Our "dinner gang" dined at The Chelsea this past Friday night. Our 6:30 reservation was ready upon our arrival. Our sever Anna managed all of our orders and checks perfectly which is no easy feat considering we're 8 couples whom rarely sit with our partners. Our drinks and appetizers came out quickly. Our entrees were served shortly after we finished the appetizers. And are drinks were kept full. All perfect timing in my book! I had the featured Char Su Pork Belly Bao Sliders. The pork belly was melt in your mouth tender and very flavorful. They were served on a light and airy bao bun. My husband had the Brown Butter Barbecue Chicken served over polenta. It's consistently a winner, because it's always so tender. If The Chelsea can handle our fun loving group on a Friday night, they can handle your gang too! read more

The Chelsea - Char Su Pork Belly Bao Sliders with Asian slaw and scallions. - New American Near Me - New Bern, North Carolina

Cute downtown location on the corner. Service was great. I ordered To-go. Solely based on the presentation, portion of food, food quality, and packaging for $45 I was not impressed. I ordered the crab cake dinner. The over cooked vegetables were placed on top of undercooked sweet potato fries along side of two small and greasy crab cakes. If you try this location, don't order to go. read more

The Chelsea - Crab cake dinner - New American Near Me - New Bern, North Carolina

We hadn't been to The Chelsea in a while but we were there in March and saw the steak menu. Husband had the Voo Doo steak and loved it. We had dinner there again a couple weeks ago and while he didn't get the ribeye he ordered, the ribeye he got was delicious. I got the Chinese-style ribs & slaw special. I almost ordered the duck special but I can make good duck at home. My ribs are hopeless. The server described these ribs as a small plate but I got 9 tasty ribs and the slaw was the perfect acidity to cut the sweet, heavy richness of the ribs. I generally don't care for 5 spice powder; it's usually too cinnamon or too cloves forward but these were perfect. Also, if you've never tried their South African Pudding, do yourself a favor and order it next time. It's like a cold bread pudding a bed of caramel and topped with whipped cream (but last night, it seemed like marshmallow cream). Never a disappointment and glad to have a great steak option in New Bern. read more

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There are a few places that are good to eat in new Bern, this is one of them. Lunch is more affordable than dinner. Food is always excellent

Made a reservation for Saturday night while in town for a girl's weekend. We arrived a little early and were seated pretty promptly. The menu had a lot to offer. I chose the flank steak and added truffle butter. The meal was good, but not super impressive. Maybe I had higher expectations. The mashed potatoes were heavily salted and I am not salt sensitive. The truffle butter was just okay. I really enjoyed the charm of this restaurant. Old school vibes with classy touches. Service was attentive. My friend received a complimentary dessert since we were celebrating her 50th birthday and she chose the banana cake. It was honestly not good at all. read more

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Wasn't too excited to eat New American, but the Chelsea proved me wrong! My partner and I came in close to opening, and we were the second ones there. We were promptly seated and quickly got our drinks. I got the basil breeze and she got the blueberry fields. Both were good, but the basil one was DELICIOUS and super refreshing! For appetizers, we got the seared tuna, fried green tomatoes, and the crab beignets. I was honestly impressed by all 3, but I liked the crab beignets the most while she enjoyed the green tomatoes the best. Waited a bit for our entrees as the restaurant had filled up, but the atmosphere was cute and we didn't mind. We shared the roasted beet salad w/ salmon + the braised short rib. The beet salad was great but there's not much you can do to make it unique. On the other hand, I was very pleasantly surprised by the short rib. The Brussel sprouts were great, the grits were super creamy, the fried onion was yummy to pick off, and the short rib itself was extremely tender! I don't typically care too much for short ribs, but I liked how the texture was great without being super fatty. Great food and experience, I'm excited to come back to try other dishes! read more

The Chelsea - braised short rib + roasted beet salad - New American Near Me - New Bern, North Carolina

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Service was wonderful. It was our anniversary and I had flowers delivered from a local florist (we'll rate them later). They had a table in a quiet corner waiting for us with the flowers front and centered. Okay, the food was okay, the crispy calamari was perfectly cooked, it was as at this point the meal lost some traction. My wife ordered the filet mignon, and because she likes it cooked through has it butterflied and cooked well done. It came out butterflied but not cooked the way she wanted. Back to the kitchen it goes. Now because I have manners, my steak and I waited. My steak was okay, the potatoes were decent and the grilled asparagus was stellar. My overall rating is B to a C. read more

Highly disappointed in the To Go order of blue cheese dip and chips. It cost way too much at $11 for something that looks like someone's leftovers! The dip was barely half of that one section of the tray. Not impressed and will not be ordering again! read more

The Chelsea - Bleu Chip Dip - New American Near Me - New Bern, North Carolina

I put in for a table and waited the expected 30 minutes. All while nearly a dozen groups finished their meals and left. I waited another 15 minutes before asking if I could have one of the empty tables. Mind you the hostess hadn't sat anyone in the meantime. The lack of attention continued with the waitress. I've had better service from salty old ladies at dive dinners. She didn't look at you while speaking and ran off before getting an answer. She seemed rushed and we were an inconvenience. She couldn't even be bothered in bringing the food as it was brought by kitchen staff. The busboy had to be the one to bring a to go box. She had a total of three tables and I don't believe the others were pleased either. read more

My wife and I made a reservation for five last month at the Chelsea. Our plans changed, so we called that afternoon to cancel hours in advance and they said no problem and thanked us for calling. However, they required a credit card to make the reservation and when we got the bill I noticed a $125 charge for a meal we never ate. When I called, it was explained that they had a 24 hour advance reservation cancellation policy. I know that's normal for doctor's offices, but for a restaurant, really?? They promised to credit our card, and weeks later I have yet to see any activity. Hard pass on the Chelsea if this is how they treat their customers. read more

This is our favorite restaurant in town. We have been eating there for eight years and never had even a mediocre meal. The food is always delicious no matter what you order. We keep trying other places but always come back here. read more

Changing rating to 3.75/5. Owner cared enough to find out the true details of what happened and what didn't meet expectations. read more

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I loved it. I am new to New Bern NC and have been exploring the different restaurants and this was definitely one of my favorites and in fact I would go so far as to say the meal I had --Brown Butter Barbecue Chicken (Sautéed chicken breast | creamy stone ground grits | brown butter barbecue sauce | sautéed house vegetables 14) was one of the best meals I have ever eaten in my 60 years of living. The grits was so creamy its like mash potatoes --- its just DIVINE. Will be back again soon. The service is great too -- I should have tipped more. The tea was yummy too. read more

Two almost tasteless crab cakes for 40 bucks, so so rice pilaf , greasy asparagus , the soup was good thou and well worth the price , service was excellent and the only saving grace , I will not be back read more

We came across this restaurant while looking for food in the area. It was a Friday evening so there was a decent amount of people dining inside. The restaurant seemed to be very popular and had good reviews. Our server was pleasant but not really personable and not extra attentive. We were given complimentary bread once we sat down. I ordered the New Orleans pasta. It was very flavorful and had some heat. There was a lot of chicken and sausage in the pasta. There was more meat than pasta. That was my only issue. The pasta was really tasty. My friend got a steak and said it was good as well. read more

The food was delicious! Atmosphere was relaxed yet sophisticated. The service was amazing. Free birthday dessert was generous! Thank you! read more

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

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

Have gone here every summer for past 4 years, this was disappointing in service, price, and quality of food. We were never asked by Joseph how we liked the food, and i would have politely told them not good. I had the chilean sea bass special and it was maybe 4 oz, with dehydrated clams and overcooked risotto... for $42! Not going back any time soon.​ read more

About 2 oclock we came in for lunch. Seated right away. Menu selection was nice. We both got the Caesar salad with calamari which was very good and exactly what you expect. Our server was very nice and not bothersome. The place started filling up around 3. Old school ambiance with that tile floor! We'll be back. read more

The Chelsea - Caesar salad with calamari - New American Near Me - New Bern, North Carolina

Very enjoyable afternoon's with my wife and daughter. This is a great place for family's, couples, friends, or business meetings. Just stop by for a drink at the bar if you have time for a relaxing evening after a good or rough day of work. Our server Anissa did an amazing job delivering an excellent quality of service. Thank you! And we look forwards to returning for great meals again. read more

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Went to New Bern for the MS bike ride and my wife saw this restaurant for us to go to for dinner. We made a reservation (squeeking in - as they were busy) and when we got there were seated immediately. The table was TINY, but we managed. We had a fantastic waitress that was fast, attentive, and polite. The meals, however, were even better. The cajun pasta I had was the best I've ever eaten and my wife's brown sugar chicken was excellent for her. Good bread, monumental brussel sprout salad, good coffee, and nothing but smiles. Would go back in a heartbeat! FIVE STARS! EDIT** We decided to go back the next evening and though the first night was an "A+", the next was a "B-" or less. We were seated at a booth (though it was like pulling teeth to get it) so we were more comfy. The waitress, however, was terrible. Didn't come back near enough, slow with coffee, didn't check on the food, wasn't around for more bread, took my card without showing me the bill (BIG NO NO), and overall was disinterested in our table. Our steak (we shared a meal) was GOOD (not other-worldly), and the fried tomato appetizer was tasty, but the service ruined the meal. I would have given a 3 or 2 star rating but the manager that night was not only attentive to our issues, but polite, helpful, offered dessert / $ off to fix (which we didn't take), and stated she would work on the issue. Excellent save... we'll definitely be back. read more

Absolutely phenomenal service! Our drinks were never empty. I had the most basic salad and I believe it was one of the most freshest and classiest salads I've ever had. The restaurant was clean and had touches of older antiques which made the vibe great. Would highly recommend :) read more

Everything!!!!!! Food is outstanding. The waitstaff go out of their way to keep you happy. My favorite restaurant.

Food is generally good. It has changed and the vibe is different. Not a local type place ambience anymore. All restaurants change when they sell and someone new comes and takes over. I get it. Still miss the old vibe. We are a southern town and southern hospitality is missing. read more

My boyfriend and I had the pleasure of visiting this wonderful establishment last night. I am out of town visiting from Southern California and came across this restaurant through researching mouthwatering places to check out while I'm in the area. Waking up from a post jet lag nap, we were both starving and decided on getting dinner here. This downtown area was adorable and the inside seating here was intimate, cozy, and screamed southern hospitality. We were promptly greeting by the kind and friendly waitress Brittany who extensively took care of us from start to finish! Never had an empty beverage and she kept the warm, mouth watering bread coming. Our food came out swiftly and in perfect order. We started out with the fried green tomatoes with sliced buffalo mozzarella, mixed baby greens, and pear pesto. These were absolutely incredible and reminded me of a southern take on a Caprese salad. Next I had the Apollonian salad and it was the perfect Greek starter salad. The pita bread that came with it was so tasty and the house made cucumber dressing paired extremely well with the flavors of the salad. For the main dish I ordered the vegetable risotto and Brittany easily convinced me to add the bacon wrapped scallops. BEST CHOICE EVER! This dish was so flavorful and satisfying, I could have this dish every day and never get tired of it. My boyfriend ordered the ribeye and shrimp garnished with a zesty cajun butter (not spicy) and served with parmesan potato wedges and veggies as sides. I luckily got to try a sample of his plate and was again blown away with the taste and quality of this dish as well as the temperature accuracy of the steak. All in all I am very thrilled we decided to dine out here this evening and we will be back to try the cocktails and carrot cake! Thank you to the full FOH and BOH staff as well as Brittany for taking such good care of us and giving us an exceptional and memorable experience :) read more

The Chelsea - Exterior - New American Near Me - New Bern, North Carolina

Day trip to New Bern and happy we chose to eat lunch here. We ordered the bacon wrapped scallops and they were cooked perfectly. The shrimp and grits was delicious with grits that were creamy, the way they should be. We also had the roasted brussel sprouts salad with added fried calamari. The brussel sprouts were roasted with a nice char & perfect crispy leaves and a delicious dressing. The calamari was lightly coated and very tender. The cocktail menu had creative drinks. The Chelsea mule was delicious. read more

I started with the fried green tomatoes. To be perfectly honest I was slightly nervous when I saw the pool of liquid in the corner of the plate, but luckily the tomatoes were nice and crispy and the cheese was to die for! GREAT COMBINATION! For my man course I had the Special which was chicken parmigiana, if I had to be picky and had to point out a flaw I would have to say that the pasta and sauce was as a touch on the colder side but the flavor overall was perfect! I saw that they had crab cakes so I had to ask for one on the side, perfectly seasoned, not to much filler it was great! All staff was super nice and friendly! Over all the only really complaint I have was the wobbly table. Thanks Joe for a great experience! Highly recommend the molten chocolate torte! read more

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We had lunch today and really were not impressed. The Bloody Mary was tasteless and weak...usually will get another one but didn't bother today. My boyfriend had the French Dip on a toasted hoagie roll. NOT! It was on a hotdog bun which fell apart if you tried to dip it! I had the grilled Mahi which was suppose to be on a toasted Brioche Roll...NOT...it was on a plain hamburger bun which also fell apart with every bite. The fish was good. Service was slow but she was pleasant so probably short staffed in the kitchen. Too many other good restaurants in New Bern... read more

Had the shrimp and grits, an old fashioned and a tasty IPA. Food and drink was excellent and fair priced. Service was great and if shrimp and grits was a super food I would have eaten there every damn day for a week. read more

The Chelsea - Shrimp and grits. And beer! - New American Near Me - New Bern, North Carolina

Ordered the steak. Nothing to write home about. I was disappointed considering the reviews. Quite pricey for the meal we ordered. I won't be back. read more

Shrimp and scallop was so delicious! The flavors were amazing! My husband had the shrimp and grits which was also so good! read more

The Chelsea - Shrimp and grits entree - New American Near Me - New Bern, North Carolina

The Manhattan and Lemon Drop glasses were short pours. The risotto was too thick and cheesy.

Great service and food. No wait time and lots of ambiance. Good value for what you get. read more

The Chelsea - Amazing Shrimp and Grits - New American Near Me - New Bern, North Carolina

The Chelsea is a guaranteed hit when you want to impress guests with the quality of the food in New Bern. I'm a non-cooking foodie from NYC, so when I say that The Chelsea's satisfaction of the taste buds is real competition, that's a list that extends way beyond the town. This particular time I decided to treat my parents out to dinner on my last night here. The reservation was for 5, but two people couldn't make it at the last minute. No problems. We were situated upstairs, which I've never experienced before. Our hostess was really friendly, as was our waitress. All three of us ordered the horseradish salmon. They brought us really hot rolls for the table. The salmon was juicy and flavorful. It came with a creamy rice that exploded with flavor. And the asparagus was firm, yet not undercooked. The meal was awesome. All three of us cleaned our plates. The good sized portions made dessert a bit too daunting a task. Maybe next time. read more

Lindy was an amazing waitress! The place was hopping, which was a great sign being my first time there. She is super knowledgeable about the food and honest when she wasn't sure about a particular wine, but she found out! Her time management skills were off the chart with all the tables she had and she was just a joy to see being such a hard worker! Oh and the food was really good and she had great support staff too! read more

I'm so under impressed with this restaurant. And disappointed. The service was slow, the servers didn't seem to be helping one another, and our water glasses sat empty for a very long time. No, they weren't short staffed as there were 4 servers and two hostesses. The burger was okay but I had to eat it without mustard because our server didn't come check on us until we were nearly done. The fries - meh. The salad looked good but the iceberg lettuce had that taste like a preservative is on it. I may be wrong but I'm decent at detecting it because it makes my stomach hurt so badly. Anyway, plenty of other great places to choose to eat in the area. read more

The Chelsea - Empty for like 15 minutes. - New American Near Me - New Bern, North Carolina

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Food and service were the best. Seven of us ate lunch. Everyone got something different and everyone loved their lunch. I recommend

This was our third time at the Chelsea. After a not so good experience, the owner reached out and offered a gift card to try them again. I will say they 100% redeemed themselves. Our server Lindie, was attentive and helpful during the entirety of our visit. The artichoke dip is AMAZING, both my husband and I had delicious entrees. I had the horseradish salmon. I will say, they could have used a little less horseradish, and made the Parmesan crust a little crisper, but other than that, the dish had amazing flavor and the risotto was an exceptional complement to the fish. My husband had the brown butter bbq chicken and the portions were HUGE! We finished with carrot cake and a chocolate torte and both were amazing. I am a huge carrot cake person and theirs rivals some of the best I've had. We will definitely return to The Chelsea. read more

This place rules. The salad was phenomenal but the African bread pudding was the star of the show. It is legitimately one of the best deserts I have ever had... so much so that I am writing this review a year later bc my parents are back in NC and texted me they were there read more

The Chelsea - African bread pudding - New American Near Me - New Bern, North Carolina