in Sneads Ferry Spaggia (sp)? We went there a while back and found the same thing to be true. I think they're a "couple" from New York and wanna come down here to SouthEastern, North Carolina and charge New York prices Now, I reached out to the owner the next day and never received a call back. My advice. Don't waste your time OR your money