I went last night with some friends. We liked it, good food, cold beers, Great Service. Â I can't say enough about Christin, she rocked it. Â Glasses were always full and she had a great smile about it. Â I had the Shrimp and Grits as did a friend. Â The other guest had the pork chop. Â Everything was tasty!
Review Source:Real nice interior. Classic old-styled restaurant and decor. Â Not what you would expect from a strip-mall restaurant.
The wine list was pretty broad, the beer selection included a nice array of craft breweries. They were even having a special dinner event with beer pairings in the back party room.
We ordered the calamari appetizer, salmon Honolulu, and duck breast with apples. The calamari batter was great, not too heavy and deliciously seasoned. The string beans were fresh, all the portions were large, and the fish and duck were fantastic. The waitress was friendly and helpful. The chef came over to check on us personally, which was very nice. My only complaint is the chocolate soufflé was not a "soufflé" but a chocolate lava cake.
This is a finer establishment, with prices a little higher than others in the neighborhood but they deliver a great service and product.
It is what it is. If you are looking for culinary delights, I am afraid you are in the wrong town. It's a sports bar, with plenty of tvs so you can get a good angle of the game where ever you are sitting. Grab a buddy, throw on your jersey and drink a beer and don't forget to obnoxiously root for your losing team. Now if you are annoyed by this scene, you probably should try another restaurant. If you are looking for fine dining, the menu is limited. Although the outside sign proclaims bison, I suspect it's seasonal, because the game options were limited to elk. The crab dip was fine, and needed as the waitress recommended, extra slices of toast. The duck salad was delicious, although I'm glad the raspberry glaze vinaigrette sank to the bottom of the plate, with its unnaturally bright colorant, it made the endives pale in comparison. Don't get too excited about the duck confit, but the flavors fit well and the peppered tuna steaks were fairly decent. The salmon dish was plenty in portion, cheese grits were tasty, but not much else stands out. If you are into fruity vodka drinks, this is definitely your place. If you want a serious Manhattan up... expect ice chips floating on the top (apparently they don't have tight strainers).
Review Source:My husband and I came here for a couple drinks and an appetizer in the bar area. Â The outside of this place looks kind of dumpy, but it's actually a nice looking 3-in-1 inside: a restaurant and bar in the front and a DJ dance area in the back.
We ordered the Hot Crab Dip and were VERY disappointed. Â We thought it not only had a gross texture, but had a nasty taste too, so I asked the waitress if it was made with real or imitation crab and she confirmed our suspicions: fake crab (which is made from fish). Â Who falsely lists a "Hot Crab Dip" and doesn't mention on the menu that it's not actually crab? Â
The second fail was when I ordered a glass of champagne and got a flute glass filled with something as flat and uncarbonated as chardonnay. Â
This experience doesn't exactly make me want to come running back for their over-priced, inaccurately listed fare, but I may try their dinner menu in the far future.
Excellent food.
Went there on a Tuesday night at around 2000hrs and there was no problem getting a table in the restaurant. Â I had the Seared Tuna to start and it was simply delicious, I could have eaten a couple more, but a good job I didn't as the main was of equal quality. Â The elk steak was cooked rare and exactly as I asked. Â The whole meal looked and tasted great. Â Some will say that it was pricey but you get what you pay for and this was definitely worth it. Â Portions were just the right size and left room for a pudding of chocolate layer cake with which I ordered a portion of vanilla ice cream. Â I think without the ice cream it would have been a little much but as it was it was perfect. Â Coming from England I wish we could get pudding of this quality without having to search.
The staff were very friendly and helpful and we enjoyed a thoroughly enjoyable evening.
We went to Duck's to celebrate my birthday with a group of friends. Â I called and made a reservation the day before, and we got to the restaurant about ten minutes early. Â They already had the table set up for us, and we were seated without any wait at all. Â We ordered several drinks from the bar as well as several appetizers: the calamari, the shrimp cocktail, and the mussels. Â All were good, especially the mussels. Â The shrimp was HUGE. Â For dinner, my husband got the elk chop, and I ordered the lamb. Â Both, again, were good. Â We definitely had a good time at the restaurant, enjoyed our food, the service was good. Â There really were no complaints at all. Â The only downside, really, is that I feel like it maybe is a teensy bit overpriced -- it was almost $100 for the two of us -- and while the food was definitely good, it wasn't $100 good. Â Nevertheless, we agreed that Duck's would be a place we would return to for special occasions. Â They also seem to have an unspoken dress code. Â I don't know that they'd turn anyone away, and you don't have to wear a suit and tie or anything, but it is the type of place you'd want to dress nicely for (they even have a sign on the door asking for proper dress). Â Also, don't let the exterior fool you. Â We've driven by a million times and never gone in because it looks dirty and trashy from the outside. Â Inside, it's very nice, and both the food and the service are good. Â Definitely a nice break from the million chain restaurants that make up Jacksonville, NC.
Review Source:I really like this bar. It's the only "classy" bar that I've found in Jacksonville, that isn't teeming with underage or "I'm so excited that I just turned 21" boys and girls. From the outside, it might not be impressive, but once you step inside, it's actually very nice. The set-up of the bar reminds me of English pubs, and they have a decent beer and wine selection.
The food is also very good. I have never gone with a reservation - generally, I just walk in - and I haven't had a problem yet. A reservation might be a good idea, however, because it is a rather small restaurant. It's quite expensive, but from what I have tasted, they use quality ingredients and try to stay with meats/produce that are in-season.
We arrived the restaurant around 7:45 pm on a Sunday.  It looked like that a thunder storm is brewing and we had our dog with us and he is afraid of thunder and we did not want to leave him in the car.  We were able to have our dinner at the outdoor patio with our dog tied to a leash.  Great service.  My husband had the perfectly sautéed shrimp and I had the tasty swordfish, the catch of the day.  Although the fish dish was at the expensive side at $28. We will definitely return.
Review Source:We started with the crab dip, which was just ok... nothing great. Honestly, it tasted like cream cheese with a hint of crab flavor. Yes, it had lots of crab in it, but it tasted mostly like cream cheese. I wouldn't order it again. For an appetizer we also had the shrimp en brochette-- good flavor, I just wish the shrimp weren't overcooked. Â For dinner my husband ordered the roast shoulder tenderloin-- good, but the risotto that came with it wasn't cooked long enough. I ordered the pesto scallops-- the scallops were seasoned and cooked perfectly, the pasta that came with it was just ok, nothing special. The kids had a cheeseburger with fries-- tasty. Overall, ok food, but a bit pricey for the quality served. I've been to 5 star restaurants that weren't priced much higher. Granted the portions at Ducks are probably larger, but I'd rather have really great food and less of it for the prices they charge. Overall, it is ok food that comes with a price tag you'd expect of much better food.
Review Source:Meh.
If you go in without a reservation, you might be greeted with a great deal of attitude from the hostesses.
If you go with a reservation, you'll be seated right away.
The food was pretty good, but not sure it was worth the price. We had the crab dip & it didn't taste fresh & wasn't that great. I had the 3-meat lasagna, it was good but not amazing - honestly it tasted like leftovers & the meat was a little dry. Hubs had a special; the tropical mahi mahi something with a yummy mango chutney - he said it was average & he won't get it again. The seafood risotto looked really good, the caprese salad also looked great & our friends said the duck was good.
Will go somewhere else next time...
Surprise surprise, on a business trip in Jacksonville, NC....didn't know where to go to have a nice dinner....used YELP to find it.....you'd never know DUCK's is a very nice high end  Bar and Grill....Menu selection was almost overwhelming in choices and the wine list is the best I've seen in NC...Highly recomend
Review Source:Oh boy. what an experience. Now, mind you I've heard the Swansboro location is better, but we went to the Jville one. Went there once. That was enough. Come on people. Jacksonville and classy don't go together. There were a bunch of officers there wanting everyone to know they were officers. Sadly classy become snooty and the thrill is gone. It was like being in some tunnel. My boyfriend and i both have our degrees and we thought the peacock show was ridiculous. Plus the food is expensive. The weirdest part was that its a sports bar and when we were given a menu it was uber-formal. Please ducks... Pick a format-Sports bar or restaurant- and improve. For now, I'll stick to the other sports bars. I'm in Jville for a few years and I'm no better than anyone and I like going to a sports bar where everyone dresses like they are at a sports bar. I know you can do it. I see potential!
Review Source:I love this place. Mostly because it is the only restaurant in Jacksonville that is semi upscale. You could drive by this place and never notice it.. I didnt for months! My husband and I went for our anniversary after a friend recommend it to me. The food was amazing and they had a good wine selection! I've only had one entree I didnt like and it was the seafood risotto. It tasted really 'winey', almost as if the wine didnt reduce enough. But I can get over not liking one dish. I will still go to this place! My husband ALWAYS makes his own pasta and he loves it!
Review Source:Impressed with the menu and quality of the food. The outside is unassuming and doesn't set you up for the inside. Once inside the decor is nice with a noted (and welcomed) absence of the early 20 year old crowd who are more interested in drink than a good meal. Â For the area it's definitely 5 star. If they were elsewhere I'd only give them a 4. The waitress was nice but she was a little lacking on wine knowledge (it wasn't until she asked me for a third time was she able to distinguish the difference between me saying "Hess Select" and her hearing "White Zinfandel" lol!) & she consistently reached across the table to serve and clear. Â I had the lamb and asked for it without the reduced wine sauce. Excellent! My friend had it with and it was exceptional as well. All in my group (5 total) enjoyed our meals. I also enjoyed the spinach salad with fresh, lightly pan fried oysters drizzled with a warm bacon dressing. Â Make sure you check their website for their daily deals. We happened to dine on a Tuesday and enjoyed 1/2 price bottles of wine.
Review Source:We were in Jacksonville without knowing the area waiting to catch a flight the next morning. Â Looking for a nice place to have dinner and after reading the previous reviews on yelp and we came here. Â It was the perfect decision. Â When we pulled up we were not so sure, but as soon as we walked inside we knew. Â The food and service was excellent. Â Prices were reasonable. Â Bathroom were clean. Â
Would highly recommend this place.
Ducks takes bar food to the next level. Â The club sandwich sports just the right amount of everything; and the thick-cut steak fries are downright habit forming. Â My "special needs" husband (a vegetarian) loved the veggie stack sandwich -- and the kitchen happily modified an appetizer quesadilla to suit his situation (so good, I couldn't leave it alone). Â Prices are a bit higher at Duck's. Â But you pay a little more to get a little more. Â It's totally worth it. Â The classic pub atmosphere is a plus, too.
Review Source:This place has San Diego quality food in that it's really really delicious and on the upscale side. I had what I call an appetizer dinner on a Tuesday. Scallops, Fried ravioli, and steamer clams. I highly recommend the scallops and ravioli. The steamers were meh. I also got the crb cakes to go based on the bartenders recommendation that they are awesome. Ah but beware...this place sports San Diego prices too...my bill, by myself 4 appetizers (including the to-go) and two glasses wine came to $50. Spendy but delicious.
Review Source:My husband and I were looking for a semi-classy sports bar to watch baseball on a Friday night. We heard some good things about the restaurant part of Ducks Grille & Bar, so we decided to try out their Bar side. The restaurant side looked nice and was just as dimly lit as the Bar side. You saw everything from dressy-dressy to casual on both sides. The bar side is not huge and could probably hold about 50 ppl max. The groups sizes varied that Friday, with business men sitting solo at the bar, Â to groups of 5 or 6 hanging out or sitting in the booths. The age range for that Friday night was about 25-50 probably. The atmosphere was fun and laid back, with upbeat music in the background. We were there to watch sports, so the view of the TVs were most important to us. There were about 6 tvs, and the bartenders were nice enough to switch most of them to whatever the customers asked for.
Our waitress was nice but very professional... no small talk or southern charm included (no big deal, unless you're from Texas). We were surprised when we sat down in a booth, and our waitress gave us the "restaurant" menu (all the food descriptions sounded delicious, but it was a classier, semi-expensive menu, and definitely not the "bar food" we were wanting). When she came back, I asked if there was a "bar menu" which she then gave us (THANK GOODNESS!)
We ordered the Nachos with Chili as an appetizer (which could've easily fed 4 ppl as a starter) but it was so good we ended up finishing it all between the two of us. We're not talking the kind of nachos where they just put the fixins on and then pour all the chili on top (messy and soggy... yuck). These nachos were dressed nicely... looking like they had fixed them all up in layers of yumminess. They were awesome. For dinner, I ordered the grilled chicken sandwich (came with fries) and my hubby got the standard burger (also came with fries). Both were delicious, and exactly the type of bar food we were looking for :)
As far as the beer goes, I believe they have specials every night. Our beers were reasonably priced and the waitress was good about not over monitoring, but knowing exactly when to ask us if we wanted another round.
Overall, it was a good experience and we will definitely be going back here.
Food is great but really expensive for a really small quantity. Â And it wasn't really anything to write home about.
I like the bar part more. Â The beers are reasonably priced but high enough that young Marines looking to just get trashed tend to steer clear. Â I think that's really the best part of the place.
THIS place is actually on the waterfron in Swansboro North Carolina in the historic district behind the Ice House. Â No idea why it is not listed on the map as such. Â The waiter said there was a change in ownership, used to be the Gourmet Cafe, now has ownership by the folks who own the Ducks in Jacksonville off Gum branch Road. Â Meal was good ans we were seated right away. Â Shared the stuffed tenderloin (pork) which was very good, greek salad was good too. Â Usually we split as portions are so large but we both walked away hungry so next time we will not split. Â Meal was very good but a bit pricey. Â Martini was cucuber mint and our wine was Columbia crest. Â Drinks were about standard price for the area. Â This was the official start of off season at this resort town so I am not sure what the wait would be like in the summer. Â Other tables seemed very happy with their meals as well. Â In this area that is somewhat short of gustatory delights this place seems to be a good although not spectacular.
Review Source:Duck's may be one of the best kept secrets in Jacksonville. It really is the best of both worlds. On one side you have a nice, classy sports bar, then in the middle you have an upscale, semi-fancy dining area, and then to the right is an outer bar with an area for music and dancing. However, the service is hit or miss. Some nights are good, others have a lot to be desired. So cross your fingers for a good waitress. Other than that, the food is amazing. They often have great special entrees that are hard to find in other local restaurants. Their Fillet, Chilean Sea Bass, and Chicken Parmesan are among my top favorites. Be prepared to pay more than other local venues, but the food is worth it and it has a great atmosphere.
Review Source:This is my favorite restaurant in Jacksonville! My husband and I go here for all kinds of occasions. Dress code can be casual but we also dress up for special occasions. For the past two years, we have ate here on Valentine's day. Anytime we come we never have to wait, the wait staff is very professional and always top notch. My favorite thing about Ducks is there ever changing weekly Chef creations. It's great to try new menu items every time we go. We never get bored eating here. Weekly specials are always available from all you can eat chicken wing Monday, to professional night Wed (martini specials), and Friday night $2 shooters. There are two sides to the restaurant. IF you go to the bar side, beware as there is not a lot of bar space to choose from and it fills up quickly! Overall, a great restaurant and I never miss an opportunity to celebrate in this hometown atmosphere.
Review Source:So my brother in law was stationed in Jacksonville NC for a couple of years about 18 months ago (wow has it really been that long since ive been here?) im just now getting around to writing a review cause i think i should even though it is only on one food item :) On one of my trips back there it was during football season and I am a big football fan... a guy I was friends with that was also a Marine told me he thought I should check out Ducks because it would probably be a little more key and more my style than the other loud, young, drunken crowd... Well he was right.  I sat in the back area not the main restaurant, where there were TVs and lucky for me it wasn't too crowded and when i asked them to put my game on they had no problem doing it...  I felt fine being there by myself  and I ended up ordering super casual... the grilled chicken sandwich (plain with cheese) and their homemade fries.  Well... i was SUPER delighted with the food.  i figured it was kind of more like bar food (after reading the other reviews i guess it really is a restaurant)...  Their homemade fries are SOOOOOO yummy!  I mean, let me just say I'm pretty picky, and pretty plain... but EVERY single time I visited jacksonville after that, I had to make a trip to Ducks.  Now that my bro in law is stationed in Beaufort... im not sure ill ever get the chance to eat there again, and ill tell you what, sometimes i just crave it!  Overall, the atmosphere was nice and the food was definitely good for the price.
Review Source:My boyfriend took me here last night for an early dinner. It was Sunday and there were a lot of people there to watch sports on the TV, so the place was crowded. The first thing I noticed was the smell of cigarette smoke in the entire restaurant. GROSS!!! I made mention of this to the hostess who said a law was thinking of being passed in jan to ban smoking in restaurants. Why is this just now being discussed? Anyways, the food. I ordered the pork tenderloin. It came with garlic mashed potatoes, and string beans. The beans were not great at all. The potatoes were cold even though my waitress told me that they might not be ready in time, and the pork was fine. Perhaps I'm just spoiled because I get to live in a city with some of the most amazing restaurants in the world, but I was definitely not impressed by this place.
Review Source:<a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ducksgrilleandbar.com%2F&s=e91e54692b391cb33be9f5f5ed48a96d2f5f5d7828601293bffbb3ffce0cb5fd" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.ducksgrillean…</a>
The Spousal Unit and I enjoyed dinner at Duck's about a week ago. We dropped in on a Friday evening and the place was packed, although we didn't have to wait long for a table.
The restaurant is dark and LOUD. I would describe the decor as a sort of cliched steakhouse/club look. There is dark wood, stained glass and hunting themed framed prints. We were seated in a booth adjacent to a party of twelve that occupied tables that would have seated eight comfortably. On the other side of our booth was the standing-room only bar. It was difficult for us to converse as the booth seemed to act like a funnel for noise from that party of 12. On the other hand, we could have conspired against the world with impunity because no one would be able to overhear our conversation.
I had the double cut lamb chops, $22.95. The generously portioned chops were served rare as ordered, Â with "a garlic and herbed potato cake pared [sic] with a pinot noir demi glace." Â It also came with a few spears of crispy-tender cooked asparagus. Â The potato cake appeared to be shredded potato which was redolent with rosemary (which I love); those shying away from salt will not want to eat this potato side as it was almost indelibly salty. Â Keep in mind when I say that that I carry a seasalt grinder in my purse; I'll eat a salt level that most people will not.
My husband opted for the 12 oz. Allen Brother's New York Strip steak ($23.95) as he was anxious to compare the Allen Brother's beef to the mail order steaks that we eat at home. Â His steak also was served rare as he had ordered. Â He also had asparagus and oven roasted potatoes. Â The potatoes were very odd. Â In the low light at our table, they appeared to be completely black! Â I bit through one piece so I could look at it in cross section and found it to be black all the way through. Â We discussed whether they might be the fancy purple potatoes, but we both thought that if that was the case it would have been mentioned on the menu which touts things like bleu cheese, the pinot noir demi glace or rosemary butter which can be added for $3.50. Â The steak was tender, but he reported that it was not particularly flavorful, so much so that he said something like "I can see that I'm eating steak, but it doesn't taste like a steak."
Service was friendly, if not as observant as I'd like. Â I would have ordered a glass of wine to go with my lamb after I finished my drink from the bar, but the waitress was gone so long that I was practically finished eating before I had a chance, so I didn't bother. Â Looking at the wine list, prices are pretty reasonable for wine by the bottle.
I would describe my experience here as okay, but not good enough to motivate me to return. Â For this area, this is an expensive restaurant. Â They seem to be reaching for a level of sophistication that they don't quite attain. Â Being that I live here now, I suspect that this is one of my better dining options and I'll end up returning anyway. Â Personally, I would prefer simplified dishes or a pared down menu with fewer offerings that came out of the kitchen with better execution.
Went here with a friend and her son, didn't really feel like a child friendly place, although they do have a kids menu. Food was pretty awesome, but the prices were pretty high!
We ordered the crab dip (so so so good!), and she got the steak (which had alot of fat on it), and I got the pasta (which was yummy!). The little munchkin ordered french fries and chicken strips, and those were good too.
Seems like a nice place for a romantic date, but not so much for taking the kiddies out for dinner.
A good place where lots of locals hang out. The place is about half bar/half restaurant and is not that big. But, it's big enough that we've never had to wait to be seated - even with a party of 8 we only had to wait a few minutes (maybe it was just luck!).
The food is generally above par, with a few superb dishes (BBQ ribs and crab dip appetizer to name two!) and a few so-so dishes (I haven't been overly impressed with the salads). While lunches can be on the inexpensive side if you just go for one of their yummy wraps, dinners can be quite a bit more expensive if you go for the ribs or a filet mignon (both of which I have had and can recommend).
I have also been here as part of a large function, and that was a good experience as well. They have a large room off to the side of the restaurant that can be closed off for private parties.
As far as attire, it is everything from casual to dressy, but I would say casual is appropriate. You will find everything from construction workers and business folks to kids in tuxes and formals for prom.
The 5 best restaurants in the 2015 Denver Restaurant Week
3,611 Views | Category: Denver
The complete list of 2015 Denver Restaurant Week businesses
1,972 Views | Category: Denver
The tourists' guide to Portillos: 5 must have dishes
3,318 Views | Category: Chicago
Pho = Pronounced "fuh" not "foe" for pho-king sake
2,915 Views | Category: Denver
Indulgery selected to exhibit at Collision Conference
2,987 Views | Category: Press Releases
Not Logged In
BUSINESSES
Local Businesses
Near Me
My Favorites
SOCIAL
Blog & News
MY ACCOUNT
Login
Register
Contact Us
Add Your Business
