2025 Barbeque Guide

Aqua Restaurant and Spa in Duck, like the ocean its name represents, aims to provide a place of healing and rejuvenation. Aqua offers not only nourishment for the body, but the for soul and the environment as well.Along with providing the best quality foods and products for its patrons, the restaurant’s goal is to help strengthen local relationships by supporting regional sustainable farms and local fishermen. For their savory menu, Aqua’s chefs focus on the freshest ingredients and always local, fresh-caught fish. Likewise Aqua Spa offers “earth friendly products, organic serums and rejuvenating treatments.” In addition to gourmet dinners that include vegetarian options, Aqua’s lunch menu offers the same excellent quality at very affordable prices. Along with soups and sandwiches are gourmet salads and fries with their own “secret” sauce. Even Aqua’s BLT is made with heirloom tomatoes, just like “mama used to make.” The restaurant also adds a creative selection of sushis and sakis.During the season, patrons are treated to live music nightly and yoga, Tuesday and Thursday mornings on the lawn. Throughout the year, Aqua serves as a perfect wedding destination and rehearsal dinner venue.Aqua means water, island and of course the light green blue you’ll see splashed throughout the restaurant’s décor. It’s a place where you can count on culinary masterpieces made with the best ingredients available - where you can relax and enjoy local music in the evenings or just sit back and soak in the peaceful serenity of an Outer Banks sunset.

A pleasant, casual cafe with two locations offering seafood, sandwiches, salads, and coffee and frozen drinks.

If you’re looking for a delicious diner where you can find down home, southern-style cookin’, Bob’s Grill in Kill Devil Hills is a must visit. This unique, retro-style diner serves breakfast and lunch all day.  Just don’t let the restaurant’s catch phrase “Eat and get the hell out!” scare you, the wait staff is friendly and offers southern hospitality to match the restaurant’s menu.Breakfast and lunch are served daily from 7am until 2pm. For breakfast, you’ll find a variety of hotcake offerings, including traditional hotcakes, chocolate chip, blueberry and daily specials with unique flavors. Omelet selection includins All-American, Western, Mexican and Greek, and others. The lunch menu offers a variety of soups, salads and sandwiches, including the BBQ Chicken Sandwich, Philly Steak and Cheese and Yellowfin Tuna Sandwich. Check the chalkboard for daily lunch specials. Southern-style favorites include Shrimp and Grits, Fried Fresh Flounder and Fried Bay Scallops. Dinner options are more substantial, including Grill and Sea fare, such as Bob’s Homemade Crab Cakes, St. Louis Style BBQ Ribs, Bob’s World Famous Prime Rib and a Fresh Catch of the Day. You might want to pair your meal with Bob’s Fruity Sangria.The casual atmosphere welcomes kids, and there is a variety of kids meal options. You might find you want to do a little shopping after your meal. Bob’s sells t-shirts, hats, aprons, koozies and all kinds of souvenirs to make your meal memorable.

Capt’n Franks opened its doors in 1975, and since has been a local and visitor favorite. It’s laid back menu is perfect for picky kids, or a craving for an easy, delicious meal. If you need a change from the regular fast food restaurants, then go to the locally owned Capt’n Franks for an affordable, quick, good eat!

Chilli Peppers Grill & Pupuseria is a local favorite for great food and a fun nightlife. The restaurant serves great food from around the world with a southwestern influence and sandwiches for lunch, as well as seafood and hearty entrees for dinner.

A natural grass mini golf course.

A tasty stop for a variety of barbeque choices!

Family owned and operated since 1990 at the same location, this deli is not fancy, but it’s got what counts: good food at good prices.  And since Country Deli has been time-tested on the Outer Banks, where the word of mouth can kill off a business faster than anything, it’s clear these folks know what keeps customers coming back for more. Not only is this take-out deli famous for its “overstuffed” sandwiches and subs, it also delivers --- except on Sunday ----between 3rd Street in Kill Devil Hills and South Nags Head.   If you’re heading out for a fishing trip, call ahead and the order will be waiting for you. Sandwich choices include the basics like tuna salad, roast beef, veggie and honey ham to reubens, grilled cheese and bacon and North Carolina BBQ with coleslaw. There’s also a large selection of specialty sandwiches, made with a variety of meats, cheeses and breads, as well as soups, salads and brownies.  In addition, bagels and toppings are available for breakfast. 

Serving Hickory-Smoked Barbecue & Deli Sandwiches for over 25 Years, Duck Deli is as popular and as quaint as its location. The Deli was opened in 1988 by a retired PA dentist, Ronald Forlano, and his son Ken. Today it remains a family venture with Ken, now known as the Deli Llama, still running the business, along with two other brothers and the oldest opening another Duck Deli in PA.Duck Deli boasts “outrageous barbecue” and the “best breakfasts in Duck, which are served every morning of the year from 8-11 am. Available from 11 am to closing are BBQ meals and platters, made with the deli’s own hickory-smoked, pulled chicken, pork or beef. You can also get spicy wings, ribs, crab cakes and ½ or ¼ smoked chicken, as well as meat and veggie subs and sandwiches. All platters come with hushpuppies and a choice of two from a great selection of sides.The owners “take pride” in the smoked meats they cook daily on site. And they “love that you love” their sauces, which are derived from local recipes and enhanced with “Duck Deli flair.” You’ll find that same flair in the deli’s selection of child to adult T-shirts (up to 2X), available in-store..Parking and seating space is limited at this often packed deli, but extra parking across the street and take out are always available. Open ’til 9 pm in-season, the deli closes late afternoon in the fall and spring.Heading north, just past the Duck water tower, on the right, is where you‘ll find this great little deli in the heart of Duck.

Seafood, steamer pots, barbeque and desserts! 

Corolla vacationers can satisfy a huge appetite with a visit to this destination that celebrates both the seafood of the Outer Banks and the southern fare that puts North Carolina on the foodie map. Fatcrabs Rib Company & Seafood Shack is a casual and fun destination that’s known for its heaping portions, its wide array of seafood specialties, and its ample options that can please a crowd.

John’s Drive-In is legendary in the Outer Banks. This little beach stand gets a lot of love by offering locals and tourists the best in beach food and milkshakes. 

New in 2012, King Tut’s offers a casual place to get a tasty meal without having to worry about the kids getting bored. Quality hot dogs can be enjoyed while the young ones --- or adults ---play some arcade games, pool, ping-pong, Wii games, air hockey or darts. You can even grab a hula-hoop and have a spin! The menu features locally-made preservative-and hormone-free Weeping Radish hot dogs, bratwurst and sausage. Natural casing wieners are available in pork or beef, and bratwurst is German-style or beer style. There are also Nathan’s all beef hot dogs and corn dogs on a stick, among other hot dog choices.

We're celebrating 40 years at Morris Farm Market and it's another beautiful day to hang out on the farm! There's so much to do here; the music is setting up for your entertainment and the craft and food truck vendors are also setting up so you can check out their wares. In the market, we have fresh produce, an amazing bakery with pies, cookies, cakes, cinnamon rolls and breads. In the back of the market, you'll find treasures perfect for your home decorating needs. With the food trucks, we have gumbo, Brunswick stew, nachos, lamp gyros, softshell crab sandwiches, quesadillas and so much more!

 A northern beaches restaurant serving seafood, steaks, sandwiches, salads and more.

Though oysters are naturally always on the menu, Ocracoke Oyster Company offers a lot more than locally sourced seafood, and their menu is brimming with exceptional fare that can satisfy the largest of appetites. Located in the heart of Ocracoke Island, this fun destination that has more than enough variety to feed a crowd has a tempting selection of post-beach fare that will leave any hungry patron satisfied.

A delicious stop filled with sweets, snacks and sandwiches. 

The Outer Banks Brewing Station, established in 2001, is the first wind powered brewpub in the U.S. and an icon on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Look for the 92 foot wind turbine in the backyard beer garden. A pub by the classic European style of a ‘public house’, the Brewing Station considers itself an important member of the community and is family friendly during lunch and dinner hours. Families can enjoy live music, beer and food inside and out, while the little ones play on the pirate ship and the older ones play a friendly game of corn hole. It’s also a great place to wait for your table during the busy summer season.

Red Drum Tap House has become a Nags Head tradition for locals & visitors alike. For over 10 years, we’ve offered a hearty fare in a casual & relaxed atmosphere complimented by a great selection of 18 micro and domestic beers on tap. Locally owned & operated, we provide only the freshest local seafood steaks, ribs, and much more for the whole family.

For more than 15 years, Red Sky Cafe restaurant in Duck, NC, has been delighting locals and visitors with fresh, creative meals that highlight local Outer Banks seafood, poultry, beef, duck and more. The owner and chef, Wes Stepp, has more than 30 years of culinary experience and is well-known locally and throughout the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. Chef Wes and his team serve up beautiful, generous portions in the casual atmosphere of this Outer Banks restaurant. And, while no one leaves hungry, Chef Wes is also renowned for his attention to a healthy lifestyle that encourages, as its centerpiece, a focus on whole, fresh and locally sourced food. Locals know that if they want to eat well without the guilt, Red Sky is the place to head. Conveniently located beside Carolina Designs in downtown Duck, the year-round restaurant offers a dynamic menu, as well as nightly chef specials fit to delight even the pickiest of palates!

You'll have to peer behind the huge Russian olive hedges to find this popular OBX eatery, tucked away in a renovated and cedar-shaked historic home in the heart of Duck. Open since 1995, Roadside Bar and Grill says the locals will tell you it's "one of the finest establishments on the beach," and it boasts "great southern food and great times." In addition to seven tables in the downstairs dining room and three booths in the upstairs bar and grill, a patio provides plenty of space for outdoor dining and offers live original jazz and acoustic on many evenings during the season. As a delightful addition to Roadside’s cozy décor, there are colorful, artistically recycled windows brightening the walls and deck.Roadside’s dinner specialties include several dishes made with a variety of local, fresh seafood, as well as Maple Leaf Farm’s duck breast, a vegetarian Vegetable Napoleon and Roadside’s own special salad with pistachios and homemade raspberry vinaigrette. On the lunch menu are rare finds like pan-seared salmon filet salad, shrimp & grits and meatloaf with mashed potatoes and gravy. Another specialty, Roadside’s pulled pork barbecue is made on site with its own homemade sauce. Other popular standbys you'll see advertised on the marquee are "Juicy Burgers, Great Salads and Veggie Subs.”

Rusty’s Surf & Turf Outer Banks restaurant brings the bold flavors of the tropics to Hatteras Island. Owner Rusty Midgett left the island and honed his restaurant and kitchen skills in some of Philadelphia’s best restaurants with top chefs in the industry. He is inspired in the kitchen by the places he has traveled on surf trips and by his training in classic French and Italian restaurants. Let him surprise you with creative yet simple preparations. Offerings on the menu include fresh fish, shellfish, all natural chicken, pork, steaks and pasta in styles ranging from local to global, all served in a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere. Chef Rusty and his team have the resources and knowledge to turn all of these dishes into mouthwatering creations that will please the whole family.

Located directly across the street from Jockey’s Ridge on one side, and the ocean on the other, Sooey’s is a good casual place to stop for a bite and take in the view. It offers hickory smoke BBQ pork, beef, chicken, ribs and seafood, and one side even sells ice cream and Italian ices. Appetizers include buffalo wings, beer battered onion rings and a basket of cornbread or hushpuppies. Sides are good Southern offerings like collards, mac ‘n’ cheese, cole slaw and fried okra.  Meals can be in the form of a sandwich or a platter, with choices ranging from hand pulled pork or chicken BBQ to Southern fried chicken to crabcakes to a half rack of ribs. Menu choices can be eaten inside or made to go. There are tables inside, but if the weather permits, sitting outside at the shaded picnic tables, or upstairs on top of the roof, is the best way to enjoy the meal. Sooey's also offers catering service year-round. 

Whether you need a little morning fuel for a full day of fishing on the Avon Pier, or just want a tasty and convenient lunch in between beach trips, Stu’s Food Truck in Avon has the ideal locale and a tempting menu to satisfy your cravings. Located in central Avon, this local favorite food truck is quickly becoming a popular go-to for visitors of all tastes, thanks to its hefty menu, downhome flavors, and southern staples that are sure to appease every appetite.

Sunset Grille & Raw Bar brings the Carribbean and New Orleans to the Outer Banks with its wide variety of spicy seafood dishes, its tropical setting with Tiki Bars and its Cajun style chicken, fish and burgers.The Sushi Bar opens every day at 4 pm, offering 17 varieties of seafood and veggie rolls, and the Tiki Bars are open late night, with live entertainment during the season and karaoke on fall weekends. Breakfast is served until 11 am, and for lunch there are seafood baskets and a variety of specialty sandwiches, enhanced by flavorings of Jamaican and Carribbean jerk, mango mayos and Calypso Barbeque sauce. Along with Sunset’s island-style burgers is a vegetarian version, made with spicy black beans.The dinner menu offers an ample choice of grilled or fried seafood and steak entrees, along with the very popular Lump Crab Macaroni and Cheese and vegetarian choices. Available for both lunch and dinner, Sunset’s Raw and Steam Bar serves shellfish and lobster separately or in combos, and also on both menus is the restaurant’s award-winning, creamy-style Clam Chowder, voted the best on the OBX.For a perfect completion to your meal you might like to linger over a slice of Sunset’s luscious homemade key lime pie or dive into its Chocolate Bomb mousse while sipping on one of its specialty liqueur coffees.Sunset also provides catering for special events and business occasions. The restaurant closes from October to March, and has an altered fall schedule. It also opens back up for a week during both Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

Big on breakfast and homestyle cooking in a family-style restaurant.

The Carolina Club is located on the mainland of Currituck County, just minutes from the Outer Banks beaches.  With a beautiful par-3 island green signature hole, fun layout, and superb bentgrass greens that have been rated as some of the finest putting surfaces in the Southeastern US, the Carolina Club is sure to provide a memorable Outer Banks golf experience.  After your round, be sure to visit 'Tuckers Bar & Grille located in the clubhouse.  Enjoy a delicious burger and an ice cold beverage in a relaxing, casual atmosphere.  Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner (seasonally), 'Tuckers is proud to be a locals' favorite.  

An island-style setting with a mix of fried, grilled and healthy choices. 

For casual dining, The Lifesaving Station at Sanderling Inn has been a traditional favorite since 1977. The restaurant is housed in what once served as Caffey’s Life Saving Station. Decommisioned in the 1950s, it was the fifth U.S. station built south of the Virginia line and one of a string whose crews saved shipwrecked victims, their cargos and sometimes the ships from the often treacherous waters along the NC coast. Caffey’s nautical artifacts and historic memorabilia now decorate this authentic Outer Banks treasure, listed in the National Register of historic places.The restaurant serves three meals daily, with a rare breakfast menu full of old-fashioned treats, including steel-cut oatmeal, buttermilk biscuits, French toast with real Vermont maple syrup and a smorgasboard of an omelet. For lunch and dinner the Station offers a cuisine that focuses on fresh local seafood and other dishes prepared American-style, some with a Southern slant. Favorites include their signature shrimp, crab and corn chowder, daily specials and their white chocolate raspberry crème brulee for dessert. Also available are vegetarian dishes and a children‘s menu.On the second floor, the Swan Bar and Lounge offers a more relaxed setting where you can enjoy drinks, midday appetizers or a casual meal until 10 p.m. during the season. Hours for the restaurant and the bar vary in the fall and winter months. Dinner reservations are recommended.The Lifesaving Station wants its patrons to know that it prepares it dishes “in ways that celebrate the sustainable, organic, artisanal and local approach of our Southern & American producers who are dedicated to sustaining the cultures and environments that embody the places they call home.”

Watermen’s Bar & Grill boasts a “unique indoor/outdoor design” with spectacular waterfront views and a friendly staff - and “the best coffee, beers and mixed drinks on the Outer Banks.” This includes an exclusive Rum Bar with rums and rum drinks from around the world.It’s also gotten great online reviews for its dishes, which the grill promises to be freshly prepared. Along with a huge list of coffee and drinks, the menu offers a light, healthy breakfast selection, sandwiches, wraps and Mexican foods for lunch, and lots of seafood entrees and appetizers for dinner. The menu includes deserts, weekly specials and a kids‘ favorites.Featured also are wide screen TVs, internet and live music on the deck several nights during the season, along with other special, family-friendly music events like the Sky Blue Summer Concert Series, which features a week of local and national musicians.An interesting note about the restaurant’s décor is that its wood is salvaged from the original 1921 Coney Island Boardwalk in Brooklyn, New York.At Watermen’s Bar & Grill, you can get your food to go, linger long indoors or go out on the deck and enjoy great sunset views and kiteboarding activity on the sound as you sip one of Watermen’s special drinks. The restaurant is open year-round except for one month off during the winter.