Diners' Choice: Best Value restaurants in Coastal North Carolina

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for the best value 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!

Montero's

4.7

4.7 (292)

$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

Jamie

Dined 7 days ago

Montero's is always FANTASTIC!!! This is our go to restaurant for date night, plus we wanted to eat out this particular night to help the food bank. Thank you Montero's for being such a wonderful staple in the community🧡 The couscous was phenomenal!!!

Farfalla

4.9

4.9 (64)

$31 to $50

Italian

Wilmington

About the restaurant

Farfalla, offers a rich celebration of Italian flavors tailored to each season. Featuring comforting dishes like handmade pastas, fresh meats, and seasonal vegetables, each plate embodies the warmth and soul of traditional Italian cuisine. Indulge in bold flavors with our curated selection of wines, perfect for pairing with these seasonal delights.

Known for its inspired Italian cuisine, We Are True Blue invites you to try Farfalla, an intimate dining experience in the heart of downtown Wilmington, NC. The restaurant sits on the corner of the South Front District, featuring an inviting outdoor porch under string lights and a charming side garden that complement its cozy, inviting interior and exterior, perfect for any occasion.

Top review

Fawn

Dined 4 days ago

Food was truly delicious,highly recommended dining experience

Southern, a gathering place

4.9

4.9 (589)

$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

PaigeVIP

Dined 6 days ago

As usual the food and service were perfect . We had not been in a long time due to traveling and they remembered us and welcomed us back . It’s always nice to be remembered.

Aqua Restaurant

4.9

4.9 (2850)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Beaufort / Morehead City

About the restaurant

AQUA is OPEN Tuesday-Saturday from 5:30 - Until. CLOSED Sunday and Monday.

Executive Chef Jon McGregor’s 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 the freshest local seafood and premier meats, as well as local produce. Aqua prides itself on offering fresh, local products and supporting our local fisherman and farmers.

Enjoy our upscale bar offerings, including specialty cocktails and expansive wine list.

Enjoy your experience in our Dining Room or on our comfortable, breezy screened-in porch. Please take care to select the dining area of your choice when making reservations.

We can’t wait to serve you soon. Cheers for now!

Top review

BrendaVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Wonderful experience and great food. We will return.

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The Oyster Rock Waterfront Seafood

4.9

4.9 (3789)

$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

stephanie

Dined 4 days ago

Always always soooo good, thank you for great food and service start to finish!

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4.9

4.9 (2175)

$31 to $50

American

Wilmington

About the restaurant

Port Land Grille has progressive American regional cuisine masterfully executed in a casually elegant coastal setting since November 2000. We have both indoor and outdoor dining and private rooms are available. Thank you for dining with us!

COVID-19 updates: Masks are no longer required to be worn indoors but they are still recommended if you are not vaccinated. Our staff is fully vaccinated and ready to serve you!

We have suspended the ability to bring in outside food or beverage (ex. cakes or wine) while we continue to recover from the devastating affects of COVID-19. Thank you in advance for your understanding and continued support.

Top review

Kathy

Dined on Jun 6, 2025

The best experience food outstanding, service outstanding!

Ocean Blvd Bistro and Martini Bar

4.9

4.9 (2879)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Kitty Hawk

About the restaurant

Ocean Boulevard Bistro and Martini Bar is an upscale dining restaurant on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. We are open nightly for dinner and drinks through all seasons. We pride ourselves in using fresh local and regional ingredients, in season, to create interesting and flavorful meals. We have a comprehensive wine list and have been awarded "Best of the Beach - 2014-2017" for our Martini Bar. We also have an oceanside patio, across the street from the beach, for drinks and waiting. If your reservation can not be completed online, please call us at 252-261-2546 to inquire about special seating arrangements.

Top review

Dan

Dined on Jun 10, 2025

Always a great meal! Service was fantastic! We will be back next year.

Blue Moon Bistro

4.9

4.9 (628)

$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

Katherine

Dined 7 days ago

We come every year while on vacation, and it’s always amazing. The service is always fantastic, and the food is incredible.

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4.8

4.8 (672)

$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

KathyVIP

Dined on Jun 8, 2025

Brent’s, in my mind,is the best restaurant in Wilmington. We brought our friends from Ma. on Sunday. They could not stop talking about how delicious their meal was. We look forward to Tuesdays to see what this weeks menu is. Going for Father’s Day, can’t wait.

Genki Sushi Bar and Japanese Restaurant

4.9

4.9 (653)

$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

EdVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Didn’t care for the Guy Dom! Didn’t match the description. More like mush. Normally great food. Must have been an off night.

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