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  5. Calabash
The Oyster Rock Waterfront Seafood, Calabash, NC

The Oyster Rock Waterfront Seafood

4.8
4.8
2550 Reviews
$30 and under
Seafood
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.

Make a reservation

2 people

7:00 PM


Booked 53 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Cuisines
    Seafood, Oyster Bar, Low Country
  • Hours of operation
    Mon, Wed, Thu, Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (910) 579-6875
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Kevin Caulfield
  • Neighborhood
    Calabash
  • Parking details
    Private Lot
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 2,550 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
  • 4.9Food
  • 4.9Service
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.5Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Coastal North Carolina

    Best Overall

  • Coastal North Carolina

    Best Food

  • Coastal North Carolina

    Best Service

  • Coastal North Carolina

    Best Ambiance

  • Coastal North Carolina

    Hot spot

  • Coastal North Carolina

    Great for outdoor dining

  • Coastal North Carolina

    Great for scenic views

  • Coastal North Carolina

    Lively

  • Coastal North Carolina

    Seafood

  • Coastal North Carolina

    Most Booked

2,550 Reviews
  1. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Six of us had a lovely dinner/ evening with Brian (excellent) as our server. Our table was at a window with a great view of the water. The crab soup and oysters were highlights of our very good meal.

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  2. RobertI

    Washington DC

    27 reviews

    5.0

    27 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Excellent Food. Great and fast service. Nice view. Inside seating was a tad loud. Excellent special selection.

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  3. JAMNJ2NC

    Charlotte

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We live locally and always bring guests who totally enjoy the experience of dining here. The food is amazing and the service is nothing but professional. This time we had the pleasure of Jessie’s upbeat personality. She was friendly and gave us exceptional attention. Even though she was busy (the norm) she was on top of providing us with great service. Everyone who works here is top notch.

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  4. ShawnB

    Washington DC

    11 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Our waiter Brian was Awesome! Very patient and explained the menu very well. This is one of our favorite restaurants.

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  5. Girlprincipal

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Food was delicious. We were thankful to eat outside because inside is too noisy.

    Is this helpful?

  6. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    This was our second time back. It was fabulous both time. The food, service and the view are all 1st rate!! I love it here.

    Is this helpful?

  7. YvonneC

    Charlotte

    33 reviews

    5.0

    33 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience3
    My husband and I had Jeff as our Server. He was excellent in his service last evening. My husband had the hot boiled shrimp and oysters and I had Crab Cakes. All our food was delicious, couldn’t have been better! We have eaten at Oyster Rock four other times, and the food is delicious each time!

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  8. Melody

    Charleston

    20 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    20 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Oyster Rock is our favorite!! Tonite we had one of our favorite wait staff too! Food was fabulous as always.. The perfect evening! Love tis place and the staff♥️ The Sextons

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  9. lovedtheexperience

    Charlotte

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Everything from the view to the music to the service and certainly the food was excellent.

    Is this helpful?

  10. juliem

    Western NC

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Fabulous food fabulous service ! The sea bass was out of this world and our server Trey was excellent

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  11. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    overall5food5service3ambience5
    Oysters didn’t come out as a app, server forgot to ring in but everything else was great. Definitely a good recommendation for the grouper special.

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  12. OpenTable Diner

    Charleston

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    The food and the service were amazing. We started out with the Rock those Oysters and the calamari both were delicious. For our meals we both ended up getting the chicken and deep blue sea. It was delicious as well and the portions we good as well. We will definitely be back!

    Is this helpful?

  13. Sarahree3

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 3 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    As always, everything is just perfect…dined last night, returning tonight, so good!!

    Is this helpful?

  14. SherryM

    Charleston

    27 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    27 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Amazing! We both had specials, I had the Chilean sea bass and my husband had the lamb chops. Everything from the bacon crab stuffed shrimp for our appetizer, the wine choices and the blueberry cobbler was amazing. If you don’t try this restaurant, you’re missing out. I’ll take your seat in a heartbeat 💓.

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  15. LynnM

    Richmond

    22 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    22 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Oyster Rock never disappoints! Enjoyed a birthday dinner with the most delicious hunk of grouper! Ended with a spectacular peanut butter pie! My husband's seafood dinner was just as wonderful as mine. Matt was a super server! From start to finish was absolutely fantastic! Thank you

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  16. CarolC

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 4 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Oyster Rock is our favorite spot. We started coming as tourists and now that we live here we come as often as we can! Best food and staff!

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  17. CindyC

    Greensboro

    20 reviews

    4.0

    20 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    overall4food4service5ambience4
    Great experience. The escargot keeps us coming back every time we’re at the beach.

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  18. DonnaM

    Charleston

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Food and service were spectacular. We will be back soon.

    Is this helpful?

  19. LisaN

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 5 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Oyster Rock never disappoints! Great atmosphere and service! Amazing food and presentation!

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  20. Suzgib

    Western NC

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The food was delicious, portions large and service was excellent!

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  21. Inder

    Atlanta Metro

    5 reviews

    4.0

    5 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    overall4food5service5ambience3
    Food was great as was waitress. It was loud. Nothing special about the ambience.

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  22. JohnnyB

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 5 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The food, service and atmosphere was excellent. We will go agai

    Is this helpful?

  23. OpenTable Diner

    Charleston

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    This place is outstanding. The servers, management and support staff are what makes this restaurant a place to return and return often. Highly recommend

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  24. jenny

    Charlotte

    31 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    31 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great night. Great wine and delicious food. Mahi! Filet mignon was wonderful. That oatmeal/ blueberry dessert topped off a lovely night. Grant was terrific.

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  25. MitziC

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 6 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Wonderful service, fantastic food! Our waiter Skyler was very informed with the menu & made wonderful recommendations from beginning to end. Will definitely be back often

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  26. GaryR

    Seattle

    2 reviews

    2.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    overall2food2service5ambience4
    Dined at the Oyster Rock Waterfront Seafood in Calabash, NC and have had several very tasty meals in years past. Last year at this time, I ordered their Oysters Rockefeller for an appetizer and the oysters tasted “ok” but were puny. I didn’t comment about them but enjoyed the main entre. This evening, while others in our party enjoyed tasty meals of shrimp or flounder, my was VERY disappointing. I had a combo of scallops and oysters. The scallops were great but the oysters were overcooked, SHRIVELED to about the size of marbles and chewed like rubber. They were SO bad that I could not eat more than a few bites. I made a POLITE, constructive comment about their SIGNATURE dish to our server. He disappeared and returned with an apology from the chef and offered a complimentary creme brulee. Couldn’t believe it; the OYSTER ROCK apologized and still charged full price for my meal. BEWARE: the oyster are not anywhere near the size shown in their photos!

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  27. CindyG

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 6 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We came here with our out of state guests because we knew they would love it and they did! Our reservation was on the back deck. The atmosphere with views of the Calabash River was stunning. Our waiter Ryan was very excited about sharing his personal favorites with us. And we took his advice and all four members of our paty thoroughly enjoyed everything we ordered. Menu highlights were the grilled romaine salad. the burger, Mahi tacos, grilled Mahi special with shrimp and lobster creamy champagne sauce and the clam chowder. All were excellent!

    Is this helpful?

  28. EMC926

    Coastal Georgia

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 6 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    This was my first visit but it will not be my last. The greeters, waitstaff and managers were top notch. It was like watching a ballet. Jeff was an exceptional waiter. The food was outstanding! I recommend the Tuna appetizer and the Coconut Shrimp app as well. The oysters looked amazing and all who ordered, gobbled them up. I had the best broiled sea scallops ever! They were cooked perfectly and the serving portion was generous. Even the key lime pie was top notch. With 3 seating areas plus an oyster pit/raw bar with pier seating, this place can accommodate a crowd, yet we felt that we were special guests. There are 2 indoor dining rooms, a covered veranda dining room and an alfresco section with umbrella table seating. For fresh seafood and attentive waitstaff at a reasonable price, this is the only place to go from Pawleys Island, SC to Calabash, NC. (2 Apps, 2 dinners, 2 desserts, 1 soft drink = $120 before tip)

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  29. JBailey

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 6 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The service was excellent and our water was fabulous. All six of our group thought the food was simply delicious. The ambiance was perfect. Can’t wait until our next visit!

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  30. Leslie

    Charleston

    12 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on September 18, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Another stellar experience at Oyster Rock. The entire staff is amazing. It’s generally hard to pass up one of the specials they have, but I opted for an old favorite - Deep Treasure. Those scallops with risotto in beurre blanc are fantastic.

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  31. PaulE

    Richmond

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on September 18, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Our go to restaurant when we come to the beach. Great atmosphere, amazing food and superior customer service experience. The views out to the marsh and beyond will bring you back wanting to just sit at their outdoor bar sipping a cold beer starring off losing yourself in this low country atmosphere. Never have I had seafood better prepared than here, and at least for us when we come to the beach, we want, no, NEED our fresh seafood. Don’t miss a chance to experience this restaurant. Unless it’s a Tuesday because they close that day.

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  32. SandyH

    Charleston

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on September 18, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Excellent meal in a beautiful setting. Only negative is the noise level inside. I suggest getting an outside table if available

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  33. IreneP

    Charleston

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on September 18, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    This place is worth every dollar spent. Our server Lawanda was absolutely amazing.

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  34. JoeC

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 18, 2023

    overall4food3service5ambience5
    Everything was great except Oysters on half shell. Ordered a dozen, six we're so small, maybe thumb nail size, I had to scrape the shell to get a small bite. Very disappointed.

    Is this helpful?

  35. sondray

    Washington DC

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 17, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Server was great! We have never had nothing but a great dinner and service.

    Is this helpful?

  36. Caryl

    Wilmington

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on September 17, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Food and service are always great! Prices are on the high side.

    Is this helpful?

  37. RMR1

    Charleston

    32 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    32 reviews

    Dined on September 17, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    Love this restaurant. Beautiful location and eclectic menu. Fresh oysters. Excellent pork chop. Only complaint… most uncomfortable metal chairs I’ve ever experienced in a restaurant.

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  38. MelissaD

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 16, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    By far the best restaurant around. The food and service is always amazing! Go for the specials, you will not be disappointed

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  39. RickA

    Charleston

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 16, 2023

    overall3food2service5ambience5
    We had the shrimp scampi which came out watery and no flavor at all.Sent it back and it came back and it was better.It was just ok.Not worth the $32 price paid.Second meal was the flounder cook Cajun style.Flavor was good but they overcooked the flounder.Service was excellent.All the employees were friendly.The best part of the dinner was the she crab soup.Best I have ever tasted. It was the dinners that were very disappointing.

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  40. Marie

    Raleigh

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on September 16, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    As always excellent service and food. Great atmosphere.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

The Oyster Rock Waterfront Seafood offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (910) 579-6875.

The Oyster Rock Waterfront Seafood is rated 4.8 stars by 2550 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 53 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for The Oyster Rock Waterfront Seafood

9931 Nance St, Calabash, NC 28467-2715

Additional information

  • Neighborhood
    Calabash
  • Hours of operation
    Mon, Wed, Thu, Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Cuisines
    Seafood, Oyster Bar, Low Country
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Private Lot
  • Executive chef
    Kevin Caulfield
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
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