Hatteras Island Restaurants

Frank’s OBX Dog House

• 25972 N.C. Highway 12
• Waves
• No phone

Across from the Waves Post Office at milepost 41.5, you’ll find Frank’s OBX Dog House, serving all-beef hot dogs piled with delicious toppings including sauerkraut and NY sweet onion sauce. Feel free to make your own combination or choose one of theirs. They also serve brats with spicy brown mustard, potato salad and nachos piled high with chili, onions, jalapenos and cheese, along with refreshing Italian ices and beer. This restaurant is for take-out only, but they have picnic tables on site. It’s kid and dog friendly.

Frisco Sandwich Company

• 53674 N.C. Highway 12
• Frisco
• (252) 995-DELI (3354)

Frisco Sandwich Company serves quick, healthy fare for people on the go. It’s fast, but we can’t call it fast food because it’s all prepared with care and fine attention to flavor. You wouldn’t find house-made potato chips and homemade ice cream sandwiches at any fast food joint. Frisco Sandwich Company serves specialty sandwiches, paninis, wraps, burgers, salads, smoothies and ice cream. They sell sliced deli meats and cheeses, and if you’re in a big hurry they have just-made sandwiches ready to grab and go. They are also featuring their own made-to-perfection BBQ now. Seating is available indoors or at picnic tables outside. Ask about the Beach Box, which includes four sandwiches and sides. FSC is also a cool spot to hang out — drink coffee, watch surf videos, kick back on the leather sofa and pick the house guitar, throw a game of horse shoes or Corn hole, enjoy good music and friendly people. Frisco Sandwich Company is open for lunch every day. It’s located across from the Ramp 49 beach access. They also offer a catering business known as Catering Company of Hatteras Island.

Happy Belly Ice Cream, Smoothies and Candies

• 57204 N.C. Highway 12, Beacon Shops
• Hatteras Village
• (252) 995-2037

Happy Belly is a great spot for a cool, refreshing sweet treat. They serve real fruit smoothies, hand-dipped ice cream in cones, cups, sundaes or shakes, plus fresh-made fudge, saltwater taffy and a great selection of candies. Open daily, Happy Belly is also a WiFi hotspot.

Harbor Delicatessen

• 58058 N.C. Highway 12, Hatteras Harbor Marina
• Hatteras Village
• (252) 986-2500

The Harbor Delicatessen offers breakfast, lunch and take-out fare. Breakfast includes biscuit and bagel sandwiches and more. The lunch menu is large, with lots of specialty sandwiches, seafood salads, daily specials and sides. Their fried chicken, which they fry on Thursday, Friday and Saturday only, is said to be the secret weapon for marlin fishing. 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 in the early afternoon. 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, but if you’re not that organized you can order your lunch in the morning.

Hot Tuna Grub & Pub

• 23500 N.C. Highway 12
• Rodanthe
• (252) 987-2266

When the meal 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, pizza and more. 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, where you’ll also find karaoke and entertainment on occasion. Hot Tuna offers take-out. The restaurant is next to Island Convenience in Rodanthe. 

Hurricane Heather’s

• 46948 N.C. Highway 12
• Buxton
• (252) 995-3060

New owners have brightened up and enlivened the old Finnegan’s Restaurant in Buxton and renamed it Hurricane Heather’s. The atmosphere is clean, fun and family oriented, and there’s more seating now, in booths, at tables or at one of the two bars (one is a raw bar). Hurricane Heather’s serves lunch and dinner, stays open late in the season and has live entertainment some weekends. The menu covers all the basics — appetizers, seafood, sandwiches, burgers, entrees, children’s offerings — and there are always daily specials. Hurricane Heather’s serves a full bar and has numerous TVs to keep you entertained during your visit. It’s in a great location, right at the entrance to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.

Inn on Pamlico Sound

• 49684 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 fine dining experience overlooking the waters of the sound. Gourmet dining here features local seafood, organic beef and poultry, homemade soups, appetizers and desserts, an extensive wine and beer 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 Bistro & Bar

• 58848 Marina Way, Hatteras Landing
• Hatteras Village
• (252) 986-1444

Island Perks has moved from Buxton to a new waterfront and marina-front location next to the ferry docks in Hatteras Village. Enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner and late night with panoramic views of the Pamlico Sound. Full-service breakfast is served until 11:30 a.m. The lunch and dinner menus offer a wide range of prices and options, from down-home island fare to international cuisine to chop-house style dining in which side dishes are shared family style. The homemade desserts are a big deal here. The full-service bar offers martinis, a great wine list, beers, liquor, occasional entertainment and a late-night menu. The location is ideal for parties and events; contact Kim for information on renting the restaurant, catering or wedding cakes.

Island Time Cups and Cones

• 40146 N.C. Highway 12
• Avon
• (252) 995-0202

At Island Time, cool down with a Hawaiian or Italian ice, hand-scooped or soft-serve ice cream or a delicious malt, shake or smoothie. Or go for the coffee — Island Time serves all of the favorite coffee and espresso-based drinks. While you’re here, play a board game or shuffleboard, or put together a puzzle. You can’t miss Island Time in its bright pink building. They’re open only in the summer, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day. Every summer night, Island Time shows a family-friendly movie on an outdoor movie screen at dusk. Sit outside on a blanket or lawn chair, or pull your car up like the days of drive-in theaters.

Java Junction

• 39774 N.C. Highway 12
• Avon
• (252) 995-7020

Java Junction, part of The Glass Bead store, serves coffee and espresso drinks. It’s also an Internet café, with high-speed access on their computer or yours. While you’re here, create your own jewelry with more than a thousand types of beads.

La Fogata

• 41934 N.C. Highway 12, Hatteras Island Plaza
• Avon
• (252) 986-1118

With locations in Kitty Hawk, Nags Head and Avon, La Fogata is an Outer Banks standby for good, filling, traditional Mexican fare. Locals love it for offering tasty food at a good value. Within minutes of sitting down, you’ll have warm chips and yummy salsa to munch on while you look over the extensive menu. They serve beer and wine, and they’re open for lunch and dinner every day.

Leonardo’s Pizza

• 11000 N.C. Highway 12
• Rodanthe
• (252) 987-6522

Leonardo’s offers delicious, fresh-made, New York-style pizza with a variety of toppings, plus salads, calzones and hearty subs stuffed with all the favorite fillings. They sell individual slices at lunch. It’s located next to the Reef beach supplies store in Rodanthe. You can pick up your order or have it delivered in Rodanthe, Waves or Salvo. They’re closed on Mondays.

Lisa’s Pizzeria

• 24158 N.C. Highway 12
• Rodanthe
• (252) 987-2525

Lisa’s, in business since 1986, is legendary on Hatteras Island. Everyone comes 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. They serve beer and wine. Small and casual, Lisa’s is great for eating in, but they also offer take-out and free delivery after 4 p.m. in the Tri-Villages.

Mack Daddy’s Seafood Grill and Raw Bar

• 40396 N.C. Highway 12
• Avon
• (252) 995-5060

Mack Daddy’s specializes in fine coastal cuisine in an island casual atmosphere. Chef Seth Foutz has an appreciation for local ingredients and all-natural foods, featuring fresh fish, shellfish and produce and making everything by hand, never using processed or prepackaged foods. Specialties of the house include shrimp and grits, crab cakes, game fish and prime steaks, and Foutz creates a not-to-be-missed special every night. The menu, which changes seasonally, also includes chicken, duck, pork, pasta, a vegetarian option, homemade soups and desserts and a children’s menu. Specialty beers, draft beers and a full wine list are available to complement your meal. Mack Daddy’s is open daily for dinner from April through November. Look for a new name in 2012 – Ketch 55. Sail into the same location at Milepost 55 and appreciate a new name, but enjoy the same owner, same chef and the same passion for great food. 

Marilyn’s Deli

• 23532 N.C. Highway 12, Island Convenience
• 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.

MOJO’s Sunset Cafe

• 25676 N.C. Highway 12
• Waves
• (252) 987-1600

MOJO’s Sunset Cafe is a waterfront restaurant located in the big red building directly behind the REAL Flagship Store in Waves. MOJO’s serves award-winning cuisine including breakfast, lunch and dinner, beer, wine and coffee, plus fresh juices, teas, fruit, baked goods and more. They’ve got live music on the waterfront stage every Monday and Thursday night from 6 to 10 p.m. in season. Enjoy fresh fish, pulled pork and chicken tacos at Taco Tuesday every week. Happy Hour at MOJO’s often finds groups of people watching the sunset over the Pamlico Sound with beautiful views of the kiteboarders in action. MOJO’s Sunset Cafe offers the choice of indoor or outdoor seating as well as take-out to enjoy at your home or on the beach.

Nino’s Pizza

• 41188 Palazzolo Rd., off 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, pasta dishes, lasagna and subs — along with hamburgers and salads. Whatever you order, it’s guaranteed to be great. Nino’s has been serving meals on Hatteras Island for 30 years, so know you can trust that longevity. Lunch and dinner are served daily, and delivery is available in Avon. They serve beer too.

Oceana’s Bistro

• 41008 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. It also has some fancier offerings like 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.

Orange Blossom Bakery

• 47206 N.C. Highway 12
• Buxton
• (252) 995-4109

Named for the orange trees that once grew on the property, the Orange Blossom is a Hatteras Island favorite for breakfast (and soon to be lunch). Everyone loves the Apple Uglies and the Meyer’s Rum Raisin Cinnamon Rolls, the double-dipped doughnuts and the pastries (the Apple Uglies and cinnamon rolls go fast, so get there early!). Orange Blossom offers just about any breakfast sandwich you could imagine, on biscuits, bagels, croissants, homemade wheat or white bread, in a burrito, you name it. You can even get a lox and cream cheese bagel. Orange Blossom serves certified fair-trade organic coffees and tea and sells its coffee by the pound. The homemade bread is for sale too. Seating is available inside or on the porch. Breakfast is served every day, and coming in mid-summer 2011 will be lunch, including sandwiches, high-end salads and many healthy options. When that happens, they’ll continue serving breakfast foods through the lunch hour for the benefit of the late risers. Orange Blossom is located just south of the entrance to the lighthouse. 

Outback Kitchen Bakery and Catering Company

• N.C. Highway 12, Hatteras Island Plaza
• Avon
• (252) 305-2452

Outback Kitchen Bakery in the Hatteras Island Plaza in Avon (near Food Lion) offers full breakfasts and lunches, fresh breads and bakery items as well as meals to go, personal chef services and private dining in their restaurant. Breakfast includes Bananas Foster French Toast on their home-baked cinnamon and raisin bread, the Island Breakfast Burrito, homemade hash browns, eggs, meats and breakfast sandwiches. Lunch features their famous OBK chicken salad, salads, sandwiches and daily specials. Their BBQ brisket is served on a ciabatta roll and accompanied by coleslaw and fresh fruit. Pastries, breads and wedding, specialty and novelty cakes are made on site. Grab a taste of Aussie “tucker” with an Australian Meat Pie or Aussie Sausage Roll.

Outback Kitchen offers catering for all types of events, including weddings, reunions and business conferences, and has a mobile catering truck that makes it easy for them to cater anywhere. They also create amazing custom wedding cakes. 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. Kylie’s personal chef services are quite popular. Outback Kitchen is open for private dinners by appointment only, like having a personal chef, only you go to them instead of them coming to you. Give Kylie a call to set up a customized dinner and dining experience in the restaurant.

Papa Nino’s

• 47365 N.C. Highway 12, Osprey Shopping Center
• Buxton
• (252) 995-0060

An offshoot of Avon’s popular Nino’s Pizza, Papa Nino’s serves lunch and dinner every day. They feature Nino’s famous pizza plus subs, sandwiches, appetizers and beer. They’re now offering an economical lunch buffet with pizza, pasta and a salad bar. Delivery is offered in Buxton and Frisco in the evenings.

Pop’s Raw Bar

• 48967 N.C. Highway 12
• Buxton
• (252) 995-7734

Pop’s is frequented by a lot of locals – a sure sign that the seafood meets local standards of excellence—and it’s a great place to have a real local experience. 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. Pop’s serves beer, wine and liquor. They’re known for their great prices and great atmosphere.

Quarterdeck Restaurant

• 54214 N.C. Highway 12
• Frisco
• (252) 986-2425

Established in 1978, the Quarterdeck has been serving Hatteras Islanders for 33 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, wine and a full bar are available. It’s open for lunch and dinner every day except Wednesday in season.

Rocco’s Pizza

• 57331 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, and they do serve beer and wine. Rocco’s is open every day in season (on Sunday they open for dinner only at 4 p.m.) and it closes in the winter.

Rusty’s Surf and Turf

• 47355 N.C. Highway 12
• Buxton
• (252) 995-4184

Rusty’s Surf and Turf brings the bold flavors and colors of the tropics to Hatteras Island. Owner and chef Rusty Midgett, a native who left the island and honed his restaurant and kitchen experience in some of Philadelphia’s top restaurants, is inspired in the kitchen by the places he has traveled on surf trips – the Caribbean, the Mexican Riviera, the Pacific Rim. Let him surprise you with his creative preparations of fresh fish and local seafood and premium beef. Midgett gets a lot of his seafood directly from Hatteras Island docks. The restaurant is fun and colorful with cheerful local artwork. Rusty’s has a full bar and specializes in North Carolina hand-crafted beers, and there’s a fun bar/appetizer menu. Rusty’s serves dinner seven days a week in the summer and brunch on Sundays; call for off-season hours. It’s located between Natural Art Surf Shop and the ABC Store.