Our dinner was delicious!! The service was friendly and prompt... Rusty came out to see if we were pleased with our dinners. ... We had a pleasant evening with Belinda, our waitress and the ambience was lovely. Definitely will recommend family and friends to visit Rusty's while on vacation!! thank you!!! Christina and Paul read more

We come here often, usually twice during our twice-yearly visits to OBX. We always enjoy it but were especially pleased with our visit last Friday night. The calamari appetizer was I think the best fried calamari I've ever had--especially tender, breaded with the lightest coating and fried to perfection. The shrimp and grits, which we have ordered each trip since Rusty put it on the menu, was the best ever and also the best version I can remember. All in all, an excellent meal! Adding to our pleasurable experience was our server, Belinda, who was funny and delightful as well as attentive. And to top things off, Rusty visited our table to check on our satisfaction. A good evening. My husband always enjoys the craft beers available on tap. If I had one quibble, it would be to up their game a bit in the wines available by the glass. The white wines, at least are pretty lackluster. But a small price to pay for an overall excellent experience. read more

Ate here this evening and was pleased with the experience. I started with the clam chowder which was really good but a bit saltier than I would have liked. For our entrees, I had the cobia and my wife had the seared tuna. Both were very good and the portion size was very generous. Our waiter was friendly and engaging. The restaurant itself is trying hard to be upscale, but the building is a bit tired and misses that mark. All in all, we had a wonderful meal for a reasonable price. Give it a try. read more

Rusty's Surf & Turf - Cobia - Seafood Near Me - Buxton, North Carolina

See all

all right, iv been waiting to review this place all week... made the reservations, and finally got a chance to make it happen and we ran the gambit... fancy blueberry lavender Cosmo $12 appetizer of calamari $13 shrimp scampi $27 shrimp linguine $25 and the cobia Korean style...$29 Let me start off by saying I walked out of there with $115 bill after tax, for all that flavor we felt satisfied .... the above fed a family of five (3 kids) comfortably of course I made sure everybody ate salad before we left the house, and the wife and I ate fancy cheese and crackers, w canned codfish from ABC + Jose Gourmet, and drank a bottle of $12 pinot noir....all before we went to the restaurant but all in all the place was good. I would probably recommend the shrimp linguine over everything - it had the best flavors.... calamari was OK... It was good - honestly I wasn't mad at it. I wasn't singing to the top of my lungs about it, but it fit the bill. That's what we expected. Would i go back...no. but it was good. thanks for being open and serving good foood. Thanks. read more

See all

Annually we make a dinner reservation at Rusty's Love the fact that you can make reservations We ordered the fried feta & wings both great! The feta is a fav of ours - unique & delicious The group ordered- crab cakes & cobra specials the fried fish & shrimp Everything was so good we overindulged and unfortunately had no room for their homemade desserts The service was spectacular - it was like everyone worked in tandem to make our visit enjoyable Love the casual beachy vibe read more

We pulled in here after getting a massage. It was getting on towards dinner time and I looked them up on Yelp. I had the shrimp scampi and my partner had the tuna. Both were delicious. Service was excellent. Prices were reasonable. Would definitely visit again. read more

Phenomenal little place tucked off the side of the main road as we were headed back from Ocracoke. Staff was EXTREMELY friendly and helpful. My wife even made a comment that the woman that helped us may have been the best we have ever encountered. To start, I got the seafood chowder. I was a little nervous at first as it looked very bland. Not even close. It was so flavorful and packed with ingredients. We also had wings and fried cheese that we all shared. Wings were excellent and the fried cheese isn't like the obvious frozen stuff they give us back here in NJ. You can tell this was freshly made and the real deal. For dinner, I had to get the shrimp and grits that I've been reading about. Packed with fresh shrimp and once again, everything was fresh and flavorful. Just a hint of spiciness to it. I loved it! The kid got the ribs which must've been good as he finished them off quickly and my wife got the NY Strip which I snuck a piece of and it was excellent. Very tender and flavorful. We unfortunately didn't have room for dessert but from A-Z, Rusty's brought their "A" Game. read more

See all

We came here last year and loved it. I tried the special, Briased short ribs with cheese ravioli. It was so good. The ribs were so tender and done well. My wife got the Shrimp and Grits. For some it seems a little pricey but it is worth it. Our waitress did a great job with our meals and keeping our drinks filled. read more

Rusty's Surf & Turf - Shrimp and Grits - Seafood Near Me - Buxton, North Carolina

See all

Outstanding hidden gem in Buxton. You owe it to yourself to find it! I say "hidden" because it's hard to see heading south, but GOS will take you right there. The chef/owner Rusty Midgett, has experience in many different cuisines and has put some fantastic flavors on the local seafood populating the menu. We started with the calamari and tempura shrimp appetizers, which were delicious. The entrees included fried shrimp, shrimp & grits, surf & turf, and a shrimp linguine. The shrimp were fresh, local and perfectly breaded. The shrimp & grits was a creamy sauce with ham and local sausage and lots of fresh shrimp. My only concern there was wanting more of the grits, which were delicious. The shrimp linguine had a great flavor, but the sauce was a little heavy. Still - delicious, but the pasta was lost a little. The filet and shrimp were simply delightful. On top of all that, there were good wines, tasty local craft brews and great cocktails. And the homemade desserts! Truly "icing on the cake." The restaurant has a laid-back surf vibe, and while the food says 'fine dining', there's a cozy island comfort to the restaurant. Next time, I'm going we can dine out on the porch and enjoy the fine local weather. read more

See all

"Good luck finding food somewhere else tonight." That's what Rusty, the owner told us after a horrible experience in his restaurant Labor Day weekend. Seated at 7:30, husband and I with our 5-year-old. Ten minutes for a server to approach our table. Another ten minutes to receive a draft beer-only after flagging down the server. An additional 35 minutes to receive a cold dip appetizer (so salty we couldn't finish it) and a cheese quesadilla for our son, oh and they forgot the fries that came with it. Server comes to table 5 minutes later to inform us they are out of my meal. Do I want anything else. No. Just another beer. At 8:45 husband's meal still not here. Flagged down another sever to request the check (we hadn't seen ours in over a half hour) for what we had received and a box for our son's meal. Our sever finally returns, sits down at the table, so sorry, so busy, kitchen so behind. Really? Eight top table behind us and seated after us is eating dessert right now. Owner comes to table with excuses, other restaurants are closed tonight, busy holiday weekend, good luck eating elsewhere tonight. Jerk. Just bring the check, we're full on garlic bread and have leftovers from delicious meal at Ketch 55 the night before (highly recommended). Paid our bill and left. Absolutely ruined our night. Never again. I know they have great reviews, but they unapologetically, completely missed the mark with us. I've worked oceanfront seafood restaurants before...by Labor Day you should be a well oiled machine. read more

We enjoyed this restaurant!! The food was great and the service was lovely! We'll be coming back !

The food was very good (shrimp and grits and shrimp linguine) and the service was excellent. We will be back!

My wife and I chose to come here for a nice dinner while on vacation a couple weeks ago and we absolutely loved it! We wanted to dine somewhere nice to celebrate a special moment in our lives and Rusty's was perfect. We really loved the decor and how laid back it felt and the food was excellent! Our waiter was amazing and incredibly kind. Whenever we come back to the Outer Banks, we will definitely be back. read more

Rusty's Surf & Turf - Seafood Near Me - Buxton, North Carolina

THIS is the place! Amazing food, beautiful location, clean bathrooms, friendly service. The best dinner in OBX. Will absolutely be back. read more

See all

Fantastic experience and food. Owner and staff were outstanding, gregarious, and welcoming from the second we walked the door on a very busy evening on Fourth of July week. Capped off the meal with some of the best desserts I've ever had. read more

We have been visiting the Outer Banks for years. We had never tried Rusty's previously and it's a shame we waited so long. We made a reservation online (which is amazing during the in season). Our table was ready and waiting for us. Staff was super nice and accommodating. Drinks were strong and tasty. Food was more than amazing. We have and will continue to recommend Rusty's to all of our friends and family who vacation down 12S. Can't wait for our next trip! read more

See all

The service was excellent, super friendly staff especially Donald, he was awesome. The food was fresh and fast and sitting outside was really nice. The deck is elevated so the bugs weren't really a problem. Will definitely be coming back here again! read more

They were able to fit us in on a busy day without reservations. Food was good and I will be back.

The place is very good and cozy, my husband and I sat outside, perfect for a summer day, the service and food were excellent.

We came @ 7PM on a Sunday, after making a reservation earlier. (It closes at 8; not 9) They were already sold out of some selections, but we were content with Steak & a cashew vegetable stir-fry-- cooked to perfection! It is the beach, so there are stairs to climb to come in, but also a ramp to the far right. Outdoor seating available, but was all full when we came. We were the only table in the bar area, and were immediately waited on. An experiment to be repeated, hopefully. The prices online were lower by a couple of dollars than the actual menu. read more

Some of the best food we've ever had! Let me preface by saying we live in Charleston and have had shrimp and grits everywhere.... Rusty's has the best we've ever had. Their in house made key lime pie is incredible. The cocktails were made to perfection (blueberry Lavender Mezcal Margarita was phenomenal). Staff was super friendly and just an all round amazing experience. read more

Don't pass by Outer Banks best Restaurant . Rusty's has it all from hamburgers to seared tuna to shrimp and grits to steak. Specialty cocktails and draft beers Children's menus Homemade desserts Two services not provide by many restaurants on Hatteras Island : Open on Sundays Reservations accepted Dianne and Bill We enjoyed a delicious meal on June 21 and will definitely return ! read more

This was our last meal on our vacation and we definitely saved the best for last. The drinks my wife and I ordered were fun and delicious. The vibe of Rusty's is very cool. I had the shrimp and grits and it was the best I've ever had. The grits alone were amazing! My wife's shrimp meal was great as well. The service was awesome and the servers and staff made you feel like you were a priority. Next outer banks trip Rusty's is where we are going first(and maybe last as well) Great meal, great service, great ambience! read more

Best of all 3, really enjoyed their food. Very down to earth environment, we arrived with 30 min till closing and never felt rushed.

This was the first visit to Rusty's Surf & Turf for my wife and myself. All of the staff could not have been any friendlier or genuine. There were plenty of daily specials on top of a wonderful menu to choose from. We ordered 1 item from the daily special and 1 from the regular menu, as well as an appetizer each. Each item ordered was cooked to perfection and did not require additional seasoning. The lobster bisque is the best I've had anywhere. This holds true for the shrimp and grits also. We really felt welcomed and valued. I highly suggest you give them a visit. you will not be disappointed. read more

This place is a solid 4/5 on all counts. The name is a bit misleading though, as there is no actual surf AND turf option on the menu, which was a bit disappointing for me personally, as I was really looking forward to ordering an entree that combines meat and seafood. My fiance and I decided to make a dinner reservation here when it became clear that this was pretty much the only good restaurant that was open on July 4 in our area. And while overall we were not disappointed, we were not blown away either. We were seated right away and placed our order quickly However, it took quite a while for us to get our food (probably because they were busier than usual), though the drinks came quickly. The menu is Hawaiian-inspired, with both meat and fish options on the menu. However, I was a bit disappointed not to see any true surf and turf entree--you had to choose between meat or fish. Also, the only steak option is very expensive--whereas most entrees range between roughly $20-27, the steak costs a staggering $49, if I'm not mistaken (it's market price, so the price may vary from day to day). I would highly recommend the tuna steak for the entree, which was cooked perfectly, seared on the outside, rare on the inside. For my appetizer I chose fried green tomatoes, which exceeded my expectations (I was also trying this southern staple for the very first time!). Drinks are decently priced, with very boozy cocktails, at $10 a piece, worth the money. There is both indoor and outdoor seating, though there isn't much of a view from the outdoor tables. The ambiance is casual. Overall, I'd recommend this place, but hopefully they introduce a true surf AND turf item to their menu sometime soon. read more

Not good. The crab dip appetizer had very little flavor. If we didn't have the salty chips for dipping, it would have been blah. The entree was horrible! Shrimp fettuccine... it contained ingredients that were not on the menu... green peppers, red peppers and what appeared to be Kale. All this made the sauce taste horrible. I tried to eat it, I really did but ended up leaving 75%. read more

This restaurant was the best decision we have ever made! Not only was our waitress LIZA the best but she was so knowledgeable about the things on the menu and basically the entire state! She was able to help us with activities we wanted to know more about and was able to give us her honest opinion as a local! We wish more waitresses were like Liza! She was awesome! In addition to that the food and the drinks were great at a reasonable price! The food and drinks were just as awesome as their amazing southern hospitality! If you're looking for a place to eat this is definitely the one! read more

Rusty's Surf & Turf - Shrimp fettuccini - Seafood Near Me - Buxton, North Carolina

Popped in for lunch. Best beer batter fish and chips I've had in a decade! Very local. Very friendly. Super yummy. thanks Rusty!

I moved here about a month ago and have eaten here twice. The food is sooo good! Loved the calamari (crispiest I have ever had) and the seared tuna. Being Korean I was impressed with the Asian influence in some of the dishes. Will definitely go back! read more

Rusty's Surf & Turf - Pam seared tuna - Seafood Near Me - Buxton, North Carolina

We ate at this cute little key lime restaurant on vacation. I had the Kuhu shrimp and my hubby had shrimp and grits. Both were perfectly prepared and attractively presented. Our server Laura could not have been sweeter. And the key lime pie was just the right ending to our meal. read more

Rusty's Surf & Turf - Seafood Near Me - Buxton, North Carolina

UPDATE: I will say I am impressed by Rusty the owner, who took the time to contact me and let me know the issues will be corrected as well as offered me an additional meal on him. Rusty said it was server error in not informing us that they did have ribeye and sirloin steaks for service that night. ORIGINAL: Ok let me preface this by saying this is what happens when you order non-seafood from a seafood restaurant... The decor was lovely, art for sale. One of the only restaurants around that was a nicer looking sit down environment. We ordered the smoked tuna dip for an appetizer just to be adventurous. Blech. Fish pate is not my thing but i tried it anyway. Hubby tolerated it better than me. Tortilla chips were also overdone. They forgot my garlic bread with my chicken parm. After i asked for it, i was sadly disappointed. They spread some butter and sprinkled some garlic on a piece of bread. It was pitiful and tasted like plain bread. The chicken and spaghetti were good but the sauce was something funky. I dont even know how that flavor was achieved. Maybe by adding fish sauce to a tomato base. Yuck. And yes, i know its a seafood joint but come on, if you put something on the menu at least be able to do it decently well. Definitely not great at italian food. Need to work on their tomato sauce skills. Hubby had the carne asada (steak fajitas) which he liked. His complaint was the steak strips were large and he wasnt given a knife. And now the biggest thing: "rusty's surf and turf" appears to be a misnomer because the only steak offered was the fajitas, a beef burger, and a beef brisket. Even the menu item that said "surf and turf" was pork and fish. Maybe thats a coast thing but you would think steak when you read that. We specifically came here because we thought they offered steak meal options. Dont count on it. They redeemed themselves with dessert. Lemon berry mascarpone and salted caramel crunch cake. Both amazing. read more

See all

This restaurant is delicious, by far the most high quality food you will get in this area! Everything is made from scratch. Everything is made with love!! The Kahuku Shrimp is exceptional. The Teriyaki Mahi Special is delicious. You can get chicken wings and crab dip to fish entrees and homemade desserts-- no matter what, it will be prepared to a very high standard and you will not be disappointed. Liza hosted the experience for us and she was attentive and friendly! The man behind these well thought out dishes, Rusty!, came by the table to say hi and it was so delightful!! Can't wait to come back on our next trip to OBX. read more

Rusty's Surf & Turf - Kahuku Shrimp from the Menu - Seafood Near Me - Buxton, North Carolina

See all

The food is fantastic. We went as a large group and everyone enjoyed their food. We got the Korean marinated mahi special (amazing), ribs and steak (also both very good). Service was very good as well. It will definitely be a go to spot for us when we are on HI! read more

Excellent place for a delicious and superb dining experience! Inside, the place is clean with a hint of beach decor that provides an inviting atmosphere. The drinks were so amazing and the presentation made us want to have many more, although we only had 2 each. The food is unlike anything else you will experience on the island. My husband had the mahi-mahi, sticky rice and green beans, shared with me and the flavor of everything was a delicious amalgam of fresh with a Hawaiian-Asian flare. I had the paella and it was abundantly loaded with fresh seafood and perfect flavor. Even though we were quite full, we had to try the dessert because they were homemade! We had this cake called "strawberry shortcake," but it was more like pure heaven! I can't wait to go back! read more

Unfortunately we didn't get to eat here, we went on a Sunday without a reservation and they had no openings until 8:30, we were there at 5:30 which we thought would be early enough but it wasn't. Hostess was a little rude or perhaps we just took it that way. We have been coming down for years and most places don't take reservations so we didn't think to make one. Give this place a try but make a reservation!!!! read more

They offer a nice variety of unique choices on their menu. Our party of four all ordered different meals, and we all loved what we got. The food was fresh and well seasoned. I ordered the wahoo seared with maple and pork belly, and it was heaven. My husband ordered the Scallop Carbonara it was delicious and loaded with scallops. We had an appetizer of hush puppies and wedge salad, and both were very good. The portions were large and their prices were fair. They had really nice pictures on the walls that were for sale (local artists?). The only negative was the waitress. We had to flag her down to get drink refills, and she never smiled. read more

Rusty's Surf & Turf - Seafood Near Me - Buxton, North Carolina

See all

Excellent meal from appetizer to main course. The all natural fare was to die for. Reserved a table online and was seated immediately upon arrival. Well done! We will be back. read more

Rusty's Surf & Turf - Swordfish - Seafood Near Me - Buxton, North Carolina

See all

After seeing 4.3 stars online we thought we'd be in for a nice family dining experience. However, our waitress was extremely slow and forgot an appetizer. After waiting over an hour for our dinner we were served at 9pm. Meals were mediocre at best. Our fish was completely inedible (chewy, unable to be cut and overcooked). Wings were dry, pasta was not well liked. Luckily our waitress took it off the bill. I wouldn't recommend eating here. Sorry Rusty. read more

Cashew stir fry was amazing. Rusty's is one of the only places you make reservations.