Came here on a romantic date with my wife. The restaurant has a lot of character and a lot of history and since it had great reviews decided to try it. We ordered fish, shrimp and steak ..... food was good. The warm bread was a nice touch. Service in my opinion was amazing .... We understood that the special for the day came with shrimp but it didn't. We were disappointed that we misunderstood the menu so they brought us some shrimp on the house ! I really appreciate how they went above and beyond. I will probably come back next time I am in town. read more

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We requested outdoor seating when making our reservation. Come to find out they only have one table outside, and it's in a screened in gazebo next to the parking lot. In theory, it sounds quaint and romantic to eat in a private gazebo, but I wouldn't recommend it. Mainly because it took us over an hour to get our food, and I presume it's because all of the action is inside. Food was good, but nothing that would justify the long wait. Once we brought it to their attention, things got better, and I do appreciate that. read more

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Been coming here for years as part of our annual OBX family trip around Thanksgiving. It's charming and cozy, but they can still accommodate larger parties (we are a group of 7) if you can handle going upstairs, and are ok being up close and personal haha We called a week in advance to have the most flexibility in time and date for a party our size, and they were happy to help us as we needed to adjust a little. Check their website, this time of year I think they only have evening hours, so the phone line doesn't open until later afternoon as well. Everyone here is friendly and the food is delicious! Some of our go-tos are the Crab Bisque, Scallop Rumaki, and Brie appetizers. I always try to get their special that is usually salmon in a light cream sauce, topped with crab and served with asparagus and whipped potatoes of some variety. The salmon is always amazing! This year the special was served with flounder instead. I found it too bland, compared to what I'm used to from them, but perhaps that's just how flounder is? Some other entree regulars in the family are Shrimp & Scallop Napoleon, and the Seafood Pasta. The only catch (pun intended?) is that both are creamy, saucy dishes. Great for taste, but not for having to pick your shrimp. Unfortunately, the kitchen leaves the tails on the shrimp in these dishes, and when we asked about it the kitchen said they do not/would not shell them. Meaning you have to pick your saucy shrimp out and de-tail them yourself. It's a bit messy, especially at a white table cloth establishment, and means you either have to use your bread plate, or you are digging around in your dish and hope you don't slip and send any food flying. If you are looking for fine dining, romantic setting, elevated seafood... Colington Cafe is certainly a delight (aside from the shrimp tails ;)) read more

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Dinner on the night of our 25th wedding anniversary, and our first time visiting, Colington Cafe had great marks on multiple review sites, and was called out in places like Reddit, too. The atmosphere is cozy-cottage, with beautiful live oaks arching over the entryway, and crisply set tables within. Our server, Andrea, was kind and patient with questions. Thank you for the anniversary gift of a take-home bubbly! The meals we had, however, were unfortunately bland - my scallops and my wife's shrimp meal. There was no option for sides, just the "side of the day" which was plainly prepared vegetables. Creme Brule for dessert was the best part of our meal - second only to the great recommendation of the hostess on a spot to see the sunset. read more

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Cute little cottage featuring fresh seafood, chicken, and beef options. She crab bisque and crab cakes were big hits among our group. Great kids menu too. Everything was seasoned perfectly and the portions were generous. Definitely recommend getting a reservation 2 weeks in advance during peak season. We plan to return on our next trip to the OBX. read more

One of my favorite places to eat every year I visit my family in the Outer Banks. We make sure to eat here at least 2-3 times. The service is 2nd to none and the environment is awesome. While I love their steaks, I usually order a special as they always have something that sounds amazing and ends up living up to that sound. While I do wish they had a baked potato option as a side, their vegetables are really really good. I always enjoy them! If you're looking for a nice dining experience on your trip to the Outer Banks, you can't go wrong here. read more

3rd time here. 2015 it was excellent. 2019 it was okay. 2025 was our last time. Seated upstairs which I found was a bit noisy as we had to speak loudly. First issue was they told us to order the appetizers and entrees together. We questioned why and they said "that's how the kitchen likes it". It's not a prix fixed menu and they had not done this before. Definitely felt rushed. The food was average. The bisque was underwhelming and the meals we had were nothing to write home about. We tried to order one dessert which they came back and said was out...we were the first party at 5pm and they were already out. For a kitchen that makes us order appetizers and entrees, pretty disappointing they didn't plan ahead. Service was uncomfortably outgoing. I know it's service industry, but it was naturally overly kind. Where you knew it was "I have to be nice to these people to get a tip" I'm sorry to say our last time there. Although wine prices were very reasonable. read more

Celebrated our Anniversary here on Tuesday and place was outstanding, staff super friendly, server was excellent and food was phenomenal. We had fillet with lump crab, two desserts and they also sent us home with an extra dessert and mini bottle of champagne. If you are in the obx please go here, oh and call for a reservation, we went on a Tuesday and it was packed so I'd strongly recommend reservations. read more

Colington Cafe - Fillet with crab and shrimp - American Near Me - Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina

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Just a nice place for dinner. Varied menu which worked great for our party of 6. Very nice staff.

My brother-in-law found Colington Cafe and made reservations for our party the first night in the OBX. I wanted something on the lighter side so I decided on a Caesar salad with a crab cake on the side. Hubby wanted steak, he ordered the 8 oz filet mignon. I really liked the crab cake, it was super moist and had no filler. I thought the salad was fresh and tasty as well. A simple yet good meal. Hubby thought his meal was just okay. I tried a piece of the filet mignon which was tender but definitely needed salt. The veggies were forgettable as were the mashed potatoes. He was somewhat disappointed with his meal. Dessert sounded really good so we both ordered the toll house chocolate chip cookie pie and enjoyed it. The crust was a little dry but the ice cream and chocolate sauce helped. They were out of the cheesecake which is what hubby originally wanted. Overall, I would say Collington Cafe was more of a 3.5 star but the service was very good so I bumped them up to a 4. The grounds and gardens were also beautiful so we had a nice view from our dining table. read more

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SUPER impressed. This was our first time here and we will for sure be back next time we are in the area. Our waitress was great and the restaurant has a nice clique ambiance. Appetizer: Scallops Rumaki- absolutely delicious. The savory bacon flavor complemented the sweet umami flavor of the ginger teriyaki glaze and the scallops were super fresh and perfectly cooked. Mains: Shrimp and Scallop Napoleon- The shrimp and scallops were some of the best I've eaten and I loved the uniqueness of the Sherry cream sauce. I'll definitely be trying to re-create this at home. Seafood Pasta- my wife is allergic to Shrimp and they were happy to accommodate. Dish was bomb- pasta cooked spot on and did I mention how fresh the seafood is?? Dessert: Blackberry and Peach Cobbler- 10/10. Piping hot with a generous portion of vanilla bean ice cream on top. Chocolate Mousse Cake- my wife had this and she really liked it. I tried a bite and the cake was nice and moist and had a fruity drizzle on it. *side note* As I was writing this review at the restaurant, a "Karen" that was sitting behind our table approached our table and made an unsolicited and rude comment towards myself and my wife for literally no reason. This was the only rotten moment of our otherwise great evening. So yeah, at least one of their regulars sucks so hopefully you don't run into her. read more

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Oh my gosh this is one of my favorite places! Entire design is amazing!!! The staff is so friendly and amazing at their job! Food was outstanding including deserts. The manger came around many times to check on us. They accommodated our picky eater. They were fast! There were fresh roses on the table it was amazing! They had such a cute outside garden and gazebo. I can't recommend enough. read more

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The Colington Cafe is what JVN would call 'cute'. Picture a French countryside house, it screams ambiance,but not pretentious. The staff was very welcoming & extremely professional (in a good way). The FOOD was outstanding, the chef puts some thought into your meal. With all this, the prices are reasonable. You get much more as far as quality of food for less than on the Croatan Hwy strip. Thoroughly enjoyed our meal, will definitely be back. read more

Colington Cafe is our go-to up-scale place in the Outer Banks. It is not a tourist seafood place on the strip. It is a fine restaurant off the beaten path. We have tried many different entries and they were all great. The service is outstanding. The ambiance is delightful - it is an old house with a few different rooms for dining. This is a great place for special occasions or for dining with special friends. read more

Colington Cafe - Wonderful dessert - American Near Me - Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina

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Perfect family spot for a fancy dinner while after a day at the beach. I visited with a group to celebrate a birthday. The server was fun and informative. Food come out quickly and was delicious. Our highlights include: - the crab cakes are meaty and come with a nice lemon caper aioli - the wine process are below market! Get the bottle it is a saving - being able to see the desserts before selecting one is fun. Try the Mandarin orange cake! Be prepared for your visit! Make a reservation, the cafe is cute but small, and if you cannot walk up steps be sure to reserve a first floor table. read more

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Just a great fine dining restaurant just of the beaten path of the outer banks. It's in a classic old white clapboard house set in the lush coastal greenery and old weatherbeaten trees. We were on the island during our anniversary and decided that this was the nicest place for a fine meal. We think that decision was good. In fact, we were completely surprised. We both had Halibut with crab meat piled on top, served over a bed of polenta with a few roasted carrots on the side. Honestly, this ws one of the best meals I have ever had. Everything was cooked to perfection. We had a nice bottle of wine to go with the meal. They have a decent selection and reasonable prices. Service was perfect, attentive but not rushed in any way. The staff was friendly, polite, and informative. There were a few guys in jackets, but overall the dress was nice casual. The place was quiet, not crowded. We could carry on a conversation easily. We did on occasion start a conversation with the folks at the next table and we completely enjoyed their perspective as they lived on the island. I don't think you will find a nicer upscale place to dine on the OBX. Certainly not for the price we paid. read more

My wife and I had our Anniversary dinner here. Service was spot on , the food was outstanding. We will definitely be back when we return to OBX. read more

We LOVED everything about this restaurant! Food, service, ambience, everything!! The restaurant came as a recommendation and I would do the same for anyone who would ask me. It's such a gem and we will definitely go back there when back in OBX! Go there! read more

We had the most perfect anniversary meal here. The food was incredible and we loved everything we had. We started off with the autumn harvest salad and pimento cheese, both of which were so good I forgot to take a photo before we ate it all. We then ordered the seafood pasta (AMAZING) and the salmon and crab special (also amazing). The seafood is fresh and cooked to perfection. We ended the night with the best crème brûlée I've ever had and a huge slice of coconut cream pie. In lieu of a dessert menu, they bring you this beautiful platter of all the desserts and you get to choose which ones you want. The atmosphere is also wonderful. Each room is beautifully decorated like a southern coastal bed & breakfast. Staff are very friendly without being overly attentive. Like I said, this was the perfect, romantic dinner for two. Can't recommend it enough. read more

My family and I made reservations for this restaurant based on some personal recommendations we received. Initial take, I can understand the appeal as it has a ton of character being nestled in between some trees in an old house. Each room feels like Grandma's house in all the best ways. We had great service for a party of 10, not knowing until we started that they won't split checks (but they will itemize or run different cards at the end). For an appetizer we ordered the Brie which was good, nothing spectacular. Their bread was mediocre rolls but they were hot and soft. Their Caesar salad was small but well seasoned with the right amount of dressing, but lacked any character. I had the steak with shrink and covered in crab in bernaise sauce. The portion size was smaller but I actually appreciated it. The sides including the green beans were unfortunately cold upon arrival but the steak was perfectly cooked. For dessert, I had the tiramisu which was fine, but unnecessarily covered in a chocolate sauce on top that was very overpowering. I understand the appeal, and the meal was reasonably priced, but it is not a restaurant I would hit during our annual vacation. read more

To start off, the place is beautiful. We were seated upstairs in a charming little room. Lauren was our server and she was awesome. Very attentive. The She Crab Bisque is a must. Thick and creamy with a hint of sherry. Hot fresh rolls were great. Both our meals were fantastic. I had a Chef's special of fish and crab cake and my wife had the grand trio of filet, shrimp and lump crab. I highly recommend. We will return read more

In our opinion, this is the best restaurant on the island and beyond. The food is impeccable, the service is top notch and the ambiance is classy yet warm and cozy. We ordered the Mixed Grill, a nightly special with Halibut and Crabmeat and the Pasta Primavera which we requested to be veganized for our daughter. All of our food was delicious and temperature perfect. Please do not miss out on coming here but make sure to call ahead for a reservation. read more

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We have been to Colington Cafe a few times and have never been disappointed. The restaurant is in an adorable Victorian house that has wonderful decorations everywhere. The service and the food is exceptional. On our last we started with the she crab bisque. We practically licked the bowl clean. We also had the scallops rumaki. Delicious! We also ordered a dinner special and the filet & crabmeat. Also, very delicious! One down side to the restaurant is that it doesn't sell liquor- only beer and wine. We look forward to it opening back up in the spring! read more

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Our first trip to Colington Cafe was for our anniversary dinner. Let me say first some positives. The atmosphere was charming and the waitress was friendly. I should tell you that we are pretty discerning about food as my husband is a retired chef. He had an appetizer- a lobster/cheese "dip." I could find no lobster, just cheesy. I had the crab bisque - again very little crab. For our entrees, he had shrimp scampi and I had beef brochette with fried shrimp. Positives - shrimp scampi were cooked perfectly and my fried shrimp were good. The accompanying mashed potatoes were awful - neither one of us were able to eat them. Also, mashed potatoes are definitely not an appropriate side for scampi - pasta would be a much better choice. Evidently all of their dishes come with the same sides. As for as service, again the waitress was nice, but our appetizer dishes were left on our table for a very long time. The back waiter did a good job of replenishing water. We did bring home a dessert and it was very good. So, we have learned our lesson and will never go back to the Colington Cafe. We had seen such great reviews, not sure if the quality has changed over the years. read more

This small family run restaurant has been highlighted several times in various articles. I've been here a couple of times and both experiences have been stellar. First time our group of about 10 women sat in the upstairs open dining area. It can get quite loud depending on your fellow nearby diners. My second experience was sitting in the screened in outdoor gazebo. That was fantastic. If the weather is perfect, then I highly recommend that table. It's private and can seat up to about 5 people. The food is very good. Our groups(both times) enjoyed the various shrimp and crab meals. I've ordered the salmon topped with crab meat(all meat and no filler). I did have a different sauce each time. I wasn't a fan of the red sauce on my second experience. My husband loved the Alfredo sauce on the chicken dish. My friend did mention that her strip steak was not as tender as she expected but her overall experience was good. The desserts are huge. They are presented on a tray for your choosing. Once you select a dessert then a nice fresh one is brought out and it's almost twice as huge as the tray. Service was fantastic both times. The staff is so accommodating. They also have a gluten free menu so ask for it if you need that option. Make a reservation because it can book quickly. read more

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My favorite place in the OBX! Food and service are exceptional! Desserts are to die for especially the cookie with ice cream and the cobbler. I've never had anything but wonderful meals and we dine there for all special occasions. read more

I absolutely have no idea how anyone could leave a negative review about Collington Cafe. I have been coming here for 30 years and have NEVER had a bad experience.....even during the lean times when restaurant help was impossible to find. Impeccable service, awesome food, and irresistible desserts. Our latest visit was tonight, 9/3/2025, and they did not disappoint. I am by no means a gourmet chef, but I get out a lot, and this is by far, the best restaurant on the outer banks. I will be back again in October. read more

Lovey cafe with white table clothes. Excellent filet steak. Best in OBX! Make a reservation and avoid the wait. Attentive, fast service. Deck waiting area read more

Colington Cafe - Best filet in OBX - American Near Me - Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina

Call at 3 pm 2 weeks ahead for a reservation. Great food and a beautiful restaurant the price is very fair the employees are great. We visit yearly from Pa. read more

Absolutely wonderful. My first time and surely not going to be my last. Everything was perfect. From the host, to the view upstairs to the pink room. We had Miss Andrea and Zach and they were awesomeeee! Totally forgot to take pictures of our appetizers or meal, it I promise, it was all amazing. * We started off with just a simple salad, which was quite delish. * I had the Seafood Pasta $28 Penne pasta tossed with sautéed shrimp, scallops and applewood smoked bacon in a light cream sauce -I'll never order that anywhere else again! It was absolutely incredible. * Miss Courtney had the Shrimp and Scallop Tropicale $27 A combination of shrimp and scallops grilled to perfection topped with our tropical fruit salsa. * We finished off with two desserts. The toll house cookie pie & the coconut pie. I'd say my favorite meal during my week in the outer banks and we will be back. read more

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The Yelpers have this one right and I'm piling on. This is a must. Outside is beautiful, inside is cozy and welcoming. Staff is top notch. Food was fantastic. Make a reservation, put on your cute casual beach outfit and go! My family had the bacon-wrapped scallop appetizer, Caesar salad, filet and crab cake entree, seafood pasta entree, and crème brûlée.....all were divine! Adding to our list of places to dine each year during our visit. read more

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Colington Cafe consistently offers upscale dining at a surprisingly affordable cost. The food is not only beautifully presented but it is delicious. This is always a must go to when we are at the beach. read more

This was a good dinner spot overall. I enjoyed the veggies, the steak was cooked perfectly, not wowing in flavor but still good, the crab cake was only okay but the sauce for it was very good! My sisters meal came with Mac n cheese and that was a hit. They don't have cocktails here as a side note. Prices are a bit high for the area but it's one of the few nicer places to dine around. Dessert was good, we did the brookie! That was my favorite part of dinner. read more

Colington Cafe - American Near Me - Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina

Reservations we ready right away. Folks were extremely nice. Service did get off to a slow start. I think she was sat back to back to back. Very busy for one waitress. Ordered app and entrees and food come within a reasonable amount of time. All food was good but slightly just a tiny bit over cooked. Not burned but a little extra char on the meats. Everything was quite good. Just slower service than usually. read more

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We never go to the Outer Banks without a visit sometimes twice! Always delicious seafood and other creative dishes. Feels like you walked into a beautiful country French restaurant with the decor and lush gardens. Make sure to save room for desert. It is always to die for and as good as it looks. Service is exceptional and very friendly. Will definitely keep coming back!! read more

The seafood pasta was fantastic! Host and staff very friendly and engaging. Service excellent! Ambiance enchanting- very quaint French cottage vibe. Great dining experience. read more

Colington Cafe - Seafood pasta was phenomenal-added crab to it with shrimp and scallops. - American Near Me - Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina

Came here for our anniversary dinner and I'm pleased to say that all the positive reviews are right. This place is beautiful and the food was amazing. We didn't partake of the alcohol offerings so my review doesn't consider that. I would have liked to see some "fancy" non-alcoholic options if any critique. At least like a fresh lemonade rather than the minute maid off of the fountain. But not a big deal. I got the crab bisque to start which was so creamy and delicious, plus you could really taste the crab. My husband got a cheesy crab dip which was also delicious. I chose a special that day which was a salmon with lump crab, broccolini, buerre blanc sauce, and goat cheese mashed potatoes. The salmon was cooked perfectly and I loved the big chunks of crab (without having to do the work myself!) The goat cheese mashed potatoes were amazing but I could put goat cheese on anything and love it! My husband got the tropical shrimp and scallop dish which he also really enjoyed. We took home chocolate cake with raspberry sauce which tasted homemade and very fresh. Definitely recommend for a date night or special occasion. When we went it was already dark but the grounds look lovely and had romantic lights out front. Reservations definitely recommended. read more

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We have been coming here for a long time. The food and the service remain consistently excellent every time we visit. The owners take great care to ensure that you have a pleasant dining experience. Don't forget to have dessert because it is top notch and certainly worth it! read more

Ahhhhhamazing! Highly recommend going and enjoying this beautiful cute place! Food and service is amazing! Make a reservations for sure! Won't disappoint! read more

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This was such a fun experience! The cafe is really beautiful and has a whimsical atmosphere. It is a bit of a fancier restaurant, which makes the experience better in my opinion! Some of the best service you'll get locally. We had 2 waiters for our table specifically. It felt very intimate and personal! The food is great. Quality food with quality portions. The filet was incredible!! This place may be a bit expensive, but it's really good if you want to have a nice dinner in a beautiful restaurant. read more

Colington Cafe - Filet Mignon & Tuna - American Near Me - Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina