Don't let the understated appearance of this restaurant fool you. Do yourselves a favor and try the amazing food here! The meals my husband and I had from The Sandspur stood out as the best cuisine we had during our trip to Carolina Beach. The food was cooked to perfection, beautifully arranged, and incredibly flavorful. It's easy to tell that their talented chef takes pride in each dish. We can't wait to go back on our next trip to the area! read more

The Sandspur - Blackened fish tacos and cheesesteak sub - New American Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

Not totally sure on this spot. I chose it because they are vegetarian friendly, and they definitely had a nice selection of options. Finding a spot to sit, was kind of a challenge and ended up being a little chaotic. We started inside, then went to the back where there was no seating, and then ended up in the front porch, where we did find that the two booths were able to accommodate our group. Service was friendly and attentive. Also, ordering was pretty simple in state forward, even though our group had eight people in it spoke between two booths. I chose the chips and salsa with the goat cheese queso as an appetizer, and then also got the fried tofu sandwich for the main meal. They also allowed a couple of my adult friends to order off the kids menu, which was very much appreciated. The salsa was very heavily dominated with tomato flavor and had some spice to it. I think I would describe it more as a chutney than a salsa. The goat cheese queso was pretty light on the goat cheese, and was a lot closer to just regular queso. The fries with my meal were okay and the fried tofu sandwich was okay too. Not a ton of standout flavors. I also got the seafoam cocktail. The presentation was cute and it was definitely a pretty drink. I would've expected it to be just a little stronger given the price. But, I was delighted by how it actually did look like seafoam on top. So that was a win. I'd say jury is out on this one. One of my friends got the halibut and really loved it. Another friend got the kids meal quesadillas and the cheese had already gone pretty cold by the time she got it. So, mixed bag! read more

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Small place with a cool beach bar vibe serving good fish tacos. Blackened cod was fresh with red cabbage and a little too much white sauce . Fresh chille chips with queso were a must have. Definitely go for each Cool spot read more

This is a small dive bar with a surf shack theme. The food is delicious. We both had the shrimp basket. Service was fast and friendly in spite of it being very busy. It was pretty loud because it's a small space. If we come back to CB in the summer, we would definitely return and sit outside to avoid the noise level. But I am sensitive to volume levels, so it may not bother the average person at all even when it's packed. The slaw is great - I could have eaten several of those! The drinks looked great but I rarely drink. My husband had a blood orange hard cider from their decently sizable list of options. read more

The Sandspur - The Buoy Basket of cornmeal breaded shrimp with fries, slaw, buttermilk ranch, and cocktail sauce - New American Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

Fish tacos and shrimp basket were delicious. Good tuna on the nachos. Outdoor bar had fast service with lots of first come picnic tables. Live music as well. Small inside restaurant. read more

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None of the food here was more than mediocre but the noteworthy part was waiting for a little over 40 minutes in line to order, with just a few parties in front of me. There was one very casual person behind the counter for much of the time. She spent over 15 minutes with ONE small party in front of me. They did prepare the over-fried food fast. On this visit we ate at just a few restaurants but all the others had actually good food. All had much better service. read more

Really enjoyed my visit to The Sandspur! We had family in town staying in CB and found this place on Yelp. Loved the vintage interior design - it really felt like you stepped back in time. The food was all great, but we especially loved the goat cheese queso. Service was great as well. We'll be back! read more

The Sandspur - Menu - New American Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

This place is small so get here early or make a reservation. The food is good. I had the tacos. Seemed a little pricey for just a couple tacos but oh well. read more

The Sandspur - New American Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

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The Sandspur has a lovely atmosphere- it's a pretty small place with an equally small menu. I was surprised at that. But I always say a small menu indicates they do a few things exceptionally well. I had a hard time deciding bc nothing really jumped out at me at the current moment. I honestly don't remember at this point what I ate, but I think it was a grilled chicken sandwich. I ended up loving it. Perfectly grilled chicken with an exciting sauce. I love my sauces. Fries were good too. The salad was good and I like that they'll dress it with whatever extra veggies they have around. This was a very thoughtful menu with local components, when possible. You often just get 'beach vacation food' in a locale like Carolina Beach, but the Sandspur was refreshingly different. read more

Best restaurant in Carolina Beach. The restaurant itself is cute with a nice outdoor area. The queso and salsa are both delicious. Salad is fresh and flavorful. Burger and chicken sandwich are both amazing as well. Service was fast and the staff is friendly. We look forward to coming back soon. read more

We ate at the Sandspur on 4/26/26 for the first time ever. It was after 8pm when we entered, so not very crowded. Service was quick, and our water was refilled before it was empty. We ordered two of their Buoy Baskets which were $18.00 each. Their fried shrimp is battered with corn meal, and the batter is pretty thick. It's sort of like shrimp stuffed hush puppies. The red slaw is excellent, but it comes in a souffle cup the same size as the ketchup. I would have given up a few fries to have twice as much slaw. The tiny serving size just makes them look cheap. The fries tasted good. Total cost for 2 Buoy Baskets was $36, plus 2.52 tax, plus 7.20 tip = 45.72. They did not add a 3% charge for using a credit card, or I would deduct a star. I do not know if the Sandspur has a lunch menu with prices less than their dinner menu. The ambiance was fine for a seafood place. read more

The Sandspur - Buoy basket, $18.00 - New American Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

BE MINDFUL: Parking is outrageous! $8/hr. Not their fault. Blame Carolina Beach. Small spot. Nostalgic decor. Friendly staff. Had the pepper jack burger. Cooked to perfection. Thick patty. Served Wilmington Brew Co beer. Timely service. Close to the beach. read more

Food was good. The shrimp was more cornmeal than shrimp though. The "coleslaw" is red picked cabbage, which is ok. Menu was limited. Indoor was hotter than sitting outside. Service was great. read more

Great location, quaint decor, excellent food, and super friendly service. Fish taps were delicious and the tuna nachos a great blend of flavors and twist on nachos! Must try this place if you're here at the beach. read more

The Sandspur - Entrance and bar - New American Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

Smallish menu, everything we had was excellent, crap ceviche, flounder on top of grain bowl, fries were perfect. Service was great , beer and wine good . We will be back! read more

Their food is delicious. The chef clearly takes pride in his craft. Way better than one would expect from bar food, even better than many restaurants that just specialize in food. The staff were super friendly and accommodating of food allergies and moving tables around to fit our group. The inner seating area is small but cozy with great decorations to look at. Altogether a great vibe. I look forward to going back! read more

The Sandspur is a great place to eat, conveniently located, and the staff is friendly, happy, and likes to please!! Matt was so generous and kind as the three old ladies navigated the steps into the dining room. We were not only delighted by the scrumptiousness of the nacho appetizer but grinned with pleasure as we enjoyed our main course. I cannot say enough positive things about dining at The Sandspur! Treat yourself sometime! read more

Surprised this isn't the top rated restaurant in the area. This was the most fresh fish I've had since living in North Carolina. If there's Tuna on the menu, then you should definitely get it. We didn't order any alcohol but I did spy some Chartreuse and Campari which are always a good sign. Can't wait to come back and make this a go-to. read more

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Great food spot with nice outdoor seating area. We went for lunch with my toddler - they have kid menu, a high chair, and he could run around outside while we waited for lunch. Per Yelp reviews, it sounded like they had good tuna options, so I got the quinoa bowl with tuna (cooked medium), which included salad, pickled veggies and cream sauce - it was so good and a nice portion size too! We also split tuna nachos - with fresh raw tuna, cucumber, slaw and sauce / everyone liked their meals! Lot Parking next door included with restaurant purchase. Small bathrooms, no changing tables. read more

Delicious food & good portion sizes. Tofu tacos were excellent, my husband and son loved their sandwiches and the French fries were so good.

Great spot for lunch. We had the tofu sandwich and bowl with tofu. While I felt the additional +5 for tofu on the bowl was a bit excessive, it was a large portion. I honestly would recommend the bowl by itself for a lunch portion. The interior felt like a vintage beach cottage, and was well kept. read more

The Sandspur - Tofu sandwich and bowl with additional tofu - New American Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

Not a good place, at all. Greasy tables, nothing healthy & dirty bar They do have a catch of the day But there are multiple options on the menu that appeared to be unavailable because of the catch (which is one position) There was no option to do tuna medium cook! Like the server offered to do it raw or fry it well done, this is ridiculous read more

This is the absolute best spot in all Carolina Beach, Wrightsville Beach and Kure, everything is top-notch from the food to the beverages the decor and the live music. The staff and the owner are the epitome of family owned business and it is evident how much they care about their business and their customers. Do yourself a favor and stop in you will not be disappointed. Whether you're local or visiting, they will make you feel. At home read more

We've visited the Wilmington area twice before and I knew this last time I had to look up what local's recommended. I was blown away by this unassuming bar and their fresh offerings. Previously, we didn't love the food and I questioned if we could live somewhere the food was just ok. But this trip changed my opinion. Sandspur is outstanding fresh food. I came with my family and we all enjoyed. The service was good but it didn't matter. Happy to have a meal I still think about! read more

The Sandspur - Tuna special - New American Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

On an island that sometimes feels like there should be fresher food, with a true coastal feel, The Sandspur sticks out as a new establishment that delivers on coastal freshness in all the best ways. We've been back a handful of times after stumbling into the backyard patio space during their soft-opening this past spring. Each time it's been a delightful experience with a staff that's driven to please. Honestly, I would recommend their food and drinks to a wide variety of people because we haven't had anything not worth eating and their drink selection ranges from hand-made cocktails to local craft beers to coors light. Very excited to see how they are able to expand their outside space to include live music and pop-up events with continued business as the summer goes on and they have the chance to grow! read more

The Sandspur - Orange Crush - New American Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

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What a nice surprise last nites meal was! Used yelp to find this place, nice atmosphere and sat at a nice table in the corner. After having a cold beer we looked at the menu and it was kind of confusing? Thought about going somewhere else but decided on their burger without the pepper cheese. Came out and was one of the best burgers anywhere. On top the fry's were also perfect. Hats off to the cook... read more

Wish I could have given a review of the food. BUT whomever was behind the bar just now drove a large party away with her awful attitude. Try harder. read more

We had a stroller so we went right into the back of the restaurant to their spacious outdoor area since the front only had stairs. Ordered food inside and they brought the food out to us. No free parking. The outdoor area has five wooden bench tables, a table and some lounge chairs with side tables. Inside has a bar and small group seating. We tried the pepper Jack burger ($13) and fish tacos ($16). They both were good, but not the best. The burger does not automatically come with any sides, you'll have to request it for an additional $2 upcharge. The burger meat wasn't juicy, but had a nice smoky flavor. I liked that the bun was grilled. The fish tacos came with medium cooked tuna, tons of fresh radish, red cabbage, cilantro, and crema. My partner enjoyed the Anderson Valley Holy Gose beer. This is a nice addition to Carolina beach and is a good hangout spot, especially in the outdoor area . read more

3.5 stars rated up because the restaurant is very cute and we had great service. The duck frites (on special) were amazing, and the tuna was also quite good. Some non-seafood eaters in our party had chicken sandwiches and hamburgers that were fine, but nothing special. Overall, I would recommend as a nicer lunch or dinner out, for the seafood and menu special items! read more

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I had been wanting to try this spot but never did in the summer due to the amount of people in CB during the on season. It's quite small inside but has a large outdoor area for the summer months. Inside is dark a moody but in a good way. Staff was nice and dinner was out within a reasonable time. The burger was delicious, like one of the best on the island but isn't cheap. You could tell everything was quality and even the ranch was homemade (ranch people we know this is important). 2 burgers, fries, a sweet tea and a mix drink will run you about $60. read more

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Great food, atmosphere and service. Cleanest, newest and nicest 'dive' bar I've ever been in!! Rhonda was awesome!!

We were hesitant to try due to the small menu but as it was clearly vegetarian friendly we decided to give it a shot. So glad we did! We came back again during our stay and tried everything. The menu is simple but every single thing is balanced and cooked perfectly. The roasted veg changes daily and both options we had were delicious. The chips are served hot and liberally seasoned. The salad and grain bowl are both examples of making simple food exceptional when cooked well. The tofu sandwich is delicious and whatever they do to the tofu is magic. The service was outstanding both times we were there and there is a QR code for free parking after 4pm on the back of the menu. read more

great small local restaurant/bar. has 2 hr free parking in lot next door when you validate. they have a large outdoor patio. The food we had today was a hot honey chicken sandwich, a grilled chicken sandwich and tuna tacos. All the food was delicious. I really liked the hot honey chicken read more

The Sandspur - New American Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

Fish tacos were excellent. That was about it! We sat inside because it was super hot out today. The burgers tasted rotten and were super dry, they did not have half the things we picked from the menu, so we have to pick alternates. It was my birthday and they did not even offer an extra ice cube, nor acknowledge it. And to top it all there was a COCKROACH running along the wall next to our booth. I killed the roach myself cause the staff was too busy to pay attention. The worst part: when I suggested they should call the exterminator, their answer was "lady all the buildings in the beach are full of them, we exterminate weekly and it does not help". I would have at least expected a "we are so sorry about the ROACH". But no, they were absolutely unapologetic. Disgusting! I don't even want to think about this place again! read more

Get the grain bowl! I am not a fresh tuna fan (can't help it), which was their local fish protein for the day. I chose the chicken and was thrilled! The chicken was tender and perfectly cooked. The flavors of this dish are vibrant and perfectly balanced. I will order this again, maybe with a different fish next time! read more

The Sandspur - Get the grain bowl! - New American Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

This place is a gem! Think retro beach dive with a creative gastropub-like menu. We really liked the food, the vibe, and the great outdoor seating area. We got the tuna nachos and the grain bowl, which were both super fresh and flavorful, and they did not skimp on the tuna! Food was fast and delicious and the drinks were generous We actually came back a second night in a row to try to get their soft shell crab sandwich but just missed it, I think for the season. Highly recommend this one! read more

Don't let the rustic appearance deter you. The tuna tacos and their grilled chicken were so good. There is a reason this spot is a local favorite. We were given this recommendation by a local shop owner and he was not wrong. The food was tasty! The outside bar is a great place to have drinks and watch the fireworks. The night we went had a DJ playing 80's music and how can you not like that?!? read more

As usual the food was perfect and service was on the spot. Fish of the day was tuna so my wife had the fish tacos. She reports that they were fantastic. I had the chorizo burger. It was cooked to perfection. Nice laid back vibe. Relaxing interior and best of all friendly staff. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!! read more

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Great ambiance, service, and food selection. The shrimp was fresh and so were the fries, everything had the right amount of seasoning and was cooked to perfection. read more

The Sandspur - Shrimp Sandwich with fries - New American Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

4 for food; 5 for service and environment. This place is newly-opened since we were here in November. We originally tried to go to another place on a Saturday night, but there was an hour wait. There was no wait here, which means it has yet to be discovered. We sat outside, behind the restaurant, where there are a number of picnic tables and lounge chairs in a wide-open space. (I imagine they have plans for more?) Our server was wonderful - friendly and attentive in the best way. We had burgers, which were good, and fries. Yes, you pay for the fries as a separate side, but who cares. When they come with, you're only paying for them differently. This way you have an option. They also had some local beer on tap, which was nice. I wish this place well so we can stop back next time we're in Carolina Beach. read more

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