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Diners' Choice: Best Overall restaurants in Coastal North Carolina

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OpenTable
Updated October 05, 2024

Looking for the best overall restaurants in Coastal North Carolina? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!


A photo of The Melting Pot - Wilmington(NC) restaurant
4.9
4.9 (720)
$31 to $50
Fondue
Wilmington
About the restaurant
Welcome and thank you for choosing The Melting Pot of Wilmington. We offer a very unique and interactive dining experience, with a heavy focus on personal service. Our Wait staff has been hand picked and extensively trained to have the ability to provide you, our guest, with nothing less than a "Perfect Night Out." Every visit will be hand tailored to fit your wants and needs during your fondue experience. We are a four-course full service restaurant. We offer a stunning variety of creamy, perfectly balanced cheeses that our servers hand craft table side for your dining pleasure. We have a selection of cold, crisp and fresh salads, paired with house made dressings. Our entrées are as beautiful as they are delicious. We offer a wide range of premium meats and seafoods with a variety of sophisticated marinades and sauces for dipping.
Top review
OpenTable Diner
Dined on Oct 14, 2024
Had a fun birthday dinner! It was what’s to be expected! Would go again.
A photo of The Oyster Rock Waterfront Seafood restaurant
4.9
4.9 (3388)
$30 and under
Seafood
Calabash
About the restaurant
Welcome to The Oyster Rock, a family-owned and operated waterfront Calabash seafood restaurant specializing in excellent seafood and raw bar items, mixed with a flavorful variety of mouth-watering beef, chicken and pork dishes, along with sandwiches and burgers all prepared in house every day using only the freshest and finest ingredients from local and regional suppliers and the beautiful Atlantic Ocean right outside our doors.

Overlooking the scenic Calabash River and its pristine estuaries and relaxing atmosphere, The Oyster Rock provides the most amazing view around, from our indoor and outdoor seating areas and bars featuring more than 24 domestic and imported beers on tap, 30 wines by the glass and a delicious collection of specialty cocktails.

If you would like to order carryout, orders may be placed by calling 910-579-6875.

Top review
Janet
Dined 3 days ago
Grilled Grouper in Dill Blanc Sauce was outstanding!!!
A photo of Montero's restaurant
4.8
4.8 (224)
$30 and under
American
Edenton
About the restaurant
A life long dream of Karin and Andy Montero, this 1904 home has been transformed into
Elizabeth City's premier location to "Meet. Eat. Celebrate." With our guests in mind,
Montero's is committed to providing a complete "Restaurant Experience"...exceptional service,
creative cuisine and a casual atmosphere. Our staff possesses the same passion and desire for
this restaurant that we do and we hope you will as well!

Top review
Monta
Dined 7 days ago
Perfect every time. Owner checks on tables; vegan options are all great!!!
A photo of Southern, a gathering place restaurant
4.9
4.9 (452)
$50 and over
Farm-to-table
Southport
About the restaurant
Farm to fork creative southern cuisine. Handcrafted cocktails and fabulous wine list. We offer seating by reservation for all seats in the restaurant including seats at our bar, indoor dining room, and our outdoor porch which is a wonderful place to sit during all seasons (since porch sitting is a true Southport thing to do).
Top review
OpenTable Diner
Dined 2 days ago
The food was exquisite and the service was awesome!
A photo of Genki Sushi Bar and Japanese Restaurant restaurant
4.9
4.9 (614)
$31 to $50
Sushi
Wilmington
About the restaurant
We look forward to welcoming you into our warm environment, with food so good you will swear you just stepped off of the train in Tokyo.

If you are reading this description, please take note that:
* Starting October 1st 2024: We will no longer be able to seat you unless your entire party has arrived and ready to sit ON TIME.
We will hold your Table/Seats for ONLY 10 minutes past the reservation time.
*After 10 minutes, you will lose your reservation to someone who is on the waiting list.
*Please take this serious as, it will allow us to provide better customer service to our guests as we increase in volume, and allow the evening to flow better with timing for our reservations through out the evening.
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding! Our customers mean the world to us!

*Also, please remember to count small children and babies as a person for seating. Thank you for your participation and understanding in this.
Thank you for your business! See you soon!

Top review
Doreen
Dined on Oct 24, 2024
Wonderful staff and food always super fresh and delicious!
A photo of Caprice Bistro restaurant
4.8
4.8 (3286)
$30 and under
French
Wilmington
About the restaurant
Open Wed-Mon, closed Tues. Reservations recommended; table times limited to 2 hours max. Please call the restaurant directly for reservations of parties over 4 guests. Online orders can be placed from our website; limited daily availability. There is a parking deck one block away on Market Street, between Front Street and Second Street. There is also paid street parking (free after 6:30pm and all day Sundays).
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.
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Thierry & Patricia Moity previously owned Patou Bistro in Charlotte, NC & Cafe de Bruxelles in NYC. Chef Thierry has been cooking since age 13 in some of the finest restaurants in Europe & USA. His cuisine is influenced by many traditions; Patricia comes from the northern part of France near the Belgium border, while Thierry's origins are deeply rooted in the central provinces of the country. According to Chef Thierry, “I want everyone to feel welcome in my restaurant. We are working against the stereotype that French food must be intimidating and expensive.”

Top review
OpenTable Diner
Dined 3 days ago
Caprice never disappoints. Every moment was in synch with the evening. Server was in tune with the birthday dinner vibe and let us proceed at our own pace. Food was excellent, of course.
A photo of Prime Bistro & Wine Bar restaurant
4.9
4.9 (373)
$31 to $50
Steakhouse
Beaufort / Morehead City
About the restaurant
An elevated dining experience with wood-fired steaks, seafood, housemade pasta and world-class wines.
Top review
Beverly
Dined 3 days ago
We celebrated my husband’s birthday at Prime Bistro and what a celebration it was! Everyone was extremely attentive, professional and first class! It was truly a fine dining experience and one we hope to recreate many times over.
A photo of Blue Moon Bistro restaurant
4.8
4.8 (531)
$31 to $50
French American
Beaufort / Morehead City
About the restaurant
BLUE MOON BISTRO of Beaufort, NC; Casual fine dining experience with superb service team, a creative and well-stocked bar, & TWO chefs sharing in our culinary leadership of French/American cuisine.

CHEF JAYSON FOSTER graduate of CCCCP; Culinary Arts student who studied in France under two-starred Michelin Chef Marc Meurin. A stalwart on the Beaufort Food Scene, Jayson has cooked at Chef’s 105, Circa 81, and at Aqua, where he was the Chef for 10 years. In 2012, Jayson and team won the Fire on the Docks Competition in Wilmington, NC.

CHEF JOSH MACKLIN, Honors graduate of CCCCP, Josh ALSO went to France to study with two-starred Michelin Chef Marc Meurin. Josh joined Floyd’s 1921 as banquet chef. He has worked at Circa 81 as Chef/Restaurant Manager for 10 years. He then joined the Oysters and Pearls group, opening Catch 109 and Executive Chef for Table 9. Josh loves how food brings together families and friends. He is a proud believer of food being a bond we all share.

Bon Appetit!

Top review
Ann
Dined 3 days ago
Wonderful food, service and ambience - highly recommended this lovely restaurant.
A photo of Brent's Bistro restaurant
4.9
4.9 (644)
$31 to $50
Contemporary American
Wrightsville Beach
About the restaurant
Upscale yet casual restaurant located in Wilmington, NC. Located near Wrightsville Beach. Menu changes weekly to highlight the freshest seafood and land dishes. Enjoy flavorful dinners and extensive wine selection in our welcoming atmosphere. When weather permits, book a seat outdoors on our covered patio. For reservations, please utilize Opentable or call us directly. However, reservations for Fridays and Saturdays can ONLY be booked by calling us directly. 910-839-3131.
Top review
Ronnie
Dined 4 days ago
The daily specials were fantastic! Tasty grouper, flounder and lamb moussaka - service was attentive but not intrusive. Ambiance is very nice but at times can be loud. Love this restaurant and each time we return it is better than the last.
A photo of Main & Mill Oyster Bar & Tavern restaurant
4.7
4.7 (269)
$30 and under
Seafood
Wilmington
About the restaurant
Seafood Restaurant in Winterville, North Carolina. Main & Mill Oyster Bar & Tavern offers an amazing menu with the service to match. We hope you join us soon.
Top review
Michelle
Dined on Sep 27, 2024
Our server was excellent and the good delicious and cocktails as well. We’ll be back !
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