Our first journey to the Outer Banks of North Carolina included 4 journey writers with a protracted weekend to collect, discover, share info, and revel in one another’s firm. We wrote, joked, laughed, and ate. Gosh, did we eat! Listed below are the most effective eating places we had the privilege to dine at within the Outer Banks.
1. The Kill Satan Grill
Kill Satan Hills
Beneficial by a Texas husband throughout our rained-out try at hold gliding, there was a short look forward to seating at this historic railcar turned diner and grill, The Kill Devil Grill. Sit on the bar stools within the renovated railcar or look forward to a purple vinyl seat sales space and hope you’re fortunate sufficient to get our server, Adele.
She rattled off the each day specials just like the true skilled she is. A sampling: the grilled mahi served over cheese grits and topped with grilled native asparagus; the fried flounder sandwich with lettuce, tomato, and housemade tartar; jumbo fries served with soft-shell crab sandwiches; a inexperienced chile pork burrito with pineapple slaw rice and avocado; and the day’s salad particular, the Kitchen Sink Seazar, which is sort of a conventional Caesar however with tomatoes, pine nuts, grilled and chilled rooster, and penne pasta.
“You guys have any questions?”
(Picture Credit score: Gail Clifford)
The salmon salad had been so extremely spoken of by our cohort that two of us ordered that, one ordered the fried flounder sandwich, and one other the Southern fried rooster salad. Our salmon was the scale of a plank dinner portion, and the salad was sprinkled with cucumbers, candy corn, grape tomatoes, and combined in a basil citrus French dressing (we each held the goat cheese).
The Southern fried rooster kicked up greater than a notch with corn, bacon, potato sticks, and a buttermilk garlic dressing that was so great, I believed I’d made a mistake with my salmon alternative. After which we every tried a chunk of the fried flounder sandwich…
(Picture Credit score: Gail Clifford)
“That’s freakin’ superb.”
“That tastes similar to rooster fingers.”
And, “I’d come again for that once more.” We have been nonetheless talking about that flounder hours later.
We have been shocked to appreciate we would nonetheless have some room for dessert. It didn’t take a lot for Adele to speak us into it. She recites these as simply as she did the each day specials.
“The apple crisp served heat with vanilla ice cream, the chocolate chip pecan pie served with whipped cream (made contemporary, not overly candy), [the] strawberry shortcake, or the most effective key lime pie you’ll have ever tasted.”
(Picture Credit score: Gail Clifford)
For the strawberry shortcake, the shortcake is a lightweight double layer across the strawberry and preserve-like juices, topped with gentle whipped cream and a mint leaf. Bought! We ordered two strawberry shortcakes, one key lime pie to go (eaten that evening, although), and one heat apple crisp served with that ice cream within the center. I used to be simply uncomfortably full after we left, already wanting ahead to a return go to.
(Picture Credit score: Gail Clifford)
2. Trio Restaurant & Market
Kitty Hawk
Beneficial by the guests bureau, Trio is a superb place to start out your eating experiences alongside the Outer Banks. On the west facet of the barrier islands, it’s a mix restaurant, liquor retailer, and memento store (get your painted wine glasses right here). In case you’re hungry out of your flight into the world and subsequent drive down from Norfolk, your style buds will treasure the expertise.
(Picture Credit score: Gail Clifford)
Whereas Trio affords soups, salads, small plates, and charcuterie, our hearty appetites have been prepared for the handhelds and desserts. One intrepid traveler selected the yummy mac ‘n cheese, served on a slate, in addition to smoky garlic shrimp (with simply the correct quantity of spice) with a scrumptious heat baguette.
As regular, I began with dessert first. The pistachio gelato was clearly contemporary — it’s not inexperienced and had the pores and skin of the pistachio.
(Picture Credit score: Gail Clifford)
Two of us selected the French dip, one with contemporary chips, the opposite with salad. Each of us eliminated the mayo and caramelized onions — it was simply higher (to us) with out it. One other one in all us had the crab cake sandwich. Even 4 hours later, “Mmm, that was scrumptious.”
The coconut custard pie, comprised of scratch, delicately balanced with flavorful coconut combined so nicely that didn’t want the cream delicately perched on the facet of the slate.
The specialty drinks embrace probably the most Instagram-able lavender Earl Gray tea with the loose-leaf infuser, predominantly for the steam produced for a protracted interval.
Lavender was the flavour of the day because the lemon lavender blueberry fizz happy sight, odor, and style. The Abita root beer advantages from the usage of Louisiana sugar cane (fairly than high-fructose corn syrup).
3. Sal’s New York Pizza
Kill Satan Hills
Beneficial by Michael, our hang-gliding teacher from Kitty Hawk Kites, we knew Sal’s New York Pizza was a local-preferred gap within the wall from the second we walked within the door. With simply six tables and double that variety of bar stools, this bar and restaurant had a stunning variety of gadgets, from true New York–fashion pizza to a make-your-own pasta bowl.
The “bar pizza” modified every day, with the True Hawaiian Pineapple out there whereas we have been there. Customized made with out cheese, the crust was so skinny that one author was in a position to end a 14-inch pie with out issue.
Different favorites included the eggplant parmesan —a large slice that crammed the plate — and the make-your-own pasta with penne noodles, marinara sauce, and your alternative of meats.
The proprietor welcomed us as newcomers, not realizing we have been journey writers. Turns on the market isn’t a “Sal” there — they purchased the joint with the identify connected — however they are surely from New York. Poughkeepsie, to be precise, and opponents of mine in athletic competitions in highschool. Small world.
(Picture Credit score: Gail Clifford)
4. Avenue Grille & Items
Manteo
Proper alongside the waterfront, the Avenue Grille affords an excellent collection of wholesome gadgets we loved tremendously. Beginning with the edamame hummus platter, full of peppers, carrots, radishes, and cucumbers — this was, palms down, probably the most scrumptious dish of the day.
Our favourite drink right here was the lavender lemonade, with a nod to the eco-consciousness of the restaurant for not volunteering straws with every drink. The boneless fried rooster with salad was delectable.
The Grille Burger was actually juicy, particularly with a bonus piece of bacon.
(Picture Credit score: Gail Clifford)
The maple pecan fried rooster breast was large — “like a very large rooster!” — and deserving of a to-go field lengthy earlier than it was time to depart.
The catch-of-the-day fish tacos have been a tilefish, not one I used to be conversant in, however have been supplied grilled, blackened, or fried and have been very tasty. They have been served with their slaw and selection of three relishes on corn tortillas to face quick with a gluten-free day.
5. Sam & Omie’s
Nags Head
The locals have beloved Sam & Omie’s for breakfast a lot since 1937 that there’s often a 45-minute to hour-long wait. Their specialty is their “Omie-lette,” and one in our get together loved their sausage, onion, and cheese Omie-lette. One other had conventional buttermilk pancakes and bacon. A 3rd loved the egg breakfast with hash browns. It was my flip for an upside-down day, as I had a facet order of hash browns with the chocolate peanut butter pie. Served with chocolate syrup and whipped cream, it’s a easy strategy to begin your day.
6. Orange Blossom Bakery & Café
Buxton, Hatteras Island
Our horseback using teacher really useful Orange Blossom because the not-to-be-missed spot on Hatteras Island. Residence of the “Apple Uglies,” this domestically owned bakery makes each apple and mango “Uglies,” donuts, pastries, bread, croissants, biscuits, bacon, sausage, salsa, and eggs.
The Apple Ugly is sort of a big cinnamon roll with an apple pie–kind middle. It’s heavy on cinnamon and tremendous candy, so the recent espresso is an efficient foil… style it earlier than you add any sugar to your espresso! We entered behind a protracted line of girls ordering two to seven Apple Uglies at a time. We ordered two of these, two fried pies (one apple, one cherry), juices, and low.
7. Diamond Shoals Restaurant
Buxton, Hatteras Island
Beneficial by the guests bureau, Diamond Shoals Restaurant was the right cease for a big meal after horseback using and lighthouse touring. Massive parts and immediate service (ask for Suzy!) assist large appetites. But they’re so fashionable, they’ll run out of a number of favourite dishes, or the each day catch, early within the day. That was the case for us after we requested for the crispy rice-wrapped shrimp. We loved the do-it-yourself hush puppies, not as spicy as I’m accustomed to, and just a little extra breaded, with us disagreeing about whether or not they have been roughly candy than regular. Tasty.
I selected the catch-of-the-day tacos, made with grouper. The fish was an inch huge and so long as the tortilla by which it was served. The accompanying salsa and lettuce added a pleasant crunchy texture. The grouper sandwich with fries shocked me — groupers are gentle, white fish.
The mahi wrap with fries was scrumptious and filling.
The mahi with common fries and mango salsa was refreshing. They’d initially arrived with candy potato waffle fries that tasted like they’d been dipped in cinnamon sugar, however they cheerfully switched to their regular fries for the member of my group who didn’t want all that sweetness.
All that stated, there may be lots extra to do within the Outer Banks than chow down. The 200-mile stretch of barrier islands is dotted with distinctive cities and landmarks. Right here’s extra on your OBX keep:
