New American Restaurants in New Bern, NC

“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!“

“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!“

“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!!“

“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!“

“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.“

“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!“