Outer Banks Vegetarian Restaurants

Housed in a former U.S. Lifesaving Station and full of character and rustic charm, the Black Pelican is on the Beach Road, directly across from the ocean. They have a deck bar with great ocean views and, of course, lots of fresh seafood on the menu. Choose from steamed seafood, steaks or pizza from the wood-fired brick oven, a locals' favorite. Each night they offer an eclectic list of chef’s specials, and they have a kids' menu with lots of choices. Save room for one of their home-baked desserts; you’ll see what we mean when you pass the display case on your way in. The Black Pelican serves lunch and dinner every day, plus a late-night menu is served at the bar and in the restaurant. This is a lively place where you can find a fun bar scene. They are open all year.

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. 

Based at Hotel Manteo, Firetender Stone-Oven Cooking & Bar is one of Manteo's most popular restaurants and gathering spots. The setting is moody and cosmopolitan, with dark walls and sophisticated details, yet it's entirely comfortable and cozy, the perfect place for lingering at the bar, intimate dining and gathering with friends. The restaurant is centered around its custom-built stone oven, the source of its incredible stone-oven pizzas. Seating is available at the pizza bar, where you can watch the chefs prepare these specialty delights. The menu also includes chef-prepared small plates, entrees, hearth-fired Skillets (meals served in a cast-iron skillet), kids' offerings and desserts. Firetender has a full bar and is proud to be a taproom for Weeping Radish Brewery, which originated in Manteo and was the first microbrewery in North Carolina. Firetender is open six nights a week for dinner and also serves Sunday brunch with a specially curated menu. Seating is available indoors or outdoors. Free delivery and takeout are available. Above Firetender is a private event space called Embers Room, which can accommodate up to 60 people in an upscale setting.

This long-established, seafood-oriented restaurant is committed to serving top-quality, scratch-made fare in a friendly setting. Diners enjoy a lot of seafood, burgers, sandwiches, steaks, pasta dishes, gluten-free items, vegetarian options and kids' offerings. The full bar focuses on craft brews and North Carolina beers, and their in-house sommelier has gathered wines from around the world into an impressive wine selection. On select evenings, they offer a five-course wine-pairing dinner. During the summer season, there is Adult Karaoke (21+) in the pub on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Live music is on Wednesdays and Fridays from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The popular Sunday Brunch with a special menu is offered from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Private dining areas are available for wine dinners, events and celebrations. Froggy Dog is the sister restaurant of the popular Avon restaurants Cups and Cones and Muffins and Scones. 

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.

Ocean Boulevard is a casual yet upscale restaurant, which means you can enjoy a special evening out in the comfort of your sandals. They are, after all, just steps away from the ocean. Ocean Boulevard’s culinary team serves an American bistro-style menu that has been praised in Southern Living magazine as well as The Washington Post. The menu changes seasonally but always includes beautiful preparations of local seafood, regional poultry and meats, nightly chef specials and decadent desserts. They have a comprehensive wine list and a full bar with their own martini menu. Their ocean-side patio is one of many unique features; it’s an enjoyable hangout during the summer, and you can often catch some live music during the week. Ocean Boulevard is open nightly for dinner year round. Reservations are suggested.

Ocracoke Oyster Company appeals to locals and visitors, featuring plentiful options of local seafood along with a large variety of oysters on the half shell. Serving fig wood-smoked barbecue, burgers, ribs, brisket and chicken, they also offer vegetarian options and a kids' menu. They have a nice selection of local beer. The restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner. They often have live music, and the kitchen stays open late in season.

Pizzazz is a pizza favorite on the Outer Banks. They’ve been around since 1986 because they make consistently great pizza with generous toppings and the service is friendly. Choose from gourmet menu creations or stick with the traditional. Pizzazz also makes hot subs, salads and wings. You can eat in for lunch or dinner or have your pizza delivered. Call for off-season hours. And, if you're driving to the Outer Banks from the north, check out their location in Grandy on the Currituck mainland.

Pizzazz is a pizza favorite on the Outer Banks. They’ve been around since 1986 because they make consistently great pizza with generous toppings and the service is friendly. Choose from gourmet menu creations or stick with the traditional. Pizzazz also makes hot subs, salads and wings. You can eat in for lunch or dinner or have your pizza delivered. Call for off-season hours. And, if you're driving to the Outer Banks from the north, check out their location in Grandy on the Currituck mainland.

Rundown Cafe serves island cuisine in a casual atmosphere. The food is a fusion of Pacific Rim and Caribbean flavors, and they have a substantial menu of vegetarian options. Upstairs you'll find an authentic surf bar with a super large ocean-view deck where you'll find live music in season. This is a great family-friendly restaurant since the menu is very affordable and there are lots of choices for kids. Rundown serves lunch and dinner seven days a week in the summer. You can also order take-out here. They are closed from the end of November until March 1. 

Offering a primo location right on the water, Sugar Creek has been serving the freshest seafood available to locals and visitors for years. The views of Sugar Creek and the Roanoke Sound are incredible. The outdoor walkways and decks on the property are great for strolling along and viewing the resident wildlife. Before dinner, enjoy a drink from their outdoor gazebo bar. Folks can also enjoy the newly expanded covered decks for awesome outside dining and spectacular views of the Roanoke Sound. The fresh, local tuna, shrimp and scallops are expertly prepared at Sugar Creek and keep seafood lovers happy. Also on the menu are favorites like steaks, prime rib, chicken, ribs, pasta, salads, soups, burgers and sandwiches and they have a children’s menu. The newly expanded dining room easily accommodates large parties and special events like rehearsal dinners. Sugar Creek serves lunch and dinner daily in season and is open from March through December.