Our Nags Head Guidebook
Food Scene
These are our favorite places to eat in the Outer Banks.
PLEASE NOTE: Nags Head and all of Dare County takes Drink and Drive very seriously, so have a Designated Driver (DD).
Main Bar is the place (COVID has knocked this down a bit). Daily specials (alcoholic drink, lunch, and dinner) are the draws. Our gotos: Apps - Wings or Scallops. Entrée - Shrimp & Grits, Fish Tacos, & The Truckstop. An old fashioned, but THE best, dessert is the Hershey Bar Cake, locally made with the seven-minute frosting.
161 locals recommend
Blue Moon Beach Grill
102 S Virginia Dare TrailMain Bar is the place (COVID has knocked this down a bit). Daily specials (alcoholic drink, lunch, and dinner) are the draws. Our gotos: Apps - Wings or Scallops. Entrée - Shrimp & Grits, Fish Tacos, & The Truckstop. An old fashioned, but THE best, dessert is the Hershey Bar Cake, locally made with the seven-minute frosting.
Diner style eatery. Be early or there will be a wait. Simple fare and good coffee. Sunday's they have a fried chicken “dinner special” starting about noon.
27 locals recommend
Grits Grill
5000 S Croatan HwyDiner style eatery. Be early or there will be a wait. Simple fare and good coffee. Sunday's they have a fried chicken “dinner special” starting about noon.
Great locally sourced food with the ability to watch the ospreys, Ricky and Lucy. Best viewing of them (and maybe even their kids) is from the bar (or a booth at the back). We do like the bar. We normally only order off the daily menu, however all is good. Our gotos are crispy pork belly (but request extra crispy) appetizer and dessert of Peanut Butter pie.
99 locals recommend
Basnight's Lone Cedar Cafe
7623 S Virginia Dare TrailGreat locally sourced food with the ability to watch the ospreys, Ricky and Lucy. Best viewing of them (and maybe even their kids) is from the bar (or a booth at the back). We do like the bar. We normally only order off the daily menu, however all is good. Our gotos are crispy pork belly (but request extra crispy) appetizer and dessert of Peanut Butter pie.
We get crabs for our crab feasts from here. We get them steamed to make it easy!
12 locals recommend
Whalebone Seafood Market
101 E Gray Eagle StWe get crabs for our crab feasts from here. We get them steamed to make it easy!
We get crabs for our crab feasts from here. We get them steamed to make it easy!
30 locals recommend
Billy's Seafood
1341 Colington RdWe get crabs for our crab feasts from here. We get them steamed to make it easy!
Amazing pizza by the slice!! Crust is not too thin, and the edges have a good chew. Ask for extra crispy, then check when you get, to ensure doneness to your level.
75 locals recommend
Slice Pizzeria
710 South Croatan HighwayAmazing pizza by the slice!! Crust is not too thin, and the edges have a good chew. Ask for extra crispy, then check when you get, to ensure doneness to your level.
Good food! Nice brunch! Live music! If you can get out on the top deck, on a not too hot or windy day, is a nice place for a relaxing meal.
69 locals recommend
Mulligan's Grille in Historic Cottage Row
4005 S Croatan HwyGood food! Nice brunch! Live music! If you can get out on the top deck, on a not too hot or windy day, is a nice place for a relaxing meal.
An Outer Banks original! A big slice of local colour, early or later there will be a wait. The breakfast specials can be a bit eclectic: Crab omelet, Dave Masters’ special (Fried Egg(s), tomato, mayo, & Country Ham on Rye toast with a side of cheese grits). If on Keto, they will normally switch out toast/biscuit with sliced tomatoes
73 locals recommend
Sam & Omie's
7228 S Virginia Dare TrailAn Outer Banks original! A big slice of local colour, early or later there will be a wait. The breakfast specials can be a bit eclectic: Crab omelet, Dave Masters’ special (Fried Egg(s), tomato, mayo, & Country Ham on Rye toast with a side of cheese grits). If on Keto, they will normally switch out toast/biscuit with sliced tomatoes
Long time favourite, since the 1970's. Management has changed a few times, but they seemed to have kept up the fresh buns and standard make-up of the “Dune Burger”.
Dune Burger
7304 S Virginia Dare TrailLong time favourite, since the 1970's. Management has changed a few times, but they seemed to have kept up the fresh buns and standard make-up of the “Dune Burger”.
We went here for breakfast and sat outside on the second level. It is a lively scene even in the morning!
161 locals recommend
Art's Place
4624 N Virginia Dare TrailWe went here for breakfast and sat outside on the second level. It is a lively scene even in the morning!
For a visit to Manteo, you can sit out on dock and eat great sandwiches and fries.
44 locals recommend
Poor Richards Sandwich Shop
305 Queen Elizabeth AveFor a visit to Manteo, you can sit out on dock and eat great sandwiches and fries.
Fried Pickles to share & South Bead Burger with Cajun fries, will make you forget about the five dude’s place. Order ahead (call or online). When you get there, they will start to make the fries and pickles, so that they are hot and fresh! (Yes, you have to wait a little bit, but worth every second)
11 locals recommend
South Beach Takeout, Catering, & Delivery
4104 S Virginia Dare TrailFried Pickles to share & South Bead Burger with Cajun fries, will make you forget about the five dude’s place. Order ahead (call or online). When you get there, they will start to make the fries and pickles, so that they are hot and fresh! (Yes, you have to wait a little bit, but worth every second)
Built into a streamline diner car (plus other tables). The wings are great (baked/smoked then fried)!
226 locals recommend
The Kill Devil Grill
2008 S Virginia Dare TrailBuilt into a streamline diner car (plus other tables). The wings are great (baked/smoked then fried)!
High Cotton Barbeque
5230 N Virginia Dare TrailWorthy of the trek. BBQ, cornbread, and coleslaw
: Mainly breakfast, but lunch is good too. The grits are not the normal Quaker Oats’ grits, but a coarse ground meal cooked perfect, firm but creamy. The Cinnamon Swirl French Toast can be to die for, ask if you can get the heal pieces of the loaf for a crispy treat. Note the playbills, the Casio was a nightlife club/dance hall where the Kitty Hawk Kite store is now located.
9 locals recommend
Old Nags Head Cafe
3948 S Virginia Dare Trail: Mainly breakfast, but lunch is good too. The grits are not the normal Quaker Oats’ grits, but a coarse ground meal cooked perfect, firm but creamy. The Cinnamon Swirl French Toast can be to die for, ask if you can get the heal pieces of the loaf for a crispy treat. Note the playbills, the Casio was a nightlife club/dance hall where the Kitty Hawk Kite store is now located.