Cape Hatteras Restaurants On The Outer Banks

Pop’s Raw Bar

48967 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.

Quarterdeck Restaurant

54214 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 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. Rocco’s is open every day in season, 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 bright but warm high-energy colors and cheerful local artwork. Beer and wine are served, and there’s a fun bar/appetizer menu. All ages are welcome. Rusty’s serves dinner seven days a week in the summer; call for off-season hours. It’s located between Natural Art Surf Shop and the ABC Store.

Sandbar and Grille

49250 N.C. Highway 12
Buxton
(252) 995-3413

Now in its 13th season, Sandbar and Grille is an island favorite. It’s a casual atmosphere restaurant with great food and an amazing view of the Pamlico Sound and every sunset. The menu is served all day so whether you feel like having a burger for dinner or a Shrimp and Crab Alfredo for lunch, they’re always available. Homemade soups, salads, sandwiches, fresh local seafood, ribs, steaks, pastas — its all good. Their ribs are said to be the best on the island.There’s a game room downstairs for the kids and late-night entertainment at least once a week.

Sonny’s Restaurant

57947 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.

Subway of Avon

40548 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, flat bread and salads, chips, cookies and drinks. This location also serves breakfast. Eat in or take it out. Subway is open year round.

Teach’s Island Bar and Grill

58646 N.C. Highway 12, 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.

The Captain’s Table

47048 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 in season (call for days of operation in the off-season) and lunch Monday through Friday.

The Catering Company

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

The Catering Company, backed by the state-of-the-art restaurant kitchen at Frisco Sandwich Company, caters events of any size and style, from elaborate weddings to laid-back family reunions to professional corporate events. The professional and courteous staff is led by Tracy Morris, who has 18 years of experience in the catering and restaurant business.

The Gingerbread House

52175 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, French toast, biscuits, croissants, breakfast sandwiches and doughnuts. They serve pizza for dinner from 4:30 to 9 p.m. The pizzas are made on a delicious homemade crust with homemade sauce and a great array of toppings. Pizza is available for eat in or take-out. There’s also a salad bar. You can also pick up delicious homemade pies and cakes here. The restaurant is open every day in the summer, but off-season and winter hours are cut back so definitely call ahead.

The Hatterasman

57449 N.C. Highway 12
Hatteras Village
(252) 986-1005

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 for lunch or dinner. We recommend a side of their delicious fried vegetables, and their fries really can’t be beat. The Hatterasman now serves breakfast, featuring a variety of breakfast sandwiches. You can eat in or take it out seven days a week in season. They have WiFi service here.

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.

Topper’s Pizza and Pasta

41934 N.C. Highway 12, Hatteras Island Plaza
Avon
(252) 995-3109

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.

Uglie Mugs Coffeehouse

40534 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. They also sell jewelry and photography by local artists.

Uncle Eddy’s Frozen Custard and 18-Hole Minigolf

46878 N.C. Highway 12
Buxton
(252) 995-4059

This is a great place to stop after a visit to the lighthouse. Uncle Eddy’s serves rich, delicious frozen custard and homemade ice cream, and there are more than 50 homemade flavors. They also have a gift shop with seashore-oriented souvenirs and trinkets. There are places to sit and relax while you enjoy your ice cream and the kids play unlimited rounds of golf.

Uncle Pauly’s @ the East Coast Surf Club

24394 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.

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, sundaes and coffee coolers. They offer soft-serve vanilla and chocolate, constantly changing flavors of hand-dipped ice cream, plus healthy frozen yogurt. They’ve recently added more outdoor seating. There’s no phone so just stop by.