We had the pleasure of celebrating our parents' 50th wedding anniversary brunch at the Salt Box Cafe, out on the back porch. Amanda Sprinkle was lovely to work with, helping to make it an easy and special experience -- beyond the delicious food (creative brunch menu with a lot of great seafood options as well as classics), a personalized menu, and a stunning cake, the atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming for our group of 26 kids and adults. read more

The SaltBox Cafe - Lovely 50th anniversary brunch on the back porch of the Salt Box cafe. - New American Near Me - Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina

This has become our go to place for dining out in the OBX. It may not look like much from the outside and be a little out of the way. Actually, that's what's great about it. Few tourists find it, though their reviews may change that. The chef owners are a couple who are passionate about innovative preparation of the freshest local ingredients. I'd share favorite dishes but they change so regularly. What you'll find are blends of flavors that work amazingly well that you wouldn't have guessed would fit together. Case in point is the Mediterranean stack which you might run across. I'm not usually one for the vegetarian dish but this one wowed me. Desserts are a specialty here, all made in house. On a cool evening, you can enjoy their screened in porch and perhaps a guitarist. Our hope is that they stay off the radar so we locals can get a table easily. read more

Delicious!! Fresh fish entrees were good portion size. Inventive pairings of flavored. Attentive, prompt service and a lovely wine list. Wish we had room for the obviously homemade desserts. This is a little bit of heaven tucked in the elbow of Colington road. read more

A very nice man who looked like he was working himself to death greeted me and apologetically explained there would be a wait for a table for my husband, toddler, and me and at least a 20-minute ticket wait after that. We decided to wait and it was SO worth it! And the wait was not as long as he said it would be (that was smart of him to overestimate)! He continued to run around like crazy, dripping sweat yet smiling and treating each customer with respect and friendliness. My burger was THE BEST I've had in a restaurant and my husband loved his fried fish of the day. Excellent service, delicious and unique food, and pretty building and landscaping. Make a reservation and you won't regret visiting this place! read more

I had the Egg Sammy and ut was good! Susan had the Crab scramble and it was great... lots of crab! We definitely recommend this place.

The space was nicely decorated and intimate. Also, the staff was very friendly and attentive. The food was pretty good, especially the baked Crab Mac and Cheese. I would stay away from the Ribs though, the seafood was much better. The menu is a bit pricy, all of the entrees are at least $19+. Overall, it was a nice experience. read more

Best meal we have had in Kill Devil Hills in a few years! We had the Crab Mac and Cheese, BBQ Shrimp, and Pork Belly as apps. Loved them all. I had the Duck breast as a entree, very nicely prepared. My husband and mother-in-law had a great rib eye, cooked the perfect medium rare. Father-in-law had the trout and enjoyed that as well. Only downside is no liquor, only beer and wine, local restrictions to blame. However their selection of both was extensive. The setting was great, right on a marsh. It's on the smaller side, but they do take reservations which is really nice and rare down here. The service was great, our waitress did a great job to take care of us. Awesome find! read more

Great hidden gem in the OBX.Best meal I have had in a very long time.Definitely will be back as often as possible.

We were very excited to try The Salt Box! Trendy beachy looking restaurant, tucked away in a serene setting off the beaten path. We were surprised at the decor and atmosphere once inside though. Pretty plain with not a lot of atmosphere of any kind. My appetizer was so spicy I had to ask for some milk or sour cream, and the menu had not hinted it was spicy. (And I love spicy food!) The waiter arrived to bring our bottle of wine, explained they were out of the one we wanted but was very pleased with himself for offering a substitute at no cost. It should have been free; it was a significant downgrade, screw top and all. The entrees were also so spicy hot we had to leave most of them uneaten. The check confirmed what we had come to suspect; this place thinks it's a high-end NYC restaurant. Au contraire. $$$ read more

This was such a find! We would have never ventured to this restaurant without Yelp. We had reservations and our table was ready when we walked in. Our server was Ashton and she sometimes seemed a little flaky, especially on drinks, but she managed to get it all right and all very friendly! I love soft shell crab but the side dishes their entree came with weren't my taste. It was no problem to substitute the side dishes with their grouper entree's. I could easily have had a bowl of the ginger carrot puree! Everything was tasty, well executed and seriously one of the best meals I've had lately which says a lot. Definitely venture off the beaten path to this restaurant! read more

Truly talented Chefs! Everything this dynamic duo turn out of the kitchen is fantastic. They craft the most amazing wonderful fantastic cakes on the Outer Banks! Make sure you save room for dessert. Cute, cozy, casual setting. The whole staff make you feel like your family by the time you leave. I recommend making a reservation for dinner or brunch, to reserve your seat. (It's a small place). Absolutely worth the trip to Colington. read more

This one of the best restaurants here! We went for lunch and all of our dishes were delicious and the menu changes seasonally. We were told the dinner menu changes weekly and the owners do all of the cooking. They have quite a repertoire of experience and it definitely shows in their menu. Highly recommend it...Just wish we had found it at the first of our week here, instead of at the end. read more

Best meal ever in the OBX. A smallish out of the way place, but the service and food are spectacular! We ordered the habenero paprika fries. They were hot & delicious & served with an amazing dipping sauce. The brats were incredible & came with kraut & stone ground mustard. My husband ordered the duck, rare. He said it was the best duck he had ever eaten. The BBQ shrimp is insanely good. We were all dragging our bread in the sauce, which was probably my favorite part of the meal. We will definitely be back. The prices are very reasonable for food of this caliber. For 3 of us, with a bottle of Cab, 2 beers, 2 cups of soup, 3 appetizers, bread & 3 entrees, it cost $160. This place is not to be missed! read more

The Salt Box is a hidden gem on OBX. The restaurant is off the beaten path in Colington and serves delicious, imaginative food. It is a small restaurant so be sure to make reservations in advance. read more

Delicious and creative menu in a small cafe. Reservations are a good idea year round. Service is pleasant but sometimes it's uneven. Great deserts! read more

We celebrated a 70th birthday here tonight and it was incredible! Every dish chosen was different and delicious! We had duck w/quinoa and butternut squash, brisket, shrimp-grits, steak, ravioli, and tuna... all was flavorful and succulent. Highly recommend. Staff was attentive and friendly. read more

Just had a very delicious meal here. Didn't have a reservation but they were able to seat us in about 10 minutes. Great live performer and the food was really delicious. Very cozy and home grown kind of place. Great service too. Highly recommend. read more

Great food and service. A welcoming setting with great food and service. If you can leave the kids at home one night or just want something a little nicer than the normal fare in OBX this is the perfect place to do it. I'd recommend whatever fish is on special and the ribs. Reasonable wine prices, too! read more

Best restaurant by far in the OBX! Food was absolutely delicious! This restaurant will definitely be part of my vacation next year!

Just a little off the beaten path - two miles west of 158 - this place is worth it. Great Southern fare and awesome husband/wife team in the kitchen. read more

One of the best snapper dishes I have ever tasted! Sweet potato fries and heavenly desserts! This restaurant is one of those places you want everyone to know about/ want to keep it a secret for yourself. Always enjoy chatting with Chef and thanks again for a wonderful dining experience ! read more

So refreshing to find a restaurant on the OBX that doesn't serve the same menu as every other place seems to do here. My boyfriend and I rarely go out because we are tired of the same old thing and over-priced crowded restaurants. A friend suggested we try the Salt Box Café so we did last Friday night. Got there at 8pm and only waited about 15 minutes for a table. We were extremely happy with our meals! Everything was delicious and different. They have a great wine selection. The owner/chef came out and greeted us and we talked for 10 minutes about his background and we could tell that he is very passionate about his café. We will be back! read more

Another brunch place we tried when we were in Outer Banks. As soon as we saw pumpkin pancakes on the menu for Sunday brunch, we started salivating & made a reservation to try it. We went in, were given the seat right next to the door on a cold morning, when there were lots of other open seats. Mind you we had a reservation. One of the guests walking in was feeling sorry for us but we were OK. Ordered the food & the woman who was serving us told that we couldn't substitute bacon & sausage side for tater tots since we are vegetarian (both cost the same). I ordered the French toast. The food was delicious but overly sugar loaded. The pancakes were dipped in syrup, which we weren't aware otherwise we would've ordered the syrup on the side. The tots were good but on the other side a little salty. This was the most expensive meal during our stay in Outer Banks but probably the most disappointing. And this is my first ever 3 star review... I've never given one because I'm very generous with my ratings!! read more

Great restaurant. Amazing food, service, and extra points for gluten free, vegan, and vegetarian options. Price is a little on the expensive side, but it's totally worth it. read more

My daughter picked the place for her birthday lunch and it was a hit with the whole family! Even though they were busy and we did not make reservations, we were seated within 15 minutes at a table outside. The service was excellent, waitress even gave us some local tips on places to go. The food was amaaaaaazing! My other daughter got the BLT and said it was the best sandwich she's ever had! Can't say enough good things, we'll definitely go back! Highly recommend! read more

Make a reservation here when you're at the beach - you won't be disappointed! Crab Cakes, Shrimp and Grits, and Softshell Crabs were delicious. Chef/Owner visited our table and his passion for running a great restaurant was evident. Says he changes the menu weekly so we'll definitely be back. Only negative - they could use a new sign! read more

So glad we found this hidden spot! Lunch was excellent! The Cuban and onion rings were amazing!!

Very nice, cozy little place tucked on Colington Road. The food was superb! Chef/Owner very attentive. Will be back! Love it. Made my birthday special! thank you. read more

We ate at The Saltbox and our meal was outstanding. Don't let the outside look or marquee fool you! Its what is inside that counts. The atmosphere is casual/chic, quaint little bar and linen draped tables and booths. The wait staff was informative, friendly and knowledgeable. Menu was very good and had a New Orleans flavor. Definitely my go to restaurant when family and friends come to visit! read more

ANOTHER AMAZING EXPERIENCE at the Saltbox Cafe last evening! Our reservation was open right on time, service was stellar, wine was delicious, and entrees amazing. The grilled beef tenderloin was one of the best cuts I've had in my life. Thanks again for the fantastic experience! read more

Our party had the grouper, the eggplant, the soft shells, and the New York strip. All were wonderful. Not overpriced and a nice portion size. The desserts were delicious as well. Would I recommend The Salt Box? Absolutely!! read more

Wow!!!!! The best crab cake sandwiches and the coconut crepe pie was great!!! Don't miss this hidden jewel!!

I have been for lunch a couple of times, but this was our first time for dinner. A party of six and we were each blown away! I have a home on the OBX and have eaten out countless times, and this was one of the best meals I have ever experienced on the OBX. Service was excellent as well. The place is small, but they take reservations. OUTSTANDING! read more

Fantastic fresh food, not overpriced at all. Crab roll and cobia was delicious. Friendly staff too!!!

A terrific place on the Outer Banks, in Kill Devil Hills/Colington, off the main road and behind the Wright Brothers Memorial. Great setting, on the edge of a small pond or cove. Terrific friendly staff, including chef Randolph and his wife, Amanda, who bakes an extraordinary chocolate carrot cake and creates wonderful soups (today's was a delicious mushroom bisque). Randolph was kind enough to stop by our table to chat a bit. He has a very impressive 36-year culinary background, including stints in New Orleans, Pittsbugh, Baltimore, and Venezuela. Our server, Dina, was friendly and funny and provided welcoming and prompt service. Dishes enjoyed also included a fine Reuben sandwich, a veggies wrap with curried hummus, steak sandwich, and delightful spring rolls. This was our first visit, and we'll definitely be back. Has a parking lot, and a ramp for those troubled by stairs. read more

This one is a keeper! There have been several restaurants in this location, but none of this quality. The food was delicious and the service was top notch. Spread the word! The Salt Box Cafe is great!!!! read more

Excellent dinner! We had not been to the OBX for several months and were delighted to go to the SaltBox Cafe for dinner tonight. Everything was outstanding! We enjoyed the New Orleans BQ Shrimp and the Spring Rolls for appetizers. Service was terrific from the hostess to our waitress, April. Even the bread with the dipping sauce was delicious! We both ordered the Crab Cakes with the Fried Green Tomatoes with arugula Salad. They were even better than I remembered! Somehow we made room for coffee and an order of Mocha Mousse! Delicious and just terrific! We highly recommend The SaltBox Cafe! Well worth finding this friendly restaurant with outstanding high quality food! You will be surprised at the wonderful Service and Food! Definitely a 5 Star experience! read more

We went to the salt box on Labor Day weekend with two other couples. We sat outside on the screened in porch area. It was lovely sitting outside and we had great service. Four of us got the shrimp and grits and everyone said it was delicious. My husband got the tuna and he said it was the freshest, best tasting tuna that he has ever eaten. I had the soba noodle dish with fried tofu that was so good and flavorful and I enjoyed it so much that I can't wait to go back and order the same dish. We were all stuffed so we got the strawberry lemon cake to go. We ate it later that night and the cake was moist and the icing was creamy. The Salt Box is now one of my favorites. read more

This place was great! Off the beaten path, cute, small cafe with great food. The service was great, my daughter accidentally spilled her water and they we there with a smile and took care of it, poor husband was soaked. The food was fantastic, crab flat bread was great. Shrimp and grits, strip steak and BBQ chicken all great. would highly recommend:) enjoy read more

What a fantastic place to eat. The server was amazing and chef also. Never ate duck before but was amazing. Can't wait to eat here again.