Location: Morehead City
Top Restaurants in Morehead City
Top Things to do in Morehead City
- 1. Fort Macon State Park
- 2. Island Express Ferry Service
- 3. North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores
- 4. Fort Macon
- 5. North Carolina Maritime Museum
- 6. Beaufort Historic Site Old Burying Ground
- 7. Oceanana Pier & Pier House Restaurant
- 8. History Museum of Carteret County
- 9. Big Rock Stadium
- 10. Beaufort Historic Site Visitor Center and Museum
Morehead City Food Guide: 10 Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in Morehead City
Morehead City is a port town in Carteret County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 8,661 at the 2010 census. Morehead City celebrated the 150th anniversary of its founding on May 5, 2007. It forms part of the Crystal Coast.
Things to do in Morehead City
1. Amos Mosquito's Restaurant & Bar
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
Welcome to Amos Mosquito’s Restaurant & Bar – or more affectionately known by locals as “Skeeter’s”. Established in 1999, Amos Mosquito’s offers a family friendly environment with a menu of fresh seafood and a wide variety of creative entrees. While in our first location on the Morehead City Waterfront, and here in our present location on Atlantic Beach overlooking beautiful Bogue Sound, we’ve had one primary goal in mind – to create the most unique, fun, and high quality dining experience that can be found in Eastern North Carolina. We have a seasoned staff of chefs, servers, and hosts who are passionate about making customers happy. Although we specialize in local seafood and offer at least two varieties of fresh fish every night, our menu also features chicken, pork and Sterling Silver beef.We make all our salad dressings, sauces and desserts in house and have a great children’s menu loaded with fun games and mosquito facts.Thursday nights are sushi nights at Amos Mosquito’s. We offer a full menu of fresh, made to order sushi in addition to our regular menu.Amos has a full bar and a wonderful, reasonably priced wine list.Reservations are not accepted, but you may call us to place an order for take out.
Reviewed By 220Molly - Milford, Delaware
Excellent food, excellent service, excellent atmosphere. Go there and ENJOY!!! My husband and I had dinner here during the local's night specials. We were blown away. First, we are so tired of going to restaurants where the noise level is so LOUD. This restaurant had noise barriers, wall coverings to absorb the noise. And the nautical decorations added to the merriment. My husband had a 3-seafood special including grouper, shrimp and oysters and was very pleased. I had a crab casserole that was out-of-this world. The waitress was so attentive. I just can't say anything negative about this place. Outstanding.
2. Aqua Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 413 reviews
Our menu is created to bring you the freshest seasonal items available presented with a creative touch. Aqua’s small plates offer you an exciting array of tastes in ‘just right” portions ideal for passing around the table or enjoying two or three as a full meal. Aqua’s Big Plates feature "North Carolina seafood served stylishly" with the freshest local seafood and Choice Beef Filet, as well as local produce when it’s seasonally available. Aqua prides itself on offering fresh, local products and supporting our local fisherman and farmers.
Reviewed By hlkjx4 - Los Angeles, California
We walked around this little town and saw that Aqua was having a wine pairing to compliment their dinner menu. That was enough for us. SO GOOD! Everything is fresh and local and plates are designed to share.
3. AB Ice Cream and Candy Shoppe
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 137 reviews
Sweets and Treats at the Beach.Freshly Made Cream and Butter FudgeHershey's Ice Cream
Reviewed By Stacy_AGraham_NC - Graham, NC
We always stop here during our trip. I'm a bit of an ice cream snob so I skip the Hershey's ice cream and go for the bulk candy. The fudge looked fresh & delicious and I think we will try it next time.
4. Happycakes Cupcakery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 221 reviews
Reviewed By wblawson54
The cupcakes are delicious, moist, always fresh, and the most unique flavors and decorative toppings you can imagine. They deserve to be winners of the Cupcake Wars. But beyond the cupcakes, the place is just large enough for some small tables, a place to sit and enjoy the treats and a cold drink. It's a neat little place to visit for awhile, or take home a box....or one!...special cupcake and say, "You are special and loved." It's like a little birthday anyday you wish!
5. Parrott's on 11th
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 148 reviews
Award winning fine dining restaurant serving fresh local seafood, Certified Angus Beef, Lamb, Duck and much more. Nothing frozen and always made to order. Located in the 118 year old BELL-PHILLIPS home.
Reviewed By GLMS-NC - Raleigh, North Carolina
Took 55 minutes for appetizers, another 10 minutes for salad, and when meal came they forgot one meal for a member in our party. Took a while to bring it, then when it came it was awful. Only compensation was 1/2 on this one late meal. Server never checked back on the late meal delivered. Could not cut pork tenderloin, which should require minimal effort if prepared correctly. Manager was not told of poor experience by the server and when spoke to, he didn't push for a successful resolution.
Had a reservation with a group of six. Note - menu is also pricey.
For when they charge, the food served, and the service level, this has been my worst experience of any restaurant in the area. There are so much better options
6. Island Grille
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 479 reviews
The Island Grille is a small restaurant on Atlantic Beach. We specialize in keeping our menu fresh and try to accommodate both those with a thirst for fresh seafood and those who would rather try a traditional dish with a new perspective. Although we would love to accommodate everyone who walks in our door reservations are recommended and the restaurant is LIVELY! You may be seated close to other guests, you may get visits from all of our staff throughout the night as they graze your table.. If you are looking for a great meal in a fun and fearless environment check us out on Monday or Tuesday during BOGO entree night. If you like things a little more laid back I recommend reservations any other day! But, I always recommend them!!! See you soon at The Island Grille! -Amiee Scott General Manager
Reviewed By NCPirate - Sanford, NC
We were in the area on Thanksgiving and searched for a place to enjoy a great meal. Several other places in town were fully booked, but they all told us they had buffet dining at $30 per person that included many seafood items and there was Turkey and dressing it that was what we wanted. We wanted seafood!!! So we called Island Grille and found they had room for us at their Buffet...$35 per person...the meal was be provided at their Celebration Cottage across the street from the restaurant. We were certain that since we were at the beach, and everyone else was serving seafood, and since this Buffet was even more costly that the others, that we would have a chance to eat seafood. Well, we were wrong! When we began circling around the table, I just knew there had to be another area with food...but alas we were told that all we had was in front of us. Turkey, Dressing, Ham, Masked Potatoes, Brussel Sprouts, String Beans, Candied Yams, Corn Pudding, a Salad, Rolls...a couple of other items I didn't look over, and three deserts...pecan bar (hard as a rock), a small pumpkin pie tart and a Chocolate iyem.
Now to be fair...if this had been at home, and we were having just a Traditional Thanksgiving meal, most of this would be on our table...except we at least have an oyster dressing on hand. However, we were at the beach...seafood is a specialty at Atlantic Beach...and since every other place we contacted HAD seafood...well, we were sorely disappointed, especially since we were paying $35 each for this meal!
So let me discuss the food itself... The Turkey was a carved cooked Turkey breast...good but was just Turkey. The Ham was okay...a bit dry and somewhat ove-rcooked. The masked potatoes were excellent! The Dressing was good but bland...the gravy helped. The brussel sprouts were good, The rolls excellent. The salad was my wife's favorite part of the meal. The corn pudding was flavorless and dry....the gravy helped. The pumpkin pie tart with whipped cream was my favorite part of the meal. Water, tea and coffee were included in the $35 per person price. Other stronger beverages were available for purchase.
So, yes we were disappointed to have walked into a traditional Thanksgiving meal... However, we would have been okay, and I can assure you I would not be sounding negative at all, if the price had been more reasonable!! $15 per person would have been fair... but this was just plain a highway robbery. If we could have each been allowed to take another plate full with us, maybe we would have felt better.
I am fairly certain that the regular Island Grille restaurant across the street does not have many of these items on their menu. I did note a number of seafood items featured on their regular menu. The chance of us coming back to the regular restaurant are rather slim. The amount of price gouging on Turkey makes me worry about what their seafood would cost!
7. Pita Plate
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 145 reviews
Reviewed By gingermarie05 - Cary, North Carolina
Definitely worth the trip to eat at this comfortable and sweet Mediterranean restaurant. The customer service is authentic and personable. The owner brought us delicious vegan creamy balsamic dressing to try. I loved the veg sampler! Big thanks for being so kind to everyone!
8. City Kitchen
Overall Ratings
5 based on 195 reviews
City Kitchen is a Waterfront Restaurant with approachable American Cuisine that is kicked up a notch. Just like our great country, the chef draws from our diverse ethnic mix, with Southern, Asian, Hispanic and other influences. City Kitchen's cuisine is imaginative yet familiar. We are an unpretentious restaurant, with an inviting decor and awesome food! (Our desserts are pretty darn tasty too!) Dinner Wed- Sat 5:30pm-until We also have a Waterfront-open air bar that is open in Season on Fri and Sat evenings. Call for hours as this is weather dependent.
Reviewed By beck6286 - Scarsdale, New York
Seven of us dined at City Kitchen recently and everyone left happy. Although a little tricky to get to because of highway construction, once there you'll find a wonderful marina view, friendly and competent service amd a kitchen that aims to please. We all had drinks, appetizers and mains and were uniformly pleased.
9. Blue Moon Bistro
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 246 reviews
Reviewed By Steve F - Columbia, South Carolina
This lovely restaurant is on a side street less than a block form the water. White tablecloths, friendly wonderful waitress and fresh...really fresh and local seafood. Also a nice selection of wines. We had local flounder and oysters and tuna from the Outer Banks. Memorable, romantic dinner. We also noticed lots of locals that came in. The staff greeted them by name and gave them hugs. I am sure during the summer this place is packed.
10. 4 Corners Diner
Overall Ratings
4 based on 547 reviews
4 Corners Diner is a family friendly restaurant which has been located in the heart of Atlantic Beach N.C. for decades. The Ibrahim family has owned the Diner since 1991. Tony, Amal & David continually strive to provide a pleasant dining atmosphere with fast friendly service, delicious food at reasonable prices & making customer satisfaction the first priority. There is a wide variety of items on the menu including breakfast served all day, steaks, seafood, spaghetti, burgers, subs, hot plate dinners... too much to list! Please visit our website to view the full menu!
Reviewed By debistrble - Middleport, New York
Stopped for breakfast while in Atlantic Beach the other day. I had read the reviews on Tripadvisor and it was definitely the place to go. Food and service was great. Reasonably priced and not one of us left hungry. Will be back next time in the area
