Executive Chef offers a seasonal menu. This fine dining restaurant offers white linen table cloths and real china! Reservations are encouraged, especially if you want to be there for the sunset view, as the restaurant only seats 50. 39450 N.C. Highway 12, Avon (252) 995-3800 http://www.hatterasguide.com/lp/coastalbluedining/index.htm
Dinky's serves dinner only year-round. The fare is traditional American with a creative flair and includes local fresh seafood, beef, poultry, appetizers and lots of specials. Families are welcome, the restaurant is non-smoking. http://www.hatterasguide.com/lp/dinkys/dinkysrestaurant.htm
It might sound like a simple seafood shack, but Dirty Dick's is actually a nice restaurant with a fun-loving atmosphere and seriously good food. The menu pays homage to New Orleans and Louisiana cuisine, with dishes such as seafood gumbo, jambalaya and Po Boys, but it also offers a vast array of classic seafood favorites, including the biggest variety of crab preparations we've ever seen. Steaks, chicken, pork, burgers, ribs, salads, unusual sides and appetizers and sandwiches round out the offerings. Dirty Dick's is right next to Avon Pier. There's also a location in Hatteras Village. Check out their popular T-shirts and other merchandise. 41001 N.C. Highway 12, Avon (252) 995-3708 http://www.hatterasguide.com/lp/dirtydicks/dirtydicksrestaurant.htm
Down Under is a longtime favorite family restaurant on northern Hatteras Island. Adventurous eaters might want to try the Australian specialties, including kangaroo burgers and Aussie-inspired sandwiches. But Down Under is really known for its seafood. The menu also includes chicken, pasta, steaks and kids' offerings. The view of the sound and sunsets is fantastic, and large parties are welcome. It's open for lunch and dinner.
If you want fresh seafood, this is about as close as you can get. Fish House is in a former fish house right on Buxton Harbor, where fishing boats unload their catches. You get fabulous water views, a cheerful atmosphere and good eats. Now owned and operated by the Oden family, with well-known local restaurateur Tracy Callahan at the helm, Fish House has a new menu with updated offerings of fresh, healthy food. The appetizer menu, which is available for lunch and dinner, features creative offerings such as tuna tacos, spinach/artichoke-stuffed mushrooms, blue crab bruschetta and the Fish House's famous seafood crostini. For lunch try one of the New Orleans-style po'boys, a fried seafood basket or one of the $6.99 home-style lunch specials (think liver and onions, hamburger steak, fish cakes). Healthy side dishes offer an alternative to fries. For dinner there is steamed or fried seafood, potato chip-encrusted crab cakes with red pepper aioli, steaks, pastas, vegetarian offerings and innovative chef's specials every night. 48962 N.C. Highway 12, Buxton (252) 995-5151 http://www.hatterasguide.com/lp/fishhouserestaurant/index.htm
Mack Daddy's specializes in fine coastal cuisine in a homey, cottage-like atmosphere that welcomes the whole family for a casual supper. Chef Seth Foutz has an appreciation for local ingredients and all-natural foods; he features fresh fish, shellfish and produce and makes everything by hand, never using processed or prepackaged foods. Specialties of the house include shrimp and grits, crab cakes, creative quesadillas, game fish specials and prime steaks. The menu, which changes four or five times a year, also includes chicken, duck, pork, pasta, a vegetarian option, homemade soups and desserts, a children's menu and beer and wine. It's open for dinner only from late spring to late fall. A separate dining room can accommodate large parties and special events, and catering is available. N.C. Highway 12, Avon (252) 995-5060
Pop's is frequented by a lot of locals -- a sign that the seafood meets local standards of excellence. Across from Buxton Harbor, Pop's specializes in steamed seafood, including shrimp, clams, oysters and crab legs. They also have more hearty fare, like burgers, subs, barbecue, seafood platters and a lot more. They're open for lunch and dinner year-round, and they sometimes close on Sundays so call ahead. N.C. Highway 12, Buxton (252) 995-7734
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