I’ve only been to Emerald Isle twice.  Once for a quick stay and then one extended 2 week vacation.  I actually thought the restaurant scene was much better in nearby Beaufort.  I think it was like a 20-30 minute trip depending on traffic.  The real cost effective gem there was the Beaufort Grocery Co.  They had great sandwiches and soup for lunch.  Everything was fresh.

We went to a couple other places in Beaufort and I’m sure I could hunt around and find them but I know they were pretty pricey.  Let me know if you are interested and I’ll see if I can remember them.

I’ve only been to Emerald Isle once, back in the 90’s, but I agree with hatteras04 that Beaufort is a better option for dining in the area.