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
- (252) 987-1200
Best known for its great breakfasts, Atlantic Coast Café also serves delicious lunches and dinners. You’ll find sandwiches, traditional and unique Reubens (ever heard of a shrimp Reuben or crab cake Reuben?), grilled wraps, marinated or Cajun grilled tuna, chicken strips, seafood baskets (check out the oyster po’ boy), mac-n-cheese, salads, smoothies and freezes, and chef’s dinner specials like a seafood quesadilla and shrimp and grits. A value menu is available daily. In addition to coffees, lattes and teas, the beverage list includes a variety of bottled sodas, waters and juices, beer and wine coolers. The staff is friendly and efficient, and the restaurant is definitely family friendly. Pets are even welcome on the deck. Free WiFi is a plus. The full menu is available for take out, and free delivery is offered after 5 p.m. to Rodanthe, Waves and Salvo (their menus, including the catering menu, are available online). Atlantic Coast Café opens at 7 a.m. every day between March and October.
Top Dog Café
- 25202 N.C. Highway 12
- Waves
- (252) 987-1272
Top Dog Cafe has been a local icon serving great food for more than 12 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. Top Dog also offers innovative appetizers, salads, wraps, burgers, seafood, sandwiches and dinner entrees. Some of the favorite items are the Cajun crab wrap, fish tacos, Jamaican tuna wrap, golden lump crab cakes, 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.
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.
Big Waves Market
- 26006 N.C. Highway 12, St. Waves Plaza
- Waves
- (252) 987-2352
When hunger calls, head to Big Waves, which is a deli and small market. The deli is for take out only, and it’s a great place to pick up a picnic for the beach. The deli offers gourmet sandwiches and subs, deli salads, prepared foods and ice cream. The market sells fresh produce, beer and wine (include build-your-own six packs from a great selection of beer) fresh bread, meats, condiments, necessities, organic and gluten-free products, salsas and sauces, and much more.
Boardwok South
- 24267 N.C. Highway 12, Pamlico Station
- 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.
Dairy Queen
- 25199 N.C. Highway 12
- Waves
- (252) 995-5624
This location offers a pick-up window and drive-thru for ice-cream and all of Dairy Queen’s frozen treats as well as hotdogs 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. The menu also includes chicken, pasta, steaks and kids’ offerings. The view of the sound and sunsets is fantastic, and large parties are welcome. It’s open for lunch and dinner.
Frank’s OBX Dog House
- 25972 N.C. Highway 12
- Waves
- No phone
Across from the Waves Post Office, 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, nachos piled high with chili, onions, jalapenos and cheese, and Coney Island Potato Knish, a slightly seasoned mashed potato pie. This restaurant is for take-out only, but they have picnic tables in the yard.
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.
Island Coffee
- 26657 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.
Leonardo’s Pizza
- 11000 N.C. Highway 12, Reef Store
- 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. 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. They’re closed on Mondays.
Lisa’s Pizzeria
- 24158 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
- 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.
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 and sundaes. They offer soft-serve vanilla and chocolate, seven constantly changing flavors of hand-dipped ice cream, plus healthy frozen yogurt.
