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    The Jolly Roger Restaurant and Bar

    3.3 (722 reviews)
    Open 7:00 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated 1 month ago

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    THE JOLLY ROGER RESTAURANT AND BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Touristy
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - The Jolly Roger Restaurant and Bar

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    Jolly Rogers April 2026 Vomitus of the Month

    The owner responded to this review by suggesting that I "don't have good taste." I'll let that speak for itself. I stand by my review and do not recommend this restaurant. Other reviews here reflect similar concerns. Constructive note for the owner: acknowledging customer dissatisfaction is far more effective than a defensive response. When a customer reports a poor experience--including becoming ill--the appropriate response is to address the issue, not dismiss the customer. Good luck. _________ JOLLY ROGERS -- APRIL 2026 'VOMITUS OF THE MONTH' WINNER. **Award attached below** I genuinely try to support local restaurants. I'd much rather give a good review than a bad one. But this place earned every word of this. Let's start with the highlight: the drinks look good, and the staff is friendly. That's it. That's the list. Nonetheless, a tourist store, and some sort of pirate themed bar with some guy singing is not a good sign - focus on food not guys dressed like pirates. On to the meal... When I asked about the local catch of the day and was told "salmon and tuna," I should have stood up and walked out. That's not "local" to the Outer Banks--it's basic menu filler. At that point, I knew exactly what kind of place this was, and I ignored the warning. That was a mistake. We started with mussels marinara - I guess they do not know that a nice bread is usually served with this. I had to ask, and then how do you ruin bread (they found a way). BTW, many of the mussels did not even open raising questions about freshness. I ordered the flounder. I can't say with certainty, but it had all the hallmarks of previously frozen fish--mushy, bland, and completely devoid of character. It tasted like nothing, which somehow was still better than the texture. The pasta on the side was an insult to pasta. There's a universal rule that pasta is mean to be cooked al dente. This was cooked well past that point into soft, bloated mush. It wasn't a side dish; it was something to be endured. The sauce didn't help. If it wasn't poured from a can, it did an excellent imitation--flat, generic, and lifeless. I asked about wines by the glass. The server didn't know what they had, and what I was served tasted like the cheapest option available. It undrinkable. And all of this comes at $$ that suggest a far better kitchen than the one actually operating here. As for the full experience: I spent most of the night dealing with what can only be described as a very strong reminder of the meal. Draw your own conclusions. I don't say this lightly, but this place earns my personal "Vomitus of the Month" award--and that's not a category with a lot of competition. Recommendation: Don't go. There are far too many good options in the Outer Banks to waste a meal--and money--here.

    Calamari
    Jasmine M.

    Jolly Roger is a 10/10!!! We will definitely come back when we're in town!! The sheet crab soup was to die for!!! The calamari was very fresh!!! Look at the size of this flounder ! The ambiance is really cool! They have it super decorated for Christmas. Also, the server Theresa was amazing! We never had to look for her. The food is definitely fresh and cooked to order .

    Pie S.

    Really weird and wonderful eclectic pirate-ish decor marks this Italian/seafood restaurant. The staff are nice, the food is good, then you get a pirate hat an eyepatch if you want... And who doesn't want a pirate hat and eyepatch??? Get the captains platter!

    Ribeye Steak
    Michael C.

    DO NOT GO HERE. This place was the absolute worst. The food was disgusting. As you can tell by the photos, we didn't eat it. The steak was mostly chewy fat, and the rest was shoe leather. The chicken was tough, and the fish was inedible. The service was mediocre. Though nice, the server didn't bring out several ordered items. We didn't get our salads and we didn't get side dishes with our meals. Trust me, and save your money. Go somewhere else.

    From the outside
    Liz V.

    Love this place, visit every time im in OBX. The staff and bartenders are attentive and super fun! The new addition is awesome! Last Sept. they had football on a HUGE projector in the new room, although I have not heard a band to confirm, it looks like the acoustics are really good. The upstairs has pool tables and darts! The Sunday we stopped in, they had a free hotdog and taco bar....free! They also had $1 wings and ribs.... we ordered both and steamed shrimp, everything was so good. I love their shrimp! Can't wait to go back!

    Cool ambience
    Dave F.

    First time, we had excellent service..Thank You Brendan. I had the steak salad and wow was that amazingly huge. My wife, daughter and her friend had the shrimp scampi. Portions were huge and the three could have shared one entree of Shrimp scampi..LOL. The shrimp scampi was very good, all 3 enjoyed their meal. Garlic toast was awesome. Our server Brendan was fantastic. Thank You . Sadly no room for desert.

    It's a sample beer!!
    Melissa W.

    Went for Happy Hour, the older bald heavy set bartender definitely didn't know how to be happy. Before I sat down it was what can I get you...anyway.... 1/2 dozen wings mango habanero excellent flavor, just the right amount of crispy...me, next time something hotter!! Dozen shrimp , probably last year's, but large, good flavor served with butter, cocktail sauce and lemon. Most were hard to peel which is why I say last year's catch, plus season isn't open yet. I really thought the bar was going to be loud and packed, busy, but the level of the music was perfect to have a conversation. Prices on the menu weren't bad, parking lot was filling up as I was leaving. Oh live music too!

    Jolly's Stuffed Flounder
    Amanda A.

    We have a party of people with multiple food allergies and rarely to never eat at seafood restaurants. However with the Italian menu we wanted to find out if we could find some seafood-free options for those who needed it. The server Haley is extremely attentive and courteous to diners of all ages and assisted with the many allergy questions. Thank you Jolly Roger for accommodating everyone. We will recommend to everyone.

    Crab cake appetizer
    Alicia M.

    Ambiance screams party in a box! Which was contrasted by the smaller bar on the side with amazing stained glass windows. This nook is hidden gem apart from the loud hustle and bustle of the main floor to the right. Stopped in for appetizers and a drink, not expecting anything too fancy. So I asked the bartender, Bo what he would recommend and he was SO excited to share the house crab cake. The crab cake covered in cheese and sitting on top of a corn grit cake exceeded expectations! It was also serve with a side of garlic bread to scoop up the gooey cheese and was SO rich and decadent that I had to share!

    #OBxGirlsTrip2025. With Mary, Janet and Elizabeth.
    Laura C.

    It was open. Our server tried but she was sick or something and her running nose and eyes were a huge turnoff. It is what it is. No need to go back. Nothing very special. I would be afraid to eat the buffet.

    Fun sign when you walk into the restaurant.
    Teresa G.

    Service was awesome, food was good. Enjoyed the atmosphere. Pretzel appetizer was great. Lots of free parking.

    Julie R.

    The back bar is the greatest experience you could ever imagine. From the manager to the staff; everyone was beyond kind, attentive, and awesome! Highly recommend this place for a good time!! Ask for a backwards happy birthday it's so worth it!!

    Clearly not penne pasta and not a vodka cream sauce
    Michelle S.

    The service and food quality was the worst I had ever experienced. Our server ghosted us and put in the wrong order. I got the shrimp & scallop alla vodka and here is what it said I would get " Shrimp & Scallops alla Vodka - Jumbo shrimp & scallops sautéed with garlic and Roma tomatoes in a vodka cream sauce with crimini mushrooms & penne pasta" i got 3 small shrimp, and 6 fake scallops with macaroni pasta and a sauce that was not far from kraft MAC packets.

    Broiled Combination Platter (fillet of flounder, scallops, shrimps, oysters and crab cake)

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    7 months ago

    food good, service horrible.. Justin forgot to put our soup in. The same happened with a couple next to us. Soup came after the entrée.

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    7 months ago

    Loved Jolly Roger! Breakfast was hearty, lunch was delicious, and the staff made us feel right at home. A must-visit in the Outer Banks!

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    Page 1 of 19

    Ask the Community - The Jolly Roger Restaurant and Bar

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    I simply cannot believe it has been nine years since we lunched at Two Roads. Since that time they…read moremoved to their new location in the former Longboards. I talked Ms T into trying it again. We just can't handle a big lunch and wanted to avoid leftovers, so decided to split a pickle brined chicken sandwich with fries and an extra side of slaw. The sandwich was OK. To start with it needed more seasoning. How about breaking out the black pepper and garlic powder? The meat was uncharacteristically tough/chewy for chicken breast. I suggest they need to be pounding it to tenderize it and then brine it. It was actually hard for us to cut and eat. It really looked nice, but I think I am done with pickle brined chicken. It just never gets enough brine impact. They make good small caliber fries that were piping hot and the slaw was fine for me. Ms T did not care for it so I got it all. Our food was OK, not stellar. The service was excellent, but I still can't make this better than three stars. I hope to convince her to return for a burger during this trip.

    The Jolly Roger Restaurant and Bar - steak - Updated May 2026

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