Swain's Seafood and Cut Restaurant

Alisa Oswalt

2024-04

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Eddie Fitz

2024-01

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Greg Floyd

2023-09

Based on Google ratings and recommendation from a neighbor, I decided to go there Saturday for dinner. After reviewing the entire menu and having a hard time choosing, I decided to go with the “Mermaids Delight”, a seafood pasta dish.I have eaten quite a few seafood pasta dishes in my life. I might’ve had one as good but I’ve never had anything any better than this dish was phenomenal. The scallops and shrimp were so fresh and they didn’t skimp on the seafood or the mushrooms. There was so much pasta after I got through eating the complementary homemade potato chips and a side salad, I could only eat about a third of the pasta. I took the rest home and demolished it for lunch the next day. This dish was so big two hungry adults could easily split it and be completely full. The complementary homemade potato chips I bring with ranch dip were absolutely delicious. Every employee I was close to spoke to me and was very polite and courteous!All the desserts are fresh and made in the house, and my neighbor said they’re worth their weight in gold, but I do not eat sweets so I can’t vouch for this, but they do look delicious!I can’t say enough about Customer Service. I sat at the bar on both visits and bartender was so polite, professional and very attentive!

Javed Bartlett

2023-08

Swain's was awesome! The food was bang on - we got the grouper with hush puppies and fries, and fried shrimp with the same sides. Everything was cooked just right. They also have Coke Zero, if you’re into that!Our waitress was super friendly and on the ball, always made sure we were okay. The place itself was cool too, comfy seating and a nice atmosphere. We did try the mudslide cake for a chocolate fix, but it was a bit too heavy on the liquor for us. When we mentioned this to the waitress, she took it right off our check, which was really cool of her. If you're in the area, definitely hit up Swain's, you won't regret it.

Alexandra Mathiasen

2024-05

Excellent seafood and steaks! Husband had the Mermaid Dream and it was one of the best dishes I ever sampled! Nice light sauce that did not overwhelm the very fresh seafood. I had salmon and it too was incredibly fresh with a lovely crab sauce on top that complimented the salmon without taking away from the flavor. Great house made chips to start. Friends had fried oysters other had scallops. Both nice sized and super fresh and tasty. We had no wait 4p on Thursday before the season but I am sure during the season there is a wait. Our friends get take out and said it is just as good without the wait for a table when they r busy. Well worth the time and distance!

Larry Debevec

2024-05

The food was the best we've had on the island. Portions are huge, My Mermaids Delight was enough for three meals and was outstanding. Our son enjoyed the Seafood Italiano and my wife loved the Blackened Scallops special. Liz did a fabulous job taking care of us even though the restaurant was full. I liked that they had blue cheese stuffed olives for my perfectly prepared dirty martini. We took home three pieces of the strawberry lemonade cake to have the next night for dessert at home which was to die for. We can't wait to visit the bakery and see what they have to offer. This was our time, but will definitely be one of our top go to's for dinner on the island. Besides the food and service, they take reservations!! We avoid patronizing restaurants that don't take reservations. Swain's gets it.

Patricia Hollingsworth

2024-05

when I originally entered the restaurant, I ate at the bar, it seemed like a very uplifting and fun place. After a few minutes, wait, the bartender finally serve my drink, which was a very dirty vodka martini. Honestly, I’ve had better. it wasn’t terrible, just nothing to write home about. I ordered the shrimp and grits, which came with a super salad. I opted for the New England clam chowder. The chowder looked very good when it was brought out, however, upon the first bite, there was absolutely no flavor. I have to say I am a clam chowder connoisseur, if you really want to know what a great clam chowder taste like, go to shells restaurant in St. Petersburg, Florida, South Beach Grill on Wrightsville Beach, or spindles and Barclay Place. These places actually have chunks of clam and the flavor is absolutely amazing! After waiting over 40 minutes, my food had not arrived so I requested it to go. Again, nothing to write home about. The prices are decent. The atmosphere is good, but again, everything else is acceptable just not great or fantastic.

Brenda Kay Locklear- Holleman

2023-11

Really good and great wait staff!!!Absolutely love this place the portions are always enough for 2 meals!! Waitstaff are friendly I like to ask what they like the best and they always gives good advice!! One of my faves on Oak Island and it's not loud so you can actually have conversation while your there.

L West

2024-03

Friendly, comfortable and casual, we have had the best meals here, whether seafood, salads or chicken. Had shrimp and grits last night and my husband had the alfredo with shrimp. Scrumptious and we took much of it home to enjoy today. Another table nearby had a steak that appeared fabulous. Never miss dessert here if you can share one or take home. We love their complimentary chips & dip and usually finish the entire basket leaving less room for supper so we wish there was an option for veggie sticks.

Eugene Foster

2024-03

Crowded usually and early. Great steak with one of the better baked potatoes around. You get 3 sides with a steak, and that makes a lot of food. They have homemade chips for the table start off. They were nice crisp and brown like i like them. Had a long list of dessert, and we took 2 home they also were top of their class. Its alittle pricey but a lot of good food. Give it a try06/15/22 update. I guess I've been 4 or 5 times since this revie, andit'ss still great. I got the Mahi Mahi blackened with clam chowder and a Swains salad. All were grea, the Mah, as seasoned perfect and cooke, correct?. Clam chowder was outstanding. Wife got peel and eat shrimp and said they were prefect. Had to being some coconut cake home. One pc will feed 2 easy. I wanted Heath bar cake but it was the wifes brithday and she got to pick. The heath bar cake is great also. Didnt get a pic of the salads but did the rest02/20/24Tried to write a new review, but it wouldn't let me...Well, as normal .. It's a great placeLisa took very good care of us, and we didn't have to ask for anything. She kept our tea full, and that meant a lot. The chips for the table were great. I just put some pepper and salt on them. Next was clam chowder for soup of the day. And it was top-notch.I didn't know if I wanted steak or grouper because both are great here. Then, the early bird spaghetti with meatballs caught my eye. It was great. Of course we got coconut cake and pie. Each is 2 servings. If you haven't been you need to goParking: Be careful if you park in front. Hard to get backed out

Mandy Pennell

2023-10

Highly recommend this placeWe drove down from OIB to dine here. Our food was absolutely delicious. We indulged on their homemade chips for our appetizer, house salad prior to our meal and the Mermaid Delight is absolutely delicious. It's enough for 2 people to share. Totally wortg the money and the drive down. Reservations recommended*

Portia Moore

2023-05

Highly recommend making a reservation here for any celebration! We were in town for a bachelorette weekend and they accommodated 6 of us with ease. Drinks, food, and customer service were fantastic! We even had a modern day Disney Princess theme for the night, showed up dressed as such, and it was accepted with no issue as nuts as we felt! We got desserts to go, and couldn’t believe how delicious they were after a day of being in our fridge. The seafood is FANTASTIC. If you’re in the area - GO!

Sylvia Dedrich

2024-05

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Tina Harkey

2024-05

We split the 14 oz ribeye. It's always delicious and cooked to temperature. Two sides and a side salad. The zucchini was perfectly grilled and seasoned. The hushpuppies are fried crispy but they put corn and onion in them. They are served with plain butter. Delicious.We took the Health Bar cloud cake and the key lime pie stuffed coconut cake home. Slap yo momma good.

Les Short

2024-01

Good food and the service was excellent! Blackened fish tacos were so tasty and the portion size was impressive. My wife had oysters and they were really good. The hush puppies and fries were crisp and not oily whatsoever.It was quiet, which we like, and the decor is very nice. I can strongly recommend.

Teresa Faye

2023-06

We were on business trip ordered take out, friendly staff great service food was delicious. Carry out containers sealed no spillage. Order was correct. Honorable mention side salad was packed with sauce separate. That's important to me as some businesses put sauce/salad dressing in same container on /with salad. Only mistake was, each time didn't include utensils. Our go to when we are visiting area. Would recommend to anyone visiting area looking for a great dinning experience.

Timmie Lowery

2023-12

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Whitne Harris

2023-06

You must go to this place, be sure to make your reservations early. The food was amazing. We had the Mahi Mahi, which was the catch of the day. Another great thing was the "southern chips and dip"(fresh fried potato chips and ranch). Oh, sooo good! Marissa was our server, and she was spectacular!Extra Tip- Get the dessert! You will not regret the choice!

BigManSteve

2022-05

Really great dinner and experience here! To start I just make a note that service is a little slow, but they are clearly understaffed so it’s understandable. However, even tho service is lacking the food quality certainly isn’t. Everything that was ordered (lobster ravioli, beginner oyster platter, pro oyster platter, and blackened chicken) was absolutely delicious. The prices are also a little expensive at first glance, but are made up for by the insanely large portion sizes. You can very easily get 2 meals out of anything you order. My lobster ravioli had lots of flavor and the ravioli noodles were obviously homemade! The cream sauce was to die for! I’m sensitive to rich sauces, but this was perfectly balanced and paired with the lobster filling perfectly. ALSO THIS IS LITERALLY THE ONLY RESTAURANT IVE EVER VISITED THAT ACTUALLY PUT THE PERFECT AMOUNT OF GRATED CHEESE ON TOP. Mostly seafood, hence the name, but I’m not complaining because it’s easily some of the best seafood around🙌.

Bob Maskara

2024-05

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Shaniyha Brown

2024-04

I can’t believe how disgusting & distasteful this place had treated me and my boyfriend today ! I am very hurt on how the lady with the green shirt at the front who were sitting guests treated us. She offered us a seating at the bar because we didn’t have reservations which we totally understood. Another couple then proceeded to come in after us and also didn’t have reservations and got offered a “ pub table “ sitting which I thought was kinda racist. You offer us “ black people “ or should I say “black couple “ a bar sitting and didn’t ask if we wanted a table sitting like you did the couple that came in after us . I don’t know if anyone else have experienced this type of treatment but let me be the first to say I wouldn’t recommend this restaurant to anyone that is another color other than white. They will treat you badly here . I pray God seek love and grace into that grown woman heart about racism. God bless .

Cheryl Van Duser

2024-04

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Lisa Penley

2024-05

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William Eberhardt

2022-05

Very good food for dinner. Portion sizes very large. Started with crab dip appetizer. Very good, toasted almonds on top of crab added a unique texture / almost crunch to the crab which came with homemade pita chips. Definitely order again.Each of us had salads, very fresh. Their homemade thousand island dressing had a bit too much dill for my taste, your taste could be different (I am not a big fan of dill).Server said the Mermaid pasta (shrimp, scallops,...) was enough for three meals. She was telling us the truth. Hardly made a dent in that dish. Two of us got the salt rubbed tomahawk pork chop (medium temperature). Cooked perfectly, excellent taste (warning, probably not acceptable to those on a low salt diet). Both of us brought half the chop home. Veggies were grilled squash and zucchini, another was large serving of steamed broccoli. Garlic mashed potatoes were good. We also brought home veggiesHad three of their specialty mixed drinks. Large servings size , stiff drinks.While we would all order our meals again, we forecast that we will be eating the menu down over the next year to try their other dishesFine dining food in a very relaxed casual environment. Go here for the food.

Shannon Voyages

2022-05

This place is amazing!! We were greeted by the owner at the front who was as sweet as could be. We sat at the bar to eat. Our waiter/bartender was super friendly. The food was so good! We had mozzarella sticks which are homemade and also the Thai shrimp. I had the peel & eat shrimp, my BF had the seafood combo (scallops & fried shrimp) Both dishes were so tasty. Then we HAD to get the Heath Bar Cake to go as we were stuffed.. Well that was delicious as well. Everything is fresh and the cakes are homemade. Definitely will be back for sure!!!

kara bellissimo

2023-05

House made chips were excellent! Shrimp and salmon both fresh tasting. Must come when in OKI! Waitress noted seafood allergy (to the kitchen when ordering) which made me feel at ease!

Laurie Dusenberry

2024-04

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Wandering Wild Free

2024-02

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Steve Sherron

2018-05

Wife & I heard that Swains was a good place to eat. Gave it a try and discovered it was outstanding. Our food was great. I had a shrimp dinner and the wife had fried scallops which she raved about the entire dinner. Our plates were served with homemade chips & ranch dip. They have a small salad bar which was very good. Service was perfect and very friendly. I'm a stickler for good ice tea and Swains has some of the best sweet iced tea I've had in a while. This place is your basic no frills fish camp type place and they use plastic ware etc. It's not fancy. it's friendly and inviting with really good food. Oh yea, awesome hush puppies.

Aaron Thomas

2023-05

This was our last meal of the week and wish we had known about it earlier. Very much a home cooked meal, plenty of food. I ordered the fried grouper, amazing. The wife had the shrimp and grits, which was the best we ever had. We had to wait an hour &1\2 to get a table. It was waaaaaay worth it. Kristina, our waitress was great! If we come again to OKI, this will be on the list to get some food. It was a bit pricey, but worth the wait and $$$. Highly recommendedParking: Close to our rental, should have walked parking was crowded.