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    Surf's Up Grill and Bar

    3.7 (289 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Surf's Up Grill and Bar American Restaurant Photos

    Business Info

    SURF'S UP GRILL AND BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Touristy
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Surf's Up Grill and Bar

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    Reviews With Photos

    Grilled shrimp
    Brianna T.

    Will not be back :( shrimp was overcooked, fries were super soggy, the coleslaw was ok, and the hush puppies were gross.

    Fried shrimp platter
    Nashay W.

    Stopped by when visiting town for the first time. Parking was free and our server was attentive. We were able to sit outside and see the beach, listen to the sounds of the waves hitting, and see birds flying. It was a breathtaking view and I could sit there for a while enjoying the sights. I ordered fried shrimp with fries and both were good. I had a great portion of shrimp but it cost $19 for that and not sure if that is cheap or costly for the area. When I compare the price to where I am from, it seems expensive but it was good and I do not regret ordering it. I also ordered the Pier Pressure drink which was a very good refreshing adult beverage.

    Cindy G.

    Came here on a Saturday night in November and it was quiet. A few customers at the bar. Staff was accommodating when we asked to have our football team game shown on one of the TV screens. Restaurant is right on the pier. Large parking lot. Our server was attentive. She was also busy sweeping the floor. I ordered the house salad and added grilled shrimp. The shrimp was prepared well. Prices seemed high for the casual ambiance.

    Scott H.

    I have visited Emerald Isle yearly for the past five or six years now and eating out at Surf's Up is typically the highlight of our eating out adventures. This year we visited as a party of three and were seated quickly. Looking at the signature drinks menu, my eyes quickly went to the "Purple Drank" offering. Tart with a hint of sweetness of the grape vodka; it was delicious! My wife got the grilled chicken bowl and was delighted. It was so good, she was upset having left the leftovers on the table and forgot to take them!! I got the Backyard Chicken, which was juicy and smokey! My brother got the grilled salmon over a bed of Jasmin rice and vegetables. He commented that it was the best salmon he's ever tasted. You simply cannot go wrong with this place. It continues to be one of the best dining experiences we have every year 5 years running.

    Looking out the back window at the pier
    Michael M.

    You come here for the views and access to the beach, the parking seems to have a fee during tourist seasons but was free when we were there. Staff was friendly and attentive and our orders came out fast. I had the nachos which were good but very mild. The ground beef was either not seasoned or very lightly and had the color of just plain ground beef. Yet it was still very good. I like medium heat so I added the hot sauce and that was fine for me. I also ordered the roasted corn. My wife had fish, it was lightly battered and she seemed to enjoy it. After lunch we walked on the beach for a few hours which is why we were there. It seems there are some regulars there as there were several groups chatting on the outside bar and inside as well.

    Menu
    Jill M.

    A pod of Dolphin swam by outside our window. How can it not get 5 stars?! Service wasn't five star. Our server was AWOL once we got our food and drinks. Good bloody Mary's. Don't fear the tuna nachos as it's actually a great combination. Beachfront! In January ample free parking. It's got lots of windows, summertime colors, bright space!

    Jeff U.

    Food was good Healthy portion of shrimp and fries Salad was interesting but still good The frozen drinks were very loose in consistency but, but tasted good The machines must not have had time to freeze them Better Very busy Ambiance was a surf shop so it was great Parking was free under two hours and since we spent more than $15 We'd go back

    Drink menu
    Brian P.

    Nice view and good beach bar. Food is good and be achy. Drinks are strong but not the best crafted. If you are looking for a quick bite with a strong drink, I'd come here. If you are looking for a well done cocktail. My experience was, don't visit this bat. I got the Smokey tots. Not listed as a gluten free option but I switched them out with fries instead of tots. Yummy sloppy dish.

    Aimee N.

    I stopped for dinner and ordered 1/2 pound peel and eat shrimp, broccoli, and a side salad. The ranch for the salad was really good. Shrimp were also really good. I sat outside and it was a beautiful view. Server was really nice and I enjoyed my time here.

    Great ocean view from the dining room on Christmas Eve!
    Matt F.

    We had a great time at Surf's Up on Christmas Eve, and really enjoyed the ocean view. The food was very tasty, especially the sweet and spicy shrimp we ordered for the table to share. The pier was closed for the holiday, which was a bummer, but it was still a very cool place to visit.

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    2 months ago

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    3 days ago

    Always pretty consistent. The bbq tatertots area must have. We split a sesame bowl with shrimp..very good.

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    5 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    1 year ago

    Amazing food! very quick service! the atmosphere is also really cool like above the bar it's like an aquarium!

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    4 years ago

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    1 year ago

    The food was okay for bar food but a little over priced. What made this restaurant was the ocean view.

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    2 years ago

    We had delicious shrimp burgers at the bar. The place is right on the ocean and service was good. Would definitely recommend it for lunch.

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    3 years ago

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    Page 1 of 8

    Ask the Community - Surf's Up Grill and Bar

    Is there parking on site?

    Yes there is but I don't remember if they charge

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    Par 108

    Par 108

    5.0(2 reviews)
    3.4 mi

    Heard about this place and been trying to get here. Finally, found some friends to join me. We sat…read moreoutside because the weather was perfect and they had a live two piece band. Waitress was very sweet and running her tush off. We got there about 6pm on a Friday night and before we left it was hopping. The food was very good. I had Southwestern Eggrolls and will not have to drive to Jville anymore when I get that craving. The only difference was it came with a chipotle ranch instead of an avocado ranch. My friend had a salad (good size) along with the the Dirty Chicken. She felt like it had a "kick" to it but I tried a bit and didn't think so. She could not eat it all. Nice size serving. She also shared the mozzarella sticks. I didn't try them but she said they were good. They looked like the frozen kind out of the box, so not for me. My other friend had the smash burger that we thought were sliders, but are not. It is a hamburger with two 3oz patties with the fixins. My friend enjoyed it and I believe it came with fries. She also tried the Zucchini fries and ate them all. I personally was not crazy about them but to each his own. A two piece band was playing and they were very good. Oh, I found out just before we left that they carry Bud Zero. Nice surprise. Sitting outdoors was perfect. They put a little fly spinner on your table and no bugs. The bathroom was very clean. Since this appears to be the first post for them I will have to post pictures later. Sept. 20, 2024

    Food and environment is amazing! Service is fast and very polite! I would highly recommend going!read more

    Mac Daddy's - Bacon cheeseburger

    Mac Daddy's

    3.0(117 reviews)
    3.1 mi
    $$

    My friend was food poisoned by the wings and my husband and I ate the pizza and that was not good…read moreeither. Flavorless and have been gassy for the last 12 hours since eating it. We used the bowling lanes and sure enough did they squeeze everything together to fit as many lanes in there as possible. Not a comfortable experience at all.

    We were visiting family in Jacksonville and they wanted to take us to Mac Daddy's, we were not…read moredisappointed!! This review is for our one visit, but I know we'll be back when we are out east again! Had so much fun!! I felt like a kid at Chuck E Cheese's again (only without the creepy characters or crappy pizza). First off, walking in the door, I see a large Hungry Hungry Hippo game, one that we can sit on and control. I'm in. I'm ALL in!! But first, we went bowling. The bowling alleys are nicely kept, clean and updated. Shoes aren't nasty either. The fun display for the scoreboard kept me entertained, be sure and watch the cartoon pins egging you on. Loved it, and I didn't do half bad either! (I guess my Wii bowling has sharpened my skills? haha!) So after an hour of bowling we headed over to check out the rest of the games. There's Daytona racing where you can race each other from your own individual game/screen, there are all sorts of claw prize games and carnival style games, skee ball, air hockey, digital hunting, pinball, basketball, I mean so many games!! And, fortunately, there are no tokens here, instead you purchase a debit type card that is re-loadable and doesn't expire. You just take your game cards to the prize counter and pick you poison. Then keep the card for next time or give it to someone. Besides bowling and games, you can also go into the sports bar and grab some grub! Soups, salads, sliders, pizza, and so on. And this is not typical bowling alley food, it's a bit nicer than that. Compliment your food with some beer or wine and top it all off with dessert! Most main menu items are $10-15. Outside there is a mini golf course (Golfin' Dolphin), driving range, Go-Karts, and a Sky Trail to climb, swing, and explore. We didn't want to leave! But we didn't say good bye, instead just see you next time. CHEERS!!!

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    Fin the Bowling Pin!

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    Sliders

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    Shuckin' Shack Oyster Bar

    Shuckin' Shack Oyster Bar

    4.3(510 reviews)
    33.4 mi
    $$

    We've lived in the area for about 6 years. Eat out fairly often. This restaurant by far has been…read morethe most consistent in the quality of the food, which is the best of all the restaurants in the topsail area. It is not fine dining and has the sports bar vibe. It is a relatively small place and I recommend going on non peak hours in season. If you are into oysters, they have a great selection of both local and regional on the half shell. If you prefer cooked, chargrilled or steamed is a good choice. While the menu has a great selection of seafood, the chalkboard specials features extremely fresh local catches which change daily. While there are several restaurants in and around the topsail area this is the only one where I have never been disappointed. If you go at peak hours during the vacation season expect to wait but it is worth it. You can't miss with any of the steamed shellfish offerings and if you prefer fried there batter is light and not overpowering. As a sports bar, they have a large selection of tap and bottled beers and a good mixology of liquor options which is only outdone in my opinion by Rick's in Sneads Ferry

    Whenever a restaurant puts "market price" next to an item, I'm worried. But Dear Wife and I were in…read morethe low country and we wanted a low country boil. So that's what we got. I could've asked the price upfront (and usually do) but what the heck... we're on vacation. The server suggested we get a "double" and share it. OK. Sounds good. It came out quick. There was a TON of food for two of us. Shrimp, sausage, potatoes, corn. It didn't have a lot of seasoning also on it, but - no problem - there was a rack with every hot sauce you'd ever need, plus salt, pepper and old bay. We both ate our fill and even left a few potatoes. The bill comes and it's less than $40. It might be the cheapest great meal I've had in a long time. Or maybe it's the "greatest cheap meal" I've had in a long time... I don't know. Bar ambiance, but pleasant enough for families. Mostly high tables. It all seemed very nice.

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    Shuckin' Shack Oyster Bar
    Shuckin' Shack Oyster Bar
    Shuckin' Shack Oyster Bar - Kona spiked island seltzer

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    Surf's Up Grill and Bar - tradamerican - Updated May 2026

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