Restaurants - Nags Head
When visitors to Nags Head ask about the best place to eat, locals may hesitate. Don’t worry. It has nothing to do with the food served here. It’s because their brain immediately floods with countless choices from casual cooking to creative cuisine.
You can pick up a scrumptious deli sandwich and picnic on the beach or dine in award-winning restaurants. As the popular saying goes, “It’s all good.” Naturally you’ll discover plenty of seafood selections varying from traditional fried fish with slaw to tuna-, crab- and eel-filled Japanese dragon rolls. Warm up with Hatteras clam chowder, savor mesquite grilled tuna or fill up on steamers. Meat lovers will appreciate the local barbecue haunts and plentiful prime rib specials. From pizza to lobster, you’ll satisfy any morning, noon or night craving. Dining attire is your choice. It’s not unusual for casual clothing to be worn in fine dining establishments. This is the beach after all!
Remember that locals call Croatan Highway—aka U.S. Highway 158—The Bypass, and they refer to Virginia Dare Trail—aka N.C. Highway 12—as the Beach Road. Those simple names are just easier to remember!
Lucky 12 Tavern
- 3308 S. Virginia Dare Trail, The Beach Road, MP 12
- Nags Head
- (252) 255-LUCK
This neighborhood tavern serves quality food at great prices. Lucky 12 has fresh local seafood, hand-pattied burgers, great New York–style pizza, authentic Buffalo chicken wings and Boardwalk Fries. Everything is fresh and well prepared, and the chef creates tasty daily specials. There’s a menu for kids. The dining room is open for lunch and dinner every day. The bar is a popular late-night hangout, with DJs spinning tunes often during the summer. You can order pizza until 2 a.m. The bartenders mix up Bushwhackers, delicious frozen cocktails, using the recipe from Quagmires (a now-closed and missed oceanfront restaurant). Lucky 12 also has a good selection of beers and a martini menu. For entertainment there are pool tables, Foosball and sports on TV, including the popular NFL Sunday ticket. There is never a cover charge. Lucky 12 is open year round.
New York Bagels
- 5000 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 14, Outer Banks Mall,
- Nags Head
- (252) 480-0106
The bagels are fresh and the fillings are delicious. You must experience their killer egg salad, lox or veggie cream cheese spread. This is a take-out restaurant only. Drinks include sodas, juices, water and, of course, fresh coffee. The hours change seasonally.
New York Pizza Pub
- 2217 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 10
- Nags Head
- (252) 441-2660
Serving lunch and dinner, these folks feature so much more than pizza. They have great Italian entrees such as lasagna, chicken parmigiana and lots of pasta options, plus panini sandwiches, steaks, chicken and vegetarian entrees. Enjoy hearty salads, burgers and appetizers, such as their made-from-scratch potato skins, Buffalo wings and delicious garlic knots. The pub also features a full bar. Having a party or event? They can help you out with trays of their favorites.
Outback Steakhouse
- 5000 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 14, Outer Banks Mall
- Nags Head
- (252) 441-3981
You’re most likely familiar with the delicious food Outback serves. Whether you choose the baby back ribs, prime rib, New York strip steak or lobster tails, you can’t go wrong. Plus that Bloomin’ Onion is such a guilty pleasure! Outback Steakhouse is open year round. Take-out is available.
Pier House Restaurant
- 3335 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head Fishing Pier, The Beach Road, MP 11.5
- Nags Head
- (252) 441-4200
Here’s a great combination — food with a view. You can watch the surf pound from your seat on the porch, try the air-conditioned dining area that sits right over the beach, or sit inside and enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner selections including fresh steamed seafood, fried seafood sandwiches, steaks and chicken served up with optional sides such as cole slaw, hush puppies and fries. They’ll even cook your own catch if you like. They have a full bar and serve cocktails, wine and beer. The Pier House is open daily April through November with dinner served through mid-October.
Pizzazz Pizza Company
- 2515 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 10.5
- Nags Head
- (252) 261-1111
Pizza is the perfect food when you’re feeding a crowd, and Pizzazz even offers free delivery to get it to your crowd without any hassle. In addition to pizza, they also feature subs, wings and salads. If you’re eating in, enjoy the buffet, including a huge salad bar, at lunch and dinner.
Red Drum Grille and Taphouse
- 2412 S. Virginia Dare Trail, The Beach Road, MP 10
- Nags Head
- (252) 480-1095
Dine in cozy ambiance and enjoy a variety of lunch and dinner dishes, including sandwiches, burgers, fish and chips and steamed seafood and vegetables plus ribs, steaks, vegetarian dishes, seafood pasta and more. Like the setting, the food could be dubbed “comfort with an upscale dash.” Most any beer lover will be happy as a clam here with 18 beers on tap. Red Drum is closed December and January and reopens in February around President’s Day weekend.
Sam & Omie’s
- 7228 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Beach Road, MP 16.5
- Nags Head
- (252) 441-7366
Originally opened by a couple of fishermen as a pre-fishing breakfast stop, Sam & Omie’s maintains its seaside flavor more than 70 years later. Stop here for a true Nags Head eating experience. The place exudes a beachy atmosphere and serves up plenty of tasty dishes morning, noon and night, including omelets, hamburgers, club sandwiches and prime rib and seafood dinners. Try the shrimp burger — it’s popular for a reason! A full bar makes this a social stop for locals and visitors alike. They are closed December through February.
Sand Dollar Ice Cream & Coffee
- 4104 S. Virginia Dare Trail, The Beach Road, MP 13, Surfside Plaza
- Nags Head
- (252) 715-1865
Situated on The Beach Road in the historic part of Nags Head, Sand Dollar has all the hot and cold, frozen and blended coffee drinks you can imagine. With a mixologist’s array of syrups, the shop has many creative concoctions to warm you up or cool you down. They also offer Maola hand-dipped ice cream, and reverse osmosis filtered water for your coffee or to drink. Their coffee beans are artisan roasted in Virginia, and the free WiFi and a friendly atmosphere sweeten an already sweet deal.
Scammell’s Corner Surf Shop & Ice Cream Parlor
- 6406 S. Virginia Dare Trail, The Beach Road, MP 15.5
- Nags Head
- (252) 715-1727
Scammell’s, a family-owned and -operated shop, offers 48 hand-dipped Hershey ice cream flavors in cups, cones, sundaes, banana splits, shakes or floats. It’s a surf shop, too — a new shop that feels like it’s been here forever. They have custom boards hand-shaped by Tom Neilson, plus custom board fins, and they also rent boards and do surf lessons. Not a surfer but love the waves? You’ll find boogie boards and skim boards too. Scammell’s sells clothing and swimsuits from Lucy Love, Body Glove and Synergy. You’ll find great handmade Island sandals from Hawaii, teak tables and chairs, tie-dye items, custom-designed T-shirts, Himalayan rock salt lamps and lots of gifts for your friends back home.
Sonic
- 5205 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 14
- Nags Head
- (252) 441-9030
You are probably already familiar with this chain restaurant. They have fast-food standards like burgers and hot dogs, but they also have good milk shakes, fruit slushes, breakfast sandwiches and tater tots. There is not an entrance directly off The Bypass, so turn down one of the side streets nearby.
South Beach Grille
- 6806 S. Virginia Dare Trail, The Beach Road, MP 16
- Nags Head
- (252) 449-9313
With a truly affordable menu consisting of local seafood, lots of signature salads, sandwiches, lettuce wraps, pasta dinners, Caribbean-inspired entrees, steaks and terrific homemade desserts, South Beach Grille is a great place to eat on the beach. Deck-top dining is available, with views of both the ocean and the sound, and you can enjoy a smoothie or a specialty drink from their full bar. Like wings? Then stop in on Friday and get wings in a variety of flavors for 25 cents each and wash them down with their domestic beer special of the day. South Beach has a good kids’ selection and offers extensive gluten-free choices and lots of options for vegetarians too. Your meal is prepared fresh to order; if you have any special dietary needs please inform your server.
Stone Oven Pizza
- 7531 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head/Manteo Causeway, Caribbean Corners
- Nags Head
- (252) 441-7775
Stone Oven is a convenient stop on the causeway and features pizza, calzones, sub sandwiches and a variety of appetizers including chicken wings and mozzarella sticks, plus salads, sodas and beer. They’re open all year for eat-in at their beautiful soundfront location with outside waterfront seating on their deck. You can also take it to go. They offer free delivery after 4 p.m. within Nags Head and Pirate’s Cove.
Sugar Creek Soundfront Seafood Restaurant
- 7340 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head/Manteo Causeway
- Nags Head
- (252) 441-4963
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 — or, new this year, enjoy the outdoor dining deck. 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. Sugar Creek won the 2010 Taste of the Beach People’s Choice award for their Shrimp & Grits. 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. Check out The Sugar Shack, located next door, for great take-out seafood and a quick bite.
Sugar Shack
- 7340 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head/Manteo Causeway
- Nags Head
- (252) 441-3888
Sugar Shack is located right next to Sugar Creek Soundfront Seafood Restaurant. This is the place to pick up the freshest seafood around. Choose from steamed seafood like shrimp, lobster and king crab legs, or pick up a steamer bucket with a variety of steamed seafood. They even serve fried seafood. In fact, the fresh fish sandwiches and boats (including Shack chips and slaw) they make here are some of the best we’ve ever eaten anywhere! Everything is cooked to order. You can dine inside or out, and either way you’ll have a fantastic view of the sound. They also stock beer. The Sugar Shack is a great way to feed a crowd at home, and they deliver within a 6-mile radius
Taiko Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar
- 5000 S. Croatan Highway, Outer Banks Mall, The Bypass, MP 14
- Nags Head
- (252) 449-8895
Taiko serves Japanese food, with lots of healthy and flavorful options. Great sushi, miso soup, tempura, seaweed salad (try it!) and tasty plum wine…yum! They also serve traditional preparations of shrimp, beef, chicken and noodles. This food is fresh and affordable. Taiko is open for lunch and dinner year round.
The Dunes Restaurant
- 7018 S. Virginia Dare Trail, The Bypass, MP 16.5
- Nags Head
- (252) 441-1600
The Dunes Restaurant is a Nags Head tradition that’s been serving breakfast, lunch and dinner for nearly 30 years. They have an award-winning breakfast menu that includes a hearty breakfast and fresh fruit bar daily in season. At both lunch and dinner, there are plentiful salads, sandwiches and, of course, fresh-cooked, local seafood. If you like Southern fried chicken, this is one of their specialties, along with Angus beef steaks, prime rib and pastas. While you wait for a table, or even if you just come in because you love the atmosphere, their “R” Bar is a comfortable spot where you can grab a mixed drink or enjoy wine, beer and lighter fare. The Dunes has an excellent children’s menu.
The Snowbird
- 3530 S. Virginia Dare Trail, The Beach Road, MP 12
- Nags Head
- (252) 441-0000
The Snowbird boasts more than 24 flavors of soft-serve ice cream, which is a really popular feature with kids. Locals and vacationers love the burgers, sandwiches and seafood at this drive-up stop. The treats here are served to-go only, but there are a few picnic tables and seats if you want to eat here. One of the best things about this little spot is that it’s open really, really late — we’re talking until after midnight during the summer — in case you just have to have that ice cream well after the hour you should!
Tropical Smoothie Café
- 2236 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 10, Plaza del Sol
- Nags Head
- (252) 441-3500
We love the fruit smoothies here, and there are many to choose from — low fat, weight gain (as if!), power, even smart smoothies! The cafe offers healthy breakfasts, salads, wraps and hoagies. Sandwiches are made with Boar’s Head deli meats. Have a sweet tooth? Try a dessert smoothie with Ghirardelli chocolate. Tropical Smoothie is open year round.
Viva Mexican Grill
- 2424 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 10.5
- Nags Head
- (252) 441-1601
If you’re a fan of build-your-own Mexican taco bars, you’ll love this new spot. You go down the line, telling them what you want — be it burrito, taco, taco salad — then specify the ingredients of your choice, including several meats and sauteed fresh veggies. It’s fast and fresh and good. The interior is punctuated with bright colors that complement the south of the border food. Best of all, a meal here is definitely in the wallet-friendly range.
Waveriders Coffee & Deli
- 6705-A S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 16
- Nags Head
- (252) 715-1880
The only coffee shop on the southern end of Nags Head, Waveriders is a good stop for breakfast or lunch. For breakfast, there are muffins and pastries, bagels, hearty breakfast sandwiches and health-conscious choices such as plain yogurt with fresh fruit (yay!). The lunch selections include a variety of soups and sandwiches, all made with the trusted Boar’s Head brand. Anytime of day, enjoy brewed coffee or coffee drinks with a sweet treat like a brownie or muffin. Waveriders has WiFi, of course. The shop offers bistro seating, leather chairs and couches and outdoor seating on the porch. It’s open 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (though hours may be extended in summer).
Yellow Submarine
- 5000 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 14, Outer Banks Mall
- Nags Head
- (252) 441-3511
Yellow Submarine features hot and cold specialty subs featuring Boars Head meats. Definitely try their Philly Cheese Steak Sub — it’s great! Plus, they offer pizza, stromboli, calzones and fresh salads as well. Kids dig the chicken tenders and their own specialty pizzas and will stay entertained with the video games. Beverages include beer on tap, soft drinks and tea. Eat-in or take-out service is available, as is free delivery within a specific area.
