With boat access, sunset views and an elevated coastal menu, Marina Joes brings a fresh waterfront dining experience to Surf City.
Marina Joes is one of those restaurants where the setting plays a hefty role in the dining experience before the food ever reaches the table.
Newly opened along the Intracoastal Waterway in Surf City, Marina Joes brings together wide waterfront views, boat access, generous indoor and outdoor bar space and a dining room filled with natural light from floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the marsh and sunset beyond. From nearly every seat upstairs, the view stretches across the water toward the bridge.
Marina Joes was brought to life by primary owner Joe Lyons, with his wife, Katie Lyons, playing a hands-on role in shaping the project from the start. The ownership group also includes investor partners Scott and Clay Darrohn, along with Wilmington restaurateur Justin Smith, whose experience opening and operating successful local restaurants helped guide the vision as it came together.
For Scott Darrohn, the story of Marina Joes begins with Joe Lyons’ long-term vision for the property, along with the steady growth happening across Surf City and the surrounding area. As more people move in and spend time along Topsail Island, the demand for new dining experiences has continued to grow.
“He [Joe Lyons] purchased the land a couple years back with the vision of opening up the restaurant,” Darrohn says. “And we’ve seen the growth in this area, especially from Wilmington up. Surf City’s blowing up.”
From the start, the goal was to create a place that feels welcoming to locals while still offering something distinctive enough to become a destination for visitors arriving by car or by boat.
“You’re going to be able to pull your boats up,” Darrohn says. “It’s the only one that I’m aware of on Topsail Island.”
That access to the water shapes nearly everything about the experience. The building was constructed from the ground up, elevated above the shoreline and designed to take full advantage of its location along the Intracoastal. Inside, long banks of windows bring in sunlight throughout the day and give you a clear view of the marsh, the boats going by and the water.
Once you’re there, it’s the kind of place that makes you want to stick around rather than rush through your meal.
The first level centers around a large bar designed as a gathering space as much as a place to order a drink, with room for watching games, meeting friends or stopping in after a day on the water. Upstairs, the main dining room opens toward the sunset with another bar and an outdoor deck that extends the view even farther.
“Really home run sunsets,” Darrohn says, describing the kind of setting that naturally becomes part of the experience.
The setting may be the first thing people notice, but the menu is designed to give them a reason to return.
Seafood anchors much of the lineup, starting with raw and chilled options like local oysters on the half shell and a jumbo roasted shrimp cocktail along with shareable plates like tuna poke nachos and a stacked Marina Tower that brings together oysters, shrimp and poke in one order. From there, the menu moves into a mix of small plates and coastal favorites that feel familiar but still a step above what you might expect.
Dishes like roasted oysters with lemon bacon butter, mussels in white wine and herbs, and Sunset Shrimp with a sweet chili glaze lean into the waterfront setting, while options like blistered shishito peppers, street corn ribs and chicken lollipops give groups plenty to share around the table.
There’s also a seafood chowder and a range of lighter options, including salads topped with grilled shrimp or chicken.
For handhelds, a crispy fish sandwich, a fried green tomato BLT and a classic po’ boy keep things casual, while the Dockside Steak Melt and Marina Burger add heartier options. On the entrée side, dishes like chargrilled filet topped with lump crab, grilled swordfish with chimichurri, shrimp and grits, and a West Coast-style cioppino round out the coastal focus.
Darrohn says the goal is to create something that feels a step above what diners typically find on the island, while still keeping it approachable.
“There’s really nothing else like it,” he says.
Local sourcing will also play a role as the kitchen develops its rhythm through the summer and beyond.
Marina Joes was designed from the beginning as a year-round gathering place rather than a seasonal stop. The bar area includes multiple large televisions for sporting events, while the decks and dining spaces make it easy to enjoy the restaurant throughout the year.
“We really want to appeal to locals,” Darrohn says. “We want people to feel like they’re on vacation even though they’re right here at home.”
The space is also designed to host a range of events throughout the year, giving it a role beyond day-to-day dining. From smaller gatherings to weddings in the shoulder season, the layout allows the restaurant to shift easily depending on the occasion. Darrohn says the team expects the venue to become a go-to option for celebrations, especially in the fall months when the crowds thin out but the waterfront setting still draws people in.
From the beginning, the goal has been to create a setting that stands out the moment guests arrive and experience it for themselves.
“It’s going to be unique for everybody that goes to it,” Darrohn says.
NOT YOUR ORDINARY JOE
Marina Joes
209 N. New River Drive, Surf City
marinajoes_nc
marinajoes.com
