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
Colington Café is located on Colington Road in a Victorian-style home. This is a great place for a special night out, and it has received accolades...read more
Corolla's only buffet restaurant offers a smorgasbord of seafood specialties and so much more. The buffet includes all the seafood favorites like Alaskan...read more
Dinky’s name stems from the fact that the folks at the Village Marina call their small marina “the best little dink marina in town.” This is a cozy, 68-seat...read more
You can find Dirty Dick’s at two locations on the Outer Banks – in Nags Head on the Bypass and on Hatteras Island in the same shopping center as Food Lion...read more
When you feel like cooking at home, Dockside has all the fresh seafood you’ll need for an Outer Banks feast. Live and steamed crabs, crabmeat, steamed...read more
Dune Street Rawbar & Grill is a new Nags Head restaurant tucked in the corner of Surfside Plaza. The restaurant is spacious, and the ambiance is vibrant...read more
Firehouse Boil Co. brings the low country seafood boil to you. They deliver a boil kit and easy instructions to your beach house for the perfect family-...read more
A good place to gather your friends, Fishbones has a friendly, laid-back atmosphere that will have you lingering over a beer long after you’ve
...read moreFood Dudes is a place that really is all about the food. With years of experience working in the best local kitchens, the Food Dudes are big on preparing...read more
New in 2023, Frisco Bay Coastal Gril is open for lunch and dinner daily. They serve a big menu with something for everyone, from shareables and...read more