Jack Mackerels Island Grill — Restaurant in Kure Beach

My family went here for dinner at 7 pm on Friday, August 11, 2023. I was the first to enter and went straight to the host stand to get a table. The host informed me that they could not take a table for seven people. I then asked for a table for six people (one family member was not planning to eat so they could have stayed at the unit). I was told that was not possible either. I turn to leave as my Aunt came in and I updated her on the situation.

My Aunt decides to ask a few more questions. Interestingly, a manager comes over and offers a more detailed explanation of why I was refused a table. The manager said it was so close to closing time of 9 pm that they would not be able to serve us. Eventually, they do add my Aunt's name to the list for a table for six with a wait time of an hour. If they could not do a table for me for six, why could they do it for her?

Additionally, there were multiple tables of parties larger than six or seven present while we were turned away. There was also additional seating in the back of the restaurant that was empty. I understand sometimes there is space, but not enough workers to service an area. However, it was Friday night in a beach town in the summer season. The business should be prepared to receive parties of seven under these conditions.

Eventually, we ended up in the bar section at a table for seven that required no wait time. Thank you to the nice couple that volunteered to move over at the bar so we could fit. So glad we did not make assumptions about how they would treat us and vice versa.

Amazingly, printed on the menu beneath the beverages section is the phrase: "20% Gratuity may be added to parties of 7 or more". The menu can be viewed online. I have a permanent copy if it happens to change after posting this review. Given standard restaurant operations and this information on the menu, it is clear that the establishment does take parties of seven (my original request).

I am an ethnic male of color. That is the only explanation we can come up with of why we would had been refused service the first and second times I tried to get a table. This is my major motivation for writing this review. The owner and/or some of the employees of this establishment must be racist. Why would a business turn down seven seats worth of sales for a family on vacation? at the peak of the dinner rush? (They do not take reservations as communicated on their website.)

However, after having the dining experience, it does not get much better. The bartender/server was great for the most part. She smiled at us, spoke nicely, served, and made me feel a bit more human. She also amazingly remembered everyone's order without writing anything down! I was impressed. I only rated the service one star because of the racial/ethnic discrimination experienced.

The only thing negative I can say about the service was some minor issues cashing a couple of us out. Beware that they charge a fee for using a credit card. It was a small amount ($1.30 or so on my $35 order). I would be open to her service again no question (as long as she is serving elsewhere). I still left a tip for her service, despite the racist and/or sexist undertones of the beginning of the experience. We do not judge the entire restaurant staff based on a negative interaction with a particular individual. We give each person a chance to demonstrate who they are.

The food left a lot to be desired. The food was average at best. My Ribeye was cooked correctly but still tough. I did not taste garlic. I also had to add salt, which tells me the steak was not prepared well as it could be. The calamari was just okay. The dishes generally lacked flavor. The salad and fries were the only thing that tasted as what would be expected.

It really hurt all of us to have this experience. My family was ages 15-60 and we all had to reflect on the discrimination. We paid money to a business we should not have. Who knows if anything retaliatory was done to our food? A major silver lining is we know to never come back...

After reading real reviews for seafood on the island I landed on Jack Mackerels Island Grill.

I’m not sure why Jack Mackerels has 4.3 rating because it is a solid 5.0!

We arrived and a very bubbly host sat us down in a booth. The bench seats are very comfortable. The decor definitely had an upscale look and feel.

We had an amazing waitress named Zoey. Asking her about the different menu options she easily and quickly answered our questions. She definitely knows the menu.

For appetizers I landed on pub chips with Old Bay seasoning on them. I’m from New England and we pretty much douse anything remotely seafood in nature with Old Bay. When the chips arrived they were hot and crunchy - not a single soggy one to be had. My wife ordered the seafood chowder and it was delicious! My wife and I agree it’s the best chowder either of us have ever had.

I ordered a JD and Pepsi and it was exactly as it should be. My wife ordered wine and it was even tasty to me and I don’t like wine.

For the main course my wife had broiled scallops and I had the shrimp and grits. When they came out all I can say is, “wow!”

Her scallops were broiled perfectly and seasoned very well. My shrimp and grits came out and they were fantastic. They were full of shrimps + had a perfect balance of the other ingredients like pork belly and onions. The shrimp popped and cheese grits were cheesy. It was really rich and I couldn’t finish it all. I’ve had weight loss surgery so it doesn’t take much for any food to be “too much.” My wife helped herself to it and she said it tasted great. I did get a to go box and reheated some this morning and I did ok.

Others have commented that the portion sizes didn’t match the prices. That is absolutely true. Our dishes and food portions sizes were huge compared to prices on the menu and our overall ticket did not come close to breaking the bank.

My left the table for a minute and when she came back she told me there were other dining rooms and an upstairs deck. She brought me to see them. Our waitress asked her what we were doing. Other waitresses who overheard us and one of them said, “let’s show them the boat that’s always pointing at you” and they brought us into one of the dining rooms.

“The boat that’s always pointing at you” is a huge painting on the wall with a boat pulled up on a beach. As you walk across the room the bow is always pointing at you just like eyes in a painting. It was creepy and hilarious at the same time!

We had the best time! The food was great, the staff were great, our waitress was awesome, what more could anyone ask for? 5 stars all...

I could always count on Jack Mackerel to serve fresh, healthy food until today. We've been living here for over 2 years and most of the restaurants on the island leave a lot to be desired. But JM's always had deliciously fresh seafood and yummy salads. Until today. Went to eat dinner with husband and ordered the broiled scallops. This is always what I get and they are always super fresh and deliciously prepared.

First, the salad came out and the spring mix was slimy and old. I sent it back and didn't ask for a replacement. Then, the scallops arrived so coated in black pepper, they looked literally black. I spent the first 15 minutes after them being delivered, scraping the pepper off of them with a knife. I finally took my first bite and had to spit it out. They were old too. First I ordered some drawn butter in hopes that this would improve the taste, and then I squirted hella lemon juice, but to no avail. They were awful.

I mean, fresh scallops have a nutty, refreshing flavor. These tasted like stinky, almost-rotten fish. Also, the little muscle that attached the scallop to the shell is supposed to be removed before cooking and serving, and each scallop still had them attached. They are tough, and the toughness of that part, combined with the stinkiness of the scallops was too much. I sent them back too. So my dinner was a bowl of free mashed potatoes tonight (which I had to doctor up with some of that drawn butter and about a quarter teaspoon of salt, because they were utterly tasteless).

I am sad to lose the only place I really liked to eat on the island. I was always able to look past the tacky, extremely tired decor because when the food is delicious, a restaurant can get away with that. But we are in HIGH SEASON, on a Saturday night, and you're serving old salad and seafood, charging $27 for the scallops!? Bye, Jack Mackerel. Your food...