We all 4 enjoyed our food and yummy drinks at the bar. The view is okay, but it's the best they can do with the location.

The food was okay but pretty small portions. However the biggest disappointment were the cocktails. They were so weak. We complained but were told they had a full measure. What a joke read more

This is a place you really want to like. The restaurant is upstairs with outdoor seating, nice. Great location, nice. Menu has interesting sounding items, nice. Owners that take an interest in the operations, nice. Having said all this, it just seems to come up short in several areas. It might be attributable to the fact that they've only been open a month or so. The outdoor seating is very small, only to be outdone by the very very small inside seating. Inside, sits maybe 12 people. When we arrived, our waitress told us it was her first night there. Our reply was; ours too! She managed to tell us 3 or 4 more times it was her first night. My thoughts are if you have to tell us it's your first night, wait until you bring us the check. Saying it up front is like saying, forgive me if I screw anything up before it happens. Better yet, get some training so you have the confidence not to make sure we know it's your first night. Since they close at 10pm, By the time we were seated, food served, mostly eaten, it was only 15 mins till closing time. Now that wouldn't have been that bad, but the waiters started cleaning the tables and stacking the chairs up on the tables as well, so we felt hurried on the way out. The location is in TimBuck2, so unclear if the 10pm closing time is stipulated by them or if the restaurant can set the hours. Either way, it would be nice for them to stay open until at least 11pm. All in all, looking forward to visiting again next year to see if they've worked out some of the kinks. read more

I'm writing this post before I've even left the parking lot I'm so frustrated (hangry?) Understatemen of the year: First things first, we couldn't use the bathroom until we proved we were on the wait list. The "sound view" is only if you squint... hard, (really it's Put-Put view). I ordered sea scallops for $16 and got 3. We ordered an appetizer of fried green tomatoes for $15 and got 2 slices. Finally we got a jug of water and no glasses even after asking multiple times. We spent over $100 for three of us and then left hungry. If over priced skimpy food with put-put view ambiance is your thing.... This is your place. read more

Nice little spot tucked up into the corner of the shopping center where it's not too hectic and overlooks a nice little pond and mini golf course. Service was good and food was great. We went as a large group after jet skiing and had a lovely, quiet lunch before the evening rush began. A definite recommendation. read more

This was a last min decision to go here. The awning caught the corner of my eye and I was intrigued. The specialty cocktails were absolutely amazing!! I am usually a whiskey and beer guy but if I see something interesting I'll give it a try. The food was exceptional as well (chicken flatbread and Mac-n-cheese crab cake). The service was more than adequate and the view of the sound from the balcony was a nice touch. It should also be mentioned that the decor was very well done! I fully recommend this place to anyone! read more

Service was a bit slow. Multiple waiters walked right past us while we waited to be seated and didn't even acknowledge us. The real disappointment is that the entrees are crazy small. My date ordered the scallops and was given three scallops with a small bit of sauce. That really didn't seem appropriate for a dinner. He ordered something else and still left hungry. I wasn't really hungry since I had been snacking all day. If I had been in the mood for a meal, though, I would have been disappointed. The view from their patio is nice. Just don't come for more than a snack and some cocktails. read more

As a vegetarian I know to look at menus before going somewhere and knew my options here would be limited (would need to modify a salad and could get 1 side) but this is where my group wanted to go, so I was going to play along. Waited about 1.5 hours for a table, and had a drink at the bar. The watermelon ginger martini was delicious... BUT... We get to our table finally and are inundated with "we are out of...." - which included the side I could get. Since $10 for just some spinach wasn't something I was ok with, I had to run to grab something else to eat from anywhere that was open. The Giant Slice Pizza I ate at the table was good! And to top it off, my group mates didn't seem that impressed with their orders- husband had to drown his shrimp and grits in salt to get any kind of taste. read more

This place is the best. It is small and quaint and not run by a chain. Sometimes they are super busy and the wait list is full, but hey, that's life! If ya feel like waiting you are in for a treat. Good hard working people are everywhere you look. The service, atmosphere and food are all top of the line, I never needed my glass refilled, my server was always nearby and happy to help if I needed anything! It was super clean, reasonably priced for the portions and quality especially for the area. Everything is cooked with love. read more

What a find. We loved it some much we went three times on our last trip. The owner and staff are fantastic. They have a gorgeous patio that over looks the sound. The meatloaf was the best I have ever had. The food was fresh and innovative. I would highly recommend if you want a great meal and good service. read more

The outside patio is very nice but the food portions are extremely small for the price. If we were hungry, we would have left hungry. The value for cost was very disappointing. read more

Customer service nightmare. Manager couldn't add 2 +2 with a calculator! Ended up leaving and going elsewhere.

took awhile for food and no one was in there! food was okay, long wait to get in to restaurant, dead.

Very good meal in a beautiful festive outdoor dining area. Menu was innovative, delicious entrees including chorizo meatloaf, baked portobello with tomato, mozzarella and shrimp, and mahi mahi with pineapple rice. Delightful drinks menu and reasonably priced wine list. We'll definitely be back next year and will recommend to family and friends. read more

This restaurant is probably my favorite restaurant I have been to during my vacation to Corolla, NC not only because of the food, because of the service. The waiters and hosts were very polite and wouldn't get annoyed if you asked them questions or for extra sauce, etc. They food came exceptionally quick and was very tasty. I got the Mac & Cheese for my main meal and it was very good. The cheese was very creamy and had a particularly season that just added more yummy flavor. For dessert I got the Peanut Butter Chocolate Pie and so did 2 out of 3 of the other guests that were with me. It was very good. It was creamy and the peanut flavor was subtle but there. It was very smooth and the crust was made up of Oreo Cookies. The wait for our table was not slow at all, maybe 5 minutes or so. The restaurant is in a plaza filled with amazing shops where you can get clothes and souvenirs, they all close around 9:00-10:00pm. If you are visiting the Corolla area in North Carolina I dearly recommend this restaurant. read more

BEST service in the OBX. CLEANEST place in the OBX. The food was phenomenal. The Hush puppies were perfect. Our dinner was delicious; one of those bites of food that make you say oh my goodness you have to try this. The dessert was outstanding. We also expected to pay more, but got a lot of great food for a great price, within a great atmosphere. The owners and waitresses were incredibly welcoming and provided great conversation. We were also very pleased to see that the waitresses were dressed appropriately with class. Thank you for a great night! read more

This was my first visit to this restaurant and I enjoyed it. Cool location with nice views outside and a trendy look inside. Drinks were very good, the La Pinela was a great drink for a hot summer day on a rooftop. The dip trio, consisting of avocado hummus, pimento cheese, and French onion dip was very good and came with entry of kettle chips and bread to finish all three up. For mains, the mac and cheese crab cakes were good, not exactly up to Maryland standards but unique none the less. The tuna was a phenomenal chunk of medium rare fish with wasabi, rice and fruit salsa. On a side note, it seems that this restaurant is over run with needy complainers. Two groups, out of the 4 that were in the restaurant at the time, incessantly whined about inconsequential "problems" and the lack of special treatment they thought they were entitled to. Fortunately, the staff did not seem kowtow to these whiney malcontents and and, while maintaining professionalism, focused more on those of us that were more agreeable. Much respect. read more

The staff was nice but everyone seemed brand new. The food was great except they were out of many things listed on the menu and as specials. We shared hush puppies and the pork and pancakes. I'm not southern so I don't fully get hush puppies but my southern friends enjoyed them. The pancakes and pork were yummy. The pork is awesome and made the app. We ordered the crab cakes (awesome!) and the shrimp and grits. Go for the crabcakes. It was awesome. The dinner wasn't cheap almost $200 for 3 people but the view and the crab cakes more than made up for any negatives. read more

Well, it was a beautiful restaurant, great location, nice bar, good drinks, beautiful outside deck and pretty bathroom. But the food needs a little work. I might have to qualify that because we came in later in the evening. They were out of several menu items. I had the Shrimp and Grits. The grits tasted like boiled water. I might give it another shot however. read more

Fabulous location for vacation dining. Very cool vibe-interesting drinks-relaxed atmosphere. Food is creative and tastes great.

Loved the food, especially the kale salad. Service was excellent. The only complaint is the lack of shade as the sun was setting. We will be back next year :) read more

Stopped in for drinks and an appetizer last night. Had a honeysuckle lemonade. It was tasty but very weak. Bartender was a little aloof and took 3 requests to get an ice water( 6 people total at the bar). We had the crab and artichoke burrito type app which would probably be great had it been hot or even warm. Ours was tepid. When I told the bartender he gave me a skeptical look like he didn't believe me. Really? End: food and drink ok. Service sub par. 2 hard lemonades 2 beers and one tepid app $51.00. read more

The good: Food was good. Meatloaf was moist and had a nice kick to it, but was not overwhelming. My wife had the scallop starter and we shared the dip trio. Overall the food was good, I was not disappointed . The bad: Service was not good. There were 3 in our party. We were told we would be seated in 10- 15 minutes , it actually was over 30. Once seated dinner arrived 30 minutes after we ordered, beers came 10 minutes after the waitress took the order. Looks like they need more service help. We ordered at 7:30 and the place was filled. They have good food, just need to invest in some more help. The owner was visible but didn't take notice that our beers were sitting right at the bar. We were seated inside and 2 feet from the bar. I really like the place and hope they can improve their service levels. read more

An amazing getaway in an unassuming location. The upstairs bar and deck are the perfect spot for drinks or dinner. When you enter from the parking lot, in the corner of a shopping plaza, you wouldn't expect the views or ambiance you experience when you get inside. Fantastic view of the sound for sunsets or watching storms roll through or just people watching above the plaza. My girlfriend and I ate here last year for dinner and vowed we'd come back, we were not disappointed. One of the owners, Patrick, greeted us at the door and we were offered a spot at the bar while we waited for a table on the deck. The bartender was very attentive and made fantastic cocktails. When we were seated outside a little while later, we were tempted by some of the offerings we hadn't tried yet, but decided to have the same meal we had previously because it was so good. We had the Buffalo Chicken Flautas, Upside Southern Boil and the Shrimp and Scallop Pesto Pappardelle. The food was fresh, expertly crafted and the portions were generous. You can tell by the quality of the ingredients and the effort put into the meal that the staff here cares about their guest's experience. We would 100% recommend trying this place out and we've already made plans to visit again on our next trip and try some more of the menu. Thank you to Patrick and the staff at Upside for a great night out! read more

The food here is amazing and if you sit outside so is the view. They have some great cocktails too, I had the coconut mojito and loved it! Staff is super nice and service is fast. Will absolutely be coming back here. read more

Beautiful space but fish tacos were fairly devoid of any fish and very expensive for just 2 of them! We are locals so I would love to see this place do well but at these prices and value of food, we were disappointed read more

We sorta accidentally stumbled into this place; we were looking at the ice cream shop next door, but they weren't open. But the staff at Upside was just opening the doors for their first day of the season, and we got to be their first customers of the year! The staff was friendly and clearly happy to be there, from the host to our server to the manager. And the food was outstanding! We split the hush puppies for an appetizer, and we enjoyed - hot and crispy and paired nicely with a spiced butter. We also split the wedge salad and excellent fried chicken sandwich for lunch; with the appetizer, it was exactly filling enough to leave room to split the key lime pie for dessert. A real highlight was the chips that came with that sandwich; they're made in house, and are maybe our favorite potato chips anywhere. We'd go back for just the chips, seriously. And the pie was perfect. Many thanks to the chef and staff for adding a memorable lunch to our vacation! read more

Upside Restaurant - Our table, on the balcony - Seafood Near Me - Corolla, North Carolina

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Absolutely impressed with this small kitchen. Small menu, done well, with great drinks. Crab cake/Mac and cheese was fantastic, meatloaf was well executed, mahi mahi cooked just right, and an excellent and filling portobello mushroom vegetarian dish. Service was excellent for a seasonal business. Go early and enjoy. read more

Owners extremely pleasant, great location, great decor but best not to go there hungry as portions small (especially scallops and BLT as two of the things our group of 7 got and less than acceptable based on price). Daughter told me chicken tacos were probably the worst she has had. 3 days into opening and some growing pains that resulted in one of our orders of food never arriving with little concern from bartender who was managing the order with 9 people at the bar. Wish them much success but unfortunately can't recommend and will choose other places in future. Beer selection was good and a nice place to hang out for a beer but not sure that is the hard part. read more

Wonderful place and great addition to the Outerbanks! Stopped in for dinner on a whim and by far our favorite restaurant in Corolla. Owners and staff extremely kind and accommodating. Beautiful roof top deck with sound views. A bit sunny at dinner but a nice breeze to keep you cool. We enjoyed the scallops and hush puppies as appetizers. The crab cake entree was fantastic! Crab cakes and Mac and cheese together?! You can't go wrong! Simply delicious! read more

Have vacationed in Corolla 4 summers and must say that dining at Upside was a great experience. The food was fantastic both in presentation as well as in taste. The view sitting outside while the sun was sinking was incredible. Our waitress, Cadie, was wonderful. We will be sure to return to Upside on our next visit to Corolla! read more

Number 1- outdoor setting is refreshing, nice view of sound. Number 2 - entrees had great flavor! Recommend crab cakes, jerk chicken, and meatloaf (I know, right!). Hush puppies were another fav. Number 3- staff. Honest recommendations, very helpful with decisions Number 4- owners are congenial. Will definitely come back! read more

My wife and I stopped by and wow we were blown away with how fantastic this place was! We will be back year after year, I highly recommend the seasonal fish and the crab cakes they are fantastic! read more

I would give it a zero, if that was an option. We called ahead, we were a party of four. We were told they did not take reservations, but that there was no wait. When we arrived 15 mins later, we were told they had a party of 11 call in and there were no seats. Hmmm, what happened to no reservations? Seems it just matters who you know as we witnessed nepotism, to a ridiculous level. Food was tasteless, maybe a result of the horrid double standard service we received and u had to eat it sitting at a bar with sports tv playing while an empty table sat behind us. Will not be back read more

I'm returning for a second time in one weekend. Upside is a MUST try while in Corolla. Service, food and ambiance is on point. I tried a bunch of restaurants in the area, and this is the only one that compelled me to write a yelp review. AMAZING!!!! read more

Our family came to Corolla for vacation. My husband and I don't go out to "nice" restaurants often since we have 3 rambunctious children, so while we were down he wanted to take me somewhere out of the ordinary. We stumbled upon Upside Restaurant after we left another restaurant down the road that obviously used frozen shrimp in the appetizer(which my husband thought was completely unacceptable). The entire experience at Upside was amazing! The dishes we ordered definitely used fresh seafood and were absolutely delicious! We will definitely come back... also I left my sunglasses at the restaurant and when I called they offered to ship them back to me at no charge since I live hours away! Great place and great customer service. When we come back to obx we will definitely eat there again! read more

We really thought the restaurant would be very nice once we got inside. We found out that evidently they don't like straws I understand that straws are hurting DC population but if if you know how to properly dispose of them or use that does pose a bowl of environmental friendly straws. We received very unprofessional rudeness from our server who went ask for a straw advised at first they come with cocktail glasses only then after our other guest asked for them advise as well if you really need one then we will everything about him was he didn't want us there so I just recommend if unless you're dressed to the nine's and maybe a Philadelphia lawyer and you never won't a straw or anything that could possibly go into the Atlantic ocean then maybe not eat there. read more

Great service and the food was amazing! The crab cakes were to die for and the non-seafood options (chicken/steak) were cooked to perfection as well for all those non-seafood lovers. The outdoor deck provides a beautiful view to compliment the great food. We would highly recommend Upside Restaurant to anyone & everyone! read more

The service was great and the food was very good. Our server was Tim and he handled our large group beautifully. The hush puppies were amazing and the shrimp and grits were very creamy. This is not really a place for children and families. The kids in our group had a hard time finding something to eat as they did not have a kids menu. Also, it is a bit pricey for the size portions that you get. All in all, the staff was accommodating and pleasant. Upside was not some place I would frequent but I would visit again for a light lunch if I didn't have my children with me. read more

This place has only been running for a few months so I'm not surprised that it hasn't worked out the kinks. At first I thought this place was gonna be really nice. I really wanted to like it. It's in a cute little shopping area right near the sound, and the outdoor balcony setting was nice. We were seated right away which was a plus. But that's about where the good stuff ended. Our table was not even a little bit stable. Like when you went to use a knife, the table shook so badly that water spilled out of my glass. The service left much to be desired. Tables seated after us had their appetizers before we even ordered our drinks. The portions of the meals were relatively small and sort of over priced. We ordered the chips and salsa ($15) for the appetizer and the chips were so stale that we couldn't eat them, and the "salsa" was just diced tomatoes??? No peppers or anything literally just diced tomatoes. Our other appetizer (fried tomatoes) came out cold. The only reason I'm giving this 2 stars and not 1 is because the jerk chicken fajitas were amazing. So good. Hopefully this place works out the problems because it has potential. read more