One of our favorite places to dine in Emerald Isle is Rucker Johns. Situated in a beautiful canal-side spot in the Emerald Plantation shopping center, the restaraunt features seafood, steaks, burgers, huge fresh salads, island favorites, and much more. They offer crayons and coloring pages for kids, and have a fully stocked bar and bar area for adult patrons.

Having eaten there dozens of times over the years, I'd say my favorite appetizer is the calimari, and my Tiff would undoubtedly pick the beer-battered mushrooms. You can't go wrong with any of the main courses, and the specials are often some of the best fresh seafood Emerald Isle has to offer.

For a bit of history, we turn to the official Rucker Johns about page:

Our immediate family/owners right now is made up of Chris Johns, his wife Polly Rucker Johns and Deborah Rucker who has the double pleasure of being the Mother-in-law of Chris and Mom of Polly. Now just because the order ended up being Rucker first (SO IT WOULDN'T be called JOHNSRUCKER or JOHN RUCKER), Polly and Deborah will be the first to tell you that the success behind this business goes mainly to Chris' great leadership and wisdom. Chris and Polly had gained restaurant experience while attending college and after they were married. I don't think either of them had any idea God was putting them together for a bigger plan such as the one that developed and was born right here on Emerald Isle in 1987. Yes we gave birth (it felt like it) to RuckerJohns that February and I (Mom) had to go home on opening night and keep a sick grandchild for Polly's sister Cyndi who started off helping them with bartending and serving. ”I was the most expendable one that opening night so I lay on the couch with a sick Steven and prayed for my family. This was to be pretty much a role of mine continuously through many of the growing steps we had to master."

For more on Rucker Johns in Emerald Isle (or sister location in Wilmington), visit their website, where you can also view the Rucker Johns menu.