Clawson’s 1905 Restaurant and Pub

For one of the most beloved historic dining experiences along Beaufort’s waterfront, Clawson’s 1905 Restaurant and Pub is a real treasure. Housed in a historic brick building in the heart of Beaufort, NC, this beloved restaurant blends more than a century of local history with a thoughtful menu of coastal classics and eight rotating NC craft brews on tap.

The building’s history dates back to 1905, when Swedish and Irish immigrants Charles and Mary Clawson opened a grocery store in the same brick building that houses today’s restaurant and pub. The restaurant takes its name from that original founding date and still preserves much of the building’s early-20th-century character. Be sure to check out the pictures below to get a feel for Clawson’s 1905 Restaurant and Pub before you go — or to relive the visit after.

A Historic Brick Building with Clawson Family Roots

The building that houses Clawson’s was originally home to a grocery store opened in 1905 by Swedish and Irish immigrants Charles and Mary Clawson. The grocery store became a fixture of early-20th-century Beaufort life, serving the working coastal town through decades of economic and cultural change.

Today, the historic brick building is home to Clawson’s 1905 Restaurant and Pub — a beloved waterfront restaurant that honors the family’s legacy. The restaurant’s name pays tribute to the original 1905 grocery store. Inside, the interior preserves the spirit of that earlier era through antique décor, 1920s photos, and memorabilia lining the brick walls and wooden booths. Each visit feels like a small trip through Beaufort’s broader maritime and immigrant history.

A Menu of Coastal Classics

The Clawson’s menu balances Southern comfort food with locally sourced coastal seafood. The kitchen serves a mix of made-to-order classics that lean heavily into Carteret County‘s working maritime tradition:

• Shrimp and grits — A coastal Carolina favorite featuring fresh local shrimp
• Crab cakes — Hand-formed and pan-seared
• Hand-pattied Angus burgers — A pub staple, served with locally inspired toppings
• Zesty ribs — Slow-cooked and seasoned with house spices
• Locally sourced seafood — Rotating selections based on what’s freshest from the working watermen of the broader Crystal Coast

The menu rotates seasonally to feature the best local catches as they come in.

Eight Rotating NC Craft Brews and Friday Night Flights

For beer enthusiasts, Clawson’s runs one of the best craft beer programs on the Beaufort waterfront. The pub features eight rotating North Carolina craft brews on tap — a thoughtful, regularly refreshed selection that highlights breweries from across the state.

The standout feature is the pub’s monthly “Friday Night Flights” event, which offers free tastings of select beers. The event has become a favorite among locals and visiting beer enthusiasts looking to sample new NC brews in a historic setting.

Good to Know

• Building history: 1905, original grocery store opened by Charles and Mary Clawson (Swedish and Irish immigrants)
• Restaurant namesake: Pays tribute to the original 1905 grocery store
• Location: Historic brick building on the Beaufort waterfront, Beaufort, NC
• Cuisine: Coastal classics, hand-formed crab cakes, shrimp and grits, hand-pattied Angus burgers, ribs, locally sourced seafood
• Drinks: Eight rotating North Carolina craft brews on tap; monthly Friday Night Flights with free tastings
• Atmosphere: Historic; antique décor, 1920s photos, memorabilia on brick walls and wooden booths
• Hours: Open year-round for lunch and dinner (check the Clawson’s website for current hours)
• Best for: History enthusiasts, beer lovers, families, couples, and visitors looking for waterfront dining with a rich local backstory
• Pair with: A walk along the Beaufort waterfront, a daytime visit to the North Carolina Maritime Museum, a tour of the Beaufort Historic Site, or an evening on the Beaufort Ghost Walk
• Located on the Beaufort waterfront in Beaufort, NC

A Beaufort Highlight

Clawson’s 1905 Restaurant and Pub is the kind of stop that genuinely captures the layered character of one of Beaufort’s oldest commercial buildings. The 1905 origin as a Swedish-Irish immigrant grocery store gives the restaurant a depth of local history that few other waterfront restaurants can match.

The menu of coastal classics — shrimp and grits, crab cakes, hand-pattied Angus burgers — pairs beautifully with the restaurant’s historic setting. The locally sourced seafood ensures every plate reflects the working maritime tradition of the broader Crystal Coast.

The drink program adds another layer to the experience. Eight rotating NC craft brews on tap and monthly Friday Night Flights events have made Clawson’s a favorite stop for beer enthusiasts working their way through the state’s broader craft beer scene.

Whether you’re a Front Street regular, a beer lover chasing rotating NC drafts, or a visitor seeking a historic waterfront dinner in Beaufort, this is one of the most distinctive food and beverage stops you can make in Carteret County.

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Resources

Clawson’s Website

Clawson’s Restaurant Instagram

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