Waterfront Dining
in
Historic Beaufort, NC

“Moonrakers,” named after the rectangle sail flown at the uppermost height of a three-mast 17th-century ship, is a state-of-the-art, upper-casual, full-service restaurant located in the Beaufort Historical District.

A dining destination offering friendly, neighborly service, along with excellent food, Moonrakers Coastal Cuisine features a captivating dining room and bar overlooking the waterfront on the ground floor including 14-foot open ceilings, display kitchen, custom mural, acoustical sails, dedicated wine wall and a wood fired brick oven. The comfortable décor is centered around an inviting, light, and airy coastal themed atmosphere featuring amazing original artwork of the area and sounds of local musicians for entertainment. The ground floor includes a covered open-air dining space overlooking the coastal waterway.

Sipping on the Dock of the Bay

With three floors of amazing waterfront dining, a creative beverage program is a must, and Moonrakers works tirelessly on ours. From our handcrafted cocktails to frozen favorites, our spirits are always high on Taylors Creek. For our hops lovers, we offer a great selection of local craft beers along with your domestic and international favorites, but our house favorite is our own Boomkicker Kölsch brewed right over the bridge in Atlantic Beach by our friends at Crystal Coast Brewing Company.

Saving the best for last, Moonrakers has received “The Award of Excellence” in Wine Spectator’s 2019, 2020, 2021 & 2022. Dining Guides. This coveted award recognizes restaurants whose wine lists offer at least 90 selections, are appropriate to their cuisine, and appeal to a wide range of wine lovers. From light, blush colored rosé to big California Cabs, we want to you to have the perfect wine for the moment.

Private Wine Lockers

A Premium Offer for the Discerning Wine Lover

Moonrakers is excited to offer twenty private wine lockers on premises for frequent guests and wine lovers who are looking to enhance their dining experience with us. Lockers come with custom owner plaques, discounted wine purchasing opportunities, and an invitation to attend private wine tasting events throughout the year. Locker-holders also enjoy early registration and exclusive pricing to special events.

Please speak to a manager to apply for a wine locker.

Good Times Await

Sip, savor, and stay awhile. Our tables are set and all that is missing is you. Take a moment to lock in your table for Beaufort’s newest waterfront dining destination. From laidback good times with a glass of rosé, to fun, family dinners or an impromptu brunch, the entire Moonrakers team can’t wait to make sure you have an amazing experience with us.

Hours

Monday 11-9
Tuesday & Wednesday CLOSED
Thursday 11-9
Friday & Saturday 11-10
Sunday 11-9

252.838.0083

Reservations Recommended.
Walk-ins always welcome.

Reserve Online
for Inside Dining

Private Dining

Welcome to the Concorde Gallery, our 2nd floor dining and private event space perfect for your next special occasion accommodating up to 80 guests. From rehearsal dinners and smaller wedding receptions, to milestone birthday parties, corporate functions and holiday parties, you’ll find the Concorde Gallery with its sweeping waterfront views and accompanying veranda will wow your guests. Our Moonrakers team will work closely with you to execute your vision of the perfect menu and service style for your event. Whether you are interested in cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvres or a multi-course dinner featuring gluten-friendly cuisine, Moonrakers’ experienced staff looks forward to assisting you with your event to provide the ideal experience.

Book the Entire Restaurant

For larger events, Moonrakers also offers the possibility of exclusive use of the restaurant. Here we can accommodate up to 140 guests for inside dining and provide the full attention of our staff.  To explore the opportunity of having exclusive use of Moonrakers, please use the “Book Your Event” tab below to discuss availability and pricing.

Book your event

Gifts and Gear

No matter the occasion, a Moonrakers gift card is a great gift for those who love good food, good views and good times! Shop for Moonrakers gear and gift cards in-store.

News & Weekly Events

sushi-night-moonrakers

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.

Follow Moonrakers

For the most up to date Moonrakers happenings, please follow us on Facebook & Instagram and add your name to our e-mail list.

* indicates required

Concorde Gallery

Sharon Bass

Moonrakers is proud to be a gallery for North Carolina artist Sharon Bass, hosting a picturesque collection of Sharon’s paintings in its Concorde Gallery and throughout the restaurant.

Sharon began sketching and drawing as a child in Asheville under the guiding influence of her parents. In high school, and thanks to a gifted and noble art teacher, she won a full scholarship to the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Sharon expanded her knowledge of painting, photography, and graphic design and studied abroad and worked in Paris through an international exchange program. She has been painting full-time since 2008.

As a “plein air painter,” Bass begins her paintings on-location in the style and tradition of the Impressionists.

Wine, dine, and refine your creative palate in Moonrakers’ Concorde Gallery with Sharon’s breathtaking canvas oil painting collection. You might even recognize some of her depictions of coastal landmarks.

Follow Sharon on Facebook

Purchase a Painting

Guest Artists

Heather Sink

Visit Website

Heather, a native of Britain, was fortunate to end up in the coastal town of Beaufort with her husband. After teaching art to students in the North Carolina public schools for many years and raising two children she decided to focus on her own art work.

Heather belonged to two plein air groups in England and has continued to paint her surroundings in the many places she has lived. Fortunately, the coastal light and area offer an abundance of subject matter to paint. She loves learning and takes workshops from artists that inspire her.

Heather loves to teach and work with other artists. Most years she takes students to different countries such as the UK, Italy and Mexico. Her desire to create and connect with the community has made Craving Art Studio a wonderful studio to work and share her love of art with others for the past ten years.

Jaquelin Perry

Visit Website

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 Manager, 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.

HOURS

Monday 11-9
Tuesday & Wednesday CLOSED
Thursday 11-9
Friday & Saturday 11-10
Sunday 11-9

Hiring for All Positions
Click Here to Apply

© 2024 Moonrakers