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
Part of Blue Water Grill and Raw Bar, Mimi's Tiki Hut is located directly on the docks at Pirate's Cove Marina, making it the perfect place to watch the...read more
Looking for great food and live music with a waterfront view? It's ready for you in Rodanthe at Neptune's Kitchen and Dive Bar. They offer live music...read more
North Banks, located in the west building of TimBuck II, is casual, contemporary and high-energy. This restaurant has been a Corolla favorite for...read more
The O’Neal family is known on the Outer Banks for its commitment to harvesting and selling fresh seafood straight out of the sea. At their fish-house...read more
Old Nags Head Cafe continues the Roderer family tradition of great food and hospitality they’ve been offering Nags Head diners since 1985. Housed in the...read more
Ortega'z Southwestern Grill brings some cultural spice to downtown Manteo along with a little flash of star quality. The restaurant and its owners,...read more
Few things capture the country’s Southeastern coast like a classic low-country boil. The traditional meal comes together with ease (and whenever the...read more
Experience unique island and international cuisine at Pangea Tavern. From gourmet burgers to fresh seafood, Pangea has something for everyone’s taste buds....read more
Pier House Restaurant at Nags Head Fishing Pier is a favorite location for an oceanfront meal, and it's especially popular at breakfast. You can sit inside...read more
As the restaurant at 1718 Brewery, Plum Pointe Kitchen's menu items are particularly suited to enjoying with the house-brewed 1718 beers or selections from...read more
On the northern end of Avon next to OceanAir Sports, Po House is a casual waterfront restaurant with great views of the soundside activities and those...read more
The Pony, as the locals call this restaurant, was opened in 1959 as the Ocracoke Restaurant and is the island's oldest eating establishment. It is casual,...read more