Emerald Isle Travel Guide

The restaurant in my opinion was not very clean, service was horrible, food was below par. We had a large party, however, they had been given about a month's notice of our arrival, they also seemed to have a room for larger parties, but when we got there it was complete chaos! There wasnt enough tables set, it took them 45 minutes to get our drinks, an hour to take our order. Then we were given the salad bar and the lettuce was all brown and not well stocked. Shortly later we received our food, I was extremely disappointed. I got the shrimp scampi over pasta and the shrimp was amazing but the overall dish severely lacked taste. The white wine was not cooked off and left this weird after taste. We paid a straight fee for the meal with all the extras included and personally I wouldnt of even paid half the price we paid. I will never go back to this place even if you paid me.

Favorite Dish: Enough said above.

Busy but seemed to be a local favorite. Was recommended to me by a local. Off the Island, but very close and easy to get to. Busy, but worth it. Tons of food and extremely reasonable. Dinner for 4 including 1 child, was about $45. We even had food to take home. Recommended and will go back again.

Favorite Dish: Fried Oysters and Shrimp

We spen a week each summer at a beach house on Emerald Isle. Yes, we're tourists, but have been comming to the island for about 17 years.

We went to Bushwackers because we had heard so much hype about the place. We tried to make a reservation, but no the wouldn't take them. So we showed up early and the place was just barely full and we were told it would be about a 1/2 hour for our party of nine people. Ok, we can deal with that. 2 hours later they so us to our tables, (oops, they forgot to tell us we couldn't sit together). The food was decent but nothing special and definately not worth enduring the service that was not provided. Oh well, we'll try somewhere else this year.

Favorite Dish: I had a broiled fish and veggies

The new owners of The Fairway Restaurant (as afore mentioned who have recently moved here from the tri-state area) have caused a splash in this family-oriented beach town. Their surprisingly long menu features dishes that range from salads to pastas, all of which are prepapared to standards that would be hard to come by in far more expensive food establishments.

Pair all of these with a refreshing golf theme and extraordinary service, for a great price, you get an incredible dining experience.

P.S.: Often, the head chef will come out and talk with tables. He happens to be very nice and quite talkative!

Favorite Dish: My favorite dish from this restaurant is probably the Chicken Parmesan. It features two pieces of chicken, lightly breaded and fried to a golden brown. Top it off with their homemade marinara sauce and mozzerella cheese and serve it all over delicious linguini pasta. In addition, the portions are so generous that you will certainly have left-overs for the next day!

Recently re-opened in 2003, probably THE BEST place to eat near Emerald Isle. Located about one mile north over the bridge of Emerald Isle (58), (in Cape Carteret) one of the locals favorite places to eat. They have everything from burgers and salads to great steaks and fresh local seafood. Culinary trained chefs prepare different specials every night, (owner from Ny area). Usually always crowded, but well worth it. Everything is prepared to order (nothing pre-packaged). One of the only area restaurants not to close for a few months over the winter, and extremely reasonably priced. Not pretentious at all. I live here and I am at the Fairway at least twice per week. Try it out. Guarantee you won't be disappointed .

Favorite Dish: Sizzler-filet mignon in a sizzling fajita plate with a salty au jus style gravy.....also a veg and potato (recommend the stuffed potato), with a salad. About $18 and you will have left overs for the next day.