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By Denise Davis, REALTOR® | Fresh Start Realty | Serving Greenville & Pitt County, North Carolina
Pitt County may be inland, but you don't have to drive to the beach for a good plate of shrimp.
I've lived in the Greenville area for more than 30 years, and seafood is as much a part of life here as Eastern NC barbecue. We're close enough to the coast that local kitchens have plenty to work with, from oysters on the half shell to fried flounder and hush puppies.
If you're new here, or thinking about moving to Pitt County, this list is a good place to start. Here are 12 seafood restaurants to try in Greenville, Winterville and Ayden, in no particular order.
Pitt County Seafood Restaurants at a Glance
|
Restaurant |
Town |
Style |
Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Cape Fear Seafood Company |
Greenville |
Sit-down coastal |
Date night, weekend brunch |
|
Hook & Reel |
Greenville |
Cajun boils |
Groups, messy fun |
|
Red Lobster |
Greenville |
National chain |
Big family dinners |
|
42 Fry |
Greenville |
Southern fried |
Catfish and shrimp baskets |
|
Seafood & Wings |
Greenville |
Casual counter |
Fried whiting, hibachi |
|
The Seahorse |
Greenville |
Southern family restaurant |
Shrimp plates and homemade cake |
|
The Homage |
Greenville |
Southern coastal, farm-to-table |
Special occasions |
|
Main & Mill Oyster Bar & Tavern |
Winterville |
Oyster bar and tavern |
Raw oysters, cocktails |
|
Mayflower Seafood |
Winterville |
Traditional fried and broiled |
Popcorn shrimp, family meals |
|
Dixie Queen |
Winterville |
Old-school family seafood house |
Fried flounder, hush puppies |
|
The Juicy Crab |
Winterville |
Cajun boils |
Build-your-own crab combos |
|
Fryday Nite Fish |
Ayden |
Backyard fish shack |
Flounder plates, fish stew |
Seafood Restaurants in Greenville, NC
Greenville has the widest choice in the county, from white-tablecloth scallops to fried fish in a basket.
1. Cape Fear Seafood Company in Greenville, NC: Coastal Dining on the Boulevard
This Wilmington-born restaurant has been serving seafood since 2008 and now has a home on Greenville Boulevard. It's a good pick when you want a sit-down dinner without driving to the coast.
What to order: Diners often mention the crab cakes, seared scallops, grouper and key lime pie. Lunch specials include shrimp and grits, shrimp scampi and a fish and chips basket.
A local tip before you visit: The chain advertises weekend brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call ahead for a table on a weekend night.
Location: 516 Greenville Blvd. SE, Suite A, Greenville, NC 27858 · (252) 283-8270
Website: Cape Fear Seafood Company Greenville
2. Hook & Reel Cajun Seafood & Bar in Greenville, NC: Bring Your Appetite and a Bib
Hook & Reel is built around the Southern seafood boil. You pick your seafood, your seasoning and your spice level, and it all arrives ready to get messy.
What to order: Build a boil with shrimp, crab legs or clams. Reviewers also like the catfish po' boy.
A local tip before you visit: This one works well for groups, and it has a full bar.
Location: 500 SW Greenville Blvd., Greenville, NC 27834 · (252) 364-2368
Website: Hook & Reel Greenville
3. Red Lobster in Greenville, NC: The Familiar Favorite
Sometimes you want to know exactly what you're getting. Red Lobster on Memorial Drive is an easy choice for birthdays and large family dinners.
What to order: Grilled shrimp, scallops, salmon bowls and, of course, the Cheddar Bay Biscuits.
A local tip before you visit: It takes reservations, which helps with a big party.
Location: 3501 S. Memorial Dr., Greenville, NC 27834 · (252) 756-4000
Website: Reserve on OpenTable
4. 42 Fry in Greenville, NC: Southern Fried, Family Style
42 Fry was started by twin brothers Anthony and Antwan Adams, who both graduated from East Carolina University and played football there. The menu sticks to Southern fried fish, shrimp and chicken.
What to order: The catfish and shrimp basket, or a dinner plate if you're really hungry. Collard greens and mac and cheese are popular sides.
A local tip before you visit: It closes early on Sundays and Mondays, so check the hours first.
Location: 3109 E. 10th St., Suite A, Greenville, NC 27858 · (252) 751-6436
Website: 42 Fry on Visit Greenville
5. Seafood & Wings in Greenville, NC: Casual and Budget-Friendly
This small spot on Turnbury Drive mixes fried seafood with wings and hibachi, so it's handy when everyone wants something different.
What to order: Fried whiting, fried shrimp with fried rice, or crab rangoon. Reviewers also mention the real-fruit smoothies.
A local tip before you visit: It's closed Mondays.
Location: 1914 Turnbury Dr., Suite D, Greenville, NC 27858 · (252) 227-4708
Website: Seafood & Wings on Google Maps
6. The Seahorse Restaurant in Greenville, NC: Calabash Seafood and Mama's Cakes
The Seahorse is a true Southern family restaurant, known for "Daddy's steaks and Mama's cakes". It also serves calabash-style seafood, and it sits across from the hospital on Stantonsburg Road.
What to order: A shrimp plate with two sides, or the shrimp and crab dip. Save room for a slice of layer cake, or take one home.
A local tip before you visit: Ask about the daily specials. It's closed Sundays and Mondays.
Location: 2301-A Stantonsburg Rd., Greenville, NC 27834 · (252) 758-6958
Website: The Seahorse online menu
7. The Homage in Greenville, NC: Southern Coastal Cooking Downtown
Chef Matt Cole and his wife, Shaina, run this farm-to-table restaurant on Dickinson Avenue. It isn't only a seafood restaurant, but it describes its food as Southern coastal cuisine, and the seafood gets a lot of praise.
What to order: Diners rave about the scallops, crab bisque and tuna poke. The menu can change, so ask what's fresh.
A local tip before you visit: It's dinner only, Tuesday through Saturday. Make a reservation.
Location: 703 Dickinson Ave., Greenville, NC 27834 · (252) 689-6388
Website: Reserve at The Homage
Seafood Restaurants in Winterville, NC
Winterville punches above its size, with an oyster bar on Main Street and one of the area's longest-running seafood houses.
8. Main & Mill Oyster Bar & Tavern in Winterville, NC: The Oyster Lover's Stop
If you want oysters on the half shell, start here. The Greenville-Pitt County Chamber listing points to its oysters, seafood and cozy bar, and it's a favorite for date nights.
What to order: Raw oysters, tuna tataki, the fried oyster po' boy or the grouper when it's on special.
A local tip before you visit: It opens at 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, and gets busy. Reserve a table, and look for parking behind the building.
Location: 204 Main St., Winterville, NC 28590 · (252) 227-4399
Website: Reserve on OpenTable
9. Mayflower Seafood in Winterville, NC: Big Plates, Fair Prices
Mayflower is the kind of place families return to week after week. Expect big portions of fried and broiled seafood, and fish tanks that keep the kids busy while you wait.
What to order: Regulars praise the popcorn shrimp. Flounder and scallops are good choices too.
A local tip before you visit: Ask about the daily special. It's open seven days a week, which makes it an easy Sunday dinner.
Location: 136 Davenport Farm Rd., Winterville, NC 28590 · (252) 321-6188
Website: Mayflower Seafood menu
10. Dixie Queen Seafood Restaurant in Winterville, NC: A Longtime Family Tradition
Dixie Queen has been serving seafood for more than 50 years, and many of its customers have been coming for decades. Its family motto says it plainly: good seafood isn't cheap, and cheap seafood isn't good.
What to order: Fried flounder, shrimp and those hush puppies. The Dixie Queen special is a good way to sample a little of everything.
A local tip before you visit: It's dinner only, and only a few days a week. Google currently lists Wednesday through Saturday starting at 4 p.m., so call before you go.
Location: 2659 Mill St., Winterville, NC 28590 · (252) 756-2333
Website: Dixie Queen Seafood
11. The Juicy Crab in Winterville, NC: Build Your Own Boil
The Juicy Crab is another good choice for a low-country-style boil, right on South Memorial Drive between Greenville and Winterville.
What to order: The build-your-own seafood combo. Choose your crab, shrimp or mussels, then pick a sauce. Reviewers like the Juicy Special seasoning.
A local tip before you visit: It's a popular place for birthday dinners, and it's open every day from 11:30 a.m.
Location: 4001 S. Memorial Dr., Winterville, NC 28590 · (252) 689-1618
Website: The Juicy Crab Winterville menu
Seafood in Ayden, NC
Ayden is famous for barbecue, but its fish has a following too.
12. Fryday Nite Fish in Ayden, NC: Backyard Fish Worth the Drive
Tonnia Pollard-Wallace and her husband, Alonzo Wallace, opened Fryday Nite Fish in 2019. WNCT featured it as a place for home-cooked seafood along First Street, and it has one of the highest Google ratings on this list.
What to order: A flounder plate with two sides, or fried crabs if they have them. The family-recipe fish stew has been known to draw a line.
A local tip before you visit: Hours are limited, and it can close early or sell out. Check the restaurant's Facebook page or call before you make the drive.
Location: 521 First St., Ayden, NC 28513 · (252) 746-3474
Learn more: Fryday Nite Fish on WNCT
Bonus stop in the north end of the county: If you're near Bethel, Smitty's on NC-11 is a homestyle spot known for its fried shrimp and catfish dinners. It's open weekdays until 2 p.m.
Where to Buy Fresh Seafood in Pitt County
Would you rather cook at home? These two Greenville markets sell fresh fish and shellfish.
- Atlantic Seafood Market: A family-owned market at 2905 E. 5th St. It's open Thursday through Saturday, and customers say the owner will happily share cooking advice. (252) 258-5245
- West End Seafood: A longtime neighborhood market at 2107 Dickinson Ave., open Monday through Saturday. One reviewer noted it took only cash, check or EBT, so ask before you go. (252) 756-6631
Thinking About Moving to Greenville, Winterville, or Ayden?
A favorite local restaurant is one of the things that makes a new town feel like home.
The restaurants on this list are spread across several communities, each with its own feel. Our guide to the best places to live in Pitt County compares them, and you can read the pros and cons of living in Greenville too. Planning your next chapter? See what retiring in Pitt County looks like.
If you're ready to look at homes, browse listings in Greenville, Winterville or Ayden, or start with homes under $300K in Pitt County. First-time buyer? Our guides to the NC home buying process and first-time homebuyer programs will walk you through it.
Ready to see what homes are available in Pitt County? Start your home search with Fresh Start Realty or get to know Denise Davis.
We'd love to help you find a place where you can truly love where you live.
Frequently Asked Questions About Seafood in Pitt County
Where can I get raw oysters in Greenville, NC?
Main & Mill Oyster Bar & Tavern in Winterville, just south of Greenville, is the go-to for oysters on the half shell. Cape Fear Seafood Company and the Cajun boil restaurants also serve oysters, so check the current menu.
Which Pitt County seafood restaurants are good for large groups?
Hook & Reel, The Juicy Crab, Red Lobster and Mayflower are all good options for groups. Call ahead for parties of eight or more.
Where can I find fried seafood in Pitt County?
Try Mayflower, Dixie Queen, 42 Fry, The Seahorse or Fryday Nite Fish for traditional Southern fried seafood.
Is there sushi in Greenville, NC?
Yes. Masa Sushi on Greenville Boulevard and Q Sushi on South Memorial Drive both offer all-you-can-eat sushi.
Hours and menus were checked in November 2026 and can change. Please call the restaurant before you visit.
Denise Davis, REALTOR®
Fresh Start Realty
Serving Greenville & Pitt County, North Carolina
Phone: 252-902-9006
Email: denisedavis@pittcountyliving.com
Website: www.pittcountyliving.com