Taste the Outer Banks Along the NC Oyster Trail
With oyster farms close by and restaurants that celebrate these favorite shellfish, visitors can follow the Outer Banks coast through the NC Oyster Trail.
By John Griffin
Nov. 20, 2022
Oysters taste fantastic. Raw, steamed, roasted, or fried, they all have their place. Their appeal goes beyond flavor, though. Oysters function as a keystone species, building and sustaining reef habitat that supports many fish and plant species. Every oyster also filters 50-60 gallons of water each day, helping improve water quality.
North Carolina’s shellfish industry contributes more than $27 million annually to the state’s economy and supports over 530 North Carolinians. Farmed oysters account for just over half of that value. Unlike wild-caught oysters, farmed oysters can be enjoyed throughout the entire year. For oyster lovers, both wild and farmed varieties are worth eating.
People who appreciate oysters, including the author, helped create the NC Oyster Trail in 2020. The Trail is administered by North Carolina Sea Grant and North Carolina Coastal Federation in partnership with the NC Shellfish Growers Association, along with many oyster fans and volunteers. It highlights distinctive tourism experiences built around North Carolina oysters. Along the route are oyster farm tours; restaurants and markets serving or selling N.C. oysters; artists who work with oyster shells; and aquariums, museums, and educational centers where visitors can learn about the oyster.
In the Outer Banks, the Trail features five oyster farms: Cape Hatteras Oyster Company, Slash Creek Oysters, and Sticky Bottom Oysters on Hatteras Island; Savage Inlet Oysters just south of Nags Head; and Ocracoke Mariculture on Ocracoke Island. Some farms welcome visitors for boat-based tours of their operations, while others provide oysters to local restaurants or sell directly to oyster eaters.
Area restaurants included on the NC Oyster Trail are Blue Water Grill & Raw Bar in Manteo; The Froggy Dog Restaurant & Pub in Avon; and Flying Melon Café, Howard’s Pub & Raw Bar, Plum Pointe Kitchen, and Ocracoke Oyster Company on Ocracoke Island. These restaurants serve creative oyster dishes daily and offer both wild-caught and farmed oysters. Travelers moving between Hatteras and Ocracoke Village have two ways to make the trip: the express passenger ferry or the car ferry. Ferry schedules and additional details are available through the ferry information referenced by the source page.
Other organizations on the NC Oyster Trail include the Dare County Arts Council, whose supported artists bring oysters and other ocean and marine themes into their work. Outer Banks Adventures takes guests across shallow waters by airboat to visit active oyster beds and oyster reefs. North Carolina Coastal Federation maintains an oyster farm demonstration and living shorelines site in Wanchese, where visitors can also learn tips for protecting North Carolina’s coast and marine environment. At Hatteras Island Ocean Center, guests can explore oyster exhibits, launch a kayak to experience wetlands and coastal forest, or attend special programs and events related to the coast.
The Trail’s website, NCOysterTrail.org, offers more ideas for oyster-focused adventures. Visitors can build an entire day around oysters or spend just a few hours on the experience: taking an oyster tour, enjoying a memorable meal, or purchasing oysters to cook at home. North Carolina oysters offer flavors shaped by the coast itself: buttery, creamy, sweet, salty, and zesty, with a taste that can’t be beat.
Author
John Griffin
Chicamacomico Historical Lifesaving-Station Executive Director