MOONRAKERS

We stopped in on a rainy evening to grab some appetizers and drinks. It was our 1st visit and we are very excited to go back for a full dinner experience. Beautiful, multi-level restaurant on the Beaufort waterfront. They even had some local dolphins putting on a show in the bay! Drinks were exceptional with very professional bar staff. The potatoes and dip we got were superb as well! We highly recommend!

This restaurant is a MUST to go to if you are in Beaufort! The service was excellent and their food and drinks were delicious. Definitely recommend the calamari, it was so delicious. Their outside seating had gorgeous views on the water. They do get packed quickly so I would suggest making reservations ahead of time!

Sat at the bar Friday early evening. Barbara was an excellent bartender and provided excellent customer service! She recommended the Calamari and they were delicious!

Absolutely beautiful restaurant with a spectacular view of the waterfront. The food is beautiful and delicious. The ingredients are highly quality. Drinks are fantastic. It is a little on the pricey for what is served. However, you are also paying for location….. I highly recommend for a date night.

This restaurant is an absolute gem. Service was friendly and accommodating, the food was immaculate and the views were stunning. Our table ordered the spicy mussels, blackened group, salmon, cheeseburgers, truffle fries and the catch of the day. (Mussels & catch of the day pictured.) They have an excellent wine list but I ordered the beach sangria and it was delicious. I highly recommend if you are in the area!

Delightful waterside restaurant in Beaufort, North Carolina. Great outdoor and indoor seating. From casual to fancy atmosphere.

Kim was our waitress. And she is a DOLL! I trust her with my palate. The fish and chips were fresh and tasty. The soft shell sandwich is for diehard crab fans. Also the frozen painkiller is delish. The view is fabulous.

Hands down, best food, service, view & hospitality combined. Fish was perfectly breaded and fried! The french fries had a delicious salted crunch and the Rosemary 75! Amazing. Thank you, Ethan, for the great hospitality and exceptional service, Barbara for making my drink perfectly and Tommy as well for the warm and friendly welcome! I can't wait to come back for dinner.

So happy we found this gem in Beaufort!
Casual or dressy I think this place will fit your occasion.
Everything was delicious and the service was top notch!
Located right on the water front so you can dine on the open deck or if it's too hot enjoy the a/c sitting inside with white linen covered table cloths. We'll definitely be back.

We had a wonderful family dinner on the patio at Moonrakers last night. Our server Taylor was also excellent. All of the plates were very good (some better than others) and they showed off the chef’s creativity. We started with the baked shrimp in pineapple sauce which got rave reviews. We also ordered calamari which was a little too sweet and pieces were overly fried that it disguised the dish, and I probably wouldn’t recommend. We also had hush puppies and the complimentary bread basket. The hush puppies had a very crispy exterior and came with an accompaniment of sorghum butter (strong molasses taste). The bread basket was really good :). Our entrees included “shrimp and grits” which was good and the pork chop which was very good. Also had the blackened grouper which was very good but the sauce had a sorghum taste to it that wasn’t mentioned on the menu, so just be aware in case you’re not a fan of molasses. I liked the dish (especially the fish) but the sorghum was a little strong. For dessert we had the key lime pie and flourless chocolate cake and both were good. We enjoyed our evening, loved the patio and the historic style of the building. and would definitely return again!!!

July 2020 update:
We came back this week after not visiting Beaufort since 2018. We tried multiple small plates and a few drinks and all were good. All the previous complaints I had from when the restaurant was new were no longer applicable. We tried the calamari, whipped feta, baked shrimp, and tuna poke plates as well as a coconut mojito. All were delicious and good presentation. Great service from waitress as well. They now offer free bread with the meals as well. Definitely a great experience and would recommend this restaurant. I've raised my rating from 3 stars to 5.

2018 Review:
Underwhelming but promising. We visited here a few days ago and overall felt they missed the mark. I got the special which was a plate with swordfish, scallops and mussels in a broth. The broth tasted alright but was extremely mild. The scallops weren't overcooked, which was nice, but they were flavorless, as was the swordfish which was a little chewy. I mentioned it to the waitress and she said that previously there was a predominate citrus flavor that should have come out. I told her there was no citrus at all, so I guess they forgot to add that. Probably the first time I've left seafood uneaten on a $30 plate. My wife's Caprice salad had a tasty pesto and balsamic oil drilled across it and the fresh mozzarella was delicious. The "heirloom" tomatoes that were the centerpiece of the salad were low quality and unripe. I wouldn't recommend the hush puppies. The cheese fritters were deep fried balls of pimento cheese with ranch to dip in. Very tasty. White tablecloths but no free bread, etc.
The presentation with the dishes was spot on and the general ambiance and environment overlooking Taylor's Creek was great. Our waitresses were nice but still getting command of the menu and their footing at the restaurant. They deducted the $5 hush puppies to make up for the flavorless special plate...

I would chalk up some of the issues to it being a new restaurant and working out kinks. I will try this place again in the future, but probably with lower priced plates.

Food was wonderful and the staff was extremely friendly and made for a very nice dining experience. I had the steak (I'm not much of a seafood guy) and it was perfectly prepared, wife liked Shrimp & Grits.

Also had a Kale Caesar (yes Kale) and it was really big (enough for 2) but so good. Whipped Feta was also excellent as a starter. Want fine dining or to impress a wife/girlfriend in Beaufort? Go here.

(Need a reservation to ensure you get in, it's popular).

Outstanding! Perfect setting. Dined on back deck by water and big boats. Food was incredible! Great use of seasonal flavors topped off by pumpkin cheesecake. Julia was great! Cocktails were inventive and yummy! Put it on your list. Highly recommend!!

Very delicious high quality southern food. Service was nice, albeit a bit slow. Very accompdating to dietary restrictions. We got the roasted portobello appetizer which was surprisingly delicious. Then we got roasted eggplant and shrimp and grits. Key lime pie for dessert was very light and one of the best we’ve ever had. The wine list is nice! We got to sit outside and saw a dolphin go by in the bay!

Love this restaurant. We stopped by for lunch. I ordered a classic vodka martini (made perfectly) and the fig prosciutto flat bread. Our server was on point, never left us waiting for something. The atmosphere is so cool. Also right on the water. We sat downstairs but I can’t wait to return in the summer and go on the roof top!

I loved the rooftop atmosphere and view. The drinks were a little strong but great either way. I had the whipped feta and I very highly recommend it. My friend didn’t love it but I definitely did.

Gastronomical epicurean delight! Basically, the food from starters to finish desserts, was Awesome!
The seafood was cooked perfectly and was most definitely fresh.
One of their entrees... "Special Shrimp and Grits" was one the best I have eaten! So flavorful!
Four different dinners, all were delicious. A side of collared greens with tobacco onions... Boom!
My libation with dinner was a local beer called a "Boom Kicker". Believe it or not, paired well with dinner.
I will go back in a heartbeat!
Oh, service was excellent!

Always delicious…and amazing views too! We love the blackened grouper—can’t miss with it! Also love the tuna poke appetizer. We always take our guests in Beaufort for a great meal on the waterfront and it’s been a hit with everyone.

We went for the brunch after church last Sunday. The waitress was first class. The food was amazing. I had the chicken and waffles. It wasn’t too much food. Sometimes chicken and waffles can be overwhelming. This was the perfect amount of food for a brunch. Well thought out. My two boys ate all their waffles and the side of bacon had so much flavor. I’ve never tasted bacon quite that good. I tried my wife's side of cheese grits and those were great as well. I usually don’t like grits but these were tasty!

Moonrakers is excellent. Food, drinks, service and atmosphere is all above par.

Highlights:
- Spy-Sea Fresca, Mai Thai, and Dark & Stormy were fantastic.
- Fish sandwich was cooked perfectly.
- Fig & Proc. Flatbread was Well-balanced
- Wings were sizable.
- Chowder was excellent.
- Weather permitting sit on the top deck for amazing views.