We had a remarkable experience here. It looked really busy but we were able to sit 6 upstairs. Everyone enjoyed their meals but the employees are what put this place to a five star level. Everyone was very friendly and kind. Even waitresses who were tending other tables offered to removed dishes and silverware when they walked by. The walls have fun signs and they keep the tables clean. Really great local restaurant. read more

Ate here today for the second time and again everything was great!! Valerie was our server she was friendly, smiling always and attentative! My son and I started with an app of mozz sticks and they came out rather quickly which was nice. My son ordered the Jacks "buffet" burger with island fries and he loved it! I went with jacks Cuban and their house made coleslaw and I as well loved my food! We were so full we had no room to try the funnel cake fries but thinking next time we will start with those! This place is great has a lot of outdoor seating which is where we sat upstairs and everything was just great! If you haven't been here I say go for it!! read more

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Not really water front dining , you can see the Pamlico river however. The food wasn't anything special. I had Mahi -Mahi Rueben ... yeah there was nothing Rueben about it I think it may had a teaspoon on sauerkraut on it that's it . The fish was dry . The Bathroom was very clean and the waitress's were attentive read more

Such a great find and fun atmosphere! Service was exceptional and the menu extensive. Great vibe. Great music.

Was there 2 weeks ago, ordered wings...they were very wet!! They also came out in 5 minutes so they are not cooked to order!! Also was there Thursday early evening, ordered a Vodka (Titos) with club soda, it took 3 times before I got a drink that had any booze in it! Hubby ordered a captain and diet, was given a jack and coke!! Service sucked, drinks sucked! read more

Food is awful. Drinks are thin. Only good point is the location. It's noisy. No atmosphere.

Hey fellow Yelpers - what's up with the 3.5 star rating?!?! This place is awesome! We sat outside at the bar with our two dogs and had a truly wonderful experience. Melissa, the bartender, was terrific and made us feel right at home. We ordered blackened fish tacos and the Cuban sandwich and both were super fresh and delicious. Not just good for a bar - I'm talking excellent for anywhere. Bonus points for location - is there anything more entertaining than watching people use a boat ramp? Oh, and the dogs loved the fresh water and sweet potato fries. read more

We were visiting the area and read a great back story of the place in a local magazine. It's just outside of the touristy area, and on the water. We went on a Saturday night - a great combo of friendly "regulars" ranging from kids to adults. All were enjoying music outside and dancing in the parking lot. The food was delicious and well priced!! (Mahi sandwich, peel and eat shrimp, grilled shrimp, beans and rice.) Every employee we encountered was super friendly and efficient. Our young waitress.. management material! It completely lived up to the magazine article. We loved the town of Washington. But this spot was our best meal and is top on our "must return " list. read more

Had a beer and a BLT. Wonderful service. Good food. Don't miss out on this gem hidden outside of town

Goood food! The patio was clean and spacious. Close to home so a definite repeat in the future!

This place has a great atmosphere. The service was great and on point. I hate giving reviews like this but the food was not good. It did not have any flavor. We were disappointed but would possibly give it one more try next time we come back to town. read more

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Great place to sit outside when the weather is nice and watch the boaters come in. Be mindful of the dedicated longer parking for the boaters. Always good food and service. Recommend the nachos...might want to get extra meat on top if you are hungry. Live music sometimes. read more

Backwater Jack's Tiki Bar - Seafood Near Me - Washington, North Carolina

Food was OK but biggest concern for me was the integrity of the owners. Be careful and check your receipt against prices on the menu. They do not match. They charge you more I guess because prices are higher and they have not printed new menus. The older lady at the register was not very happy when I had her correct it and I think she still found a way to still make it in her favor. Also cheap Cheap paper foam plates and plastic silverware for the prices of that place really sort of tacky read more

I usually don't give bad reviews but after being forgotten for thirty minutes and having a manager come check on us to see if the waitress had been by I figured it was a regular occurrence. I feel like it's probably a better bar than restaurant. The food is nothing special and the ranch was not homemade. Crab dump was all lump but still good. All sandwiches were dry and bland. The view is so pretty and I can see how it's a popular spot despite what we experienced. If I came back I'd get a drink at the bar but not the food. read more

We for dinner last night. The food was amazing especially the onion rings! Aaron was our server he was so friendly and attentive.

Nifty little shack with mostly outdoor dining right on the waterway. It's decidedly not fancy, but it seemed clean enough. The staff isn't polished, but they are certainly friendly and eager to please. The conch fritters were too dense and heavy for my taste, but the shrimp burger was quite good -- nicely seasoned and lightly fried and a good value at $9. They have a nice selection of sides as well, including a refreshing black beans and rice combo with pico and sour cream. I had a couple of their tiki-bar cocktails and they were pretty much what you would expect. Very fruity, but they did manage to keep them from being overly sweet. This is definitely worth giving a try if you want something casual and atmospheric and you're OK skipping the caviar course. It's a little bit out of the way from the center of Washington, but there's plenty of parking right on site. Some places online indicate they don't take credit cards, but they have now started accepting plastic. read more

Great place to hang out eat, drink and take in the live music. Menu has wide assortment to pick from read more

Backwater Jack's Tiki Bar - View from the roof - Seafood Near Me - Washington, North Carolina

Great little place by the dock to watch boats come in and out. Food and service were free. Local beer. We'll be back.

We walked in and talked to the host (an older women) about being sat at an outside table on the second floor, she was very rude to us and seemed irritated we wanted to sit out there because there was a wait but we did not mind. Our server was very nice, we ordered the crab dip it was good, nothing special, however after eating the crab dip it did made me sick. read more

I can always look forward to a cold draft beer and one of my old favorites on the menu when I come for a visit . This is a small, close-knit, and committed staff. Many of them have been there for 10+ years. The atmosphere of Jacks encourages you to sit back, relax, and take it easy. This is what I would expect as a costumer. It is always so greatly appreciated when costumers have patience and grace on these crazy busy summer days, speaking from experience. read more

So, my wife and i are traveling the Outer Banks and we search Yelp for a quick bite on the way home. Sure am thankful we found this place! On a rainy day we had great service from Erin, and a fantastic visit! The food was good (and im a picky eater, had many substitutes) and was prepared expertly. Nothing fancy here, but a great time, good service, good food, good people, and a welcome stop during our travels! Thanks! read more

We've been to BWJs many times, love the atmosphere and the service. A couple of our party made the mistake of ordering a burger and a patty melt instead of seafood as we always do. We're curious how the burgers are cooked? On a grill? They seemed microwaved. It was soft, not crispy like a grill. The patty melt was thick and soft just like the burger, almost like meatloaf but not great like a meatloaf. We don't mean to criticize, but it wasn't a great burger or patty melt. Everyone who had seafood was pleased. Key takeaway: stick with the seafood. We will be back for sure! read more

Great food when they are open... Missed a lot of sales being shut down so much. The wait staff has always been super nice, fast service considering it's all fresh made sandwiches and nice cold beer. read more

I have been going to Backwater Jacks for over five years and have always enjoyed the food, atmosphere, and service. We went with our newborn, and this was not our first time taking the baby to a restaurant. They weren't overly busy due to rainy weather. When I told the owner a table for two plus room for a car seat, she peeked into the car seat and said, "really? Are you really doing this?" I was confused so I kind of laughed and nodded. She then explained that this was a tiki and water could drip on us. She specifically said, "If a raindrop hits your left should, move to the right. If it hits your right shoulder, move to the left." I was appalled. Another family was waiting to be seated and the owner told them, "Well, they have a baby so they HAVE to sit downstairs." As a first time mom, I honestly had no idea what to do so we sat down and ate. We used to go at least twice a month but haven't been since this interaction. read more

Let me start by saying I've eaten here for several years and I'm a Washington native. The food here is always excellent and the location is perfect for a pretty day. However, the owners of the restaurant are consistently rude and ungrateful for the people who visit. They are not friendly at all and like to make comments under their breath. This is nothing new and we have given them multiple attempts but they seem to never improve. The last time we went we were there with our 2 month old. The owner comes up to us as soon as we walk in and said "not sure if you want to come here or not this is a tiki bar you know we can't control the volume". How is that the right way to greet a guest who plans to spend money at your business??? After making the comment she just walked off before we could even respond. We stayed and our food was good and the waitress was very nice but this is the last straw with how RUDE the owners always are. Maybe one day they will get a better attitude and we will return. read more

Very busy on a Sunday afternoon, we got a table for 4 adults and 3 children just inside the door. It's very casual, the table was actually a varnished picnic table with benches. Doors are open, so flies everywhere . The menu is pretty limited, the kids menu even more so. No burger on kids menu? Only chicken tenders or grilled cheese ‍. My daughter ordered a Cuban which she said was pretty good. I should've got that. My classic cheeseburger tasted weird and had an odd texture. The fries were pretty good, but I only ate half the sandwich. Service was ok, but not stellar by any means (does it hurt you to smile??). Word of warning... pay attention to drink prices. The lemonade was good - but $4.50 each ??? Didn't realize the price until we got the check! Not a lot of options in this area, but not sure I'd come here again. With tip, it was over $100! For sandwiches? ‍. Go to BK instead for half the price, better selection, and a better burger. read more

Stopped here after driving 3 hours for a softball tournament. Food was good! Had live music on Friday night. Good atmosphere, sat outside upstairs. Water across the street. Would come here again! Grilled chicken sandwich, chicken caesar wrap, Cuban and onion rings. All of it was good! read more

Nice location. Service was very lacking. Very slow. Burger was good as was the blt wrap.

Backwater Jack's is fun! I love the novelty of the ship shaped and themed restaurant and the food is always really good! They have live music often but it's a fun place to visit no matter. Highly recommend coming here! Servers have always been extremely friendly and helpful, too! I'm glad we have a restaurant like Backwater Jack's in town. read more

Ordered the Mai sandwich, was the worst sandwich I've probably ever had, and I'm a fat girl. Got a burger to go for my son, had a bite, no thanks. Service was good but I'll never go back read more

Great place!! Sat the outside bar and was totally entertained by the bartender while sipping a Red Oak. It's cool to have your pooch there too. There is indoor seating as well for less pleasant weather read more

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Have eaten here many times. The best tiki bar in Washington. (The only one). Great layed back place on the Pamilco River. The shrimp are the best around and service has always been good and fast. They even give you a chance to practice your check writing skills or pull out something called cash. No credit cards accepted. read more

Backwater Jack's Tiki Bar - Shrimp and oysters - Seafood Near Me - Washington, North Carolina

We were visiting Washington and looking for a place with good food, but would also have outdoor seating for our dog. BJ's had both! Really cute place both inside and out. Nice outdoor seating where we sat with our dog. The atmosphere with decorations, music, cool breeze, and good food make it so relaxing and enjoyable. Waitstaff were really nice. They even brought a water bowl for our dog. Food was very good. Easy to make substitutions for items if you'd like. We will definitely return and highly recommend. read more

Backwater Jack's Tiki Bar - View of the outdoor seating from our table. - Seafood Near Me - Washington, North Carolina

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Great place for laid back casual food and drinks. Ambience was great outdoors and you're so close to the water you can dip your toes in

I am absolutely smitten with the tuna salad and the islamorada! The black beans and rice taste like crack to me *chefs kiss*. AND THE DRINKS.. omg. The rum runner was fantastic. Everyone was super nice and charismatic! Would go again (: read more

Been going to this place for a while now, always have great service and food no matter what I order. Definitely a spot to stop by if you're in little Washington!! read more

Sat us at a dirty table. Ordered 2 different beers, they were out of both. Ordered the nachos as an appetizer, literally the worst nachos I have ever had in my life. Chicken was cold, cheese was shredded cheddar that looked like it got heated up in the microwave. They put black olives all over the nachos as well, like ALL over. We ended up not even getting entrees bc we were so mad at everything else. read more

I've only had fried seafood here, it was plentiful, & delicious! Laid back atmosphere. Check sanitation grade.

Very nice laid back atmosphere particularly when there is a breeze coming off the river! Enjoyable to sit outside and listen to music. The food is good and consistent. Nice selection of salads, sandwiches, and seafood in baskets or platter! If looking for something relaxing and different try out Backwater Jacks! read more

Just a nasty little dive. The girl who was supposed to seat us handed us menus and said seat yourself. Place is dirty.