This was a delightful surprise! The restaurant is huge. I think I counted three bars. They do a lot of business but our service was fantastic. Loved the vibe. Casual with amazing food and drinks. We ordered the Shrimp Nachos. OMG, the platter was piled high with crunchy homemade tortilla chips layered with actual real cheese (not cheap "cheese sauce") lettuce, tomatoes, jalapeños, banana peppers, avocado, and a generous amount of shrimp. If you see a chip with a bubble-those were my favorite. So delicious and could have been a meal for both of us to split. We also got The Gaff and it was absolutely delicious. The French fries are house cut and they were fantastic. Our drinks were great. Our server was attentive despite it being really busy. We will go back again this week while we're here. read more

Gaffers - Shrimp Nachos - Bars Near Me - Emerald Isle, North Carolina

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Great vibe with excellent live music. The food is good and served quickly and attentively. A fun spot to relax.

Great spot to dine while in Emerald Isle! Excellent food and service and a great atmosphere! Came at lunch before it started to get too busy. Enjoyed the onion rings, the ahi tuna appetizer. The tuna salad (subbed mahi for the tuna) and a kids grilled cheese! Served on a frisbee! All were fresh and generous portions. Fun kid mocktails as well! Good beer selection too! Indoor and outdoor seating with a laid back beach vibe! read more

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Great beach vibe. Always has great live music. Portions are big and food is very good. The Nachos are delicious and big enough to feed a hungry family after a day at the beach! Grab a cocktail while you wait too. Make this part of your Emerald Isle experience read more

Fantastic coffee bar on the side of the restaurant - enter on the side. They have the best coffee I've tasted in weeks and very conscientious about the order. Great service and conversation as well. Love this place. read more

Returned in 2026-- same hostess as last visit but this time she smiled. A live band played on the skirts of the outdoor seating area (basically, the parking lot). Inside, the music was dulled until the door swung open. Service was prompt and friendly. Dinner entrees included puppies (again), citrus tuna (again), parm encrusted Mahi, and two NC shrimp and grits. The citus tuna salad was just as good as last year, and the parmesean Mahi was flavorful (especially the tomatoes!) and worked very well with the bed of risotto on which it was served. Both who selected shrimp and grits were pleased but noted the grits were thin (soupy), but tasty! Even though our party claimed to be full, there was zero difficulty knocking out a basket of funnel cake fries. Gaffer's is fast becoming regular territory on our visits to the island. read more

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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 read more

Gaffers - Shark attack - Bars Near Me - Emerald Isle, North Carolina

Great vibes came on a busy Saturday night 40 min wait got a drink and live music passed the time. Quick service and great food.

Another great and easy visit! Food was delicious, quick and prepared perfectly. The waiter was attentive and easy to work with. The atmosphere was upbeat and fun. If you're in Emerald Isle this is a must do. read more

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.' read more

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Rough eta of entire experience 2.5 hours. Took 35 min to get seated. No big deal. Once seated, it was right in front of the speakers and was very loud. Our server was at every other table but ours. A burger was ordered well done or "burnt" and came out pink. Mahi was ordered and delivered mildly warm and Rice under was cold almost as if it was placed under a heat lamp. We were told food wait was approx 35 min but other larger tables that sat after us came out before. Server stated that the cooks were men and all she does is bring drinks. Weird statement and I'm a guy so wasn't sure what she meant. Overall awful experience. read more

Had a great Mahi sandwich and a beer. Good for lunch, haven't been for dinner yet. Indoor and outdoor seating is available for everyone

Been going to this place for years and the prices have increased so much lately. Got a meal and a drink and with tip it was $50. They're going to price gouge people until they don't have a line out the front. With the tourists that just won't happen. Will be taking my business elsewhere! read more

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

This place was good! We we on a Friday night. During the summer. So there was a wait but that's to be expected so not mad at it. My daughter got a kids dinner. The coolest thing is that they serve the kids meals on a frisbee! So the kids get to take the frisbee home after they eat! What an ingenious way to save cleaning a dish and giving the kids a nice little surprise! They also have mocktails on the kids menu. My daughter got The mermaid drink. She loves it! The hushpupies were delicious. My husband loved his shrimp and grits and my daughter loved her fried shrimp and onion rings. Pretty awesome place! When I asked my daughter what she wanted me to make for dinner this week as we head home she replied "Gaffers!" read more

Gaffers is one of the best restaurants on Emerald Isle. I've had the salmon, chicken, burger, mahi tacos and beer can shrimp during different visits. They are always great! Appetizers such as crab dip, hush puppies or cheese balls are amazing. Service has always been top notch. The servers are friendly and efficient. Also they have a great bar menu and I've never been disappointed with drinks. We prefer to sit outside usually but the inside is nice too. They often have live music on Friday and Saturday evenings. Don't forget to check out the their coffee bar and gift shop that is located right next to their restaurant. read more

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. read more

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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! read more

Gaffers - Parmesan crusted Mahi Mahi - Bars Near Me - Emerald Isle, North Carolina

Our favorite restaurant on the island until today! We love the Mahi tacos there and that's our go to dish. Always got two nice pieces of fish on each taco, today only had one very small thin piece of fish, same price. Asked the waitress about it and she said they've changed the fish portion to one small piece . . . Now looking for a new favorite place on the island, cheers to options!! :-) read more

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. read more

Gaffers - Bars Near Me - Emerald Isle, North Carolina

Absolutely love this place!!! Only problem is it isn't closer to my house! The service is always lovely, the ambiance is like a chill beachie vibe where rich fishermen eat! The food is so soooo delicious, but you'll pay! It's above average prices but it's worth it!!! Definitely eat chicken and waffles for breakfast and definitely eat nachos at lunch/dinner!!!!! Love this place!!!, life time customer! read more

Service was great. Burgers ok. Citrus tuna was cold throughout... not seared before serving, awful A Tanqueray Gin and tonic was $8.99 and they added $.50 for tonic! A Tanqueray Gin martini was$12.99 plus $3. The worst was the burger where we subbed onion rings for fries... an extra $3,99! This place could be a great place for drinks and food. Instead they rip you off at every opportunity, without telling you the cost. We won't be back. read more

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. read more

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Horrible! We are Locals who came for a chilled Saturday breakfast . WTF !!! We Gaffers and eat tbere at least 1-2 /week but the LOUD music provided by DJ LOU was painful! Music was not the relaxed vibe Gaffers and other EI establishments are known for. Love a good dance party but not at 10am-! Consider your audience/cllentele! As most of us are here to chill and enjoy conversations with friends and family. Not a "family" scene either. No reflection on quality of food or staff/service. read more

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

Had a great night at Gaffers the other night, was the last night of our vacation and were looking forward to checking this place out. Parking was a little tough had to circle the lot a few times to find a spot but other than that it was a good time. $3 Pacifico's and live music was just what we needed. Had the shrimp and grits, and wife had bbq chicken and shrimp and was very satisfied. They also had a nice waiting area/bar/coffee shop/gift shop to get a few drinks while waiting for table which I thought was a very nice touch. Came back the next morning for souveniers and coffees before we hit the road. read more

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. read more

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Server was great, the stuffed mahi mahi was amazing but the grilled honey bourbon salmon needed more flavor. read more

Gaffers - Honey bourbon glazed salmon - Bars Near Me - Emerald Isle, North Carolina

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"A Tourist Trap in Disguise" I have dined in palaces and I have dined in shacks, but rarely have I encountered a place so determined to charge like the former while cooking like the latter. Gaffer's of Emerald Isle was once a local haunt--a spot where the food, while never sublime, at least respected the appetite and the pocketbook. That era is gone. In its place stands something far more tragic: a tourist trap masquerading as a neighborhood staple. The portions now arrive in a state best described as culinary minimalism. The crab dip--served in a ramekin so small it could double as a thimble--was accompanied by pita chips of such staleness and absence of flavor that they might have been relics from a long-forgotten pantry. The "jumbo" wings--$13 for six--invite one to ponder the restaurant's definition of "jumbo." Perhaps they mean the price, not the poultry. The steaks, gray and lifeless, arrive bathed in so much salt and butter they could be mistaken for an experiment in sodium preservation. And then there is the so-called specialty menu, where one can spend $30 or more for a meal whose mediocrity would be insulting even at half the cost. For locals, these prices feel less like hospitality and more like extortion. I will allow this: the staff remains warm and professional, a lone flicker of dignity in an establishment otherwise consumed by its own inflated self-importance. But good service cannot justify bad value. I have eaten here for years. I will not do so again. read more

First time coming to Gaffers all of my years visiting EIB - ended up coming back 2x! Great drinks, great consistent food, great service and bar tenders. Everyone was so friendly and you could tell it was a locals spot. Definitely will add this to the list every year. read more

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We have been going to Emerald Isle for over 40 yrs. In that time I believe we have been to just about all of the restaurants on the island. This yr we went to Gaffer's for the first time. Best dinner and brunch we've ever had. Terrific food, courteous, friendly and knowledgeable waiters. Everyone from the hostess to the owners were some of the friendliest people on the Island. We will definitely be back and highly recommend read more

Nah, gave them 2 chances. Mediocre at best and expensive. They add a credit card fee like some kind of damn 3rd world business. Service is slow even when they weren't busy. read more

Food was amazing, service was even better and the live music was a real draw. Robbie and Bob each rocked the place when they performed their solo acts. read more

The food was awful. We ordered a shrimp basket and fried mahi mahi basket. Both were dry and over cooked. The only good thing in the whole plate was the baked potato. The batter on the shrimp had no flavor and the shrimp were tough and the price for each plate was $32.99 each!! Never again read more

Awesome staff , food & atmosphere! We had a table of 7 and arrived at 4:30. This was a great time to arrive. The wait staff was excellent!! We had two appetizers & all of our entrees were cooked perfect!! They also have coffee bar and it was delish!! read more

I thought I'd do something special with my family to celebrate my wife's birthday on a Saturday evening at locally-renowned Gaffers. Our server was diligent, but slovenly dressed. (Isn't Gaffers supposed to be a step up from a Waffle House?) She took our orders, and after a long wait, the food arrived. But it was strange: there were steaming plates, but no aroma! Five minutes in, the salt shaker was in high demand. Did the kitchen run out of seasoning? The bad news kept coming in. My daughter's Seafood Pasta ($43) was "bleh" -- flavorless mush. Same with my son's Parmesan Encrusted Mahi ($37) -- the risotto was inedible. The chicken in my wife's "Mango BBQ Chicken & Shrimp" ($33) was overdone, tough and flavorless. The mahi in my Blackened Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos ($25) wasn't blackened with anything -- bone-dry and bland. The tortillas were elastic, stretchy, synthetic garbage, straight off the Cisco truck. I recently had better Mahi off a taco truck (with homemade tortillas!) for one fifth the price. The bill was over $300. What a rip-off. Never ever again. You have been warned. read more

Service was great , food was fantastic as well. Started off with the fried pepperjack cheese balls app and a few Mother Earth ipas. Boyfriend had the club I had the blackened chicken Caesar and fries. Everything phenomenal. Outside seating is beautiful with perfect shading , little outside bar and connect four. Kids meals served on frisbees they get to take home. Great place read more

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

Went here for breakfast. It was great. I highly recommend the lobster Benny. Our waitress was very nice and the place was decorated with lots of beach and, ocean stuff. read more

Yummy food, great drinks and a fun place to spend an afternoon/evening outside. All of the food came out super fresh and we enjoyed the live music! read more

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