News & Weekly Events

Monday Sushi Night (Seasonal)

Are those chopsticks? Or are you just happy to sashimi? The fun starts at 4pm and it’s going to be soy awesome! Sushi Night is a seasonal promotion, so please call ahead to confirm.

Thursday Oyster Night (Seasonal)

Local and salty, grilled or raw. That is how we serve oysters each Thursday night at Moonrakers! Served over chipped ice with cocktail sauce and champagne mignonette, our oysters are shucked to order and sold by the individual. So, whether you want three and a half dozen for yourself or just want to try one because you have never had an oyster before, Thursday nights at Moonrakers is the spot to fill your oyster cravings. Oyster Night is seasonal, so please be sure to call ahead for confirmation.

2023 Guest Artists

Jaquelin Perry

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I feel so blessed to live in beautiful eastern North Carolina. Everywhere I look there are endless possibilities for new paintings. My goal is to paint daily and strive every day to improve my painting skills and find my own path as an artist. I try to paint exclusively from life when I can and love the experience of plein art painting.

I hope my paintings are exclamations of happiness and expressions of appreciation for our beautiful landscape. Painting is a wonderful journey that gives me tremendous gratification. I am so fortunate to have a close circle of painting pals and mentors that I get together with on a regular basis for painting outings and support.

About Our Team

John & Dennis Stephens

The Brothers

Moonrakers is the result of combined career experiences of John and Dennis Stephens, also known as “the brothers.” John is a forty-plus-year veteran in restaurant hospitality and operations. Dennis is an engineer and entrepreneur with his own company in design and construction. Raised in a large military family of seven children, and the sons of an Army Base Commander, both have ingrained within them a work ethic and determination that reflects a “getting the job done” approach to everything they do.

Christopher Stephens

General Manager / Executive Chef

Chris started growing his passion for food when he was 15. His career path was an easy decision when he gained early admittance to Johnson & Wales University in Providence, RI on scholarship. After graduating, he relocated to the Isle of Wight, England, and spent a year apprenticing in a rigorous work environment under a Michelin star chef.

With over 22 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Chris has spent most of his time acutely focused on food and in the kitchen, assuming lead roles and executive chef positions in exclusive member clubs and restaurants throughout New England.

As a General Manger, and an avid member of the hospitality industry, Chris enjoys influencing and positively impacting guest experiences in any way he can. He wholeheartedly believes in team mentality and finds himself recounting the coined phrase “teamwork makes the dream work” on regular occasions.

While the restaurant doors are closed, Chris spends time with his beautiful wife, daughter, and dog. He takes pride in eating great food and accomplishing projects around the home.

Tommy Rouse

Assistant General Manager

Tommy joined the Moonrakers team in February of 2020. He is originally from Nash County, North Carolina. He is best known for his charming personality and contagious smile. Upon moving to Beaufort and working in the hospitality industry, he quickly developed a passion for the food and beverage industry. Tommy believes a good restaurant provides guests with an experience through not only the meals, but also the atmosphere and memories they create. When he is not taking care of our guests, Tommy is out on the water, in the sun, or having brunch with his sister planning his next travel retreat.

Jeremy Sanders

Sous Chef

The artfully placed fennel fronds on your blackened grouper? Those were a finishing touch by Jeremy. Born on an Air Force base outside of Tokyo, Jeremy and his family returned to their homebase in Carteret County when he was just 3 months. After graduating high school, he moved to Baton Rouge, where he got his first job in the kitchen at a Quiznos. Forgoing formal schooling, Jeremy chose to learn by doing, spending the subsequent 19 years working his way up in the culinary realm with a few construction gigs in the mix.

In 2018, he joined Moonrakers in its infancy, intrigued by its ingredient-driven menu and fusion of modernist and classical cooking techniques. Jeremy’s unique panache draws inspiration from his Japanese birthright, personal experiences, and training with seasoned Louisiana chefs. His catches are globally imbued with Mediterranean, Italian, and Asian roots.

Outside of Moonrakers, Jeremy is either engaged in a video game or scouring for the latest and greatest anime model kit to build. When he’s not feeding others, his go-to dish at home is blackened chicken carbonara over tri-color cheese tortellini.

Maddy Bonnabeaux

Social Media Strategist

Maddy was born in Raleigh and raised in Wilson, NC. After graduating from NC State, she moved to Beaufort, intrigued by its dynamic hospitality scene. Maddy strives to create a convivial environment in which guests feel like they are at home as soon as they walk through the front door. If she’s not working on an Instagram post, you can find her reading, at the gym, or watching a State game.