The Lowdown: Amazing ocean views, reasonably priced drinks, friendly locals mixed with tourists, fun entertainment, and an all-around great beach bar atmosphere. Our girls' trip to Oak Island continued with a stop at The Lazy Turtle, and it definitely lived up to its name--in the best way possible. Parking is located across the street, and even though the place was packed the night we visited, there was still plenty of parking available. We didn't order any food this time around, but the drinks were reasonably priced, poured well, and exactly what we needed after a day at the beach. One of my favorite parts of the evening was the crowd. It was such a fun mix of locals and visitors, and everyone we met was genuinely friendly. It's one of those places where people actually smile, strike up conversations, and make you feel welcome. The entertainment was... memorable! The DJ was wearing a parrot on his head, so naturally I was expecting nonstop Jimmy Buffett, flip-flops, and full-on island vibes. Instead, he surprised me with a completely different playlist--but honestly, it worked! The crowd was having a great time, and so were we. They also tossed out free T-shirts during one of the games, and somehow I managed to snag one! I may or may not have celebrated like I'd just won the lottery. Between the ocean views, the lively atmosphere, the friendly people, and my unexpected T-shirt victory, The Lazy Turtle ended up being one of our favorite stops on the island. If you're looking for a fun, casual place to grab a drink, enjoy the view, and soak up the Oak Island vibe, this one is definitely worth checking out. read more

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We waited 40 minutes to get a seat, fine. It was 6:30 on a Friday night. When we got a table the host(?) said "just because you are getting a table now doesn't mean you can get your food. It will take 30-45 minutes for your order to come. There are some easy appatizers to order that will come out fast if you want to order those while you wait." I've never had a restaurant say that before, and it felt rude and dishonest. Dishonest because it took 45 min for the apps to come out alone, apps that were not good, that we would not have ordered if we were going to have our meals in a timely manner, and when they arrived they were wrong. Our meals took another 45 minutes to arrive, some of which was also wrong and we were initially charged for items we did not receive. The server mentioned this happens every weekend?? The food was fine, nothing special. Would skip it if I were you. We will not be coming back in the future. P.s. ambiance was also meh. We were waiting for our food so long the bar vibes kicked in and an overly loud karaoke session started up with a mic providing ear splitting feedback throughout the night. read more

So, the server was good. She tried her best and that's the only good thing I can say about our Lazy Turtle experience. It took over an hour to get our food, some of which was hot and some was room temperature. The place had a whole backwoods dive bar atmosphere too. Bad food, long wait, weird band, just a terrible experience. read more

We usually go to the beach side because we can walk along the beach and get drinks and food while on the beach in beach attire. Recommend the shrimp ceviche as a nice snack. We recently went to trivia on taco Tuesday. We'll be back for this too. We come to Oak Island 2-3 times a year and the Turtle is always a favorite stop. read more

Stopped in Tuesday and asked the manager if they had the NFL on the many TVs in the bar for this Sunday. Asked if they would have all the games on and received a BIG yes. I got to the bar at 12 so I would be all set up for the 1pm kick off. I asked the bartender which TV would have the Ravens game on, she tells me they would not play it due to not having the NFL package and or paramount+ Left and went to another place to watch the game read more

Hostess was quick to acknowledge us. Asked how many in our group (4). Started talking to group behind us with same number in party as if going to seat them. Seemed little off. Just us 2 groups so no big line. Didn't ask inside or out but that's ok. Pointed to the last picnic table to where we were to sit, almost couldn't see it. Very back corner but ok. Several waitresses walk by and helping tables right beside us but over 20 minutes no acknowledgment decided to leave. Have always thought about trying this place many times and first time trying not a good experience. Went next door to the pier restaurant. read more

Yeah don't Unless you are on the beach and need a drink They warn you the kitchen is overwhelmed and you may not order food until they say it's ok Crazy stuff read more

After 6 years, I've made a long anticipated return to the lazy turtle for dinner tonight, let me just say taco Tuesday did not disappoint. This entire establishment has changed in every which way for the better. The inside had been renovated with a now view of the ocean, and they had upgraded wall decor and tables. No soggy fries, no dead flies, in fact this restaurant was sooooo much cleaner than I remember it being, even family who have been multiples times in the past agreed. We ordered the Nacho appetizer, and I got the chicken tacos and they exceeded my expectations in all sorts of delicious ways. The staff was so friendly the new owner even came by to chat and gave us chocolates, shout out to Giovanni! I can't wait to come back during the summer to see the beachfront patio in full effect! read more

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Lisa and Jen are the best bartenders. They are fun and make great drinks. You can find them either inside bar or at the tiki bar with a great view of the beach. read more

Super convenient location along the beach. They have an old bar area, a new bar area with seating for dining as well, and an outside area on the beach. Lots of options for seating. Menu is varied and typical bar food. We only went in for drinks. They have some specialty drinks that are on point with the beach vibe and their theme. Ordered the Shark Bite and Turtle Juice. Both were good. They did have live music the night that we went and they were good (Gage Saylor and the Creekside Boys). This is a typical beach bar. All employees are super friendly and helpful. read more

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Wife & I walked up from the beach, went to the hostess out front to be seated. Met the GM, he was standing there speaking with a busboy about bringing treats to a dog that was outside with customers. We spoke about loving the dog-friendly environment. Hostess recommended fish tacos and wouldn't stop raving about it. Actually spoke with her about where we're from, our 1st time visiting the area etc.. Get seated outside by the busboy actually. Ordered drinks and Ahi Tuna appetizer from our server, Belle. All is good, finish our app, still drinking our drinks when the hostess appears and tells us we will have give up our table & move to the bar or leave b/c they have 4 tables waiting and we can just sit there. I count 12 empty tables outside with 3 tables taken including the one we're at. I said we're still having our drinks and I we had appetizers. She replies "oh, well that's ok but we may need this table anyway". I see the GM and ask him, "is your hostess ok? She asked us to move or leave when there's a dozen tables available " She didn't ask any other patrons to move. He appears to be shocked and says he's going to talk with her. A few minutes later the hostess comes back and apologizes, saying she didn't know who we were (we had a long convo 20 minutes earlier at the front) then she started talking kinda gibberish about all kinds of things. Told her we'll finish our drinks, pay and leave. Had to track down our server inside, hadn't seen her in 20 mins. Told her I wanted to pay the bill, she asked why we're leaving. I told her we were basically asked to leave. She said, "yeah, I heard about that". I was like, "what"?. I guess not being regulars may have been the issue, I don't know. It wasn't busy at all. I don't understand why the hostess (Barbara) asked us to move/leave. Never saw the GM again. Wouldn't return to here as there's plenty of spots to go to. read more

Cute place right on the beach with a beautiful atmosphere and great views. The food was very good, and the staff was friendly and welcoming. Our servers were wonderful throughout the visit. The only downside was the wait time. Even though the restaurant was not busy, we waited about 10-15 minutes while the host trained a new staff member before being taken to the outdoor seating area. We were offered the option to sit at the inside bar, but not at an indoor dining table, which was fine since we were waiting for friends and preferred to sit outside anyway. Once we ordered, the food also seemed to take longer than expected to arrive. Overall, though, it was still a nice experience in a great beachfront location. read more

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Food and service was on point!! I was in the area doing interviews for cook positions and stopped here for a bite. The view was amazing and the food was really good and fast! As someone who is in the industry I highly recommend this place for all around great experience and views. Thanks again I will Be back read more

40 minutes to get seated, 1 hour and 15 minutes to get our food and 20 minutes just to get a coke refill. Servers were nice but severely overworked. Food came out cold. Supremely disappointing. read more

Nice comfortable local grill with beachfront dining. Dog friendly. Good food. Fun local vibe.

Poor service. We put in the order for the kids when we sat down. Waited 15 minutes after and then ordered for the adults. We were told the kids food would be out in a few minutes. It took another 45 minutes for the kids food. We had them pack up the adult orders. The food was just ok. read more

The location is wonderful, right on the beach with amazing soft white sand. The parking situation is tight but if you come at a quieter time you should be okay finding a spot. The service and food were average, they're definitely getting by on their location. If you're on the beach it's a great spot to pull up for lunch or a snack. If you're looking for a place to go out to eat, you can find better spots on the island for sure. Our server forgot one of our items (one of my kid's orders) which made the experience harder as a hungry and upset child never works out well. read more

The views at the Lazy Turtle are beautiful, and the drinks were good, which were the highlights of our visit. Unfortunately, everything else was a disappointment. Our waitress was very slow and absent for most of the meal, making it difficult to get refills or even basic updates on our order. We waited over an hour for our food, only to find out when it was finally served that the restaurant had run out of nearly all of their side dishes. No one told us ahead of time or gave us the opportunity to choose substitutes while we were waiting, which was extremely frustrating after such a long wait. To make matters worse, it took another 30 minutes just to get our check after we finished eating. Better communication and more attentive service would have gone a long way. While the waterfront views and drinks made for a nice atmosphere, the poor service, long wait times, and lack of communication overshadowed the experience. There are too many great restaurants on Oak Island for us to return, and unfortunately, I can't recommend the Lazy Turtle based on our visit. read more

I was really disappointed with our experience at The Lazy Turtle. We had high hopes, but unfortunately the food was some of the worst we've had during our trip to Oak Island. It arrived lacking flavor, and several items were not prepared well. The service only made things worse. It was slow, inattentive, and we often felt like we were an inconvenience rather than valued customers. What really sealed the experience was the manager's attitude. Instead of listening to our concerns or trying to make things right, they came across as rude and dismissive. Good customer service starts at the top, and that simply wasn't our experience. There are so many great places to eat around Oak Island, and based on this visit, I wouldn't choose to come back or recommend it to others. read more

Listen my children, And you shall hear, Of the dinning escapades, Of one, Rumpy Revere, It was oneth by land, And twoth by sea, So we rode, To the Lazy Turtle, To trip the night fantastic, For me, And for my horse, Of course, Greeted by Amanda, Who was friendly with glee, And asked us quite nicely, What grub, you want, Bub? Surprised by her sassy, And sparkling wit, I had to retreat, Just a bit, So I consulted our Morkie, Westley you see, As he advised, Rums drinks, and Appies all around, And some scraps for me, While we enjoyed our Sex on the Beach, The sea air, And pristine breezes, Went wafting through our hairs, The Lazy Turtle chefs, Are a crafty lot of folk, As they drum your appetite, With liquor delights, Which excels and propels, Your food passions, Then Amanda subtly offers, A list of their fare, While continual gentle breezes, Keep caressing our essence, With the sweet, sea air, It's not bewildering to me, Why their savory, And gratifying manna, Enchanted our senses, Which made our dancing tastebuds, Lament our bellys' advances, As we raised our glasses, And cheered, To one and all, In our very, nature abundant, New Port of Call, We realized our luck, At having to be stuck, In such an awesome dream, As our carnivorous thirst, Made some of us burst, As we plotted our escape to the sea, We asked Amanda, To hold our mouth watering desserts, My Morkie, Westley, And me, I felt so alive, With the sea water, Helping me survive, A little to much Rum, In my tum, tum, As again, We plotted our course, The groggy, and soggy, Dispelled my slumber, As now, I was refreshed, And quite able, To once again, Enjoy the gastronomical delirium, Of the deserts, On our table, This be, But one evening of fun, For the traveling Rumpy Revere, Who's passion for dining, Often leaves him pining, For one more course, After a tough days ride, For both he, and his horse, You've listened my children, And now draw near, As our story has ended, But let us, Be clear, The Lazy Turtles' grub, Is delectable, delicious, And not so nutritious, Their Wenches are adapt, At keeping us happy, And their Chiefs are great, At making food snappy, Amanda my dear, You were a delight, With your witty repartee, And laid back demeanour, We felt we met a friend, My Morkie, Westley, And me, And of course, My horse, So visit the Lazy Turtle early, And often, Because if you enjoyed, Our tale of joy, Oy, They delight, In feeding you right, If you engage in the Gin, Then say nea, To your auto-companion, And ride your horse, of course. Enjoy! read more

Outdoor seating was awesome with a great ocean view. Food was just ok and overpriced but I expected that. Everyone was very friendly but the waitress was non existent. I saw her twice. Had to go to the hostess stand just to pay my bill read more

Excellent food. The flounder was delicious. Also liked the picnic tables on the beach.

Food was good, but took an hour and twenty minutes. Our server was very sweet, but only refilled our water one time, which was not enough, considering the wait. We had to eat in the dark because they couldn't get the outside lights on. We are still baffled at what took so long when we ordered basic fish, fries, sandwiches and salad. And the inside dining room was empty. At the end, we handed our server money and said to please bring back the change. After waiting 15 minutes, we asked another lady to please go get our change. Just not a good experience at all. read more

We decided to try this place out today. The outdoor seating has a beautiful view of the beach. Our server took over 5 minutes to get to us, however she was super friendly and took great care of us throughout our service. I ordered the crab cake sandwich and we also got the fish tacos. The crab cake sandwich was delicious. It was definitely made in house. The actual cake itself was a bit small for the bun size. The slaw and sauce really complimented the crab cake. The chips were nothing special. The shrimp tacos were also well portioned and served with basic chips. Overall it was nice experience. I am not sure I would come back, but glad we got to stop by. read more

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This is our second year coming to the Lazy Turtle and this year was a disappointment. We arrived around 6:40 and waiting 15 min for a table on a Wednesday night. It took the food about an hour to come to the table for 4 meals. The karaoke provided entertainment and helped pass the time for the long wait time for food. Food was hot and good. read more

Great little ocean front beach bar. The food and atmosphere were great but the service left a lot to be desired. It took entirely too long to get our food but once we got it , the food was great. Maybe if you go at a less busy time it may be different but the evening we were there, it was very slow read more

Service was fine, food was good. I would recommend that you go around 6 and have time to wait especially on a weekend day.

Not great. We went in hoping for a relaxing meal to add to our beach experience. The vibe was a little loud and chaotic. They didn't have many options that wasn't deep fried. Our food was okay. It was overpriced for what we received. I'd look for a better opinion read more

Amazing food and great vibes. fun night out on the beach with drinks and great food at a great price. the bartender and owner were super nice and checked up on us multiple times throughout the night. our waitress belle was so attentive and charming! great experience, everyone should come here. pet friendly! read more

We had a large group of 10 for a party. They accommodated our needs and were very responsive and timely even though they were busy to the walls the day we were there. The Hostess and our waiter were always checking on our needs.it sure has changed to a relaxing waterfront restaurant/grill/hangout. Would be back for sure. It does have outside seating to put your feet in the sand and feel the salt air, but it was 100° when we were there read more

Amazing bar! The owner is so kind and made sure we had an amazing 4th of July weekend! I would highly recommend and Will be sure to stop by every single night I am in town! read more

I would just like to start this off with we had such a wonderful server. She was extremely sweet! However, that was about the only thing good about this place aside from the view. We came for my mom's birthday, and we wished we hadn't. We waited well over an hour for our food, just to continue to watch people who got there well after we ordered, get theirs. We eventually decided to just leave when they finally bought our food out and so we got it Togo. One of the food orders wasn't even right and the food was cold. I definitely am disappointed as it looked really nice online but I definitely would not recommend this place nor will we ever be back. read more

Food & service was excellent. Shrimp & Fish tacos as well as shrimp was superb! Great place to take a family. They can accommodate a large group. 8-10 easily. Inside & outside seating! The manager, GIo. Was very welcome and attentive. It is OPEN on Monday!! read more

As a quick lunch spot on the beach - I say ok, but don't expect a lot. These people work on their own time. Opened on time but was still setting up 30 mins after opening. Food was good and waitress was really nice. Lots of room for improvement. read more

Such a cute bar... karaoke dude sucks :/ He was so rude quite literally ruined out night

Because I almost didn't come here because of the lower star rating, I felt I had to leave a review to get their ratings up to where they deserve to be. Our waitress was great! Friendly yet all business. Outside tables are literally on the sand next to the beach. I loved the outdoor rustic tiki bar which reminded me of my travels through the islands. While I didn't come here for a fine dining 5 star meal, I enjoyed my fried shrimp po' boy sub, cold Corona and awesome view. I'll come back. read more

Came here at 6:30 and got put on the wait list. Lady told us to come back at 7:30 and we would have a table. came back at 7:20 and continues to tell us their not serving food and we left the property so they gave our table away. We remind her she told us to come back at 7:30, and she then gets an attitude and tells us next time to stay on the property (nobody ever said you had to wait there). Tells us she has a table but we have to wait another 30 min for food. we go in and the table is big enough to fit one person. Absolutely disrespectful and are disappointed considering we've been here in the past and never had issues. walked out and won't be returning. Extremely unprofessional read more

Service was great from the time we walked up to the hostess stand until we finished our meal. Friendly with the perfect beach vibe. Food was fresh and delivered to our table in a timely manner. The restaurant was crowded inside and outside as we were there between 6-6:30 pm. We ordered a crab sandwich and a shrimp po boy. Yummy! read more

Visited Oak Island for vacation. Came here because they have outdoor seating and we had our puppy. It is right on the beach! Service was great. Friendly and fast. We had Shrimp tacos, fish tacos, cheese burger, and chicken tenders. All was tasty and good. read more

I got prosecco that was as much as a tasting sample for $12-13. I would recommend Ocean Crest Pier bar instead, also on the beach, much better prices. Service is friendly but the food is awful and the alcohol is overpriced. read more