Shark Bar and Kitchen

Best meal I’ve ever had. Will be back

Sat down to have lunch but noticed the B sanitation rating while waiting for the waiter. Then we were handed drink menus which were in rough shape, and noticed all the other drink menus looked similar. Like dive-bar menus that had been spilled on many times, smeared ink and frays edges. Yikes. If this is how they treated the menus - the first thing customers see - then how do they treat their food prep? We ordered a beer and prosecco as we decided what to do. Ultimately, we didn't feel comfortable ordering any food, and left. As a cap, the two drinks were $25. Left feeling ripped off, but glad we didn't get any questionable and expensive food. Maybe they can clean up things because the location and waitstaff were nice.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 1

Service: 2

Staff lovely and attentive.
Lobster roll claw meat only and extra loaded with mayo….should have tried something else for the price.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 3

Service: 4

Ordered Mahi tacos- mediocre is a greater word than what they tasted like. No flavor, fish and a little slaw on top. The espresso martini tasted like 2 day old coffee. Captain and diet was as should be. Had we just had drinks here i still would give a one star as the service was....behind us playing a game with another staff? Maybe we caught them on an off day as the reviews im reading are far beyond what we received.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 1

Service: 1

Small but cool spot! Good service, nice hang out bar and great food options.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

4.5 Stars: Hidden Culinary Gem Masquerading as a Sports Bar! 🦈
Shark Bar & Kitchen at 13 East Salisbury Street, Wrightsville NC 28480

When we walked into Shark Bar & Kitchen, the atmosphere was classic, cool neighborhood bar—perfect for watching the Carolina Panthers game. But let me tell you, the moment we caught the scent of seriously good seasoning, everything changed. When a sports bar menu starts dropping high-end ingredients like “Duck Fat” and “Caviar,” you know you’re in for a surprise, and this spot absolutely delivered!

We ordered a few things just to test the waters, and the results were jaw-dropping:

The WOW Factor Dishes

• Duck Fat Kettle Chips w/ Whipped Crème Fraîche + Caviar: UNBELIEVABLE. I've had caviar on my travels to Brazil, but this was a revelation. The chips were crisp, the crème fraîche was smooth and creamy, and the caviar was fresh and perfectly salty. The combination is a textural and flavor masterpiece—a truly elevated bar snack that you must try.

• Grilled Oysters (topped with Parmesan cheese): Forget a 10/10; these were a 15/10! Perfectly grilled, smoky, and topped with a savory, melted Parmesan finish. A must-order.

• Market Fish Sandwich (Blackened Flounder): Top notch! The flounder was seasoned brilliantly and cooked perfectly. The balance of the blackened fish with the slaw, sliced jalapeño, and tartar sauce created a flavor explosion that was out of this world.

The Service That Earned the Stars⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

We had one initial hiccup with the Crab Fingers (hand-tossed, fried crab claws)—the first batch wasn't as fresh as the other food. However, our waitress was a superstar! We let her know, and without hesitation, she had the chef prepare a brand-new order from the crabs delivered that day. The fresh batch was a HOMERUN. This is the kind of service that shows they truly care about quality and customer experience.

Final Verdict
Shark Bar & Kitchen is now our W.O.W. Location: Wrightsville Outstanding Win! It’s a spectacular spot that deserves recognition not just as a great bar, but as a serious foodie destination. Easily a 4.5-star experience and now in my top 5 places to eat in Wrightsville Beach. I only hope I can get a table every time we return!

Review by: Creating Exposure… Through Food | mP

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 4

Popped in for lunch and dinner. Jade and Rachel did an exceptional job catering and proving prompt and friendly service. The food was fresh, flavorful, as I enjoyed their selection. Their drink menu was surprisingly inviting, offering numerous options, in the vicinity of the coast. Thank you for taking care of me.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Best $22 hamburger, salad and loaded tots appetizer. Delicious

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

We had an excellent first visit to Shark's! The steak frites, shrimp and grits, and duck fat chips were incredible. The staff was friendly, accommodating, and fast. We'll definitely be back during our next visit to Wrightsville Beach,

This fire cracker shrimp was to die for. I've never had shrimp as good as this, if you like a little spice, and want a delicious sea food snack, this is definitely for you.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Best shrimp tacos of my life. Large portion of shrimp perfectly fried, not too much breading but a great crunch. Firecracker sauce has a ton of flavor and not too much spice, 10/10!!!!

Food: 5

This place just isn’t what it used to be. Two of us came in, got seated, and only got one menu to share. All we got was water, and then we sat there for 20 minutes without a single check-in. During that time, four other tables were seated after us. Each of them was checked on multiple times, got their drinks, and even had their food orders taken. All while we were still sitting with nothing.

The recent reviews about the health rating are also correct. The score behind the bar says 84, not the 93 the owner keeps claiming.

Service: 1

We sat down tonight, chairs were dirty and so were then menus. Then I looked up at the bar to see what they had on tap and came across their health score…84, just last month. So we left. Yall need to fix whatever issues you have and get reinspected.

Update: my reply to the restaurant is no, i am sure i have the right place, 100%. As I was looking at the bar for what was on tap, I saw no taps. Thats when i saw plain as day, 84. My husband could confirm this is what we saw. If that was out of date, then you should replace it with the new score. Getting food and drink menus with crusted food on them is a red flag anyways. Clearly, I should have taken a picture so I could show it to the world.

2nd update: ICYMI, just three weeks ago another reviewer stated your 84 health rating too. I dont appreciate a business lying on a reply back, says a lot about who you are.

Seriously? One of the recent reviews mentioned the 84 sanitation rating. This is accurate. Prominently displayed, as per law. The owner replied and apparently LIED?! about a 93 rating. This place needs to be shut down. Walked in today with my husband and 1 year old. Thank goodness my husband noticed the rating so we could leave. We thought anything under 90 was automatic shut down. We have both worked multiple roles in service industry. Trust me, you don’t want to eat in any establishment under a 95 rating. Asking for illness. Do not eat or drink here.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

Nice casual dinner. Really enjoyed the margarita flight! They were out of a few of the items we wanted to try which was odd for a Friday evening.