Best food I've had in years! Burgers cooked to perfection! Fries perfectly cooked! Hush puppies fantastic!

We have only been for breakfast but every vacation, we make sure to hit this place more than once. Excellent food and great service! Love the decor too! As a celiac, it matters immensely to me that restaurants like this care about providing really yummy gf food. I was blown away. We will always eat here while on the Crystal Coast! PS - I highly recommend the steak and eggs with gf toast for breakfast! Delish! read more

Very slow service, very limited menu. Went on a Saturday at 9 and half the stuff on the menu was unavailable and already sold out. How do you run out of gravy when serving breakfast foods at 9am at the beach? Spouse got waffles and they were burnt. We wouldn't go back. read more

What a fun restaurant and great food. The best meal we've had in Emerald Isle. Get there early so you can get a table or at least not wait too long for one. One night we were told at 6:45 we would have to wait. 1 1/2 hours. The following night we went at 5:30-ish and got seated right away. By far the best dishes are shrimp and grits and roasted turkey it was a special on Thursday night. The outside area is very fun and festive could use the music now it's kind of quiet out there. read more

The Trading Post - Unique tables - Southern Near Me - Emerald Isle, North Carolina

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Arrived at 715 and was rudely told by the host that the restaurant was closed. Sign sign outside says 8 and when we explained the sign said 8, he said it was the off-season and they close between 7:30-9. Maybe the food is good? Who knows, I sure don't. read more

Ate here the first night on vacation in Emerald Isle. Overall it seems like a solid establishment. I had the seafood platter, fried. The shrimp and oysters were great, the crab cake was ok, not bad, but not the best I have had. My son got the flounder and said it was very good! We will be back on our next visit. read more

The shrimp and grits were delicious. The poached egg was perfect. The hash browns were crispy (I could have used more they were so good) Staff is friendly and helpful. We will be back! read more

The Trading Post - Southern Near Me - Emerald Isle, North Carolina

Fun atmosphere sitting on the patio out back! Quick and efficient service. Food was exactly as described in recommendation, good, family southern & seafood dishes. We had Shrimp and Grits, Grilled Chicken with Man-n-cheese, and Pot Roast dinner. All delicious!! read more

The food was good but not amazing. It was clean and the service was great. I would definitely go back. The only reason I won't give it 5 stars is because it's too expensive for the quality/quantity that you get. Nice place though ! read more

Excellent service! Hands down the best shrimp and grits EVER. My husband had the Benedict but wasn't fond of the sweetness in the biscuits. Our waitress, Ashley, was absolutely wonderful and offered to replace his meal. He ended up getting the fish stew (lunch menu starts at 11am), which was delicious and made with grouper (yummy). She didn't even charge us for either of his dishes!! That's exactly the kind of service that brings back repeat customers and believe me, that's now us. Thank you Trading Post, and Ashley!! read more

Delicious! My hubby and I come by for the macaroni& cheddar hotdog lunch, and boy is it yummy! You wouldn't think something so simple would be so great?!! Who knew! But we love this place. Incredibly friendly and clean. We come by this place every time we come to the beach, which is once or twice a month. Speedy service, and plenty of seating. read more

We love the atmosphere and the food here. Best shrimp n grits I've had in a long time. Everyone that we interacted with was friendly and patient with us as we got settled in with our kids. read more

We met some friends for lunch on Thursday the 27th and were very disappointed. We had eaten at The Trading Post before several times and loved it. The grits were cold as well as the collard greens. The dozen steamed oysters were shriveled down with no taste. For the price we paid for six people plus the 20% gratuity it was certainly not worth it. First time we were sorry for dining at either The Trading Post or Flipperz. read more

This place is wonderful. The atmosphere out in the back is incredible. Live music often. Great drinks. Excellent food. One of our favorites. read more

Great food and service, their sign throws you off a little, but we will be going back there!

All I can say is WOW!!! This was my first visit to Trading Post but will not be my last. I am visiting my husband up from Texas and he has been here several times. I ordered the meatloaf but when his giant order of SHRIMP N GRITS came, I could not resist trying it. I can say, hands down, this is the BEST shrimp n grits EVER!!! I barely touched my meatloaf and couldn't not quit stealing g some spoonfuls of his meal. Our waiter, Ramone was extremely friendly and helpful. Great personality! I can't wait to come back next trip And have my own order to enjoy! Thanks for a great meal!!! See you next month from Texas! read more

Great place to eat with the fam. Some good southern food if you want a break from the usual beach spots. We started with the fried green tomatoes and the collard dip with pork skins, both really good and I know southern food so I am a big critic. My fiancé had the shrimp and grits and she loved it. She had her first shrimp and grits on our trip to New Orleans a couple years ago and she said these were better. Says a lot. I had the fried chicken with Mac n cheese and corn, delicious. Hope everyone's experience is as good or better then mine. read more

The Trading Post - Collard green dip with pork skins - Southern Near Me - Emerald Isle, North Carolina

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parking first terrible barely any space for any big cars. Secondly receptionist a lady up front was VERY rude and disrespectful. It did not feel like a welcoming environment. Was not enough for me and my family to stay for the 40 min wait. first time there and never again. read more

Very nice atmosphere. A lot has changed since this place was "Mike's". The service was quick and helpful but the food left something to be desired. I had the country fried pork chop with black eyed peas and sweet potatoes. The hush puppies that came with the meal were crisp and delicious, the sides were also well prepared but the country fried pork chop was undercooked and the gravy was a mushed mess. I think this place is definitely worth a try, but stick to the menu and not any specials. read more

The Trading Post - Southern Near Me - Emerald Isle, North Carolina

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The service was outstanding and the staff very friendly. Everyone on staff hustles and has positive attitudes. Kudos to the managers and owners. Only one recommendation - go lighter on the salt/seasoning on the grilled shrimp. Still...you rate "all 10s" in my book for "likely to recommend"! Well done!! read more

Have to try the brussels sprouts appetizer!! Surprisingly good!! We were here twice during our vacation, once for lunch and then dinner. Both experiences were really good, from their service staff to food and drinks! Will definitely be back next time we vacation in Emerald Isle!! read more

Um... where are all these great reviews coming from? Is the food and service so variable between seatings that some people have a superb experience and others not so much? Sounds like a consistency problem. We tried the Trading Post based on Yelp reviews and were thoroughly unimpressed. It was Saturday night so we had to wait nearly 45 minutes for a table but there was live music outside and we could order appetizers and drinks so that was OK (until the mosquitoes decided to feast on our bare legs...ugh). When we finally got a table, our waitress didn't show up for five minutes and then to tell us she would be back to take our drink orders (uh, we already had drinks from outside...). It was so loud we couldn't hear each other talk - not the place for a romantic evening! The menu was a bit weird and limited. The special was fried chicken smothered in gravy - Southern,yes, but not beach fare. There was a barbequed pork chop, a hamburger, shrimp and grits and a variety of peel-and-eat seafood. All are served with a bunch of "sides" such as collards, mac-and-cheese, French fries, green beans, grits, scalloped apples, black eyed peas. Since I was uninspired by the entrees, I chose the vegetable plate (four sides and hushpuppies). I asked to substitute one side for a lettuce salad and was told the salad came WITH the veggie plate. Hmmm. Turns out most of the entrees come with three sides PLUS house salad. It was strange and unnecessary - cut down on the sides or drop the salad. Two in our party were drinking beer and asked for another one. The beers never arrived, so one of the women went to the bar and bought two beers, brought them back to the table. The waitress never brought the beers, then told us the bartender was busy with customers. Uh, WE Are customers! To add insult to injury, the already-paid-for beers ended up on the final bill again! We caught the mistake but it was not OK. We waited and waited and waited for food. Finally I asked about our salads...and waited some more. Then the salads came out followed immediately by the food which was lukewarm. I suspect it had been ready for a while, cooling in the kitchen. Verdict on the shrimp and grits - unseasoned and bland. On the hamburger - Ok for a burger. Veggie platter? mac-and-cheese too much pepper, green beans (which turned out to be Romano flat beans) - no seasoning at all. The star of the show were the mashed sweet potatoes and the pork chop which got rave reviews. Our verdict? We won't be back. There are other better choices on the island, especially with the new CaribSea just two blocks away. read more

The Trading Post is, by far, the best little spot for breakfast in Emerald Isle! Upon entry, the building seems small and the parking lot seems even smaller. There is minimal parking available to guests; however, once you are in a parking spot an amazing breakfast experience has begun! From the moment you walk in, the staff is extremely friendly. Even on a week day, be prepared to wait a few minutes for a table but, rest assured, the food is worth the wait. While you wait for your table, the Trading Post has seating in the back outdoor area which includes rocking chairs, lounge chairs, corn hole, and horse shoes. Once your table is ready it is amazing how affordable the Trading Post is for breakfast! I ordered the Southern Eggs Benedict and they were the best Eggs Benedict I have eaten while in North Carolina. I will be returning to the Trading Post for breakfast soon! read more

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The Trading Post is a lively Southern restaurant with some serious chops in both the kitchen and the bar. We stopped in on a busy Thursday night. While the restaurant's street front is nondescript -- it shares a parking lot with Colors, one of those innumerable and atrocious beach emporiums on the island -- the dining room has a rustic coastal vibe that feels both warm and inviting, and the main dining area opens up onto a spacious backyard where people were lounging on the patio and enjoying games of corn hole. The wait for a table was an hour at 8 o'clock on a summer weeknight, which seems typical for this area, but we immediately found two seats at the bar. The drink menu is well-curated and affordable. They had more than a dozen cocktails on the menu, many of them original and all of them affordable ($10-12). They also had about 10 beers on draft ($3.50-7), and their whiskey selection is especially strong (about 10 different spirits, not counting their rail). I had a Mud Bog ($10), which was a bourbon meets berries meets julep concoction. I plan on making it for myself when I get home. Service at the bar was friendly, consistent, and knowledgeable. The soccer game was on two TVs, but they were not obtrusive. We ordered the shrimp and grits and the rib special for our mains. The shrimp and grits is a kind of breakfast for dinner dish, with the marquis ingredients accompanied by a poached egg and hash browns. The shrimp were spot on, the grits were creamy and cheesy, and the the egg was runny. My partner found the grits a little soupier than she might prefer, but I just used some of her cornbread to sponge up the remains. My partner's short ribs were transcendent -- well seasoned and so tender she didn't need a knife to pull them apart. Her sides of mac and cheese and fried okra were also faultless renditions of Southern classics. We split an orange creamsicle cupcake for dessert. Most of their dessert selection was assorted cupcakes, and we think this is one area in which the restaurant might choose to step up its game. But the cupcake itself was moist and flavorful, with a good balance of cake and icing. The total bill for two drinks, two entrees, a shared dessert, and generous gratuity was just under $60. That tab is totally worth it for a place that blows the standard beachcomber fare out of the water. A meal of this caliber in our home port of New York easily would have cost more than $100, and probably wouldn't have been as good. read more

Giving this a one because I can't give it a zero. Food was bland and not seasoned. Ordered the u peel shrimp and kept getting shell in my bites. For my 18$ seafood entree I had to order sides for extra$$ that were forgotten by the waitress or kitchen. Drawn? Butter was just oil. They forgot the hush puppies on two out of the three entrees we ordered. Reminded the waitress and she just never brought them. This is pretty typical for new restaurants, front of house is inexperienced. Should've guessed that the 36 reviews were probably owners and owner friends. But the decor is whimsical and great. read more

The Trading Post - Southern Near Me - Emerald Isle, North Carolina

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This was our second visit to The Trading Post(with a yr in between). We have found a new "must have" on our annual spring break trip to the area! Service has been great. Everybody is so friendly. Greg the bartender waited on our table and was great to our two daughters, my wife and myself. Kid meals are real! You can't beat the meat & 2 special andI think the shrimp and grits are some of the best I have ever had! Looking forward to coming back in our next visit! read more

I was headed to another restaurant with my boyfriend for breakfast but they had to close early due to a family emergency so I checked out some other places via Yelp and found this gem! Everything is cooked to order and so FRESH! I hate that other restaurant had to close early and had an emergency but I'm so glad I found the Trading Post. I got the chicken biscuit and gravy bowl and he got the shrimp and grits. Both amazing, everyone else's food they brought out looked good too. We liked the food so much we went back for dinner the next night, and it was just as good!! He ordered a fried sea food platter and it was all perfectly fried. Also when they tell you to try the banana pudding you should go ahead and order it. The back patio looks cool as well, can't wait to visit the island again so we can go back for some more DELICIOUS food!! read more

The Trading Post - Shrimp and grits! - Southern Near Me - Emerald Isle, North Carolina

If this was an actual trading post then I would trade my left nut for some more of the shrimp & grits here. Food: Shrimp & grits = Great portion. Shrimp were tender and fresh. Grits had perfect taste with garlic, onion, tomatoes, and greens mixed through. Poached egg and itty bitty homefries brought this flavor train chugging right back into the station. Fried green tomatoes = A great start to the night. Cheese on top with a little of the pepper jam complimented the delicately fried green fruit. Bbq ribs = These were the special and the Mrs. choice. They were incredible. Actual ribs that were so soft and juicy in a slow cooked short rib style. Really know what they are doing with these. Other than that the rest of my party had Fried chicken, burger, and fried shrimp. All were great. Only complaint on food was that they wished the roll that was served with one of the meals would have been cornbread instead. Good salads. Great wine and beer selections. Ambiance: Really loud. Downing out the other voices in my head loud (jk). But nice, new, and modern. Get some noise dampening ceiling acoustics and they'd be set. This night that we were there, they had live music that puts all the other live music to shame. It was like Jimmy Buffet, but GOOD. Really good. It was a really nice setup out back. *Limited parking, so if busy like tonight, you may have to park across the road at the bank. Service: Good. Very polite. Overall: Really glad we found this place and gave it a shot. Sure to be a highlighted memory of our first visit to Emerald Isle. Keep focusing on bringing it with the menu and hopefully we will be back in future years. read more

This used to be my go to restaurant. The food is always great, however, no one ever answers the phone. They just simply take the phone off the hook because they are "too" busy. Only a quarter of the staff wear their masks properly and when they go to the kitchen they pull them completely down. Prior to COVID this place was amazing. read more

Food was incredibly average (fried chicken was not seasoned and was worse than KFC but much pricier), had to ask for refills repeatedly, employees were not wearing their masks, no social distancing enforced by employees as people frequently came up next to us. This place is a huge joke. Was hoping for better out of reviews I saw but the whole staff was inconsiderate. Steer clear and go elsewhere! read more

We tried this place yesterday afternoon. It is a new place since our visit last year, and it was worth stopping in!! We ate off the lunch menu, and both entrees were delicious. My husband had the burger and said it was a good burger made the way he ordered. I had the Shrimp & Grits, which was probably the best I have ever had. I loved the Wine Flight too. It was a good variety. While we were there we looked at the dinner menu and will be back this week. Besides the food, the restaurant has a great outdoor area with corn hole, horseshoes and a nice outdoor fireplace. I can see locals making this their hangout!! read more

Just wholesome meals delivered on a plate. Breakfast sandwich on Croissant is yummy with sausage or my favorite, bacon.

The best restaurant I have tried in EI. Excellent service, casual vibe, and local southern food delicious as ever. I have tried the tomato pie (seasonal), fried green tomatoes with pimento cheese (yummy), and flounder and hush puppies - all delightful dishes. My parents had chicken and waffles for the first time ever and were pleasantly surprised! Brunch is also a hit especially for the kiddos. Definitely worth a stop while in EI. read more

I believe this restaurant either just opened or reopened after renovation. My husband and I came here on the third day they opened for business to eat breakfast and it was amazing! We both had the chicken and waffles. The chicken was moist and the waffles were some of the best I've ever had. The decor is really nice and the staff is on point. I wish we would have come here earlier in our vacation to try more of their food! We will definitely be back on our next trip up to Emerald Isle! read more

The Trading Post - Southern Near Me - Emerald Isle, North Carolina

Loved this place and the relaxed atmosphere! I had their shrimp & grits and it was heavenly.

Great seafood platter, fresh and perfectly cooked. excellent Mac and cheese. waffle and chicken was also nicely cooked.

We had a vegetable omelette and a western omelette. They weren't anything special and came with a side of toast and grits for $8.95.

We went for breakfast and sat outside on their fun patio. Our server was friendly and I am so glad she recommended the shrimp & grits topped with crispy hash browns & poached egg - it was quite possibly the best variation of shrimp & grits I've ever had! And in the running for my favorite breakfast of all time. And very reasonably priced. Wonderful, attentive service, fun ambiance, and delicious food. Highly recommend! read more

Face masks are optional here for servers ,,bar tender lowers her mask below her chin to talk ,,not good

Such a great little place for any meal. Wonderful service and really delicious food! So good in fact that we went back for dinner after an amazing breakfast . The only downside is they seem to just have two high chairs. Each time we visited I had to have our baby on my lap for a good amount of time, since the chairs were in use. read more