Important, if you are searching for a kid-friendly restaurant (using the kid-friendly filter on yelp), this is not your place. The best they could offer a child is a buttered-noodle dish and lemonade; no milk, no burger, and no changing station (which led to an awkward diaper situation in the tiny parking lot with people wanting our space when we weren't really leaving). I would also say this restaurant is more like a $$$ restaurant. Otherwise - this place is AMAZING! The outdoor seating is lovely and quaint. The bread and butter prior to our meal were on point - a pretzel type bread, very soft, with a sweet butter. We were offered a variety of delicious cocktails and drafts. I really enjoyed the rum punch. We went for the shrimp and grits - with 5 generously-sized shrimp, cheesy grits and a yummy red-eye sauce. We also had what one member of our party describe the tomato pie as pizza in a bowl. To top it all off, we enjoyed the salmon special, and although the salmon was a tiny bit dry, the sweet potato purée all but made up for it. Overall, we would come here again, just more prepared with food from home for our kids. read more

This place is getting 3 stars only bc my boyfriend said he had the best BLT of his life here. Well done. The clam chowder was great-I finished the cup. Had that been where things ended, I'd probably leave a 5. Roadside, you lose two points for A.) not having an Appetizer Menu, B.) not having fries, and C.) serving me the worst version of Shrimp & Grits I have ever seen and tasted. I'm a southern girl. I have had it in plenty of places with a few change ups. Never have I ever Had it served with the "Grits" as an upside down cup with bits of red chopped peppers, HAM chunks, and shrimps with tails still on them parading around this ridiculous mound of Instant Grits while in ham water. So I pulled the tails off my own shrimp, and a loose something or other hanging off the back of one, and tried to stomach this. I'm used to a well spiced meal on ground corn with andouille and some heat. Roadside, take your "Shrimp & Grits" off the menu until you can get a real cook in there to show the ropes. read more

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LOVE this local spot - we have been coming here for over 15 years. It has become a bit busier over the years and now has an outside beer garden area, which is great for a night out. The food is ALWAYS delicious (the key lime pie is to die for). read more

Yes, lets just get this out of the way, the prices are on the higher side, but in our opinion it's so worth it! Last time around we both got great cocktails to accompany the Sea Scallops and Tuna Sashimi which as always were wonderful. We then the grilled swordfish special and a bottle of wine and left with full stomachs of great food. Definitely worth stopping if you're in the area! read more

We visit Roadside Grill probably every other vacation season. The lunches I think are way better than the dinners. We most recently visited for dinner. What was strange was the dining area was not at all busy and we were sat in a booth by the bar. This was fine but a little strange. The food was fantastic on this visit, with grilled halibut and tuna. The served us some warm bread and yummy butter before. The prices are definitely high and "touristy". They did accommodate for our kids as they really DONT HAVE A KIDS MENU at this restaurant. I would come back but probably just hit lunch. read more

This restaurant was incredible. Not only was the atmosphere totally cute with a waiting area to die for...I could have waited much longer! They call it the back side bar. It has outdoor tables, chairs, live music, corn hole, ladder ball, an outdoor chalk board mural, and it's own bar. The even had a projector and a movie screen. What's even better, they had popcorn for all sprinkled with an Old Bay type seasoning...delish!!! This was all before we got to the meal. The entrees were fabulous. We ordered a plethora of things: Paella- incredible, a must have. Soooo good Lobster - the best we've had, steamed and whole Seafood penne - phenomenal. Al dente pasta with the freshest seafood around Crab Cakes - ahhhhh! Yummy too We had zero room for dessert and that was ok. This restaurant was pricy but worth EVERY penny. read more

Roadside Bar and Grill - Back Side Bar at night - Seafood Near Me - Kitty Hawk, North Carolina

Visiting my daughter so this is NOT my usual business trip review. Today I am shopping in Duck NC and had lunch at at Roadside based on recommendation from a local. Marley was a great waitress and my Caesar with blackened shrimp was delicious. The shrimp were good sized, fresh and cooked perfectly i.e. NOT over cooked !! Decor was interesting with sea glass art and cozy welcoming atmosphere inside. Looks like I need to come back for night time entertainment at their "backside bar". FUN!! read more

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Solid lunch place. Neat atmosphere. Fish tacos were great, turkey and Brie good. Good spot to relax and refuel in Duck. read more

Roadside Bar and Grill - Seafood Near Me - Kitty Hawk, North Carolina

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Absolute banger of a meal. I had fish tacos and they were superb. Highly recommend this joint

We went there today for lunch. Don't waste your time. I ordered a well vodka soda and they charged me $9! I got the burger and ordered it well done. It was well done on outside but raw and bloody inside. My fiancé ordered the fish tacos on the bartender recommendation. They were not good and the rice that came with it was a frozen ball of rice. We sat at bar and the cooks don't use gloves and they aren't washing hands as they switch items. Poor food and very over priced. read more

Our family of 9 loved this place. Each one of us. The flavors of the warm mushroom salad were perfect. The crab cakes were 100% lump with just enough filler to hold it together. And the paella had fresh seafood with rich flavor. Every dish we had was so great and fresh! We also really enjoyed the ambiance of the place as well. Cool unassuming bar with unique artwork. We are definitely coming back on our next summer vacation! read more

My favorite spot in Duck. Never disappointed. Live the Backyard Bar. Live music and great food.

I am a long time patron of Roadside Cafe and every time I go, I always wish I hadn't. Yeah, some of the food is good (for the outerbanks.... which generally is lacking) but the service and management is absolutely terrible. I'm not one to complain about service, especially when the food is good, but Roadside pushes my buttons. Where to start...there have been so many separate incidents that I'll only name a few. One time my father made a reservation for a large group of his buddies in the off season(months in advance), and come the week of their reservation Roadside decided they wouldn't accommodate such a large party anymore...no apologies. jerks. Just two nights ago my father called in a take out order (something they refuse to do after about 7 at night because they get too busy to put food in boxes for their loyal patrons) for a salad which he added a grilled chicken breast to along with two other dishes. He got to Roadside and he saw that they did not put the chicken on my salad. Apparently they couldn't do it or they didn't have chicken...some bs like that. He asked if they could put tuna on the salad and they said they didn't have tuna, instead they had swordfish (I think). He asked for swordfish on the salad and they said they couldn't do that. So he left, once again disenchanted and resentful of Roadside's inflexible and rude customer service. Trust me, these are just two of MANY MANY MANY horrible and aggravating Roadside incidents. Roadside doesn't care about their customers because there will always be clueless tourists to take your place, so PLEASE boycott Roadside out of principle. It's almost like my family has been in an abusive relationship for about 15 years with Roadside...one that we just keep coming back to. MARK MY WORDS ROADSIDE, that was the last mediocre meal you will ever serve me. read more

I can't believe this place is only ranked 3.5 stars. That is insane. This is a restaurant we go to in Duck every time we visit, and its a local gem. Small and cozy, super friendly staff, good selection of beer and wine and excellent food. Most reviewers here have mentioned the shrimp and grits. I am in complete agreement. You'll love it. On our last visit, for $8 I got a HUGE and excellent bbq pork sandwich. I felt like I was robbing them at that price. Delicious. My daughters like to split the BLT, and my wife of course got the shrimp and grits. It was by far the best meal we had on our trip that week. Definitely stop by the Roadside if you're in town. You won't be disappointed. read more

So I stopped by after a fun time at the beach with some friends on our spring break vacation, just to be treated with no respect, not even acknowledged by the staff of this restaurant for 15 minutes, only to be finally acknowledged when leaving the restaurant, with the server thanking us for leaving their establishment, just truly poor customer service that I will never come back to or ever recommend to another. read more

Great food and service, but a bit expensive. I considered a 4-star rating due to the price, but that's not the restaurant's fault. It should be a $$$ listing, not $$. Apps were about $16 and entrees were in the $25-35 range. Tomato pie was interesting and good, but was really more of a novelty as it's a local thing in OBX. We had the jambalaya and the shrimp & salmon. The jambalaya was nothing like a traditional New Orleans jambalaya, but was seriously delicious. It was more of a seafood stew with shrimp, fresh clams in the shell and a tomato based spicy rice broth. It was almost like "jambalaya meets cioppino". If you like fresh seafood and spicy food, this is a good choice. The shrimp and salmon came with fresh steamed asparagus and a creamy scuppernong sauce. The salmon was large and cooked perfectly. The shrimp were juicy and tender. Oh, there were also cheesy grits that were creamy and flavorful. Our 1-year-old son also really loved the grits. Speaking of our son, there isn't a kids menu, but when we asked for some penne with Parmesan, the waiter immediately agreed that they could easily accommodate us. Our kiddo was a happy diner. They don't have high chairs, but if you bring your own booster (the kind that strap to a chair and has a seat belt) the chairs on the patio fit easily and work just like at grandma's house. read more

If you're looking for the BEST steamed shrimp on the Outer Banks, this is your spot! I'm not even exaggerating. We drive all the way from Nags Head for it. We've spent 20+ years visiting the OBX and always come here, sometimes more than once. The seafood never disappoints, and the vegetarian loves the Roadside salad with pistachios, cranberries, and a raspberry vinaigrette. A very funky decor inside and out adds to the charm. read more

We were shopping in the Scarborough Lane and Faire shops and realized we were hungry, but not quite done. I had eyed the Roadside Raw Bar and Grill a few times when we'd passed by (so cute!), so we decided to walk over and grab a quick bite to eat before we finished up shopping. It had been a dreary morning, but the sun came out a bit in the afternoon. We told the hostess we'd like a table outside, so she told us it would be a short wait. Within about ten minutes, the table had been cleared and we made our way down to the patio. In that time, we had the opportunity to watch a very disorganized waitstaff running around like chickens with their heads cut off and snapping at each other. While they were fairly busy, it was obviously just a lunchtime rush and would shortly be over. Moreover, when your poor attitude is visible to the customer, you're making a bad impression... We stuck around, but that probably should've been our first clue to just pack up and pick somewhere else nearby. Once seated on the patio, it took about 10 minutes to get waters and put in our drink orders and food. We did it all at once since we had a feeling that it would be a little while. It was a full half hour (after the 10 minute wait to put in the order) before we actually got our drinks. I went through two glasses of water just waiting for my drink. He had the mojito, which was nothing impressive, while I had the Roadside Special (I think that's the name), which was actually incredible! I would've probably ordered another if I thought I'd get it before I was finished with my meal and ready to go. We waited a full hour for our food to arrive. He ordered the lobster roll, I had the special, the crabcake sandwich. Both dishes were surprisingly delicious! I really enjoyed the pasta salad as well. We asked for the check as soon as the food came and she brought it to us as we finished our meals. All in all, it took us at least an hour and a half to get in and out, which is absurd given it was after 1pm when we arrived and we only ordered 2 drinks and 2 sandwiches. Our waitress was friendly, but that really didn't make up for the excessive wait. I'd eat here again and have a fondness of it, mostly just because it's in Duck, but I'll make sure that there's no one else in the joint before I step foot inside and crack a menu again. read more

We were happy with our visit to the Roadside Bar and Grill. We waited half an hour for our table and had drinks while waiting, which were great! The bathroom situation left a lot to be desired. They were dirty and not easily accessible. However, customer service was simply okay. Our waiter was inexperienced and seemed rushed. I ordered the ribeye and was not impressed, it was over cooked and over priced. Despite this the fun environment was great to be around! read more

My friends and I were stuck in some horrendous beach traffic on the way to Corolla, and our stomachs were letting us know that they weren't pleased with the delay either. So, we stopped in Duck and decided on Roadside for a late lunch. We waited about 10 minutes but then were seated and served quickly. We tried the IPA on draft per our waitress' suggestion and it was a big hit. The rest of our orders included the chicken salad, shrimp and grits, salmon salad, crab cake sandwich special, a bowl of the clam chowder, and a Caesar salad. All were quite good and the portion size was good for the price. We had thought that eating at a touristy spot in Duck might mean higher prices but they were very reasonable ($9-$17). Our waitress was very nice and helpful, and the service was prompt -- the six of us were there for less than 1.5 hrs on a Sunday afternoon in the summer. Next summer I wouldn't hesitate to return! read more

My wife and I first went to Roadside Raw Bar and Grill about a year ago and loved it (I had Tilefish for the first time, can't remember what she had). This year we went again and were really blown away by the amazingness of it all. (Wham Bam Thank You Ma'am!) My boo ordered the special, (Crab cakes that were GIANT) and I ordered the "Jambalaya" veering out or my comfort zone in an Audi convertible, and let me tell you folks, that shit was fantastic! I felt like a wild stallion on the beaches of Corolla hooting and haying!! We shared a Caesar salad which was also pretty killer. So so good. I wanted to shake the chefs hand (but was politely declined as the waitress noticed some food on my face). I was more than pleased with everything about this restaurant and it is quickly becoming a favorite of ours when we visit the Outer Banks. Oh! and we had a bottle of the Hullabaloo Zinfandel which left us speechless with its boundless intensity and fruity goodness! BOOYAH! I would recommend this place to anyone. Great stuff. Sincerely, Me. read more

There are different sides to my review. The first about the food, the second about the service. Before I begin my family (just my wife, my 4 year old daughter, and I) went to roadside for dinner on a Friday evening at 7:00. The inside had a thirty minute wait but they could seat us immediately outside. We opted for outside as we had a 4 year old with us. My wife and I both chose the rockfish and my daughter had the only kids option available which was a plate of penne pasta with butter and Parmesan cheese. The food was incredible. I give it five stars. Now for the service. I am not exaggerating when I say it took 1 hour and 20 minutes from the time we ordered to the time the food came to the table. The waiter walked by about a dozen times during that period and never explained or apologized to us. Other tables complained and he kept giving the excuse that they are under staffed and really busy. I'm sorry but excuses don't cut it for me. If things are that bad you offer a complimentary beverage or at least go to each table and apologize and explain what is going on. He never did any of that. When we received the check I was hoping for at least my daughters 4.99 pasta to be taken off but no, everything was on there for full price and again no apologies. Despite the fact that the food was good I just can't imagine myself going back. Had they made any attempt to rectify the situation they would have had a customer for life, instead they get this review and a promise never to return. If the owner is reading this review I hope they learn some basic customer service and train their staff on how to handle these types of situations. read more

Other than Duck Donuts, which doesn't really qualify as a "restaurent". this place was my favorite establishment during our recent one week trip to Duck. The restaurent is in the heart of Duck, and has both indoor and outdoor seating. I enjoyed both the food and the atmosphere. My shrimp and grits was excellent - I haven't had grits too often, but these were by far the best I have had. The shrimp were fresh and crisp. My son's duck (go figure) was cooked perfectly medium rare to order, and was delicious. My wife, three kids and I all cleaned our plates. Quality food cooked by a real chef - what a treat. Several of the "touristy" restaurants in town are not this way. We ate outdoors on a perfect night, and the atmosphere with the overhanging vegetation and Christmas lights, as well as the live music, was wonderful. Very good beer and wine selection, and my wife's Cosmo was also very good. The wait staff was friendly and efficient, and even our expected 45 minute wait for a table was only about 15 minutes. Not cheap, but worth every penny. read more

Great food and great beverages-- they even have a bottle of chateauneuf/white on their wine list -- you dont see that unless you are in southern France. Its a small, casual gem of a place -- dont bring a large party and ruin it... No rezzys either. Had a great grouper entree special, others were happy with steaks, lobster, salads, and even a paella. Not too expensive for fine dining, but if you want cheap go elsewhere. read more

Food was top notch, atmosphere is great and cozy! Everything tastes so fresh and delicious! If we are ever in the area again we will be making a stop here again for sure! read more

Roadside Bar and Grill - Excellent food, will definitely come back again!!! - Seafood Near Me - Kitty Hawk, North Carolina

If you don't have any other choices for drinks pick this place last. Leave the kids at home and sit outside. Call ahead to see if they have a band. We enjoyed Tuesday night. Good service and great band. Wednesday night was totally different in a bad way. Bartender (blond female) was awful and had a bad attitude. Wednesday night band was not our style (country twangy?). We left after one overpriced beer. Why does a normal bottle of beer cost $5 here? Check out Coastal Cravings right down the street instead. read more

Roadside Bar and Grill - @ the bar - Seafood Near Me - Kitty Hawk, North Carolina

They didn't have high chairs... I thought this was odd for such a family friendly area. We had to leave. Cant say much about the food.

Probably the best restaurant (taste and service) of our Duck vacation. Great food, shorter than expected wait time, and while waiting, you can enjoy cold beverages in a very cool backyard bar area with adult and kid friendly games. Would absolutely return if staying longer and in need of another dining destination. read more

My husband and I stopped here on a Tuesday afternoon...the day after Labor Day. It was around 1:30pm when we got there and it was still very busy. It looked like there were only two people waiting tables, so we ended up waiting for about 15 minutes before we were sat. It ended up being worth the wait. We split a salad which had a delicious raspberry vinaigrette. I had the BLT which was pretty good, and my husband had the shrimp and grits. He very much enjoyed it, though it was different than any shrimp and grits we've had. It had ham and a red gravy....different but enjoyable. The service was good even though they were rushed. Good food, casual atmosphere, good service. We'll definitely be back when we are in the Outer Banks next year. read more

This is an excellent restaurant! From the clam appetizers, pimento cheese, shrimp and grits, and even the duck, the food is fabulous. The atmosphere is very small and quaint, rustic, too! If you enjoy small, intimate, personal, feel like you're in a small town restaurant, this is a place you want to visit. They do not take reservations, but worth the wait! read more

Roadside Bar and Grill - Seafood Near Me - Kitty Hawk, North Carolina

How do you spell disappointment? Roadside bar and Grill. We stopped in as it's one of the few restaurants open until 10 in the area. He ordered the shrimp and grits, I got a ceasar salad and a bowl of clam chowder. The $12 shrimp and grits was super small, fairly tasteless and disappointing at best. The ceasar salad was bland as anything, and the clam chowder tasted like snot. The coke was also super off tastewise, and the waiter was Curt and seemed annoyed to have to wait on us. We definitely won't be back. read more

A quaint little roadside eatery with impressive food for cheap. A vacationers "should try out" place for a relaxed lunch/dinner. This place has by far the best tasting jambalaya I have tasted in my life. Cooked perfectly with chicken, chorizo and tomatoes and served on a bed of rice, I was done with the whole thing in like 5 minutes. Crab cake sandwich was the choice of the other diner and little nibbles that I was given tasted solid. And wha better to drink than unlimited cold ice tea when the sun is beating down at 90+ F. Tasted too good to be from the powder. They also stocked some quality beer which might be the second best thing to have in the heat. Ultimately a place I would love to go to again but realize will not be in the near future. read more

This was a horrible place! Not kid friendly at all!!! The literally have no kid friendly items - sorry my kids don't eat tuna and duck . When we asked if we could eat but bring outside good in for our daughter we were rudely told no ! I explained they had no kid food but they didn't care read more

Most meals were very good, and the desserts were fantastic. A little pricey but food met expectations. Crab cakes weren't as lumpy as stated by the waitress but still good. Service staff was friendly. Wasn't great for small child since there was no highchair, only a booster seat. read more

We come here every time we're in Duck. The food is just fantastic. Best crab cakes I've ever had...and I make a point of trying them all over the place. Last night I opted for the special- grilled Cajun flounder with spicy grits and their delicious remoulade. It was perfect, I can't think of a single thing I would change. We had scallops and sashimi tuna apps. Scallops were fresh and seared beautifully. Sashimi stands up to what I am used to from Hawaii, so...pretty damn good. My brother had the rib-eye and it was cooked really well, but he wished he had gone for seafood. It really does shine here. Please keep in mind that your food is being prepared in a quaint kitchen by 2 guys who are really putting their heart into it. Don't expect a quick in and out. Make an experience of your meal. Take the time to relax and enjoy your evening. Decent wine and beer selection. Service is friendly and reliable. Highly recommend! read more

Came a bit early for dinner before live music and had a fantastic meal. Wife had a spring salad and scallops- perfectly done , she said they were wonderful. I had the special-Parmesan encrusted fish, heavenly and melt in your mouth. Nice presentation and all flavors seemed to lightly blend together. Server was very attentive, we ate quickly because we wanted to catch the band. Great atmosphere in the backyard, all kinds of folks, hippies, locals, tourists, families with small kids and a great band. Very cool hangout, can't wait to come back for another meal and some tunes!! Pics with YETI too, wahoo! read more

What an amazing place, I had their chicken salad and my husband the tuna melt...was the best either of us had ever had. The staff was friendly, and the atmosphere and decor unique making it an extraordinary experience. This will be our place to go whenever we are in Duck...try it, you won't be disappointed! read more

Roadside Bar and Grill - Seafood Near Me - Kitty Hawk, North Carolina

This fun, funky place with yummy drinks and truly delicious food is a must for our annual OBX treks!! Super unique and always a treat!

We tried the BBQ sliders and burgers, both very very good. Good quality food and nice atmosphere. Plus, the service was quick and waiters and waitresses very friendly. Special mention for the homemade baked beans were out of this world, we gave compliments to the chef! If you are driving to the outer banks and can't find a good restaurant or a quick service restaurant if you need to drop by, I would highly recommend this restaurant. read more

Great outdoor seating with plenty of ambience. Service was second to none from the moment we walked in the door, courteous, knowledgeable, and attentive. The low country boil was very tasty, and the crab cakes may be the best I've ever had, anywhere. Would definitely come back. read more