We visited the Salt Box Cafe tonight. When we told them we were vegan, the waiter was very helpful and pointed out that there was only one Vegan entree option, a Thai noodles with crispy tofu dish. There was also a Vegetarian item and he conferred with the chef to determine if it was something they could modify to make it Vegan. In the end my wife and I both ordered the Thai noodles, and we were both glad we did. It was delightful. We will go back, to try some of the small plates or the Vegan french toast that is on their brunch menu. The staff was very attentive and friendly and the atmosphere was warm and inviting. read more

Really small place, limited parking and terrible bar service. The food was good, but not worth the out of the way trip to get there. Definitely make reservations ahead of time. If not, come after 1p because people sit and talk, completely inconsiderate of others waiting to be seated, even after having finished their meals. read more

We eat at this place at least a couple times every week we come to OBX. It's always a great meal with plenty of food. It's a small and comfortable place with friendly service. The desserts are the perfect end to a great dinner. read more

Between the two of us, my girlfriend Brenda and I have eaten in many excellent restaurants across the country and around the world, from New Orleans to New York, from Ireland to Germany and even across the Pacific. And of anywhere we've ever dined in the world, this little North Carolina gem is our all-time favorite culinary destination. Chef Randolph and Amanda never fail to provide the best food you'll ever eat, and the staff (Mike, April, Gloria, and all the others) always welcome you like a friend. We plan our entire trip to the Outer Banks around our Salt Box reservations and always eagerly await our visit, along with the delicious seafood, New Orleans cuisine, and Chef Randolph's original mixture of flavors. If you go, just point at anything on the menu. I guarantee you it will blow your mind. Thanks, Salt Box Cafe. See you next time! read more

Burger was very good and wife said blt was very good. Kids chicken tenders were standard. Service was excellent. Dogs r welcome

Great food! The sea scallops were amazing - best brussel sprouts I ever had. My daughter loved the grits. Service was great and the ambiance really nice. read more

So, I've eaten here at least 4 times in my visits to the Outer Banks and I have yet to be underwhelmed! Always a great meal in a cottage-like building with a gravel parking lot. Whoever thought that this is, in my opinion, the best restaurant in the Outer Banks of North Carolina! A superbly talented chef will treat your taste buds to a wonderful meal. I ordered the catch if the day, tuna, which was served atop a coconut sauce and then topped with a wasabi slaw dressing. It had a far east feel to the taste to it. All of the seasonings stood out and yet none overpowered each other. My bride had the grilled mahi, and after I sampled a bite that too was excellent. Desserts are made on premises and they will top of an already fine meal. Outdoor dining is available, and reservations are a good idea. You will not be disappointed in anything you order here. Try it and find out for yourself. You're going to love it! read more

It is amazing...all fresh food. Prices were low. Crab cake not fried or greasy. BLT w basil aioli on Italian bread was tasty. Everyone in a group of 8 enjoyed their meal! read more

My family and I went to the outter banks for spring break, our first day we tried one of the many sea food shack restaurants OMG what a disappointment. We had 3 days left and we were super sad that our first meal was a major let down. The next day we started looking online for better places to eat and like magic we found the SaltBox! The food and services was beyond perfection, I felt like I discovered a hidden gem. Everything we ate was just perfectly prepared. We ended up eating there 3 days in a row. I'll go back to the outter banks just to eat here nothing else. read more

In town for a wedding from NJ and what a cute little find! Reservations are needed but we lucked up on bar seating. It's a small, cozy local spot with a talented singer/guitarist named Kim on Friday nights. The food was so flavorful. I ordered the tomato basil soup and shrimp/grits which were savory and Spicy just the way I like it. Try the sweet potato fries as appetizer. Randolph the chef came out and conversed with customers and it made us feel welcome to come back. Wish we could stay long enough to come back for breakfast! read more

See all

A great place. Small, so make reservations. Awesome food. We had 6 different dishes, 2 appetizers and 2 deserts. Everything was great, especially the burger, pork and crab cakes. Great atmosphere, service and family owned. Reasonable prices. Don't miss it if you are visiting the Outer Banks.! read more

Our group stopped in for lunch after fishing for a few hours and lo and behold there was a huge group having a gathering at The Saltbox. We were thinking we were going to have to give up but the staff quickly offered to seat us outside in their screened in outdoor area. Probably the best place for us after a few hours fishing anyhow! We were quickly seated and our server took our drink order, he was friendly and efficient. I had the fried flounder sandwich which was amazing, the slaw was good too. My niece enjoyed her ribs and said they were tender and flavorful. Another in our party had the gyro which he said was also great. We had one little person with us who had a grilled cheese, which was an amazing grilled cheese on lovely French bread. She raved about it. Our server checked on us multiple times and was quick to clear plates and bring the check. The chef/owner also checked in with us on our way out. This is a small family owned restaurant, so if you are looking for a big turn and burn establishment without character this is not for you. Check out the menu online, if the prices for dinner are high for your budget they offer a very reasonable lunch menu. read more

One of the best meals i've had at the beach in a very long time! The soft shell entree with the asian noodles I could eat every day! The New Orleans style BBQ Shrimp were also awesome -- and this is coming from a girl who spent 4 years living in New Orleans. A few of the guys at our table also got the ribs -- and just raved about how delicious and tender they were! Desserts were also delish... but order for the table and share -- they are HUGE! What put this restaurant over the top -- and secured its 5-star rating -- was something very simple -- they take reservations! My family of 8 was able to walk in -- get seated -- and not deal with a lot of the hassle that usually comes with trying to go out to dinner in the Outer Banks. We will definitely be back!! read more

Better half and I were doing a little shopping at the Tanger outlets. One of the ladies at the Ann Taylor store recommended we try SaltBox. A smidge off the "beaten track" for visitors/tourists. Thank goodness the local woman at the outlets recommend we try this lovely establishment. First of all it's adorable with a cute little screened in porch for al fresco dining. We sat at the bar inside and lo and behold ran into the lovely Lindsey from Art's. Girl, you work too much! Our bartender /server Tim was soooo awesome. With the combination of truly excellent food and lovely service I would highly recommend this place to everyone who wants a delicious dinner. The pumpkin crab soup was out of this world. I only got a cup should have got a bowl. I mean really just outstanding. I had the Tuna over jasmine rice which was delicious and hubby had the shrimp dish. Definitely check this place out. It's inland maybe 5-10 minutes off Croatan but soooo worth it. read more

See all

We didn't even get a chance to eat here. We arrived twenty minutes prior to them opening and had to wait. Which was ok. But when we walked in here was no one in the place and the hostess asked us if we had a reservation. For what??? The place was empty. So we sat down and looked at the menu. The menu is EXTREMELY limited and more expensive than expected. Money was no big deal but for what they offered it was too much. After contemplating our options on the menu, we decided to leave. No questions or anything from the staff as to why we left. The sign out front says they open at 1130am but a sign at the door says they open at 1130am and close at 230pm and reopen at five. A bit deceiving. read more

People...this place was delicious with great service and the nicest staff. Get off the main strip and come here for some delicious crab cake, shrimp and grits, tuna poke and ceaser salad. We are admittedly picky wanna be foodies and daaammmmn this was good. #obxyum read more

The SaltBox Cafe - New American Near Me - Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina

So good! I had the fish of the day and it was a delicious tilefish on jasmine rice with coconut curry sauce. Excellent flavors and tasty fish! We also had dessert: a chocolate mousse that was so, so good. The minor wait time was well worth it for the delicious food and great service. Highly recommend! read more

This place is incredible. We stopped in for brunch with family and would have come back for dinner had we planned on staying in town. The chef is brilliant - changes his menu often and thoughtfully. You can taste the passion for what he does in creations and I guarantee once you stop in - you'll be back! read more

What a hidden gem. Presentation Good food and great service, thank you. Very impressed with this beautiful place, can't believe there was a hurricane here less than a week ago. read more

Server was friendly and they honored our reservation in a timely manner I dined with my husband and three kids. The food was outstanding. I am a sophisticated traveler and diner, this was the best meal in obx. A chef who cares about the ingredients and the presentation. Don't be fooled by the outside of the place, it looks a little sketchy. But inside is wonderful I had the wasabi crusted flounder. Hubby had crab cakes and kids had steak. All were perfectly cooked and delicious with great sides to accompany the meal The desserts are homemade and worth the calories! read more

Had their quinoa bowl and fresh fish and it was absolutely delectable!!! Quaint place, wonderful service, delicious food and wine!!!

Best crab benny EVER!! Drove from VAB to come visit this eatery. I was very impressed by the food and I had a mimosas sunrise that was to die for!! The atmosphere is nice the building is very small but I liked the artwork on the walls which added the OBX feel. I had the crab cakes Benny and would recommend it to anyone for breakfast! read more

This place is a true gem. Delicious, freshly prepared food. Chefs know what they're doing and it shows. Nice presentation as well. Upscale food yet a comfortable atmosphere. Open year round. I've eaten here almost weekly for lunch and occasionally for dinner. This is NOT a bar, but a nice, small place to get a quality meal. read more

The SaltBox Cafe - The lunch rib platter. - New American Near Me - Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina

Best place in OBX. Food was superior as was service and ambience. We had the best coconut pie I have ever had. Make a reservation and enjoy! read more

Brunch was wonderful! As someone who can't eat wheat or dairy, it can be hard for me find many options at restaurants. I had no trouble here and really enjoyed my meal, the crab scramble, as did the whole table; we about ordered one of everything on the menu between us, including the magical peach and blueberry pancakes, stuffed French toast, and other dishes. And the peach bellinis are truly incredible! I also loved the art on the walls, much of which was available for sale. Highly recommend the Saltbox. Looking forward to returning to try dinner, too. Thank you for a great meal! read more

The SaltBox Cafe - The AMAZING peach Bellini, a few sips in (to be clear, it was served full!). - New American Near Me - Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina

See all

Best crab cakes in OBX. They do up-charge quite a bit for change in sides but it's worth checking out just for the crab cakes

What a find. A beautiful location. Fantastic food and friendly folks. My wife had the Thai Red Curry soup and Caesar Salad and raves about it. I had the Crab-cake Sandwich and it was superb. All crab no filler. What a gem. Staff is super friendly and the atmosphere is wonderful. read more

Being a chef on the outer banks for 14 years, I know where to go and which places are hit or miss. I love salt box cafe because I know that no matter what I can get a consistently great meal. I have been eating here for the past three years and I know the hard work and passion that the owners and staff show make this restaurant an excellent dining experience. read more

Unbelievably great! Just ate here this afternoon (August 7 2014) and everything was delicious. We ordered the habanero fries, onion rings, Jamaican jerk chicken soup, crab cake sandwich (which had none to almost no filling!), Mediterranean salad, cheese burgers, and the absolute most amazing dessert I've ever had - peanut butter pie made by Chef Randolf's fiancée and restaurant co-owner. So glad we came to eat here. I'm going to call them to see if they can ship a peanut butter pie to us after we get back home. ;-) read more

Believe the hype. It's real. This is one of those few instances when the increase in price correlates with improved quality of food. (Plus, who likes paying a lot of money for subpar food that is portioned for a toddler). Service was impeccable. Portions were plentiful. Food was beyond satisfying. Everything our party of 6 ordered was truly amazing and delicious. I even managed to leave behind my camera after dinner and forgot about it until 24hours later when I called and they had it waiting for me :) The menu changes often so if you tried to sneak a peak on Yelp photos and had no luck, don't be surprised. BUT... If the watermelon appetizer is on the menu, do yourself a favor and order it!!!! read more

What a great spot! We came on vacation and are glad we stopped at The SaltBox for lunch. They have a great screened patio with four big tables that sits out close to the water. The menu has lots of good options for all diners, including vegetarians. All of us were happy with the food- burgers, potato wedges, caprese sandwich were all good! When we mentioned to our server, Mike, that we loved the bang bang sauce on the burger, he brought us out a side of sauce for our fries. Service was wonderful, everything was clean and the food was delicious! Would highly recommend! read more

This is the gem of OBX. It's out of the way and down a twisty road, but its worth the effort to take the journey. The Salt Box Cafe is absolutely one of the best restaurants. We tried the Salt Box Onion Rings, which amazes me to say, the very best onion rings I've ever tasted and that's saying something. Granted, I've eaten a lot of onion rings in my life, but never anything like these. I don't know what the chef put in or on those Onion Rings, but they were delicious. I had the Mediterranean Salad, which had grilled Mahi on the top and homemade hummus on the side. I was never a fan of Hummus until I ate here. As it was homemade, I doubt store bought hummus will ever live up to it. The salad was exceptional with plenty of kalamata olives, feta cheese and delicious grilled Mahi. We finished up with Key Lime pie. Coastal towns everywhere serve "key lime pie" and Mrs. Smith's or Marie Calendars is usually much better. Not in this case, it was delicious. I would eat my weight in it, if I dared. At the end of the meal, the chef came by and talked with the patrons. This is the first time I can recall this ever happening in my restaurant experience. Consequently, the Salt Box Cafe ranks in my Top 5. I can't wait to eat there again. read more

Delicious food. Portion sizes were not stingy at all. Think farm-to-table style ingredients prepared in a Euro-American style. Chef owned. Friendly staff. Off the beaten path from the main drag of tourist-frequented bars, cafés and shacks. Worth the 10 minute car trip and would even go 30. Prosciutto and fruit with Gorgonzola spread is a generous starter for two. Quail with roasted veggies and puff pastry tapenade was very good. Gravy was just slightly salty for my taste and the birds need a sharper knife to get all the little bits of meat out. Fish tostada was very good with rice, black beans and a tangy, spiced cream sauce that was delicious. Great for a date or a small group. Not ideal for small children with less-refined palates. The artwork on the walls is for sale and done by a local artist. read more

Love this place it is tiny but "mighty" good. Always have very different but flavorful items on menu

I'm a little late with this review, we actually visited in June of 2015 but I want to give credit where it's due. We were searching for breakfast but didn't want one of the packed pancake houses along the main stretch. We found the Salt Box Cafe on Yelp and decided the extra drive would be worth it... It really was. I had the french toast with berries, which was delicious! My husband is still drooling over the bacon. The interior is small and cozy. When we arrived we were the only patrons but they didn't smother us. Also, if you like any of the artwork, you can buy it right off the wall. We'll definitely be back the next time we're in the Outer Banks. read more

We are locals who ate there for the first time this week. We honestly didn't know what to expect but were surprised to find this little gem. We sat at the bar and enjoyed a beer, a sangria, and some tomato basil soup while waiting for our main dishes. I have never met a tomato based soup I liked until tonight! Seriously delicious. My husband ordered the rib platter with sweet potato fries and grilled asparagus. I ordered two small plates: veggie spring rolls and chicken pot stickers. Not a single complaint...and the sauces that came with it all, wow. They are a small, family owned establishment from what I could tell - so the menu may change - but that makes it even more exciting. We will visit again. read more

My fiance and I came here to celebrate our engagement and we couldnt have found a more perfect, romantic place! Loved the little cottage and such friendly staff! We started out by ordering the vegetable spring rolls, the sriracha fries and the crispy onions with a bottle of sauvignon blanc! Then for dinner, he ordered the grilled ribeye steak and fries. I told the wonderful waitress I was vegan and the chef and owner made the brown butter gnocchi vegan for me and it was literally the best vegan dish Ive ever had. Regardless if you are vegan or not this dish is a MUST order when going here. It is absolutely incredible! Then they brought us out a complimentary vegan dessert that was insanely delicious! I am so so happy we came across this restaurant and came here to enjoy our engagement dinner. Every single person who worked there was so kind and friendly and went above and beyond to make sure we had a nice evening. Hoping to visit that area again soon so we can go back there! read more

The SaltBox Cafe - New American Near Me - Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina

We were here weeks ago and I'm still thinking about how good the food was! Seriously do yourself a favor and go to the Salt Box. It was easily our favorite meal in OBX. read more

During the coldest day of the year, I went to the saltbox. Half the community had no heat and no water. That did not stop the saltbox! They were amazing! Without water (like the rest of the island) they found a way to provide a superb meal that was hot and amazing to those who did not have heat or water. This is by far the best restaurant on the outer banks! The service is spectacular and they go above and beyond to make you happy! Your bill will blow your mind as it is so affordable it almost doesn't make sense. I adore this restaurant and love how accommodating and personal Chef Sprinkle and Amanda are! When the chefs come out to personally thank you and see how your meal was that gets bonus points for us! A must go! Thank you for feeding the OBX superb food!!! read more

I have never had a better meal at the OBX. Off the beaten path, we never would have found it without speaking with such friendly locals. We were welcomed from the moment we walked in the door until we walked out. The owner/chef came out to talk to us when we were almost finished eating. Just to make it obvious, in case it's not already, food was excellent and the people were super friendly. I highly recommend this place and will be back! read more

The SaltBox Cafe - Shrimp and grits - New American Near Me - Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina