Nags Head Restaurants and Dining on the Outer Banks

Bad Bean Baja Grill & Cantina

3105 N. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 5, Seagate North Shopping Center
Kill Devil Hills

(252) 261-1300
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Bad Bean’s renovation of their new Kill Devil Hills location is reason enough to come in, and so is the food. Local artwork, cool lighting and wonderful color greet you and set a comfortable yet energetic backdrop to your meal. Although Bad Bean offers some Mexican favorites, it’s far from your typical Mexican restaurant. Techniques and flavors from all across Latin America, California and the Baja Peninsula are utilized to create a unique dining experience. The fresh-made salsas and guacamole are perfect with the house-made corn tortilla chips. And they’ve added in some extras at this location, too — daily lunch specials year round, full-service wait staff and a full-service bar featuring one of the best Ultimate Margaritas on the beach. They’ve taken the fish taco idea and expanded it to the Nth degree — tuna, shrimp, softshell crab or calamari tacos, anyone? Their Carne Asada is a must have as well. Note that they often have entertainment in the bar during the summer months. Take-out is available.

Basnight’s Lone Cedar

7623 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head/Manteo Causeway
Nags Head

(252) 441-5405
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This Outer Banks landmark is where you’ll find many a local eating every night, so you know the food must be really good. This is also North Carolina’s favorite senator’s stomping ground. Former Senator Pro Tem Marc Basnight is known to greet customers at his family restaurant, and daughters Vicki and Caroline are also there to make sure your dining experience is exactly what you expected. This restaurant is at the top of the list of many locals’ favorite spots. The service is genuinely friendly, and the portions are more than generous. You’ll enjoy the vast views of the sound and dining on their new outdoor deck overlooking the osprey nest. Basnight’s serves brunch Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and dinner seven nights a week beginning at 4:30 p.m. (During the off-season, the days they serve dinner vary, so call ahead.) They feature only local, fresh North Carolina seafood that comes in whole and is cleaned in their kitchen, vegetarian dishes, pasta and steaks. Their dedication to freshness includes their own herb garden. They also serve local produce and pork as well as free-farmed chicken. And you will marvel at their incredible wine cellar (well, it’s a room, really) featuring thousands of bottles of wine. This accompanies a roomy bar area where you can enjoy the full menu. They also have Karaoke in the bar area Friday and Saturday nights. Each year, they close December 31 and re-open right before Valentine’s Day. Basnight’s also offers on and off-premise catering for any size or type of event.

Black Pelican Oceanfront Cafe

3848 Virginia Dare Trail, The Beach Road, MP 4
Kitty Hawk

(252) 261-3171
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The Black Pelican is located at 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, dishes with exotic Pan-Asian flavors, or pizza from their wood-fired brick oven that locals love. Each night they offer an eclectic list of chef’s specials, and they have a kids’ menu with lots of choices for the little ones. 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 that is served at the bar and in the restaurant until 11 p.m. This is a lively place where you can find a fun bar scene. They are open all year.

Brewing Station

600 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 8.5
Kill Devil Hills

(252) 449-BREW
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Featuring the talents of national and international award-winning Brewmaster Scott Meyer, the Brewing Station has an ever-changing list of house-made beers and sodas that serve as the cornerstone of the Brewing Station’s innovative style. Chef Phongkrit “Pok” Choeichom — who won the 2009 Taste of the Beach Chefs Award and the 2011 Taste of the Beach People’s Choice Award — has created an Outer Banks–inspired fusion menu using regionally available products from local fish and produce to North Carolina meats. Pastry chef Tina Mackenzie bakes the house bread and has created a tempting dessert menu. Friendly and casual but with a metropolitan flair, the Brewing Station has a full bar, dining on two levels and the biggest outdoor area on the Outer Banks featuring a pirate ship playground for the kids, picnic table seating, outdoor entertainment during the summer season and the 92-foot wind turbine that powers part of the brewing operation. Half-liter bottle conditioned beer and two-liter “growlers” are sold to go at the bar. The Brewing Station accommodates large parties and is open year round for both lunch and dinner. Lest we forget, they are also highly regarded as a go-to place to see regional and national music acts across a wide variety of genres.

Brine and Bottle

7531 South Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head/Manteo Causeway, Caribbean Professional Center
Nags Head

(252) 715-1818
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The Brine and Bottle stands out on the Outer Banks restaurant scene for its resolute commitment to utilizing seasonal, fresh, local ingredients. It’s owned and operated by two North Carolina natives, Chef Andrew Donovan and Sommelier Ashley Whitfield, who work with fishermen and farmers in Dare and nearby Currituck and Martin counties to source local ingredients. Indoors in the cozy dining room or outdoors on the spacious waterfront deck overlooking the Roanoke Sound, enjoy carefully selected wines and craft beers as well as seasonal Southern fare, including the customer favorite shrimp and grits with fried N.C. grit cakes. Donovan, who won the 2011 Taste of the Beach Chefs Choice Award, changes the dinner menu nightly, depending on what’s fresh. Take home such goodies as Maldon sea salt, house blend coffee, grits, wine and beer, pimento cheese and pickles, which are canned in house (think dill beans, pickled okra and more). The Brine and Bottle’s selection of wines and beers changes frequently, and there are always a few North Carolina selections available. During the summer season, the restaurant is open for dinner nightly, for lunch Monday through Saturday and for brunch on Sunday. Call for off-season hours. Catering services are available, both onsite and offsite.

Carolina Seafood

2042 N. Virginia Dare Trail, The Beach Road, MP 6.5
Kill Devil Hills

(252) 441-6851
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Carolina Seafood is a buffet-style restaurant with lots of fresh local seafood, prime rib, hushpuppies, soft shell crabs, conch fritters, veggies and more. The buffet has a big salad bar and lots of dessert selections. Carolina Seafood has a full bar, take out and children’s menus. In season they open at 3:30 p.m., and early birds can get $5 off their adult buffet or a free one-pound lobster tail from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Take-out meals and crabs by the bushel are available. Before or after dinner, the kids can play of their playground, and the adults can play corn hole. Call for off-season hours.

Fatboyz Ice Cream & Grill

7208 S. Virginia Dare Trail, The Beach Road, MP 16.5
Nags Head

(252) 441-6514
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This popular take-out food and ice cream stand serves up an array of ice cream concoctions — shakes, sundaes, cones — as well as hand-pattied burgers, fresh grilled tuna, hand-cut fries, Hebrew National hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, onion rings, fresh-squeezed orange/lime/lemonades and more. Try their no-filler, all-killer jumbo crabcake! The ice cream is absolutely delectable, and you must try Stacie’s delicious ice cream cakes for special occasions. Fatboyz is located across the street from Jennette’s Pier, and you can eat on-site at a handful of tables on the side deck. Though the line is often long at this very popular spot, don’t despair; it moves very quickly.

Front Porch Cafe

2515 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 10
Nags Head

(252) 480-6616
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The Front Porch Café in Nags Head has moved! They outgrew their old location and are now in the new Food Lion Plaza just a block north of the old location. They are still a traditional community coffeehouse with deliciously fresh-roasted coffee, but the new store features additional seating and parking and a lounge/art space to relax and enjoy your coffee and the hand-painted mural by local artist Dawn Gray. They have live music on the new stage area, which doubles as a kids story time space during the summer. Front Porch is known for offering the best artisan-roasted coffee on the beach. They serve an array of specialty coffee drinks, teas and chai. Fresh pastries like croissants, muffins, cinnamon buns and turnovers are baked on site. A wide variety of whole bean coffees are for sale. This is a great place to hang out — it’s open year round with free wireless Internet access, extended summer evening hours and a community bulletin board with local news and events. The Front Porch has two other locations, one in Kill Devil Hills at MP 6 and the other on the main highway in Manteo.

High Cotton BBQ

5230 N. Virginia Dare Trail, The Beach Road, MP 1
Kitty Hawk

(252) 255-2275
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High Cotton is owned and operated by a native North Carolina family that was born and raised in the heart of barbecue country. They serve authentic, eastern North Carolina–style pork barbecue. The pork is smoked for hours over hickory, hand-chopped and then seasoned with a light, vinegar-based sauce that doesn’t overpower the natural flavor of the smoked meat. The Southern fried chicken is crisp and delicious. The smoked chicken is so tender it falls right off the bone, and the Texas-style beef brisket is smoked, sliced and served with a tangy sauce. The St. Louis cut ribs are the local’s favorite for good reason. Portions here are generous. They serve traditional side dishes like cole slaw, baked beans and fresh vegetables plus hush puppies and French fries. The sauces are homemade and available for purchase. They have a children’s menu. This is a great place to feed a crowd, and they have a speedy to-go counter for take-out. Check out their convenient to-go packages and bring home your own pig-pickin’. The restaurant also offers catering. High Cotton serves lunch and dinner every day in season and closes for a short time in the winter.

Hurricane Mo’s Beachside Bar and Grill

120 E. Kitty Hawk Road, just off the Beach Road, MP 4
Kitty Hawk

(252) 255-0215
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Hurricane Mo’s is just steps from the ocean and has an intimate, beachy atmosphere. On the menu you’ll find fresh seafood, steaks, chicken, pasta and sandwiches. Daily specials are offered at lunch and dinner. Kids will be happy with the selections on their children’s menu. They have a full bar and happy hour specials from 3 to 6 p.m., including 10-cent shrimp, 25-cent wings and $1 tacos. Hurricane Mo’s is open year round for lunch and dinner, and you can get take-out if you prefer. They offer free WiFi for customers to use. Check them out if you’re looking for fun.

Jolly Roger Restaurant

1836 N. Virginia Dare Trail, The Beach Road, MP 6.75
Kill Devil Hills

(252) 441-6530
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The Jolly Roger has been an Outer Banks fixture for years. You can’t miss the pirate out front, and you shouldn’t miss the big breakfasts that are served here until 2 p.m. They have some of the biggest biscuits on the beach, and their rye toast is incredible. They also serve lunch and dinner, with a big menu of seafood, pastas, steaks and Italian specialties. There are always specials featured at the bar such as 25 cent shrimp or 49 cent ribs. The Jolly Roger is open every day, all year round, with entertainment nightly; call for details. WiFi is available throughout the restaurant.

Kelly’s Outer Banks Restaurant and Tavern

2316 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 10.5
Nags Head

(252) 441-4116
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Kelly’s is an Outer Banks favorite serving beef, chicken, pasta, vegetarian dishes and, of course, seafood, including raw bar selections. You will enjoy their signature sweet potato biscuits, featured in Gourmet Magazine and savored by the thousands. Kelly’s offers three different menus, including one for children and lighter fare in the tavern. They will seat you for dinner until 10 p.m., so you won’t have to sacrifice having a good meal just because it’s late. You’ll want to save room for their delicious homemade desserts created by two-time Taste of the Beach Best Dessert award-winner Pastry Chef Becky Miller. The separate, full-service bar presents nightly entertainment. You can reserve space for a private party in any of their rooms, including the tavern, or you can hire Kelly’s for top-notch catering with or without wait staff. Kelly’s is open for dinner and entertainment year round, and the tavern is one of the top hot spots of the Outer Banks, attracting some of big names in the music industry. If you want to see and be seen, put this one on your list.

Kill Devil Grill

2008 S. Virginia Dare Trail, The Beach Road, MP 9.5
Kill Devil Hills

(252) 449-8181
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Kill Devil Grill may look like a diner, but step inside and you’ll be treated to a gourmet meal that is miles ahead of typical diner fare. It starts with a great menu of dishes that are all made from scratch. Choose from creative daily specials, fresh fish and other seafood, steaks, ribs, sandwiches and killer salads. The chicken wings have become legendary: They’re marinated for two days, smoked, roasted, finished on the grill and tossed in a homemade wing sauce. The Grill has a kids’ menu and outstanding homemade desserts. There are a few menu items you’d expect to find in a diner, like blue-plate specials, root beer floats and apple crisp that’s served warm with vanilla ice cream. Kill Devil Grill has a full bar and is open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday. They are only closed for a short time in the winter.

Kill Devil’s Frozen Custard

1002 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 8.5
Kill Devil Hills

(252) 441-5900
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The specialty here is authentic frozen custard: a thick, delicious concoction of fresh cream, milk, egg yolk, sugar and imported vanilla. They make it fresh hourly and whether you call it ice cream or frozen custard, we just like to call it delicious. Their frozen custard is offered in cups, cones or homemade waffle cones. They also create awesome sundaes and shakes, or you can create your own concoctions with one of their blended hurricanes. On the menu are better burgers, Coney Island dogs, N.C. barbecue sandwiches, wraps and veggie burgers. The specialty beach fries are hand cut every day from select Idaho potatoes. Now in their 10th season, Kill Devil’s is a locals’favorite and is open for lunch and dinner from April to December.

Mako Mike’s

1630 N. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 7
Kill Devil Hills

(252) 480-1919
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The menu at Mako Mike’s is filled with fresh seafood, with choices ranging from mako shark to crab legs. The menu also includes excellent crab cakes, pasta dishes and steaks. The chef creates lots of specials every night, and a kids’ menu makes the tykes happy. When it comes to dessert, there are many delicious choices. Catch one of the early bird specials; they’re offered daily. Large parties can be accommodated easily, and they have private dining rooms for special events. Mako Mike’s is part of the Kelly’s Hospitality Group, is open for dinner year round and has a full bar.

Miller’s Waterfront Restaurant

6916 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 16
Nags Head

(252) 441-6151
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One of the few soundfront restaurants on the beach, Miller’s serves lunch and dinner daily, which allows you ample time to enjoy the view. They can handle families and large parties and have a varied menu with local seafood, steaks, chicken and creative salads and pastas. The kitchen prepares unique specials every day. They really do have one of the best sunset views, and you can have fun watching windsurfers and kiteboarders during the day or enjoying music and a cocktail in the evening. The pier and gazebo over the sound are a big hit.

Mulligan’s Raw Bar and Grille

4005 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 13
Nags Head

(252) 480-2000
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Mulligan’s Raw Bar & Grille has a partially covered outdoor deck where you can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as live entertainment nightly in season. Enjoy the beautiful sunsets overlooking Jockey’s Ridge State Park and the ever-changing color spectrum of the Atlantic Ocean. They feature fresh, local seafood and produce and hand-cut steaks, and they have been voted as having the best burger on the beach for seven years running. Do not miss this local favorite.

Ocean Boulevard

4700 N. Virginia Dare Trail, Beach Road, MP 2.5
Kitty Hawk

(252) 261-2546
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Ocean Boulevard is a casual yet upscale restaurant, which means you can enjoy a special evening out in the comfort of your flip-flops. They are, after all, just steps away from the ocean. Ocean Boulevard’s chef serves an American bistro-style menu and has been praised in Southern Living magazine. The menu changes seasonally but always includes lots of beautiful preparations of local seafood, nightly chef specials and decadent desserts. They have a comprehensive wine list and a full bar with their own martini menu. Come here for live entertainment on Friday nights. Their outside deck 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.

Owens’ Restaurant

7114 S Virginia Dare Trail, The Beach Road, MP 16.5
Nags Head

(252) 441-7309
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Owens’ is a Nags Head institution, featuring a legacy of fine dining by the sea since 1946. Diners can enjoy generous portions of fresh fish and shellfish from local watermen, whole Maine lobster, pasta, aged prime Midwestern beef and outrageous house-made desserts. All entrees include a traditional crock of cheese and a garden salad with house-made dressings. Everything is seasoned with the famous hospitality of the same family for 65 years. Owens’ has an exceptional wine list. History buffs will marvel at Owens’ collections of museum-quality artifacts dedicated to the maritime history of the Outer Banks.

Pamlico Jack’s

6708 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 16
Nags Head

(252) 441-2637
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Pamlico Jack’s is a casual restaurant experience that combines the history of the Outer Banks with island cuisine to give you pirate-themed fun. The outdoor bar is a pirate ship, complete with sails and rigging, that leads you onto a large soundfront open-air deck with scenic sunset views. Enjoy certified Angus beef, Gulf Stream fish and homemade pasta selections. You can also savor any number of smaller plates and lighter fare such as sandwiches and salads. Arrive before 6 p.m. to catch their early dining specials. On Sunday and Monday, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, the crew serves up a bounty with their 21+ item buffet. They also offer more than 400 different bottles of wine (they have the honor of being the winner of the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for 20 years in a row). Pamlico Jack’s specialize in rehearsal dinners and weddings and can accommodate large gatherings. A kids’ menu is available. Open for dinner nightly from March through December, they do accept reservations. Join them for entertainment three nights a week in their outdoor deck bar, Rum Jumpers.

Peppercorns Restaurant and Lounge

1701 S. Virginia Dare Trail, The Beach Road, MP 9.5, Ramada Plaza
Kill Devil Hills

(252) 441-2151
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Peppercorns overlooks the ocean from its location inside the Ramada Plaza Nags Head (yes, the name says Nags Head, but they’re located in Kill Devil Hills). The menu features fresh seafood, pasta dishes, surf and turf and chef’s specials. Peppercorns serves breakfast and dinner every day. They are open year round. The deck bar is open in season and features its own lunch menu and live entertainment on the weekends; call for a schedule.

Pigman’s Bar-B-Que

1606 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 9.5
Kill Devil Hills

(252) 441-6803
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At Pigman’s you’ll find several types of barbecue. In addition to the traditional pork, they have beef, tuna and turkey. They also have slow-smoked chicken, St. Louis ribs and fried shrimp. Side dishes include baked beans, cole slaw, hush puppies (yum! some of the best!), French fries and sweet potato fries. You can dine in or carry out. They have a children’s menu. Pigman’s even does catering. They are closed January and February.

Slice Pizzeria

710 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 8.5
Kill Devil Hills

(252)449-8888
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This great pizza place serves up some of the best pies around, and you can get individual slices of a variety of pies anytime of day. Slice offers the usual array of toppings plus some interesting combinations that are sure to tempt you. They also serve salads, calzones, hot and cold subs, pasta dishes like penne bolognese, wine and beer. There are a few tables and bar seats for dining in, and they offer delivery starting at 5 p.m.

Sooey’s BBQ and Rib Shack

3919 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 12.5
Nags Head

(252) 449-6465
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Owned and operated by fifth generation Dare County locals, Sooey’s BBQ specializes in authentic eastern North Carolina pork barbecue, slow-smoked ribs, beef brisket, pulled barbecue chicken and Southern fried chicken. Their savory pulled pork barbecue and ribs are made from an Outer Banks recipe with roots as deep as those on their own family tree. All the favorite homemade sides are here, including potato salad, cole slaw, baked beans, mac and cheese, corn bread, onion rings and killer hush puppies. Appetizers, wings, burgers, sandwiches, soups, salads and kids’ favorites are also available. You can sit down and eat in the restaurant, but Sooey’s excels at take-out, prepared family meals and catered events; call ahead for large orders. They also have locations in Corolla and Duck.

Tale of the Whale

7575 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head/Manteo Causeway
Nags Head

(252) 441-7332
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Owned and operated by the same family since 1980, Tale of the Whale has made a legendary name for itself on the Outer Banks dining scene. On a beautiful soundfront location along the Nags Head/Manteo Causeway, Tale of the Whale attracts a loyal following of repeat customers who are on a first-name basis with the friendly owners. Of course, they also come for the casually elegant setting, that water view and the expertly prepared seafood, pasta, steaks and chicken. Tale of the Whale proudly participates in the Outer Banks Catch program and serves locally harvested seafood. All of the desserts are homemade. A full bar is available, and you can sit outside on the deck with your cocktail if you choose. There’s often live music in the waterfront gazebo in season; call for more details. Tale of the Whale’s popular early bird special starts at 4 p.m., offering 20 percent off any entree. The restaurant is open for dinner daily in the summer; call ahead for off-season hours. Tale of the Whale is an excellent space for private waterfront events such as rehearsal dinners, wedding receptions and more.