Windansea: Artful Dining

Windansea is one of the original fine dining restaurants on the Morehead City waterfront offering everything but the typical fried seafood found in most of the area’s coastal restaurants. In January 2008, the restaurant begins its 11th year of providing casual fine dining and catering to the area. A proud member of Carteret Catch, Windansea uses the freshest local seafood and finest local seasonal produce whenever it’s available.

In addition to his 25 years experience as chef at the Coral Bay Club, along with various other restaurant & catering experiences in the Triangle area, David Greenleaf attributes Windansea’s success to having a dedicated, talented staff. He notes, “I surround myself with good staff. A really good kitchen crew makes a big difference in continuing quality.” He also credits maître d' Michael Beswick as “the brainchild” for the past summer’s most popular entrée special which featured sautéed shrimp over raviolis filled with shrimp and grits, served with a jalapeno cream sauce. The special was so popular, it is now being considered as a regular menu item.

Speaking of shrimp and grits, the restaurant offers the classic rendition of this dish, using the recipe of the late Bill Neal, pioneer of New Southern cuisine. The restaurant is also noted for its authentic wood oven which provides signature dishes including the wood-oven roasted grouper, homemade Italian sausage pizzas and more. Other popular specialties include 14-ounce, center cut certified Angus ribeye and New York strip steaks, dusted with chipotle peppers and chargrilled to order. Be sure to leave extra room for dessert, especially for the homemade ice cream.

Full service catering is another of Windansea’s biggest draws. From two people to 2000, on or off site, the restaurant reserves special menu options when it comes to catering. The soft-shell crabs are the most requested, being on about 90% of the catered menus. This in-demand dish is based on Harvey Hamilton’s 1979 authentic Down East recipe.

One final point of interest beyond the fabulous food is the extensive collection of paintings by renowned North Carolina artist Kyle Highsmith. The paintings’ vivid colors and bold use of canvas reflect the local coastal area and add to the casual feel of this fine dining restaurant.

Windansea is located on 708 Evans Street on the Morehead City waterfront. It offers an extensive wine list specializing in hearty cabernets. The restaurant can be booked for private parties, and reservations are recommended, but not required. Open Wednesday – Sunday beginning at 5:30pm, call for seasonal hours. Details, 252-247-3000 or windansea.net.