This is a great vacation restaurant to go to whenever you're visiting the Cyrstal Coast. The prices are good and the portions are filling. I've always been disappointed by other restaurants when ordering shrimp and grits, but the Trading Post does it right. It's super flavorful! The meat of the day and sides platter is also a great deal. My friends and I would agree that the chicken and waffles here weren't the best we've had, but overall, we had a good time sharing each other's orders and we will definitely be back! read more

Went on a Sunday night. Good Southern food. Good for a change from seafood. For a newly opened restaurant, they're doing a good job. I had shrimp & grits. They might have tried to dress it up a little too much. Fried green tmatoes were served with melted cheese and hot jelly, piping hot. Fried clam strips and peel your own shrimp were hot. Small portion on the clam strips. Our other participant had country meatballs. They were good but too little pasta underneath. We'll give it a try next time for breakfast. read more

This was amazing. We got the collard dip and the app fried pickles to start off with which were AMAZING!!! The collard dip came with pork rinds instead of chips which was a very tasty surprise. Then the food came. THE CRAB LEGS WERE HUGE. And they had added something to the top which made the crab legs perfect. Best crab legs I've had in a long time. Our waitress had been there for less than a week and she was extremely sweet and very attentive. Food came out quickly and hot. Overall an amazing experience! read more

The Trading Post - Snow Crab leg dinner - Southern Near Me - Emerald Isle, North Carolina

I had never tried shrimp and grits before. The waitress promised they would be the best ever.. she didn't disappoint! Amazing! read more

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

The food is mouth watering, slap yor' mamma, fabulous. And that is just by reading the menu. Once you actually eat the food, it's even better. Came here on a whim for breakfast and had the Chicken and Biscuit bowl. I'm still drooling about that. Returned the very next day to try their lunch menu. The ambiance is southern beach fish charm. The attention to detail is flawless. Every operations detail of the place is well-thought out. There is an amazing back yard, which is fenced in with interesting lounge chairs and a fire pit and string porch lights, corn hole, well landscaped, and shade trees kept in place. Eat here, chill here and be real here. And they have chicken and waffles. How can you go wrong with that?! read more

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Amazing! I had scrambled eggs, fried potatoes, bacon, and a biscuit. It was delicious. Our waiter was kind, and attentive with that southern charm about her. It was very rustic inside kindve like a cabin,and although it's small, it had plenty of seating and did not feel crowded at all. Overall I would definitely rate it 5/5 stars and would recommend coming here for breakfast, brunch, or lunch. I will say an added plus was all the oldies they played. It was a very nice atmosphere and very family friendly. read more

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

Food was delicious- but most importantly, service was fantastic AND friendly! Going to make this a regular spot.

This place is a personal favorite and a love of the family. We strongly recommend the shrimp and grits and have been very helpful during covid times. Please don't hesitate to go here when you are looking for a great meal! read more

Great food. Very slept on in the community but always enjoy coming. Should be more well know as a great place for breakfast

Fried green tomatoes were delicious as were the fried oysters. Definitely a nice atmosphere out back and great spot for kids to roam free. Service was mediocre as our appetizer came well before our appetizer plates and drinks. read more

Thankful for this restaurant on EI! The food is fresh, creative, and delicious. Service is excellent. It's great for the adults and you can still bring the kids along without concern. Highly recommend. read more

Have been there several times and worst thing is, it takes a long time to get your food. The food is okay, not great. July 6th. went to get a hamburger, ordered it medium well and it was dry and well, well done! This is the second time for an overcooked hamburger, so don't order that. The atmosphere is great and great for families to eat and have fun with the kiddos outside. I'm a home cooking girl and know what southern collards are suppose to taste like. There collards are right our of a can (I think) so bad, yuk. The last two times we have been there it has taken over two hours to eat. Entertainment is always good. So, if you want to eat okay food and have free entertainment, it's the place to go! read more

Probably the best biscuits and gravy I've ever had. The mango mojito was alright. I can't remember the name of the drink My husband got but it was amazing (it had crown apple and sour mix in it) the service was good even though they were very busy. This place is a must try on your vacation. I would make the drive down there every weekend just for those biscuits and gravy. The friend toast was a little dry but had a good flavor. Everyone was very nice:) read more

This is our kind of place. Amazing pulled pork, Mac n' cheese and the fried green tomatoes were to. die. for. We'll definitely be back!!

Gravy biscuits are amazing... as well as the service. Definitely try this place, you won't regret it!

Excellent food, service and atmosphere! We waited only a short time to be seated. Enjoyed their patio/deck with tables, chairs and corn hole while waiting. A great place for families! This was our first time and we will definitely be back. read more

Food was great. Our server not so much but the food was good and I would definitely recommend it to others. It is a cute little spot for a date night or the whole family. Definitely worth a try! read more

Been coming to EI my whole life and this is the best meal I've had here. Went on Father's Day , was seated right away but food took a while. It was worth the wait. Shrimp and grits were excellent as well as the fried chicken. Shrimp burger had medium sized shrimp cooked perfectly . Cucumber salad was tasty and refreshing. Each entre came with a salad - dressings were homemade and delicious. Husband had shrimp and oysters, said it was very good. Collards were okay. Overall, an excellent meal in EI where most restaurants are mediocre at best. We will be coming again! read more

This is a great place for breakfast! They are incredibly fast and the service was great- refills and clean up multiple times! Our toddler needs a space to roam so we were able to walk around and play with hula hoops in the back while we waited (only briefly!) for our breakfast. Very reasonable prices and solid portion sizes. read more

Kids burger was raw inside. Order got messed up. Nothing spectacular. Would not retire. Very loud with band out back.

This spot is one of our favorites!!! Great food and great service!!! Our waitress Ashley T. was perfect--quick, attentive, and helpful and created a perfect dining experience! We felt spoiled! Cute outdoor area completed the evening! Best shrimp and grits I have had! Also some of the best crab legs we have had! They were steamed perfectly! Can't wait to go back! We could not have asked for anything to have been any better---thank you to all the staff who made our dinner experience so wonderful! read more

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Very good. Butter was a little salty but that's the only semi-negative I can think of. All 4 of us were very pleased. Husband and I got the low country boil and were in heaven. Daughter got fried chicken which she would not share which means it was very good. Lovely atmosphere. 4.5 stars if possible. Very reasonable seafood prices. read more

Went there w a group of 7 including 2 kids and the place was really neat and terrific. There was a 50 minute wait (it's a small place) but we ordered some drinks and crab balls, fried pickles, and hush puppies from the bar and took it out back; where the kids played and ran around. The cocktails and beer were reasonably priced, including $4.50 Kona Lagers! The crab balls were amazing. After about 30 minutes, we were seated. Our waiter, Trey, was a great and polite kid completely on top of everything. The food was amazing, the ribeye and fried chicken are must-have's, and even the kids' chicken tenders were authentic and delicious. Since it was our last night, we went all in for dessert, the triple chocolate cheesecake was sensational as was the key lime cheesecake. Kids had chocolate chip cupcakes which were enormous and they didn't come close to finishing, but they'll be good on the car ride home! In my opinion, this is the best restaurant by a mile on Emerald Isle. read more

The Trading Post - Succulent ribeye w collards and Mac and cheese - Southern Near Me - Emerald Isle, North Carolina

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I ordered one dozen hushpuppies and two pieces of pie to go with a fish dinner we cooked at home. The bill was $19! When I got home, I looked at what I had bought. The pie slices were no bigger than a sliver. What a rip off! Should've driven to Morehead City and gone to Smithfield's BBQ. Could've gotten the same thing for less than 8 bucks. read more

So far, this was the best meal I've had since arriving in Ocean Isle 5 days ago. Several of our party got the "Meat for two" which means you can select one of two meats and then 2 sides. I got the pot roast with slaw and mashed potatoes. The meal includes a salad. The pot roast was delicious. We also bought the fried pickles and jalapeños appetizer and it was gobbled up in no time. Haley, our waitress, was outstanding. Friendly and attentive but not overly so, she kept us refilled on our drinks and was a big help with menu selections. read more

This place is fine for breakfast, but don't waste your money on dinner. Frozen or reheated scallops and chewy fried okra. Even my kids didn't like the Mac and cheese. read more

Good atmosphere and service. The Fried Green Tomato BLT was delicious but the Shrimp and Grits were mediocre at best. The shrimp was seasoned well, but the dish was bland and lacked the little bit of punch it should have. read more

We loved everything. The fried okra is the bomb. The apples melted in my mouth... I guess the fried chicken must have been award winning because my husband would not share. My mother got the meatloaf. Don't expect tomato based meatloaf. But she said it was delicious. My salmon was ok but a little over cooked. Service was 10 of 10. And ask staff was friendly and working..... read more

We love this place. Great take on southern food. Every time we are in the island we stop in for dinner. Wonderful atmosphere and friendly wait staff. You cannot go wrong with this place. read more

Our most favorite place to eat on the island! The shrimp n grits are incredible. Fried green tomatoes are to die for. We make the 45 minute drive just to eat because it's that good. The staff is so friendly and the drinks are phenomenal! Highly recommend! read more

So tonight we tried The Tourist Post for dinner. We got what we expected: average food with high beach side prices. The place is cute. But then this isn't uptown so load up the SUV and go enjoy. read more

The best shrimp and grits ever. I have come here and gotten food about 4-5 times in the last year and every time I get the best service and the best food! The outdoor patio is really nice and gives you a chance to meet locals. The cost is average and definitely worth it for the food. My entire neighborhood raves about Trading Post! read more

1st time trying this place out. Food was good for the most part, the burger and salad were average. The crab cake appetizer & slaw was prob best. Unfortunately it is priced way too high for a lunch spot, perhaps for tourists who don't mind paying a little more while on vacation but for locals not feasible. Our waitress not only brought us someone else's plates but also forgot to put in our appetizer. read more

Yum and Fun! That turkey special needs to be on the menu! Mac & Cheese and Mashed Potatos, Stuffing and gravy.... oh my goodness! Good food and backyard games! Just do it! 5 Stars! read more

We went for breakfast early this morning to beat the crowds. The coffee wasn't the best but I'm a snob when it comes to that. I got the egg Benedict w country ham & on a biscuit it was so amazing! The ham wasn't too salty & just the right amount of sauce. My husband got the fried chicken w biscuit & gravy. He asked for it on the side but it came on it. The service was good we had 3 different servers help out & drinks came out good. I got a couple mimosas & they were just right. read more

Excellent atmosphere with decorations and all. Simple breakfast failed miserably. Ordered two eggs over medium and received the rawest, runny eggs I've ever seen. The "postatoes" are nothing but a spin on the name. The result was county potatoes over cooked, dry and absolutely no flavor. Waitress said they came all spiced up, but delivered to my table nude. No spice, onion or anything to accompany them. Place looks like a local hangout but I'm here providing emergency services after hurricane Florence. Time to blow out of this establishment read more

The Mac n cheese is next level. I've never had a Mac n cheese so good! Thank you for the pleasant experience

Prompt and friendly service, great food, and convenient location (on the way to Emerald Isle beach). Southern food here is amazing. Their soup is also great! The staff is all friendly and attentive. If you like your food quite salty, you might not "love" the food here because I eat less salty and their food is just right - nothing a little bit salt can't fix though. read more

Poor, slow, distracted service. Multiple examples but the worst was our soup being served halfway through our entrees. The food was okay. The fried tomatoes were very good. The tomato pie was all crust with very skimpy filling and more onion than tomato The vegetable plates were a disappointment. The collards were good but nothing creative or different than we cook at home. The black eyed peas tasted like frozen peas that had been microwaved. The baked apples resembled pie filling. The food was not bad just not the farm to table Southern Cuisine this restaurant advertises. Fish stew was a traditional tomato base and extra spicy . I would have enjoyed it more before rather than during my entree. read more

Fun atmosphere, family friendly, cocktails, beer & wine, only here for breakfast. Wait time normal for a Saturday morning. read more

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