Whatever your taste buds desire, they’ll be doing their happy dance when you dine on Pleasure Island. Carolina Beach and Kure Beach are loaded with great eateries – each with their own unique atmosphere and culinary flair.
Here are five restaurants to put on your “not-to-miss” list; these Pleasure Island gems are popular with visitors – and the locals adore them, too. Of course this is just the start...explore many more great
Pleasure Island restaurants on our website!
A great beach day begins with a great breakfast. At Kate’s you’ll find southern favorites like eggs with country-fried steak, creative benedict plates, and plenty of vegetarian and vegan options. Most folks go for the pancakes -- you could try a different flavor stack every day for two weeks and still not have exhausted all the choices. A few favorites are the Caribbean Pleasure stack and Death by Chocolate. Kate’s has that small-town friendly diner feel to it, and it’s evident by the great service that the staff loves working here. There’s a nice sandwich and salad selection for lunch, too.
102 S. Lake Park Blvd. in Carolina Beach.
Open 6:30 am – 1:00 pm.
At Gibby’s you can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner outside with a water view. Gibby’s deck overlooks the scenic Carolina Beach Yacht Basin on the Intracoastal Waterway, and boaters are welcomed to dock up for free and enjoy the laid-back atmosphere, cold drinks and extensive menu. The locals especially love the crab omelet for breakfast, creative burgers at lunchtime, and the decadent seafood pasta for dinner. Gibby’s is open every day from 6am – 2am and features live music on Thursday nights.
315 Canal Dr., Carolina Beach.
You’ll get an authentic taste of the islands at this iconic spot overlooking the ocean in Carolina Beach. Enjoy lunch or dinner with panoramic view in the Ocean Grill dining room, or stroll onto the pier and pull up a stool at the Tiki Bar, where you’ll feel like you’re in the tropics as you enjoy a cocktail with the waves lapping just below you. Lunchtime menu favorites include fish tacos and fresh salads topped with blackened fish or fried oysters. For dinner, locals love the calabash-style seafood platters and the catch of the day prepared with an island flair. A creative cocktail menu completes the tropical vibe with drinks like the Mai Tiki Tai and the Sukapunch – a delicious concoction of coconut, pineapple, banana and dark rum. The Ocean Grill is open February through December, and the Tiki Bar opens up in March, weather permitting, for the season.
1211 S. Lake Park Blvd., Carolina Beach.
Surf House is a breath of fresh air for those craving fresh, locally sourced ingredients presented artfully and changed up seasonally. Critically acclaimed by locals, Surf House serves up coastal fare with a southern flair. Most of the seafood served here comes from the regional south, and local produce shows up in their lunch and dinner creations daily. Farm-built lunch favorites include the shrimp BLT with locally-sourced bacon, arugula and heirloom tomatoes, and a spring mix salad topped with smoked trout. For dinner, you can savor inventive dishes like duck with black forbidden rice and grilled peaches, or the day’s fresh catch and littleneck clams with rustic bread for sopping. Brunch is always a hit – try the redneck benedict with catfish and country ham, or the hippy potato hash bursting with butternut squash, mushrooms and collards. Reservations are suggested, since seating is limited. Surf House is open for lunch Wednesday through Saturday, dinner Tuesday through Saturday and for brunch on Sunday. (Hours vary by season.)
604 N. Lake Park Blvd., Carolina Beach.
Located in the heart of Kure Beach just steps from the pier, Jack Mackerel’s is a family-friendly restaurant that’s a great place to visit when everyone wants something different. Their extensive lunch and dinner menus include a wide choice of sandwiches, seafood and Caribbean-inspired specialties. The atmosphere is colorful and vibrant, and “Jack Mack’s” is a great place to watch sports with several big-screen TV’s and daily drink specials. They’re open year-round and offer nightly dinner specials that change with the seasons.
113 K Ave., Kure Beach.
Gracious coastal dining can be found in this lovely restaurant housed in a renovated 1940’s-era church. The perfect spot for a date night or relaxing family dining, the Deck House specializes in classic seafood dishes and traditional American cuisine. Deck House features hand cut steaks and blackboard specials, and a comprehensive but approachable wine list. This is the perfect place to unwind after a day of enjoying the endless choice of activities Pleasure Island is famous for. Open for dinner daily.
205 Charlotte Ave, Carolina Beach.
