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!
Mulligan’s Raw Bar and Grille
- 4005 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 13
- Nags Head
- (252) 480-2000
Mulilgan’s has a beautiful deck that gives terrific ocean and sound views and plenty of big Adirondack chairs from which to relax and enjoy the sunshine. They features award-winning burgers in a convivial atmosphere and serve lunch and dinner year round. On the menu you’ll also find steamed seafood, steak, sandwiches, wraps, pizza and pasta. Check out the seafood dishes, served with the traditional homemade cole slaw and hushpuppies. Kids will be happy here with their own menu, and they eat free on Sundays after 4 p.m. (one child per adult). Mulligan’s accepts reservations and can accommodate large groups. This fun restaurant has a full bar, and and they often host live entertainment. Friday night is Cheers night with a free taco bar, specials on their specialty Orange Crush drink, other well drinks and domestic beer.
New York Bagels
- 5000 S. Croatan Highway, Outer Banks Mall, The Bypass, MP 14
- 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 “to go” stop. 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, Outer Banks Mall, The Bypass, MP 14
- Nags Head
- (252) 441-3981
Everyone is familiar with the delicious food Outback serves. Whether you choose the baby back ribs, prime rib, New York strip steak or the 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 South 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 the screened 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, hushpuppies 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. In addition to pizza, they also feature subs, wings and salads. If you’re eating in, enjoy the buffet at lunch and dinner, including a huge salad bar.
Prime Only
- 2706 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 11
- Nags Head
- (252) 480-0047
Prime Only has created a nice balance between their fine dining room downstairs and their upscale casual martini bar upstairs. Steaks are their specialty, and they also prepare fresh local seafood, ribs, chicken and delicious pasta and pair it all with a great wine list. In their upstairs martini bar they have a wonderful and creative selection of small plate offerings. The bartenders pour a long list of martinis of their own creation. Be sure to try the blue cheese-stuffed olives! They are open daily for dinner and have live entertainment a few nights a week.
Red Drum Grille and Taphouse
- 2412 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Beach Road, MP 10
- Nags Head
- (252) 480-1095
Dine in a 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 70+ years later. Stop here for a true Nags Head eating experience. The place exudes a barefoot and 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 complete bar lines the wooden structure, making this a social stop for locals and visitors alike. They are closed December through February.
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 milkshakes, 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.
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 off the causway and features pizza, calzones, sub sandwiches, 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. You can also take it to go. They offer free delivery after 4 p.m. within Nags Head and Pirate’s Cove.
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.
Tale of the Whale
- 7575 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head/Manteo Causeway
- Nags Head
- (252) 441-7332
In its 31st season, Tale of the Whale is a soundfront restaurant offering casual fare with fantastic water views. You can enjoy entrees including seafood, pasta, steaks, chicken and prime rib. Tale of the Whale proudly serves only locally or U.S.-harvested seafood — no imported seafood here! They make their own desserts and have a full bar. The popular early bird specials start at 4 p.m. during the summer season; call for early bird hours other times of the year. You can sit outside on their deck and enjoy a cocktail, and there’s often live music on the waterfront gazebo in season; call for more details. They have an excellent space for private events such as rehearsal dinners, wedding receptions and more. Tale of the Whale is open for dinner daily in the summer; call ahead for off-season hours.
The Dunes Restaurant
- 7018 S. Virginia Dare Trail, The Beach Road and 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. Last year the restaurant went through a fantastic remodel, but it hasn’t changed the 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, try theirs as it 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 as we do, their “R” Bar is a comfortable spot where you can grab a mixed drink or enjoy wine, beer and lighter fare. For kids, there’s 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 worth looking into. Locals love the burgers, sandwiches and seafood at this drive-in stop. The treats here are served to-go only. 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, Plaza del Sol, The Bypass, MP 10
- Nags Head
- (252) 441-3500
We love the fruit smoothies here, and there’s a ton to choose from—low fat, weight gain, power, even smart smoothies! The café offers healthy breakfasts, salads, wraps and hoagies. Sandwiches are made with Boar’s Head deli meats. Have a sweet tooth? Then try a dessert smoothie with Ghirardelli chocolate. Tropical Smoothie is open year round.
Yellow Submarine
- 5000 S. Croatan Highway, Outer Banks Mall, The Bypass, MP 14
- Nags Head
- (252) 441-3511
The Yellow Submarine features hot and cold specialty subs and wraps 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 they offer. Beverages include beer on tap, soft drinks, coffee and tea. Eat-in or take-out service is available, as is free delivery within a specific area.
