Captain Nance’s

This was BY FAR the worst eating experience I have every had in my life. I would give zero stars if I could.
Typically, I am very easy to please and have NEVER been so disappointed with the quality of food in my life. My wife and I (during the off season) stumbled across this place by accident and figured that it would be a good place to eat. We couldn’t have been more wrong. First, they nickel and dime you to death with the menu on basic stuff… lettuce, tomatoes…$ 1.50 for broiled. I was like why? «I really don’t know,» is what we were told. So we ordered light, and decided to try another place later. I ordered a crab cake sandwich, thinking there’s no way they could mess up crab cakes. I was wrong… they brought out what looked and tasted like breaded corn mush… NO CRAB! My wife ordered clam chowder and I’ve purchased chowder in a can that had more clam and substance to it… I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED and can’t believe that they have been around as long as they apparently have. The hush puppies, weren’t bad but everything else was horrible.

Basically, it is extremely average. Nothing special about the atmosphere or the food. I thought it was OK. The fried shrimp were good as part of the small seafood platter but the fish was rubbery. Deviled crab was fair. Hushpuppies as the «bread basket» were pretty good when you’re hungry. For the quality of food, I thought it was overpriced. The best part was the staff, who were very friendly and fairly responsive.

This place is a has-​been. There are way too many quality restaurants in the area to have to come here and endure this. We had a party of 6 and the food was below average. They do have a senior’s plate that was reasonably priced but of low quality. Clams were too chewy, stuffed crab was dry and lacked flavor. The baked potatoes must have been yesterday’s creation. Very nasty.
Once finished, it took 15 – 20 minutes and we had to ask to have the table cleared. The checks were presented while all the dirty plates were still present.
The view is very nice but go somewhere else.

We ate here three years ago and it was descent. Today, it was the opposite. Slow service, cold, bland tasting fish, and very dry pulled pork. So bad they removed it from my bill. Fries tasted like they had been under a heat lamp too long. Crab cakes were obviously frozen, and tasted horrible. Dinner rolls were stale and crumbled when I took a bite. Shrimp was good, and tea was great. The waiter only returned once during our dinner and never refilled our drinks. Don’t waste your money. This place is the worst.

Took my family to Captain Nance’s since the Original was still closed and we had been there before. Sat right away at 4:45 and was served fresh hush puppies with honey butter. Sadly it went downhill from there. Baked potatoes came out with the dinners, two out of three were undercooked. I had clam strips that were overcooked. Kids had shrimp that was fresh. My wife fad flounder that was crispy brown (overcooked) and a stiffed crab that sat in the cooker too long. Of all the food the shrimp were hot and fresh but the rest had been sitting a while before served. With a family of seven the bill mounts up quickly, so if I pay that much for hot seafood, it would be nice if it were hot and fresh.

I honestly wish I could give this place zero stars. Went here for a family reunion excited because the reviews looked great. Unfortunately, it was nothing I ever expected. First off the food was bland, and tasted frozen. I ordered a clam strip and crab cake combo platter and literally took 2 bites of the crab cake and ate 5 clam strips. My fiancé ordered a steak and shrimp platter and crab cakes on the side. He ate NOTHING and his steak looked absolutely disgusting!!! I thought we were the only ones we who had bad choices but we looked down the table and saw another family member who hardly touched his shrimp platter too. The only saving graces were the hush puppies which were average at best and the price. Atleast were not paying NY prices for that horrible food. Please beware, before u head here think about stopping at the restaurants u see on the way

We where going to eat at one of the other joints but there was a line, so we eased on down to to Captain Nance’s no line. So in we go. Old school style fish house. Our hostess was very nice and quick to seat us. Our waitress was there just as fast to see what we wanted to drink. As soon as she came back she informed us of the special’s of the day, one was soft shell crab which my son always wanted to try. I settled for the seafood platter my wife a small shrimp plate. Our waitress came back with a basket of fresh hot hush puppies and some honey butter, We fell right in good puppies. This place was filling up quick as we waited on our food but we did not wait long at all. our food came out piping hot, my devil crab was so hot I had to wait on it. My son really enjoyed his soft shell crabs,[me to]. Not any complaints from my crowd at all. We will find our way back here again. Nice view of the fishing boats and inter coastal water way. Got out for a hint over 50 bucks, not bad.

Delicious hush puppies & shrimp! Got seated rather quick, some food was delayed – the side of baked potato. Ordered the small platter: fish (dry on the edges), Devils crab (first time to have, it was mostly breading), breaded small shrimp (delicious!).
Prices were inexpensive. Atmosphere was very noisy. Chairs not the most comfortable.
Restrooms were ok. Paper towel machine was broke. They also seemed short staffed. We waited a long time for our food & bill.
Staff was very helpful & friendly.

I have been coming to eat seafood at Captain Nance since I have been old enough to walk. Even though my family stays in Myrtle Beach we always go to Calabash to eat at their restaurants. The food has always been superb and we never have to worry about bad quality at their restaurants. With saying all this, after two years of visiting different beaches we came back to Myrtle. Our first night out we headed to Calabash, NC and ate at Captain Nance. The food was far from how I remembered. The hush puppies were small, crispy and not fluffy at all. I know it’s not oyster season but the oysters wee horrible! The shrimp and scallops were tollerable, but I have had way better in the past! Captain Nance please step up your game! I don’t want you have to take my business elsewhere but with another meal like I had two days ago I might just have to!

We needed a lunch stop, and this place was it. Known for their seafood, we expected a good lunch. There is something special about the way they cook their food. I got the plate with a little bit of everything — it had so much I could not finish. Super tasty, excellent service (Stephanie is the best). The atmosphere brings back a hint of yesteryear.
We’ll go back next time.

I grew up going to Captain Nance’s but haven’t been there in a few years so I was very much looking forward to making a stop by while we were in town last week.
Unfortunately that was a huge mistake. My wife and I split a seafood platter with fried flounder, oysters, and shrimp. I know it is not oyster season so I wasn’t expecting much from them but they were surprisingly the best thing on the plate. (Still not that great though and no where near as good as the ones that I had at Steven’s Oyster Roast earlier in the week). The flounder and the shrimp though — they were flat out bad. The flounder had no taste whatsoever. It was so strange. The texture made me think that it had been frozen. It reminded me very much (both in look and taste/​texture) of the frozen flounder that you can buy in bags at Sam’s Club that is pre-​fried. Not a good comparison.
I didn’t eat any of the shrimp myself but my wife said it was terrible and based on how much was left on the plate I believe her.
I am so sad that Captain Nance’s did not live up to my memories of it. I will not be back and would recommend you trying somewhere else also.

The only thing fresh about this place is the air. The crab cakes are frozen then fried hockey pucks that clearly were shipped in. The slaw is essentially over-​wet mush. Hush puppies and fries were ok, but right out of a bag not prepared and under seasoned. The fried shrimp is the best thing on the menu, but that’s not saying too much. While it’s always nice eating right off the water, the inside décor is old carpet, whit tables, and fish on the wall — as plain as their food. The only positive is the friendly staff who were as nice as could be. If you’re ok with flavorless seafood and old esthetics then this place will do.

I was disappointed with my food at this location. I do not recommend getting broiled food here. It is not their specialty. My broiled shrimp was dried out and crispy. My sisters broiled flounder was stuck to her plate. She said her french fries were not good either. My did like her fried shrimp. Disappointed in the food quality for the price. Location setting is nice. Sits on the water. Staff is super friendly and gives great service.

Upfront I’ll admit it, I’m biased, I love calabash-​style seafood in family style restaurants. Especially when they are sitting in Calabash, NC. No, this isn’t Bonefish Grill. It’s all about fresh seafood slaw and sweet tea and hushpuppies. Order a hamburger somewhere else or you’ll be disappointed. And bring your smiles and appetite and be nice to the waitresses, because they work their backsides off. I love these kind of places and hope they will always be here.

It makes me sad to do this but we had lunch here yesterday and I understand the need to serve a lower priced lunch but they need to fix this. Wife had the fried shrimp, she said it had no flavor and I had the fried Flounder and it just sucked, worst I have ever had. I don’t know if bulldog is still kicking but if he was I imagine he would kick someone’s ass. When he was there every meal I had from there was perfect. Going to seafood Hut tomorrow so I hope they are still like they use to be.

Great spot on the water for Calabash style shrimp. Very nice place to chill. Little escape from Myrtle Beach.

Second time here and again it was great! Crab cakes are to die for and fried shrimp and oysters are outstanding! Beat coleslaw I have ever eaten! Wonderful view by the window. We drove all the way from Topsail to eat here! Restrooms clean and staff very courteous and friendly!

I am not crazy about this place. I have been a few times. My mom likes it here, but my guy and I do not. It’s a very large, run down dining room. Their specialty is fried seafood in the Calabash style (cornmeal batter). If you like that, you will probably be content eating here. If not, go somewhere else. I don’t eat seafood, so I had to go for the chicken fingers. They were gross but only $ 6.95. I had to return my baked potato because it was rotten in the inside. My waitress was very nice about it and promptly brought me a new one. I will admit, the hush puppies are very good. They gave us a second order when we asked too. I don’t care for the margarine they serve in place of butter, and the plastic packaged sauces they serve with the meals. My guy wasn’t crazy about the fish in his deluxe seafood platter. My mother loves the fried shrimp here. I guess if you are going for the fried shrimp and french fries, you will probably like this place just fine.

The only reason we are even giving this place 1 star is because the manager comped us our main dish after we told him it it was absolutely horrible and essentially in edible. We started with oyster stew and should’ve walked out right after that (boiled milk with 4 chewy oysters in it– not even any salt and pepper!) This is my first time on the east coast and I wanted some good southern seafood, but I have had better in a TV dinner. My fiancée is from here and grew up coming to Calabash for seafood. She said she has never had such a terrible and disappointing meal. How can you get soggy, not fresh fried seafood at calabash??? Cold food and warm sweet tea? No thank you. If you consider coming here because the other restaurants have a waiting list– don’t! Put your name down and wait– you’ll be glad you did.

Fried and greasy, but relatively cheap. Hush puppies as an appetizer was definitely the highlight of the meal. I had a combo of fried shrimp, fried scallops and a crab cake. The crab cake had way too much breading and was burnt on the outside. The fried shrimp tasted like the frozen shrimp I can get at home from the frozen food section. The scallops were very hit or miss; some were cooked perfectly and others were way too soft.
I would recommend other options in the area.