Fresh-Catch Favorites: Seafood Restaurants to Try on the Outer Banks

Dec. 12, 2024

For anyone who loves seafood, the Outer Banks offers plenty to savor: just-caught flavors, inventive coastal cooking, laid-back beach bites, refined waterfront meals, and generous buffet spreads. From creamy risotto to beloved fish tacos, this guide rounds up the best seafood restaurants across OBX, with each stop bringing its own atmosphere, personality, and memorable dishes.

Aqua Restaurant

For a more refined seafood meal, Aqua Restaurant brings together polished warmth, oceanview dining, and plates worth lingering over. Begin with whipped roasted garlic goat cheese or lightly fried shrimp served over coriander lime slaw, then move into crab cakes or seared duck breast. When dessert becomes a choice between flourless chocolate torte and vanilla crème brûlée, the best answer may be both.

The Black Pelican Restaurant

Set inside a historic building tied to intriguing Outer Banks lore, The Black Pelican Restaurant pairs an easygoing setting with sweeping ocean scenery and standout seafood. The menu leans into indulgent combinations, especially the white seafood pizza made with creamy béchamel, shrimps, scallops, cheeses, scallions, oregano, and Old Bay. Another standout is the Wanchese risotto, blending seafood, bacon, tomatoes, corn, and spinach into roasted garlic risotto finished with a sweet potato nest.

Captain George’s Seafood Restaurant

Captain George’s Seafood Restaurant belongs in any Outer Banks seafood roundup. Known for its All You Can Eat Buffet, the restaurant features several bars, including steamed seafood and breaded-and-fried seafood options, along with a strong salad bar and choices beyond seafood. The baked macaroni and cheese is worth saving space for, and the dessert bar includes sweets such as key lime cake and baklava. Guests can also choose from the a la carte menu.

Greentail’s Seafood Market & Kitchen

In Nags Head, Greentail’s Seafood Market & Kitchen is a go-to for local seafood prepared with a creative point of view. The kitchen highlights the Outer Banks’ fresh catches through a tide-shifting menu and updated takes on classic coastal dishes. Favorites include the seared tuna steak sandwich, poke bowls, and Old School Southern Fried Baskets filled with local shrimp or fish. The Mattamuskeet Blue Crab Hushpuppies are a local favorite and fit right in with the relaxed coastal feel.

Stripers Bar & Grille

Stripers Bar and Grille in Manteo serves seafood with waterfront views visible from every seat. This three-floor restaurant is relaxed and welcoming, with dishes such as shrimp and grits, fish tacos, and seared tuna sashimi. The broad menu combines local favorites with more inventive plates, supported by a wide beverage selection. Happy hour and live entertainment add another reason to stop in.

O’Neal’s Sea Harvest

O’Neal’s Sea Harvest keeps things simple, and locals recognize it as the place for top-tier sustainable seafood. Part wholesaler, part buyer, and part no-frills lunch stop, it’s ideal for a classic beach meal such as a soft crab BLT sandwich or a fried fish basket with coleslaw and fries. It’s also a strong stop for stocking up on a wide selection of fresh and frozen seafood to bring home.

Dirty Dick’s Crabhouse

Dirty Dick’s Crabhouse is casual, playful, and kitschy, with a menu full of New Orleans-inspired seafood and a special focus on crabs. The silky she-crab soup comes packed with tender crab, while the open-faced crab dip sandwich layers crab dip, bacon, and cheddar cheese over bread. Another hearty choice is the breaded-and-fried crab lasagna, filled with crab dressing, ricotta, parmesan, and mozzarella, then covered in red gravy and Cajun-spiced “Alfredeaux” sauce.

Cockeyed Clam

Cockeyed Clam is a cozy favorite for diners looking for a fresh seafood fix. Tables can fill up quickly, so arriving early, ordering a drink, and relaxing on the porch is a smart plan. The menu covers reliable seafood comfort dishes, from fried clams and shrimp to sun-dried tomato pasta with shrimp, scallops, and crab. It also sits just over a mile from the iconic Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.

Buxton Munch Company

Bright colors, funky decor, and a laid-back mood define Buxton Munch Company, where the interior signs sum it up with Good Vibes Only. The food delivers the same energy, with generous portions and bold, fresh flavors. The fish tacos are a must, helping support its reputation as one of the area’s best seafood restaurants. The oversized salads and wraps are just as filling and flavorful.