THE RESTAURANT: The restaurant was very busy the day we went, & it was off season. I'm thinking this is a good sign. The parking is a little hairy but I'm sure you can find a parking spot. Inside the tables have a tablecloth, kinda orange-red with a design. It's different, cool. Even though the place looks busy you are seated quickly. THE STAFF: The night we went, there was this guy & girl serving. Gosh they were quick! Holy moly! I was so impressed! FOOD: We got the special soup, curry sweet potato bisque. Oh man! I'm still salivating over that! It's enough to share! read more

My husband and I come to Ocracoke annually, and this year we thought we'd try a different place as our go-to was closed for the night. We came early for apps and drinks and were considering if we wanted to stay for our dinner meal too since the menu looked fantastic (and the ragu was eyeing me down!). It was surprisingly incredibly quiet with only a few of the porch tables taken, so we didn't feel like we were holding anyone up since it was quiet and early. While we were deciding on dinner, the waitress approached us and asked if we made our minds up. When saying we needed a minute but wanted to start with rolls and cocktails, she said, "well can I take your menus then? Or one?" Which felt odd given there weren't many people there at all and we still wanted to decide what apps a dinner to order. Otherwise, she hadn't checked back on us for another 30 minutes after ordering drinks and bread to start, so feeling like a nuisance, and we decided not to get dinner here anymore and we'd go elsewhere. Then, trying to wave the waitress down felt impossible almost as though she was avoiding our table, we had to ask another server for her to grab our check. Otherwise, the outside porch was perfect and shady with fans and airflow for a hot summer day. Very homey! The house made bread was absolutely fantastic. The French 75 was heavy handed on the gin, which can be both good and bad depending how you look at it! Worth the money for us! read more

Superb food and service! A true MUST DO when in Ocracoke. We will definitely be back!

We went in for an early anniversary dinner. We were seated right away on the porch. Water was brought immediately, with menu's and drink selections. I ordered the local catch of the day, bluefish. It was delicious. Dessert was blueberry/peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream. It was incredible! Our waitress, Lulu was excellent. Highly recommend the Back Porch! read more

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We have been fans of this restaurant for many years and we look forward to returning later this year! The food is exceptional as is the service!! read more

Everything was just fine. It insane in anyway, but solid. Food was well seasoned. Service was friendly. Just a good solid dinner.

A good variety of smaller and larger plates. We had a party of 6 and each person tried something different . Whether it's buttery scallops, shrimp and scallop red pepper fettuccine or lump crab everything was delicious! I tried the homemade spaghetti made with filet of mi gon . Our apps were the crab benginit and fried green tomatoes. Excellent service with Sherry! Try the sticky pudding for dessert you will not be disappointed! read more

Finally a nice person who works on the island! Cherri was our waitress and she is super. She made good recommendations and was attentive but not too attentive. I had the Wagyu burger, a little heavy on the blue cheese, but good none-the-less. Everyone else enjoyed their food too. We hit this place every time on the island and it never disappoints. read more

Outstanding restaurant off the beaten path. Extensive menu with something for everyone. We had the capers salad and bacon-wrapped scallops as an appetizer. Both were amazing. For dinner we had the flounder special which was moist and the brown-butter, lemon and caper sauce was the perfect accompaniment. The Pompano special was also delicious. Service was attentive and engaging. And the cute table in the corner was perfect for our dinner for two. read more

Our favorite restaurant on the Island, service and selection of food is outstanding. We return every year when we are on the island and Back Porch never disappoints. This past visit I ordered their seared Scallops-best I have ever had. read more

Of all our meals in Ocracoke this was the most disappointing. Our table felt tiny and cramped, my glass was dirty and had to be returned. When I lifted my napkin off the bread plate tiny ants were running around. One bright note was their okra martini- it was fabulous! The fabulous ended there though, I thought my scallops were okay although smaller in portion than expected, the ride was very dry, and the "fresh vegetables" were so over cooked they didn't seem to be fresh at all. Service was slow as well. My husband had fish and to be honest I don't remember which type- but he thought it was very bland. I may not have been quite so disappointed had we not read such great reviews prior to our visit, but sufficed to say they didn't live up to our expectations. read more

Back Porch Restaurant - Okra martini - Seafood Near Me - Ocracoke, North Carolina

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S. L. O. W. We put our name in for a table for 4 and we're told 30 minutes. Went to the bar to try to get a drink and gave up after 15 minutes waiting for someone to serve us. An hour and 15 minutes later we were finally seated. We waited another 10 minutes for our server to come to the table. We placed our orders and our food arrived exactly an hour after we were seated. In fairness, the meals were very good but we were so annoyed two hours and 15 minutes into this fiasco that nothing was going to make this a positive experience. Unfortunate because this place has the potential to be very good. read more

Highly recommend this place Good food and always fresh seafood.And the service was spot on. read more

Went on a Friday night and sat in the bar. The bartender did a great job keeping everything straight for a full room. She comped us on 2 items because she wasn't as timely as she hoped to be. Tuna Poke and fried Brussels sprout appetizers were awesome. Main course of horseradish encrusted salmon was well done. I'd recommend for future visitors. read more

Just not very good! Cute atmosphere and well known on the island, but the food is just mediocre. Cheri our waitstaff was lovely,but unfortunately the food was not. Won't be back. read more

Very good food, really great atmosphere, and kind and helpful staff! The menu had quite a few delectable options (we chose mostly seafood!) and the dessert menu also offered cobbler, flourless chocolate tarte, key lime pie, and more! Overall a great experience. Would go back and would recommend to friends! read more

Service was great/ our server was fun and social. In late September there was no wait and we had a table on the porch immediately. The service was quick and the food was hot. The mixed drinks were a healthy pour, and the food was tasty and hot. Highly recommend during the off season! read more

Good experience overall. Wait staff was great and it wasn't too busy. It would have been nice to have the option to sit in the ac, as my 90 year old grandmother was with me maybe we were supposed to ask but I'm not entirely sure. Food was good but not out of this world. Salmon was pretty good, however some of the squash was undercooked and a little hard. I brought leftovers home for my dog, he devoured the fish skin but spit out the squash even after I cut it up really small for him. Still a good experience overall. Definitely not my first choice on the island but is a solid choice. read more

Here's what you need to know about the Back Porch. I've been eating here going on seven years. It's always good, you always wait and it's always worth what you pay. It's not air conditioned, that's why they call it the Back Porch. They have fans in certain sections of the dining room. You will have to request one of those tables or wait. Their fish specials are always excellent. Try the sashimi tuna appetizer...a taste of wasabi with a hint of cilantro, excellent! Their wait staff is the best on the island, professional, efficient and friendly. You can bring your own bottle of wine but they charge you a $10 corkage fee. read more

Excelente food and ambiance! Our server was adorable and the bussers were helpful to the experience! read more

Back Porch Restaurant - a plate of shrimp, rice, and vegetables - Seafood Near Me - Ocracoke, North Carolina

My husband and I were in the mood for some light bites so we sat at the bar. We enjoyed their poke and Korean pork tacos. Both were absolutely fabulous. Wow! Both melted in our mouths. All pair nicely with a good wine and beer selection. Enjoy! read more

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This was our 4th attempt this evening to find a restaurant for dinner. In fairness to the others I will not name them or post a negative review although two of them were clearly not cut out for the hospitality profession. We lucked upon The Back Porch and it made our evening. Mateus was friendly and cared about his service. All of the food was delicious and a solid value: Crispy Brussels Sprouts (appetizer), Double-large Garden Salad, Tuna Poke Bowl, and a Broiled Bluefish Plate with summer vegetables and Jasmine rice - all were served promptly and coursed correctly. Add a martini, craft beer, and a glass of Pinot Noir for $80 before gratuity! We will definitely be back during this stay - many thanks! read more

Came here for years this was one of our favorites. Today changed that. Told our wait would be 30 minutes 1 hour and 50 minutes later we were finally seated. Ordered our food over an hour ago and still haven't received anything. Horrible service, poorly run. Would leave if there was another option at this point but need to make the last ferry. read more

Super cozy romantic dinner spot with delicious vegan options! We found this place in Happy Cow when searching for vegan meals. We split the Buddha bowl and roasted Brussels sprouts--the server was gracious and informed about which dishes could be made vegan which is a huge plus. Thanks for having vegan options! read more

The Back Porch is my favorite restaurant on Ocracoke. This is my "fancy dinner" place. Cheap it ain't, but it's worth it and I try to go once during each vacation. The food is invariably excellent. Fresh seafood, always cooked perfectly. I've had the scallops, shrimp, crab cakes, and various fish of the day, and they are always great. They also have a few decent vegetarian options on the menu. One thing I will say, the menu does not vary much. They have had most of the same items on the menu as long as I can remember. The dishes aren't particularly creative, either, but they are classic, simple and well prepared, and there are enough options to keep it interesting. The crab beignets are large and amazing- definitely recommend. Any dish with scallops that I've ever had there has been great. They have a few variations for the seafood: baked scallops, scallops in pasta, Mediterranean shrimp, etc. They also have butternut squash ravioli and some Mediterranean vegetarian options, but I haven't tried them. Bourbon pecan chicken and several steak options for the non-seafood eaters. They usually have a fig cake option on the dessert menu, in honor if Ocracoke's fig tree tradition. Really, I don't think I've ever had anything I don't like here. The wait staff are usually attentive and thorough. The sides that come with the entrees are almost always rice and a squash/zucchini medley. The seating is mostly outside on a screened in porch, so it isn't the best option for a scalding day. read more

We dine here several times every time we vacation on the island. As a vegetarian, my options are limited but they still have creative options. I love the Super Salad (greens, quinoa, cranberries, roasted sweet potato, pumpkin seeds, citrus vinaigrette...heavenly!) and the Baby Dragon Bowl with Tempeh. I don't know how they cook their tempeh but they cook it to perfection. My wife loves the Shrimp Empanadas and my sister in law raved about the Seafood Platter. The beer, wine and cocktail selection is fantastic. I rarely get the same thing and I've never been disappointed. The mojo to is one of our favorites. The atmosphere is lovely with nice lighting and cool breezes. The servers are friendly and knowledgeable. Finally, dessert! We don't always get dessert but we did on our visit tonight. I had the Mexican Chocolate Creme Brûlée. It was everything I could have hoped for! Silky chocolate, hints of cinnamon, the right amount of heat from the subtle cayenne. If absolutely have it again! Don't miss out on a chance to dine here. read more

Back Porch Restaurant - Mexican Chocolate Creme Brulee. So delicious! - Seafood Near Me - Ocracoke, North Carolina

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Great fresh local seafood. We tried the calamari which was very good. Then the crab cakes as the entrée. My friends had lump crab meat and broiled flounder all were good. The vegetables were fresh and crisp ... Service was excellent as well. A total package... Check this place out if ever passing through. Just don't miss your ferry connection like we did. read more

Back Porch Restaurant - A view toward the bar. - Seafood Near Me - Ocracoke, North Carolina

Lots of issues unfortunately. No hostess to greet and seat. We were told she was "making deserts in the kitchen." We had to wait to be seated in a half empty restaurant. The menu offered lots of options and an interesting range of cocktails were offered. Unfortunately, I ordered one cocktail, but received a different one (albeit similar). Still, neither the bartender or waitress caught it. I drank it since it was fairly similar, but did mention it to the waitress. No apologies. The poke tuna appetizer was very good. Very fresh and flavorful. The pimento cheese appetizer was just okay. After a long wait we were informed the kitchen skipped our entree ticket. For entrees we went surf and turf. The shrimp pasta, albeit fresh, lacked ANY flavor. Additional salt, pepper and peperoncino couldn't save the dish. The sirloin steak frites was cooked as desired and was tender and tasty. The frites however were commercial frozen french fries. At a fine restaurant, as the Back Porch aims to be, I'd expect hand cut, home made fries. In all, the Back Porch was a bit of a disappointment. read more

Great food and great service. I have never had a meal at this restaurant that was outstanding. Everything is fresh and very tasty. I eat at this restaurant every chance I get read more

I joined yelp just to right this review. The owner was so rude to my wife that we took our party of 24 to Howard's, where they are always great. Woman accused my wife of not calling to confirm the reservation. My wife held up here phone with the number for Back Porch clearly called earlier that day. The woman refused to look at it. The wait staff said they the could serve us, but the owner was so awful we left. I would eat stale bread for a month before going to this place. read more

This place is very nice and beachy. The seafood is amazing and very fresh, but the menu isn't extensive and they don't offer a choice of sides. The sides most meals do come with are vegetables and white rice, and I did not find that the vegetables were well cooked or well seasoned. I ordered the drum special and it was nice! Again, not much to write done about, though. However, for a fancy night out on a beautiful summer day, this is a great option and the wait staff is very kind. However, this restaurant does fill up quickly, so keep an eye out. read more

Back Porch Restaurant - Side - Seafood Near Me - Ocracoke, North Carolina

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I was there with my wife on July 29th and witnessed the incident that Steve H described and that was not exactly what occurred. First, the bar area was packed and there was only one bartender. Steve stood near us for a bit of time but not 15 minutes and he was rude to the bartender for not serving him fast enough. Thus her response was in my estimate, appropriate to his initial volley. And she did not scream at him but spoke loud enough to overcome the crowd noise. Ocracoke is swamped with tourists and help is short. I am a tourist here as well and we respect the need for a bit more understanding that is needed. We had a very good meal then and tonight (August 5). The bartender, beetle, does a great job and does not have to accept abuse from customers. You all need to chill. read more

This place was amazing. Very cozy, but clean and has an upscale air. Their old fashioned was really tasty, and out of a party of 6, everyone's food was absolutely amazing! Service was impeccable! read more

My first time eating at this restaurant and have been coming to Ocracoke for many years. It is as excellent as everyone says. We all had different fish dishes and all were good. The service was excellent. The waiter was from California and had excellent fine dining skills. Absolutely loved this restaurant. Did not feel it was overpriced for the quality of the meal. read more

Wow - we enjoyed the food, drinks and ambiance and especially Beatle so much, we came back the next night, too! Next time in Ocracoke, we are eating there every night. read more

The food was just ok, nothing special. The bartender needed help. She was running trying to serve everyone. She was trying to accommodate everyone the best that she could. Our waitress was very sweet and awesome! We liked her very much. I am sorry I don't recall her name. The worst part of our experience was the hostess. She was so rude and acted as though she were doing you a favor jus to seat you. She made smart aleck comments to my wife which I didn't hear. Of course my wife didn't want me to say anything to her. Would not go back only because of her! read more

Reviews all made this place seem promising. But the crab cakes were bland and more filler than crab. Rice was a bit under-done and the veggie side had zero flavor, just a mushy texture. And it was supposed to be squash and green beans! The whole meal could be summed up as BLAND. And who serves pimento cheese that's separated?!? Gross. The assisted living I work for cooks better food. I'd say this place is over-rated. read more

We had to wait a bit for service, but Jennifer apologized and brought drinks and apps quickly. All delicious. Dinner came and was terrific. We had the grouper special that was very tasty...kids were happy with burgers and salmon. No room for dessert, sadly. The price was reasonable and we enjoyed time with four teenagers and screen free! read more

Had the pleasure of dining at the Back Porch tonight. I had noticed there were only last year's reviews and older so I thought I would bring it up to speed. First of all service was great and waitress was very friendly. Full time nurse and part time Waitress. Appetizers and entrees were delish. Atmosphere is great as well. Hats off to a hard working waitress and Nurse. We will be back. read more

Back Porch Restaurant - a table with a red table cloth - Seafood Near Me - Ocracoke, North Carolina

Having eaten at Back Porch a handful of times during previous visits to Ocracoke over the last 5 years, and always leaving satisfied, my sister and I agreed that this would be a good place to have my brother in law's birthday dinner while we vacationed on the island the week leading up to Labor Day. Unfortunately, we left the restaurant regretting that decision... There were 20 in our group - 18 adults & 2 small children - so my sister contacted the restaurant in advance (2 weeks prior) and worked with Lisa regarding the reservation. She was very nice. They exchanged emails back and forth about the best place to seat our group--at one point a private room was mentioned--and we felt like we were in good hands. (Dun, dun, dun...) The morning of our reservation (a Wednesday) Lisa emailed to let us know that they were lacking the floorspace to seat our group at one large table (not sure what happened to that private room) so they were going to seat us at two tables near each other BUT that this arrangement would be "better for conversation" anyway. Sounded good to us. Upon arriving to the restaurant though we saw immediately that the arrangement of the tables was such that conversation was impossible between the tables, and our group was effectively split into two; especially awkward considering we were all there to celebrate the birthday boy, yet those not sitting at the table with him may as well have been eating in a different restaurant. Before any food was ordered, one of our group members went to speak to the hostess about moving the two tables together. This request seemed easy enough to accommodate, and the decision to split them to begin with even more confounding as we surveyed the space. The hostess wouldn't consider the request and replied brusquely that the tables were arranged as they were to provide us "with the best service possible." Well, we all agreed that being served by two completely different waitresses, receiving our courses, meals and checks at different times, and the hostess's unwillingness to work with or accommodate us was in no way providing us the best service possible, so I'm not sure what was gained by their insistence on maintaining this awkward table arrangement. Despite the table setup though, the food was enjoyable with the exception of the steak and the dragon bowl. Our only other complaint concerning the dinner was the lack of music in the section of the restaurant where we were seated, which though we mentioned to our server, was never addressed. After we'd finished eating and had ordered over $1200 worth of food and drinks, we would have been happy to sit and enjoy the evening and the screened in back porch where we were seated, but as one of our tables had already been given and paid their checks, and the one dessert we'd decided to order was delivered in a to-go box, the point had been made and the other table was effectively rushed to also settle up. We'd barely finished signing the receipts before the hostess appeared to collect the credit card books. Taking the hint, we made our way out of the restaurant and received neither a goodbye or a thank you from the hostess (who only seconds before had been primping in front of the mirror at the entrance). Not sure if she was in a hurry to get to a square dance, or if the staff at the back porch in general was just suffering from post-season fatigue, but one thing we do know? Next year when the 20 of us return for another week on Ocracoke, we will not be returning to the Back Porch Restaurant. read more