Outer Banks Restaurants with Late-Night Menus

New owners in 2019 have breathed new life into this long-established, seafood-oriented restaurant in Avon. The owners of popular Avon restaurants Cups & Cones and Muffins & Scones are at the helm of this restaurant now, and they are committed to serving scratch-made fare and bringing fun nightlife back to the Froggy Dog. They've redesigned the pub with new ship-themed decor and will be hosting weekly pirate nights. Pub events include trivia on Mondays, music bingo on Tuesdays, pirate karaoke on Wednesdays, traditional karaoke on Thursdays, 13 TVs and a sports package and a late-night menu served until midnight. The full bar has expanded wine and beer selections, with a large focus on craft brews and North Carolina beers. The lunch and dinner menus have been updated as well. Diners will find lots of seafood, burgers, sandwiches, steaks and pasta dishes, gluten-free items and vegetarian options. Breakfast will be served on Friday, Saturday and Sunday in the summer.  A kids’ menu is available. Private dining areas are available for wine dinners, events and celebrations. 

Fun, funky and casual, Howard's serves lunch and dinner every day from early spring until late fall. Fresh, local seafood from the Pamlico Sound is the highlight, but there are also steaks, ribs, burgers, salads, sandwiches and soups worth ferrying in for (and many do). Sit indoors in the air-conditioned dining room, at the long wooden bar, out on the expansive screened porch with circling ceiling fans or on the rooftop deck. The bar features more than 100 bottled beers from around the world plus 24 craft beers on tap, wine and signature cocktails. Kids have their own menu with the meals served on a Frisbee, emphasizing the family-friendly nature of this popular spot. Multiple televisions, the infamous ring hook, Foosball and wall-to-wall memorabilia make Howard's Pub a legendary spot for food and fun for all ages. 

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 the some of the best burgers on the beach, their masterful chefs have recently been placing a brighter spotlight on local seafood prepared in an authentic Outer Banks style, all with fresh, local ingredients. Start off with the Crab Pretzel or some Carolina Lump Crab Bisque. Dig into a tasty seafood platter, broiled or fried, some good old-fashioned shrimp and grits or the Tuscan Baked Rockfish. They also have a steamed and raw bar serving up some ocean 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 to peruse. Mulligan’s two dining rooms can accommodate a range of groups, 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 if you bring along any four-legged friends. 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, customized in three different styles: buffet, plated or drop-off. The restaurant is open 365 days a year for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch.

Outer Banks Brewing Station has an ever-changing list of award-winning house-made beers and sodas 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 but with a metropolitan flair, 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 accommodates large parties and is open year round for both lunch and dinner. Lest we forget, they are also highly regarded as a go-to place to see regional and national music acts across a wide variety of genres.

What was once the Port O' Call is now Secret Island, a family-friendly restaurant featuring local seafood and pasta. New Owners Drew and Natalia Thompson say there is something everyone. Large parties are accepted, and a kids' menu is offered. Secret Island has teamed up with OBXtravaganza to offer weekly late-night entertainment. With the old Port O' Call club room intact, Secret Island is a great venue to catch local live music and national acts. Check the marquee for schedule and nightly specials.