2025 Seafood Guide

A pleasant, casual cafe with two locations offering seafood, sandwiches, salads, and coffee and frozen drinks.

Tucked away just off of N.C. Highway 12 in Buxton, Cockeyed Clam is a popular restaurant with families, fishermen, and visitors of all tastes, thanks to its expansive and crowd-pleasing menu, and a variety of local staples and fresh seafood dishes that are sure to please everyone in the crew. Open nightly for dinner, Cockeyed Clam is a solid option for anyone who wants a large sample of what Outer Banks flavors are all about.

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.

First launched as a little carry-out joint on the Beach Road in 1995, Dirty Dick’s Crab House quickly become an Outer Banks favorite. With two full-service restaurants here now, there are also two locations recently opened in Panama City, Fla. and Myrtle Beach, SC. T-shirts with depictions of the restaurant's iconic goofy guy and/or somewhat risqué sayings immediately became hot items, and now there’s a whole line of “Dirty Dick’s” merchandise. In 2001, acclaimed New Orleans chef Beany Macgregor became a partner, which explains why the menu includes such Cajun hits as chicken etoufee; shrimp, oyster or pork chop po’ boy; Creole stuffed crabs; Louisiana crawfish; shrimp Creole over cheese grits ; and for the brave, delicacies like fried frog legs and fried gator tail.  There is also more standard fare like crab cakes; linguine and clams; ranch pork chops; ham and swiss Panini; and char-grilled hamburgers. All shrimp is wild-caught and fish is always fresh.  If you have kids, you can’t leave without treating them to the “Shark Attack” drink that includes a small vial of grenadine (“blood”) attached to a souvenir cup of 7-Up. And to top it off, all kids’ meals are served on Frisbees they can take home with them.

A year-round restaurant, bar and gift shop.

At Good Winds Restaurant, we proudly serve tasty and inventive beach cuisine, fresh-caught local seafood, and the widest selection of wine and regional craft beer and in the Tri-Villages. Located above Kitty Hawk Kites on the second floor of the Waves Village Watersports Resor in Rodanthe, North Carolina (at MP 40), Good Winds is known for delicious food at a reasonable price and for the most spectacular sunsets on the Outer Banks. Situated directly on the soundfront overlooking one of the best kiteboarding spots in the world, Good Winds is an unforgettable setting for a romantic dinner, casual get-together with friends, or family outing.

A marina, accomodations, deli and gift store wrapped up in one. 

Located on the southern edge of Hatteras Island, and surrounded by water in multiple directions, Hatteras Sol is an ideal destination for a romantic evening out with a steller view of the Pamlico Sound. Serving a variety of classic Hatteras dishes with a creative twist, this colorful restaurant is known in local circles for its big flavors and gorgeous on-the-water atmosphere.

The Inn on Pamlico Sound is a full body experience. They offer the services of a European boutique hotel, the amenities of a small resort, and the comfort and charm of a North Carolina coastal bed and breakfast. What this translates as is waterfront lodging ranging from queen-size rooms with private baths to luxurious king-size rooms with Italian tile baths, whirlpool tubs, and private decks. 

Great dining prepared by an experienced chef with paired beverages to match. 

A traditional seafood restaurant that also serves steak and chicken dishes.

Oceana’s serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily year round in Avon on Hattersas Island. For breakfast they offer Southern favorites such as sausage biscuits and gravy and chicken biscuits. Dive into tasty French toast or Belgian waffles, and choose from a variety of coffee and specialty drinks including mimosas and bloody Marys. The lunch and dinner menu is huge and eclectic with plenty of seafood, salad, pasta, sandwich and wraps selections. Enjoy quesadillas, flatbread sandwiches, burgers and delectable stuffed potatoes. Dinner entrees include grilled, blackened and fried food plus snow crab legs, and they also serve steamed and raw seafood such as mussels, shrimp and clams. There are plenty of options for meat and veggie lovers alike including pistachio encrusted goat cheese or Southwestern salads  or juicy prime rib, mushroom smothered chicken and mouth watering ribs. Oceana's has a large full bar with multiple TVs, beautiful wood floors and comfortable seating. 

Dining out in the Outer Banks can be a daunting task. Leaving the beach early, hour long waits for tables, expensive drinks, and mediocre food are just the start! Let Outer Banks Boil Co. solve your dining dilemma with our unique approach! Choose either our at-home catering or one of our pots to-go. Maximize your beach time and enjoy a meal and experience you won't soon forget! Outer Banks Boil Company offers an alternative to the traditional restaurant experience. Our highly acclaimed Traditional Coastal Boils are available catered at your location or in our convenient and easy Best Pot To-Go.   What is a boil?   Jumbo Shrimp, spicy andouille sausage, red bliss potatoes, corn on the cob and sweet Vidalia onions are layered, seasoned ( with our own special blend) to perfection and expertly cooked together. Served with our homemade cocktail sauce the Outer Banks Boil Company has been dubbed the "Best Pot on the Beach". We pride ourselves on providing quality, fresh and when available, local ingredients. Our spicy andouille sausage is shipped up from Louisiana (for that true low-country boil taste), Want to take it up a notch? You can add seafood such as snow crab legs, clams, mussels and lobster tails!   You Steam (takeout) Our BEST POT TO-GO provides you with the opportunity to experience our acclaimed Coastal Low Country Boil without the full-service catering.  Succulent Jumbo Shrimp, spicy andouille sausage, fresh sweet corn, buttery red bliss potatoes, all layered, seasoned to perfection and ready to steam. Snow crab? Lobster Tails? Clams? Mussels? Yes Please!!!!!   So easy! Just add liquid (water, beer, white wine) and place on your stovetop and let the magic happen. That’s it! Nothing complicated about it, just steam, serve and enjoy “the Best Pot on the Beach”! Oh, and by the way…cleanup’s a breeze!   CALL ahead and we can have your pot ready to go when you arrive, or stop in, place your order and we’ll put your pot together while you wait. For groups 10+, ask us about our “We Steam” catered service.

From hearty lunches to happy hour drink specials on craft brews, Pangea Tavern truly has a little something for everyone. Located in the heart of Avon and adjacent to the Avon Fishing Pier, this cool tavern and restaurant has a varied menu that uses fresh and locally sourced ingredients to the delight of hungry locals and visitors everywhere.

Situated on the edge of the Pamlico Sound with miles of views in every direction, the Po House is Avon village’s premier destination for a tempting meal that times perfectly with an Outer Banks’ sunset. While the views alone will allure diners of all tastes, folks will return again and again for the delicious and tempting menu which features a wealth of seafood dishes, vegetarian options, meaty specialties, and everything in between.

Rusty’s Surf & Turf Outer Banks restaurant brings the bold flavors of the tropics to Hatteras Island. Owner Rusty Midgett left the island and honed his restaurant and kitchen skills in some of Philadelphia’s best restaurants with top chefs in the industry. He is inspired in the kitchen by the places he has traveled on surf trips and by his training in classic French and Italian restaurants. Let him surprise you with creative yet simple preparations. Offerings on the menu include fresh fish, shellfish, all natural chicken, pork, steaks and pasta in styles ranging from local to global, all served in a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere. Chef Rusty and his team have the resources and knowledge to turn all of these dishes into mouthwatering creations that will please the whole family.

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.

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.