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
Pop’s is frequented by a lot of locals – a sure sign that the seafood meets local standards of excellence – and it’s a great place to have a real...read more
Established in 1978, Quarterdeck has been proudly serving the Hatteras Island community for 40 years! It's a locally owned, casual, family-oriented...read more
Dine in cozy ambiance and enjoy a variety of lunch and dinner dishes, including sandwiches, burgers, fish and chips, steamed seafood and vegetables, ribs,...read more
In a charming 1930s cottage right along N.C. Highway 12, The Roadside is a Duck institution. You can dine al fresco on the...read more
Originally opened in 1937 by Sam Tillett and his son, Omie, both fishermen, this was the original place to book Oregon Inlet fishing charters and get a...read more
Sandbar and Grille is a longtime island favorite. It has a casual atmosphere, delicious food and an expansive view of Pamlico Sound and every sunset....read more
Sea Chef Kitchen is the house restaurant at the new Oregon Inlet Fishing Center. Run by a father-son duo of chefs, it's a laid-back traditional fish shack...read more
From the same restaurant family as Broken Plate Kitchen in Corolla, Seanna Tavern serves traditional American cuisine with a leaning toward seafood....read more
You're in for something special at Single Fin Bistro, Bar & Grille, where Chef Art Maliyam offers authentic Thai and Japanese cuisine in a cool...read more
SmacNally’s is an entirely outdoor establishment smack on the harbor docks. Fresh steamed shrimp, shareable apps, cold beer and breathtaking sunsets make it...read more
Serving Hatteras for more than 40 years, Sonny’s features breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast is rib-sticking, with fabulous homemade hash browns,...read more
A local favorite, Steamers has been dishing up fresh and gourmet cuisine to beachgoers since 1994. Their dine-in/take-out restaurant serves high-quality...read more
