32 Best American Restaurants in New Bern

“My Fiancé and I had dinner here celebrating our 10th anniversary this past thursday. We showed up slightly early for our reservation, they took us immediately. Sat us in a private intimate booth towards the back of the dining room. We ordered a bottle of wine (Freakshow). presented perfectly by our server Anna. (hopefully i spelled it correctly) who was amazing! She described the daily features gracefully and gave us time to look over the menu. We ordered the shrimp and grits appetizer. The grits were amazing... local, water ground, silky and seasoned perfectly. The shrimp were cooked proper and super hot. and the brown butter bbq was unlike any traditional bbq..so much better. The Chef came out to meet with us and recommended the Wahoo Oscar feature. Which we ended up ordering along with the 14oz Ribeye. The Wahoo was fresh as could be and cooked perfectly. Tasted like the ocean. Topped with a generous portion of lobster, a beautiful satin bernaise and crispy tempura asparagus, served over wild rice. That dish SLAMMED. The ribeye was charred beautifully and cooked to a perfect medium rare. The mashed potatoes were perfectly seasoned and had a nice hint of sour cream. Management touched our table a few times and made us feel welcomed and well taken care of. Everything was perfect. Right down to the espresso creme brulee with chocolate covered espresso beans. Total experience was 11 out of 10. We can't wait to go back! Thank you for being awesome!“

“My first visit today was fantastic. The coffee was great, the Belgian waffle I had was great. Employees were friendly and all customers seemed to be having a good time. 10/10 would recommend.“

“We've been enjoying the food at Michaels for over a year. Love the hot dogs, Reuben Sandwich and nachos. Need to diversity and try some of their other entrees though. Not only is the food great but so is the service. Tonya who runs the bar and the food service is wonderful. I enjoy going there to talk to her. Always in great spirits and has a smile on her face. Her husband is the Chef also. Always a fun dining experience.“

“Drinks were on the table within 2 minutes of being here! Food was great. Our waitress was amazing never had a empty cup!“

“Super cool little ice cream shop. Ice cream was delicious. Very neat atmosphere on the inside. My kids loved the train that circled around the roof. They also loved all the giant cow decor inside. The manager came around while we ate our ice cream and asked how it was. Definitely recommend for a cozy neat experience in the heart of downtown New Bern.“

“Bestie & I specifically came to New Bern to geocache & I had 2 places in mind for lunch and luckily for us, the other spot was closed. I say luckily because the brisket burger we both had has to be one of the best tasting, and juicy, burgers I've ever had. The truffle fries arrived hot and delectable. What makes this burger special is I do not care for any pink in my burger and most folks will testify it drains all the flavor and juices out of the burger. That was NOT the case here. I requested the 257 sauce be OTS & replaced with mayo. Julie asked if it would be ok if the mayo came out in a ramekin, which I said would be fine. Most times a server won't take that extra time to ask that & Julie got extra points for that. Prior to our burgers I ordered the ham & herb focaccia & it arrived hot, crispy on the outside but soft and pillowy, like lying on an edible down comforter. The vinaigrette that accompanied the bread was a delightful dip, sweet & tart at the same time. To finish our lunch off we had bread pudding. Y'all, if you're ever on the fence about having it after a full meal, get it. The bread was so light it was unexpected. I made sure to leave room for dessert & because the bread was so light, I ate almost my entire half.

The vive here was low key but classy. We were in the side dining room with only a few other diners & it was like being in your own living room.

Julie was one of the best servers ever. Attentive but not hovering. Always there to refill our waters without asking, personable and friendly but respectful and as she handed my card back she pronounced my last name correctly. She gets extra points for that as it doesn't happen often.

All in all, I would come back to New Bern just to dine here. I told my husband it was so good I wanted to return soon for dinner with him or maybe brunch so we can try the breakfast pizza.

Thank you Julie, chefs, bussers and side servers. We had a great time!!“

“Well Done-Dogs is a very nice, home style small restaurant.(Tip) Cash only. The food is great! Area is clean. The menu includes,fried chicken, sausage & hot dogs & seasonal crab;also expect reasonable prices. My friends, what are you waiting for? Visit them soon & truly enjoy....“

“Came to New Bern for the weekend as a family with my husband, teenager and mother. We’d read reviews and picked Morgan’s for dinner. It was amazing. We had good service (thank you, Mika), the atmosphere was warm and inviting, and the wait was less than we anticipated. My salmon dinner was so good- still thinking about it. 😂 My son said one of his favorite trip memories was his hamburger and the fact that the bun wasn’t soggy. Portions were generous; some of us had leftovers. And the croissants were such a sweet starter. Recommend!“

“Excellent dining experience, we have been here many times and it is always great. On this occasion it was a Saturday night within an hour of their closing ,You know some places when you show up in that last hour you get that we're getting ready to close service and food, not here! Our server Leslie was amazing, she treated us like we were the first customer of the day, in no way did we feel the slightest bit rushed. Good food, good prices, and good service. This is one of the few places that still offers all three!“

“Persimmons Waterfront Restaurant is a true gem! From the moment you walk in, you’re greeted with a warm welcome and breathtaking water views that set the perfect tone for an unforgettable dining experience. The creative drinks and cocktails are a highlight on their own — beautifully presented, balanced, and bursting with flavor. You can tell the bartenders take real pride in their craft. The food is top-notch — every dish is thoughtfully prepared, fresh, and full of local flavor. Whether it’s seafood, steak, or something seasonal, everything comes out perfectly cooked and plated like art. And the service? Exceptional. The staff is attentive without being intrusive, knowledgeable about the menu, and genuinely eager to make sure you have a wonderful time. Between the stunning waterfront setting, imaginative drinks, and exceptionally crafted dishes, Persimmons is easily one of the best dining experiences anywhere in New Bern. Highly recommend for a romantic dinner, celebration, or just treating yourself to something special!“

“Good food, friendly staff and nice atmosphere. My husband and I went on Thursday night for dinner as we have many times in the past. My only complaint was everything was overly salted. We removed the breading from the calamari, his tuna didn't have much flavor only salty. My crabcakes were as good as always! Maybe they should cut back off on the salt, you can always add more at the table.“

“We had the ribeye and shrimp boil and it was delicious! We highly recommend. Service was excellent too.“

“Poppy's is in a great old building, the history of which I know nothing. Decor is quasi Americana-Vintage- Veteran owned perhaps? Food and service were spot on. I had fish and chips and wife had the shrimp basket. House made chips are a must-have. Shrimp are breaded with some house-made secret mojo that was delicious and unique to this place. I've been a coastal seafood diner for 25yrs and this is really good. This will have to be a repeater because their main claim to fame are their burgers and they looked amazing.“

“Absolutely delicious food and friendly servers! There were 6 for lunch. We had chicken & brussell sprouts, strawberry salad, 2 shrimp and fries, and two other entrees. All were delicious and huge servings!“

“We love Lawson’s on the Creek and eat there frequently.“

“I have had many meals at Attitude both by dining in and taking out...by far an enjoyable atmosphere and the food is excellent“

“Just now leaving an 8 person lunch. If ur thinking about going drive faster. jk. Drive appropriately. The fries are amazing. The burgers were cooked perfection. Shout out to the beautiful person in the back cooking. Jojo was the sweetest! Mix drink on ur mind? They got the means. 3 adults, 3 kids, and 2 toddlers recommend u go now.“

“Always a very friendly atmosphere. And I’m obsessed with their chicken salad❤️“

“Great food love the Pembroke Pork Choos and the Mayor Morgan Hot Dogs“

“I would just like to say that my son and I have been coming here 4 to 5 times a month for the last 3 months after discovering how delicious their shrimp are. We've just about had a different server everytime and it's always been an enjoyable experience and delicious meal. Thanks to everyone at Carolina Grill!“

“Great course and the grille was really nice too“

“Delicious fried chicken 😋“

“Me and my family LOVE this restaurant!!!!!! They were able to accommodate my family and I for my mom's birthday party yesterday. As always, the chicken and hushpuppies were delicious.“

“first time out since I moved to NC. went to watch home run derby and the bartender Karrie was super friendly and great atmosphere.. food was great. definitely will go back.“

“I watched someone get their Porsche window broken here this place is great lol.“

“10/17/2025 The staff were super friendly and accommodating. I had a SEC biscuit and a side of grits and it was delicious. Great portion sizes and quick service. 10/10“

“Came from Belhaven North Carolina used to go to Applebee's in Greenville North Carolina until they're close!! Got the Swiss burger and fries great service very clean bathrooms and great food 10+its Military Friendly 🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷 I love my visit and I shall be back for more!!!“

“Our waitress was very friendly. Food was fast and portions were generous. I got the broiled platter with salad bar. The salad bar is small but well stocked and fresh. The broiled seafood was cooked through without being overdone. Decor is rustic and no frills but feels "homey". I will be back.“

“Excellent! Service impeccable“

“This store has been hit or miss over the last few years. This morning, my wife and I had a great experience. The food was delicious and hot. Our waitress and her trainee were happy and helpful. The hostess was even helpful and in a good mood.“

“Great food, great service. We really liked playing musical bingo. Had an awesome time.“

“All the staff were friendly and kind. It was busy but we still got our food quickly and it tasted delicious! Best parts though were the “kids corner” where they have crayons and coloring books for kids, and in the women’s restroom they have complimentary menstrual items for customers. I was impressed by the thoughtfulness as well as the accommodations that show they went above and beyond. Thanks for being so welcoming !“