Outer Banks Restaurants

For locally brewed beers and perfectly accompanying British pub-style cuisine, head to Lost Colony Tavern in downtown Manteo. The tavern offers a wide range of dishes for all tastes, ranging from British favorites like Welsh Rarebit, Fish & Chips, Scotch Eggs, Bangers & Mash and Cottage Pie to burgers, salads crab cakes and shrimp and grits. The Full Moon Crab Dip from this restaurant's predecessor is, blessedly, still on the menu. There's a kids' menu as well. They serve the award-winning beers of Lost Colony Brewery in Stumpy Point along with wine and cocktails. Take a seat at one of the umbrella-covered outdoor tables on a warm day or night or sit inside in the intimate restaurant with a similar view of the streetscape. The outside terrace is dog friendly. The tavern is open for lunch and dinner; call for hours. Dinner reservations are accepted. Live acoustic music and trivia nights are popular here.

For more than 20 years, Mulligan’s has served Southern coastal cuisine with incredible views, thanks to its scenic location between Jockey’s Ridge and Historic Cottage Row. Long known for having some of the best burgers on the beach, their masterful chefs recently have been placing a brighter spotlight on local seafood prepared in an authentic Outer Banks style, all with fresh, local ingredients. Dig into a tasty seafood platter, broiled or fried, some good old-fashioned shrimp and grits or the local catch of the day. They also have a steamed and raw bar serving up local bounty including shrimp, clams and Wanchese sea scallops. You can still order their award-winning burgers, along with other landlubber selections, and kids have their own menu. Their two dining rooms can accommodate a range of group sizes, and the upstairs space has its own bar. In the warmer months, you may opt to eat outside on their covered tiki bar with an ocean view or in the designated doggy dining area. The bar downstairs is a popular local hangout with a big-screen TV for catching up on sports. They have live music year-round. Mulligan’s also offers catering from Corolla to Hatteras as buffet, plated or drop-off. The restaurant is open 365 days a year for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch.

Downtown Manteo finally has a wine bar! It's a cozy, comfortable place with the slightly urban feel of a remodeled historic downtown building, in this case the restored Fearing building on Budleigh Street, just across from the old courthouse. It's a nice place for a date, pre-event drinks and bites, a lingering lunch with a friend or even late-night fun (yes, in Manteo being open until 10 p.m. is considered late). The wine list features several reds, whites, roses, a sparkling option and wine cocktails, and wine flights are available if you want to sample a few. The beverage list also includes beers, including several from Lost Colony Brewery around the corner, and nonalcoholic options. Expertly built cheese and charcuterie boards are the perfect accompaniment to your drink selections. NouVines opens at 11:30 daily and closes at 10 p.m. every day except Sunday, when they close at 6 p.m. Ask about events like tastings from specific wineries. Their retail section offers wine by the bottle, jams, chocolates, teas, wine bags, t-shirts and gift items. 

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 breakfast on the weekends. The lunch and dinner menu features freshly made, well-seasoned burgers, fresh local fish and seafood, crab cakes, a variety of sandwiches and wraps, salads and the very popular fish tacos and grillers, which are like an open-face quesadilla. They also have some fancier offerings like prime rib, NY strip, sesame-seared tuna steaks (the house favorite) pasta dishes, chicken, daily specials and a very nice wine selection. Weekend breakfast brings omelettes, Benedicts, biscuits, wraps, bowls, pancakes, avocado toast and more. True to Hatteras style, Oceanas is a place where everyone feels at home. Relax in the bar with your favorite drink and watch the big-screen TVs or gather with friends and family for an enjoyable dining experience. Outdoor seating is available on the porch. Oceanas is open every day year-round.

Outer Banks Brewing Station has an ever-changing list of award-winning house-made beers that serve as the cornerstone of their innovative style. Multiple year winners of the Taste of the Beach People's Choice Award, their outstanding chefs have created an Outer Banks–inspired fusion menu using regionally available products from local fish and produce to North Carolina meats. Pastry chef Tina Mackenzie bakes the house bread and tempting desserts. Friendly and casual, the Brewing Station has a full bar, dining on two levels and the biggest outdoor area on the Outer Banks featuring a pirate ship playground for the kids, picnic table seating, outdoor entertainment during the summer season and the 92-foot wind turbine that powers part of the brewing operation. Half-liter bottle-conditioned beer, two-liter growlers and canned six-packs are sold to go at the bar. The Brewing Station is open year-round for both lunch and dinner, and they are highly regarded as a go-to place to see regional and national music acts across a wide variety of genres. This is a great space to hold special events, such as weddings, rehearsal dinners, birthday parties and baby showers, whether it's in the semi-private upstairs dining area, outside or by renting the entire building.