Carolina Beach Pier — Restaurant in Carolina Beach

Nestled on the corner of Salt Marsh Lane & Carolina Beach Avenue N, Carolina Beach Pier offers a delightful coastal experience for visitors, both new and returning, seeking relaxation and culinary delights. Situated 212 miles from Charlotte city center, it presents a hidden gem that promises a memorable beachside getaway. Best kept secret!

Atmosphere and Location: The breathtaking ocean views and serene ambiance create the perfect setting for a memorable beachside experience. While some patrons have raised concerns about parking, my visit was hassle-free, with ample parking space available for different vehicle types. Additionally, there is a public parking lot located on 1810 Canal Dr for those who prefer it.

Restaurant and Dining: The pier's dining options include indoor and outdoor seating, allowing guests to savor their meals while enjoying the ocean views. The ambiance creates an inviting atmosphere suitable for both intimate gatherings and larger groups.

Culinary Offerings: With the guidance of celebrity chef Brian Duffy, Carolina Beach Pier has revitalized classic favorites, elevating them beyond typical burgers and hotdogs. I particularly enjoyed their Tar Heel Dog, a delightful hotdog consisting of chili, pimento cheese, and slaw served on a Texas toast bun. The Mahi Squared sandwich was equally impressive, featuring grilled and barbeque-spiced mahi-mahi with lettuce, tomatoes, and herbed tartar sauce. The fact that all their sauces are made in-house added to the dining experience.

High Tide Lounge & Tiki Bar: The Tiki Bar located on the pier offers a fantastic selection of beverages, including tropical cocktails and draft beers, creating a lively spot for beachgoers to unwind with friends and family. On the second floor, the High Tide Lounge provides drinks and a delightful atmosphere with live music playing during my visit, covering classic hits from "Don't Stop Believin'" to "Go Your Own Way."

Friendly Service: The staff at Carolina Beach Pier was attentive and welcoming, enhancing the overall enjoyment of the visit. The proprietress, who was at the front counter, provided excellent service and was well-versed in the menu, offering helpful recommendations such as the Tar Heel Dog and Mahi Squared.

Overall Experience: My visit to Carolina Beach Pier provided a pleasant beachside experience for the whole family. With its stunning location, delicious food, and friendly service, it's an ideal place to savor the coastal ambiance and create lasting memories with loved ones.

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The good- in general it’s a cool idea to have a bar on the pier with tables and seats to hang out. Food from the little cafe was decent

the bad- we reserved one of the fire pits for $50 that comes with smores supplies. You can tell they prep the stuff too far in advance because it was super stale. It’d be better to just let people bring their own smores supplies instead of having stale graham crackers and marshmallows.

For $50 realize you’re mainly just paying to have a fire near the beach which unfortunately you can’t really see the ocean because of the big boulders all along it to prevent erosion. It’d be nice if they elevated the area so you can see the water more from the fire area.

You can’t leave the area to walk the beach, they’ll essentially kick you out if they think you’re loitering or leave your stuff there to walk the beach because the pier is private property- that’s the reasoning they gave me when I asked about it.

I’d say 50-50 shot on the staff if you get someone friendly or the opposite.

Overall i’d go back for the tiki bar and to have a drink on the pier with my dog but i don’t think the fire pit experience is worth the $50 to...

Wish I could give this ZERO stars. Let me start from the beginning, we originally saw a post about this bonfire in May, we emailed and called multiple times, and reached out on instagram with no response for over a month. Once the “reservations manager” FINALLY responded, we booked a bonfire reservation for next available date (over 2 months later). We received a text yesterday stating our reservation had been confirmed for 7:30. When we showed up to enjoy our bonfire and s’mores, we were told the reservation was ‘canceled’. It should be noted here that we drove TWO hours to come. The employees helping us were not professional, they acted confused, stating they “weren’t doing bonfires tonight” and said nothing could be done for us. No one called, texted or emailed to let us know, we never received a cancellation notice. When we asked if we could be rescheduled or have a voucher to use if we decided to come back, the “reservations manager” said we could be put BACK on the waitlist???. No thank you. Management needs work, the pier is falling apart and the place smells. Will not...