10/10 experience here at The Paper Canoe. We seriously didn't have a bad dish here, everything was out of this world. Our server really went above and beyond knowing that we had an allergy at the table and talked through all the options to ensure we were safe and accommodated. My dirty martini was made with just the right amount of olive juice and blue cheese olives. My steak came out cooked perfectly rare the way I like it. The soft shell crab special was also out of this world. For appetizers we had the crab dip which was creamy and delicious. Ambiance wise it's pretty fancy in here - the bar was packed for sunset time which makes sense because the view here is spectacular. If you're looking for an amazing meal in the area with staff that'll take great care of you, come to The Paper Canoe. read more

The Paper Canoe - Dirty Martini - Seafood Near Me - Duck, North Carolina

Delicious food! Lovely room and cool view, service was underwhelming. We had good cocktails and then we had the duck egg rolls to start which were savory and delicious, hubby had shrimp and grits which he said were amazing... I had the catch of the day: pompano which was subtle and complex and quite simply delicious. Too bad the service was just so-so, perfunctory ... (like the waiter had been there and done that a million times -- ) ... otherwise an excellent meal and experience. read more

What a phenomenal dining and service experience. We popped in after our horse tour on Corolla hoping to sit at the bar since we didn't have a reservation. Although they were totally booked, the hostess was amazing and fit us in for a quick dinner and told us to feel free to sit on the deck after we dined with drinks to enjoy the water. The food was fantastic and the wait staff could not have been nicer or more pleasant. As a sweet gift they were handing out roses to Mothers last night. Such a nice touch. We will definitely be back! read more

The Paper Canoe - Hibiscus salutes the sun. - Seafood Near Me - Duck, North Carolina

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First things first we should not have dined here. We didn't have a reservation. For the second year in a row we couldn't get a reservation. With small kids we rarely get away for a night on vacation and when we do we don't usually have the luxury of a pre-selected day. That means no reservation which means no Paper Canoe dinner. I am so glad we decided to stop in to check about a bar seat because the manager offered us a table with the stipulation they needed to turn it in about an hour: we were elated. We started with drinks, a spicy marg for me and an old fashioned for my husband. Both were great and made fresh. We also had bread service with olive oil and balsamic. The bread was steaming hot and fresh it was delicious. For entrees my husband ordered the waygu steak, he's never seen a real waygu on a menu and jumped on the opportunity to try it. When he took his first bite I thought he was going to weep. There was a perfect 'crust' on the steak, the plate came with a Japanese sweet potato, a pink Himalayan salt, greens and we thought maybe mushroom? The steak was perfect and the potatoes were amazing, they deserve praise too. I got the shrimp and grits, my favorite thing to order when it's on the menu: I've eaten a lot of shrimp and grits. This was my favorite, the grits were insane, so good, perfect texture, the shrimp (which were huge) were seasoned incredibly, I made it through three before passing my plate to my husband to finish. The sausage was great, a fattier piece, really tender and flavorful. I really loved the whole dish. There were two tree-sized asparagus (which I don't eat, but it's my husband's favorite) he said they were good! We wrapped our dinner just under an hour and in time for them to flip the table. We were so grateful to have the opportunity to experience Paper Canoe and can't wait to go back (hopefully with a reservation this time). read more

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This was definitely our favorite restaurant during our Duck vacation. I read great reviews for this restaurant and the hype is real. The restaurant is located on the coastal water and the views are spectacular especially at sunset. The service was very good and our server checked on us very routinely. Inside the restaurant has a rustic look and fits perfectly for the Duck vibe. Everything we ordered was spectacular and the drink menu is just as good. We will definitely come back here again on our next trip to Duck. read more

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Wonderful ambiance, great Food and friendly service. Great wine list and cocktail selection. Variety of dishes to choose from. Catch of the day was delicious. Highly recommend the raviolis. read more

When we got there at 7:30 we didn't realize it was closed but when we drove past the next day it looked VACANT! Looked like it was under a renovation maybe for off season no idea there. Had to go to Aqua down the road for Valentine's Day dinner. read more

The food was amazing. So fresh, great selection, great setting on the water. You'll leave stuffed! Service was excellent and they are incredible with food allergies. read more

Second time eating here and they are just so wonderful. Must have reservations! Food is always delicious. I ordered the special fish. The views cannot be beat. The best sunset views over the sound. read more

The Paper Canoe - Pompano fish with asparagus and couscous with crab Oscar on top. - Seafood Near Me - Duck, North Carolina

Easily the best restaurant experience we've had in the OBX! The food, service, and view were all top-tier. My Wagyu steak was cooked perfectly, and the garlic chips gave me nostalgic vibes of Japan. My wife loved the Chicken Kiev and tomato tartare--flavorful and beautifully done. Even the Caesar salad, which looked a little different, totally surprised us (white anchovies were a game-changer). We were stuffed but couldn't skip dessert... and the crème brûlée did not disappoint. They had our window table ready on time and paced the meal perfectly--it felt like the kitchen was cooking just for us. Absolutely worth every penny. We'll be back! read more

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OK - here is a very very thorough review of the paper canoe including what our family considered "the rankings". There were so many of us and we all tried each other's dish. I have to rely on a few other people too because I am celiac and could only eat the gluten-free items. Ok let's get started Appetizers: Here were the rankings in our opinion. 1 duck egg roll - everyone raved about this and then raved and raved some more - wow 2 wedge salad was super fantastic and included bacon and was gluten-free - pretty awesome!! 3 burrato salad - this was a thumbs up, but it was not as good as the wedge salad. However, it comes with an absolutely ridiculous!!!!!!!!!!!!! amount of lettuce was good for a laugh. 4 French onion soup - OK, now we get into some things we wouldn't order again - I was told the French onion soup was OK but too creamy. Some of what was ordered was not finished. 5 the oyster dish we got had pimento cheese which is normally good but it had a kick that kind of overwhelmed the whole dish (by the way - I usually love that, but in this case it was- a little too spicy for the dish and kind of overwhelmed every other taste / flavor. I never thought I would say this, but kick it down a notch. Entree rankings 1 wild catch - the wild catch of the day was Pompano and everyone went berserk over this one. Berserk! 2 - Beef Wellington - personally I thought it was a bit odd to order this dish when you come to the ocean and not just get seafood, however, everyone agreed it was simply amazing 3. Chicken - yes, I do wish I remember what it was called, but it was the only chicken entrée and I was told it was fantastic. 4. Seafood puff pastry - apologies on the name of this one, I think it was a French word I couldn't pronounce, but I was told it was really good 5. Ravioli in cream sauce - the lump crab, ravioli, and cream sauce was very good and we talked about. Also, they don't skimp on the crab. 6. Steak - I appreciated the steak being gluten-free, but I thought the steak itself could have been seasoned more. It did come with a good sauce, but you definitely had to dunk the meat for it to have a strong flavor. Also, oddly, the steak came pre-cut, which I didn't think of much at the time but it takes you a while to eat a 16 ounce steak and by the end what you were eating is cold so I wish it had not been pre-cut so perhaps it would've retained his heat a bit better. The odd thing about this dish is that it is labeled as gluten-free, but it comes with french fries that the waiter told us were fried in the same fryer as things are breaded. I appreciate him coaching me but found it odd that something not gluten-free was labeled gluten-free. ?!?! 7. Ravioli in tomato sauce - pulling up the rear here is the ravioli in tomato sauce. As the menu continues to change, I would consider retiring this one. Our group pushed it around the table, so everybody could have a bite, but everyone ranked it last. Best drink: 1. Blood orange vodka and pomegranate juice blew everyone away - no, I don't know what it was called and the thing looked a bit like a red lava lamp when it was delivered, but everybody was blown away by this drink 2. Aww yeah was good too. Yes that is the name - "ahh yeah". I was told it was not quite as good as the other one however, people really, really liked it. We didn't get that many drinks and everything was really good Desserts 1. Crème brute - this dessert was so good. It would be hard to come here again and not get it. This is how crème brûlée is supposed to taste. OK, full disclosure, it is quite difficult to rank the desserts because everybody thought theirs was the best Others in our group got the Chocolate pyramid (mouse), Cream cheese fruit tart (which was basically a cheesecake as far as I could tell) and the Key lime tart (which was basically Keylime pie) I personally only tried the crème brûlée and am a crème brûlée snob so forget those other desserts and get the crème brûlée. Ha Lastly, I do want to mention that one person group who is finicky about coffee, got the coffee and liked it. He also got a glass of cab and said that was good too Overall, this place gets a big thumbs up from me. They handled our big group with ease and our waiter who had a butterfly tattoo on his arm was one of the cooler people I have met in my life. I don't know if you need reservations, but I'm guessing you do because it's not one of these ginormous restaurants, it was smaller and quaint, and I liked it that way. I almost forgot, some in our group got a drink just because it came with an edible straw, which apparently tastes like sweet tarts. I was told it was the bomb. Warning - there was some fighting at the table for scraps of the straw when it was broken into pieces. Be prepared for some table turmoil if you get that edible straw read more

The Paper Canoe - Sign - Seafood Near Me - Duck, North Carolina

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Outstanding experience for our big group at the quaint spot! Wonderful to find a kitchen with a little imagination and attention to detail. We enjoyed the fish oscar, the fresh shrimp & grits and the fresh catch of pompano fish. Juan Carlos was an outstanding server that engaged our entire group. He was extremely attentive and focused on the details that make for a perfect dining experience. The picture perfect sunset did not disappoint either! read more

The food is absolutely phenomenal. My husband and I scored a last minute reservation for the bar seats, which ended up being perfectly fine. It isn't a bar you can just walk up to and get a drink from so there weren't people crowding you (I.e. waiting for their drink) which was great. Our bartender/server was also very attentive and great. We look forward to going back! read more

This is the best restaurant I've found in OBX. Waitress very friendly and helpful. Very nice ambiance. The oil/balsamic and bread they start you with are delicious. Fried oysters were good. On their own they seem unseasoned but they're great with the remoulade. I wish the bed of greens was dressed (with a simple vinaigrette). The pickle slices are great. Duck egg rolls and shrimp and grits were quite good. read more

Been here several times. Never disappoints. Tried something different. Not usually a meatball fan. Got Ohio and meatballs with vodka sauce. Delicious! Service always top notch! On of the best restaurants in the outer banks!! read more

The Paper Canoe - Filet! Wife loved it! - Seafood Near Me - Duck, North Carolina

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Really enjoyed the paper canoe!Started with the crab dip and unbellini. The crab dip was divine! The unbellini is delicious if you're into mocktails. Really creative and tasty drink. The shrimp and grits was different than any I have ever had and probably the best I have ever had. The ravioli was really delicious. Got half red sauce and had white. The white sauce definitely took the lead! The key lime pie is special! Some of the best I've had. There's a reason this place is booked up every evening! Great food and service with a breath taking view! read more

Incredible communication through the text reservation system. Great table side service and of course the food was incredible.

The Paper Canoe has the most amazing staff and service. While the restaurant is a little noisy, it makes up in beautiful views and amazing food. The shrimp and grits were the best I've ever had! Reservations are necessary here. read more

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This is the best food in the OBX. You have to get a reservation weeks in advance but it is worth it. The Cesar salad was the best salad I've ever had in my life (and I'm a huge Caesar salad girl). The scallops were immaculate and buttery. Do whatever you can to get here! read more

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Incredible ambiance. I'd go just for that. I'm a plant lover and the garden atmosphere just made my heart happy. The food was very good and well presented. Wait staff was too notch. We sat at the high top tables in the bar bc we couldn't get any other reservation and it was comfortable enough. read more

I'm still dreaming about the scallops I had last week from The Paper Canoe. Everything we tried was delicious and the service was excellent as well. It's a small restaurant with reservations required. We were a little early but weren't seated until our reservation time. The food was amazing and worth every penny. We will be back! read more

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We just had Thanksgiving Dinner at The Paper Canoe. Service was wonderful , friendly and caring. The dinner plan was fixed price for a 5 course dinner. Soups were wonderful: roasted tomato with basil And potato. Apps were Duck potstickers with a Ginger Miso salad and a ginger something noodle salad. Brie en croute was also delicious. My entree was a bass en croute with a green broccoli rabe-type vegetable and a blurred blanc dipping sauce. The dinner was not thought out: the fish was bland but the vegetable and the dipping sauce were both bitter. I don't know how this got on the menu. The best part of that entree was the puff pastry. So disappointing. My wife had the Turkey dinner, which was okay, but the mashed potatoes, which I tasted, was dense and salty! read more

Amazing. Good service Wine, great selection Ambiance also good Surprisingly the prices were not bad for what you got. read more

The view and ambiance of this restaurant is amazing and truly made our dining experience. Try to go before/during sunset. Highly recommend making a reservation. Food was delicious. I don't like how their menu isn't available on their website, but thankfully they have a good variety of items. Don't recommend if you have children. No kids menu and kind of limited options for picky eaters. read more

The Paper Canoe - Wedge Salad - Seafood Near Me - Duck, North Carolina

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This restaurant deserves 5 big booms! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! We started with a couple of Canoe 75s & moved into some fried oysters. Amazing! Followed by some sear U8 scallops & fish oscar (japanese sea bass) and topped off with crème brulee. Tony at the bar was 10/10! read more

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We were visiting the OuterBanks for the Thanksgiving holidays from San Antonio, TX. We dined there on Friday evening. Our server Elena was very helpful explaining the menu items. . Our choice for the evening was the Wild Catch of the day Pampano. The service, ambience and meal were excellent. We will visit again on our next visit. Thanks J & P read more

french onion soup was grey, gummy glutinous and totally unappealing. It looked nothing like the photos some have posted. Wish I had taken a photo. Sweet pea ravioli was pretty to look at (orange) but was completely tasteless and doughy. No hint of peas or onions. Dining partner's fish was well cooked but the en papillotte added nothing. All and all a very bad experience. Have had good meals there in the past but this was not good at all. read more

Easily the best meal we had in OBX! Arancini for an app the awe yeah drink were a perfect way to start! Warm delicious bread and oil too. Waiter gave perfect suggestions for what we liked! He was quick and so kind! We had the Blue Crab Ravioli (so so so so good, perfect for a seafood and pasta lover like me) and Steak Frites! Garlic sauce that came with it was the best part! We were sat by the window overlooking the doc and sound gave us the best experience possible! read more

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Service was great! Food was great! Ambiance was great! One of our favorites - will always make dinner reservations! Plan ahead and enjoy! read more

Our must do restaurant while in the OBX. Very knowledgeable and friendly staff. The best food and fresh seafood every time. Definitely make a reservation for sunset for the best views. read more

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Delicious delicious delicious! Bartender, hilarious, and food really good ask for Brad read more

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First time here at TPC. Friendly service from the moment we entered. The atmosphere is unmatched. Rustic wooden paneling and a waterfront view of the sound proves to make a great venue for an scenic and delicious dinner. Appetizers: Fried Oysters - lightly fried to perfection with a savory aioli for your dipping pleasure Crab Dip - blue crab hits the spot with toasted bread pieces to accompany Dinner: Pompano - the wild catch of the day was pan-seared pompano with cous cous and chopped asparagus. The fish melted in my mouth with the tender cous cous to provide that extra kick to take the dish to the next level Ribeye - medium rare 16 oz ribeye was tender and charred to perfection. The marbling provided the perfect ratio of meat to fat for a delectable satisfying steak. Will definitely be making a reservation at this place the next visit to OBX! read more

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I visit the paper canoe every time I'm in the outer banks. The food is delicious food and the atmosphere is great both in the off season and summer months. Off season the vibe is very cozy and during the summer months you need to go for subset. read more

So if you know you know, the Paper Canoe is hands down the best restaurant in this area. It is a fine dinning experience with a casual atmosphere. At no time do you feel rushed. The booking and confirmation process is super easy. And the food, wine and cocktails are exquisite! BUT the service!!! It is like no other. The staff is always knowledgeable, friendly, professional, courteous and the hostess, guys the hostess, is just amazing. Not only can I say that this is our family favorite place but we always are handled with such care. I had to cancel a reservation because of an injury. I rescheduled on one of our birthdays. Not only did Kara remember the bday but also the injury, the why we had to reschedule. She asked my mom how she was doing and it made my mom feel so special and cared for. It almost brought tears to my eyes. Honestly, this is such a a beautiful testament of what it means to make a difference in someone's life. At dessert time many of the staff surrounded us and sang happy 85th birthday to my mom. It was just special. And we will always treasure these moments with my mom and dad at our favorite restaurant. Thank you Kara and the Paper Canoe staff and chefs for the sweet memories that we get to make with my mom and dad. read more

The Paper Canoe - Fred and Gail Kunkel celebrating 65 years of marriage and Gail turned 85 today. She said "shew 85 is a long time to live." - Seafood Near Me - Duck, North Carolina

The Oscar food dish was so amazing we went back a second night to order it again. I ordered the Effin' Sunset drink and wasn't disappointed. Dessert was a lovely crème Brûlée that just melted in your mouth. Our server Juan Carlos was very attentive and made us feel very comfortable. The atmosphere was intimate without being snobbish. read more

Outstanding food! You need advanced reservations. Well worth dining, Definitely will dine there again when on OBX!

We on vacation in duck - and I always look for the best of the area. This came up so I made reservations for that Friday and it was one of my favorite meals I've ever had, anywhere! Great service, right on the water, cozy with a relaxed vibe. Loved it ALL! Will be back anytime I'm close! read more

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Dinner with a view! I ordered the Crispy Fried Oysters to start. They are oysters that were lightly fried and they came with a rémoulade sauce. Loved that the batter wasn't too thick. Oysters were on the small side . For my entrée I ordered the Scallops. It was 3 scallops with puff pastry, risotto, carrots, green beans, and a saffron beurre blanc. Amazing! Would have loved another scallop but everything was incredible! We did have to request 3 new glasses for water because the original 3 were dirty looking. read more

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From the moment we walked in, the staff was attentive and helpful. We got a lovely seat near the window to watch the sunset and our waiter Brad was prompt to get us our drinks and table bread. Yes, there was table bread! Brad shared his recommendations (shrimp and grits and scallops) so my husband and I got both. We got the French onion soup and crab dip for an appetizer. I'm not being dramatic when I say that was the best French soup I've ever had! For our entree, I ordered the crab lump ravioli with a scallop on the side. It was heavenly and the portions were healthy. I was so full at the end of the meal. My husband ordered the shrimp and grits and was working his hardest to not miss a single bite! The ambiance was romantic and warm with nice Frank Sinatra-esque music. We didn't have enough room for dessert, but Paper Canoe is not to be missed! Add this restaurant to your beach dinner list if you're in Duck, NC. read more

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Best food we had on our trip! The view is incredible & staff was very friendly. Already excited for our next time there read more

The Paper Canoe - Seafood Near Me - Duck, North Carolina

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