Reviews for The Trading Post; Southern Food & Spirits in Emerald Isle, NC

We had a party of 8, and while they wouldn't take a reservation,we had no problem getting seated. We waited a short time while a... couple finished and they moved two tables together. I had shrimp and grits and it was unique with an egg and lots of sauce.Everyone else liked their dishes and the service was prompt and friendly. The bill came to about $40 per person including apps,drinks, meal and tip. They have enough of a selection to appease most tastes. The "southern soul rolls" are a uniquely Southernslant on oriental rolls. They are stuffed with collards and beans then deep fried. They taste much better than it sounds, andI'm from up North and never liked collards. Read more

We went to The Trading Post for lunch today. I really enjoyed the atmosphere. Some of the tables, chairs, and decorations had a... reclaimed distressed wood theme. Checked out the patio area which had seating and an additional bar. We ordered for an appetizerthe fried green tomatoes with pimento cheese and pepper jelly. I loved them! They were hot, crunchy, cheesy, and had a kick ifyou added the jelly. It was a perfect start! My wife ordered the seafood platter with oysters, grilled shrimp, and macaroni andcheese as a side. I ordered the chicken and waffles. My wife's seafood unfortunately came out barely warm. Once we advised ourwaitress of this they quickly reheated it and the manager checked to ensure it was good. My waffles were SWEET. I don't thinkI've ever had waffles that were sweeter. I noticed there were little clumps of sugar that actually crunched when you chewedthem. It was too sweet for me. It didn't complement the fried chicken that was on top. I ordered mac and cheese as a side dishbecause I was craving it. I was disappointed. I don't like dry Mac and cheese and this was very dry. I prefer a Mac and cheeseto have a sauce or creamy element. This had none and they added crumbled Ritz crackers to the top. Overall, I liked the decor,the service was attentive, but the food was either hit (fried green tomatoes) or miss (waffle & Mac and cheese). Read more

To be honest, I was not really feeling it here when I first walked in due to the noise and how busy it was, and feared I'd get... stuck waiting too long; that was quickly resolved though.. The place isn't bad at all, the food definitely is very southernwith it's food (What's with the sign having a shrimp on it? It fooled me into thinking this was a seafood restaurant) and thecustomer service was indeed very superb, but the ladies her look very understaffed for busy nights, and I swear they were likeblurs with how fast they were moving. They made sure I was taken care of though. I will say the fries were absolutelydelicious, for they weren't too cooked nor undercooked, I HATE both. As for the burger, it's big, like, BIG, and the bacon in itwas perfect. I loved my meal. My only real gripe is that people do get drunk here or have had one too many, I could smell thealcohol from a few who obviously had the alcohol in absolute control of their minds. However the store is not responsible forthose unable to hold their liquor. (I don't drink at all though). I guess that is just the price you have to pay running a barsadly. Read more

Do not miss out! Food is great and the ambiance is beyond!! They were so so nice about having our puppy on the back patio with... us and the owner is the loveliest person ever! Photos don?t do justice, we ordered the chicken salad and shrimp and grits, bothwere absolutely delicious! Thank you for making our trip so wonderful! Read more

Had a wonderful time here. Staff were super friendly and very attentive, even with me taking forever to decide what I wanted.... Ate lunch so can't comment on dinner. Had the fried green tomatoes as an appetizer and they were amazing. Covered in pimentocheese with red pepper jelly on the side. Super crunchy breading that stayed on while eating them. I got a salad with friedoysters on top and my partner got the chicken and waffles. Both were amazing and you could tell the oysters were fresh cooked toorder. Would highly recommend to anyone looking for a nice place to grab a bite with awesome service. Read more

Heading out from a weekend in Pine Knolls and decided to stop at The Trader Post Southern Food and Spirits to eat. One word,... DELICIOUS!!! 10/10 highly recommend. Not to mention the work ethic they have is amazing, we sat at the bar so we noticed a lot.The waitresses helped each other out the entire time, the manager was nice and helpful to the employees, the hostessacknowledged us before we could even step through the door, just pure satisfaction all around! Thank you all again! Read more

Clean, gender neutral restrooms. Service was ok. Food is so-so, but they seem to be busy. We were looking for a tasty but not... fried meal. Macaroni and cheese too salty, couldn't eat it. Fries, ugh, the kind that are coated with a light breading. Not myfavorite. Didn't eat those either. Type you get at Burger King. "Clam chowder" actually a seafood bisque with corn, beans,etc. Sisters said was yummy. Fried green tomatoes appy was delicious. Pot roast was good (meat and two). Fried green tomato BLTis a good option. Now offering outdoor seating behind the building. This place has changed hands over the years. One of a fewopen on Sunday in off season. Read more

Hands down the best food we?ve had in a long time. This is an understated restaurant serving high quality gourmet food. We had... the fried green tomatoes, shrimp and grits, and flounder reuben. My only suggestion is to travel with someone that shares foodbecause it?s hard to pick just one meal. They also have a full bar and hidden treasure beers like Original Sin black widowcider. We highly recommend this place! Read more