OBX Eats
Maggie Ballantyne
9.2.21
The Outer Banks (OBX) has been considered a home away from home for my family the last 20+ years. For as long as I can remember we have rented a house for a week each summer to soak up the sun and time together. We have also come to love some of the local eateries in the area and visit as many as possible during our stays. For our fellow foodies, here are some of our favorite Outer Banks Eats!
Breakfast and Coffee:
Lighthouse Bagels… we go here when we want to pick up bagels for the mornings and want an easy grab-and-go breakfast before heading to the beach. Our favorites are the French Toast, Everything, Rosemary, and Cinnamon Sugar bagels. They also have great breakfast sandwiches; however, a trip to Lighthouse Bagels is not complete until you try the crumb cake. Trust me you will not regret it!
Location: Corolla, NC
Duck Deli… this is one of the first places we fell in love with when we first started traveling down to the Outer Banks. We like the classic breakfast sandwiches. Great to eat in or take to go with you to the beach!
Location: Duck, NC
Duck Donuts… think of a topping and I almost guarantee you can get it on a donut here! Pick up your custom order sheet and order an assortment of donuts completely designed for you and your family. I like the peanut butter glaze with chocolate drizzle, my sister loves the s’mores , my mom likes a classic sugar donut, and you can even get a breakfast between two donuts. If you love souvenirs, this place has great shirts too!
Locations: Duck, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head, and Corolla, NC
Art’s Place… This is a casual place to grab a quick breakfast! The service is really friendly and the food is good. We always go here on our arrival date. The pancakes are HUGE and very popular, but my personal favorite is the South of the Border omelet, which includes sausage, pepper jack, onion, bell peppers, and jalapenos.
Location: Kitty Hawk, NC
Charis Coffee Company… if we ever have a rainy day in the Outer Banks, we head to Manteo. There are great small shops to explore and one of my favorite coffee shops! Order online ahead of time or order when you get there, up to you! They are really big on supporting the local community and charities which is another reason I love supporting them.
Location: Manteo, NC
Lunch or Dinner:
Fish Heads Bar and Grill… Let me start by staying that this is my favorite restaurant on this list. Location, friendly wait staff, casual dress (most people walk up from the beach), good food, and decent prices all add up to a perfect experience every time we go. It is located right on a dock over the water, so the only option is ocean view. There is a great beer selection and the cocktails are delicious. If you have been following me for awhile you know I love my margaritas. This place always serves a good one! As for the food, we have never come across an appetizer or entrée we did not like. Our go-to favorite appetizer is the Grilled Tuna Bites followed closely by the Steamed Shrimp. Some entrees we have tried and loved include: Shrimp Baskets, Grilled Fish Tacos, Grilled Shrimp Tacos, Grilled Tuna Steak, Eastern NC Pork BBQ Topped with Slaw, Grilled Cheese, even the Hot Dogs are good!
Location: Nags Head, NC
Sunset Grill… This is a very popular restaurant and I suggest you go early if you do not want a long wait. Just as the name suggests, it has the best of the best view of sunsets. We love the raw oysters and the shrimp.
Location: Duck, NC
Rundown Café… we were told by some family friends to give this restaurant a try and we are so glad they did! This is another favorite we do not skip! Our go to orders include: the Rundown Chowder, Coconut Shrimp, and NACHOS. I have had the burgers, I have had the tacos, but the standout item to me on this menu is the Hawaiian Poke Bowl -- “warm Jasmine rice topped w/ raw sesame-soy marinated tuna surrounded by ginger peanut edamame, ginger slaw, crispy wontons, & finished w/ wakame seaweed salad.”
Location: Kitty Hawk, NC
Tortuga’s Lie... I have only been to this restaurant once when we gave it a try in April 2021 and I will definitely be going back. You may recognize the name… it was featured on Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives. All the food here is Caribbean-styled and one of the specialties is the Caribbean Grilled Pork Chops. My Dad loved it! I ordered the Swiss ‘Jerk’ Burger and was happy with my choice as it reminded me of a similar meal I had while in Jamaica last winter.
Location: Nags Head, NC
Red Sky Café… I really didn’t know what to make of this place when we first walked in; however, our server was great, and my Shrimp and Grits were delicious! In fact, they are featured on the menu of the sister, more upscale restaurant across the street, NC Coast.
Location: Duck, NC
Salt Box Café… So many people drive by without stopping, but really everyone should go here at least once. Inside dining requires a reservation, porch dining is first-come first-serve. The Toasted Ciabatta Bread, N.O.L.A. BBQ Shrimp, and Watermelon Brulee are our favorite appetizers. The Chef’s Pork Ribs are our favorite entrée. This restaurant also has a small play area for kids while you wait to be served.
Location: Kill Devil Hills, NC
NC Coast… We decided to go here for Easter Dinner before we ever visited Red Sky. Without knowing they were partnered with the restaurant across the street, I ordered the Red Sky’s Classic Shrimp ‘N Grits – “NC shrimp, applewood smoked bacon, Carolina Cajun cream sauce, redneck risotto and pico de gallo” – and was hooked. While this entrée is fantastic, it is not what this restaurant is known for. The standout item on the menu is the Chef’s Board. The size of the board is based on how many of the guests at the table want to participate.
Location: Duck, NC
Drinks and Cocktails:
Blue Point… our new favorite place to stop by for a cocktail before dinner. Or, go a little later and watch the sunset. You really can’t go wrong with the view! There is a full restaurant service, but I have only ever been there for drinks. My favorite drink is the Carolina Cooler: “Sauvignon Blanc, St. Germain, Ginger Ale, Lemon & Lime.” I like to stop by the specialty dog bakery to grab a treat for my pup and then get a cocktail for me!
The Rundown Café also has a great bar and their frozen margaritas are a summer favorite. If you are interested in just hanging out at the bar at Fish Heads, I would recommend that one too!
Ice Cream:
Big Buck’s Homemade Ice Cream… this ice cream is the real deal. You can just tell when it is handmade! This shop continues to expand each year and I would suggest going to the Corolla location EARLY in the evening if you don’t want to wait 30+ minutes in line. The Duck location is relatively new and much less crowded. My mom’s favorite is the Rasperry Chocolate Chip, my dad loves the ___, and I like either Oreo Mint or Chocolate Peanut Butter
Location: Corolla, Kitty Hawk, Duck, and Manteo, NC
Chill Spot… this location has always been an ice cream spot, but this particular shop is relatively new. We have visited the last two years and had great experiences. They are always trying something new, which means I am too. I tried the Ice Cream Taco and did not regret it!
Location: Corolla, NC
Sunset Ice Cream… this place is special because it was the first place my family ever went to get ice cream 20+ years ago and we still go back to this day. The staff have always been friendly, the views are great, the small boardwalk is full of fun shops for families, and it’s the place that really feels like home when we visit. I love to order just a classic scoop of mint chocolate chip in a cup or Oreo cone OR a Charlie Brown Milkshake.
Location: Duck, NC
I look forward to many more trips to the Outer Banks in my future and I hope you do too! If you are looking for a relaxing trip with the chance to sit in the sun and eat great food, I am happy to help you add this to your summer plans. For more information, please contact me at maggie@wisehsfamilytravel.com or www.facebook.com/wishesfamilytravelmaggie