If you want to take a small-boat trip to a neat local’s breakfast and lunch spot, consider Merchant’s Grocery and Grill which was founded in 1978. Going by dingy is a short ride. It’s near Croatan National Forest.
Three and a half miles from the New Bern Grand Marina, the grocery and grill is just passed the small Brice Creek bridge. A pontoon boat with sun cover can clear easily.
Diann and I joined Captain Dave of the “Cruise the Neuse” tour boat. He had invited a number of folks to make a morning run up the Trent River to wander Brice Creek to have breakfast and later explore for future passenger tours.
Merchant’s is an old style grill. Biscuits are made “from scratch”. Bacon, Egg, and Cheese biscuits are as good as any you’ll find elsewhere. I ordered grits. The serving was large and properly cooked. (Order your butter on the side though, unless you like it a lot.)
If you have the time, leave Merchant’s and continue up Brice Creek. You can enter the Croatan National Forest just beyond the airport runway.
The story / blog of Yacht A Fun, a Gemini catamaran sailboat, traveling the ICW and east coast with insights to the extended cruising life. Merchant’s Grocery and Grill