Manteo’s many family-friendly restaurants have menus with items to delight both adventurous and more selective eaters in your crew. Discover a new favorite type of seafood in delicious preparations of fresh catches, or stick with tried-and-true favorites in the form of fried shrimp baskets. While seafood is definitely a key player among Manteo restaurants, families can also pick up an assortment of pizza pies from pizzerias or generously stuffed sandwiches at cafes and delis, or for a memorable dining experience, take a step back to the 1950s by grabbing a burger and milkshake at a retro diner.
Featured for Your Visit
American & Family Oriented in Manteo, NC
521 S. U.S. Highway 64, Manteo
Darrell’s is a family-style seafood restaurant that’s a locals' favorite and has been operated by the Daniels family for more than five decades. It dates back to 1960 when Darrell Daniels started the Polar Bear Drive-In. When the second generation came on board in 1972, the family changed the focus to a seafood restaurant and renamed it Darrell's Seafood Restaurant. Now the third generation is working here. Seafood is still the specialty, and locals know that Darrell’s does seafood right. The fried oysters, served with the traditional fixings of coleslaw, French fries and hush puppies, are widely touted as the best anywhere. The blackened tuna over black beans and rice is both healthy and delicious. Land food, children’s fare and light dishes are also available. Darrell's also has a wood-fired grill for barbecue. Helpings are heaping, and the desserts are delicious, if you have room. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served Monday through Saturday.
Darrell’s is a family-style seafood restaurant that’s a locals' favorite and has been operated by the Daniels family for more than five decades. It dates back to 1960 when Darrell Daniels started the Polar Bear Drive-In. When the second generation came on board in 1972, the family changed the focus to a seafood restaurant and renamed it Darrell's Seafood Restaurant. Now the third generation is...read more
Darrell’s is a family-style seafood restaurant that’s a locals' favorite and has been operated by...read more
7623 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head/Manteo Causeway, Nags Head
This Outer Banks landmark restaurant at the top of many locals’ lists of favorite places. The service is genuinely friendly, and the portions are more than generous. You’ll enjoy views of Roanoke Sound on both sides of the restaurant, including nightly sunsets. They feature only local, fresh North Carolina seafood that comes in whole and is cleaned in their state-certified fish-cleaning house, located onsite. They also serve local produce, all-natural chicken, vegetarian dishes, pasta and USDA Angus steaks. Their dedication to freshness includes their own herb and vegetable garden as well as their own crab shedders. Their wine room features thousands of bottles of wine and accompanies a roomy bar area where you can order from a bar menu, a tapas menu or the full restaurant menu. Their special occasion buffets – Easter, Thanksgiving, Mother's Day, Father's Day – are hugely popular, and they also offer on- and off-premise catering for any size or type of event. In season, Lone Cedar Cafe serves dinner Tuesday through Sunday (closed Mondays), Sunday brunch and lunch at the food truck in the parking lot Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you want a quick and delicious lunch, the Lone Cedar Cafe food truck is your ticket for local seafood sandwiches, fish boats and more (the daily menu is posted on Facebook). Lone Cedar Cafe closes between New Year's and Valentine's Day every year. Call for off-season hours.
This Outer Banks landmark restaurant at the top of many locals’ lists of favorite places. The service is genuinely friendly, and the portions are more than generous. You’ll enjoy views of Roanoke Sound on both sides of the restaurant, including nightly sunsets. They feature only local, fresh North Carolina seafood that comes in whole and is cleaned in their state-certified fish-cleaning house, located onsite. They...read more
This Outer Banks landmark restaurant at the top of many locals’ lists of favorite places....read more
American & Family Oriented in Manteo, NC
908 U.S. Highway 64, Manteo
If you love authentic pit-cooked eastern North Carolina barbecue, this is your place. On Highway 64 close to the Dare County Government Complex, Carolina Bar-B-Que Company serves house-smoked barbecue sandwiches or plates with slaw, potato salad, house-cut fries and hushpuppies. Owner and chef Mike Weaver also offers smoked chicken, burgers, Nathan's hot dogs, fried shrimp, clam strips, flounder and Brunswick stew. Wash it down with lemonade or tea, and finish it all off with a Deep-Fried Twinkie.
If you love authentic pit-cooked eastern North Carolina barbecue, this is your place. On Highway 64 close to the Dare County Government Complex, Carolina Bar-B-Que Company serves house-smoked barbecue sandwiches or plates with slaw, potato salad, house-cut fries and hushpuppies. Owner and chef Mike Weaver also offers smoked chicken, burgers, Nathan's hot dogs, fried shrimp, clam strips, flounder and Brunswick stew. Wash it down with...read more
If you love authentic pit-cooked eastern North Carolina barbecue, this is your place. On Highway...read more
American & Family Oriented in Manteo, NC
521 S. U.S. Highway 64, Manteo
Darrell’s is a family-style seafood restaurant that’s a locals' favorite and has been operated by the Daniels family for more than five decades. It dates back to 1960 when Darrell Daniels started the Polar Bear Drive-In. When the second generation came on board in 1972, the family changed the focus to a seafood restaurant and renamed it Darrell's Seafood Restaurant. Now the third generation is working here. Seafood is still the specialty, and locals know that Darrell’s does seafood right. The fried oysters, served with the traditional fixings of coleslaw, French fries and hush puppies, are widely touted as the best anywhere. The blackened tuna over black beans and rice is both healthy and delicious. Land food, children’s fare and light dishes are also available. Darrell's also has a wood-fired grill for barbecue. Helpings are heaping, and the desserts are delicious, if you have room. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served Monday through Saturday.
Darrell’s is a family-style seafood restaurant that’s a locals' favorite and has been operated by the Daniels family for more than five decades. It dates back to 1960 when Darrell Daniels started the Polar Bear Drive-In. When the second generation came on board in 1972, the family changed the focus to a seafood restaurant and renamed it Darrell's Seafood Restaurant. Now the third generation is...read more
Darrell’s is a family-style seafood restaurant that’s a locals' favorite and has been operated by...read more
American & Family Oriented in Manteo, NC
208 Queen Elizabeth Avenue, Manteo
For locally brewed beers and perfectly accompanying British pub-style cuisine, head to Lost Colony Tavern in downtown Manteo. The tavern offers a wide range of dishes for all tastes, ranging from British favorites like Welsh Rarebit, Fish & Chips, Scotch Eggs, Bangers & Mash and Cottage Pie to burgers, salads crab cakes and shrimp and grits. The Full Moon Crab Dip from this restaurant's predecessor is, blessedly, still on the menu. There's a kids' menu as well. They serve the award-winning beers of Lost Colony Brewery in Stumpy Point along with wine and cocktails. Take a seat at one of the umbrella-covered outdoor tables on a warm day or night or sit inside in the intimate restaurant with a similar view of the streetscape. The outside terrace is dog friendly. The tavern is open for lunch and dinner; call for hours. Dinner reservations are accepted. Live acoustic music and trivia nights are popular here.
For locally brewed beers and perfectly accompanying British pub-style cuisine, head to Lost Colony Tavern in downtown Manteo. The tavern offers a wide range of dishes for all tastes, ranging from British favorites like Welsh Rarebit, Fish & Chips, Scotch Eggs, Bangers & Mash and Cottage Pie to burgers, salads crab cakes and shrimp and grits. The Full Moon Crab Dip from this restaurant's predecessor is,...read more
For locally brewed beers and perfectly accompanying British pub-style cuisine, head to Lost Colony Tavern...read more
American & Family Oriented in Manteo, NC
207 Queen Elizabeth Avenue, Manteo
Acai bowls and fresh-pressed juice in Manteo? Yes, it's true! Roanoke Island Market is the place for coffee, juice, smoothies, toasts, salads, paninis, acai bowls and fresh-baked goods and bread in downtown Manteo. If you're familiar with the tasty, healthy offerings at Freshfit Cafe in Nags Head, you'll be glad to know that this is a sister restaurant from the same owners. Roanoke Island Market offers outdoor seating on the patio or indoor seating with an awesome view of Shallowbag Bay and the Manteo waterfront. Also located in this space is Poodles and Bob, a pop-up store with all the things you need (and want) for your dog friends. You'll find it in the Waterfront Shops, one level up from the street.
Acai bowls and fresh-pressed juice in Manteo? Yes, it's true! Roanoke Island Market is the place for coffee, juice, smoothies, toasts, salads, paninis, acai bowls and fresh-baked goods and bread in downtown Manteo. If you're familiar with the tasty, healthy offerings at Freshfit Cafe in Nags Head, you'll be glad to know that this is a sister restaurant from the same owners. Roanoke Island Market...read more
Acai bowls and fresh-pressed juice in Manteo? Yes, it's true! Roanoke Island Market is the...read more
American & Family Oriented in Manteo, NC
1100-A S. Bay Club Drive, Manteo
Stripers has a great waterfront location at Shallowbag Bay Marina, and they offer plenty of opportunities to enjoy the water views. You can eat on the screened-in deck, on the outdoor patio, in the first-floor bar or in the second-floor restaurant. The views get better the higher you go. Stripers menu includes fresh local seafood, steaks, sandwiches, burgers, salads, pastas and appetizers. The seafood is guaranteed fresh, as the owner has good connections with local fishermen. Some favorites on the menu include lobster bisque, oyster stew, crab dip, crab cakes, cheese-steak egg rolls and sliders. Small and large portion sizes are available. Stripers offers a happy hour with half-price steamed shrimp and crab legs every day from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., and they have a full liquor license and offer beer, wine and mixed drinks. It's open every day for lunch and dinner, with no break between the two. On Sundays they open at 11 a.m. for brunch. In the summer months they offer live music on the weekends. Take-out and catering are available. To find Stripers, turn off Highway 64 in Manteo behind McDonald's.
Stripers has a great waterfront location at Shallowbag Bay Marina, and they offer plenty of opportunities to enjoy the water views. You can eat on the screened-in deck, on the outdoor patio, in the first-floor bar or in the second-floor restaurant. The views get better the higher you go. Stripers menu includes fresh local seafood, steaks, sandwiches, burgers, salads, pastas and appetizers. The seafood is...read more
Stripers has a great waterfront location at Shallowbag Bay Marina, and they offer plenty of...read more
American & Family Oriented in Manteo, NC
Blue Water Grill & Raw Bar is the sister restaurant to another Outer Banks favorite, Blue Moon Beach Grill, located in Nags Head. Blue Water Grill is a family-owned restaurant at Pirate's Cove Marina, giving it a prime location with fantastic views of the marina, sound and marsh. Their menu is interestingly varied and changes seasonally. Oysters hailing from local, regional and national waters are the specialty at the raw...
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American & Family Oriented in Manteo, NC
This friendly neighborhood takeout restaurant is a Roanoke Island favorite for delicious New York-style, hand-tossed pizzas that are loaded with toppings. They also serve appetizers, wings, cheese steaks, salads deli sandwiches, paninis, burgers, salads and delicious desserts like Hershey Bar cake and cheesecake. Garden is open for lunch and dinner every day except Sunday. Call ahead or order online for take-out. Or have your order delivered...read more
American & Family Oriented in Wanchese, NC
Lunch at this deli is worth a trip to Wanchese, whether you go by car or by boat. The name comes from what the locals call a water feature near here. The deli offers fine meats and cheeses for a variety of sandwiches, but the real appeal is owner Annie Davis’s homemade cooking. You can never go wrong with one of her daily specials or...read more
American & Family Oriented in Manteo, NC
The Hungry Pelican is known and loved for its fresh deli sandwiches and superb baked goods. In their location on Budleigh Street, beside the Pioneer Theater, the restaurant serves made-to-order sandwiches, salads and kids' fare along with hand-dipped ice cream and baked goods. They now offer Surfin' Spoon ice cream sandwiches too! With a big range of lunch choices, it's a great place to pick...read more
American & Family Oriented in Manteo, NC
Jersey Mike’s is known nationwide for its fresh sliced deli meats and grilled subs. Visit their locally owned and operated locations in Nags Head and Southern Shores seven days a week year round to dine in or grab some great food to go. The local franchises of Jersey Mike's are owned by locals who are very generous in the Outer Banks community.read more
American & Family Oriented in Manteo, NC
You know the familiar golden-arched brand with a reputation for long providing the nation with hamburgers, chicken nuggets, french fries and other fast-food classics. McDonald's has a few locations on the Outer Banks, so you're never too far from a Big Mac when the craving strikes. Their convenient placement along the highway also makes stopping by easy and takes no time out of reaching your...read more
