We had high hopes, having had a prior good experience. BOY, were we wrong! The burger was a black, hockey puck-shaped pattie that was overcooked, bone dry, and about an inch smaller than the bun it sat on. The chili was cold and bland, and that was just my order. The four people in my party were equally disappointed with the food. We'll skip it next time. read more

We ate here on a Saturday night. The wait was an hour long, but the service and food made it completely worth it. Our server Leah was attentive and very friendly. Our drinks were never empty and she checked on us often. I ordered the filet special and it was the best filet I have had out in a while. My husband had delicious prime rib and my daughter had the chicken alfredo pasta. So very good! Don't forget to get the honey butter croissants they are as good as everyone says they are! I highly recommend this place. We will be back! read more

Good Food nice atmosphere, waitress was nice and helpful. Nothing overly exceptional but nothing bad to report either.

Our first time enjoying Rucker John's but most definitely not the last time. We enjoyed everything from the stellar crab dip to the kids shrimp! My husband had the steak and I chose the Beurre Blanc Shrimp! Service was wonderful!! read more

This food was awesome. Everything from the flatbread pizza to the pasta. The chicken tenders were off this planet good. We literally came back 2 days later and ordered 5 To-Go boxes of the tenders. Service was spot on Kids loved watching the turtles in the water as well. read more

I mean, if the food was horrible I'd try to give it zero stars. This was one of the most awkward and miserable food experiences I've had in aWHILE. We walked in and immediately didn't have a great vibe. We sat at a table that made all of us feel like we needed booster seats. Our server came over (Kursten) and didn't really say anything so we asked for water, and crap dip. My friend asked what was good or popular on the menu and she gave a slight scowl and stated she did not eat there. There were no recommendations made. We asked for ranch with our fries (by the way, they don't serve fries. They're potato rounds) which was never brought out. My other friend flagged her down and asked if there was ranch and she nodded and said "yeah." He has to FOLLOW UP and ask if she wouldn't mind bringing some. Our waters sat empty more than half the time we were there. She walked by our table without asking if we were ok (and had yet to do that since our food dropped) and I had to yell out for more water. The manager was walking around, not really doing anything and was chewing half the time. As a resident of the area, we will NOT be back. I actually plan to actively tell people to find anywhere else to eat. The burgers were fine. Half of them were very overdone. This was embarrassing to take our out of town friends to eat lunch. Just, wow. read more

While we're here on vacation we usually eat here. Our waitress was very good. The food is extremely good however we had a party of 10 and they said they can't sit us all together. Only can do 8 per table. This left one family sitting alone on the other side of the room. We ask why we can't sit together and the manager said we can't do it because it was someone else's zone of tables. It was only 2 kids that were 4 and 5. They wouldn't even let them sit in our laps. I think that that's ridiculous. While the food was amazing we won't be going back because of that reason. Absolutely ridiculous. read more

It's not a beach trip without a visit to Rucker johns for a the blackjack steak. Price has gone up over the years but I think that's just what we are facing. read more

Waited over 50 minutes to get our food after ordering, and when it arrived the burgers were bland, the fries were undercooked, and the pasta was barely edible. read more

This is the absolute slowest place to get a table!!!! The manager has NO clue how to turn tables and has no understanding of the more tables you turn the more money you make!!!! She needs a new job!! Waited 50 mins when we were told 15. This is not the 1st time this has happened! If you have all day or night then this may be your place. But the food isn't anything special!! read more

Our service was outstanding! Menu knowledge, friendly and drinks were never empty.. I had seared tuna, flavors were excellent and the cook temp was spot on but it was cold. The cheesy grits were also cold whim the RJ fries were still deep frying on my plate. Need to work on the line's timing but that was a quality meal read more

Chicken wrap was soggie. Island chicken was good; could have used a sauce. The ribs were sparce. The nachos were ok. See a pattern...?

Rucker johns has been one of my favorite restaurants since I was a kid!!!! Their Alfredo dish is soooooo good!!!

I was very disappointed last night with RuckerJohns. It has always been one of my favorites but I don't go often so I was rather excited to be going. The croissant was room temp and overdone. I couldn't even finish it and those are usually melt in your mouth!! I've always said Ruckers has the BEST salads! Last nights had water in the bottom of the bowl!!! And it was lackluster in taste. I really hope you all retrain your cooks because I have no desire to go there again any time soon. Wait staff were awesome!!! read more

This place went downhill. First time back in a few years and wow what a difference. -service was horrible, managers were yelling at employees right in front of the party I was with -took forever to get drinks and dinners -the quality of the food was just gross, undercooked salmon and soggy days old salad -the whole restaurant just seemed run down and ghetto read more

This is by far the worst restaurant experience I've had at Emerald Isle. We went with a party of 9 for my mother's birthday and while we could all fit at a single table, their policy did not allow more than 7. They could not slide over another table so 2 people had to sit on their own separately to be served by a different waiter. Three of our orders were wrong and the food was subpar, especially considering the cost. There are so many other choices, there's no reason to settle with this one. Highly not recommended. read more

Just ok, I'd give it 3.5 stars. Service was very slow and food was run of the mill for the most part. My partner had the catch of the day, and I had a shrimp sandwich. We ordered two side salads, and it took a really long time to get them. They came with a croissant (on top??) which was nice until I realized they freshly glazed them and my caesar salad was dripping with a powdered sugar glaze. Caesar dressing and something you put on a donut do not mix well. Please serve your bread on side plates like a normal restaurant. The interior looks really fresh and nice, better than when I was a kid. Bathroom was pretty clean. Took a long time to get a check and pay. read more

The family went for dinner. We had to wait for a table which we took as a good sign. I ordered the shrimp burre blanc. The presentation was nice but it was tasteless. The shrimp was watery and tasteless like it had been frozen. Maybe? Another ordered the fried shrimp. Much more breading than shrimp. My sister ordered the crab cakes. For $30 I expected two nice size cakes. They looked like silver dollar pancakes. Very disappointed all the way around. read more

Rucker Johns Restaurant - This is the shrimp burre blanc. The bread was delicious though. - New American Near Me - Emerald Isle, North Carolina

From the moment we arrived the staff acted confused? We were seated pretty quickly and the waitress took our order pretty quickly as well. They had a large group and seated them at two different tables with two different waitresses. I felt like the two waitresses were rude to that group in the way they spoke to them. Our food was good but one of our party didn't get the correct order and we had to wait for them to get their food and then eat it after we were finished. Even though the food was good the overall dining experience was NOT worth 95.00. We will not be going back. read more

We love it. We come every time we go come to the beach. It's our family's favorite!!!

This place was pretty yummy! They have good outdoor seating, but it was too hot for us to want to sit out there even though they have good shade. I had the ahi tuna salad - they cooked it exactly how I asked (lightly seared). It was yummy! Calamari was alright, I'd probably get a different appetizer next time. My kid had the shrimp, which was a heavy portion and AWESOME tempura battered. Husband had the shrimp BLT, which was good, I think. It was gone before I had a chance to try it! Service was good! I'd go again! read more

We chose this restaurant for our 25th anniversary dinner, as well as my birthday die to the reviews - and oh how sad I am we did. If i could give ZERO starsI would. I'll start with the positive. We were seated quickly though the tables are uncomfortable and the dining area is extremely dark. We were giving a table right near the door and the bathroom which was also less than desirable. I ordered a mixed specialty drink that tasted like well liquor that had been watered down. Reminiscent of nail polish remover - I don't think that's how a bahama mama is supposed to taste. I ordered a fillet medium and a loaded baked potato, and my husband ordered seared tuna. My fillet was brought to me with cold butter on top and it was raw in the middle. Upon notifying our waitress she used my bread plate and asked me to spear my steak and put it on the bread plate so she could " get it fixed". There was blood all over my plate and my potato had cold shredded cheddar and a few bacon bits but not much else. I was very disappointed that the entire plate wasn't taken away and a new plate prepared. During the time I waited for my steak I witnessed the manager messing around with the waitresses by the kitchen doors. When my new steak was brought back out by him, I stated at that time that we would like the check and he then asked if he could package it to go for me with a new potato to which I accepted. We paid the tab which was roughly $100 , and left. When I got home I discovered that while the manager had brought a new steak to me that was not cut, when he packaged my meal to go - he used the old steak that I had cut down the center and it was still raw- even after having been sent back. I'm super disappointed that in the time of Covid ,when where we choose to spend our money matters- that I received this treatment and quality of food. It ruined my 25th anniversary. Thanks Rucker John's for being so crappy read more

Rucker Johns Restaurant - Fillet ordered medium and served raw twice. - New American Near Me - Emerald Isle, North Carolina

We just ate lunch there! The food was plentiful and delicious. Our server was super sweet (Brandy) and efficient; especially since my three boys were running all over the patio. I recommend the nachos and the kids ribs. The meat fell off the bone! We will be back! read more

The wait was not bad to get seated.. but then the real wait started. An hour for my food. Then the special, pork chops, cake shriveled and burned to a charred crisp. My wife's food was literally tasteless. Zero flavor. By far the worst place on EI. read more

Stopped here for a late lunch. It's off season in this area, so not a lot open. But I saw this on Google and it was rated well, so I gave it a try. So glad I did! As I was alone, I sat at the bar and was promptly attended to by a delightful lady. I was surprised how extensive the menu was, with several appealing choices. I decided on the shrimp and grits. I was first served a side salad that was so fresh. I had requested the hot bacon dressing, really unsure what to expect. I could have bathed in it! It was soooo good and was wonderful on the salad. That was served with their famous warm croissant with honey drizzled over it! OMG! Right there I was in heaven, and my meal had not even come yet! Well, when it did, it blew me out of the water! Cheddar grits, the most tender perfectly cooked shrimp, bacon, mushrooms, diced fresh tomatoes, a cheese sauce that had just a tiny bite to it sprinkled with chives. It was heaven in each bite. It would have been lovely even without the shrimp as the flavor combination was so good. The portion was very generous, too. That came with some homemade bread that was perfect for wiping up some of the sauce! I have to say, this was one of the best meals I have had in awhile. I wish I lived here as there were other things on the menu to try. But I'm afraid I would just go back to this dish as it was so so good! Thank you for a delicious meal! read more

Consistency is why 4 ... outdoor dining with few fly and mosquito deterrent ... it's part of the atmosphere.. but reliable friendly staff and menu to satisfy crab dip and best hot bacon dressing around ! read more

Stopped in for lunch with my daughter . As always the food was great . I had the Cajun chicken salad , which is always a good choice for lunch or dinner . My daughter had the pasta pleaser kids plate . She always likes it here . Would definitely recommend for lunch or dinner . read more

Rucker Johns Restaurant - Cajun chicken salad - New American Near Me - Emerald Isle, North Carolina

The view is beautiful and the place very clean. Dog friendly outside. That being said the only thing we liked were the nachos and croissants. My husband's pasta was cold and the Cajun chicken salad was mostly cheap lettuce. My sons fries were more like potato strips and so hard he could only eat two The place gets crowded with an hour plus wait. We went before that rush thankfully because the food wasn't worth it. I hate to leave bad reviews but if anyone waits that long they will be very disappointed read more

The food is not that good and it is overpriced. We sat on the patio with a group of 11 when there was no one else there. They refused to let us pull tables together, in fact we tried to put them together and they moved us back, so we had to sit as separate parties. Then after we had already eaten the waitress told us 18% gratuity would be added, even though we had to sit separately. We would have appreciated knowing this at the beginning or maybe not doing it since there was no difference between us and her having two tables. It was tacky. And the service was slow. Won't be returning. read more

terrible service. I asked for a shrimp platter, and they only gave me four shrimp never coming back here again. definitely the worst place in Emerald Isle. No one ever come to this restaurant. atmospheres also terrible not family friendly. They cuss me out because I asked for more shrimp I like I just wanted more shrimp. What's the problem? your establishment is at the beach that makes no sense. TERRIBLE!! literally just go catch more shrimps read more

Wonderful. One of the few restaurants in North Carolina that actually follows COVID-19 Social Distancing measures. We had an amazing dinner and an awesome waiter. Everything we ordered was SO GOOD. Great atmosphere, fast service, and felt safe. Get the shrimp nachos and ribs! read more

Food was great!! Got the calamari and shrimp appetizer, with chicken Alfredo for dinner. Great quality

We were so grateful to find this restaurant. The lack of mask compliance in Emerald Isle was staggering, especially in the restaurants. We were so pleased to find a restaurant that cares enough about their patrons and servers, that all of the employees were wearing masks. We ended up getting carry out or dining in 5 times over the week we were there. The food is excellent. Thank you for giving this Nurse/Mom a much needed break from cooking. I appreciate it! Keep up the good work! read more

Their filet is probably one of the best steaks I've ever had. Perfectly cooked medium rare. If you go you also have to try their honey butter croissants! read more

Rucker Johns Restaurant - Filet - New American Near Me - Emerald Isle, North Carolina

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The food was delicious the service was grand. The server Janelle was very good. And there was a beautiful Christmas martini involved. read more

Rucker Johns Restaurant - Christmas martini - New American Near Me - Emerald Isle, North Carolina

Fantastic food and the service is excellent! The staff practices social distancing and if you have to wait for a table it is not a long time. Feed the turtles while you wait. They offer outside seating too. Everyone is so nice. read more

Had dinner last night. Wait staff was awesome and service was quick even considering how busy they were. Food is fantastic snd highly recommend the lightly battered snd fried shrimp or chicken tenders! read more

Management please read this - you have a waitress who is absolutely horrible and gave us attitude the whole time. I don't write reviews for these kinds of places, especially since it's like an Applebee's type of environment - nothing special, generic menu, etc. BUT I was so shocked at the type of service I received here, considering that we were out of towners and were there for the weekend for vacation. Our waitress from the get go just was upset for some reason and decided to take it out on our group. She would make snarky comments about how we wanted the check split, or how we were taking too long to order. We could not wait to get out of there and I wouldn't be shocked if she spit in our food. At one point, one of our friends went to the hostess to ask what was wrong with the waitress, to which the hostess responded that she was being a b**** the entire day. I think management needs to closely evaluate their staff to ensure they are providing great service to their customers, because a large part of eating at a restaurant is to enhance that customer experience. Would never go back. read more

We came here during our family vacation and RJ's is one of only VERY few dining options available at Emerald Isle. I'm not exaggerating....seriously limited.. But anyways, we came as a party of 12 so the wait was expected. We waited for 30 minutes and luckily there was a pond outside that had turtles! So the kids were entertained and didn't get too antsy. What I don't understand is how it took like an hour to get our food once we ordered. Yes, the restaurant was busy...everyone on the whole island was there, it seemed. But still..it took so long to get our food. I'm okay with waiting, but it become so awkwardly noticeable, how long it was taking. Finally, it all did come out, and by this time, we were ALL starving, even the 2 year old. I got a shrimp wrap and it was really good. The mac and cheese side, not so much. Go with the sweet potato fries instead.. The crab cakes here are also delicious. So, not bad food. But don't come here if you're already ravenous. You'll get grouchy. read more

Rucker Johns Restaurant - Cajun shrimp wrap - New American Near Me - Emerald Isle, North Carolina

The food here is great. I have never had a negative experience at Rucker Johns in my life going there. All of their food is very good; I tend to frequently get their chicken strip meals. Their prime rib steak dib isn't exactly what I call quality but the vast majority of their diverse selection of food entrees is acceptable. I would say the good food heavily outweighs the bad food at this establishment. The service isn't something I am including in this review because I tend to get my meals to-go from that place. It is a bit of a walk to get to the restaurant from the parking lot as it is tucked away in the back. The bar has plenty to drink once you get there. read more