Pelican Seafood in Oak Island, North Carolina - Restaurant Review

Are you visiting Oak Island, North Carolina, for the first time? Are you a local resident heading out for a five star meal at two star prices? Look no further than the family owned and operated Pelican Seafood restaurant. Lebanese immigrants Jeanne-darc Wehbe and her husband Tony, along with their four children run Pelican Seafood with a mix of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean flavor coupled with North Carolina's best seafood.

First Impressions

Arriving at Pelican Seafood Oak Island, NC you will not see the frills associated with higher end restaurants. The reason is half of the establishment is a fresh seafood market. When you enter Pelican Seafood the first noticeable aspect of the restaurant is the bare walls. No pictures, no portraits, nothing except beautifully painted walls. There was a television playing for those interested in watching. This did not add or take away from the atmosphere.

The seating is simplistic in nature. Tables and chairs with no accessories or table clothes. Pelican Seafood Oak Island, NC can easily seat 50 people comfortably. If you are dining with a large party, tables can be moved to accommodate your needs. Again, the basic nature of the restaurant added to the charm. You were taken back to restaurants didn't want to hide behind their decorations. Instead, Pelican Seafood will allow the food to speak for itself.

Wait Staff and Menu

We were greeted at the counter by a well mannered and polite young lady, Nicole. She is the Wehbe's daughter and her primary responsibility is to take guests orders and run the cash register. We had not eaten at Pelican Seafood Oak Island, NC before so we had question regarding the meals and type of fish. She answered questions as if she were a professional fisherman with half a century experience under her belt. Once we ordered we sat down.

The menu was easy to read and just like the surroundings, plain. All of the dishes were listed on a dry erase board with the prices adjacent. At first glance of the prices, any guest would get concerned. You notice prices in the range of $5 to a staggering $19. Good food comes at a price, but skepticism filled our minds first. We chose the tilapia sandwich meal, soft shell crab meal, four shrimp baskets, six drinks and sides for $50. I have easily spent this amount of money for fast food.

Lunch

All of the skepticism left my mind when we received our plates. I received two pieces of freshly prepared tilapia which were at least 6-8 inches each. Along with my sides, I was amazed all of the food fit on my plate. When you bite into this sandwich the texture of the fish is amazing. There was no hint of the tilapia being beep fried. Most deep fried foods have a noticeable presence of grease, but not this one. The coleslaw, one of my sides, was fresh as if the cabbage was just picked from a garden. And the French fries had a perfect blend of salt and spices.

My wife had a soft shell crab meal. She too was amazed by the quality of the sandwich. On a delicate sub roll are three medium sized soft shell crabs made flawlessly. The presentation along showed my wife the timeless dedication to their craft. Again, grease was not present in the meal.

Pros

Family-owned and operated

Handmade ingredients

Simple approach to interior décor

Allergy conscience - no peanut oil

Large portions

Fresh seafood

Meals prepared to order

Cons

Several deep fried meals

My Take and Thoughts

My experience was the best dining experience I have ever had in any restaurant. When the owner comes to your table to speak to you and he knows patrons by name, you have some place special. The owners include their entire family as well. Whether it is running the register, serving customers, or cleaning up, they do it all.

Pelican Seafood is by far the best seafood restaurant in North Carolina. The allure of Pelican Seafood is the taste of the food, the quantity for the price, the family friendly environment, the location, and the overall environment. Whether you are visiting for a summer getaway or a local resident, Pelican Seafood Oak Island, NC is your first and last stop for high quality, great tasting cuisine.