Waterman's Grill — Restaurant in Edenton

When we visited here 5 years ago, the food was amazing! Very friendly staff, top notch oysters, excellent sides, and great atmosphere. I asked if I could purchase one of their signature cups with their name on the side, our server and said they didn’t sell them. She talked to her manager and she brought me one from the back that was a little more worn than they liked to serve and gave it to me.

We planned to return and when we were making our plans for this trip, it was all about going back to Waterman’s Grill! We were so looking forward to our meal. It was the only meal we went out to eat for the duration of our weekend vacation. We ate what we brought from home so we could relax and enjoy the quiet without having to venture out for food.

I ordered the fried oyster plate with broccoli & hollandaise sauce, and mashed potatoes, no gravy. My best friend ordered fish and chips with fries and coleslaw. Our food eventually arrived. I had 7 oysters on my plate. Seven. The mashed potatoes were tasty but tepid. This restaurant can’t be accused of overcooking the broccoli. My best friend did something I’ve never known her to do - she put my cocktail sauce on her fried fish, but that failed to make it taste any better. The server admitted that the fish was previously frozen, not fresh. When my best friend asked about her hush puppies, she was assured they would be right out. They were not.

We finally got our checks and my best friend asked for her hush puppies again, in a to-go box. It took asking for them again before she finally got them.

In summary, the food wasn’t warm nor very good. My mashed potatoes weren’t even warm enough to melt the pat of butter on top. The service was friendly but not very fast. I have never left oysters on my plate. EVER. Until tonight. If I’m paying $35 for a fried oyster plate, I expect it to be good. You’d expect a seafood restaurant that is a block from the waterfront to have fresh fish, right?

We won’t ever go back to Waterman’s...

Unfortunately it was not as good as our last visit the previous year on vacation - staff is SO awesome and attentive and friendly, the atmosphere is great! But the food was so different. They didn't have yellow peppers I think so they put green peppers in my seafood pesto which wasn't what I ordered, the seafood pasta with pesto i felt was risky already but it didn't come out well. Scallops seemed frozen maybe? Shrimp were very overcooked almost inedible, pesto with no cream added at all does not mix with seafood well. The crab dip had no lumps in it all this time around and I so loved it last year! It was purely cream cheese it seemed this time like literally blended mush, not good! I will say the chicken tenders and fries were fine, deep frying something is not hard. The broccoli was also really good but the cheese that came with it was separated. The only thing we sent back was the "cheese potatoes" side? It looked, so bad we didn't want it on the table while we ate.

So sorry for the review! But whoever is cooking is not the same as it used to be and that sucks! We won't be returning, but I would give this place a try! Even though we had one negative experience im sure alternatively many other people have positive experiences as we did...

I noticed that a few of the reviews from a year or more ago were negative in nature. I’m a foodie and wannabe chef so I can tell you that our food was nothing short of exceptional. One of our dinner guests ordered the prime rib and it was PERFECTLY cooked, as well as my rare ribeye sprinkled with blue cheese. It seems that so many so-called steak restaurants don’t cook a rare steak correctly, so I was VERY pleased. Bartender was knowledgeable and although our margaritas weren’t of Mexican restaurant size, they were fresh and well made. Our waitress was a young lady and a complete sweetheart, along with attentive and quick. Last, the ambiance is casual and other patrons seemed of southern gentry, so it has a very relaxing atmosphere to me. The only negative thing that I can say is that the seating is awkward being designed around large structural pillars and awkward levels on the main floors with upstairs seating, as well. To me, the only good table for a party of 3-5 is the lone downstairs window table. Highly...