Hard to rate considering everything on this island is very expensive (understandably)…read more 4 stars feels valid given the context of the location and the friendly service they provide. Plus the outdoor seating has a beautiful view. The wings were very solid. And so was the burger--though it most definitely is not a smash burger. The name should be changed lol. The deep fried seafood platters were solid and what you'd expect out of a place like this.

Clean restaurant, friendly waitress, nice atmosphere, and the best hush puppies I've ever had.read more

We absolutely love Tap and Cellar!! The choice of beers is exceptional. Go to enjoy a beer or a…read morefood truck on certain days. Trivia and Bingo too! Great local place to hang out!

Southport Tap and Cellar is always a good option if you're looking for a unique beer or cider…read more Right now, they have the NoDa Cheerwine Ale that I am absolutely obsessed with. They're located right there on the main drag as you enter Southport which is great for a pit stop on the way in or on the way out of town. The service is walk up which keeps it super casual and fun. I have been here 3 or 4 times and there has never been a food truck when I've been but they have awesome snacks available behind the bar. For just $1 a cup, you can get goldfish, animal crackers, pretzels, and those delicious little peanut butter filled pretzels. I wish the outdoor area was more interesting but that's my only complaint.

This place ranks among the best gelato I've had. Great flavors, great consistency, really…read moredelicious. Awesome atmosphere out back as well with games and a cute patio. Will definitely be returning to this spot every time I'm in town. Flavors we tried: chocolate orange, coconut, caffe, tiramisu, pistachio

Super cute gelato shop! Service was good and the gelato was very tasty - huge portions! The outdoor…read moreseating area in the back is really cute. Would recommend for a sweet treat while walking around Southport!

Jailhouse Provisions was a decent stop during our time on Bald Head Island, but it didn't quite…read morestand out enough for me to rate it higher. Our group ordered the fried shrimp, and that was definitely the highlight of the meal. The shrimp were crispy, well-cooked, and flavorful, making for a satisfying coastal lunch. The food overall was solid, with no major issues from a quality standpoint. That said, like many places on the island, the prices felt inflated compared to what you receive (I understand some of that comes with the location). Service was another area that fell a bit short. We were dining with a group of nine, and while managing larger parties can be challenging, attentiveness was lacking throughout the meal. Overall, the food was good enough, especially the fried shrimp, but the combination of higher prices and underwhelming service kept this in three-star territory for me.

2026: Smaller shrimp, smaller portion and no longer locally caught (I inquired). Slaw seemed like…read moreit had been made day or more before because purple coloring from the cabbage had stained rest of slaw- that doesn't happen typically when fresh. (I know , I know - what do I expect on the 'off season'...I'm living and learning) Lemon aioli wasn't my favorite. Don't think will return for prices and taste/portion. I know it's off season but never got a water refill and had to find server to ask for check.

Not so sure why this place is called American Fish Company. From what I remember this is an outdoor…read morewaterfront bar with live music. I don't remember any food at the venue either...just drinks. I think this was some sort of cannery or small fishing port and the name just stuck throughout the years. They describe themselves as "SOUTHPORT'S BEST WATERFRONT PUB" - https://americanfishco.com/ Cool place to chill, and enjoy the scenery. Not a lot of seats or shade available during the hot summer months. Still, it's a nice place to grab a drink or two and enjoy some live music. The casual ambiance and the waterfront views are very nice as well. The sweltering Southern Summer heat can be a bit of an issue.

I've been a patron of American Fish for 14 years and the service my family and I received last week…read morewas a disgrace. The bartender Ben was completely rude. He spoke profanity as he was behind the bar making drinks. I've never seen that from anyone at American Fish...not sure what was going on but that was totally unacceptable and unprofessional.

Cool spot to listen to some music, play some pool and drink some beers…read more There aren't too many other options in the area for places to hang out, so this one kind of sticks out. I like it, but not a whole lot to say about it. A private club, so you have to give them your personal info. They have a pretty decent selection of beers, full bar and no food. Pool tables are in pretty good shape and the music seems to be at least mediocre except for the karaoke, which was pretty awful the night I went, lol. I'll be back when in the area.

Beer cold, vibes great, couldn't ask for a better time with ole josh ! !!!read more

Ports of Call is somewhere I'm going to have to come back to at some point! The grouper is some of…read morethe best fish I've had, and they have ways to make food I hadn't even considered. Who knew a sea food pot pie would be good? The waitress also did a fine job at juggling what was accidentally a complex order. The interior of the place leans into the cozy European air they try to present, and it's just a block or two from the waterfront for an after-supper walk.

When it's good, it's REALLY good. This is either the most delicious restaurant in Southport or the…read moremost average depending on the night. They seem to have quite a bit of turnover when it comes to chefs so you really never know what you're going to get. I have never had a bad meal here but I have brought multiple people who had major complaints about their dishes. The uncertainly is disappointing for the price point but I think it's somewhere everyone should try at least once. If it was consistent I would happily give 5 stars but had to go with 4.

I have lived on OKI for 12 years and have driven past Grape and Ale thousands of times and always…read morerepeating "I've gotta check that place out", well I finally did and boy o boy am I glad I did. This wine and beer bar and bottle shop is awesome. I can kick myself for waiting so long to check in, but better late than never. Cozy inside atmosphere with a nice selection of beers cans, bottles and on tap to choose. The wine by the glass is trainable with a good sized pour. The wine rack selections in the back is diverse and well priced. Can definitely see buying a bottle(s) to share. The outside space has tons of seating in a relatively small space. A section with a fire pit, beer and wine tasting and music on weekends. The staff are great to talk with and good reference for beer and wine selections. My new OKI hangout.

Great little taproom, bottle shop, and wine bar with a decent sized outdoor seating area, walkable…read moreor bikeable to the beach/many close by restaurants. You can also bring your own snacks/food with to enjoy with a beverage :)

The Lowdown: Amazing ocean views, reasonably priced drinks, friendly locals mixed with tourists,…read morefun entertainment, and an all-around great beach bar atmosphere. Our girls' trip to Oak Island continued with a stop at The Lazy Turtle, and it definitely lived up to its name--in the best way possible. Parking is located across the street, and even though the place was packed the night we visited, there was still plenty of parking available. We didn't order any food this time around, but the drinks were reasonably priced, poured well, and exactly what we needed after a day at the beach. One of my favorite parts of the evening was the crowd. It was such a fun mix of locals and visitors, and everyone we met was genuinely friendly. It's one of those places where people actually smile, strike up conversations, and make you feel welcome. The entertainment was... memorable! The DJ was wearing a parrot on his head, so naturally I was expecting nonstop Jimmy Buffett, flip-flops, and full-on island vibes. Instead, he surprised me with a completely different playlist--but honestly, it worked! The crowd was having a great time, and so were we. They also tossed out free T-shirts during one of the games, and somehow I managed to snag one! I may or may not have celebrated like I'd just won the lottery. Between the ocean views, the lively atmosphere, the friendly people, and my unexpected T-shirt victory, The Lazy Turtle ended up being one of our favorite stops on the island. If you're looking for a fun, casual place to grab a drink, enjoy the view, and soak up the Oak Island vibe, this one is definitely worth checking out.

We waited 40 minutes to get a seat, fine. It was 6:30 on a Friday night. When we got a table the…read morehost(?) said "just because you are getting a table now doesn't mean you can get your food. It will take 30-45 minutes for your order to come. There are some easy appatizers to order that will come out fast if you want to order those while you wait." I've never had a restaurant say that before, and it felt rude and dishonest. Dishonest because it took 45 min for the apps to come out alone, apps that were not good, that we would not have ordered if we were going to have our meals in a timely manner, and when they arrived they were wrong. Our meals took another 45 minutes to arrive, some of which was also wrong and we were initially charged for items we did not receive. The server mentioned this happens every weekend?? The food was fine, nothing special. Would skip it if I were you. We will not be coming back in the future. P.s. ambiance was also meh. We were waiting for our food so long the bar vibes kicked in and an overly loud karaoke session started up with a mic providing ear splitting feedback throughout the night.

Consistently great food and stellar service. Everything is always fresh and the food is always…read moredelicious. It's one of our favorite places in town

I don't want to give a good review because we love this place and don't want to share it with even…read moremore people. Food is great, drinks are great, service and people are great! Good options are the jumbo pretzel, fish and chips, thit nuong, and a painkiller. It's intimate so get there early if you want a seat.