This NC waterfront restaurant ranks among the nation’s best. Here’s why
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- USA Today's 10Best experts to pick waterfront restaurants. Readers chose their favorites.
- Lawson’s on the Creek in New Bern ranks No. 5 on the national list.
- The restaurant offers views of the Trent River, and its menu focuses on sandwiches.
A North Carolina destination serves sandwiches with a view — and ranks among the nation’s best waterfront restaurants.
Lawson’s on the Creek in New Bern is No. 5 on a list of the top places to chow down and soak up the scenery, according to results published April 22.
“We first eat with our eyes, as the saying goes, and waterfront restaurants offer breathtaking views beyond the beauty of the food they serve,” USA Today’s 10Best wrote in its report. “Pairing culinary delights against the picturesque backdrops of lakes, rivers, and oceans, every meal is a feast for the senses.”
To determine the “most exceptional” waterfront restaurants in the country, 10Best said it asked travel experts to nominate places with “outstanding service, delicious meals crafted from fresh, high-quality ingredients, and especially stunning views.” Editors narrowed down the choices before allowing readers to spend a month voting on their favorites.
Why fans love the waterfront restaurant
On the resulting list of readers’ choice award winners, Lawson’s on the Creek was the only North Carolina restaurant to land in the top 10. The dining destination is in New Bern, a roughly 115-mile drive southeast from downtown Raleigh.
“Sandwiches are the main draw at Lawson’s on the Creek, a deli-style North Carolina cafe that overlooks the Trent River,” 10Best wrote in its report. “Upon arrival, guests can snag a seat on the waterfront patio and peruse the food menu, with corned beef Reubens, turkey BLTs, and grilled cheese being just a few of the decadent dishes available for diners.”
Lawson’s on the Creek also serves beer, wine, salads and other lunchtime favorites. Two brothers “set out to open a restaurant on the water that every one can enjoy” before opening the shop at the N.C. History Center, according to the business’ website.
New Bern, home to roughly 34,000 people, has been recognized in the past. In 2021, it was named one of the best small towns to visit in the South. And this year, it ranked No. 25 on a list of the nation’s “most desirable” places to live, The News & Observer previously reported.
Other top places to eat
In the latest rankings, 10Best said the nation’s No. 1 waterfront restaurant was Beach House Grill on Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
In addition to waterfront restaurants, 10Best asked readers to vote for other top food-related attractions across the United States. Here are the North Carolina highlights:
- Optimist Hall in Charlotte at No. 8 in best food halls
- The Market at 7th Street in Charlotte at No. 9 in best food halls
In the past, 10Best has told The N&O it doesn’t reveal the number of people who vote in its contests.
