OBX Restaurants Featured on the Food Network
One of the best parts about visiting the Outer Banks is taking advantage of the many delicious restaurants and eateries that you’ll find while on vacation. There’s a wide variety of restaurants to choose from, from fine dining to fresh-of-the-boat seafood, from breweries to bakeries. But did you know that several restaurants here on the Outer Banks have actually been featured on the Food Network? In fact, 8 different Outer Banks restaurants have been featured on the Food Network for their outstanding customer service, their delicious recipes, and their unique flair that can only be found this close to the ocean. Keep reading below to find out more about these restaurants and how you can enjoy world-famous delights that chefs like Guy Fieri can’t get enough of the next time you’re in the area.
Tortuga’s Lie
MP11 on the Beach Road
3014 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head
Show: Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives
Episode: S0E20 - “Crazy for Chicken;” S16E12 - “Layers of Flavor”
Tortuga’s Lie, a fantastic locals’ favorite restaurant, has been serving up mouthwatering dishes with Caribbean flair in Nags Head since 1989. This shellfish bar and grill has been featured on not one, but two episodes of Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, both featuring their amazing Jamaican jerk chicken and Caribbean pork chops. They offer a wide variety of appetizers, lite fare, steamers, and entrees that offer a little bit of everything for everyone. Enjoy delicious fish tacos or a grilled fish and black bean burrito when you’re looking for something light but full of flavor or opt for shrimp skewer or a steamed Alaskan Snow Crab Legs and Clam combo when you’re looking for seafood that’ll keep you full until breakfast the next morning. Close to the ocean on the beach road and with two volleyball courts out back, you’ll find yourself coming back to Tortuga’s Lie again and again for the food, the atmosphere, and the always-friendly faces of their amazing staff.
Ortega’z Southwestern Grill and Wine Bar
201 Sir Walter Raleigh St., Manteo
Show: Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives
Episode: S16E4 - “Matches Made in Heaven”
Located in the heart of Downtown Manteo, the birthplace of America’s First English Child and famed hometown of Andy Griffith, Ortega’z Southwestern Grill and Wine bar specializes in southwestern fare with a casual, surfer twist. Guy Fieri on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives especially loved the Sauteed Tuna Fish Tacos while their Shrimp Chorizo Alfredo and Soft-Shell Crab Quesadilla are also delicious fan favorites. Be sure to grab some of their delicious starters like Crab Baked Macaroni and Cheese, Jalapeno Poppers, or Mojo Pork Nachos. Pick from their wide variety of delicious street tacos and for the adults in your group, try a delicious flavored margarita or martini.
The Black Pelican Oceanfront Restaurant
MP4 on the Beach Road
3848 N. Virginia Dare Trail, Kitty Hawk
Show: Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives
Episode: S16E7 - “Land to Sea”
A Kitty Hawk classic, The Black Pelican Oceanfront Restaurant is located in the building that once housed the historic Lifesaving Station #6, built in 1874. Now, it’s a delicious seaside restaurant that was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives for the Wanchese Fisherman’s Risotto and Citrus Chicken. Be sure to check out their Pelican’s Housemade Crab Cakes, Bacon Wrapped Sea Scallops, and Tuna Nagano, which is a delicious Cajun sesame seared chilled ahi tuna served very rare with Napa cabbage slaw, pickled ginger, soy, and wasabi. Enjoy the ocean nearby and take advantage of their comprehensive wine list, which boasts a selection of wines from all over the world and lets you delight in the finer tastes of global wines while partaking in the fresh Outer Banks seafood that Kitty Hawk is known for.
Outer Banks Brewing Station
600 S. Croatan Hwy, Kill Devil Hills
Show: Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives
Episode: S15E12 - “Pubs and Grub”
Since its conception, the Outer Banks Brewing Station has been a fundamental part of the community on the Outer Banks while serving as the location for amazing wind-powered brews, regular music nights, and seasonal events that keep everyone coming back for more. Guy Fieri on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives highlighted the Shrimp & Grits and the wide selection of craft beers, many of which are brewed in-house via wind turbine power at the first wind-powered brewery in the United States! In addition to their delectable brews, which can’t be beaten, they also offer a wide variety of delicious meals from the NC Pork BBQ Plate with NC vinegar-based BBQ sauce, pubwiches, and a selection of seafood that’s perfect to enjoy alongside a brilliant ale. And for those in your party who prefer to eat plant-based, be sure to check out their unbeatable Jackfruit Vegan Tacos, Veggie Chipotle Burger, or Power Portobello Salad topped with goat cheese, sunflower seeds, and a marinated portobello mushroom. The Outer Banks Brewing Station is an Outer Banks staple for a reason so be sure to stop by while you’re in town.
Weeping Radish Farm Brewery & Butchery
6810 Caratoke Hwy., Grandy
Show: Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives
Episode: S16, E5 - “Savory Sensations”
When Guy Fieri was in town and visited this classic NC farm-to-table restaurant, he enjoyed the fresh-cut meats and delicious drinks that make the Weeping Radish special. And while the Weeping Radish restaurant is currently closed for renovations, be sure to stop by the big red barn on your way to the beach Thursday through Sunday to pick up their unbeatable beers and fresh NC meats to-go! You can also grab a six-pack of their delicious brews at many locations on the Outer Banks, including at most Food Lions.
Coastal Cravings
1209 Duck Rd., Duck
Show: Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives
Episode: S16E3 - “Far Out”
Guy Fieri visited Coastal Cravings on his Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives episode featuring restaurants that do things a little bit differently than a normal restaurant and Coastal Cravings certainly fits that bill! Located in the heart of Duck, this full-scale, gourmet restaurant with a full bar and outdoor dining area sits next to one of the only gas stations in the area and is still the only drive-thru in the city of Duck! Stop by in the morning to enjoy a delicious Crabcake Sunrise Sandwich or Truffle Egg & Grits or in the evening for a gourmet dinner of Surf & Turf, Natural Filet Mignon, or an unbelievable Broiled Seafood Platter. If you’d rather cook things up yourself back home, stop by for a raw Seafood Pot To-Go, which features everything from oysters, to clams, to crab for you to steam yourself! They do the prep, all you have to do is steam it on the top of the stove and you can enjoy a world-famous seafood spectacular from the comfort of your own kitchen.
Tullio’s Bakery, formerly Tullios Pastry Shoppe
1187 Duck Rd., Duck
Show: Food Finds
Episode: S1E3 - “Outer Banks of NC”
This unbelievable family-owned Italian Bakery has been in business for more than 25 years serving up a wide variety of delicious baked goods and gorgeous cakes, wedding cakes, and cupcakes. Visitors to the Outer Bank are often thrilled to find amazing bagels, traditional eclairs, croissants, and a variety of sweets that will keep you coming back for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Be sure to get in line early as this bakery is one of the hot stops in Duck before breakfast and you definitely don’t want to miss out on their immaculate cinnamon rolls. And if you’re looking for lunch or dinner for the whole family, order one of their amazing pasta trays like Baked Ziti or Penne Alla Vodka or a Stuffed Bread with pepperoni, spinach, or sausage.
Scotch Bonnet Fudge & Gifts, formerly Scotch Bonnet Candies
51684 NC Hwy. 12, Frisco
Show: Food Finds
Episode: S1E3 - “Outer Banks of NC”
Named after the North Carolina State Seashell, this amazing candy, fudge, and gift shop is definitely the place to go for delicious fudge and candy on the Outer Banks. This awesome shop, which has been in business for over 60 years, was featured on the Food Network for its sweet, creamy fudge that comes in more than 20 flavors! From Bourbon Chocolate to Rocky Road, everyone will find something they like at The Scotch Bonnet. And while you’re there, don’t forget to pick up some dog cookies for your favorite pet friend, local homemade jams and jellies, or even beach-themed Christmas ornaments that make the perfect gift for all of your loved ones.
Explore our Outer Banks vacation rentals today and dine like a Food Network star during your next family vacation!
About the Author: Lauren is the author of two books and a travel enthusiast. She grew up on the Outer Banks and only left for a few years to get her degree at UNC-Chapel Hill and complete a tour in the Coast Guard before making her way back to the beach in 2017. The only thing Lauren loves more than writing is sharing her love of the Outer Banks and its rich history with visitors and locals alike. When she isn’t writing for the Seaside Vacations Travel Blog, Lauren can usually be found with a book and cup of tea in hand, planning her next travel adventure and trying to figure out what happened to the Lost Colony.
