2025 Vegetarian Guide

A popular spot for years with island residents and locals alike, The Flying Melon Café is known for its distinctive blend of Creole and Southern cuisine that’s amplified with a collection of locally and regionally sourced fresh ingredients. From Ocracoke seafood that was caught just a few miles away from the island’s borders, to homegrown fruits and veggies that add a powerful boost of flavor, The Flying Melon Café is a great spot to expand your culinary horizons while sampling the freshest local fare that Ocracoke Island has to offer.

Dive into some fresh Mexican fare after a long day at the beach at this eatery that has enough variety to please a crowd. 3 Tequilas Mexican Restaurant is a fun and family-friendly establishment that has a lengthy menu that’s stocked with all the traditional Mexican cuisine that foodies love, as well as some unique dishes that can’t be found anywhere else on the Outer Banks.

Welcome to Aloha Poke & Grill! In Hawaiian culture, poke is one of the most well-known dishes. “Poke” means to cut or slice something into crosswise pieces. It is served as diced and finely raw fish or cooked meat, which is usually served in the main course but is also served as an appetizer. The ingredients in a modern poke bowl can be very widely, the nutrition content is very well. We focus on fresh, good quality of ingredients as healthy way to dine. From Our Kitchen to Your Bowl!

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.

Discover a little something different on your next Duck vacation with a visit to this dine-in and take-out restaurant that offers a veritable world of cuisine in the heart of the Outer Banks. Bangkok Thai-Sushi has an extensive menu that utilizes the freshest ingredients, and as a result, it’s a fine destination for folks who are in the mood for a little something unique during their OBX getaway.

Specializing in exquisite and refreshing island cuisine in a classy yet casual tropical ambience, Barefoot Bernie's Tropical Grill & Bar has become a true destination on the Outer Banks restaurant circuit. The bright and welcoming family environment is filled with vintage travel posters and tropical decorations, giving diners the sensation of being on a tropical island. Colorful walls and unique light fixtures create the perfect ambience for a tasty meal and a tropical cocktail. The owner having grown up on the Outer Banks has traveled the tropics to taste and learn the exquisite flavors these destinations have to offer. Now he is back to bring you the best dishes from the world best beaches.  

Blue Moon is one of the hottest new restaurants on the Outer Banks. Scott and Melissa Shields opened the Blue Moon in the dead of the winter of 2009, when everyone else was running worried over the shaky economy. But the restaurant has proved to be a good bet, which anyone on a winter weekend waiting list to get into the eatery can testify. Barely visible from the U.S. 158 Bypass, the Blue Moon is tucked into the corner of Surfside Plaza at Milepost 13,  but just follow all the cars parked out in front.  It didn’t take long for word-of-mouth buzz to get around about the congenial atmosphere, cool bar and interesting and creative menu at Blue Moon.  Billed as “Southern comfort food,” the offerings include fish tacos with cilantro citrus cream; shrimp and grits sautéed with Vidalia onions and roasted red peppers;  veggie voodoo pasta with optional blackened shrimp or chargrilled pork loin;  braised Portobello stuffed with spinach, arugula and goat cheese risotto. And how about some jerk marinated chargrilled wings, or buffalo shrimp, or oysters Rockefeller to start? There are also soups and salads to fill out the menu. A variety of draft and bottled beer, and wine by the glass or bottle are available for the asking.   Full take out service is also available.  The Shields close up for a month in the winter, but it varies, so call first. 

Enjoy a long and lingering meal with the bustling on-the-water activity of Manteo as your backdrop at this spacious eatery that is renowned for fresh seafood and a beautiful coastal atmosphere. Blue Water Grill & Raw Bar has an ever-changing and extensive menu that features a variety of fresh ingredients, local seafood, and southern touches, ensuring that patrons can enjoy a taste of the Outer Banks with every dining experience.

Whether you’re in the mood for an easy-going breakfast, lunch, or dinner in the heart of Duck, or are looking for a big feast to enjoy at the vacation rental home, there’s a lot to crave at this eatery that has plenty of variety, and plenty of Outer Banks flavor. Featured on the Food Network’s popular television show “Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives,” this full-service restaurant has a little something for everyone, from filling breakfasts to live evening entertainment, and everything in between.

Located in the center of Ocracoke village, Dajio showcases the best of local ingredients in a fresh and distinctive menu that borrows inspiration from the heart of the island. With a mouth-watering array of brunch, lunch, and dinner items, food fans will always find something to crave at this popular eatery that has plenty of flavor to go around.

If you’re looking for fresh North Carolina seafood, Dinky’s will hit the spot. Chef Dwight Callahan cooks up a new seafood dinner special for every night of the week, with menu changes each season. Also on the menu are duck, steak and lamb, and Dinky’s is known for its mouthwatering pasta dishes like its Blue Crab Ravioli and its other shellfish teasers, all topped with Asiago cheese.For lighter fare, Chef Callahan creates a daily soup from scratch, and Dinky’s baby spinach salad, topped with Toasted Pecans and Crumbled Bleu Cheese,can also be served with either/or a combination of grilled chicken, shrimp, fish or scallops.Dinky’s menu also includes a couple of chicken entrees - parmesan and gorgonzola -vegetarian pasta dishes, a kids meal that includes vegetables and an 8-inch pizza, and a yummy desert selection highlighted by the chef’s Cheesecake Du Jour. You’ll also find a wide variety of wine and beers on the menu, along with desert drinks, cocktails and special martinis.Complimenting its fresh seafood specials and other dishes is Dinky’s delightful panoramic view of the Pamlico Sound, known for its breathtaking sunsets. Also exceptional is the restaurant’s décor, accented by woodwork and tables done in African Mahogany.Dinky’s motto, “Great Things Come From Small Places,” says it all. It’s located atop Village Marina in Hatteras on the Pamlico Sound.During the fall and winter, Friday night is Prime Rib Night and Monday is Sushi Night.

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.

Duck Pizza Company’s menu features a huge selection of creative pizza combinations with 24 varieties to choose from. They also offer a variety of ice cold beer. Eat in, take out or take advantage of free delivery from Pine Island to Southern Shores. It’s open for lunch and dinner daily in season.

A favorite spot for early risers and beach-goers alike, Eduardo's Taco Stand is a staple for Ocracoke fans who want to dive into some fresh Mexican fare that is packed with flavor. Featuring a classic array of traditional Latin dishes as well as plenty of unique fare that will make anyone a fan of global flavors, Eduardo's offers filling, fresh and easy meals for anyone who wants to satisfy a worldly craving for delicious and easy-to-order and pick-up cuisine.

Cap off a long day on the beach and toast an Outer Banks sunset with a visit to this gathering spot that’s perched on the edge of the Currituck Sound. Eventide features a selection of cheese and charcuterie boards, sandwiches, salads, and small plate dishes which are perfect for sharing with friends, as well as a beautiful locale where it’s easy to get together and enjoy the Duck waterfront.

Whether you’re in the mood for a convenient breakfast or lunch, or just want to skip right to the sweet stuff, the Fig Tree Bakery and the Sweet Tooth candy shop has you covered. This popular Ocracoke destination that has been delighting families for nearly 20 years is packed with all the goodies that islanders crave, as well as easy breakfast, lunch, and dinner fare for tasty meals on the go.

Whether you are on the hunt for a filling and fresh breakfast or a wholly unique and inspired lunch, Helios' Hideaway can satisfy the largest of appetites on Ocracoke Island. Distinctive for its tempting range of Greek fare that ranges from salads to hefty pizzas, this relatively new addition to the Ocracoke dining scene steals the show with its global flavors that can’t be found anywhere else on the southern Outer Banks.

Spice up your vacation with a visit to this eatery that offers a wealth of traditional Indian fare in the heart of the Outer Banks. Himalaya Indian Cuisine is a unique and delicious addition to the OBX dining scene which features a wealth of traditional and more unique dishes that will appease all Indian food fans, as well as any hungry visitor who is in the mood for something a little different.

Feeding a large and hungry family is gravy at this unique deli and take-out shop that has huge portions of flavor with every menu item. It’s All Gravy Italian Trattoria is a staple for locals and visitors alike who are craving a little fresh Italian in the comfort of their home, vacation rental, or local beach motel or cottage.

From an easy snack before a morning beach walk, to a sumptuous and casual lunch in between area explorations, Kat’s Deli has a little something for visitors and locals of all tastes. Located on the northern end of Hatteras Village, this tempting deli is a great destination for fast fare that doesn’t skimp on big flavors.

La Fogata offers tasty Mexican food for lunch and dinner at three locations on the Outer Banks. Prices are reasonable, and the always-friendly wait staff provide fast service. Locals love this restaurant because it’s got comfortable big booths, it’s open year-round and the speedy service makes it so customers usually don’t have to wait too long for a table even in the summer. Plus there’s tons of delicious choices on the menu, with all kinds of meat, beans and cheese.  There are numerous varieties of enchiladas, burritos, tacos, quesadillas and chalupas, and there’s chile relanos, huevos rancheros, nachos, Mexican rice, taco salads, guacamole, and fajitas.  This is a great place for vegetarians, because there’s much more to choose from than most other eateries. And there’s also a kids’ menu, dessert and a full bar available. 

Lucky 12 Tavern, located at Milepost 12 Beach Road has everything a great restaurant and bar should have: great food, great beverages, tons of personality and lots of TV's.  Lucky 12 prides itself on serving the freshest North Carolina Seafood and Locally Sourced Produce.  Other dining options include Hand Pattied Burgers, Wings, Cheese steaks and Creative Salads along with a Kids Menu and New York Style Pizza.  This delicious Pizza is served till 2 am Nightly.  Lucky 12 also features 20 Beers on Draft and over 80 Craft beers by the bottle or can.  They also have and extensive Martini menu and a nice Wine Selection.  For sports fans, they offer 20 TV's showcasing the MLB package, NHL Package, NFL Sunday Ticket along with tons of College Sports Packages.  For you late night fans the bar stays open till 2 AM nightly and has a pool table, Golden Tee Golf and pinball machines.  Come see why this Tavern has been a popular destination for Tourists and Locals since 2006.

A Taste Of India With A View Of The Outer Banks The Outer Banks is in for a real treat as the first authentic Indian Cuisine Restaurant opens its doors. Located on the northern end of The Wright Memorial Bridge, Masala Bay offers locals and visitors a taste of delicious North Indian food on the Currituck Sound.

If you are looking for authentic cuisine and the area’s best New York style stone oven pizza made from scratch, you will love Max’s Italian Restaurant.  Max’s  is conveniently located in the Dare Centre MP 6 3/4 in Kill Devil Hills and owners Grant and Natalya Sharp are all about good natural food and customers can taste that goodness in every bite.  

Located at Milepost 13 in Nags Head, across from Jockey’s Ridge State Park, we have unbelievable views from our second floor deck of the Atlantic Ocean and the historic Nags Head cottages. As a matter of fact, we don’t believe that you can truly unwind until you’ve ordered an Orange Crush on the deck at Mulligan’s!If you take one look at our menu you will find that we strive to bring the freshest possible products to your table—from locally sourced produce, locally sourced seafood and locally baked breads. From house-made sauces, hand-patted burgers and oysters and shrimp straight from the Pamlico sound, we give a whole new meaning to Southern Coastal Cuisine. So come hang out with the locals at Mulligan’s Raw Bar & Grille!!!Our hours of operation are 11am – 10 pm Monday through FridayAnd                                             10 am -10pm Saturday and Sunday for our Brunch MenuOpen Year Round!!

Pizza fans of all tastes will find something to love at Nags Head Pizza Company, thanks to its lengthy menu that’s filled with both traditional and more unique and creative pies for hungry patrons who want to try something new. Able to accommodate special diets, with gluten free and even vegan options, Nags Head Pizza Company is a great option for a pizza feast that the whole family can dig into.

Poke Oishii Sushi is Corolla's Choice for Poke! Fresh, Healthy, Nutritious, Delicious. Order online at OishiiOBX.com

Visitors along the Currituck beaches who are in the mood for something a little different during their Outer Banks vacation can pay a visit to this Japanese restaurant in Corolla that features fresh ingredients and traditional and unique fare to create a perfect lunch or dinner on-site, or on the go. Okinawa Sushi & Grill features an extensive menu and plenty of options for folks to enjoy a world of global flavors without ever leaving the northern Outer Banks.

Two Outer Banks favorites, located at the Dunes Shops in Kitty Hawk, have merged into one even better combination under new ownership and a new name - Outer Bean Juice & Java and Seaside Gourmet. The new owner has blended both businesses that were once separately side-by-side with a tasteful, modern décor, which she enhances by hosting monthly shows featuring works by local artists.Along with other additions, the new restaurant features an Outer Banks exclusive fresh juice bar. You can start or end your day in the healthiest way possible by enjoying any number of combinations of nutritious and energizing fresh fruit, vegetable or combination drinks, along with smoothies and specialty coffees. Baked goods, snacks and sandwiches will continue to be available as well.Seaside Gourmet’s delicious meals are as great as ever and can now be enjoyed inside on the premises, as well as to go. The Gourmet prepares its meals using only local seafood and all the locally grown and organic produce that’s available. Along with fresh seafood entrees, blackened or herb-seared, they now offer a marinated chicken special, along with their yummy grilled or stir-fried veggies, complemented by their special secret seasoning recipes. As before, there are several outstanding vegetarian selections, including Gourmet’s one-of-a-kind havarti-stuffed risotto cakes.With a style they call “elegant simplicity” the Gourmet also offers individualized menus for weddings and other special events.The Gourmet serves lunch and dinner, with bagels, wraps and salads from 3 - 4 pm, and the coffee and juice bar is open at 7 a.m.

Located in southern Hatteras Island, Pamlico Deli is one of the Outer Banks’ newest and most acclaimed spots for an easy lunch, a collection of freshly prepared meals and goodies, and fun events that everyone in the crew will adore. Hosting regular weekly wine tastings all year long, as well as live music on special nights throughout the summer and beyond, Pamlico Deli is a great destination for food, drink, and plenty of great times.

Enjoy New York style pizza here on the Outer Banks! Hand-tossed pizza, hoagies, homemade sauce cooked in stone deck ovens. Pizza Stop sets itself apart from other pizza joints on the Outer Banks by offering delivery of cold beer!Appetizers on the menu include wings, mozzarella sticks, cheese bread, garlic bread and garlic knots. Pick your favorite toppings from pepperoni, sausage, ham, bacon, pineapple, black olives, banana peppers, meatballs, anchovies, feta cheese, jalapenos, roasted red peppers and spinach. If you can’t decide on individual toppings order a specialty pizza - supreme, veggie, meathead, margherita, BBQ chicken and classic white are the options. Pizzas are available in 12” and 17”. Supreme pizza is smothered in sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms, onions, green peppers and 5 additional toppings of your choice. Classic White specialty pizza is covered with ricotta, tomato slices, spinach mozzarella and fresh garlic. The Pizza Stop Meathead specialty pizza is unmatched with pepperoni, sausage, bacon and ham.  Hoagies grace the menu with taste bud tempting flavors as cheese steak, ham and cheese, eggplant parm, meatball, sausage and peppers, turkey and provolone or Italian cold cut. Pasta options and desserts are also available. Pizza Stop offers free delivery to Duck, Southern Shores, Martins Point, Kitty Hawk and Kill Devil Hills (to 3rd Street).

Pizzazz Pizza now has FOUR convenient Outer Banks locations in Grandy, Corolla, Duck & Nags Head. Made with only the freshest ingredients and finest meat toppings! Dine in, carry out or delivery (from Corolla to South Nags Head; from Powell's Point to Aydlett).

Enjoy a little something different on your next Outer Banks vacation with a stop at Pok's Art. This Kitty Hawk eatery that’s located along the Beach Bypass offers Asian fusion fare with a world of flavors and a number of unique menu items to enjoy at the small OBX restaurant, or on the good.

A casual waterfront eatery with delicious deli meats and cheeses. Poor Richard's includes a pub with liquor, draft and bottled beer a well as wine. They also offer entertainment. 

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.”

Offering full lunch and dinner menus with American and seafood fare and cocktails. Voted best deck dining on the beach. Relaxed and family friendly atmosphere. The spectacular view from Rundown Café’s newly renovated upstairs Hula bar deck is unrivaled on the beach. The restaurant offers seating on the deck, as well as more intimate seating inside either the upstairs bar or more family oriented downstairs dining room.  

Sal's Pizza sells New York style pizza by the slice, whole pizza pies, hot Italian subs and hearty pasta dishes. 

Shin Xing Chinese Restaurant has been serving the Outer Banks of North Carolina, more specifically, Southern Shores since for over 20 years. During their time of business, they are proud to have served locals and vacationers alike. Shin Xing Chinese Restaurant  is conveniently located at milepost 1 in The Marketplace.In addition to Chinese cuisine, Shun Xing Chinese Restaurant offers Szechuan, Hunan and Cantonese Style dishes. Sink your teeth into tasty dishes with chicken, pork, beef and seafood. Vegan options are also available. Party platters, appetizers, Chefs Specialties, combo plates, ‘diet’ dishes and lunch specials are on the menu for your dining pleasure. Visa, Mastercard and cash are accepted as form of payment. The Marketplace will be the first major shopping area you will see after crossing the Wright Memorial Bridge. Here you will find a major grocery store, a real estate company, a store that offers everything for a $1, a pharmacy, shipping store, specialty doctors, a pizzeria, a mattress provider, a coffee shop, a bagel shop, a dry cleaner, a hair salon, an urgent care facility, a frozen custard shop and a numerous banks.

Indulge in a craving for heaping plates of pastas and big and bold pizzas with a visit to this Ocracoke eatery that has plenty of global flavors and influences that are miles away from your typical Italian fare.  Sorellas Pizza & Pasta is a great spot to satisfy a large appetite, thanks to a wide selection of fresh pastas, pizzas, salads, and other treats that will leave patrons of all tastes smiling.

Options abound at Steamers regarding dining experience and food choices. They offer gourmet food to go and catering for all occasions. Or you can dine onsite including their deck that overlooks Currituck Sound. Outer Bankers love seafood, and steamer pots to go are a fun favorite. Steamers offers a variety of these including lobster, clams, mussels, snow and king crab legs. Let them know how many in your party, and they build a pot to go. All you have to do is steam and serve. All pots include corn on the cob, red bliss potatoes and yellow onions. 

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.

With its fabulous setting on the Roanoke Sound and a mouth-watering menu, Tale of the Whale Restaurant is one of those places on the Outer Banks that visitors flock to year after year.  The family-owned business prides itself on making each meal one to remember for every customer.  Beautiful views of the sound can be enjoyed through numerous windows that line the rear of the restaurant. If you sit at one of the comfortable wooden booths, you could be treated to a glorious sunset. Or savor a cocktail , or wine from the extensive wine list, outdoors overlooking the water. There is also a full bar inside the premises, which in recent years has been renovated. Menu items include fresh finfish and shellfish, fried, broiled, steamed or grilled; and chicken, steak, ribs and pork dishes.  House specialities include flounder stuffed with lump crabmeat; crabmeat and shrimp au gratin; pan-sauteed crabcakes; and shrimp and grits. Pasta, salad and soup are also available, and there is a “lighter fare,” vegetarian, and childrens’ menu.  Children, families and parties of all sizes are welcome, but it’s recommended to call ahead to accommodate a large group. The facility is also available for special occasions. Live music is offered on the waterfront gazebo on summer evenings.

Tavern on 12 in Frisco is a fun and friendly restaurant with lots of homemade fare that is sure to please everyone in the crowd. From fresh seafood specials to hand-tossed pizzas with a range of specialty toppings, Tavern on 12 is a great destination for a little homegrown flavor on Hatteras Island.

Start a day of northern Outer Banks explorations off right, or just enjoy a healthy drink or snack on the go, with a visit to The Juice Jar – a fun and charming little eatery in Corolla village where fresh ingredients and plenty of refreshing flavors are always on the menu.

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.”

The owners and staff of The Paper Canoe work hard to “make your vacation taste better.” This charming restaurant near Sanderling is best known for its stunning waterfront setting, its always evolving menu and its fresh ingredients, including local-caught seafood and home-grown vegetables from the chef’s own backyard. This dedication to its dishes, “prepared simply and with passion,” is coupled with PC’s commitment to your dining experience, “from the time you walk in the door.” Featured are their handmade pastas, wood-fired pizzas and other rustic wood oven specialties along with “an ever-changing chalkboard of daily selections.”

Kitty Hawk visitors in the mood for an elegant meal with lots of fresh and local ingredients will want to plan an evening or a Sunday brunch at The Pony and the Boat, which is the latest culinary concept from celebrated Outer Banks restaurateur Tommy Karole. Featuring upscale spins on a range of classic southern dishes, and taking inspiration from the coastal waters of the Outer Banks, this restaurant with an ever-changing menu is sure to appease foodies who love comfort food with an elevated twist.

A specialty gourmet market and wine shop with plenty of surprises!

With a mission to provide a meal made with fresh, natural and premium ingredients, the eatery offers a range of interesting and delicious gourmet salads, bistro sandwiches, grilled flatbreads and toasted wraps, all made with a flair for international flavors.

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.

Visitors staying in the tri-village communities of Rodanthe, Waves, and Salvo will be just a stone’s throw away from the unique groceries and great eats they need for a delicious Outer Banks vacation, thanks to Waves Market & Deli. This small shop and eatery features a wealth of goodies to explore, from one of the largest beer and wine selections on northern Hatteras Island to a collection of gourmet sandwiches, burgers, and other fresh fare to go, making it a one-stop shop for visitors with exceptional taste.

30 YEARS IN THE MAKING. Since the beginning, the Weeping Radish has brewed beer according to the Bavarian Reinheitsgebot Purity Law of 1516 which states that beer must be brewed using only four ingredients: Hops, Malt, Yeast and Water. No additives, chemicals or preservatives may be used. Uli Bennewitz came to North Carolina in the early-1980s and decided to open a microbrewery similar to the ones he’d left behind in Bavaria.

Established in 1976 in Nags Head, Yellow Submarine was the first eatery on the Outer Banks to offer oven-baked subs. Since then, the menu has expanded considerably to include hand-tossed pizza with fresh sauce and Philly or chicken cheesesteaks. Pizzas range from veggie to classic white, Greek, Buffalo chicken, Meat Monster and Hawaiian White. Various flavored of wings offered. Deli subs made with fresh Boars Head meats & cheeses. Located at Outer Banks Mall at Milepost 14 off the Bypass, this comfortable restaurant also offers Caesar, Greek, Buffalo Chicken and Chef salads, numerous snacks and draft beer. Want something sweet? Have some N.Y. style cheesecake. Kids menu, for dine-in only, includes chicken tenders and pizza. Delivery is available between Mileposts 10 and 21 with a minimum order of $15.