For such small towns, Southern Shores and Duck, NC, restaurants have some pretty sophisticated dining options.
Whether you want pizza delivery or upscale cuisine matched with a Wine Spectator award-winning wine list, you’ll find what you’re looking for. Most Duck, NC, restaurants, like so many of the Outer Banks restaurants, stick to American fare, with an emphasis on seafood. That doesn’t mean there aren’t creative chefs in Duck, NC; you’ll find some very innovative preparations of seafood, meats, fresh produce and traditional ingredients. Southern Shores restaurants include a couple of chains (ever heard of a little place called Starbucks?), a great pizza place and a wonderful gourmet foods market/cafe.
Duck, NC, restaurants can boast of three of the top food and wine destinations on the Outer Banks. You can sip coffee in a front porch rocker, have a romantic dinner with a sound view, savor wine under a canopy of live oaks, eat al fresco while listening to jazz, catch sports on a bar TV, grab a slice of pizza, lick ice cream while feeding ducks or take the whole family out for a seafood dinner.
Visiting Duck, NC, Restaurants
In the summer, when there are way more people than there are seats at Duck, NC, restaurants, you may want to eat out early or late or make a reservation (where possible). The least crowded nights at the restaurants in Duck and Southern Shores are, maybe surprisingly, Friday and Saturday nights. That’s because of scheduled arrivals and departures at the vacation rental companies. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are typically the busiest nights in the summer, local restaurateurs say. In the off-season, eating out in Duck, NC, is much more relaxed and accessible. Some restaurants close in the dead of winter, but there is always something open. Several Southern Shores and Duck, NC, restaurants are now staying open year round. Both towns have full ABC permits, so you can order beer, wine or liquor at restaurants that have those options.
Duck Restaurants by Location or Category
The Blue Point established Duck as an Outer Banks dining destination when it opened in 1989 and has since put the tiny town on the foodie map. The
...read moreWith Hershey's Ice Cream, Dole Whip Soft Serve, Dippin' Dots and frozen yogurt, BLVD Ice Cream Co. creates a huge range of cold and creamy treats. Stop in...read more
Buffalo City Distillery is a state-of-the-art craft distillery just minutes from the beaches across the Wright Memorial Bridge. They produce premium...read more
For anyone on vacation or in the middle of a busy week, it’s not always an easy or quick endeavor to take a break to plan for dinner, shop for groceries,...read more
Take a load off and let ClamBake OBX do some of the work of feeding your family! They'll bring the fun and excitement of an old-fashioned...read more
This open-air restaurant overlooking the sound is a fabulous place to enjoy a great sunset view, Tex-Mex food and drinks for lunch and dinner. Gather around...read more
Surprise someone with warm, fresh-baked cookies delivered to them anytime of the day, anywhere on the Outer Banks. Crumbls Cookies is a cookie-centric...read more
When you feel like cooking at home, Dockside has all the fresh seafood you’ll need for an Outer Banks feast. Live and steamed crabs, crabmeat, steamed...read more
As the owners of this dessert shop in Duck describe it, Donutz on a Stick brings the carnival to your mouth! Try out their namesake menu items – hot,...read more
When you’re in the mood for something different, Duck Deli offers a departure from the standard Outer Banks seafood menus. Barbecue is the specialty, and it...read more
Make a beeline for Duck Donuts where you will find warm, delicious and made-to-order donuts. Duck Donuts makes its donuts fresh on site, and you have the...read more