Outer Banks Restaurants

Seafood Specialties & Steam Bars

We bet you've been dreaming of eating an Outer Banks seafood dinner for months. (We understand. As locals, eating fresh-caught seafood is one of the true pleasures of living here.) Whether it's fried, broiled, blackened, grilled, steamed or raw (as in the oyster or sushi variety), there's a virtual sea of choices. Favorites such as shrimp, flounder, crab cakes and tuna are always found on menus, but seasonal favorites are much anticipated too -- soft shell crabs, oysters, rock fish, puppy drum and blue fish being big ones on the list. As you can imagine, almost every restaurant here serves Outer Banks seafood of some sort, but the ones we're noting in this category are the ones that feature it foremost on their menus and prepare it in imaginative as well as traditional ways. Steamed Outer Banks seafood is offered in many of these restaurants, but unless we specifically note it, you're smart to call ahead to confirm if that's what you're wanting. For diners who are particularly health conscious, steamed shrimp, clams or oysters accompanied by steamed veggies is a meal any trainer would approve of! A select number of Outer Banks restaurants will even cook your catch of the day – what a satisfying end to a successful day of fishing.

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

Rundown Cafe

Outer Banks Seafood Specialties & Steam Bars
5218 N. Virginia Dare Trail, The Beach Road, MP 1, Kitty Hawk
(252) 255-0026

Rundown Cafe serves island cuisine in a casual atmosphere. The food is a fusion of Pacific Rim and Caribbean flavors, and...read more

Rundown Cafe serves island cuisine in a casual atmosphere. The food is a...read more

Rusty’s Surf & Turf

Outer Banks Seafood Specialties & Steam Bars
47355 N.C. Highway 12, Buxton
(252) 995-4184
Bold global flavors meet Hatteras seafood at Rusty's Surf and Turf, a longtime favorite on Hatteras Island. Chef Rusty Midgett, a local with
...read more
Bold global flavors meet Hatteras seafood at Rusty's Surf and Turf, a longtime favorite
...read more

Sundogs Raw Bar & Grill

Outer Banks Seafood Specialties & Steam Bars
807 Ocean Trail, Monteray Plaza, Corolla
(252) 453-4263

Sundogs is a great family-friendly restaurant for lunch and dinner in Corolla. The grill offers an array of appetizers along with steamed seafood,...read more

Sundogs is a great family-friendly restaurant for lunch and dinner in Corolla. The grill offers...read more

The Pony and the Boat Comfort Kitchen

Outer Banks Seafood Specialties & Steam Bars
3712 N. Croatan Highway, Unit A, The Bypass, MP 4.5, Kitty Hawk
(252) 715-2991

Sister restaurant to the beloved Paper Canoe restaurant in Duck, The Pony and the Boat Comfort Kitchen offers the consistency and high food quality of the...read more

Sister restaurant to the beloved Paper Canoe restaurant in Duck, The Pony and the Boat...read more

The Saltbox Café

Outer Banks Seafood Specialties & Steam Bars
1469 Colington Road, Kill Devil Hills
(252) 255-5594

Located at the heart of Colington Island (just a few miles down Colington Road), The Saltbox Café is a charming cottage-style restaurant with a menu...read more

Located at the heart of Colington Island (just a few miles down Colington Road), The...read more

Uncle Ike’s Sandbar & Grill

Outer Banks Seafood Specialties & Steam Bars
1159 Austin Street, Corolla Light Town Center, Corolla
(252) 597-1606

One of the few restaurants in Corolla staying open all year long, Uncle Ike's serves a wide range of fresh, homemade foods. With an aim to please the...read more

One of the few restaurants in Corolla staying open all year long, Uncle Ike's serves...read more

Aqua Restaurant on the waterfront is a must-stop while out and about in Duck. Serving lunch and dinner, Aqua offers fresh regional cuisine, exquisite wines...read more

The Back Porch is one of the island's great restaurants, providing a consistently pleasant dining experience. Their open-air screened porch dining room...read more

Serving American coastal cuisine, Beachside Bistro at the Sea Ranch Resort is one of the few true oceanfront restaurants on the Outer Banks. Hang out inside...read more

New from a couple of longtime locals and the owners of Black Flag Fishing Charters is Black Flag Galley, serving fresh local seafood, sandwiches, apps,...read more