One of the best meals we've had since moving to NC! We literally just left The Sandspur in Carolina Beach and I had to write this while it's still fresh because WOW. My husband and I are huge foodies, so exploring different restaurants and finding good food is basically one of our favorite things to do. We shared the duck tacos, shrimp & grits, and cheesesteak, and every single thing was delicious. The shrimp & grits were my favorite. The flavor was genuinely otherworldly. My husband's favorite was the duck tacos, which were incredible. And the cheesesteak deserves its own paragraph because this is officially the best cheesesteak we've had in the entire Wilmington and greater Wilmington area. We've tried quite a few, and this one absolutely takes the cake. The restaurant itself is really cute and has such a cozy, local feel. We went during locals season and it was perfect because it wasn't busy at all. We got to sit back, enjoy our food, and actually take our time (although it was so good we just shoveled everything in). We've tried a lot of restaurants since moving to North Carolina, and this is easily one of our favorite meals so far. Everything was flavorful, fresh, and just really well done. We'll absolutely be back. Although next time, I'm getting my own shrimp & grits because I will not share next time read more

The Sandspur - Shrimp and grits - New American Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

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"Delicious dive on Lake Park Blvd in Carolina Beach" Came here for lunch on a Sunday at right around noon. The place is dark and kind-of makes you feel like you're in the bowels of a wooden ship. There's a large bar in the center, and a few tables around it, as well as a few tables outside in the back. We were seated right away. I ordered the hot honey shrimp wrap as well as the pickled veggies appetizer. My dining partner got the quinoa grain and greens bowl with blackened tuna. Our food came out in around 10 minutes. The hot honey shrimp wrap came with french fries, to my surprise (didn't see that mentioned on the menu), which were fine. The wrap itself was DELICIOUS. MAN, that hot honey was SO tasty, and the greens and corn batter on the shrimp really complemented it well. It is a very, very messy dish to eat with your hands, so be prepared, but it's well worth the sacrifice. The pickled veggies were local and very tasty-- also a very good value for $5. My dining partner really liked her bowl and the tuna in it as well. The staff were quite attentive, regularly checking in, filling drinks, and clearing dirty plates. Only caution is that a lot of the batters are corn-based, so be careful if you have that allergy. Overall, would very happily come back-- great in all respects. I recommend highly! read more

The food is fine, but nothing special. The service is slow and they aren't very attentive (unless you are sitting at the bar). Really hard to get a parking spot in the paid parking options. Cute little dive bar look but going once was enough for us read more

Service is excellent. Food is just ok. Expect to pay to park. Ugh! I had the fresh caught catfish which was over cooked. Hubbs had the shrimp po-boy. Be prepared to eat the shrimp without the bun because the bun is huge. At any rate i think this restaurant needs more thought. read more

I think this place is probably better during peak tourist season. They have an interesting menu and a really nice outdoor space. Unfortunately I visited on a Monday during the off season. There was only one other diner in the whole restaurant and the outdoor seating area was closed. I wound up not even eating here because the restaurant smelled very dirty - the bathroom was at the entrance of the restaurant and the bad smell wafted throughout the small indoor dining space. A smelly bathroom that permeates the entire restaurant space just doesn't bode well. read more

Not totally sure on this spot. I chose it because they are vegetarian friendly, and they definitely had a nice selection of options. Finding a spot to sit, was kind of a challenge and ended up being a little chaotic. We started inside, then went to the back where there was no seating, and then ended up in the front porch, where we did find that the two booths were able to accommodate our group. Service was friendly and attentive. Also, ordering was pretty simple in state forward, even though our group had eight people in it spoke between two booths. I chose the chips and salsa with the goat cheese queso as an appetizer, and then also got the fried tofu sandwich for the main meal. They also allowed a couple of my adult friends to order off the kids menu, which was very much appreciated. The salsa was very heavily dominated with tomato flavor and had some spice to it. I think I would describe it more as a chutney than a salsa. The goat cheese queso was pretty light on the goat cheese, and was a lot closer to just regular queso. The fries with my meal were okay and the fried tofu sandwich was okay too. Not a ton of standout flavors. I also got the seafoam cocktail. The presentation was cute and it was definitely a pretty drink. I would've expected it to be just a little stronger given the price. But, I was delighted by how it actually did look like seafoam on top. So that was a win. I'd say jury is out on this one. One of my friends got the halibut and really loved it. Another friend got the kids meal quesadillas and the cheese had already gone pretty cold by the time she got it. So, mixed bag! read more

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This is a small dive bar with a surf shack theme. The food is delicious. We both had the shrimp basket. Service was fast and friendly in spite of it being very busy. It was pretty loud because it's a small space. If we come back to CB in the summer, we would definitely return and sit outside to avoid the noise level. But I am sensitive to volume levels, so it may not bother the average person at all even when it's packed. The slaw is great - I could have eaten several of those! The drinks looked great but I rarely drink. My husband had a blood orange hard cider from their decently sizable list of options. read more

The Sandspur - The Buoy Basket of cornmeal breaded shrimp with fries, slaw, buttermilk ranch, and cocktail sauce - New American Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

This place is small so get here early or make a reservation. The food is good. I had the tacos. Seemed a little pricey for just a couple tacos but oh well. read more

The Sandspur - New American Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

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Don't let the understated appearance of this restaurant fool you. Do yourselves a favor and try the amazing food here! The meals my husband and I had from The Sandspur stood out as the best cuisine we had during our trip to Carolina Beach. The food was cooked to perfection, beautifully arranged, and incredibly flavorful. It's easy to tell that their talented chef takes pride in each dish. We can't wait to go back on our next trip to the area! read more

The Sandspur - Blackened fish tacos and cheesesteak sub - New American Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

Fish tacos and shrimp basket were delicious. Good tuna on the nachos. Outdoor bar had fast service with lots of first come picnic tables. Live music as well. Small inside restaurant. read more

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The Sandspur has a lovely atmosphere- it's a pretty small place with an equally small menu. I was surprised at that. But I always say a small menu indicates they do a few things exceptionally well. I had a hard time deciding bc nothing really jumped out at me at the current moment. I honestly don't remember at this point what I ate, but I think it was a grilled chicken sandwich. I ended up loving it. Perfectly grilled chicken with an exciting sauce. I love my sauces. Fries were good too. The salad was good and I like that they'll dress it with whatever extra veggies they have around. This was a very thoughtful menu with local components, when possible. You often just get 'beach vacation food' in a locale like Carolina Beach, but the Sandspur was refreshingly different. read more

Really enjoyed my visit to The Sandspur! We had family in town staying in CB and found this place on Yelp. Loved the vintage interior design - it really felt like you stepped back in time. The food was all great, but we especially loved the goat cheese queso. Service was great as well. We'll be back! read more

The Sandspur - Menu - New American Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

Atmosphere, food and cocktails were very good! I would recommend if you are looking for a very casual restaurant. They definitely need a better air conditioning system as it was rather warm inside. read more

Outdoor seating is pleasant. Great for a dog. Drinks were mediocre- felt like there was barely any alcohol for $13. The fish sandwich was mediocre. Fries were good. Fried shrimp basket was only ok - heavily breaded. Husband liked the fish tacos. Burger was ok. read more

Great food, one of the best grilled chicken salads. We had lunch here. Kid's menu provides a lot of yummy lunch options and all were great. Parking is in paid lot next door but it's discounted for folks eating here. read more

BE MINDFUL: Parking is outrageous! $8/hr. Not their fault. Blame Carolina Beach. Small spot. Nostalgic decor. Friendly staff. Had the pepper jack burger. Cooked to perfection. Thick patty. Served Wilmington Brew Co beer. Timely service. Close to the beach. read more

Small place with a cool beach bar vibe serving good fish tacos. Blackened cod was fresh with red cabbage and a little too much white sauce . Fresh chille chips with queso were a must have. Definitely go for each Cool spot read more

Amazing place. Chef Dalton makes some excellent dishes and the atmosphere is awesome. Comfortable, delish, friendly, fantastic!

Great service with friendly people!! We ate at the bar and the fish tacos were large and so incredible. Very cute and large outdoor seating area as well! read more

Best restaurant in Carolina Beach. The restaurant itself is cute with a nice outdoor area. The queso and salsa are both delicious. Salad is fresh and flavorful. Burger and chicken sandwich are both amazing as well. Service was fast and the staff is friendly. We look forward to coming back soon. read more

Great location, quaint decor, excellent food, and super friendly service. Fish taps were delicious and the tuna nachos a great blend of flavors and twist on nachos! Must try this place if you're here at the beach. read more

The Sandspur - Entrance and bar - New American Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

Food was great seating was a little weird. Appetizers a little sparse but the crab dip was delightful. Drinks at the bar where great! If you go plan on waiting a bit for a table since there are few! The live music was great! read more

None of the food here was more than mediocre but the noteworthy part was waiting for a little over 40 minutes in line to order, with just a few parties in front of me. There was one very casual person behind the counter for much of the time. She spent over 15 minutes with ONE small party in front of me. They did prepare the over-fried food fast. On this visit we ate at just a few restaurants but all the others had actually good food. All had much better service. read more

We ate at the Sandspur on 4/26/26 for the first time ever. It was after 8pm when we entered, so not very crowded. Service was quick, and our water was refilled before it was empty. We ordered two of their Buoy Baskets which were $18.00 each. Their fried shrimp is battered with corn meal, and the batter is pretty thick. It's sort of like shrimp stuffed hush puppies. The red slaw is excellent, but it comes in a souffle cup the same size as the ketchup. I would have given up a few fries to have twice as much slaw. The tiny serving size just makes them look cheap. The fries tasted good. Total cost for 2 Buoy Baskets was $36, plus 2.52 tax, plus 7.20 tip = 45.72. They did not add a 3% charge for using a credit card, or I would deduct a star. I do not know if the Sandspur has a lunch menu with prices less than their dinner menu. The ambiance was fine for a seafood place. read more

The Sandspur - Buoy basket, $18.00 - New American Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

Lots of yummy vegetarian options! The place is cute, and the service was fairly fast.

Their food is delicious. The chef clearly takes pride in his craft. Way better than one would expect from bar food, even better than many restaurants that just specialize in food. The staff were super friendly and accommodating of food allergies and moving tables around to fit our group. The inner seating area is small but cozy with great decorations to look at. Altogether a great vibe. I look forward to going back! read more

Food was good. The shrimp was more cornmeal than shrimp though. The "coleslaw" is red picked cabbage, which is ok. Menu was limited. Indoor was hotter than sitting outside. Service was great. read more

Smallish menu, everything we had was excellent, crap ceviche, flounder on top of grain bowl, fries were perfect. Service was great , beer and wine good . We will be back! read more

Surprised this isn't the top rated restaurant in the area. This was the most fresh fish I've had since living in North Carolina. If there's Tuna on the menu, then you should definitely get it. We didn't order any alcohol but I did spy some Chartreuse and Campari which are always a good sign. Can't wait to come back and make this a go-to. read more

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Great food spot with nice outdoor seating area. We went for lunch with my toddler - they have kid menu, a high chair, and he could run around outside while we waited for lunch. Per Yelp reviews, it sounded like they had good tuna options, so I got the quinoa bowl with tuna (cooked medium), which included salad, pickled veggies and cream sauce - it was so good and a nice portion size too! We also split tuna nachos - with fresh raw tuna, cucumber, slaw and sauce / everyone liked their meals! Lot Parking next door included with restaurant purchase. Small bathrooms, no changing tables. read more

Great spot for lunch. We had the tofu sandwich and bowl with tofu. While I felt the additional +5 for tofu on the bowl was a bit excessive, it was a large portion. I honestly would recommend the bowl by itself for a lunch portion. The interior felt like a vintage beach cottage, and was well kept. read more

The Sandspur - Tofu sandwich and bowl with additional tofu - New American Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

On an island that sometimes feels like there should be fresher food, with a true coastal feel, The Sandspur sticks out as a new establishment that delivers on coastal freshness in all the best ways. We've been back a handful of times after stumbling into the backyard patio space during their soft-opening this past spring. Each time it's been a delightful experience with a staff that's driven to please. Honestly, I would recommend their food and drinks to a wide variety of people because we haven't had anything not worth eating and their drink selection ranges from hand-made cocktails to local craft beers to coors light. Very excited to see how they are able to expand their outside space to include live music and pop-up events with continued business as the summer goes on and they have the chance to grow! read more

The Sandspur - Orange Crush - New American Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

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Not a good place, at all. Greasy tables, nothing healthy & dirty bar They do have a catch of the day But there are multiple options on the menu that appeared to be unavailable because of the catch (which is one position) There was no option to do tuna medium cook! Like the server offered to do it raw or fry it well done, this is ridiculous read more

The Sandspur is a great place to eat, conveniently located, and the staff is friendly, happy, and likes to please!! Matt was so generous and kind as the three old ladies navigated the steps into the dining room. We were not only delighted by the scrumptiousness of the nacho appetizer but grinned with pleasure as we enjoyed our main course. I cannot say enough positive things about dining at The Sandspur! Treat yourself sometime! read more

This is the absolute best spot in all Carolina Beach, Wrightsville Beach and Kure, everything is top-notch from the food to the beverages the decor and the live music. The staff and the owner are the epitome of family owned business and it is evident how much they care about their business and their customers. Do yourself a favor and stop in you will not be disappointed. Whether you're local or visiting, they will make you feel. At home read more

We had a stroller so we went right into the back of the restaurant to their spacious outdoor area since the front only had stairs. Ordered food inside and they brought the food out to us. No free parking. The outdoor area has five wooden bench tables, a table and some lounge chairs with side tables. Inside has a bar and small group seating. We tried the pepper Jack burger ($13) and fish tacos ($16). They both were good, but not the best. The burger does not automatically come with any sides, you'll have to request it for an additional $2 upcharge. The burger meat wasn't juicy, but had a nice smoky flavor. I liked that the bun was grilled. The fish tacos came with medium cooked tuna, tons of fresh radish, red cabbage, cilantro, and crema. My partner enjoyed the Anderson Valley Holy Gose beer. This is a nice addition to Carolina beach and is a good hangout spot, especially in the outdoor area . read more

We've visited the Wilmington area twice before and I knew this last time I had to look up what local's recommended. I was blown away by this unassuming bar and their fresh offerings. Previously, we didn't love the food and I questioned if we could live somewhere the food was just ok. But this trip changed my opinion. Sandspur is outstanding fresh food. I came with my family and we all enjoyed. The service was good but it didn't matter. Happy to have a meal I still think about! read more

The Sandspur - Tuna special - New American Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

What a nice surprise last nites meal was! Used yelp to find this place, nice atmosphere and sat at a nice table in the corner. After having a cold beer we looked at the menu and it was kind of confusing? Thought about going somewhere else but decided on their burger without the pepper cheese. Came out and was one of the best burgers anywhere. On top the fry's were also perfect. Hats off to the cook... read more

Delicious food & good portion sizes. Tofu tacos were excellent, my husband and son loved their sandwiches and the French fries were so good.

I had been wanting to try this spot but never did in the summer due to the amount of people in CB during the on season. It's quite small inside but has a large outdoor area for the summer months. Inside is dark a moody but in a good way. Staff was nice and dinner was out within a reasonable time. The burger was delicious, like one of the best on the island but isn't cheap. You could tell everything was quality and even the ranch was homemade (ranch people we know this is important). 2 burgers, fries, a sweet tea and a mix drink will run you about $60. read more

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