Eating out is always high on my list when we are on vacation and with the pandemic we have changed our eating out routine a bit. We always liked to eat outside but now it is almost a must for us. Even though we are fully vaccinated and take all the precautions in the world that we can we still prefer the outside dining option.

When I wasn’t cooking Hello Fresh ( I am telling you – these types of meal delivery kits are a lifesaver for vacations) I was scoping the area for some great outdoor dining options. The weather was picture perfect in the Oak Island area last week and we had sunshine filled days with temperatures around 80 degrees or more. Picture perfect.

We found 3 really great dining options that I am going to share today. First up, Provision Company at Southport, NC. A long time favorite in the Provision Company family this restaurant was one that we decided was a must visit this time. There are other locations that we have neglected to visit and this was not going to happen on this trip.

Pop on in the door, order at the counter, grab your drink from the cooler or self serve beverage center, find a table and a soon your name will be called and your food will magically appear at your table. Help yourself to more drinks as you need, eat and enjoy the great atmosphere and view and pay your bill on the way out. Yep, it’s that simple. You just tell them what you had to eat (no paper tickets involved) and you settle up on your way out the door.

Chris and I both opted for the 1/2 pound of shrimp with a crab cake and while I didn’t think I would eat it all, I did.

The steamed shrimp was perfectly seasoned and while the napkins are skimpy on the tables the supply is plentiful so use as many as you need to wipe that seasoning off your hands when you are done. Lucky for Mr. Chiles I always have wet wipes in my purse for occasions such as these.

Next up we visited Oliver’s On the Cape Fear River for a lunchtime treat. When we vacation we often find that two meals a day is our norm so we may eat at odd times but it works. This particular meal was one of those mid afternoon treats complete with a shrimp appetizer, lobster bisque for Chris, a side salad for me and a shared Calabash Cape Fear Platter. It was so good! Our waitress was super attentive and we throughly enjoyed our table in the covered outdoor dining area complete with a fan right over our table. The kitchen staff even split our meal up onto two plates for us so there was no fighting over the food.

The final place to share today is The Saucy Southerner. Found on Howe Street in Southport, NC this place was a fabulous option for our breakfast cravings. We love a good crepe and that is what drew us into The Saucy Southerner but honestly – ALL of their offerings looked like they would be winners in my book.

Walk up to the little tent in the front of the restaurant, place your order and pay, pick a table (inside dining is now available as well) and wait for your food to be delivered. We had excellent coffee and since we both wanted crepes that is what we got and we were not disappointed one bit.

The crepes came served up hot and yummy in aluminum pie plates and it didn’t take us long to finish them off. We were only sorry that we had not found this place earlier in the week. It was definitely a winner and a place we would put on our “have to return to” list the next time we are in Southport. The owner came out and talked to us a bit and shared how they opened their doors for the first time during the pandemic and had to pivot a bit to keep the place going but they are continuing to serve up good and reasonably priced food. I hope that they are in Southport for a very long time. The outside eating area was big and the turnover on the tables wes consistent so word has definitely gotten out that this is a great place to dine.

So there you have it. A few of the local places in Southport, NC that It think are worth a shout out. If you have been to any of these (or others) in Southport I would love to hear about them. Leave me a comment and remember that for every comment made on any blog post during the month Chris and I will make a 50 cent donation to our Comments for a Cause – Michael J. Fox’s Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. You can read more about that here.