Atlantic Beach is located on North Carolina’s scenic Crystal Coast, not far from the Wilmington beaches. It’s a popular summer vacation destination. Families travel here to relax on the North Carolina beach during the day and dine at all the best Atlantic Beach NC restaurants by night.
It’s a small area of the world, but there are some fantastic Atlantic Beach restaurants offering delicious seafood to Italian to German restaurants!
Best Atlantic beach NC restaurants
Amos Mosquito’s Restaurant
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: Seafood restaurant
- Address: 703 E Fort Macon Rd, Atlantic Beach, NC (GPS)
- Website: See menu
When it comes to the best Atlantic Beach North Carolina restaurants, Amos Mosquito’s Restaurant is a top pick. This eatery is a laid-back place where you’ll enjoy a range of dishes made with fresh, seasonal ingredients while looking out over the Atlantic Ocean.
While sushi and other seafood specialties are the most popular items on the menu, other popular options include Amos’s famous meatloaf and the Crunchy Sesame Encrusted Chicken Breasts. Make sure to save some room for the mouth-watering chocolate crème brulee or homemade rum cake!
Front Street Grill
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: Seafood restaurant
- Address: 300 Front St, Beaufort, NC (GPS)
- Website: See menu
Since 1987, The Front Street Grill in nearby Beaufort has been serving delicious, quality food in a laid-back atmosphere inside a refurbished old boathouse.
Enjoy waterfront views as you dine on fresh, local seafood. Not in the mood for seafood? A variety of salads, soups and entrees, such as basil pesto parmesan linguine and grilled ribeye basil pesto, are also available on the menu.
The cuisine is described as down-home Southern with a dash of Caribbean spice. Stick around for a while after dinner and enjoy a glass of wine as the sun goes down or stop by on a Sunday for brunch.
The Island Grille
- Price:$$$
- Cuisine: Seafood restaurant
- Address: 401 Money Island Dr, Atlantic Beach, NC (GPS)
- Website: See menu
If eating in style is your thing, The Island Grille is more than just a hip place to grab a bite to eat. This eatery offers a selection of high-end seafood and meat dishes made with fresh, local ingredients. Traditional dishes take on a modern spin and are custom made by hand.
Some of the most popular dishes on the menu include the signature filet, jumbo lump crab cakes and Southern shrimp and scallop grits. Want to get a great deal on your favorites? Every Monday and Tuesday is mix-and-match BOGO entrees.
Crab’s Claw Oceanfront Caribbean Seafood Restaurant
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: Seafood restaurant
- Address: 201 W Atlantic Blvd, Atlantic Beach, NC (GPS)
- Website: See menu
One of the best things to do in Atlantic Beach is enjoy a meal here! They claim to have the best view in the area and at Crab’s Claw Oceanfront Caribbean Seafood Restaurant, you get some of the best food around to go along with those fabulous ocean views! This casual eatery specializes in Caribbean-inspired dishes made with locally-caught fish and other fresh ingredients.
The most popular items on the menu are the Caribbean grouper and steam pots but you’ll also find a variety of soups, salads, sandwiches and entrees such as lobster mac ‘n’ cheese and bay scallops au gratin. Complement your meal with a drink from the selection of margaritas and mojitos.
Ruddy Duck Tavern
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: Seafood restaurant, gourmet, pizza
- Address: 509 Evans St, Morehead City, NC (GPS)
- Website: See menu
Situated only five minutes away in nearby Morehead City, Ruddy Duck Tavern is where you’ll find hearty portions of delicious, top-quality food at lunch and dinner. Some of the options on the menu include seafood dishes, flatbread pizzas, burgers, sandwiches, soups, salads, linguine bowls and signature dishes such as cioppino, herb slow-roasted chicken and pecan flounder.
Only the freshest, local and organic ingredients are used in the preparation of these dishes.
Aqua Restaurant
Aqua restaurant in nearby Beaufort is a chic and relaxed establishment specializing in fresh, local seafood. The dishes are expertly prepared with the finest ingredients and include a range of tapas, salads and entrees. Staff members are well-trained wine connoisseurs so you can choose the right one to complement your meal.
Bottled wine is discounted on Fridays, and wine tastings occur at the restaurant twice a month. A selection of martinis and beers are also available.
Promise Land Market
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: American restaurant
- Address: 909-B Arendell St, Morehead City, NC (GPS)
- Website: See menu
If you’re looking for a down-to-earth, lively place to enjoy a delicious meal, Promise Land Market in nearby Morehead City is the place to be! On the menu, you’ll find a wide variety of items made with locally-sourced ingredients including hors d’oeuvres, tacos, barbecued dishes, burgers and dinner specials such as honey chicken, crab cakes and meatloaf.
While you wait for your meal to arrive, there are plenty of vintage photos to look at and, after dinner, The Mullet Bar is where you can kick back with some live music, a game of foosball, or a big game. A selection of wines, cocktails and craft beers are available.
Sanitary Fish Market and Restaurant
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: Seafood restaurant
- Address: 501 Evans St, Morehead City, NC (GPS)
- Website: See menu
The Sanitary Fish Market on the waterfront in Morehead City is a longstanding eatery that has been serving fresh, local seafood since 1938. Step back in time and dine on delicious fare while surrounded by retro decor. Fine meats, cheese plates, salads, soups, grilled items, pasta dishes and sandwiches are also on the menu.
Enjoy a cold brew or cocktail with your meal and don’t forget to complete it with a slice of scrumptious Islander Key Lime Pie.
Floyd’s 1921 Restaurant, Bar & Catering
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: Southern restaurant
- Address: 400 Bridges St, Morehead City, NC (GPS)
- Website: See menu
Floyd’s 1921 Restaurant, Bar & Catering in Morehead City focuses mainly on classic Southern dishes. A delicious selection of tapas, soups, salads, seafood dishes, steak dishes, sandwiches and burgers is featured on the menu.
You can enjoy your meal indoors or outdoors on the patio around the fire pits. From time to time, live music is hosted on-site.
Venice Italian Kitchen
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: Italian restaurant
- Address: 407 Atlantic Beach Causeway, Atlantic Beach, NC (GPS)
- Website: See menu
For genuine, homemade Italian dishes, head to Venice Italian Kitchen where you’ll find a wide selection of subs, deli sandwiches, pizzas, salads, signature pasta dishes and entrees such as chicken cutlet parmesan dinner and veal cutlet parmesan. A selection of breakfast items is also available.
Oceanana Pier
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: Seafood restaurant
- Address: 700 E Fort Macon Rd, Atlantic Beach, NC (GPS)
- Website: See menu
Since the late 1950s, Oceanana Pier has been serving breakfast, lunch and dinner in a stunning oceanfront location.
Local seafood is the main attraction at this family-friendly establishment. Still, you’ll also find a range of salads, sandwiches, tacos and entrees, such as shrimp and grits, jerk chicken and Carolina crab cakes, on the menu. On the beverage menu, you’ll find a wide selection of wines, beers and cocktails.
Idle Hour Biergarten
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: German beer garden
- Address: 153 Atlantic Blvd, Atlantic Beach, NC (GPS)
- Website: See menu
When seeking a friendly place to enjoy a meal with your dog, look no further than Idle Hour Biergarten. Situated right on the beach, this place features bright and comfortable indoor and outdoor seating and sometimes, there’s even live music!
On the menu, you’ll find fresh seafood dishes, tacos, burgers, salads, and a variety of local craft beers and cocktails that are best enjoyed around one of the fire pits.
On the Rocks
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: Seafood restaurant, steak and salad bar
- Address: 2604 W Fort Macon Rd #5344, Atlantic Beach, NC (GPS)
- Website: See menu
If you like a little bit of nostalgia mixed with live music, friendly service and a cozy setting, On the Rocks is the perfect place to enjoy an all-in-one meal and a night out. The extensive menu features a wide range of dishes made with fresh ingredients including seafood specialties, burgers, wings, soups, pasta dishes, sandwiches and steaks. The salad bar has more than 30 items!
Dietary restrictions are no problem for the expert staff on hand. Whether you’re vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-intolerant, they’ll prepare something suitable to your needs. Follow your meal with a slice of funnel cake or key lime pie and stick around a little longer to enjoy a delicious cocktail from the bar menu.
The Shark Shack
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: Seafood restaurant
- Address: 100 S Durham Ave, Atlantic Beach, NC (GPS)
- Website: See menu
It’s dog-friendly, has outdoor seating by the water, has a homey atmosphere, has beachy decor, and serves some of the best fresh seafood around. What more can you ask for in a restaurant?
At The Shark Shack, you’ll find a variety of burgers, sandwiches, wraps, tacos, soups and salads, but if you like seafood, make sure to try the famous crab cakes, fried oysters, clam strips, or shrimp. The sauces that accompany these seafood dishes are homemade and there are nine different ones to choose from.
Table 9 Seafood Restaurant
- Price: $$$
- Cuisine: Seafood restaurant
- Address: 1104 W Fort Macon Rd, Atlantic Beach, NC (GPS)
- Website: See menu
Table 9 Seafood Restaurant is an upmarket eatery serving the freshest, highest quality local seafood. Some of the delicious options on the menu include crab stuffed mahi, seared yellowfin tuna, seafood fettuccini, blackened salmon and lobster ravioli. A selection of wines and cocktails is also available.
Full Moon Oyster Bar
- Price:$$
- Cuisine: Seafood grill
- Address: 505 Atlantic Beach Causeway, Atlantic Beach (GPS)
- Website: See menu
Full Moon Oyster Bar is a popular seafood eatery and watering hole featuring a lively, beach-themed environment. Fresh seafood is at the center of the food offerings and you can choose from a wide range of delicious options that you can have grilled, broiled, or fried.
Many of the dishes are based on traditional recipes that were handed down through the generations. The homemade cakes are not to be missed!
The Crab Shack Restaurant
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: Seafood restaurant
- Address: 144 Shore Dr, Salter Path, NC (GPS)
- Website: See menu
Located on the scenic waterfront in nearby Salter Path, The Crab Shack Restaurant serves delicious, fresh, local seafood made any way you want it – fried, grilled, steamed, or broiled.
The unique thing about this eatery is it’s been owned and operated by a family of commercial fishermen since 1976. That means you can expect top-quality, expertly-prepared dishes and extensive seafood preparation knowledge!
Even if you don’t like seafood, there are many items on the menu to suit your taste buds including burgers, wings, chicken, hot dogs and steaks. There are daily lunch and dinner specials.
Beaufort Grocery
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: American restaurant, vegan
- Address: 117 Queen St, Beaufort, NC (GPS)
- Website: See menu
Situated in nearby Beaufort, Beaufort Grocery is actually a cozy little bistro serving a range of items for brunch, lunch and dinner. It’s one of the best places for a quick bite to eat in Beaufort! Salads, sandwiches and a selection of entrees are just some of the items on the menu but many people come for an item that is unique to this establishment.
If you’ve never tried Gougeres, this is where you’ll have your chance! This tasty appetizer originated in France and is a pastry stuffed with chicken salad, parmesan, pimiento cheese and your choice of shrimp or egg and bacon.
4 Corners Diner
- Price: $
- Cuisine: American restaurant
- Address: 100 E Fort Macon Rd, Atlantic Beach, NC (GPS)
- Website: See menu
4 Corners Diner is another one of the Best Atlantic Beach North Carolina Restaurants for a family-friendly ambiance and the chance to eat breakfast any time of day. It’s a traditional eatery also serving various lunch and dinner specialties.
On the menu, you’ll find a range of sandwiches, waffles, soups, salads, seafood dishes and classic American favorites.
City Kitchen
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: American seafood, vegetarian
- Address: 114 A Town Creek Dr, Beaufort, NC (GPS)
- Website: See menu
At City Kitchen in nearby Beaufort, you’ll enjoy a tasty meal in a gorgeous seaside location. When the weather is nice, you can sit outdoors where you’ll have access to a lively Tiki bar.
A wide variety of dishes are available on the menu including seafood dishes, salads, burgers and other classic all-American favorites. The beverage menu features a large selection of signature cocktails and wines.
Full Circle Cafe
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: American restaurant
- Address: 708 Evans St, Morehead City, NC (GPS)
- Website: See menu
Full Circle Cafe is another great eatery located in nearby Morehead City, so not exactly one of the best restaurants in Atlantic Beach NC, but close by! Enjoy waterfront views and a casual, lively ambiance while you dine on a variety of tasty items including wood-fired pizzas, salads, ramen noodles, burgers, pasta dishes and seafood specialties.
An extensive wine and beer menu is available, and the selections change frequently.
Moonrakers
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: American , coastal cuisine
- Address: 326 Front St, Beaufort, NC (GPS)
- Website: See menu
Moonrakers is one of the best places for waterfront dining in the historic town of Beaufort near Atlantic Beach. With a chic dining room, casual atmosphere, friendly service and three levels of stunning waterfront views, dining at Moonrakers is an unforgettable experience. Did I mention the food is incredible too?
You can eat indoors where you can admire local artwork while you wait for your meal to be done. However, if the weather is nice, why would you stay indoors when you can enjoy your meal on the scenic rooftop?
You’ll find a range of items on the menu including fresh, seasonal seafood dishes, soups, salads and entrees such as blackened grouper and braised Chesire pork. The extensive wine menu features about 90 wines and a selection of craft beers, handcrafted cocktails, frozen specialties and spirits. Live music is often hosted on-site.
