Restaurants - Rodanthe, Waves & Salvo
This page provides information for restaurants in Rodanthe, Waves & Salvo, NC on the Outer Banks.
Atlantic Coast Café
- 25150 N.C. Highway 12, across from the KOA Campground
- Waves
Expect great food and awesome service at the Atlantic Coast Café in Waves — featuring a comfortable, clean, casual beach atmosphere, friendly staff and free WiFi. It’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Stop in for great breakfasts and fresh coffee, lunches that showcase stuffed grilled wraps, great burgers, unique Reubens (crab cake, shrimp, classic), their famous marinated or Cajun grilled tuna, possibly the best chicken strips east of the Mississippi, delicately fried seafood baskets, mac ‘n cheese to die for (four versions of it), a hefty chef salad, double-shelled fish tacos, creamy shrimp & grits and lots more, including a kids menu. Smoothies, café mochas/lattes, chai tea, fresh muffins (chocolate cappuccino, blueberry, carrot raisin), killer desserts and a variety of sodas, juices, beer and wine all add up to an enjoyable and affordable Hatteras Island meal. The full menu is available for take-out.
Good Winds Seafood & Wine Bar
- 24502 N.C. Highway 12, Waves Village Kiteboarding Resort
- Rodanthe
Whether you’ve worked up an appetite kiteboarding on site or you just want a meal with a water view, Good Winds is a good choice on northern Hatteras Island. With its second-floor perch over the Pamlico Sound and a deck for outdoor dining, it’s the place to watch the sunset. The menus feature familiar local seafood — tuna, snapper, shrimp, crab cakes — along with some more exotic offerings like an alligator picante and conch fritters. Appetizers, grilled pizzas, wraps, burgers, fish tacos and salads are offered for lunch, while dinner goes a little fancier with finely crafted seafood entrees, surf & turf, pasta, chicken and the traditional North Carolina Muddle. Everything is chef-prepared and made from scratch. A kids’ menu is available. The bar has one of the most extensive wine and beer selections on Hatteras Island, and it’s a good place to hang out after a ride in the wind or until midnight on the weekends. Good Winds is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week.
Beach Mugs
- 24267 N.C. Highway 12, Pamlico Station
- Rodanthe
- (252) 987-2005
Beach Mugs serves coffee and all sorts of espresso-based drinks, tea and delicious smoothies and baked goods. Internet access is available on your computer or theirs. This shop also houses The Glass Bead 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.
Boardwok South
- N.C. Highway 12, St. Waves Plaza
- Rodanthe
- (252) 987-1080
Boardwok South brings something for the adventurous palates of Hatteras Island. Boardwok offers delicious Asian-style 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. The steaks are fresh and hand cut and the seafood is fresh. The owner does 95 percent of the cooking, so it’s guaranteed fresh and consistently good. Boardwok South’s atmosphere is clean, comfortable and relaxing and there’s a nice tiki bar serving beer and wine. Boardwok serves dinner Monday through Saturday nights and is closed Sunday.
Dairy Queen
- 25199 N.C. Highway 12
- Waves
- (252) 987-1228
This location offers a pick-up window and drive-thru for ice cream and all of Dairy Queen’s frozen treats as well as hot dogs and drinks.
Down Under Restaurant and Lounge
- 25920 N.C. Highway 12
- Waves
- (252) 987-2277
Down Under is a longtime favorite family restaurant on northern Hatteras Island. Adventurous eaters might want to try the Australian specialties, including kangaroo burgers and Aussie-inspired sandwiches. But Down Under is really known for its seafood dishes. The menu also includes chicken, pasta, steaks and kids’ offerings. The view of the sound and sunsets is fantastic, and they have a new deck out back that’s perfect for enjoying the sunset. Down Under has a full bar with beer, wine and mixed drinks. It’s open for lunch and dinner, and large parties are welcome. They also have a tennis court; call to reserve it.
Forbes Candies HWY 12 Coffee and Tea Company
- 24502 N.C. Highway 12, Waves Village Kiteboarding Resort
- Rodanthe
- (252) 987-2320
Forbes Candies HWY 12 Coffee and Tea Company offers the sweets that Forbes Candy in Nags Head is known for — saltwater taffy, fresh fudge and chocolates. At this location they also offer coffee, including a full espresso bar offering specialty coffee and espresso drinks. The blended frappuccinos are a customer favorite. They mix up smoothies and sell 20 varieties of loose tea. In the bakery case are cinnamon rolls, muffin tops, New York Bagels and a variety of other treats. Summer hours are 6:30 a.m. until 10 p.m.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Sting Wray’s
- 24394 N.C. Highway 12
- Rodanthe
- (252) 987-1500
Sting Wray’s is a casual, lively, Carribean-themed restaurant serving local seafood (think tuna, mahi mahi, shrimp and oysters), appetizers, sandwiches, pasta, steaks and a kids’ menu. Dine on the deck overlooking the sound if you’d like. Sting Wray’s has a bar serving beer and wine and offers entertainment (think karakoke, acoustic music, bands) several nights a week in the summer. They serve lunch and dinner every day, except when they’re closed in the winter.
Top Dog Café
- 25202 Island Pine Drive and N.C. Highway 12
- Waves
- (252) 987-1272
Top Dog Cafe has been a local icon serving great food for more than 15 years on Hatteras Island. They’re reputed to have the some of the biggest and best burgers on the Banks, the largest of which is the two-pound Cyclone, and the huge fish tacos are popular with the customers. Top Dog also offers innovative appetizers, salads, wraps, burgers, seafood, sandwiches and dinner entrees. Some of the other favorite items are the Cajun crab wrap, Jamaican tuna wrap, golden lump crab melts, bacon-wrapped scallops, fresh mushroom and Swiss burger, Parrothead Salad and Paradise Pasta. The atmosphere is a relaxed and rustic “Keys style” casual — perfect for the whole family. Kids’ meals are available, and beer and wine are served. Top Dog is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week in the summer and is closed on Tuesdays in the spring and fall.
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.
Waves Market
- 26006 N.C. Highway 12, St. Waves Plaza
- Waves
- (252) 987-2352
When hunger calls, head to Waves Market, a deli and small grocery store in the Tri Villages. This is a great place to pick up a picnic for the beach. The deli features hot and cold sandwiches with Boars Head meats and cheeses, fresh-made tuna salad, chicken salad and pimiento cheese, vegetarian options and take-and-bake pizzas (perfect for cooking at home). Their specialties are house-smoked barbecue and hand-cut Belgian fries (thick cut, soaked overnight and fried twice, served with a special dipping sauce!). Everything is homemade. There is no seating here; everything is for take-out only. The grocery sells beer and wine, fresh produce, chips and snacks, ice cream (just about every flavor of Ben & Jerry’s), popsicles and lots more. Waves Market is open late (until midnight in summer) so this is the place to pick up the late-night beer and food.
