6 Best Restaurants in The North Carolina Coast, North Carolina

The Outer Banks' first farm-to-table restaurant, this upscale foodie haven marries Southern roots with contemporary flair and Currituck Sound views. During its three decades of existence, the Blue Point has maintained a sustainably sourced menu with seafood, beef, and other dishes prepared to highlight their texture and flavor. Try the seared Outer Banks scallops with quinoa and turnips or the fish of the day. Next to the restaurant, the Back Bar (no reservation needed) offers a short menu, creative craft cocktails, and waterfront sitting areas.

Overlooking Pamlico Sound, this upscale bistro focuses squarely on locally sourced seafood, vegetables from the accompanying inn's garden, and friendly service by local staff. Among the favorites are shrimp and grits, grilled catch of the day, tuna ceviche, and crab cakes. There's a dedicated vegan menu, live music at least two nights a week, and a popular Sunday brunch.

On a prominent Market Street corner, chef Dean Neff's celebrated seafood-and-cocktail lounge lures diners in with wide windows, sparkling white tile, smooth wood chairs, and gold flourishes. The open kitchen fully delivers, from the selection of local raw oysters to the impossibly buttery swordfish schnitzel, served with lemon jam and a mustard emulsion. A comfortable bar and small dining room's throwback style invites leisurely meals lubricated by addictive concoctions that rotate with the seasons. The bar doubles as one of the city's best coffee shops in the morning and fills in on weekends for a brunch menu highlighted by fish and grits and a smoked cobia Benedict. 

Well known for its lunchtime sandwiches, salads, and gumbo, this quaint neighborhood bistro's dinner menu expands and goes upscale, with an emphasis on duck, pork, and local seafood. Seating expands from the bustling, black-and-white-checkered-floor dining room out onto the sidewalk.

There's a lot to love at this gorgeous three-story destination restaurant, from the blackened grouper that emerges from the open kitchen's wood-fired grill, to the sunset views, enjoyed with a signature mai tai on the appropriately named Sky Deck. The spiced pompano fish sandwich is a winner for lunch.  Order liberally from the small plates—amidst all the seafood of coastal North Carolina, this is the spot for next-level crab dip and calamari.

At Crystal Pier, this casual fine-dining destination lets you indulge in entrées like crab-stuffed salmon or a platter of Calabash seafood while sitting directly over the sand and watching surfers catch waves just steps away. Dishes are thoughtful—they're not solely relying on the view. Sunday brunch is particularly popular.