Outer Banks Restaurants

Darrell’s is a family-style seafood restaurant that’s a locals' favorite and has been operated by the Daniels family for more than five decades. It dates back to 1960 when Darrell Daniels started the Polar Bear Drive-In. When the second generation came on board in 1972, the family changed the focus to a seafood restaurant and renamed it Darrell's Seafood Restaurant. Now the third generation is working here. Seafood is still the specialty, and locals know that Darrell’s does seafood right. The fried oysters, served with the traditional fixings of coleslaw, French fries and hush puppies, are widely touted as the best anywhere. The blackened tuna over black beans and rice is both healthy and delicious. Land food, children’s fare and light dishes are also available. Darrell's also has a wood-fired grill for barbecue. Helpings are heaping, and the desserts are delicious, if you have room. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served Monday through Saturday. 

Dunes Restaurant has been a breakfast and dinner favorite among Outer Banks locals and visitors for more than four decades. Breakfast here is a certifiable Nags Head tradition. Their hearty meals and platters are a huge draw, and their breakfast menu is one of the biggest on the beach, with choices like shrimp and grits, creamed chipped beef, N.C. country ham, a crab and shrimp omelet and a waffle platter. At dinnertime, the Dunes is known for its Outer Banks-style seafood – shrimp, scallops, oysters and fish served lightly breaded and golden fried or lightly seasoned and broiled, with all the favorite sides. Other favorites include crab cakes, steaks, burgers and their famous fried chicken. Just be careful not to fill up on the piping hot hush puppies with honey butter that are served before your meal (trust us, they’re irresistible!). Family-owned and -operated, the Dunes welcomes children and large groups to their casually and comfortably elegant restaurant and R-Bar, serving specialty cocktails, wine and beer. And yes, you can eat in or take out – whichever you want. A retail area in the front of the store, Roxie's Retail, tempts with children’s toys, women’s accessories, jewelry, scarves, original paintings, photographs, Outer Banks memorabilia and much more. 

You can't eat and drink any closer to the ocean than this. Fish Heads at Outer Banks Pier offers a restaurant and bar with seating on the deck in the sun or moon or under a roof with open-air curtains. They serve fish tacos, steamed shrimp, fresh hamburgers, crab cakes, tuna bites, fries and more. And they also have some breakfast sandwiches for the early birds and anglers. Wine and an extensive craft beer menu are available, including a great selection of draft beers and sake cocktails. They also have shrimp happy hour and live music.

Goombays Grille & Raw Bar is a casual restaurant with a colorful and lively island-style atmosphere. The interior decor inspires happiness with bright murals, local artwork, fish tanks and vintage license plates on the walls surrounding the lobby and bar. The menu is fresh and creative, combining Outer Banks seafood with vacation-destination island influences, like Caribbean Creole Pasta, Caberete Shrimp, Caicos Coconut Shrimp Salad and Seafood Kingston. The Rasta Pasta, Tuna Oscar, Tuna Reuben and Jazzy Coconut Chicken are rounded out by daily specials and selections from the steam and raw bar. Not in the mood for seafood? Goombays offers plenty of chicken, beef and vegetable options, from great burgers to awesome sandwiches and, of course, chicken wings. Goombays is family friendly with a unique kids' menu and specialty kid drinks. The full bar features about 50 beer selections, including a wide range of North Carolina craft brews along with wine and signature cocktails. Their namesake Goombay Smash can be served as a Kill Devil Smash using locally crafted Kill Devil Silver & Pecan Honey Rums. Goombays serves lunch and dinner, and the bar stays open until midnight with late-night steamed and raw seafood.

Fun, eclectic and casual, Howard's Pub serves local fish, oysters, shrimp, juicy chargrilled burgers, salads, sandwiches and more every day from spring until late fall. Enjoy the air-conditioned dining room, the long wooden bar, the expansive screened porch with ceiling fans or the sky deck with an island view. The iconic bar features beers from craft and major breweries on tap and in bottles, wine and signature cocktails. Kids' meals are served on a take-home Frisbee. Howard’s Pub has been a destination for more than 30 years, creating Ocracoke memories for many generations. The wall-to-wall memorabilia and the Pub Shop with its collection of t-shirts, hats and other island treasures 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 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.

North Banks, located in the west building of TimBuck II, is casual, contemporary and high-energy. This restaurant has been a Corolla favorite for fresh seafood and memorable dinners for more than 20 years. Filet mignon and lobster are just a few of the house specialties. They also have several preparations of local fish every night and a raw bar offering up the freshest local delicacies. It’s open for dinner Monday through Friday and has a fully stocked bar featuring specialty drinks, craft beers and an extensive wine list. Every year they close at the end of November and re-open in March

Few things capture the country’s Southeastern coast like a classic low-country boil. The traditional meal comes together with ease (and whenever the craving strikes) with the help of the Outer Banks Boil Company. They specialize in crafting the ultimate steamer pot to make any dream of hosting your very own low-country boil come true. With the essentials of jumbo shrimp, Andouille sausage shipped from Louisiana, potatoes, corn on the cob and onions steamed together in a massive pot, diners can keep it classic or customize it however they wish with the addition of snow crab legs, clams, mussels or lobster tails. Don’t want seafood? That’s okay too. Pick up an order of pulled pork barbecue, coleslaw and cornbread. Swing by their Hatteras, Kitty Hawk, Corolla location to pick up your pot to go. If you’d prefer to have the boil come to you, Outer Banks Boil Company also offers catering from the four-wheel-drive beaches in the north to as far south as Hatteras. They bring the food and the appropriate tables, that they set up at your home or chosen venue. Pile tasty fare upon the tables, and the rest is up to you.  

Few things capture the country’s Southeastern coast like a classic low-country boil. The traditional meal comes together with ease (and whenever the craving strikes) with the help of the Outer Banks Boil Company. They specialize in crafting the ultimate steamer pot to make any dream of hosting your very own low-country boil come true. With the essentials of jumbo shrimp, Andouille sausage shipped from Louisiana, potatoes, corn on the cob and onions steamed together in a massive pot, diners can keep it classic or customize it however they wish with the addition of snow crab legs, clams, mussels or lobster tails. Don’t want seafood? That’s okay too. Pick up an order of pulled pork barbecue, coleslaw and cornbread. Swing by their Hatteras, Kitty Hawk, Corolla location to pick up your pot to go. If you’d prefer to have the boil come to you, Outer Banks Boil Company also offers catering from the four-wheel-drive beaches in the north to as far south as Hatteras. They bring the food and the appropriate tables, that they set up at your home or chosen venue. Pile tasty fare upon the tables, and the rest is up to you.  

A locals' favorite for fresh seafood, Outland Seafood is perfectly situated for picking up fresh, local seafood on your way to the Outer Banks from the west. Located in Manns Harbor, very close to the foot of Virginia Dare Bridge, stop here to pick up crabs, fish, shrimp and shellfish. Depending on the season (because this is fresh-caught seafood), you might find blue crabs, soft-shell crabs and crabmeat; brown, spotted or white (greentail) shrimp; N.C. and Virginia oysters and clams; and fish caught from the local commercial fleets, from yellowfin tuna and mahi mahi to tilefish and grouper to flounder and black sea bass and more. Outland also sells wild-caught Pacific Coast crabs like snow, king and Dungeness crab legs. They'll tell you how to cook your seafood if you need some tips, and they sell the seasonings, spices, breaders and other items that you'll need. Or you can have them steam up shrimp, clams, crabs, oysters or crab legs to take home with you. Stop again on your way out of town and they'll pack up your seafood on ice for taking home and stocking your freezer. They also sell coolers and fishing gear.

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 filet mignon, crispy duck, seafood, pasta and chicken plus sandwiches, salads, soups, appetizers and desserts. The daily specials are always worth trying. Top-quality, flavor-rich ingredients round out all the offerings, and the sides are usually as show-stopping as the featured dish. Red Sky has a full bar with an exciting wine list, and they're open for lunch and dinner daily. For those who want to stay on their nutritional plan while on vacation, Chef Wes has combined his passion for fitness with his passion for great food; his Tastefully Fit menu offers delicious, healthy meals cooked at your vacation home or available in the restaurant. You can also order full meals to go or hire their Chefs On Call service, and they'll cook for you at your place. Red Sky is also one of the popular choices for wedding caterers serving the entire Outer Banks, including Carova. 

Stripers has a great waterfront location at Shallowbag Bay Marina, and they offer plenty of opportunities to enjoy the water views. You can eat on the screened-in deck, on the outdoor patio, in the first-floor bar or in the second-floor restaurant. The views get better the higher you go. Stripers menu includes fresh local seafood, steaks, sandwiches, burgers, salads, pastas and appetizers. The seafood is guaranteed fresh, as the owner has good connections with local fishermen. Some favorites on the menu include lobster bisque, oyster stew, crab dip, crab cakes, cheese-steak egg rolls and sliders. Small and large portion sizes are available. Stripers offers a happy hour with half-price steamed shrimp and crab legs every day from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., and they have a full liquor license and offer beer, wine and mixed drinks. It's open every day for lunch and dinner, with no break between the two. On Sundays they open at 11 a.m. for brunch. In the summer months they offer live music on the weekends. Take-out and catering are available. To find Stripers, turn off Highway 64 in Manteo behind McDonald's.

Sundogs is a great family-friendly restaurant for lunch and dinner in Corolla. The grill offers an array of appetizers along with steamed seafood, salads, sandwiches, burgers and full entrees such as New Orleans-inspired shrimp and grits created by Chef Bryan Maher and a host of new menu items from new team chefs Matthew Purdue and Agustus Dawson – think Teriyaki-Glazed Salmon, Lobster Mac & Cheese with Pork Belly and Pulled Pork Kimchi Tacos. A host of daily specials ensures that the chefs can be as creative as they want to be (specials are posted on social media). Be sure to check out the raw bar featuring a variety of oysters and other seafood. Sundogs has a kids' menu and a midday appetizer menu from 3 to 5 p.m. every day. When dinner ends, nightlife begins. Sundogs is open until 2 a.m. every night during summer with several nights of live music and karaoke. This is also the place for all your sports-viewing adventures, especially Sunday football, thanks to their large projection TV and 12 other TVs. After 10 p.m. Sundogs is open for ages 21 and older only.