Freddie's Restaurante
Located in a tiny space on the main block of Kure Beach, Freddie's Restaurante is a hidden gem in this small town, and it's a favorite with locals and tourists alike. Serving the best chops around, the menu is large and reasonably priced. There's often a wait, particularly in the summertime, but you'll know it's been worth it with your first bite of fresh bread or the delicious family-style salad that comes with every meal. The shrimp Diavlo is always delicious, as are the chicken dishes, steaks and homemade pasta sauces.
Freddie's Restaurante
111 K Ave.
Kure Beach, NC 28449
(910) 458-5979
www.freddieskurebeach.com
Ocean Grill and Tiki Bar
Just north of Kure Beach, you'll find Ocean Grill and Tiki Bar, located right on the ocean, adjacent to a hotel. The upstairs dining room offers views out over the Atlantic, and you can hear the surf coming in from your table on the downstairs outdoor patio. The best part of Ocean Grill, however, is the tiki bar that extends out over the ocean on a short pier and offers the best frozen and island cocktails in the perfect setting. There's often live music here, and the restaurant's Sunday brunch is delicious and popular. If you're coming in for lunch or dinner, the grilled mahi mahi tacos are simple and fresh, and you can't go wrong with any of the fried seafood entrees, crab legs, crab cakes, ribs, fresh fish, sandwiches and burgers.
Ocean Grill and Tiki Bar
1211 S. Lake Park Blvd.
Carolina Beach, NC 28428
(910) 458-2000
www.oceangrill.us
Jack Mackerel's Island Grill
Take the two steps down into Jack Mackerel's Island Grill and feel like you're on the sea, with porthole windows, colorful Caribbean décor and the delicious smells wafting toward you from the kitchen. Jack Mack's, as it's known to locals, has a long bar where you can sit for drinks or a meal. You can pick a table inside or choose one outside on the covered patio that is situated in the heart of Kure Beach. The large, diverse menu has a great assortment of seafood, salads, soups and amazing entrees, such as coconut-crusted mahi mahi, seafood lasagna and "Major Mojo" baby back ribs. The friendly staff and great drinks will have you coming back in no time.
Jack Mackerel's Island Grill
113 K Ave.
Kure Beach, NC 28449
(910) 458-7668
www.jackmacks.com
Old Pier House Restaurant
Step into the Old Pier House Restaurant, located adjacent to the Kure Beach Fishing Pier, and feel like you're stepping back in time to a beach town of the mid-1950s. Black-and-white photos line the walls, portraying the history of Kure Beach from its fishermen and their catches to old newspaper clippings of events in the town. This restaurant is a great place to start the day, with traditional Southern breakfast offerings from pancakes and omelets to eggs, bacon, sausage, and big, fluffy biscuits. For lunch and dinner, you can get anything here from fried seafood and hamburgers to fresh salads and "Landlubber's Platters."
Old Pier House Restaurant
101 K Ave.
Kure Beach, NC 28449
(910) 458-8616
About The Author
Ashley Talley has been a professional writer for more than 10 years, specializing in travel and health. Her work has been published in "Coastal Living" magazine, "Wrightsville Beach Magazine" and "Choice," an anthology praised by "Vanity Fair" and the "LA Times." She graduated from Brown University with honors and holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing from the University of North Carolina.
