Our Airbnb host recommended this place, and a quick yelp check solidified our plans…read more We got there a few minutes before the opened. It was about 90 degrees out and we were hot and tired. Chelsea greeted us and welcomed us in. Full disclosure. I had a cold, and was not feeling my best. Somehow, Chelsea made me feel like she would make sure I got what I needed. From bringing extra wasabi, to creating an appetizer that wasn't on the menu, she and the kitchen staff made us feel special. Hubby had the steak, 10/10. Same with the fried oysters. I had the tuna tataki, and with the extra wasabi I could finally breathe lol. My daughter had the chowder and a crab cake. She wasn't feeling well either but the chowder was so good she took it to go. Highly recommend if you're near Oriental NC.

Popped in Labor Day weekend for dinner and was greeted with a wait time of 30 minutes but they made…read moresome adjustments and sat the three of us down at a high top table. I ordered a clam chowder and a burger w/ sweet potato fries. As someone who lives in New England I am happy to say this is a delicious chowder. To my liking; a thick broth and the right amount of fixings of clams, potatoes, and other ingredients. I would recommend not using the saltine crackers, not needed. Ordered my burger rare and it came out as I ordered it. Sweet potato fries were good too. We ordered a key lime pie for the table and was very good! For one of two restaurants in town I would recommend making reservations to be on the safe side.

Very slow service. It took over an hour to receive our very simple breakfasts. The problem must…read morehave been in the kitchen because the wait staff was attentive. But after 4 mugs of coffee,we wanted our food! One member of our group got the buffet. He enjoyed his two plates of sausage gravy and bacon before we got anything. Once our food arrived it was good and actually cooked to order, including the very soft scrambled eggs my brother in law always orders. For once,a restaurant finally did it! Plates were plentiful,so I didn't take home the delicious looking cinnamon rolls they were selling. Bring cash, they add 4% to cc and debit card payment. I wouldn't X them for long wait time. I just wouldn't go on a Saturday morning.

Comfort food menu with warm and welcoming staff ~~ the atmosphere is coastal casual. Weekly…read morebuffets offered and a dessert list that will have you thinking maybe you are not too full after all :)

Lord the best crab meat in the area is found here at Williams Seafood…read more.. you can't beat the service or price either...a great time to be had every time you walk in the door.

Every time we're in Oriental visiting family, we make a point to come to Gretchen's Bistro. It's…read moreone of the few places that feels just as easy with kids as it does for a great meal out. The atmosphere is relaxed but still really well done, and the food has been consistently excellent. Service has always been welcoming and accommodating, which makes a big difference when dining with little ones. It's become part of our routine when we're in town, and somewhere we always look forward to coming back to.

We (14 of us!) dined at Gretchen's Bistro in Oriental last night. The trip out to Oriental was well…read moreworth it! We were seated at a large table in an enclosed patio of the restaurant. The seating and lighting were great. Our server, Kayla was very professional and efficient. As one might imagine, a seating of 14 can be difficult. She handled us with aplomb! Many different items were ordered. I started with the wedge salad where the iceberg lettuce, blue cheese crumbles and bacon were the stars of the show. I ordered the duck breast for my entree. The fat was perfectly rendered and the puréed carrots pair extremely well with the richness of the deck. A must have with the duck is their in-house made pear martini which blended perfectly with the fig sauce served over the duck. My husband ordered the Shrimp Cocktail as my appetizer. The shrimp were plump and perfectly steamed! The cocktail sauce was fresh made and delicious! His entree was Pistachio Butter Scallops. They were served on a bed of polenta with a side of haricot verts! The scallops were sautéed to a point where the edges were just ever so crispy while the interior of the scallop was tender and sweet! He said this was one of the best meals he'd have ever had and we've dined at many 4 & 5 star restaurants! I almost forgot to mention the bread service! We were offered either a Baguette or Focaccia bread. The focaccia was so outstanding, we bought an extra half loaf to bring home!!! Even though we were both happily satiated, we shared their pan fried pound cake with salted caramel gelato and chantilly cream for dessert! It was simply amazing! The management staff and chef came to our table to check on our service and meals. They were very appreciative of our glowing feedback! We'll definitely be coming back! I highly recommend going to Gretchen's Bistro in Oriental! You won't be disappointed! Sorry...only the one pic, because we were a large group enjoying a multitude of conversations.

My goodness! What to say about this surprising gem. We're planning to move to the area and decided…read moreto find somewhere to eat downtown. When we drove by, we weren't sure what to expect. There's a large screened in porch for those who want outside dining without the bugs. There's counter service and plenty of seating, including a back dining room. The furniture is a bit dated and worn, but the food more than makes up for any aesthetics. My fish was buttery and fried to perfection. The breading was well-seasoned, and the tartar was creamy. The Cajun grill platter was huge and flavorful. The tuna came out a perfect medium, and the shrimp were the star. My man finished his plate in 7 minutes while raving about the remoulade. Our server was wonderful, and we'll definitely be back!

Vast improvement on my last visit here! It's been a couple of years since I was here, but the…read moreservice and food have improved immensely. All 3 of us enjoyed what we ordered and it came out hot and fresh. The fish and chips were delicious, the burger was cooked perfectly and my chicken gyro was really good with fresh veggies and great crinkle fries on the side, the chicken was also marinated well. It's super casual inside, with local artwork for sale on the walls. Local hangout with a nice little bar . Parking can be tricky, but you can find some around the building. There are not many places to eat in Oriental so I'm glad this one has gotten so much better!

I eat at The Crab shack twice a week and have been for quite some time…read more The food is superb and the staff and cooks are second to none. Somer, one of the managers is always so nice and courteous. All the cooks really go above and beyond for me. I would Highly recommend this place.

Today we had what was one of the worst meals we've had in Washington, which is saying a lot. We…read morepaid close to $20 for a SMALL fried oyster sandwich that came out not the way we ordered it; which was with tomatoes. No tomatoes came with the sandwich. The oysters were undercooked. The bun was a really inexpensive bun from a grocery store. The fries were undercooked (which is so awful) The young girl that delivered it when told that we were splitting it, and I needed some way to cut it in half literally walked away from the table without helping us. The food was horrible. The service was horrible. This is the third time we've been there. I do not understand how this place is still in business.

Three to four stars is an accurate ratting for Charlies…read more Popped in on the way to visit family in the area and after eating Waffle House for dinner I needed something light to fill the stomach for breakfast. Stopped in at the right time as shortly after multiple families came in. Definitely can see this being a busy spot pre/post church. Was a little surprised about the lemon juice packets for my water, first I have seen that. I enjoyed my meal. Everything hit the spot with my order. My grandfather's poached eggs were overcooked but he enjoyed it all. Other things that stuck out was they had no OJ, overheard the waitress tell a young boy they were out of apple juice, and they were not serving french toast. Maybe staffing issues with it being Labor Day weekend but I would have thought having a fully stocked kitchen would be important. If traveling through I would pop in for some grub, it is better than the Mc. Donalds up the road.

By far the worst seafood I've ever had in my life. Waitress was great I loved her, restaurant…read moreitself was nice the ambience was cute. The FOOD oh my god my $20 plate came out with 4 soggy cold fried oysters and 5 rubbery weird tasting scallops. There was no seasoning on anything it's like everything was microwaved. Food took 45 minutes to come out and there was only 3 people tables in the restaurant. My food tasted like it came out of the bus tray, I'd rather eat out of the foodlion dumpster honestly. Heard the restaurant was great 3 or 4 years ago but now it's horrible. Would not recommend this place to anyone that's ever ate decent food in their life, wouldn't feed my worst enemy this food.

My good friends and I ate at Front Street Fish Co today. We were greeted by the sweetest hostess…read morewith a bubbly personality. If this is your first visit, you place your order at the counter and grab a seat. They'll bring your freshly prepared order directly to your table. I have been craving fried soft shell crab for weeks and finally had the opportunity to enjoy some! If you don't appreciate them, you don't know what you're missing! I decided to add the premium side Crab Tots ($1.99 when added to the meal). I'd never had them before and will definitely order them again! All of my meal items were served fresh and hot!! Everyone in our group cleaned their plates, so you know the quality and quantity of the food was outstanding! On my way out, I spotted the owner Trey sitting at a booth enjoying his lunch. I didn't want to disturb him, so I offered my compliments to the cashier. As I was telling them how much we appreciated the exceptional food and service, Trey got up from his meal and walked over to thank me for coming in. He is a true gentleman and wonderful servant of our community! If you haven't already given them a try, drop by the Front Street Fish Co for lunch or dinner. Also check out the fresh fish in their market next door!! You won't be disappointed!

My sister and I had lunch here and I added on the clam chowder because I can never not get the…read morechowder when I see it on the menu. I have to say, this "chowder" was the worst I've ever had and it's not even close. It tasted, and looked, straight out of a Campbell's soup can. It had hardly no clams and maybe two tiny potato bits. The base tasted just like cream of chicken soup and it was the same consistancy. I even checked with the girl at the front counter to make sure I got the right soup because it was not even close to being a chowder. Even though I didn't like the soup, no one offered to reimburse me for it. All of the other food was ok with the fried shrimp being the best. The whiting and okra both tasted a little like they were fried in old grease.