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Circa 81 Tapas & Cocktaileria, Morehead City, NC

Circa 81 Tapas & Cocktaileria

4.8
4.8
1095 Reviews
$30 and under
Tapas / Small Plates
Top Tags:
Clarke Merrell's (Circa 81 Executive Chef/Proprietor) goal is for Circa 81 to provide creative, quality, & delicious food in a beautiful setting. Offering small plates that are perfect for passing around the table in true tapas style, our dishes are meant to inspire and engage our diners. So, start a conversation, relax, and enjoy a fresh take on cuisine. Clarke developed Circa 81 in hopes that guests will try something new and different and truly have a dining experience. Circa 81 offers great wine and cocktails too, with more than 30 specialty drinks on our cocktaileria menu. Our menu also includes medium and large plate selections - delicious sandwiches, homemade soups, local seafood and fresh-made desserts.

Circa 81 also offers take-out and catering - just contact us for more details.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 4 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Tapas / Small Plates, Seafood, Southern
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Sun 10:30 am–2:00 pm Lunch Wed–Sat 11:30 am–2:00 pm Dinner Mon, Wed, Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–9:30 pm
  • Phone number
    (252) 648-8300
  • Website
    http://www.circa81.com/
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Clarke Merrell
  • Catering
    Circa 81 offers full service catering. Let us cater your next event. We will cook and clean, and you can take all of the credit. Think of us when you are planning your next, wedding, rehearsal dinner, bridal luncheon, office party, dinner party, baby shower etc. Also popular is our drop off menu. We will drop off your food so you can eat at your own leisure. This has been a big hit for the big family beach gatherings. Email Clarke@circa-81.com or call 252.648.8300 for your catering needs. Gather, Eat, Enjoy!
  • Private party facilities
    Circa 81 can be used for semi-private events or rented out and closed to the public for events. Contact us for details on special event bookings.
  • Location
    4650 C Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC 28557
  • Neighborhood
    Beaufort / Morehead City
  • Cross street
    Across from EJW Outdoors
  • Parking details
    Big private lot. Will accommodate large vehicles
  • Public transit
    Taxi Cabs (sorry MHC does not offer public transportation)<br /><br />We are located 2.5 miles west of the Atlantic Beach bridge in Carteret Village Shopping Center.
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 1,095 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8
4.8 based on recent ratings
  • 4.8Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.6Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Coastal North Carolina

    Best Value

  • Coastal North Carolina

    Great for brunch

  • Coastal North Carolina

    Innovative

  • Coastal North Carolina

    Neighborhood gem

  • Coastal North Carolina

    Lively

1,095 Reviews

  1. ChristianH

    Greensboro

    9 reviews

    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Always excellent and exceptional. One of our favorite places!

    Is this helpful?

  2. HollyW

    Raleigh

    26 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    26 reviews

    Dined on November 20, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Very good food and great service!!! We really enjoyed our meal!

    Is this helpful?

  3. LoganW

    Greensboro

    3 reviews

    vip
    1.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 19, 2023

    overall1food1service1ambience1
    Our fish was extremely undercooked. When we sent the dish back, they had just taken the fish, put it on another plate, and microwaved it. It was still raw on the inside. The waitress did not take the dish off of our tab.

    Circa 81 Tapas & CocktaileriaResponded on November 20, 2023

    Hi Logan, so sorry to hear you did not enjoy your salmon dish. We spoke to your server and the kitchen manager, who personally recooked the fish in the oven after you requested it be brought up more. When your server checked back she did not realize you were unhappy with the fish after it had brought out when she asked about it. I apologize for any confusion. The kitchen put the salmon in the oven for several minutes, we actually do not even use microwaves on the kitchen line at all. We would be happy to remove the dish from the bill and address your concerns. The team felt terrible that you did not feel the fish was properly prepared. This dish can be prepared as not well done. Please feel free to reach out so we can refund you for that item. Thank you for your time!

    Is this helpful?

  4. danm

    Raleigh

    2 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 12, 2023

    overall5food5service4ambience5
    We always go there when in town and are now regulars. So very nice , as usual.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Dave

    Greensboro

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on November 11, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Excellent food and service. The charcuterie and cheese was the best we’ve ever had and we order that sort of thing a lot. Definitely worth visiting

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  6. OpenTable Diner

    Washington DC

    3 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 9, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great dinner at Circa 81! All the food was delicious and we will definitely be back!

    Is this helpful?

  7. Gurk

    Richmond

    23 reviews

    5.0

    23 reviews

    Dined on November 4, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Dinner was delightful as usual. Food is consistently delicious. The service is friendly and attentive. One of our favorite places to eat!!

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  8. JackO

    Wilmington

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 4, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience3
    We went for my wife's birthday with two of our adult daughters. This was our first time and we were all pleased with the food and service. It is an experience different from your run of the mill restaurant and the food is excellent. We'll be back.

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  9. OpenTable Diner

    Wilmington

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on October 27, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Food was excellent. The service was even better. Couldn't ask for anything else.

    Is this helpful?

  10. OpenTable Diner

    Raleigh

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on October 22, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    No I don’t want to tell you. It takes too long.

    Is this helpful?

  11. Drew58

    New York Area

    71 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    71 reviews

    Dined on October 21, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Delicious food, great service and fun drinks! Always a great night out!

    Is this helpful?

  12. MilosNC

    Wilmington

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on October 19, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    As a regular customer, it is a very consistent experience...one of the best restaurants on the Crystal Coast. The weekly specials keep the extensive menu interesting. Don't miss it!

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  13. MikeLand

    San Francisco

    10 reviews

    5.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on October 15, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Service and food were excellent. We’re locals and Circa 81 is our go to restaurant in Morehead. We love the Tapas because you can order as little or as much as you want. She crab soup is a must! Cute bartender waited on us; we requested bar seating so we could watch a game. We will be back soon!

    Is this helpful?

  14. OpenTable Diner

    Raleigh

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on October 14, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Amazing tapas and cocktails! Four of us had a fantastic time! We had charcuterie board - jamon and Ashe County cheeses. Then had the Rosemary beef, baked Brie, shrimp and potstickers. THEN we had the bruschetta and ham hush puppies and crab dip. Finished up with a salted caramel martini. Service was amazing and everyone was so friendly. Make this a go-to stop!

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  15. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 8, 2023

    overall3food3service3ambience3
    Sadly underwhelming. Small portions and food was not particularly great.

    Is this helpful?

  16. nwelsh1401

    Raleigh

    44 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    44 reviews

    Dined on October 5, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Excellent all around! The 4 of us tried 8 different tapas and they were all delicious and fresh. Service was impeccable. Will definitely be back!

    Is this helpful?

  17. Mitzieb

    Raleigh

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on October 5, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    my group of five girlfriends had a wonderful time, delicious food, I’m great service. As always.

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  18. JohnR

    Raleigh

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on October 1, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Great service and selection of items. We so enjoy the specials that are available and that change from time to time. The Glazed Pork belly was marvelous, and the She-crab soup was delicious as always. We've never been disappointed with a meal here.

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  19. JeffereyH

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 30, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Everything was awesome! Food, drinks and service were awesome!

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  20. Karen

    New York Area

    4 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on September 29, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Our go to place when we visit from out of state. Two delicious dinners this week while we were here and they never disappoint. Great menu and flavor and excellent service. I highly recommend Circa 81!

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  21. PamelaH

    Richmond

    9 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on September 29, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    It was quite nice. We were a parry of three who hadn't seen each other in 10 years. Our server was super patient with us and told us to "take our time." We suddenly realized that we were the only table left in the restaurant--they had closed nearly 1/2 hour earlier! Never pestered us to get out. Of course, we wrapped it up and left, but so nice of them.

    Is this helpful?

  22. beachlover

    Raleigh

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on September 27, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Our favorite restaurant at the beach (actually in Morehead City).

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  23. LauraB

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 21, 2023

    overall3food5service3ambience4
    Arrived on time 11:30. Got sangria and soup to start. Bread service delayed. Did not get sandwiches until 12:30. Other tables seated after us had meals served ahead of us. The person who delivered food did apologize. Longest we have ever waited...we thought our order was lost. My crab cake was cold.

    Circa 81 Tapas & CocktaileriaResponded on September 27, 2023

    We are so sorry to hear that we missed the mark with your lunch, we would be happy to refund you for any items you were unhappy with. We have shared your feedback internally and apologize that your visit was impacted. Please contact us directly so we can respond and address your concerns, thank you for sharing.

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  24. GiGi

    San Francisco

    9 reviews

    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on September 21, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Love this place! Excellent food, staff and cocktails!

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  25. jackcorvette

    Raleigh

    64 reviews

    5.0

    64 reviews

    Dined on September 20, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    This was our second time here. We showed up early and were immediately seated. Service was great, drinks were excellent and the food was better. We enjoy picking several items from the small plate menu and sharing.

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  26. MariaM

    Raleigh

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on September 17, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Good brunch reasonably priced. Huge variety of cocktails and drinks.

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  27. PaulH

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 14, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We had a wonderful and delicious experience. A favorite place to go.

    Is this helpful?

  28. SandraL

    Wilmington

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 10, 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    Excellent menu--creative, but not weird. Great staff-- very attentive and engaging. Lovely peaceful atmosphere for a Sunday brunch.

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  29. OpenTable Diner

    Wilmington

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on September 10, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    Staff and food is always great! I specially loved the date tapas. So delicious!

    Is this helpful?

  30. GeorgeH

    Wilmington

    2 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on September 10, 2023

    overall3food1service4ambience3
    The seared tuna Benedict was awful. The ingrediencies by themselves were fine. Together they did not work for me. The wakame and pickled ginger made the dish cold. In addition, I ordered a side of sausage which was over cooked. In the five plus years I have diner at Circa 81, this meal was the worse. Every chef has A off day. George

    Circa 81 Tapas & CocktaileriaResponded on September 12, 2023

    Good afternoon, we are so sorry to hear you did not enjoy your meal. We would be happy to refund you and send you a gift certificate for a future visit. We take each guest visit to heart and are so sorry to hear we missed the mark. Please always let our team know so we can address it right away. Again, our apologies and thank you for letting us know your concerns.

    Is this helpful?

  31. Randy

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 6, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    One of my favorite restaurants in the area. We always dine here at least once every time we are in town. Love being able to have small plates of so many delicious foods.

    Is this helpful?

  32. OpenTable Diner

    Greensboro

    10 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on September 3, 2023

    overall5food5service4ambience5
    Always a treat to try new, delicious dishes at this restaurant. You will not be disappointed eating here!

    Is this helpful?

  33. LoriB

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 27, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Delicious food and drinks! Very nice atmosphere and huge selection of cocktails and wines. Wonderful service. Great experience!

    Is this helpful?

  34. OpenTable Diner

    Las Vegas

    9 reviews

    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on August 27, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    One of our favorite places to dine. Food, staff, service, cleanliness is outstanding. Great menu and drinks. A must dine at and enjoy the experience.

    Is this helpful?

  35. SherryW

    Washington DC

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on August 27, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    This is always a top choice for dinner out whenever we vacation in Emerald Isle. Consistently great food and excellent service. It’s usually where we go on our first night of vacation because after a long drive there is a huge variety of wonderful dishes to choose from, including many gluten free options, and a great wine and local beer list to go with it.

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  36. CarolynV

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 24, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Very different and very good. Unique and excellent

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  37. Pattim

    Washington DC

    12 reviews

    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on August 24, 2023

    overall5food5service4ambience4
    One of my favorite places to eat - have never been disappointed.

    Is this helpful?

  38. BillB

    E. Tennessee

    11 reviews

    4.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on August 23, 2023

    overall4food5service3ambience3
    We frequent Circa 81. This particular trip was not quite up to par. New A/C was chilly and fans were all on high, a bit cooler then hoped. We were able to get he fans turned down but it was still cool. Also, while we were aware that most dishes were tapas style and pretty much were delivered to the table as completed by kitchen, we were soon presented with 7 plates for 4 people with the salad portion actually arriving last. It may help to order one or two at a time. We call it staff throttling....

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  39. Martha2018

    Wilmington

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on August 20, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    As always, good food and service. We love sharing several small plates and getting to taste different things.

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  40. Thh0102

    Orlando

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on August 20, 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    Our waiter, Randall was outstanding and we enjoyed being in the booth rather than the outer tables. The noise level there was definitely less which made our dining much more pleasant. We told Randall yesterday upon leaving that “chef was on his A game”. Overall a very pleasant brunch experience yesterday. Keep up the good work!

    Is this helpful?

Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitizing

    • Surfaces sanitized between seatings
    • Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided

  • Screening

    • Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

Circa 81 Tapas & Cocktaileria offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (252) 648-8300.

Circa 81 Tapas & Cocktaileria is rated 4.8 stars by 1095 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 4 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Circa 81 Tapas & Cocktaileria

4650 C Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC 28557

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Across from EJW Outdoors
  • Neighborhood
    Beaufort / Morehead City
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Sun 10:30 am–2:00 pm Lunch Wed–Sat 11:30 am–2:00 pm Dinner Mon, Wed, Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–9:30 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Tapas / Small Plates, Seafood, Southern
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Big private lot. Will accommodate large vehicles
  • Public transit
    Taxi Cabs (sorry MHC does not offer public transportation)We are located 2.5 miles west of the Atlantic Beach bridge in Carteret Village Shopping Center.
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Clarke Merrell
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Website
    http://www.circa81.com/
  • Phone number
    (252) 648-8300
  • Catering
    Circa 81 offers full service catering. Let us cater your next event. We will cook and clean, and you can take all of the credit. Think of us when you are planning your next, wedding, rehearsal dinner, bridal luncheon, office party, dinner party, baby shower etc. Also popular is our drop off menu. We will drop off your food so you can eat at your own leisure. This has been a big hit for the big family beach gatherings. Email Clarke@circa-81.com or call 252.648.8300 for your catering needs. Gather, Eat, Enjoy!
  • Private party facilities
    Circa 81 can be used for semi-private events or rented out and closed to the public for events. Contact us for details on special event bookings.
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