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    Gaffers

    4.1 (271 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated 3 months ago

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    GAFFERS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Touristy
    Trendy
    Moderate noise

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    Recommended Reviews - Gaffers

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    Shark attack
    Jared C.

    Server was nice Ambiance was chill and tropical, with wood planks Go to inside hidden bar for a quieter experience when busy We got the shark attach which we were not a fan of (too sweet for my SO and good sweetness for my sweet tooth) Especially enjoyed the gummy shark surprise! Don't plan to come back any time soon but was nice to stop in for a drink

    Napkins
    David A.

    What I ate: Blackened Shrimp Nachos - $18.99 The Gaff - $16.99 Reuben - $15.99 The blackened shrimp nachos were served on a giant tray and easily satisfied four people. Generous portions, and great flavor despite some odd choices that I wouldn't make back home in SoCal (shredded lettuce and banana peppers). The Gaff GRILLED was so fresh-tasting and thick. A two-hander, for sure. I almost didn't have room for the half of the Reuben that ended up being the highlight of the meal for me. I know the seafood is front-and-center, but that house made corned beef and house 1000 island sauce won me over. They didn't go easy on the sauerkraut, either, which is what makes or breaks a Reuben. 4.5 stars!! Accommodating and friendly staff. They let our party switch locations because we didn't want to get rained on in the typical bipolar North Carolina weather (it was raining on/off). They forgot to serve my sweet potato fries during my meal, but they still gave them to me 'to-go.'

    Fried Mahi Mahi
    Sean R.

    Have you ever had a baking sheet completely loaded with nachos? Evenly distributed with shrimp, cheese, jalapeños, a delicious sauce, and other assorted and necessary nacho toppings? If you haven't and want to, look no further than Gaffers on Emerald Isle! Everything we ordered and shared from the menu was lovely but the nachos still stand out in my mind as a new standard for how the dish should be served. Every bite could have the same volume and flavor, and nothing got soggy. Our server was cracking jokes with us all night and regularly came by to make sure we had not drowned in the entrees we ordered. The restaurant itself was very cute, very islandy, and a whole lot of fun. There was an outdoor bar and seating area that I imagine is a heck of a good time in the summer.

    Parmesan crusted Mahi Mahi
    Alex K.

    Hadn't heard about this place but I now see why it is so popular. The vibe is very beachy which is fitting considering I came from the beach right beforehand. Our waitress was very knowledgeable and had some great recommendations on the menu. Ended up getting the Parmesan crusted mahi mahi and it was fabulous. Would definitely recommend it! The only single thing I was a little disappointed about was they don't do anything for birthdays (no birthday desert). Can't wait to dine here again next time I'm in town!

    Troy B.

    My wife and I spent a week in Emerald Isle in May.. we were told to go to this place for dinner one evening. It was not a very good recommendation It reminds me of a beach area Red Lobster... with a mandatory 20% gratuity! And the food nor the service warranted that. I had to go hunt them down to get the check so we could get leave.

    House Made Onion Rings
    Scott H.

    It's been a while since I last visited Gaffers, but remembered my last visit was a great one, so we came for lunch as a party of 3 with a toddler. We were warmly greeted and received a high chair as requested. The bacon wrapped scallops appetizer was delicious and the scallops were very large and cooked nicely. I got the Down Sound Shrimp and Grits, which was a beautiful play on the traditional shrimp and grits. It had sausage, peppers, onions, and mushrooms and a nice Cajun cream sauce. 10 out of 10! The Gaff Mahi sandwiches had a substantial piece of fish and were grilled to perfection. The only knock is the time it took for my granddaughters grilled cheese sandwich with fries. We were constantly assured the food would be out much quicker than it actually was delivered. But all in all, Gaffers is still a great place to eat. The menu is diverse and the food delivers good value and flavor.

    Out door seating
    Bob G.

    Gaffers on Emerald Isle is a fun place. It is a beach resort establishment, not some fine dining place. We go to EI every summer, and like the islandy places, we were looking for this. We were there on a Friday for lunch on our last day at the shore. The weather was sweltering, so we asked to be seated indoors. The hostess checked and had someone clean off a recently vacated table, which was super. Gaffers was busy and adequately staffed, but the servers were scrambling. About 4 minutes after we were seated, Tracy, our server, apologized profusely for our wait. We were on vacation and just laughed at her concern. Tracy got our drinks, and we placed our order when she returned. We sat and gabbed, and in a little bit, Tracy came back and replaced our sodas and said how sorry she was for our lunch to arrive. We did not think the wait was long. Our food arrived with another apology, but this time, it was unnecessary. I had The Gaff, a generous portion of fried, fresh, local mahi topped with lettuce and tomato on a brioche bun served with a side of house-made Cajun tartar sauce 16.99. My wife had the NC Shrimp BLT, a towering stack of fried or grilled NC shrimp, thickly sliced bacon, lettuce, tomato, and Cajun tartar on toasted sourdough bread  16.99. We both ordered the sweet potato fries and were pleasantly surprised by the substantial portions. The food was not just good; it was excellent. The sweet potato fries were outstanding, and the Cajun tartar sauce had just the right amount of kick for us both. This place is enormous, including the outdoor seating. It has an inside bar and an outside tiki bar. The cocktail menu was interesting, although we only had soda. We left stuffed and very satisfied with our visit to Gaffers.

    Honey bourbon glazed salmon

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    27 days ago

    Great good and atmosphere. Sam was our waitress and gave great suggestions! Definitely try the brioche bread pudding if you go!!!

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    11 days ago

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    8 months ago

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    8 days ago

    Atmosphere was wonderful! Great location! Food was fast and service was great! Food was amazing.

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    9 months ago

    Food and service is good but expensive! Not budget friendly at all. Fresh local seafood and good live music for sure though.

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    11 months ago

    Fabulous! Rob is a wonderful server! Everything was fantastic highly recommend this place.

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    Ask the Community - Gaffers

    What And when are the specials?

    We have lunch and dinner features daily.

    What are the times the breakfast menu is available?

    If I remember correctly, breakfast is until 11. We stopped in the way out of town at 1045 and breakfast was still being served. We opted for an early lunch, shrimp nachos- super yum!

    View All 3 Questions

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    Fish Hut Grill

    Fish Hut Grill

    4.4
    (396 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    This place is always packed, so we choose elsewhere to go. However, today we decided to stand in…read moreline to see what it's about. It is true that you can't see the menu while in line, but you can go inside and look. Which is not a big deal because while in there, grab a beer from their beer cooler, put one of the koozies on it to keep it cool, and go back and stand in line. You'll pay for it when you order. They also have a server who asks for drink orders from the line (it's much quicker to grab a beer than wait for a mixed drink). We ended up sitting at the bar because two spots opened up. Their mixed drink options are impressive and they are delicious!!! The food is simple while being tasty, filling, and affordable. Onion rings were fried perfectly and not greasy. It is honestly worth the wait. You're on vacation!

    The food was very fresh and you could taste that. It's been a very long time since my tastebuds…read morehave done their seafood dance! The flavors were on point and seasoned. When there is malt vinegar, ketchup, salt, pepper, hot sauce, and the paper towels on a Roll, held down by a fishing weight---yup, I've found my people! Service was amazing! Fast, all questions were answered, and suggestions were given! This place was booming and the ambience gives, "where you can find me after work", daily for great food and drinks! The locals know good food and I was excited to join them today! Can't wait to try other items in the menu!

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    Yana's Ye Olde Restaurant

    Yana's Ye Olde Restaurant

    4.1
    (247 reviews)
    3.8 mi
    $

    Everyone there was so friendly, and all the food was delicious. Especially the fritters!read more

    Way back in the day (2003) I worked for OCHD as their immunization tracker & would accompany our…read moreimmunization nurse to the middle schools for Hep B & Tetanus shots to 6th graders. The best part about those outreach clinics was lunch with the school nurses. It's how I found all the locals places. Yana's was our Swansboro go to and despite moving away in 2011 and just now going back, the food was just as delicious today as it was then. And everyone who has dined repeatedly at a favorite place knows things rarely stay (or taste) the same. Bestie & hit Yana's shortly after 11 this beautiful Saturday morning and even though there were 4 parties ahead of us, we barely waited 15 minutes. I've had alot of the items on the menu during those outreaches (and with family) and never had anything I didn't enjoy but today, I went with breakfast of a western omelet (minus the sausage & tomato) with hashbrowns (home fries) and toast. My omelet had fresh green peppers, perfectly cooked, griddle bacon and cheesy cheese. I just wanted to keep eating but I was getting full. Bestie & I also had a combination order of banana & apple fritters. My food was just as I remembered-DEEEEELICIOUS! And our fritters just makes me want to go back in a few days to see if they have strawberries in supply. Honestly, I would drive from our new home in Richlands down to S'boro every weekend if hubby would let me lol. If you decide to dine here & are put off by the wait, don't be. Get on the wait list & do a little shopping. You won't regret it. Ps, omelet didn't last long enough for a pic!

    Photos
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    Peach Fritters
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    Cup of Joe 05-01-2026

    Gaffers - bars - Updated June 2026

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