Location: Pine Knoll Shores
Top Restaurants in Pine Knoll Shores
Top Things to do in Pine Knoll Shores
- 1. Fort Macon State Park
- 2. North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores
- 3. Professor Hacker's Lost Treasure Golf and Raceway
- 4. Fort Macon
- 5. Crystal Coast Country Club
- 6. Theodore Roosevelt Natural Area
- 7. Oceanana Pier & Pier House Restaurant
- 8. Hoop Pole Creek Nature Trail
- 9. Trash & Treasures Antique Mall
- 10. Vision Art Gallery
Pine Knoll Shores Food Guide: 10 Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in Pine Knoll Shores
Pine Knoll Shores is a town in Carteret County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,339 at the 2010 census. One of North Carolina's state aquariums is located here.
Things to do in Pine Knoll Shores
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. Big Oak Drive In & BBQ
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 272 reviews
Reviewed By hjpoole - Holly Springs, North Carolina
Everything tasted the same and it was a bit confusing when trying to get everyone's order in. Many people would like this place and I figure earlier in the day it might taste better but I am not one of those.
If you like fried seafood prepared fast food like this is definitely a place to visit. A quick bite to eat and one that meets many people's like for soft crabshell sandwiches or shrimp on a bun.
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. The Clam Digger Inn
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 46 reviews
Reviewed By Eric M
We stayed at the Inn at Pine Knoll Shores and decided to have breakfast at the inns restaurant. We were quite pleased with the quality of food that we were served. The staff was helpful and the am service manager was professional and remembered most of her patrons it seemed. If we had stayed longer we would've tried lunch or dinner. We would eat here again even if we weren't staying at the Inn. Side note : they cooked the best omelette I've ever eaten. Treat yourself to one . The only recommendation we had was they should have a children's menu. The cook made my grandson a special pancake and I realized a small children's menu would be helpful , but the special pancake for my grandson tells of how they care for patrons .
7. The Crab Shack
Overall Ratings
4 based on 574 reviews
The Crab Shack Restaurant is a family owned business serving patrons for the past 40 years. Our menu consists of all types of seafood including fish, shrimp, homemade crab cakes and of course... CRABS! We also have the best steaks on the island! Sandwiches include hamburgers, cheeseburgers, shrimp burgers, etc. and our "just like mama's" grilled cheese sandwich. We offer daily lunch specials, including your choice of an entree, 2 veggies and sweet or unsweet tea, available 7 days a week. We pride ourselves on fast, courteous service where you're treated like one of the family. Our kid-friendly atmosphere keeps our annual vacationers coming back year after year. The main dining room overlooks beautiful Bogue Sound. (We don't even charge extra for the view!) Our shrimp boats parked out back, add a beautiful back drop to your dining experience. So if you're looking for fresh seafood, land-lubbers delights and a fun time for you and the family, give us a try... you won't be sorry!
Reviewed By 122Hanovergirl - Radford, Virginia
We were heading back to our hotel and saw this restaurant still open about 8:30 p.m. so we stopped in. Very fast service! Excellent crab cakes - no filler. Will stop here again. Everything was wonderful and the staff was so friendly - made us...MoreThank you we appreciate your business and your wonderful review
8. 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!
9. 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!
10. Dairy Queen
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 45 reviews
Reviewed By Christy K - Raleigh, North Carolina
Loved that this DQ was right across the street from our hotel, and it was a nice cold and sweet treat to indulge in our last night at the beach. I got the Chocolate Extreme Blizzard, and it was wonderful, as always. Service was good, and employees were nice,
