The Crab Shack

Where do I even start. Service was amazing from the second we walked in the door. Our server ,…read moreSunshine, was courteous and professional. She and the other staff were really attentive in keeping our glasses filled and prebussing by taking away empt plates and straw wrappers. The food was also amazing, I had the shrimp and grits and my wife had the scallops, both were cooked and seasoned to perfection. All around first class experience! We may even return this weekend!

While at the beach with friends for a few days this summer, we went out for a nice dinner with…read moreeveryone to this spot. It came highly suggested by the host of the beach house, as well as all the great reviews we saw online. This not a quick sit, eat, and be on your way type of restaurant, it's a long standing, very popular spot, and even getting their early, we still had a about a 45 minute wait. But we were able to get drinks, and take them out to enjoy by the water while we waited for our table. Because of the heat, they even had a cooler by the front door with free bottled water for guests to enjoy while waiting. Once seated, the waitress was very attentive, checking on us regularly, keeping the drinks coming and getting out order entered, and out to us pretty quickly. Not being a big seafood eater, I decided to give their meatloaf a try. It was fantastic, as were the mash potatoes and green beans it was served with. For desert, we got smores, which they brought out a flames, along with graham crackers, Hershey bars, and marshmallows to make them at your table. Overall, a fun experience, tasty food, and great atmosphere. It's a bit on the pricey side, but I'd say that's expected for a quality restaurant in a beach town. It's not tourist trap pricey, but you get what you pay for, which in this case is good quality food, decent portions! I'd go back on another visit, and would recommend to others.

Beautiful bar!

Shrimp

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Gateway to waterway...

Catch 109

4.4(56 reviews)

10.3 mi

Went with some coworkers on a weeknight and they were able to accommodate the 8 of us pretty…read morequickly (no reservations are taken). Staff is very helpful and courteous. The food was brought out nice and hot and cooked pretty much to perfection. The chocolate cake desert was delicious too. Being that it was a weeknight it wasn't too crowded and the ambiance was nice and quiet, tables were clean and presentable, we were a set up short but the staff were quick to get the place setting to us. Drinks were great too no complaints there either. This place is certainly a great option if you are looking for something not too touristy and want to have a nice night out in Morehead City I would definitely suggest giving this place a try.

Really cute place with separate bar and dining area. Dining area has sit at oyster bar and plenty…read moreof quaint seating. Scooter was a really good server. Prime rib crostini was very tasty, Honey pecan shrimp was sooo delicious. Potato puree very smooth and flavorful. Brussels sprouts were beautiful and delicious.

Cool wall mural

Honey pecan shrimp

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Red drum dinner special

Prime Bistro Wine Bar

4.4(49 reviews)

7.3 mi

It's our first time back after a disastrous dinner two years ago. Tonight we were pleasantly…read moresurprised. Dinner was very good. Then came dessert. No peach ice cream for you. Really? No one in the restaurant. No run on bread pudding w peach ice cream tonight. Disappointing end to what was a good dinner experience. Waiter went back and asked No peach ice cream for you!! Think about that as our last memory of our visit. Waitress dropped off flavored oil because there was no ability to have ice cream. Thank you. She went above and beyond

Second anniversary dinner we have celebrated here. Drove about 90 mins to eat here both times. Here…read moreis what I'll say about this place: A lot of places charge high prices for dinner these days and prop up their restaurant with above average service and good decoration. This place is the real deal. You definitely pay a lot. However, the food is absolutely worth the price you pay. This is a restaurant that talks the talk and walks the walk. The wedge salads is beyond comprehension how good it is. The bread is transcendent. I got the dry aged steak and my wife got the wagyu. Both were true to definition fine dining. My wife insisted on the truffle fries as a shareable side and by gosh they were the best fries ever had...that being said...wagyu 5oz is $130. You aren't going wrong here. Great meal, great service, worth the time and $$. It is rare to get a good deal and still spend $$$$ these days. This is the spot.

20 oz. Bone-in NY Strip at the Wine Bar

Tuna Poke with Yuzu Aioli, Citrus Drops, Wakame, and a Puffed Rice Cracker

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Blackened Ahi Tuna, Grilled Asparagus, Carolina Gold Rice, Citrus-Basil Emulsion

Riverside Steak & Seafood

4.2(422 reviews)

13.3 mi

The food was amazing. I had lobster ravioli with stuffed lobster, scallops, shrimp and lumped crab…read moremeat in a creamy tomato base. My wife had fried shrimp and oyster platter. Atmosphere was upscaled but relaxed. Servers were attentive to everyone and the hostess who said she had been there 20 some years was so sweet and fun loving. We both enjoyed her so much. I've been coming to Swansboro for years and always wanted to eat here. Trust me, we will be back.

Went there for ate dinner and there are some good plates but one of shrimps with grit is very…read moredelicious!

Beloved coastal decor

Scallops and nachos appetizer

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Liquid marijuana

Kathryn's

3.8(248 reviews)

8.5 mi

great service! food was super yummy and the martinis were…read morealso great! free bread and it was all very filling

I was able to sit at the bar with no waiting. Great wine list and martinis. So good…read more The food was amazing!!! I had the grouper special and will be dreaming about it. It was one of the best meals in recent memory! The chef is doing things right! The bartenders were friendly and engaging. I look forward to returning on my next visit to Emerald Isle.

Emerald Isle Martini

Shrimp bisque

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Frito misto

Ribeyes Steakhouse

4.3(60 reviews)

12.8 mi

This place was recommended to us by a friend who stays in Beaufort regularly, and it did not…read moredisappoint! The salad bar was fresh, well stocked, and had a great variety of vegetables and toppings. We decided to split a meal and ordered the 16 oz ribeye. It was cooked perfectly and came with an additional side and there was MORE than enough food! All I can say is come hungry! The staff was incredibly sweet, welcoming, and attentive, which made the experience even better. Great food, generous portions, and wonderful service. We'll definitely be back next time we're in the area!

Wonderful Staff: Warm & welcoming. Delightful experience…read more Delicious Food: Consistently good! Three of us ate at the bar. Bartender was attentive even at "rush hour". Drink & food orders turned around quickly. We had the pleasure of meeting the owner earlier in the day and decided to pop in for a drink. When the kitchen got going and the aroma wafted out we knew we'd stay for food. Recommend the 10 oz RIBEYE steak, which comes with their signature Soup & Salad Bar (in fact full dinner entrees include this). Ribeye lovers' heaven in Beaufort, NC!

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Sagebrush Steakhouse

3.5(50 reviews)

6.1 mi

The food was good and the service. Not a bad atmosphere except I noticed an air conditioning vent…read moredripping on the floor. I told the waitress and she said it's been like that a long time. Just as she said that another waitress with food walking under the leak has drops fall on the food she was carrying! GROSS AND SHAME ON THE OWNERS

Just got sat. Bonnie, my bartender and server greeted me and made a suggestion for soup. French…read moreonion and the entree is salad. Not much but hits the spot. Everything very Texas driven. Seems to be a good place for the locals. Cowboy look on the interior.the soup was tasty and the salad looks great

Cheese fries

Loaded Potato Soup

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Complimentary Rolls

Caribsea

3.9(312 reviews)

9.8 mi

This place is ok. We were a large party and there was some confusion with our reservation, so they…read morehad to figure a backup option for us, which turned out to be a private room. The majority of the staff were friendly and were great. The food was good, but everyone's food was undercooked. We didn't say anything because having to wait longer was not really an option with 6 young kids who were already super restless. Drinks were good and the waitress was really great at explaining the drinks and if she didn't know she would go ask the bartender. Overall not a place I'd take my kids, but good for an adults only night out.

Everything was perfect! Ask for Karen as your bartender or…read morewaitress! She's outstanding!

Mahi Mahi

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The Full Moon Oyster Bar- Atlantic Beach

3.7(204 reviews)

8.5 mi

The food was really good! We've been in town for 3 days, and have been consistently underwhelmed by…read morethe food around this town. But Full Moon was great! They made a really good Pain Killer, charbroiled the scallops well, cooked the shrimp pretty perfectly, and made a great grits cake with the shrimp and grits. Service could be a little more attentive, but they were busy, and the hostess told us they were understaffed. Sometimes that's just how it goes in restaurants. The ambiance is typical coastal shenanigans. I don't go to restaurants for the ambiance, so i don't care.

First if I lived here I would not rate it for purely selfish reasons. Since I'm a tourist I will…read morebe kind and allow other fellow travelers to know this place is INCREDIBLE. I will not be eating anywhere else but here for dinner, since that's the only time they are open. So onto the review. Tuesday April. 7, 2026 is 94 cent oyster night. I had 2 dozen raw at that price. They were good, but I'm an oyster snob so they were not exceptional. Not the restaurants fault at all. I've had amazing and it's hard to find that especially at that price point. Onto dinner. My wife got the seafood risotto. Dear lord it was good!! I got in addition to my 24 raw oysters the oyster stuffed with lava filled crab. Hot to the touch but worth the scalding tongue. For the entree I had the fillet mignon. Yes as a Kentuckian I realized that teeth were not needed for this at all . The steak was medium rare with perfection throughout. Asparagus and mashed taters were good but didn't compare. As a bonus we got the slaw and special potatoes (red russets cut thinly ) as a thanks for ordering. Terrific potatoes and ehhh on the slaw. We finished with the banana pudding cake for dessert and oh my goodness was that a nice closer. Yes we did have two pitchers of yuengling beer which were a nice touch. We will go back tomorrow and again Thursday before departure. If you read a negative review it MUST be a local who wants a place that isn't full of people because this is a gem! We got here at 4:40 to be the first in at 5 pm

The Full Moon Oyster Bar- Atlantic Beach

Salmon

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The view

On The Rocks

3.9(260 reviews)

6.1 mi

We had a great dinner here!…read more Luckily it wasn't extremely busy so we were seated right away! Our waitress was extremely pleasant and took great care of us without being annoying. We had the calamari appetizer and it was excellent! It was very lightly battered and was so soft and flavorful. I ordered the fried oysters which were plentiful, light and so tasty! My husband had the scallops platter and they were very large and tender. I can't remember having such delicious seafood! What was so nice was we walked from our rental to the restaurant and enjoyed the fresh air! It was a lovely evening with family. P.S. - they had live music -a guitar player who played a wide variety of beach favorites from the 70s to the 90s! We've loved this vacation to Atlantic Beach and hope to return again soon!

On The Rocks wasn't bad but it didn't knock my socks off either. I was over seafood so I got the…read moreshaved prime rib sandwich with fries. It was basically two subs and fries. Lots of food that can easily be shared. Portion size was too big and I wished I had known before ordering. I was only able to eat one half of the sandwich and I probably only ate half of it because it just wasn't hitting the spot. My husband got the farmer's daughter burger and really enjoyed it. He said it was very good and had no complaints. The place was empty at 7:30 on a Saturday night so we were able to be seated right away. Our waitress was great and attentive. Overall, it was ok.

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24 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Sandy P.

1311

213

1053

3 years ago

Watch out for bones! They filet their own fish here. There were soooo many bones it was impossible to safely eat. I asked the waitress about it and she said that's how they serve it there. How about a little warning!! Bluefish is fairly easy to fillet with a bone structure that's easy to follow. So maybe get a new guy. They do not devein their shrimp here. I know its been cooked so there's no bacteria but the grit was off putting as well as the look. Yuck. The coleslaw was ok, the potato salad was ok, just mediocre. The deviled crab tastes like cornbread stove top stuffing only. It's a busy place right on the water and it was packed for the lunch special $12.99. Hush puppies are complimentary here. Cocktail sauce is tasty. People are friendly. View of the bay is nice. It's a cafeteria setting and the dishes are a step above paper plates. Forks tines are bent up. Only beer and wine, no liquor. There was nothing I would order again. YMMV. read more

Lauren G.

20

4

3

5 years ago

Was super excited to take my family to what seemed to be a very local seafood restaurant. Several of the staff were incredibly rude and short with us. Myself, my husband and another couple decided to plate share so we could all try different kinds of seafood. The server brought out our food she didn't bring any extra plates (just three with food on all of them) and when one of us asked for a plate she told us it's the one holding the baked potato and we can just use that. The food was incredibly undesirable. Everything that is fried (most of the menu) tasted the exact same whether it was chicken tenders, hush puppies, oysters or flounder. I think if it was a cheaper restaurant in the Midwest I would understand why the food is so bad, but being right on the coast and paying over $80 for two meals and a kids meal was just too much to ignore. I would highly recommend you skip on this one if you're visiting the Indian Ocean area. read more

Anica W.

0

1

0

7 years ago

Crab Shack is a favorite for my husband and me. We aren't even "Beach" people, and we live 2.5 hours away... and we drive down just to eat at Crab Shack. I have to recommend the scallops panned in butter. They are my favorite. I usually order the combination of those along with fried shrimp. My husband has special dietary needs of NO SALT. Usually, seafood restaurants are a no-go (as are many other restaurants), but Crab Shack does not salt their food, so YOU can control the salt. This is great for us! Love the hush puppies (and you'll have to be careful to avoid eating too many before your plate arrives). Give them a try for the 'fresh off the boat' seafood. The decor may be simplistic with the choice of the tables and chairs, but the view over the sound is gorgeous! Enjoy a little time on the back deck to take in the view. read more

Hailey A.

0

1

0

9 years ago

The crab shack is the best! I've been eating here for over 20 years! Best seafood! You cannot get food any fresher than this! Awesome & quick service! Views of the water! You won't be disappointed!! Their lunch specials are awesome too! Portions are great! Go see them!! read more

Patrick G.

398

2

0

6 years ago

Great food, view and service. Lunch Specials daily 11 - 2 for $9.99 Fresh and Local Seafood and the Steaks are amazing. For dinner, be sure to arrive early to prevent await. Around 4:30 read more

Michael L.

12

1

12 years ago

Love this place, been coming here since I was just a little boy. Coming in from surfing and having it right on the sound. Can't get much better. And the staff is funny read more

Sara B.

6

15

0

11 years ago

Is not a clean place. Great food but it takes forever to get seated. I wouldn't recommend this place. Sorry but it's better go to another restaurant . read more

Jeannie A.

8

1

0

7 years ago

The Crab Shack is hands down, my favorite place to eat! It's also the only place I'll order shrimp from. You won't be disappointed!

Steve G.

0

20

3

4 years ago

Closed for the season. Nov.5 2022. Gray food but we just don't know they were closed kind of a let down. Maybe next year

Patrick G.

48

1

0

8 years ago

Great food, great service. Been coming here for eleven years and won't stop. Portion sizes are great, views are great.

Matthew F.

0

4

2

1 year ago

Best local seafood around would recommend this place to anyone food was lightly breaded and the taste was perfect

Adam S.

57

8

13

12 years ago

Had the snow crab legs, first time ever coming here and the food and service was great but be prepared to wait.

B R.

0

14

1

6 years ago

They some really good seafood. Love the atmosphere on the sound side. Their grilled shrimp is really good.

Kara N.

0

1

0

10 years ago

Great food!!!!! Fresh and local!!!!! View is amazing. Great lunch specials from 11am-2pm. Give it a try!!!!!

Joey C.

117

23

0

4 years ago

Absolutely amazing food and service!!! Everything was perfect! Can't wait to come back next year!!

Wendy B.

0

1

0

7 years ago

The Crab Shack hasn the freshest seafood in Carteret County. You get the most hang for your buck!

Jeremy H.

0

1

0

5 years ago

The wait was long but worth it! Great prices and the food was delicious! Definitely recommend!

Josh P.

0

1

0

4 years ago

the most seasoning here was in the dr pepper. hushpuppies 10/10 though read more

Julie T.

5

2

0

7 years ago

Fantastic food & service!!! THE place to eat at the beach!

Kim F.

0

1

0

7 years ago

Wonderful food,staff and atmosphere! Cant wait to go back!

The Crab Shack - seafood - Updated September 2026

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The Full Moon Oyster Bar- Atlantic Beach

3.7

(204 reviews)

The food was really good! We've been in town for 3 days, and have been consistently underwhelmed by…read morethe food around this town. But Full Moon was great! They made a really good Pain Killer, charbroiled the scallops well, cooked the shrimp pretty perfectly, and made a great grits cake with the shrimp and grits. Service could be a little more attentive, but they were busy, and the hostess told us they were understaffed. Sometimes that's just how it goes in restaurants. The ambiance is typical coastal shenanigans. I don't go to restaurants for the ambiance, so i don't care.

First if I lived here I would not rate it for purely selfish reasons. Since I'm a tourist I will…read morebe kind and allow other fellow travelers to know this place is INCREDIBLE. I will not be eating anywhere else but here for dinner, since that's the only time they are open. So onto the review. Tuesday April. 7, 2026 is 94 cent oyster night. I had 2 dozen raw at that price. They were good, but I'm an oyster snob so they were not exceptional. Not the restaurants fault at all. I've had amazing and it's hard to find that especially at that price point. Onto dinner. My wife got the seafood risotto. Dear lord it was good!! I got in addition to my 24 raw oysters the oyster stuffed with lava filled crab. Hot to the touch but worth the scalding tongue. For the entree I had the fillet mignon. Yes as a Kentuckian I realized that teeth were not needed for this at all . The steak was medium rare with perfection throughout. Asparagus and mashed taters were good but didn't compare. As a bonus we got the slaw and special potatoes (red russets cut thinly ) as a thanks for ordering. Terrific potatoes and ehhh on the slaw. We finished with the banana pudding cake for dessert and oh my goodness was that a nice closer. Yes we did have two pitchers of yuengling beer which were a nice touch. We will go back tomorrow and again Thursday before departure. If you read a negative review it MUST be a local who wants a place that isn't full of people because this is a gem! We got here at 4:40 to be the first in at 5 pm

Riverside Steak & Seafood

4.2

(422 reviews)

The food was amazing. I had lobster ravioli with stuffed lobster, scallops, shrimp and lumped crab…read moremeat in a creamy tomato base. My wife had fried shrimp and oyster platter. Atmosphere was upscaled but relaxed. Servers were attentive to everyone and the hostess who said she had been there 20 some years was so sweet and fun loving. We both enjoyed her so much. I've been coming to Swansboro for years and always wanted to eat here. Trust me, we will be back.

Went there for ate dinner and there are some good plates but one of shrimps with grit is very…read moredelicious!

Finz Grill & Eatery

3.1

(196 reviews)

I had the shrimp burger it was amazing! They have great crab dip appetizer! The service was great!…read moreThey have a good atmosphere the outside gets an awesome view we even saw dolphin!

The hostess was completely uninterested in her job. We walked in and she didn't greet us or even…read moretalk. So I said "2" - she grabbed 2 menus. I asked if we could be seated outside - she just walked away towards the back so we followed. I think she was trained at Dicks Last Resort ;-) The waitress, on the other hand, was completely the opposite. Nice, attentive and professional. The food was hit or miss. We started with the crab dip. The dip wasn't bad - my husband really liked it. Said it came with toasted bread but it was untoasted white bread. Would have preferred crackers or something other than that. I wouldn't get it again. The flounder sandwich was excellent. Large, tender flounder. Fries were hot, crispy and not greasy. The shrimp melt was underwhelming. The shrimp were cooked well. The toasted hoagie was a plain, untoasted hot dog bun. Maybe they are against toasting?? The view from the back porch was amazing and the breeze was nice on a hot summer night.

Blackbeard's Grill & Steam Bar

4.0

(104 reviews)

Food is amazing! I had the fried shrimp and the crab dip! The service was great and speedy! It's…read morevery laid back and casual.

Visiting Beaufort and when inquiring about the best seafood, a couple of locals told to eat at…read moreBlackbeard's. Boy, are we glad they did! The seafood was not only fresh and delicious but well presented with the entrees colorfully prepared on the plates. They run the restaurant like a well oiled wheel with the staff making it very efficient. The entire team appears to work well together and respectful of each other. The seasonal entrees and dessert are impressive and seasoned nicely. The sauces accompanying the appetizers and entrees were plentiful-----some establishments only serve some dime-size portions but not Blackbeard's. Want fresh seafood when visiting......don't hesitate to stop at Blackbeard's.

Front Street Grill

3.5

(290 reviews)

Dined on deck. A beautiful Sunday evening. May have been a…read moreone off, but battering of fish, shrimp, and oyster on Admiral's Platter heavy. Oysters way over fried. Not up to $40 price standard. Others enjoyed the triggerfish special. Calamari appetizer very well prepared.

Sat at the bar inside for a drink and a snack. The oysters Rockefeller were good and loaded with…read moreParmesan cheese, they tasted just like pizza. The service was pretty slow considering it wasn't very busy inside. There is a big deck area outside that was pretty busy but not as nice as other options nearby.

Flipperz Family Bar and Grill

3.5

(296 reviews)

Absolutely delicious!! The food was literally so good!!…read more crab dip app, fish tacos, shrimp sandwich, kids fried shrimp and grilled cheese. The whole family loved it!

Shrimp appetizer was good, slaw too. Chips were salty and fries mushy. Service, well.... I think…read moreour server got lost.

Catch 109

4.4

(56 reviews)

Went with some coworkers on a weeknight and they were able to accommodate the 8 of us pretty…read morequickly (no reservations are taken). Staff is very helpful and courteous. The food was brought out nice and hot and cooked pretty much to perfection. The chocolate cake desert was delicious too. Being that it was a weeknight it wasn't too crowded and the ambiance was nice and quiet, tables were clean and presentable, we were a set up short but the staff were quick to get the place setting to us. Drinks were great too no complaints there either. This place is certainly a great option if you are looking for something not too touristy and want to have a nice night out in Morehead City I would definitely suggest giving this place a try.

Really cute place with separate bar and dining area. Dining area has sit at oyster bar and plenty…read moreof quaint seating. Scooter was a really good server. Prime rib crostini was very tasty, Honey pecan shrimp was sooo delicious. Potato puree very smooth and flavorful. Brussels sprouts were beautiful and delicious.

Rucker Johns Restaurant

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amazing tenders! super fast service!…read more the french fries are more of "chips" (not pictured). big interior! no outdoor seating after 3!

Very simple lunch with a side salad. Service by Kaitlyn was excellent. She was attentive, yet did…read morenot rush us to order. We were not that hungry but I will tell you that side salad with the sweet sticky croissant filled me up. The booths are in need of more foam. When we walked in there was a strange smell to the place but it went away. The restaurant did look clean and at noon on a Friday is was dead. BUT the summer is coming and you won't be able to get in here, so we were so happy to stop by before tourism hits.

The Captain's Table

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Fast, quick friendly service. Had breakfast. Usually eggs are and hash browns are served greasy…read more Not here!! Thank you! Good food. Good Cooks! Happy Staff.

Greasy food. service wasn't the best. I know about being a waitress. If your restaurant isn't…read morebusy and you can't refill my tea especially when you are no where to be found that is not good service. If you are not a local you may not get the best service at this place. There are plenty of restaurants in Morehead to eat. Greasy food and scallops were just okay. Hush puppies were very greasy.

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