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.“

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

“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.“

“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.“

“The 2 waiters we had were awesome! Super sweet even cracking a joke here and there and keeping things light hearted. All four of us enjoy that type of dining. This was on St Valentines Day during lunch. The food was light fare. We didn't want much anyway as we had dinner plans. We split a pizza, and they other couple split a chicken sandwich. I believe it was cooked over a wood flame. The crust was good but it lacked in flavor overall & a little boring to me. The atmosphere was decent as you come to expect in New Bern. I loved the back room for its feel of privacy and peacefulness, but they sat four of us at a tall top with 4 stools until I asked for a booth which we got. I guess you have to ask for the backroom seating as well? Anyway I would go back, its a very nice place. Next time I'm trying something fun!“

“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“

“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!“

“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“

“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“

“Excellent! Service impeccable“

“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.“

“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!!!“

“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.“

“The place was very clean and I was greeted by(as she told me her name when I sat down) Kelly! She took my order quickly and it came out hot and fast. She checked on me frequently to make sure everything was ok. The lemonade is handmade and I think the ranch is also❤️. Prices are decent and the quality of food is very good. Only suggestion is maybe toast the bun on the chicken sandwich to keep it from falling apart!! Onion rings are real onion slices not pieces!! Definitely would eat here again!! Even the cook said “have a great day!” as I left!! ❤️❤️“