Pirates Cove Triple Play Seafood and Oyster Bar — Restaurant in New Bern

We went here because the original restaurant we wanted to try was closed. Had decent reviews on Google so we decided to try. Worst decision. We ordered sweet tea for our daughter, she got unsweetened. We ordered the $75 Captain's Feast which comes with oysters, asked for them raw on the side and added an additional half dozen oysters. After 20 minutes 5 oysters are brought to the table and we are told that they are out of oysters. We understand and ask to have the other half dozen removed from the check. The first one we tried tasted absolutely foul. We sent them back and had them removed from the check. 30 minutes later the seafood boil came out on a tiny plate and was no way 4 lbs of seafood as advertised and before they brought the food to the table they threw raw oysters out of the shell into the bag with the steamed food, they were still cold when we started eating, just random oysters floating around in watery soup, absolutely disgusting. We begin eating and realize there is no corn potatoes or sausage included. It took another 20 minutes for our server to return to inform her that items were missing. In her defense she did say it was her first day, but that this was the second time today that the kitchen staff has sent her food out without all of the included items. We were nearly done eating at this point so we asked to have the corn potatoes and sausage put in a Togo box to take home. Included the photo of what was brought to our table for 3 people to share with a 75$ meal. Three potatoes, one corn, and cold sausage. I saw 3 or 4 different servers doing laps around the restaurant but our drinks were only filled once because I asked, extra plates were not brought and no one came to apologize about the oysters or forgetting half of our meal except for our server who was waiting the entire pirate's cove side alone. At the end of the meal I got up to wash my hands in the restroom and walked by a table with an identical order to ours served on a large metal platter, corn sausage and potatoes included and much more food than what we received (also it wasn't swimming in water). I can understand being a new employee and I am not a super picky eater but it was just extremely disappointing to spend basically an entire day's paycheck on what was supposed to be a family dinner and not be able to enjoy it. At the end we didn't even want to complain anymore, everything brought to the table was wrong in some way. I hope that this review saves someone else from having to experience the same thing as us. Save your money, go somewhere else. Seafood and especially oyster safety is super important, I really hope that we don't all get sick from eating here....

We stopped here for a late lunch on the way home from a spring break trip, and we will be making this a regular stop from now on. We had attempted two of the other seafood restaurants in that area, and one of them really didn't have any seafood to speak of, which is surprising for somewhere that is advertised as a seafood restaurant, and there was a 30-minute wait at the other. I am so glad it didn't work out to where we could go to either one of those places. The seafood menu was absolutely superb, and our server, Marielle, was sweet, professional, and prompt.

We were very glad that we got to park directly in front of the building, as our dog was in the truck. We sat at a table next to the front window, which was a lot of fun because the huge front window opened, so we had the best of both indoor and outdoor seating. While we were waiting on our food I went out to let our dog out of the truck. The people at the table next to us immediately encouraged us to bring him inside, as they are regulars and bring their dogs with them all the time. Marielle immediately brought a bowl of water for him, and the super sweet regulars at the table beside us gave him some chicken and hush puppies.

The vibe of the whole place was a lot of fun, and definitely made for a nice final stop on our way home from spring break. The inside of the restaurant looks like the deck of a pirate ship, and the bar top is an actual aquarium. We already knew that we were able to order from the menu from The tavern next door, but I assume that the triple play in the name also refers to the bar on the other side of the restaurant, which is being refurbished at the moment. Workers were doing some gorgeous wood work in there during our visit, but the construction next door in no way impacted our lunch.

Our food arrived after a relatively short wait, and we were in heaven. My shrimp and grits were to die for, and my daughter was very happy with her chicken and shrimp. I was very excited to get to have scallops, as no restaurant near us in VA has had scallops since the start of COVID. My husband hails theirs as the best flounder he's ever eaten.

Overall it was a phenomenal experience. If we lived in New Bern we'd be regulars like the generous, pup loving couple at the next table over. We will be back on our next trip through for sure. Sorry MJ's & Captain Ratty's, but you don't hold a candle to...

June 6, 2025. Don't waste your time..I took my military son here for his college graduation with the air force. The aquarium bar is what caught our eye online. It's a cool concept, but looks like it hasn't been thoroughly cleaned in quite awhile. I would put something else in it's place just because it doesn't look clean at all. I first ordered the fried cheese curds, Absolutely no seasoning--oh So Bland, we tried to eat them, but ended up throwing them away. I asked for some garlic to sprinkle on it, she said they didn't have garlic!! What restaurant doesn't have garlic! I then asked for a sauce to dip them in, marinara or sweet chili sauce, well guess what?? They don't have any of that either, dear Lord have mercy! Only ranch and honey mustard--yuck! We both ordered the all you can eat steamer bags. You get 2 overcooked crab clusters. Plus other things. I tried picking the crab out of the shell with the fork tongs, it was absolutely a struggle and frustrating. In case nobody here knows, they're supposed to slide out of the shell in 1 whole piece. I asked the server to let the cook on this day at noon, --the cook, definitely not a chef, know not to cook my crab clusters so long on the next order, but guess what?? Same situation, crab too mushy. I have cooked many,many crab legs, it takes 8 minutes to cook them. I HEARD the server tell the so called chef not to cook mine so long, but 3rd time, Guess What!!! You got it--Mushy! If he cant cook, or cook it to the customers liking, then something needs to change!! But from the many reviews a lot of other items can't be cooked properly here either. Something would change if it were my restaurant. I spent $113.00 for this graduation meal ! Not including the tip. Wake up owners before you go under! Get a chef that actually IS a chef. We definitely won't be back. Don't...