On our way to Cedar Island Resort in southern North Carolina we passed a huge sign for Sanitary Restaurant Morehead City, NC. I commented to Steve that it was an odd name for a restaurant and fish market. But one thing for sure, with a name like that cleanliness is a priority.

Fantastic scenery!

Just in case we didn’t know where we were!

Being so isolated at Cedar Island we decided to venture out for lunch and some sightseeing. It took us about an hour to get to Morehead City but it was a pleasant drive. One of our priorities during this pandemic is to find restaurants where we can dine outside. Sanitary Fish Market and Restaurant fit the bill perfectly. It is a very large restaurant that sits right on the water. Dining outside was delightful even in late July. The breeze off the water kept us cool and a roof provided much needed shade. The place is rustic which is perfect for a spot where you could pull up to the dock in your boat for a bite to eat. As we waited to order we got to see so many different boats pull up and dock as well as several that were just cruising the waterway.

Great menu

Waiting for our lunch at Sanitary Restaurant, Morehead City, NC so I can take the pictures.

The menu had predominantly seafood options exactly as you would expect. My mouth was watering when I read the descriptions. And then I spotted a soft-shelled crab BLT. That is just what I longed for. To my disappointment, they were sold out of soft-shelled crab. So I opted for the next best thing. I ordered the Shrimp Burger which was served in a toasted hamburger bun with juicy tomato, lettuce and a tangy sauce. A choice of fries or onion rings is offered as a side and I chose the perfectly crispy fries. Steve ordered the Fried Clam Strips, which came with coleslaw and a side of those same yummy fries. Before we even ordered we were served a complimentary basket of delicious hush puppies served with tartar sauce. They were so good I could have made a meal of just hush puppies.

Yummy food

Clam Strips with Coleslaw and French Fries. Check out those Hush Puppies too!

Shrimp Burger and Fries at Sanitary Restaurant, Morehead City, NC

Steve’s clam strips were really, really good! They reminded us of the days when we used to go to Howard Johnson’s for All You Can Eat fried clams. Only these were far better. The coating was very crunchy, the clams were tender and they were practically greaser free. He was generous enough (NOT) to give me one clam strip. My shrimp burger was not a burger in the traditional sense. It was a large portion of succulent fried shrimp with a piquant sauce that reminded me a bit of a Thai sweet chili garlic sauce. It was messy but absolutely delicious.

When we were almost finished our lunch we saw some amazing desserts being served. We looked at them and thought maybe we should save some room. However our food was too tasty to leave any on our plates. So alas, no dessert for us.

History

History and memorabilia abound at Sanitary Restaurant, Morehead City, NC

After lunch we wandered through the market area to enjoy all of the memorabilia along with the history of the place. It was opened in 1938 by two boat captains Tony Seamon, Sr. and Ted Garner, Sr. Today, although the Seamon family is no longer involved, the Garner family still owns and runs the business. They serve 40,000 pounds of flounder; 75,000 pounds of shrimp; 20,000 pounds of bluefish and mullet; and 10,000 pounds of scallops each year.

The story about Sanitary Restaurant

And you may wonder how they chose the name. The proprietor of the first building stipulated that the building had to be kept very clean. To show compliance with the cleanliness requirements and to let the public know that is was a very clean place suitable for a family dinner, the founders named it the Sanitary Fish Market. As John Tunnell, long-time Manager at the Sanitary, said “Most fish markets at the time were always dirty, so Captain Tony and Captain Ted called it the Sanitary because they wanted people to know it was clean.”

The Traveling Locavores highly recommend having a meal or two at Sanitary Restaurant in Morehead City, NC!