I’ll be honest: the first time I rolled up to Rusty Hooks Dockside Grill in Southport, I wasn’t expecting much. Just another waterfront shack, I figured.
But then I watched them peel shrimp by hand, toss them in a fryer, and plate them with nothing but lemon and house-made cocktail sauce. That simplicity hit different.
This is how coastal North Carolina has cooked shrimp for generations, and Rusty Hooks keeps that tradition alive without the fuss or fancy plating. You’ll see that it is something truly special.
Where You’re Headed (And Why Locals Love It)
Rusty Hooks Dockside Grill sits right at 4907 Fish Factory Road SE in Southport, perched on the Intracoastal Waterway where boats drift past and the breeze carries salt. Locals pack this place because it feels honest, unpretentious, and refreshingly real…