Honest but realistic review. NOT CLEAN! During the Sunday morning rush there were only two waiters in the entire building. The waiters were working in overdrive and definitely have my respect. Because of the check ins for ordering drinks / food and check out for receiving checks took 15-20 minutes. No fault of the waitress, the establishment needs to have more waiters so that the waiters aren't falling behind. The cleanliness of the facility was not up to par whatsoever. The tables and menus were sticky, and the floors had food all over them. There was no AC. read more

Average place for lunch. On a rainy day in OBX, my wife and I went here for lunch. We arrived, nobody in front of us, so we're waiting at the hostess stand to be seated, several waitresses/waiters running around and a busy bartender, but no one even acknowledged us for several minutes until one waiter said someone will be with you shortly to seat you. Around this time I noticed a guy that went to table right in front of us, with a woman at it, looked like he was going to walk by it and then sat down. I remember thinking, the interior is fairly small, how can you forget where you sit. Several more minutes go by, then the guy sitting at the table got up and seated us, wow he was the host! Never seen this before. I've talked to several restaurant owners/managers in the area and they've told me that this year they just can't find enough people to work. This probably explains it. I had the shrimp po boy and my wife the burger. We split some fries, and both of got ice teas. All were ok, nothing special about anything here. Our waiter was great, came back frequently and was cheerful. We go to OBX every year, All in all, I wouldn't go back again. read more

Smaller breakfast style place, good prices and great food. Biscuit and gravy is my go to and it's right on par! read more

I have been coming to North Carolina for at least two decades. And the first time we went to first light, it was about to close for the season. I never forgot that first time because I was told they had six chicken sandwiches and six burgers left! :D. I ordered the burger and it was literally and still is the best burger I've ever had in my life. I cannot recommend this place high enough. Since then my favorite dish is their omelette. But I have to say all the food they make is simply outstanding. It is a bargain for what you pay. The quality of the food is simply mind blowing; it is easily my favorite restaurant on the outer banks including all other areas. I went to a new restaurant the other day and paid triple what I would pay at first light; the food was the worst I've had in years. So if you see first light don't think that because the outside or the interior is humble that the food won't be superb. I promise you their food will be some of the best you'll ever eat. Of course no one comes to the beach to eat. I'm from the DC metropolitan area and I can go to some of the best restaurants but, this restaurant has locked down some of the best "comfort" food I've ever had. Second, the service is fantastic. It's not like they're trying to push you out at all, but they are there on a dime waiting on you and making sure you have everything you need and that the food is exactly as you like it. Finally, they have great art on their walls from local artists for sale. I personally have bought several pieces from first light and they are hanging at my home in Maryland. What are you waiting for?? GO!!! read more

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I'll let the picture do the talking , everything is always tops - from the service to the food it's my favorite OBX breakfast ! Thanks Henry ! read more

First Light - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Corolla, North Carolina

Went for lunch and breakfast two separate days. The food was delicious! Quick service and nice environment with both outdoor and indoor seating. Would definitely recommend. read more

First Light always has great breakfast as well as fine service. We always look forward to any meal there. Outside eating is always very nice! read more

Excellent place to go for breakfast. We arrived around 10 on a Sunday and walked right in by the time we left there was a line. The Biscuits are huge and fluffy. The home fries are delicious. read more

First Light - The Hangover-- soo good - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Corolla, North Carolina

Best breakfast in town!! Awesome service!! Get the Hangover or crab bene!!!! And a side of of sweet potato pancakes!! Just writing this is making me hungry!! read more

There are not many options for breakfast in the immediate Corolla area. The options may be either gas station potato chips and a granola bar with perhaps a slim Jim or this place... I would recommend the former. At least with well preserved gas station food you won't feel like vomiting for next few hours. The strength and passion I recommend avoiding this restaurant on a 1-10 scale is a solid 11. The photo I have attached is figurative representation of what I tasted read more

Bottom line: go here! Great little spot to eat brunch in Duck. The service is very nice though it did seem our waitress was super busy (only one waitress for this small place). Ordered the omlet with home fries, the omlet was very good! Overall I was very satisfied with the food. Meal also came with a biscuit which tasted amazing! Very soft and fresh. The sweet tea wasn't exactly sweet, so I added a few packets of sugar. I would absolutely recommend coming here if you're thinking about it, the food is affordable and tastes great. read more

First Light - Omlet with home fries and biscuit - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Corolla, North Carolina

We decided that we would have breakfast on our way off the island. The previous night we were enjoying some adult beverages at Sundog's Raw Bar and Grill. We were greeted by a friendly man named Henry. Henry went out of his way to make us feel welcomed. By the end of the night we had agreed we would have breakfast at his restaurant called First Light. Well we kept our word as he also kept his. He promised he'd give me a free t-shirt just because we hit it off so well. The place was a little smaller than I'd anticipated but the atmosphere was welcoming and right up my alley with the golf memorabilia. The place was packed and the wait time was on par for a party of eight. Service was prompt and polite. We ordered breakfast and everyone was impressed. I ordered the XXXL which was double order of eggs bacon or sausage, pancakes, toast, and home fries. At 19.99 you get your money's worth. There was however a gripe. It's North Carolina and not having Grits on the menu was no bueno. Other than that Henry has one delicious hidden gem! read more

Great food and terrific service. Casual atmosphere for outdoor or indoor eating. Pets allowed outside and they bring a water bowl so the pups can have fun to! read more

We needed a quick breakfast on our way to the beach so we stopped here. We weren't that hungry so just got the French toast and since in a sucker for corned beef hash I ordered it as a side. I didn't like either of them! The hash was TOO salty and didn't taste like much. The French toast was dry and had a taste of cloves which I didn't care for at all!! So no, I wouldn't come here again! read more

First Light - Extremely salty corned beef hash - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Corolla, North Carolina

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A co-worker and I ordered take out, trying to do our part to support local businesses, especially now. When we called, everything we wanted to order was "not on the menu anymore"--the menu that was on their web site--okay, no big deal. Neither of us are picky--so we asked what WAS on this elusive menu that was nowhere to be found online. We finally ordered and they said it would be 45 minutes. That seemed like a long time, given our order, but we were glad, thinking it must be busy and as a local and former restaurant server, I was happy their business was thriving! The intern that I was working with went to pick up the order. She, not being from here had a little trouble finding it. She called and the person that answered the phone was even more rude than the person taking our order. That sucked as I was just telling her how glad our community was to be able to welcome people back on the beach to support businesses only to be treated poorly. I got the crab cake sandwich when was pretty good. She got sliders that were average. All in all I'm glad we tried it. We work with a lot of visitors and now I can share my personal experience with them. read more

My wife and I are in Corolla for our birthday weekend getaway and we were searching for a place to have breakfast during the off season and a pandemic. We found this place and we are sure glad we did. The covid precautions were in place and the service was friendly and prompt. I ordered a classic breakfast plate with a pancake - a sweet potato one at that! Not really sure what to expect, but the waitress said they were good. What the heck I said and gave it a try. Wow - when it came out it was the size of a dinner plate and there was no doubt what kind it was based on the sweet smell!!! It tasted better that it looked or smelled. My wife ordered a sausage and egg biscuit with home fries. You could tell that the biscuit and home fries were homemade. The biscuit was soft and flakey and the home fries were hot and crispy. If the foot was not enough, the music was right up this 80s kids alley - talking heads, jimmy Hendrix, the sweet and other great bands from this era. Will definitely go back! read more

Nice little diner spot - great biscuits and gravy! Quick service too.

We really enjoyed this local diner. The food and drinks were all flavorful and delicious. Henry, the bartender/Manager was very personable, welcoming and accommodating. We have added First Light to our must stops when in Carolla. read more

Great little spot for breakfast! The waiter we had was really attentive to our 16 month old son. Made sure we were perfectly taken care of. I ordered the French toast, it was unreal. So crispy and flavorful. My son loves strawberries and the waiter gave us a bunch for him without even charging us. read more

First breakfast stop every trip. Food is good and staff are great. Four stars because the outdoor tables need larger umbrellas or they need to put up a canopy. read more

Service was great. I got a margarita, he got the zinger Bloody Mary and we both agreed they were the worse cocktails we've ever had. And we DRINK. The meals were terrible. Hash was def from Aldi out of a can. Super disappointed. I don't leave reviews. That's how sad I am. read more

Great brunch. Highly recommended when in town. Staff was friendly and fast considering staffing shortages and how busy it was.

RAW chicken tenders. Miserable experience today at First Light. Ordered fried chicken sandwiches, and chicken tender basket. Service was fine, besides hearing people around us complaining and asking for managers for their problems. Our chicken sandwiches were fine, didn't come with mayo, so had to ask for that. My basket was missing a pickle on the side. But my daughters chicken tenders came out RAW, not pink, but RAW in the middle. Totally unacceptable. read more

I have been to this restaurant a couple of times for breakfast. Portions are large, prices are fair, and food is yummy. The mimosas are awesome! It's a small restaurant with some seasonal outdoor seating. The restaurant has always been super busy when we've visited. Service is good! They do charge roughly a 2% fee if you use a credit card, ugh! read more

My husband and I came to Corolla for our honeymoon and stumbled across First Light our second day here. We then had it for breakfast every day after that for the rest of the week because we loved it so much! We tried almost all breakfast items, and they were all so good! The main reason we kept coming back was because of the service, Juan Carlos was the sweetest and most caring waiter we've ever met. He greeted us every morning with the biggest smile and made us feel like family. I highly recommend First Light, ask for Juan Carlos, you will love the food but love him even more! read more

Super busy but seated quickly, and service was quick as well. Got pancakes (they're huge- take up entire plate) and omelet. Everything was great and we'd definitely return. read more

This is a great place for breakfast. It is a very clean hole in the wall offering an extensive breakfast menu. The guys who run this establishment are very friendly and accommodating. Today's special is the Soft Shell Crabs Benedict, which is available for two weeks only, while this is the season for it. The crabs were savory, super soft, yet crispy from the batter. We even purchased a few beautiful wood carvings that were on display made by local artists. read more

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Worst meal I had all week. Service was terrible. Food was just ok. When I checked in at the hostess stand the girl acted like she didn't really want to be there. Seemed pretty annoyed we arrived. I ordered a decaf coffee. Someone came by to refill the regular coffee drinkers. I told him I was drinking decaf. He hurried off saying someone else would get it for me then. No one came by. I had to ask 3 more times for a refill. Everyone got their meal but me. Once I got my meal my eggs were ordered over easy. One egg was over medium and the other was broken when cooked. It came out hard. Service and food here are bad. I would avoid. read more

Our waiter was fabulous. He was so nice and kind and attentive. The food was mediocre. I have had better, but it did the job. That's honestly the best way I can describe it. The place is super small inside. Not a ton of seating, but I think outside there was more seating but it was raining. The people at the hostess stand seemed like they could careless what was going on though so that was a turn off. If you want some breakfast that's decent and going to fill you up, than you should come here. They did have drawing paper on the table which was a plus. read more

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Good food for breakfast. We had French toast and biscuits and gravy. Both were outstanding and made with lots of passion. Service could have been better but they were busy and our waiter was working hard. We enjoyed our meal and would come back. read more

First Light - Biscuits and Gravy - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Corolla, North Carolina

Seems like the most difficult meal for many restaurants is breakfast; especially at the beach. We were pleasantly surprised to find First light. The portions were huge and biscuits some of the lightest and fluffy ones we have found anywhere. Lots of art on the walls, at a reasonable price, that is for sale and provides a nice reminder of the week at the beach. read more

First Light - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Corolla, North Carolina

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My family and friends think that I'm a "fussy" eater! Ridiculous. But I do eat out often so I have a lot of opportunities to compare restaurants. Let's just say that I'm "discerning." Today was my husband's and my first visit to First Light and if in the area again, we would definitely go back. We live part-time in the OBX and there are MANY wonderful places to eat! We happened to be in the Corolla area today around lunchtime and I'm so happy that we were! In the middle June, at lunchtime, in the OBX, every restaurant is going to be packed and (nowadays) sadly understaffed. And yet, the staff which seemed to be "local" was efficient and friendly. The food came out very quickly, cooked perfectly as requested, and tasted delicious. The prices were also very reasonable. We sat at the bar and enjoyed our bartender/server, Antonio so here's a shoutout to him! I read a long review about the atmosphere and how it COULD be such a cool place - if it was renovated and modernized. Personally, and speaking for many others I know, we prefer original, local-feeling, "beachy" , yes, even hole-in-the-wall atmosphere where the food is dependably always good, and everyone knows your name. This seems to be that kind of a place! Yes, we recommend! read more

First Light - Husband had the Apple-Walnut Salad with Shrimp and I had the juicy Basic Burger and shoestring fries! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Corolla, North Carolina

Really great service. I can't eat dairy products, which makes it near impossible to eat out in the south. They were happy to accommodate my requests to ah e food cooked in oil instead of butter and offered to have it made in a seperate pan I stead of in the griddle. My options were limited, but they showed care and understanding, which means the most! The food was great. Eggs were delicious, the home fries and pancakes looked amazing. A good experience for us! I only wish there were more allergy friendly menu options, but I haven't seen that anywhere down here. read more

been there many times food is wonderful. Service is quick and the restaurant is very clean. Food prices are in line.

Ate 2x here this weekend. Good was fabulous. Staff and service was awesome. Thank you Henry and Ian. Much improved since last spring. Will be back! read more

This is a great breakfast location. We stop every time we are in Corrolla. Fair warning, it is small and can be crowded, especially on Saturday. The breakfast food is great. Service is usually good but can struggle with large crowds. I like their Bloody Mary, but be advised there are still old fashioned liquor laws in NC so Sundays they can not be served until later (I think 11:30 or noon but I could be wrong). Great for breakfast and for families. Try to be strategic. Week days seem to be MUCH better crowd wise. read more

Good breakfast! Small space, but food and service were very good. I ordered the crab cake Benedict and it was good, but probably wouldn't order again. The crab cake seemed processed, not fresh, it clearly stated it was a southwestern style crab cake, which was fine, the seasoning was a little different and it had some bell peppers in it, but it also had a fair amount of filler too. The service was fantastic making it a spot to return to and try another meal. read more

The past few years the wife and I have visited this spot. It's our go to spot in Timbuck II. They serve Breakfast until 3 PM everyday. Has a bar which is always a plus for all patrons. The hamburger was made fresh not a patty. I will say I was disappointed in the Local favorite the Fried chicken sandwich. I did not expect a southern fried chicken to be breaded with food lion bread crumbs (progresso would have been better. It definitely knocked my review down from 4 stars to 3. I get better fried chicken in Philly and that is an outright shame! I will have to google who made this sandwich the local favorite to see who originated it and put it to the test. read more

Best breakfast in Corolla!! We make a stop each time we're in town! Fast service, great food and awesome mimosas !!

Ate there for breakfast and then again for dinner. The breakfast was good overall (except for my sweet potato pancakes coming out raw) and their eggs were great. The waiter we had in the morning was fantastic and was on top of everything even with how busy it was. However, their dinner was really average for their prices. I got crab cakes with gummy mashed potatoes and three sprigs of asparagus for $25 because the meal I wanted wasn't available. The appetizers were not great either. Not to mention that our waiter for dinner was inattentive and only came to our table once to deliver drinks and then to give us the check. Should have taken their emptiness as a sign, especially because every other restaurant had a 1.5 hour wait. A definite yes for breakfast and a last resort for dinner. read more