One of the best parts of vacation for me is getting out of the kitchen. I love cooking, but two weeks of limited meal planning is nice. Yesterday, the man we rent the house from emailed the hubby to ask if we had any new restaurant recommendations for his guests. That reminded me that I never posted my Top 5 Restaurants on the Outer Banks list. While there are tons of restaurants we haven't tried yet, there are some that we make a point to visit every year because they are worth it. Many are open all year round too.
The picture above is from our favorite Outer Banks eating place--Miller's Waterfront Restaurant. Located at MP 16 on Highway 158 in Nags Head, they serve lunch and dinner. You'll find a diverse selection of appetizers, salads, seafood, meats, burgers, sandwiches, and pasta. Their food is amazing, and I have never had a bad meal in all the years we've visited--which are many.
Must try appetizers are: a Basket of Miller's Famous Hushpuppies and Loaded Nachos.
From Memorial Day thru Labor Day they have live entertainment on the pier. In addition, they have a generous and value priced kid's menu. I would put them at the mid-price range for local restaurants. All seats have a view of the water, and you can stroll down the pier to watch the sun set. They have a bar that is located at one end of the restaurant. Miller's is definitely a family friendly place.
My recommendations for lunch:
Chili Cheeseburger
Surf & Turf Platter
Chicken Rhody
My recommendations for dinner:
Outer Banks Shrimp (Broiled)
Broiled Fisherman's Platter
Ribeye Steak
Hurricane Irene ended Miller's tourist season early in 2011, but they reopened this spring and continue to offer quality food and service. For a shot of the new interior, you can visit their gallery. You can like them on Facebook.
2) Big Al's Soda Fountain & Grill in Manteo
Stepping into Big Al's Soda Fountain & Grill is like walking into an episode of Happy Days. There might not be any carhops, but there is a ton of great food and fun in this 1950s theme restaurant. Coca-Cola memorabilia, a dance floor, jukebox, and gift shop complement the spacious dining area and soda fountain counter where you are waited on by an actual soda jerk.
Soups, appetizers, and an extensive offering of salads get you started before your main course. Burgers, sandwiches, entrees and blue plates fill you up, while fountain drinks, malts, and shakes quench your thirst. Be sure to leave room, though, for one of their scrumptious desserts. Their kids menu includes several choices, including PB&J, burgers and dogs, seafood, and pasta.
This is another restaurant where the quality is consistent. In the three years we've visited Big Al's, no one has ever left disappointed. Their onion rings are out of this world. I don't care how much food I've eaten, I can always make room for some of those rings. Their Hot Fudge Brownie Sundae is to die for. The Lil Diva's (11) favorite: Peanut Butter Pie.
My recommendations:
Philly Cheesesteak
Classic Chicken Sandwich
Fish & Chips (blue plate)
While I'm not big on shakes and floats, the Lil Princess recommends their Orange Creamsicle.
Big Al's is due to be featured on The Food Network’s Diner’s, Drive-Ins and Dives with Guy Fieri. You can like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.
3) The Kill Devil Grill in Kill Devil Hills
Located at MP 9 3/4 on the Beach Road, The Kill Devil Grill blends history with great service and fabulous food. Featuring daily specials, they are open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday. Salads, appetizers, burgers, sandwiches, and entrees make up the lunch menu, with fewer burger/sandwich options and increased entree options for dinner. The dessert menu is the same for each sitting, and they also offer a standard kids menu for those 10 and under. The kids menu features two platters for dinner. In addition to fountain beverages, coffee, and tea, they have a plentiful wine list.
The Kill Devil Grill's strength is definitely its customer service. Their staff is pleasant even when the dining room is jam-packed. The restaurant is fronted by a 1939 Kullman dining car, and is one of only six diners in the national registry of historic buildings. There is counter-type seating in the dining car, along with a couple of tables. A few steps down brings you into the main dining area. The grill is visible from some of the seating, which my girls find very neat (they are big into cooking shows these days).
The food is delicious. In the years we've been visiting, I've tried everything from daily specials to a chicken sandwich to pork chops. They are a cheaper dinner alternative to other sit down restaurants, so families can eat out without breaking the bank. That also means they are busy during peak times. They offer a game outside on their front lawn for those waiting to be seated. You can catch a glimpse of the game in their photo gallery (14th photo).
I have two challenges with The Kill Devil Grill. Their parking lot is way too small for the amount of business they do. Often times, we can't find a spot to park. So, when we know we want to eat there, we usually make a point of eating earlier or later than peak times. The other is that they run out of daily specials. While I'm sure that's not unique in the restaurant business--especially in a tourist area, it happens often enough here that I usually stick with regular menu items.
My recommendations:
The Big Kahuna Burger
BBQ Chicken (salad)
Center Cut Pork Chop (dinner only)
And you must try their Apple Crisp. Even my husband, who has great self-control when it comes to sweets, can't resist it.
You can like The KDG on Facebook.
4) Outer Banks Brewing Station in Kill Devil Hills
It's hard to miss the Outer Banks Brewing Station as you drive along Route 158. There is extensive information about the beginning of the OBBS and the building's design and construction on their website, but I have to tell you, to me it has always looked like a church turned into a restaurant. The history behind the restaurant and its founders is fascinating reading, however, so make sure you check it out. It makes you realize how ordinary people do extraordinary things. The OBBS also has the honor of being the first wind powered brewery in the United States. The founders are conscious about the environment, and it's another reason I like visiting.
The building is two floors, with the first floor visible from some of the second story seating. They have Ladies Night on Wednesday, and live entertainment multiple times a week. They also offer brunch on Saturdays and Sunday from 11:30 AM to 4:00 PM.
The Outer Banks Brewing Station has a substantial menu that includes steamers, soups, salads, burgers, sandwiches, seafood, pizza, and entrees. They also offer vegetarian selections. Their kids menu is the best I've seen so far on the Outer Banks, offering standard items, but also appetizers like soft pretzels with honey mustard dipping sauce and edamame (steamed soy bean), and a 4 oz. Filet Mignon entree. Their bar lunch menu is well-priced. Dinner prices run from $15.99 to $30.99, with some local items at market price.
I'm not a beer drinker, but this year the OBBS was awarded the Bronze Medal at The World Beer Cup 2012 for their Vitis Reductus Weisse, which is a German style sour ale.
The one thing to remember if you decide to visit is that it's loud. With the first floor partially open to the upstairs, noise travels. You won't be having intimate, romantic dinner conversations. On the up side, if your child is being a bit of a crank or screaming bloody murder, no one except your closest neighbors will know.
We've only visited for dinner, so my recommendations are based upon that.
My recommendations:
Crabcakes
The Petite Filet
George's Pasta
Their Chocolate Lava Cake is second to none.
They are located at MP 8 1/2. You can like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.
5) Thai Room in Kill Devil Hills
This July, we visited the Thai Room Restaurant & Bar for the first time. When my hubby's friend asked us to make a recommendation to his guests, this is the restaurant I thought of. Not only because it was fresh in my mind, but also because it's one of those diamond in a rough places. If you drove by it, you might not think of stopping there. It's tucked away in the corner of a little plaza on the Beach Road at MP 8 1/2.
Open for lunch and dinner, the Thai Room is a delicious, affordable dining option. It features tables in the center aisle and booths on each side. This restaurant is not huge, but the portions sure are. My girls and I had more than enough to take home and have a second meal. Offering soups, appetizers, entrees, and combination platters, they also have a small children's menu with seafood, poultry or meat options.
I have eaten a great deal of Thai food over the years, and I can tell you without a doubt that this is the best I have ever had. If I could move the Thai Room to Western Massachusetts, I would do it in a heartbeat. The staff is very pleasant and eager to help.
The only thing I can say I didn't care for is how much stuff was crammed into the tiny space. When you enter the small lobby, you're crowded by the overloaded gift shop. We sat at one end of the dining area, which was near a hanging rack of clothes, which appeared to be for sale. Then there was some type of backroom behind us that really should have been closed off. The decor is very nice, but the overall atmosphere was a bit lacking because of so much jammed into a small space.
We only visited once, so my recommendations are limited.
My recommendations:
Wonton Soup
General Tao Chicken
Sesame Chicken
