Outer Banks Restaurants

American Fusion & Gourmet

If you’ve been to Outer Banks restaurants more than a few times, you know that this area is known for its exceptional eateries. Any more these days, it’s harder to find fried fish served with cole slaw and hushpuppies than it is to find sharks teeth on the beach (and they’re pretty rare). Sure, if you want that, you can ask for it. But much to most visitors’ and locals’ extreme satisfaction, many an Outer Banks restaurant could now be described as offering an American Fusion and Gourmet menu. What do we mean by this? It’s local fish grilled to perfection atop a bed of greens with a drizzle of some fantastic sauce; it’s the best cut of beef seared to perfection and accompanied by a vegetable pate; it’s even a gourmet salad with grilled onions, pecans, shaved parm and a blackened crabcake on top. You get the idea. Outer Banks American Fusion and Gourmet means that you’ll find presentations of dishes that might be unexpected…but that you’ll thank the chef for later. It doesn’t mean menu items that you blindly take a chance on because you’re embarrassed to admit you don’t know what it is! Duck restaurants and Corolla restaurants are especially known for their American Fusion and Gourmet bents, but Nags Head restaurants have their share too. 

Outer Banks Restaurants by Area

Corolla | Duck & Southern Shores | Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills & Nags Head
Roanoke Island & Manteo | Hatteras Island | Ocracoke Island

Outer Banks Restaurants by Category

Cafe Pamlico

Outer Banks American Fusion & Gourmet
49684 N.C. Highway 12, The Inn on Pamlico Sound, Buxton
(252) 995-7030
(866) 995-7030

An intimate restaurant, Cafe Pamlico is The Inn on Pamlico Sound’s signature eatery, offering gourmet cuisine overlooking the waters of the sound. Cafe...read more

An intimate restaurant, Cafe Pamlico is The Inn on Pamlico Sound’s signature eatery, offering gourmet...read more

Mahi Mahi's Island Grill

Outer Banks American Fusion & Gourmet
2217 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 10.5, Nags Head
(252) 715-0106

Mahi Mahi’s Island Grill features American cuisine with a dash of Latin flavor and a strong emphasis on seafood. Owners Andrew and Leslie Mikhail have...read more

Mahi Mahi’s Island Grill features American cuisine with a dash of Latin flavor and a strong...read more

Mike Dianna's Grill Room

Outer Banks American Fusion & Gourmet
777 Sunset Boulevard, Corolla
(252) 453-4336

Mike Dianna's Grill Room is owned and operated by a true Corolla local who grew up here and has lived in the area since 1984. The...read more

Mike Dianna's Grill Room is owned and operated by a true Corolla local who grew up...read more

NC Coast Grill & Bar

Outer Banks American Fusion & Gourmet
1184 Duck Road, Duck
(252) 248-3211

The second restaurant from the team at Duck’s Red Sky Cafe, NC Coast Grill & Bar has an open kitchen, concrete bar, upscale coastal decor and waterfront...read more

The second restaurant from the team at Duck’s Red Sky Cafe, NC Coast Grill &...read more

Ocean Boulevard Bistro and Martini Bar

Outer Banks American Fusion & Gourmet
4700 N. Virginia Dare Trail, The Beach Road, MP 2.5, Kitty Hawk
(252) 261-2546

Ocean Boulevard is a casual yet upscale restaurant, which means you can enjoy a special evening out in the comfort of your sandals. They are, after all,...read more

Ocean Boulevard is a casual yet upscale restaurant, which means you can enjoy a special...read more

Oceanas Bistro

Outer Banks American Fusion & Gourmet
40774 N.C. Highway 12, Avon
(252) 995-4991

Oceanas is a casual, cozy restaurant that the locals love. In the heart of Avon, its welcoming atmosphere beckons diners for lunch and dinner daily and...read more

Oceanas is a casual, cozy restaurant that the locals love. In the heart of Avon,...read more

Outer Banks Brewing Station

Outer Banks American Fusion & Gourmet
600 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 8.5, Kill Devil Hills
(252) 449-2739

Outer Banks Brewing Station has an ever-changing list of award-winning house-made beers that serve as the cornerstone of their innovative style....read more

Outer Banks Brewing Station has an ever-changing list of award-winning house-made beers that serve as...read more

Owens’ Restaurant

Outer Banks American Fusion & Gourmet
7114 S. Virginia Dare Trail, The Beach Road, MP 16.5, Nags Head
(252) 441-7309

Owens’ is a Nags Head institution, featuring a legacy of coastal Southern fine dining by the sea. Diners can enjoy generous...read more

Owens’ is a Nags Head institution, featuring a legacy of coastal Southern fine...read more

Red Sky

Outer Banks American Fusion & Gourmet
1197 Duck Road, Duck Landing, Duck
(252) 261-8646

Red Sky is an inviting cafe with a creative menu of contemporary coastal cuisine. Chef Wes Stepp and his team turn out some incredible fare, including...read more

Red Sky is an inviting cafe with a creative menu of contemporary coastal cuisine. Chef...read more

Rusty’s Surf & Turf

Outer Banks American Fusion & Gourmet
47355 N.C. Highway 12, Buxton
(252) 995-4184

Rusty’s Surf & Turf brings the bold flavors and colors of the tropics to Hatteras Island. Owner and chef Rusty Midgett, a native who left the island and...read more

Rusty’s Surf & Turf brings the bold flavors and colors of the tropics to Hatteras...read more

TRiO Restaurant & Market

Outer Banks American Fusion & Gourmet
3708 N. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 4.5, Kitty Hawk
(252) 261-0277

TRiO Restaurant & Market is a vibrant dining and retail destination with an inviting, upscale-casual vibe that sets it apart from other places on the...read more

TRiO Restaurant & Market is a vibrant dining and retail destination with an inviting, upscale-casual...read more

On the ground level of Tranquil House Inn in Manteo, you'll find this elegant waterfront restaurant serving a range of top-quality wine, beer and cocktails...read more