37 Best Seafood Restaurants near Sunset Beach

“The resturant to enjoy a sit down excellent meal in Sunset Beach NC. I had the grouper special and a spicy Bloody Mary, it was a delicious experience, I was surprised and thrilled to eat this meal, the sweet potato fries were excellent. when the next couple sat and asked what’s good, I couldn’t stop myself for yelling out the groupper is fresh and to die for. The service was excellent and they will be opening the down stair with live music for the summer. This is going to a daily spot to visit daily. Thank you to the cook and Christy.“

“Favorite restaurant for seafood“

“Had lunch with my husband today Nov 4. Food was just ok however our server Julianna was excellent! She was knowledgeable and friendly. I would go back for the outstanding service!“

“Plenty of Fried Calabash Style Seafood to Go Around

I definitely need to learn more about the history of Calabash style seafood, because here just about everything comes fried (though there are plenty of nonfried options too). The décor is fun, the volume was perfect for a date night, and the energy in the room was shared. Everyone was having a great time.

Like most spots in the area, the meal started with hush puppies.. huge, golden, and delicious. The honey butter makes them special, and I liked that they came complimentary. The lemon pepper calamari was more complicated and confusing, it had a burnt like flavor at first, but after a few bites and plenty of lemon juice, it started to work. You just need to take some time to figure where the flavors are coming from. (You need to ask for lemons, they don’t come with it) Still, the oil pooling in the basket turned me off, and I wouldn’t order it again.

The “stuffed” flounder was tasty, though a bit misleading? It’s more of a fillet split down the middle with filling in between. I enjoyed the full shrimp and crab tucked inside, but the skin left under the fish made me pause for a second (maybe that’s normal?). On the sides, the coleslaw was sweet and refreshing vs a more vinegar approach, while my fries were disappointing lacking crispness, salt, and flavor. I’d go for the baked potato next time.

We also tried the Calabash shrimp and deviled crab combo plate. The shrimp missed the crunch and seasoning I was hoping for, but the deviled crab was unique. Not necessarily my favorite but it was somewhere between a crab pot pie and a sweet hush puppy flavor. Meanwhile, my 1 year old happily worked through her spaghetti, so at least it passed that test.

Overall, the atmosphere here had a good weekend energy and was overall enjoyable, but the food missed the mark in several places for me. Not sure I’d rush back. I’m going with four stars because I’m not the best fish food critic, but if you’re into fried fish you should try it out. It seems like a calabash staple and the staff was extremely nice/helpful.“

“We just came from there and it was THE BEST!! The oysters, clams and shrimp were sooo good. Dossie was awesome and the other guys and gals that spoke to us were great as well! We had a wonderful experience and will definitely be back!“

“We had the best time, great food and fun service! One of my best friends and I ate there, at the outdoor bar. We had a blast with the staff and the other patrons. We met a couple of four legged regulars….some very tame raccoons came up on the deck and added to our fun and laughter!“

“Great food and drinks with waterfront dining“

“Great experience. 5 stars for the food and hospitality.“

“The food was all excellent.“

“We’ve eaten here year after year. Ate here tonight and it was as great as always. I had the grilled seafood platter and everything was perfect. Each fish tasted fresh and not dry. Has salmon, oyster Rockefeller, sea scallops, shrimp, a crab cake with green beans. Both filing and done right. Others in our group had lamb, duck, grouper, chicken and all enjoyed it. Definitely made with fresh ingredients every day. I also think anything less the a 10 rating is not appropriate.“

“We arrived early evening on a Tuesday and the place was absolutely slammed. We put her name in for a table and went upstairs for a Tiki drink or two. Drinks were excellent. After we were seated our server, Riley took out drink order and reappeared quickly with water and our drinks. I have the captain’s platter and chose shrimp and clams and Anne ordered the shrimp and grits. Riley had warned us that it’s a large portion, but who knows what that really can be. Well, the food arrived promptly and the shrimp and grits truly was an enormous portion. Enough for two. Was creamy, cheesy, slammed full of shrimp, andouille and mushrooms. My shrimp and clams were lightly breaded and fried to perfection. Frankly, as busy as it was, I was surprised with the speed of service and the quality of the food. Absolutely recommend this place!“

“Needs a little updating but, the food makes up for it. Food was great and seafood was cooked the way I use to cook it in the restaurants I worked and managed. Suggestion, little more flour in your hush puppies to make it fluffier . Glad we stopped to eat here.“

“We had a very nice meal here tonight. Staff were very friendly and helpful. The food and drinks were great. Just an FYI, they charge $0.50 per container of cocktail and tartar sauce. I do not recall reading this on the menu, and I have never paid for an itemized condiment list on my bill EVER (and I am almost 50).“

“Came back again for dinner & Sue was our server again. She made it once again pleasurable & our dinners were exceptional!“

“Fresh seafood, non greasy, great flavor. The staff is nice and service is fast. Will definitely return for great seafood.“

“The food was so goooooooooooood.“

“Who knew our little town had food this good?! Fresh, creative dishes, good vibe, great view & top-notch service. Outstanding meal(s) from start to finish - beautiful plates, amazing flavors & friendly faces ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“Always enjoy eating here. Staff is awesome. Food is great! Fun atmosphere!“

“I love the weekday specials. They are great and there is lots of food on the plate. I am always full when I leave. Service is fast and my favorite waitress is the friendliest. Great place to eat. I highly recommend it.“

“Benny makes yo I feel like his guest from the minute you walk into his restaurant. Come on, locals, we can't let this one slip away. Visit often and spread the word“

“Awesome food and amount for the money. Friendly staff. We loved it. Our type of dive bar.“

“Great pizza and wings. Awesome owner and staff. You feel like you are part of an extended family while enjoying delicious food.“

“We stopped here after our dolphin watching cruise because it was close by and we were starving! Oh my goodness! I’m so glad we stopped. I had the BEST crab cake I have ever had. That’s saying a lot because I’m from Delaware and grew up on seafood. I’m very picky about crab cakes and don’t usually order them. But the description said Maryland style crab cakes so I took a chance. Best choice ever! They were amazing! My husband had the clam strips that was the special of the day and they were also amazing. So many he couldn’t eat them all. We shared a bowl of seafood bisque that was also delicious. Our waitress even split it into 2 bowls for us when we told her we were going to share. Food was served quickly and the staff was super friendly. I highly recommend stopping here!“

“Pour House is a great local spot with something for everyone. They offer trivia, ping pong tournaments, arcade games, pool tables, and a big selection of local beer and cocktails. There’s plenty of seating, a small lounge with more seating upstairs, big screens to watch the games, the bathrooms are clean, and the staff is always friendly. They occasionally have live music, which is a fun bonus. We come here most weekends because the atmosphere is relaxed, there’s always something to do, and it’s just an easy place to hang out with friends. You can also order food from the Fish & Company restaurant next door. 10/10“

“A 60th birthday lunch/dinner celebration for party of 6. Reservation was for 1pm & we ordered from dinner menu. The lobster bites appetizer ordered was enough for each to try - all enjoyed the flavor & sauce provided. We had 1 filet ordered (tasted wonderful) 2 ordered the crab cakes -delish! 2 ordered the salmon - wonderfully prepared and 1 ordered the filet tips - this was served with gravy that was a slightly salty tasting & the tips had gristle pieces making almost 1/2 of them too chewy. Overall a nice place but noisy on the inside (our 1st visit). We will return in better weather & when we can eat outside.“

“Wow! One of the best places in the golf coast region. Owner Mac and bartender Jenna provide a wonderful and quirky experience. Come here to relax and laugh and enjoy delicious too quality Italian style food, and enjoy banter between customers and the staff. Don’t be uptight - go with the flow - and you’ll be a friend for life. In a sea of copycats this stands out and is a winner every time.“

“Drove 50 minutes to meet some friends to eat here for the first time. Was told it could be up to a 2 hr wait . The band was awesome and the wait was only an hour and 10 min. EVERY person we came in contact with was super friendly and hospitable! The hostess was not at all upset when we asked to move to a different table because we were right under an air duct. The food was great! The chips with the crab dip tasted stale and we probably should have sent them back but we didn’t want to mess up the good vibe. We enjoyed it and would def do the drive and wait again .“

“Food at Roberto's is always excellent. And have always enjoyed the experience. However, when making this latest reservation I neglected to add that it was our anniversary. When we arrived, while we did have a table, the only table available was right next to the bar. So it was very noisy and lacked the ambiance of other areas we'd been seated in before. I asked if there was a different location but was informed the other areas were already reserved. While not the fault of Roberto's, I would advise to request a specific setting if that's important.“

“Our family had the best meal all week during our vacation at Feast OIB! The owner/chef greeted us at the door and seated us. The wedge salad was delicious with homemade blue cheese dressing. The lobster risotto was wonderful and beautifully presented. The crab legs were super meaty and tender. There are great options for kids too! Amazing, friendly service with a smile. As we were leaving, the owner/chef was cleaning tables and making sure things were running smoothly. We were very impressed! I also love that the menu was clearly labeled with MANY gluten free options.“

“I only gave a 4 on service because they were down a waitress and it took quite a while to get waited on. The food was very good and came out quickly after our order was finally taken. I do want to point out that Robbie, the young man that waited on us, was so nice. He didn't normally wait tables but he did an awesome job. I'm sure he doesn't get the appreciation he deserves. I would recommend this restaurant for a reasonably priced meal“

“my new go to bar, love Dino and Brittney. Bartenders are the best, very friendly. Till next time. Cathy and John Smythe with a Y“

“Love this place. Always our first dinner out when we go to OIB!“

“We have had issues finding places we like (a lot of the places around her have been bland). We came from an area where we were pretty spoiled with great restaurants and Wing & Fish has been the only place so far that is comparable. We have been here three times so far and they have been very consistent each time. The food is great, and the staff are friendly and attentive.“

“Updating my review again. After a disappointing previous visit, we decide to try again after checking the menu online and what a difference. Atmosphere was better, wait time shorter and tho it was more expensive, the food was excellent. Coconut shrimp and flounder are highly recommended. Wait staff was great. We'll definitely be back again. Now about that side door... 😉“

“Good food and people there!!!“

“We went for Happy Hour yesterday and had a great experience! Cold beer and the apps were really good! Service was great! Prices are good too! We will definitely be back!“