Savor the Off-Season on Pleasure Island

Labor Day might mark the unofficial end of summer, but locals know this is the best time of year to enjoy the beaches. As the crowds on Pleasure Island start to thin, restaurant owners say they are excited to welcome back the loyal locals who keep their businesses thriving in the off-season. Here are some specials going on throughout the fall and winter months. It’s the perfect time to explore new spots and revisit your all-time favorites.

The Tropical
2 Cape Fear Blvd.

A new addition to the CB boardwalk, the Miami-inspired Tropical offers three levels of oceanfront dining with indoor and outdoor seating. While tropical drinks are the establishment’s specialty, food options include homemade egg rolls with fillings such as pulled pork and mac and cheese and ground beef and cheese with fried pickles. The Tropical also serves made-to-order bowls, from Hawaiian poke to fried chicken and Philly cheesesteak.

Weekly off-season specials will include an Industry Day on Monday with $2 off all cans and drafts followed by Taco Tuesday with a twist – 2 Taco egg rolls with a Modelo draft or Corona can (or any other domestic) for $10 and Trivia with Meg starting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday is Roll It Up Wednesday with $5 egg rolls and Thursday is Deep Freeze Thursday with $10 frozen cocktails. Sunday Funday brings Football Rolls – buffalo chicken and pepperoni pizza egg rolls – for $6 and Bloody Mary cocktails and mimosas for $5.

The Sandspur
103 S. Lake Park Blvd.

With two full summer seasons now under its belt, The Sandspur offers a laid-back surf shack atmosphere and a menu of local seafood and produce. Seafood is sourced daily from Seaview Crab Company, and chef Brad Royal works with local farmers such as Red Beard Farms and Terra Vita to create dishes based on what’s available. Now that Labor Day has passed, The Sandspur has launched its “locals lunch” with half-price lunch specials Monday through Thursday. The restaurant also offers free parking validation and look forward to hosting live music, trivia and oyster roasts during the off-season.

Soul Flavor
716 N. Lake Park Blvd.

Soul Flavor has built a loyal following over the past seven years, partly due to the multiple specials they serve daily.

“We serve the freshest food possible at a great cost,” said owner Chris Newton.

From the start, Newton has set out to offer fine dining-style dishes at a price that allows for everyday dining. Open Tuesday through Saturday, Soul Flavor sources its seafood daily from Greenville Loop Seafood and builds daily specials based on the day’s catch.

“We have five to six specials that we post online before opening each day,” Newton said. “They’re always changing, but from time to time, we bring back the fan favorites because we know they bring people in.”

Lake Park Steak House
12 S. Lake Park Blvd.

Noël and Ron Stevens opened Lake Park Steakhouse in November 2018, and the tiny 13-table restaurant has been booming ever since. What they may lack in size they more than make up for in flavor. Don’t forget that reservations are almost always needed, even in the off-season.

Known for its char-grilled steaks and fresh seafood, Lake Park has recently added several Italian specialties. Surf and turf options come with a custom side salad and baked potato or steak fries. Additional sides are available. Italian specialties are served with a custom salad or soup of the day and a choice of pasta.

Off-season specials include half-price bottles of wine on Sunday and half-price glasses on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. A new Italian dish will be featured each Wednesday and Thursday.

Seaworthy Kitchen + Bar
604 N. Lake Park Blvd.

Seaworthy Kitchen + Bar opened in January of this year in the heart of Carolina Beach, just a stone’s throw from its seafood purveyor, Blackburn Brothers.

“Anytime we want to switch up our fresh fish for our tacos, we just walk across the parking lot,” said owner Joel Hartzler.

Hartzler and his wife, Tarah, serve a small menu focused on fresh seafood with lighter, brighter preparations (no Calabash-style seafood platters here) that change seasonally and feature daily fresh catch options. In addition to seafood, there is always a meat and vegetarian option on the menu. Off-season specials include half-price martinis on Monday, fish tacos on Tuesday, margaritas on Wednesday and draft beer on Thursday. There is a 3-5 p.m. Happy Hour menu where all items are $3-$5, including shrimp cocktail, crab dip and cups of chowder, to name a few.

Havana’s Restaurant
1 N. Lake Park Blvd.

Now in its 17th year, Havana’s has a longstanding commitment to year-round hospitality. In addition to opening for weekday lunches starting in October, Havana’s offers a slew of specials throughout the week, starting with crabcakes and $7 martinis on Mondays. Also, $2 Tuesdays allow diners to add a side salad and homemade chocolate mousse to any entrée for just $2 and enjoy half-priced bottles of select wine. Whiskey Wednesday showcases varying whiskeys and bourbons on special, along with savory sirloin nachos. Thursday features any wine by the glass for $7. Seafood lasagna is served on Thursday and Friday nights only, while on Friday and Saturday night guests can enjoy prime rib. Sunday brings burger and beer specials that rotate weekly. Last but not least, Havana’s offers an Aperitivo “Hour” on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 3 p.m.-7 p.m. with small bite and aperitif specials.