Nags Head Restaurants

I happen to think the best review you can afford any establishment is one where you would likely become a "regular" if this restaurant or pub happened to be in your hometown... And so it is for the Red Drum! Can you tell already? I liked it!

The Red Drum is not a large place and so you may encounter a wait depending upon the number in your group, but in my opinion it is worth the wait. Especially if you can be patient enough to wait at the bar and sample the 18 or so micro-brews on tap! Hence, Taphouse. Should you have to wait, there is a game room with pool tables, games, and a relaxing place to sit if you choose not to belly-up to the bar!

We first visited Red Drum for our first excursion for FOOD outside of our abode in Nags Head. This was a Sunday evening and we had to wait about 45 minutes for tables, but we were a group of 12, including the little ones. Having some experience in waiting, I immediately headed for the bar, soon to be joined by Tom and Michael who unlike myself, had familial responsibilities. Still, they displayed amazing speed and skill at freeing themselves and joining me!

I should mention the Red Drum was only 8 or 10 blocks away from our house and on my last evening I walked there and had a great experience with the staff and some wings and some Yuengling's!

Favorite Dish: Green for Green Light! Go on Green! And so it is for my review of the Red Drum Taphouse. I think it deserves more recognition for its food, but there is a certain appeal for good brews, too! Speaking of which, there were some interesting selections and samples were freely provided. I decided to stick with my preferred Yuengling Lager (on tap!) but there was an interesting Raspberry brew that was almost like a sparkling wine and very refreshing... but not for a REAL BEER MAN, right?

My dinner selection was the Seafood Jumbalaya and it was plentiful, spicy and good! Everyone in our crowd seemed to enjoy the food as did I. If you wonder what is available, your humble server will provide a menu for you here... just click and drool! Red Drum Menu!

A Special Note: In this area directions are given by mile markers... The Red Drum is located on the Beach Road between markers 10 & 11. The Beach Road is the one closest to the beach but a couple of blocks off of Hwy. 158. Like many other local establishments, it closes at the end of November and reopens the first of March. Check it Out!

Sam & Omies' motto is "Always believe in something...I believe I'll go fishing" (from Thereau) AND, it's printed on their T-shirts- which you HAVE to HAVE!!!
Of course, they have the best and freshest seafood imaginable - local fisherman bring it by on a daily basis. The soft shell crabs in the spring (around Mother's Day) are to die for. They always have a "specials board" which is a black chalk board behind the bar - look there for their daily breakfast, lunch and dinner specials. Always great, and famous, is their she-crab soup. You must try it. You will always find a bunch of the locals sitting at the "family table" in the large round corner table opposite the front door. There is always someone sitting there eating or just having a glass of wine - especially around 5 o'clock!
On Sunday morning everyone is there for their Eggs Benedict! I always try to walk the mile to the restaurant so I can rationize having this fabulous breakfast!!!
Eat Where the Locals Eat....Sam & Omies.
PS - Help celebrate their 50th anniversay next year!

Favorite Dish: Eggs Benedict for breakfast, Fresh caught tuna salad for lunch, and any of their fresh fish dinners!

A great eat-in option, especially when you rent a house & want to eat 'at home,' is to stop by Dirty Dick's Crab House and pick up an order or 2. It's quick and decently priced. They also have a selection of souvenir t-shirts, boxers, and the like available for purchase.

WARNING: If your mom is anything like mine, and EVEN if you're in your 30's, you may NOT be able to wear your new t-shirt in her presence. Go find out why!!! :)

Favorite Dish: Crab, of course!

We never ate here, but I understand the Awful Arthur's folks have carried out the alliteration theme when they named Bad Barracudas.

midget (who is a local in Nag's Head) writes: A little advice about restaurants in tourist areas, if its got a stupid or catchy name it probably sucks. Like A**hole Andys or Barefoot Bernies

Bad Barracuda's is open year-round, serving dinner nightly and lunch on the weekends

We never ate here, because we always went past at a non-meal time, and didn't want to drive all the way down here at mealtime.

Favorite Dish: According to the Restaurant Insider, they have ..any type of seafood you might be craving, plus clam chowder, seafood gumbo, lobster bisque, salads, pastas, and a variety of hearty dinner entrees. If you're looking for bar food and sandwiches, you won't be disappointed:

3 more images

We didn't eat anywhere in Nags Head, because we weren't here at a time we wanted to eat.

Restaurants we saw included:

Outer Banks Steak House
4913 S. Croatan Hwy Nags Hd
US 158, MP 14 1/2, Nags Head
(252) 449-4448

The Dunes Restaurant (second photo)
7013 S. Croatan Hwy Nags Head
441-1600
http://www.thedunesrestaurant.com/dunes_dinner.asp

"All dinners are served with our All-You-Can-Eat Salad Bar, Hushpuppies and choice of one of the following: Baked Potato, Baked Sweet Potato, French Fries, Rice or Vegetable Of The Day."

Favorite Dish: Windmill Point Restaurant (3rd photo) This was the best I was able to do for a photograph of this restaurant which always seemed to come up when I didn't have the camera ready. I wanted to get a picture of the windmill. We have not eaten there. I thought it looked too fancy. Their menus on the internet have no prices.

3022 S. Croatan Hwy Nags Head Hwy 158
252-441-1535
Located at MP 16.5 on Hwy 158 in Nags Head.
http://www.windmillpointrestaurant.com/

Great Atlantic Grill (4th photo)
This is another year round place that we didn't get to. It seems to be both a casual place, and one that can be booked for wedding receptions.

2114 S. Croatan Hwy Nags Head, NC 27959
(252) 480-0035
Fax: (252) 480-0245
http://www.gotgag.com/index.html
Milepost 10 on the Big Road in Nags Head

This is a regular Outback Steakhouse - I haven't eaten here, but I assume it is like other Outback Steakhouses.

Hours of Operation
Mon-Thur: 4-10
Fri: 4-11
Sat: 3-11
Sun: 2-9:30

Favorite Dish: Some of the things I like are:

Aussie Cheese Fries
Aussie chips topped with Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheeses and bacon, served with spicy ranch dressing

Prime Minister's Prime Rib
A tempting, 16-ounce cut, 12-ounce cut or 8-ounce cut oven roasted slowly

Ribs On The Barbie
Mouth-watering baby back ribs, smoked and grilled, with Aussie chips and cinnamon apples

Sydney's Sinful Sundae®
'Ava go at it. Vanilla ice cream rolled in toasted coconut, covered in chocolate sauce and topped with whipped cream

Large seafood buffet featuring shrimp, scallops, tuna, crab legs, plus some landlubber fare as well. Skip the salad, dive right into the dinner! Atmosphere/decor wasn't the greatest, but that's not why you go there. They accept reservations, and the buffet was reasonably priced with children's pricing.

Favorite Dish: Stuffed flounder was great!

A must. Excellent seafood, fun atmosphere. Numerous crab and shrimp dishes, a steamer menu, plus some landlubber fare. Look for Dick in all of the photos hanging on the walls, and grab a famous T-shirt on your way out. Two locations, plus a carry out store.

Favorite Dish: The best hush puppies we've ever eaten. Now, we're from the Northeast, so we haven't eaten all that many, but these were good!