Provision Company

Great seafood right where it is being caught, with an outstanding view. It’s a simple summary, but one befitting of such a simple place.
Each time I come visit Oak Island, and by extension, Southport… I bring whoever is with me to this place for lunch. There is always universal praise by all. The staff here have this place running like a very well oiled machine. They stay busy, really busy, but they are efficient at what they do. Fresh and hot food comes in and out at rapid pace. The seating is outdoor only, but it is all under a covered deck with plenty of ceiling fans, and usually a constant sea breeze to cool you off a bit.
I recommend two things to any first timers… a yellowfin tuna sandwich, and conch fritters. The yellowfin is a generous cut of tuna steak with just the right amount of seasoning. You’re not going to find fresher fish anywhere around, even if you pay four times the price. The conch fritters are like a seafood hushpuppy in the best way possible. They pair perfectly with the creamy dipping sauce.
What really makes the place good is the ability to chill, watch the harbor, and enjoy good food and a drink or cocktail. Off hours are the best time to come, as lunch is dreadfully busy in-​season, and you’ll feel somewhat pressured to give up your table to the next guy. Not by the staff, just based on your wait.
Tips for newbies:
1. Once a table is ready, the hostess will ask for a personal item to mark your table. The way things work, they get you a table, but before you are seated you wait in line to order and pay for food. After that… you find the table with your item on it. Just make sure you have something.
2. Drinks are self-​serve unless you’re at the bar. Get your own refills. The only role of waiters here is to bring you your food.
3. Be kind to others. The seating can be tight as this place is popular. If someone bumps you or you bump others, pay it no mind, just say excuse me and move on.

We eat here every time we visit Southport when they are open. The food is great and the waterfront dining is superb! I particularly enjoy their Grouper salad sandwich! Highly recommend this to everyone!

I love this place. There Really isn’t anything special about the food but the atmosphere is amazing. Great water view, self serve honor system drinks (including alcohol), and friendly people.

It’s really a non-rating…sorry. You were CLOSED.
We tried to have lunch there today and a sign on the door said it is closed for the season. Just an FYI.
But we did enjoy a nice lunch at Fishy Fishy.
We will try this restaurant on a future visit.

The provision company, THE place to eat if you go to south port (you should). Simple fresh seafood to enjoy next to the ocean. I love it. I have not much more to say about as this simplicity is what makes it good and feels you are going back to roots: good ol’ shrimps, crabe cake, corn and beers.
You should try the bourbon cake if you have a chance, it was very good. It even tricked my sister to eat some despite she didn’t want any dessert ;)

We came here on a recommendation and they didn’t disappoint. We shared a Yellow Fin Tuna sandwich and the only thing I was disappointed with is that I didn’t order a whole one for myself. It was very flavorful and juicy. We also ordered a Conch Fritter and they were better than the ones we had in Key West.
We will be back but now we have to go walk it off. DONT miss this place!!! It’s a MUST do.

This is my absolute favorite restaurant in the whole entire world. The atmosphere is great, the food is delicious, and the service is wonderful.
If you’ve never been, ordering may be a little confusing. If they’re really busy, they’ll ask you for a personal item to put on your table after they’ve cleaned it. You’ll order at the counter, fix your drinks, and then go find your table. They’ll help you through the process if you’re new. If they’re crowded, it’ll be kind of cramped.
I always get the same thing: yellowfin tuna burger and a side of fries. The crab cakes are also really great, as well as the steamed shrimp.

We parked in the parking lot close by and there were three restaurants within crawling distance of each other, this being one of them. However, we weren’t sure it was even a restaurant from the sight off the building. We walk up and before the door, there was an employee telling us there would be a ten minute wait, but probably less than that.
So we go in and let me tell you now, this restaurant is different from every one you’ve ever been in. They take your name before you get in, then you go inside and you see the cooks right there. Then another employee asks for a personal item of yours, such as your keys or a hat or something. Then you go up to the counter and tell the cooks what you want to order (the menu is behind you). Then an employee comes back and says your table is ready and you go find the table with your item on it. Later, they come by and bring your food. The food, namely burgers and sandwiches, come plain with the rest of the stuff on the side so you can customize it yourself.
So the wait for the food was short and the prices were really cheap. The employees were also really friendly and nice. I got the grilled chicken sandwich and for the price ($ 5.75), it wasn’t bad. The crab cake sandwich and the burgers were apparently really good for their price. The fries were nothing to write home about, and I didn’t even finish mine. Also it gets incredibly crowded and loud in their tight halls, so don’t expect a peaceful meal.
All in all, I’d go back and I’d recommend for someone looking for fast, yet higher than fast food quality.

All right food. Definitely quick service and very affordable. Even though this isn’t too notch dining I still come back every year for lunch. The atmosphere and views are excellent. Perfect place for a quick meal.

They have great fish here at Provisions. It feels like a locals joint on the water. Not a big nice dress up place. Casual and good seafood.

I get that they have a cool concept. You order and you choose your drinks from the cooler and then pay at the cashier when you leave. The food was ok but not great. We hade the special for today — steamed shrimps and crab cake. Kind of lacking taste and spices. We also had the tuna sandwich and that was actually pretty good. The could fix up the décor a little bit and spice up the food and it would be a great place! Very fresh food!

Delicious food, fun atmosphere. Definitely worth the wait! (:45 min)
Be careful, the paper cups aren’t very sturdy especially with a lid that doesn’t seem to fit. Yeah, I spilled. Oops!

My sister chose this restaurant when we decided to take a day trip from Myrtle Beach to Carolina Beach and Southport. It’s on the water’s edge with a few other seafood restaurants and a short walk from the shops and stores in downtown Southport. It’s a laid back, casual atmosphere and if you’ve never been, even a tad chaotic in the ordering/​seating process.
We had a group of 10, and we arrived about 5pm and didn’t wait more than 10 minutes. The ordering process is — they call your name, you go into the kitchen area, select your drink and order at the counter on a group ticket. Then you are seated and wait for a server to holler your name to bring your food out to you. There is no server «service» per say — you have to get up and go back into the kitchen area to refill your own drinks, but they do check on you to see if you need anything (extra mayo packets or sauce for example). There is a tip jar by the register that they servers split instead of leaving a tip at the table. Our total bill for 10 folks was $ 145, so very affordable for good food and the by the sea dining experience.
I had the Provision Chicken Sandwich that comes with roasted peppers and onions and melted white American cheese. It was a juicy chicken breast and quite tasty. My hubby had a cheeseburger and said it didn’t taste like a frozen patty, but may have been. We shared an onion ring side order and they were beer battered, but as I suspected (and confirmed when we checked out) they were from a bag — however, they were actually quite good.
At our table we had the nightly special which was shrimp and crab cakes, wings, cucumber salad and several cheeseburgers as well as another chicken sandwich. Everyone was happy with their meal and said we should definitely come back! It really was neat to sit by the water in the atmosphere of the small town business and enjoy a meal… I would recommend it! It takes a little over an hour from North Myrtle Beach, but worth it in my opinion!

Most reviews hit the prime attraction for this place (1) its location on the water; (2) the fresh seafood at a decent price; and (3) the beer + wine available on the «honor system.» To be sure, though, it can be crowded on a weekend afternoon and expect to wait for 20 – 30 minutes in some cases.
We did wait for 20 minutes for a table and then ordered a lunch special (fresh steamed shrimp + crab cake) for about $ 7.95 and then grabbed a beer and wine from the refrigerator as well. It took about 5 minutes for our lunch to be delivered to the table and the food was above average. You have a great view of the boat dock and the water along with plenty of shade as well. There is a small (er) bar here as well that seats about 8 people (tops).

My family has been going here for years (my brother even worked here one summer). It’s such a nostalgic, delicious lunch or dinner spot. We are going to Oak Island in about 3 weeks and already planned with day we are going to Provisions. Can’t wait!

Conch fritters are a must try! A little bit of spice and a very generous portion. I love how casual it is, such as grabbing your own beers and then reporting how many when you settle up. Great views of the water and boats. Super friendly service as well.

This place is amazing! We walked in, grabbed 2 Coronas, ordered our food and walked outside to grab a table by the water. My boyfriend got the tuna sandwich with cucumber salad and fries while I got the special which included 3 full sized crab cakes, cucumber salad and potato salad. The food was great, the atmosphere was awesome and the staff was nice and helpful. I will definitely be returning during my next beach trip.

This place is awesome! We asked two different locals where we should eat & this was suggested by both.
It is truly a super unique experience! All staff is super nice and friendly. The outside dinning on the water makes you feel you belong. All the drinks are on the honor system & self serve.
We visited on a Wednesday in early April around 1:30 and it was packed.
All people sitting near us raved over the seafood, but we are burger enthusiasts, so we did the cheeseburgers & fries.
(Review stars given based on my experience of the place & not made to compare with another lodging/​eatery establishment.)

Great view right on the water. Good for lunch.
Do exactly what the other Unilocalers say. Show up early, place an order, then take a seat. They’ll bring you your food promptly. Eat and enjoy. Go back inside and pay when you are done. If you don’t get there right when they open, expect a wait.
The steamed shrimp are very good. It’s quite the experience to peel your own shrimp. Make sure you get plenty of napkins!

The concept and location of this place are great! I love being able to eat close to the water. The Provision Company really comes through with a view.
Order your food… go and grab a beer from the cooler. My kind of place! Let’s find a seat outside and grab a view of the Southport waterfront. There’s cover and fans to keep you cool in the summer, but there’s also flies and plastic chairs that keep you uncomfortable all the same.
We would be eating later in the evening, so we were just having appetizers and couple of beers. We had the crab cakes and conch fritters. Both of these appetizers were very average. The mustard for the conch fritters was nice… but it felt like that’s where all the flavor was. I won’t be writing home about either of them.
Lastly, the way you enter… order…pay…and leave this place is just short of total anarchy.
While the experience was a bit lackluster, I’ve been told that I need to come on a weekend evening when the place is jumping. I may have to try that next time I’m in town.