LOCAL GUIDE · DINING

Where to eat in downtown Morehead City

Our favorite tables on the Crystal Coast — from waterfront steaks to the freshest oysters in town. Most are a short walk from our downtown rentals.

Our top restaurants

Mar, Red Fish Grill, Catch 109 and Table 9 are part of the Legacy family — owned by the same local partners behind Legacy Real Estate Group. Stay with us, eat with us.

Mar Restaurant & Waterfront Venue logo, Morehead City NC

No. 1

Mar

812 Shepard St, Morehead City · Waterfront steakhouse & lounge

Our first pick for a special night out. Mar pairs hand-cut steaks with fresh Atlantic seafood, a full wine list and handcrafted cocktails, all with views of the water. Chef Jacob Stone leads the kitchen.

Good to know: Reservations are highly recommended, and dining reservations run about two hours — book after 7:30 pm for a slower evening. Business-casual dress; ball caps are welcome at the bar. Mar is right next door to our Bask 227 and Bask 228 condos — dinner is a short stroll away.

Red Fish Grill on Evans Street at sunset beside the Big Rock marlin fountain, Morehead City NC

No. 2

Red Fish Grill

711 Evans St, Morehead City · Seafood on the waterfront

A downtown favorite on Evans Street along the waterfront, with outdoor patio seating and a seafood-forward menu — the bacon-wrapped scallops are a crowd-pleaser. Come hungry and come early: Red Fish doesn’t take reservations, so seating is first come, first served.

Catch 109 oyster bar storefront at dusk on S 6th Street, Morehead City NC

No. 3

Catch 109

109 S 6th St, Morehead City · Oyster bar, seafood & steaks

Morehead City’s oyster bar, with a creative menu of fresh local seafood and steaks, an extensive bourbon collection, and a dining room that’s polished on one side and lively at the bar. It’s from the same local team behind Red Fish Grill and Table 9.

Table 9 restaurant sign in Atlantic Beach NC

No. 4

Table 9

1104 W Fort Macon Rd, Atlantic Beach · Seafood

Worth the short drive across the bridge to Atlantic Beach. Table 9 is the sister restaurant to Red Fish Grill and Catch 109, serving fresh seafood in a relaxed beach-town setting — an easy pick after a day on the sand.

No. 5

Full Circle Café

708 Evans St, Morehead City · Eclectic dinner spot

A lively, family-friendly downtown café a short walk from the waterfront. Owner and chef Cam Simpson builds an eclectic menu around fresh ingredients from local farmers’ markets — ramen bowls, burgers, fresh-catch seafood and wood-fired brick-oven pizza — with a rotating wine list and craft beer.

No. 6

Southern Salt Seafood Company & Waterfront Restaurant

701 Evans St, Morehead City · Waterfront seafood

Set in the classic waterfront space that was once Captain Bill’s, long known as Carteret County’s oldest restaurant. Southern Salt serves modern takes on traditional coastal seafood, much of it caught by the restaurant’s own boat, with oysters from its own aquaculture operation.

More Morehead City favorites

  • Jack’s on the Waterfront — a waterfront bar with one of the area’s few dance floors and live music in peak season.
  • Mug Shot — coffee, cocktails and food from breakfast through dinner.
  • The Banks Grill — a popular lunch spot; arrive before noon to beat the line.
  • Big Rock Café — a classic breakfast stop.
  • The Promise Land Market — a wine, beer and cheese shop with frequent tastings.

Menus, hours and reservation policies change — check with each restaurant before you go.

Stay steps from dinner

Our downtown condos and lofts put Mar, Red Fish Grill and Catch 109 within walking distance. Book direct with the local team — no booking fees.