Dining on Hatteras Island means that you can expect restaurants with originality, personality, fresh ingredients, and even some secret family recipes.

The best thing about dining on Cape Hatteras is that there are no chain restaurants with predictable atmosphere and fare. All Hatteras Island restaurants reflect the laid-back personality of the island lifestyle in a variety of ways, but you can rest assured that the owners, chefs and staff are quite serious and very professional about the fare they serve and the experience they offer.

Most Cape Hatteras restaurants put a major focus on the bounty of the sea. Local menus tout such specialties as Gulf Stream fish (yellowfin tuna, wahoo and mahi-mahi), inshore fish (trout, flounder and drum), succulent crab meat, oysters, clams, scallops, mussels and more. Restaurants will let you know what’s in season, and therefore the freshest, when you’re on the island. If it’s soft-shell crabs, don’t miss a chance to taste these delicacies! Fried seafood is no longer the staple of local menus, but you can get it if you want it. Most Hatteras restaurants feature more healthy preparations, like steaming, grilling, sautéing, blackening or broiling. If you want to cook seafood yourself, there are several Hatteras Island seafood markets; those are included in the listings in our Hatteras Shopping page.

If you’re not a seafood lover, don’t worry. Even the Hatteras Island seafood restaurants offer a wealth of other options like beef, pasta, chicken, pork and vegetarian entrees. And not every restaurant is seafood-oriented. You’ll find down-home North Carolina barbecue, Italian restaurants, plus pizza places, delis, ice cream shops and bakeries.

Meals are fairly priced on Hatteras Island, and dress is very casual. At this writing, Cape Hatteras restaurants can only serve beer and wine. Most Hatteras eateries close for some portion of the winter, though there is always something open, even in the dead of winter, to serve the growing population of locals. If you’re dining out from November through March, it’s best to call ahead to make sure your restaurant of choice is open. We have listed the Hatteras Island restaurants alphabetically within their respective villages, from north to south, starting in Rodanthe and ending in Hatteras Village.

Rodanthe

Boardwok South
Pamlico Station, N.C. Highway 12, Rodanthe
(252) 987-1080
Boardwok South brings something for the adventurous palates of Hatteras Island. Billing itself as an Asian-American eatery, it offers delicious entrees from the wok, incorporating fresh vegetables, seafood, chicken, rice and noodles into flavorful, healthful dishes. There’s also an Americanized side to the menu, with surf and turf entrees (try the “steak and cake”), crab cakes, scallops, kids’ offerings and excellent sides. Boardwok South’s atmosphere is clean, comfortably spartan and relaxing, and there’s a bar in back. Boardwok serves dinner Monday through Saturday nights and is closed Sunday. Call about lunch because it’s offered a few days a week in summer.

Hatteras Jack Tackle Box Cafe
N.C. Highway 12, Rodanthe
(252) 987-2428
The Hatteras Jack tackle shop has a new addition – a café. The restaurant offers home-cooked food for quick sit-down meals or take-out. They offer boxed lunches that are perfect for picnics or fishing trips as well as family dinners to go.

Hot Tuna Grub & Pub
23500 N.C. Highway 12, Rodanthe
(252) 987-2266
When your mood calls for good, reasonably priced, casual fare, Hot Tuna Pub & Grub has what you need. Kicked back in the beach-tiki atmosphere, at the bar or in the dining room, you can enjoy steamed seafood, fried seafood baskets, burgers, sandwiches and seawiches (seafood sandwiches), Chicago-style pizza and more. Steamer pots filled with an assortment of seafood are available here as well. Lunch and dinner are served daily. This restaurant is definitely family friendly, and kids’ meals are on the menu. Pool tables and Foosball games are in the bar area. Hot Tuna offers take-out. The restaurant is next to Island Convenience in Rodanthe.

Leonardo’s Pizza
Reef Store, N.C. Highway 12, Rodanthe
(252) 987-6522
Leonardo’s offers delicious, fresh-made pizza with a variety of toppings, salads, calzones and hearty subs stuffed with all the favorite fillings. It’s located at the Reef beach supplies store in Rodanthe. You can pick up your order or have it delivered in Rodanthe, Waves or Salvo.

Lisa’s Pizzeria
N.C. Highway 12, Rodanthe
(252) 987-2525
Lisa’s, in business for nearly 25 years, is legendary on Hatteras Island. Come here for lunch or dinner to chow down on Italian favorites like hand-tossed pizza, calzones, lasagna, manicotti and spaghetti. Submarine sandwiches, wraps and burgers are also on the menu. The side dishes are excellent, including salads, fried mushrooms and broccoli, chicken wings and outstanding garlic cheese bread. Small and casual, Lisa’s is great for eating in, but they also offer take-out and free delivery.

Marilyn’s Deli
Island Convenience, N.C. Highway 12, Rodanthe
(252) 987-2239
There’s a constant flow of customers at this convenience store deli counter, so you know that’s a sign that the food is delicious. The deli’s breakfast offerings include fresh-made biscuits and breakfast platters, breakfast sandwiches on croissants, muffins, bagels, toast or biscuits and more. For lunch you can get deli sandwiches, hot meats and vegetables, fried chicken, fries and ice cream. The service is quick, and you can eat inside or out. This is a great place to pick up a quick meal and all the ice, drinks, tackle and supplies you’ll need for a fishing trip or beach day.

Uncle Pauly’s @ the East Coast Surf Club
N.C. Highway 12, Rodanthe
(252) 987-1623
Uncle Pauly’s comfortable island style, lively Caribbean theme and Pamlico Sound views perfectly suit the mood of Hatteras Island. A family-friendly grill by day, Uncle Pauly’s serves lunch and dinner every day in season; call for off-season hours. The menus are eclectic, with Caribbean and Hawaiian island flair, but the emphasis is on fresh seafood. By night, Uncle Pauly’s is northern Hatteras Island’s happening nightclub and live music venue, and some nights there is karaoke. There’s a stage and dance floor, and the bar offers beer and wine.

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Salvo

Island Coffee
N.C. Highway 12, Salvo
(252) 987-1500
Stop at Island Coffee any time of the day for coffee, espresso-based drinks, tea, chai and pastries. The coffee shop sells some artwork and is linked to Island Dyes, so you can check out all their tie dyes, tobacco accessories, pottery, clothing and more while you’re here.

Village Conery
N.C. Highway 12, Salvo
In need of a cool treat? The Village Conery has what you need — ice cream cones (choose from cake, sugar and waffle cones) milk shakes, floats, hurricanes, banana splits and sundaes. They offer soft-serve vanilla and chocolate, seven constantly changing flavors of hand-dipped ice cream, plus healthy frozen yogurt.

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Avon

Chinatown Chinese Restaurant
Hatteras Island Plaza, N.C. Highway 12, Avon
(252) 995-0118
Specializing in Szechuan, Hunan and Cantonese fare, Chinatown offers all the Chinese favorites and then some. The menu is so long you’ll have trouble making up your mind, and there is also a buffet. You can’t go wrong with daily specials. Lunch and dinner are offered, and you can eat in or take it out.

Coastal Blue Waterfront Dining Restaurant N.C. Highway 12, Avon (252) 995-3800 Chef Brian Flaski has brought his award-winning fare and signature style to Hatteras, raising the standards of dining for the island. A formally trained chef, Flaski was the chef at Blue Hippo in Norfolk when the restaurant won several Gold Fork awards, and he has worked in restaurants in NYC, Florida, California, Colorado and on cruise ships. At his latest venture, Coastal Blue, Flaski fuses all his experience together to feature simply prepared, elegantly presented dishes that are surprisingly affordable. Flaski describes his style as “coastal fusion” and “seasonally Southern” and his range extends from shrimp and grits to bouillabaisse to rack of lamb and duck to outstanding crab cakes and all kinds of seriously creative renditions of local seafood. The menu changes seasonally, and there are chalkboard specials and wine specials every night. With its hardwood floors, white table cloths, elegant stemware and china, creative presentations and expert service, you might be tempted to describe Coastal Blue as “fine dining.” But the owners say it’s more casual than that, and the entrée prices ($11.95 to $22.95) won’t set you back anywhere near what they would in the big city. Coastal Blue is open for dinner only every day except Sunday almost all year round (call ahead in the winter because they’re open only four days a week then). Reservations are encouraged, especially if you want to be there for the sunset view, as the restaurant only seats 50.

Dairy Queen
N.C. Highway 12, Avon
(252) 995-5624
You probably know what to expect from the Avon Dairy Queen. Stop here for delicious soft-serve ice cream, old-fashioned dip tops, Blizzards, sundaes, cool drinks and snacks.

Dirty Dick’s Crab House N.C. Highway 12, Avon (252) 995-3708 It might sound like a simple seafood shack, but Dirty Dick’s is actually a nice restaurant with a fun-loving atmosphere and seriously good food. The menu pays homage to New Orleans and Louisiana cuisine, with dishes such as seafood gumbo, jambalaya and Po Boys, but it also offers a vast array of classic seafood favorites, including the biggest variety of crab preparations we’ve ever seen. Steaks, chicken, pork, burgers, ribs, salads, unusual sides and appetizers and sandwiches round out the offerings. Dirty Dick’s is right next to Avon Pier. There’s also a location in Hatteras Village. Check out their popular T-shirts and other merchandise.

Dolphin Den N.C. Highway 12, Avon (252) 995-7717 The Dolphin Den is a family restaurant that specializes in locally caught seafood. Seafood entrees are served with the traditional accompaniments — cole slaw, cornbread and fries. Favorites include the coconut shrimp, crab cakes, crab legs, seafood platters and pastas. They also feature hand-cut steaks, a variety of special salads and appetizers, sandwiches, she-crab soup and homemade desserts. The Dolphin Den’s Key lime pie was chosen as the best in North Carolina by the Travel Guide Association, and you can try it for lunch and dinner every day. If you want to feed a crowd at home, Dolphin Den offers a separate menu with family-size meals for take-out; this menu includes full meals of barbecue, ribs, brisket, chicken, seafood and Italian fare.

The Froggy Dog Restaurant & Bar
N.C. Highway 12, Avon
(252) 995-5550
Originally a hot dog stand, The Froggy Dog has grown into Avon's largest restaurant over the years. The Froggy Dog serves three meals a day. Breakfast features everything from cereal to bagels to crab omelets to homemade biscuits. For lunch, there are burgers, sandwiches, salads and gourmet hot dogs (try the Froggy Dog). The dinner menu has something for everyone, from steaks and seafood to pasta and vegetarian dishes. Kids' and seniors' menus are available. Families are welcome at the Froggy Dog, and there's a Kiddie Corner with toys and a TV to entertain kids while their parents eat. The lounge is a popular late-night hangout with karaoke and acoustic music. Ribbits Gift Shop sells T-shirts and a lot of other Froggy Dog paraphernalia.

Hodad’s Café
N.C. Highway 12, Avon
(252) 995-7866
Hodad’s is a cool little joint that the watersports crowd enjoys for its easy-going atmosphere and good eats. Come as you are for lunch or dinner. The appetizer menu is extensive with such diverse offerings as fried pickles with horseradish sauce, oven-baked Brie, conch fritters, hummus and rumaki. Burgers, veggie burgers, sandwiches, salads and Hatteras clam chowder are favorites for lunch. At dinner you can get any of the sandwiches plus seafood, meat and vegetarian entrees and pasta dishes.

Java Junction
N.C. Highway 12, Avon
(252) 995-7020
Java Junction, part of The Glass Bead store, serves coffee and espresso drinks for times when you need a pick-me-up. It’s also an Internet café, with high-speed Internet access, on their computer or yours. While you’re here, create your own jewelry with more than a thousand types of beads.

Mack Daddy’s Crab Shack
N.C. Highway 12, Avon
(252) 995-5060
Mack Daddy’s specializes in fine coastal cuisine in a homey, cottage-like atmosphere that welcomes the whole family for a casual supper. Chef Seth Foutz has an appreciation for local ingredients and all-natural foods; he features fresh fish, shellfish and produce and makes everything by hand, never using processed or prepackaged foods. Specialties of the house include shrimp and grits, crab cakes, creative quesadillas, game fish specials and prime steaks. The menu, which changes four or five times a year, also includes chicken, duck, pork, pasta, a vegetarian option, homemade soups and desserts, a children’s menu and beer and wine. It’s open for dinner only from late spring to late fall. A separate dining room can accommodate large parties and special events, and catering is available.

The Mad Crabber
40606 N.C. Highway 12, Avon
(252) 995-5959
The Mad Crabber has a friendly staff, great food and a fun atmosphere that has built up a loyal following of customers since 1992. The restaurant serves four different types of crab – blue, snow, king and Dungeness. Steamed and grilled seafood is the specialty here, but you can get it fried too. The Mad Platter, a huge pizza pan piled with steamed seafood, is the most popular menu item. Salads and entrees, including steaks, are available as well. Kids like the pool table, video games and crayons, and adults like the top quality, reasonably priced food, plus the beer and wine. It’s open for dinner every night in season, Monday through Saturday in the shoulder seasons, and they close in the winter. They also have a late-night menu on Friday and Saturday.

Nino’s Pizza
N.C. Highway 12, Avon
(252) 995-5358
Come to this Hatteras Island favorite for homemade Italian specialties — pizza on hand-tossed dough, calzones, spaghetti, lasagna, subs, hamburgers, salads and pastas. Delivery is available in Avon. Nino’s has served lunch and dinner on Hatteras Island for nearly 25 years! They now serve beer too.

Oceana’s Bistro
N.C. Highway 12, Avon
(252) 995-4991
Oceana’s has the casual, cozy atmosphere of a neighborhood pub. Oceana’s breakfast includes the standard fare plus delicious steak and eggs, quesadillas, omelets, pancakes and French toast. The all-day menu for lunch and dinner features freshly made, well-seasoned burgers, seafood, salads, stuffed baked potatoes and the very popular create-your-own quesadillas. The dinner-only menu is a little fancier, with prime rib, rib eyes, pastas, chicken, daily specials and a very nice wine selection. The bar area is sports-oriented with plasma TVs and all the sporting event coverage you need, including football on Sundays and Monday night. Oceana’s is open every day year round.

Outback Kitchen
N.C. Highway 12, Avon
(252) 305-2452
Hatteras Island is home to the Outer Banks’ only permitted mobile commercial kitchen on wheels. Owner Kylie Simpson, who is from Australia, hence the name of her business, bought a catering truck from a film company and transformed it into a stainless steel commercial kitchen. While the truck is based at Mack Daddy’s in Avon, it’s fully prepared to take any catering show on the road. Outback Kitchen offers catering for all types of events, including weddings, reunions and business conferences. They are also the only custom wedding-cake baker on the island. Outback Kitchen also offers a food-to-go service, preparing restaurant-quality, family-style meals delivered straight to the doors of vacationers who don’t want to cook. And if you’re out and about on Hatteras, look for Outback Kitchen’s inexpensive packaged sandwiches and Australian meat pies in convenience stores around the island, including Avon’s Breeze-Thru.

The Pickled Steamer
Hatteras Island Plaza, N.C. Highway 12, Avon
(252) 995-3602
Beach restaurant fare tends to be predictable, but The Pickled Steamer’s extensive menu has many things you won’t find anywhere else. One of the favorites is open-face tortillas with a variety of toppings, plus there are dozens of wraps, salads and sandwiches, unique appetizers, specials and more. The Pickled Steamer is known for its popular 20-cent shrimp specials from 4 to 6 p.m. every day. The atmosphere is lively with an open kitchen. Lunch and dinner are served daily, and beer and wine are available.

Subway
N.C. Highway 12, Avon
(252) 995-6881
Swing by Subway to pick up picnics for the beach or lunch for your fishing trip. You’ll find all the usual Subway offerings –- design-your-own subs on several types of fresh-baked bread, healthy sandwiches, wraps and salads, chips, cookies and drinks. Eat in or take it out. Subway is open year round.

Topper’s Pizza and Pasta
Hatteras Island Plaza, N.C. Highway 12, Avon
(252) 995-3109
The name says it all. Topper’s offers pizza with hand-tossed dough and homemade sauces, calzones, pasta entrees, subs, appetizers, salads and desserts and daily specials. The atmosphere is warm and friendly; you’ll want to hang out. There’s a good selection of beer and wine. Lunch and dinner are served, and seasonal delivery is available in Avon, Buxton and part of Frisco.

Uglie Mugs Coffeehouse
N.C. Highway 12, Avon
(252) 995-5590
Located next to Subway, Uglie Mugs serves coffee and all sorts of espresso-based drinks, tea and delicious baked goods. Internet access is available on your computer or theirs. This shop also houses a bead shop where you can make your own jewelry from thousands of beads. All the jewelry-making supplies you’ll need are available here.

Buxton

Angelo’s Pizza
N.C. Highway 12, Buxton
(252) 995-6364 (Angelo's)
Angelo's is a casual eatery that serves Italian-inspired favorites like pizza, calzones, subs, spaghetti, lasagna, a variety of appetizers and daily specials. You order at the counter then find a seat in the dining room. This is a great place to take the family because it's laid back enough for kids and there is a super-cool game room attached to the seating area. It's open for lunch and dinner every day except Sunday year-round.

Buoy’s Restaurant Osprey Shopping Center, N.C. Highway 12, Buxton (252) 995-6575 Buoy’s Restaurant is open for lunch and dinner all day long, without closing between the meals. Its large menu is varied enough to please everyone in your crowd. It’s a nice restaurant with an upscale atmosphere, but it’s casual enough to bring the kids. Then menu features salads, soups, appetizers, sandwiches, seafood, fried chicken and N.C. barbecue. A kids’ menu is available. Beer and wine are served.

Buxton Munch Company
Osprey Shopping Center, N.C. Highway 12, Buxton
(252) 995-5502
Buxton Munch has been rockin’ the island’s lunch boxes since 1999. Buxton Munch Company serves big portions of awesome eats at great prices. The wraps and quesadillas are stand outs, and the side dishes are so good it’s hard to choose. There are also soups, salads, munchies (beer-battered onion rings, egg rolls, wings), sandwiches, burgers, seafood, chicken and excellent vegetarian fare. It’s open Monday through Friday year round for take-out or to eat in. Eating in is fun because this place is lively, the background music is good and the people are friendly.

The Captain’s Table
N.C. Highway 12, Buxton
(252) 995-3117
The focus of The Captain’s Table is seafood -- steamed, broiled, fried -- and Owner Donna Scarborough knows where to get the freshest fish on the island. Her husband is a commercial fisherman, so you know she has the right connections. The Captain’s Table is a family-style, casual restaurant serving seafood, ribs, steaks, beer and wine and much more. Special menus for children and seniors are available. The restaurant is open from mid-March through Thanksgiving weekend. They serve dinner nightly and lunch Monday through Friday.

Cool Wave Ice Cream Shoppe
N.C. Highway 12, Buxton
(252) 995-6366
This brightly painted shop in the fork of Back Road and N.C. Highway 12 is a great place to stop for treats. The hand-scooped ice cream is excellent, and you can play a round of mini-golf while you’re here.

Finnegan’s Dining Haul
N.C. Highway 12, Buxton
(252) 995-3060
Conveniently located across from the entrance to the lighthouse, Finnegan’s serves lunch and dinner seven days a week. The lunch menu features its signature U-boat sandwiches, burgers, pizza and a bunch of great appetizers (nachos, wings, conch fritters, onion rings and more). The dinner menu adds seafood, beef and other entrees. A kids’ menu is available. Beer and wine are offered. Finnegan’s is open year round. Look for live music here on Saturday nights.

Fish House Restaurant N.C. Highway 12, Buxton (252) 995-5151 If you want fresh seafood, this is about as close as you can get. Fish House is in a former fish house right on Buxton Harbor, where fishing boats unload their catches. You get fabulous water views, a cheerful atmosphere and good eats. Now owned and operated by the Oden family, with well-known local restaurateur Tracy Callahan at the helm, Fish House has a new menu with updated offerings of fresh, healthy food. The appetizer menu, which is available for lunch and dinner, features creative offerings such as tuna tacos, spinach/artichoke-stuffed mushrooms, blue crab bruschetta and the Fish House’s famous seafood crostini. For lunch try one of the New Orleans–style po’boys, a fried seafood basket or one of the $6.99 home-style lunch specials (think liver and onions, hamburger steak, fish cakes). Healthy side dishes offer an alternative to fries. For dinner there is steamed or fried seafood, potato chip–encrusted crab cakes with red pepper aioli, steaks, pastas, vegetarian offerings and innovative chef’s specials every night.

Inn on Pamlico Sound
N.C. Highway 12, Buxton
(252) 995-7030, (800) PAMLICO
The Inn on Pamlico Sound is a casually elegant inn located on the banks of the Pamlico Sound. The intimate restaurant at the inn offers a unique fine dining experience overlooking the waters of the sound. Gourmet dining here features local seafood, organic beef and poultry, homemade soups, appetizers and desserts, a complete wine list and is vegetarian and vegan friendly. The menu changes nightly. The inn has the only restaurant on the island that accepts reservations. As seating is limited, reservations are recommended. The inn and its restaurant are both handicapped accessible.

Island Perks Coffee Shop and Café
N.C. Highway 12, Buxton
(252) 986-1111
Island Perks is a coffee shop and café that’s got a great local following. The café offers quick but homemade and satisfying breakfasts, lunches and dinners. For breakfast there are wraps, breakfast sandwiches and platters. For lunch there are burgers, soup, chili, fresh salads, sandwiches (your choice of traditional, wrap, focaccia or croissant) and comfort-food specials. The dinner menu changes daily according to what’s fresh. The café is open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Papa Nino’s
Osprey Shops, N.C. Highway 12, Buxton
(252) 995-0060
An off-shoot of Avon’s popular Nino’s Pizza, Papa Nino’s serves lunch and dinner every day. They feature Nino’s famous pizza plus sub, sandwiches and appetizers.

Pop’s Raw Bar
N.C. Highway 12, Buxton
(252) 995-7734
Pop’s is frequented by a lot of locals -– a sign that the seafood meets local standards of excellence. Across from Buxton Harbor, Pop’s specializes in steamed seafood, including shrimp, clams, oysters and crab legs. They also have more hearty fare, like burgers, subs, barbecue, seafood platters and a lot more. They’re open for lunch and dinner year-round, and they sometimes close on Sundays so call ahead.

Sandbar and Grille N.C. Highway 12, Buxton (252) 995-3413 Now in its 11th season, the Sandbar and Grille, with its fantastic sound view that’s visible from every table, is an island favorite. The menu includes daily specials, homemade soups, great appetizers, sandwiches, burgers, steaks, pastas, fresh seafood and kids’ favorites. Some say their baby back ribs are the best on the island. The full menu is available for lunch and dinner. This is also one of the few late-night spots on the island. Live music, karaoke and a late menu will please all the night owls. Be sure to pick up your Sandbar T-shirts, beach towels, hats and other souvenirs. The Sandbar’s game room will entertain everyone in the family.

Frisco

The Gingerbread House
N.C. Highway 12, Frisco
(252) 995-5204
The Gingerbread House is famous for its hearty breakfast and specialty pizzas. They’re open for breakfast until 11:30 a.m., serving traditional fare like eggs and omelets and French toast. They start serving pizza for dinner at 4:30 p.m. The pizzas are made on a delicious homemade crust with a great array of toppings. Pizza is available for eat in or take-out. A salad bar with fresh veggies rounds out the dinner offerings. The restaurant is open every day but Sunday. Winter hours are cut back, so call before you go.

Island Perks Coffee Shop
N.C. Highway 12, Frisco
(252) 995-5977 or 7977
Island Perks offers expertly made espresso and coffee drinks, including cappuccino, lattes, mochas and more, plus delicious chai and tea. They use locally roasted beans so they’re always fresh, and the beans are sold by the pound. Homemade baked goods and pastries are available too. It’s open every day in season. Island Perks is next to Indian Town Gallery.

Quarterdeck Restaurant
N.C. Highway 12, Frisco
(252) 986-2425
Established in 1978, the Quarterdeck has been serving Hatteras Islanders for 30 years. This is a locally owned, casual, family-oriented restaurant specializing in seafood (try the crab cakes and stuffed flounder), char-grilled steaks and homemade desserts. A kids’ menu, beer and wine are available. It’s open for lunch and dinner every day in season; the only exception is Saturday lunch, when they take a break.

Sooey's BBQ & Rib Shack
N.C. Highway 12, Frisco
(252) 986-1BBQ
Sooey’s BBQ and Rib Shack specializes in authentic eastern North Carolina pork barbecue, slow-smoked ribs, sliced beef brisket, pulled barbecue chicken and Southern fried chicken. All the favorite homemade sides are here too, including potato salad, cole slaw, baked beans, mac and cheese, corn bread, onion rings and killer hushpuppies. Appetizers, wings, burgers, sandwiches, soups, salads and kids’ favorites are also available. You can eat in or take it out. Sooey's excels at take-out, prepared family meals and catered events; call ahead for large orders. Beer and wine are served at all locations except in Duck.

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Hatteras Village

	Breakwater Restaurant N.C. Highway 12 at Oden’s Dock, Hatteras Village (252) 986-2733 Run by Hatteras Island’s native Oden family, The Breakwater at Oden’s Dock offers the village’s most upscale atmosphere for dinner and a long-standing tradition of excellent meals. The second-story restaurant and bar overlook the harbor and its stone breakwater, from which the restaurant gets its name. The view of the sound and the sunsets is breathtaking. The restaurant serves dinner only, featuring creative, contemporary preparations of seafood, beef, chicken, pork and pasta. The fresh-baked bread and desserts are delicious. The atmosphere is sophisticated yet casual. Live acoustic entertainment is offered on the deck on some summer evenings. You’ll love the old photos of Hatteras Village on the dining room walls.
	Channel Bass Restaurant N.C. Highway 12, Hatteras Village (252) 986-2250 After a change of ownership and names during the past few seasons, The Channel Bass is back, new and improved with experienced seafood and restaurant industry owners at the helm. The owners go to great lengths to get the freshest seafood available, and they are passionate about sharing the health benefits of fish and shellfish at surprisingly affordable prices. Channel Bass serves generous portions of great food in a friendly, family-oriented atmosphere. Every meal is made to order. The menu features fried, broiled and steamed seafood, including steamed shrimp and crab legs that won’t break the bank. The menu also includes chicken, steak and Angus burgers. The restaurant is right on Slash Creek, and some tables have water views. A private dining area can accommodate up to 35 people for special events. They’re open for lunch and dinner every day from 11:30 a.m. through closing time, with no break between the meals; call for off-season hours.
	The Dancing Turtle Coffee Shop N.C. Highway 12, Hatteras Village (252) 986-4004 The Dancing Turtle is a great neighborhood coffee shop, the kind where you’ll find townspeople and vacationers gathered for conversation along with espresso, lattes, mochas, cappuccinos and just plain wonderful coffee. They also serve fruit smoothies, chai, frozen drinks, organic teas, baked goods and biscotti. The atmosphere is warm and friendly; hang around awhile and meet some of the regulars. Pottery, books and gifts are for sale here too. It’s open almost all year round; the owners close for a month in the winter so call ahead.

Dinky’s Waterfront Restaurant Village Marina, N.C. Highway 12, Hatteras Village (252) 986-2020 Dinky’s name stems from the fact that the folks at the Village Marina call their small marina “the best little dink marina in town.” This is a cozy, 48-seat restaurant with a great big view. At sunset, make time to sit at the beautiful African mahogany bar with a cold beer before dinner. Dinky’s serves dinner only year-round. The fare is traditional American with a creative flair and includes local fresh seafood, beef, poultry, appetizers and lots of specials. Families are welcome, the restaurant is non-smoking, brown bagging is permitted and everything is available for take-out.

Dirty Dick’s Crab House Hatteras Landing, Hatteras Village (252) 995-DICK (3524) This restaurant features a great setting on the waterfront at Hatteras Landing next to a marina and the ferry docks. Dirty Dick’s is a fun-loving restaurant that serves up seriously good food. The menu pays homage to New Orleans and Louisiana cuisine, with dishes such as seafood gumbo and Po Boys, but it also offers a vast array of classic seafood favorites, including the biggest variety of crab preparations we’ve ever seen. Steaks, chicken, pork, burgers, ribs, salads, unusual sides and appetizers and sandwiches round out the offerings. There’s also a location in Avon. Check out their popular T-shirts and other merchandise.

Endless Summer
Hatteras Landing Marina, Marina Way, Hatteras Village
(252) 986-2205
Endless Summer provides an endless array of services. The deli serves light breakfast fare (including waffles) along with sandwiches and subs and fresh-baked bread for lunch and dinner. Endless Summer is also a convenience store selling drinks, beer, ice, snacks and some grocery items. Since it’s right next to the ferry docks, this is a great place to grab a meal or picnic supplies before you hop on the ferry to Ocracoke. In its dry goods market, the store sells apparel, gifts, local artwork and jewelry and is the exclusive purveyor of Hatteras Landing Marina logo merchandise.

The Hatterasman
N.C. Highway 12, Hatteras Village
(252) 986-1001
For a fast meal that doesn’t taste like fast food, try the Hatterasman’s tasty burgers, hot dogs, fries, sandwiches, fried fish and kids’ meals. Be sure to get a side of their scrumptious fried vegetables. You can eat in or take it out for lunch and dinner seven days a week in season.

Harbor Delicatessen
Hatteras Harbor Marina, N.C. Highway 12, Hatteras Village
(252) 986-2500
The Harbor Delicatessen at Hatteras Harbor Marina offers breakfast, lunch and take-out fare. It’s a great place to pick up lunches for a fishing trip; they offer boxed lunches if you call ahead and order. Breakfast includes biscuit and bagel sandwiches and other fare. The lunch menu is large, with lots of specialty sandwiches, seafood salads, daily specials and sides. The deli is open year-round. In-season they open at 5 a.m. and stay open until 6 p.m. In the off-season they open at 5:30 a.m. and close at 2 p.m. That early opening hour means you can get your day’s eats for the fishing charter; call the day before and they’ll have your boxed lunches waiting for you.

Martha Jane’s Kitchen Stowe on Twelve, Hatteras Village (252) 986-2024 Martha Jane’s Kitchen is a nice little deli and ice cream shop. The deli is open all day, and the menu features sandwiches, wraps, 10-inch Italian-style heroes and fabulous homemade chicken salad. New for 2008 are personal Boboli pizzas and Mexican-style cuisine. Stop by in the afternoon for desserts, hand-dipped ice cream and milk shakes. Eat in or carry out — this is great place to pick up picnic fare; try one of the boxed lunches.

Mona Lisa’s Pizzeria and Bakery
Hatteras Landing, N.C. Highway12, Hatteras Village
(252) 986-1587
Mona Lisa’s is a full-service bakery offering breakfast fare, pizza and fabulous baked goods. For breakfast, enjoy coffee and espresso-based drinks with pastries or breakfast sandwiches. The pizzas and calzones are of the gourmet variety, and slices are available, perfect for grabbing a quick bite before you board the ferry. Pizza and calzone delivery is available in Hatteras Village from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The bakery offers artisan breads, pies, cakes, cookies and other sweet treats. Mona Lisa’s is open all day.

Rocco’s Pizza N.C. Highway 12, Hatteras Village (252) 986-2150 Rocco’s is a great, time-tested place in Hatteras Village for pizza and Italian dishes. For lunch or dinner you can order Italian specialties, pizza, subs, salads and steamed shrimp. This is a casual, family-oriented restaurant with delicious food. They do not deliver. Rocco’s is open every day in season, and it closes in the winter.

The Shrimp Shack
N.C. Highway 12, Hatteras Village
(252) 986-4003
The Shrimp Shack offers casual dining for breakfast, lunch and dinner on the north end of Hatteras Village. Breakfast includes all the favorites – pancakes, waffles, French toast, bacon, ham, eggs, sausage gravy and more. The lunch specialty is a lip-smacking shrimpburger made with fried fresh shrimp, not frozen popcorn shrimp. Lunch also offers burgers, sandwiches, salads and seafood. For dinner, The Shrimp Shack offers seafood, steaks and pasta. A kids’ menu is available. The homemade desserts are stellar. Beer and wine are served.

Sonny’s Restaurant
N.C. Highway 12, Hatteras Village
(252) 986-2922
Serving Hatteras for more than 30 years, Sonny’s features breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast is rib-sticking, with fabulous homemade hash browns, omelets, pancakes, homemade biscuits and sausage gravy. Lunch offers burgers, soups and homemade daily specials. Dinner features nightly specials, fresh seafood platters, hand-cut steaks, pasta and mixed grills. Steamer specials include Dungeness crab, Alaskan snow crab legs, shrimp, crawfish, mussels and clams. Sonny’s closes for part of the off-season, so call ahead.

Sweet Jean’s Ice Cream
Hatteras Landing, Hatteras Village
Sweat Jean’s is a little cool-treat kiosk at Hatteras Landing. They offer soft-serve ice cream cones and cups and sprinkles for the wee ones. Enjoy your ice cream on the deck or take it over to the playground.

Teach’s Island Bar and Grill
Teach’s Lair Marina, Hatteras Village
(252) 986-2139
Teach’s Island Bar and Grill has a fun, island-style atmosphere. It’s right on the docks at the harbor, so you can watch the boats come in or enjoy a nice Pamlico Sound sunset. The menu features great appetizers (wings, calamari and the like) plus fresh seafood, grilled fish, fish and chips, burritos, pasta dishes, steaks, homemade Carolina barbecue and much more. The children’s menu has plentiful offerings. Teach’s Island is open for lunch and dinner in season. The bar frequently has live music; call for a schedule.

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