This was my family's first time and we were very excited to try a Triple D stop but it wasn't worth it. There was 11 of us and we arrived before 5:30pm and we were seated quickly with friendly service. We were seated inside and surrounded by a classic "seafood style" restaurant decor. Our group had various items from the menu and the food overall was average at best; we had two orders of the seafood risotto, one was a little mushy and the other was under cooked but it did have a ton a seafood. The citrus chicken had a very tasty sauce but the meat was extremely dry and the vegetables were under cooked. The filet topped with crab was good but unusually fatty with tiny pieces of minced crab meat. We also had the down home steak that wasn't prepared correctly but after sending it back was ok and the BBQ shrimp was good. Overall the building had a lot of character and the service was good but it wasn't enough to make up for the over priced, average tasting food. Maybe my expectations were too high after seeing this place on the Food Network and I just showed up on a bad day. Either way it wasn't worth the price. read more

Very historic building. Old, but friendly. Had shrimp and grits. Excellent with a little kick! Guy friery had this place on DDD which is why we went there. Great pick! read more

Great food decor and service! The menu was great, especially for my gluten free friends. Excellent pizza wings and seafood. The dinner menu looks incredible! Looking forward to returning soon. Literally a stones throw from the beach. read more

The one place that keeps us coming back multiple times throughout our vacation. Awesome food, great atmosphere, best service in town. Go you will not be disappointed. read more

Its a tourist trap.....all about quantity over quality. You can sense that the management is not worried about repeat business (get the beachgoers in the door charge them $40 a pop and send them down the road) I'd be curious how many locals frequent this place??? read more

Went here for dinner with a small party. Service was decent for it being pretty busy. Everyone's dinner was alright, nothing that was amazing. Got a few apps that were pricey for the portions. Would have given 4 stars, but we got slices of pie to go and two people found small hairs in two different types of pie. read more

Oysters steamed were not exceptional. Some of the shells weren't cracked open. The rice sucked. The Brie was good. The okra frozen before prepared. The flounder not exceptional. The shrimp was great. Service not so much. Got sweet tea when asked for not sweet and refilled my tea w Dr Pepper and added a lemon. Disappointed. read more

Waited over an hour after we ordered for food to arrive. When it did come it was cold. Food was average at best. Will not spend my money there again. Go to the Run Down Cafe instead read more

I read some really good reviews on this place and decided to check it out when I was at the Beach. By he reviews were spot on. This was an awesome place, great food and atmosphere. We had a party of 10 and mixed up most of the menu. The big hit was the Mahi and seared tuna.. The staff complimented it by offering our kids extra frisbees. It was a great experience, and we plan to go back. read more

This has been a favorite place of mine for years. After a very long wait for a table the bartender flat out refused to make a drink that wasn't on the menu. We waited an hour for steamed shrimp appetizer and and another hour for entrees. The hostess staff were also rude, will not put you on the list until everyone in your party reports to them, even though the wait was an hour long. My daughter ordered pasta with Marinara sauce off the kids menu. After 1 1/2 hour weight the cold pasta was brought with nothing on it. We asked for sauce and a cold cup of sauce was brought to the table 10 minutes later. Very disappointing. read more

Went for dinner during our vacation and was a little nervous pulling into a very full parking lot. We got in and had a wait for 6 people for 20-25 minutes however it was really only about 5. They have lots of large tables so they are prepared for all the big families coming in. Our server was prompt and very pleasant. They had a magician performing small tricks to entertain the tables while you wait for your food, which I thought was a very cute idea. Our food came out fairly quickly and was delicious. I had a special, Chef's Pasta, with shrimp, scallops, linguini and veggies. Loved it! Another hit at the table was the seafood risotto. I believe this restaurant has it together and knows what to do to cater to the summer crowds. read more

Service was good but the food lacked favor. I had the seafood risotto which consisted of 2 scallops and 4 shrimp then it was served luke warm. My husband had the Carolina Combo ( fried oysters and b-que) he said the oysters were good but the barbecue tasted like it was out of a can. It's no bother to pay a high price for good food but this was not even close. We won't go back. read more

This was my first visit to the Black Pelican. Service started off fairly crappy. Not sure if the waiter was having a bad evening or he just wanted to leave early. Not a good first impression. We started off with their brie/jam appetizer and it was ok. Not worth the price, that's for sure. Our party of three each ordered a pizza. The crab pizza which is supposed to be one of the favorites was meh, just ok. I had the pepperoni and it was good but how does one screw up pepperoni pizza. My brother got a bbz chx pizza without the chx and well he liked it but he also eats just about anything. So, I would say if you are looking for some pizza and nothing else is open give it a try otherwise there are plenty of other places in the area that are far better. read more

Came here based on our innkeepers recommendation and ended up eating here both nights that we were in the area. Had their seafood specials both nights - grouper one night and rockfish the next - both fantastic. Cooked just perfect, seasoned accordingly and paired with fresh delicious sides. Here during off season but the place was busy both nights. We sat at the bar both nights and ate dinner- friendly staff and fresh prepared food. Highly recommend. read more

Good food, large portions, good location, mid-range price.

We waited 45 minutes for a table on a Thursday evening and the hostess sat 3 of us down and we told her the rest of the group (8 more)would arrive shortly and we wanted to order some appetizers. 10 minutes went by and waitress didn't return. The hostess (actually manager Jenny) came to our table and told us we had to leave. The rest of our party were in the parking lot and we told her but she insisted we leave. I have never been so humiliated and will definitely never give the restaurant another try. We purchased shirts prior to being seated which will also be returned. She said it was policy to not seat a party until everyone arrived and we could go downstairs and put our names back on the bottom of the list. Hell no! Very poor customer service and manager. read more

Beautiful setting, delicious food, just a solid spot to go to ensure good atmosphere, good food and a good time. Wood-fired pizzas are particularly delectable. Will be coming back! read more

My wife and I ate at the Black Pelican at the recommendation of a local home owner. Reservations are not accepted, and our wait at 8 PM was about 30 min. Service was prompt, and the entrees were enjoyable -- not exceptional or generous, but served promptly and pleasantly. The restaurant was so loud that I could barely communicate with our waitress, and table talk was impossible. The ambiance was quite unpleasant, and two women at a nearby table gave up and left. I will go elsewhere when I want a pleasant dinner at a modest\premium price. read more

Went here the first night in town. Mistake. Prices were way too high in comparison to others. The whole place had a weird smell. We walked in and the hostess didn't even greet us. Our waiter was fine. Clam chowder was different but okay. Coconut shrimp was okay. Nothing remarkable about this place. Go elsewhere. read more

My family have been vacationing in the Outer Banks for decades. The Black Pelican has always been one of our regular stops. We have such rose colored memories of meals there. I'm sure we're reflecting fondly upon time spent with family and friends rather than a great meal... because that is certainly not what we got on this trip. I will base this review only on our most recent visit. We brought in a group of 6 for my father's 60th birthday (he requested the restaurant). Long story short, the food was overcooked and flavorless, definitely catering to a tourist crowd who doesn't know how seafood should taste, and I'm pretty sure our server was drunk (his speech was slurred, eyes glazed, and he even poked my friend in the arm to ask her if she wanted a refill). Even the pizza, which used to be a family favorite, was burned and over salted. Do not fall for this tourist trap, it is not worth your time or money. And it makes me sad because this used to be a great spot. read more

We have owned a home in Duck since 2005, and frequent many of the great restaurants. We had company last night and decided to venture out of Duck and go to the Black Pelican. We figured it would be busy on Sat night and they do not take reservations; however, we took a chance. They said it would be a 15 to 20 minute wait and it turned out to be 10 minutes. Allison was our server and she was excellent. Our food and service was great. I had the Ahi Tuna and it was a large portion and cooked just the way I like it, seared and cold in the middle. One of my guest stated that his fish was a little over cooked and Allison immediately replaced it with a fresh one cooked perfectly. We also had the Peanut Butter Cheese cake and split it four ways. (To die for) I have been there about 4 times in the last year, and each time was great. In the winter, we got to sit next to the fireplace which was also great. read more

Awful experience. Waited over an hour and a half to get a table. Also waited over 2 hours for our food. Got the surf and turf and the steak was way too overcooked. Waitress did nothing about our food. Will never come back here on any of our vacations again. Don't waste your time. read more

Yesterday was the first time in years I've had a chance to taste offerings of the Black Pelican. My sister got married and she chose their catering department to provide the food and bartend for her celebration. The food was fabulous! The servers were very professional and very personable. I could not have imagined a better catering experience for my sister and her new husband for their party! I will definitely recommend the Black Pelican to anyone who is thinking of eating in the Outer Banks area. read more

My Bridge friends and I come to the Outer Banks every November, and while we're there we make it a point to always have lunch at the Black Pelican, because there food is always outstanding and the waitstaff is always friendly. read more

Our party of 6 made our annual trek to the Outer Banks and revisited Black Pelican because a newcomer in our group wanted good seafood. We were not disappointed. The Seafood Risotto was creamy and loaded with seafood. I had the bacon-wrapped scallops which were cooked to perfection. While I appreciate the flavor the bacon imparts on the scallops, it overwhelms the delicate flavor if you actually eat the bacon with the scallop. But that doesn't mean you can't have your scallop and bacon too! The real surprise of the night was the appetizer - Citrus Chipotle Wings. These were better than any other wings I've had, and trust me, I love just about any wing. The sauce is like a cross between barbecue and teriyaki - sweet but a tiny spicy, a wee bit smokey with an edge. The wings themselves were enormous - these are not the dried up, shrunken, underfed chicken wings you're used to from some national wing chains. I could live on these wings. Too bad it's a 12-hour drive! The only disappointments - the pita bread basket, and the somewhat dark and outdated ambiance. This restaurant could lose the souvenir shop and go a little more upscale. But don't let that stop you from visiting and enjoying the seafood and wings! See ya next year! read more

Just went here for dinner In the upstairs/outdoor seating area. The restaurant is not busy and seems staffed, yet after 15 minutes, not one person asked what we would like to eat or drink or even brought a menu. They walked by like we were invisible. Guess we'll go somewhere else. It's a shame. I remember this place being better years ago. read more

Returned to this restaurant during a recent OBX stay; it made for a nice family meal with decent food all around and easy conversation (read: we could hear each other). The "1/2 hour wait" turned out to be less than 15 minutes. Salmon received compliments at the table. The pizza satisfied teenage kids. I was happy to see an edamame appetizer on the menu -- though it was a massive portion and 3/4 of it came home with me). The bacon vinaigrette dressing on the otherwise good spinach salad disappointed -- not warm enough to wilt the spinach just sat slick on the plate. Service was spotty, I suppose, but not enough to chase after anything. Folks in the bar area seemed to be having a great time playing the in-house trivia game (some handheld device that connected to a TV screen), which we will try next summer. read more

Great server, terrible food. Amazingly popular but the crabcakes were fried filler, the caesar salad wilted, the vegetables frozen or just over cooked. Hard to tell. And the prime rib we sent back two times but our server ended up taking it off the bill, tough and no taste. read more

This is ridiculous they gave me 1 piece of fish for $13.99. The waitress was KLOWN . She messes up my bill this is unacceptable. To bad there isn't a 0 star. Go Hurricane Mo's. read more

Totally love everything about this restaurant. The view from upstairs is if the ocean. Yum on its own. The ambiance inside makes you feel like you're inside a pirate ship - sort of. Arg! The food is portioned perfectly and do tasty. My margarita was probably the best I've ever! Service is awesome too. Make this a must stop!! read more

Loved this spot! We ate up in the roost overlooking the ocean and it was awesome! So awesome that we went back twice in one week for lunches! The wood-fired pizza, fries, and tuna melt were great. Oh and make sure you leave room to try the desserts, especially the chocolate torte! Didnt have a wait either time. I have no complaints. read more

Solid go-to place. I like the little neck and mussels app, fried shrimp, or blue-plate lunch specials (wed is fried chicken). The blue plate specials are a local favorite and at $7 quite a bargain. Honestly, only bad meal I ever ordered was the French dip. WAY too salty. But in the dozen other visits have said to myself "good meal". Service always excellent, great view and vintage interior. Friday is prime rib night. Cooked just right, fresh sides. There are fancier places, but "bang for the buck" wise Black Pelican is a keeper. read more

Disappointed. She crab soup was watery with no flavor. Tuna sandwich was very bland...no tuna taste. He liked his key lime pie. I thought my creme brûlée tasted like boxed pudding. read more

Party of 6 arrived at 550 and had a 30 minute wait, which is not bad. Calamari app tasted as if it came from the freezer section of a local grocery store, bad. Crab Rangoon app tasted very good. Bacon wrapped scallops were cold to touch and inedible. Mahi mahi was cold. Both orders of filet mignon were cooked perfectly, but very tough. Prime rib arrived brown on both sides. The waiter assured me it was freshly cut and plated. After I assured him there was no knife ever made that turns meat brown when used, he went to kitchen to investigate. Upon returning, he told me the prime rib was put in a pan with au jus for flavor after being cut. Every plate had cold mashed potatoes and cold string beans. No one could finish their plate. The manager gave us a percentage off of our bill and a gift certificate for our return visit. We may go to the bar and have a few drinks, but we will never eat here again. Almost forgot. The beer was cold and the bread was warm and tasty. read more

Had the best steak I've ever had in my life in this eatery. It is the perfect Outer Banks dining establishment. At some point, I'm going to quite my job and find a crawl space inside the Black Pelican to live in. I'll survive off table scraps and the tears of families visiting from Northern Virginia that realize they have to leave North Carolina and go back to the hell hole they call home. read more

Came here for lunch and order the prime rib on a toasted sub roll with provolone cheese and au jus on the side. The bread was soggy on the bottom from sitting too long before getting to my table, but overall the prime rib was thinly sliced and cooked well. My boyfriend ordered the pulled pork sandwich with a side of cole slaw. The cole slaw was spot on! The pulled pork, a little dry but the cole slaw brought it up a notch. For a quick lunch, this place serves its purpose. I hear the pizzas are good here too. read more

Oh jeez, the pelican. If I had to sum it up in a word, I would say 'Solid'. Really consistently good food and a lot of variety. The seafood is what you would want when you're at the beach and I've never had a thing there that i didn't want more of. How could you ask for a better recommendation than that? Oh? Well I supposed that my wife's family has been going to OBX for over 20 years now and this is the only place on the trip that's not negotiable (besides Goombays); we have to go here. So do yourself a favor and go if you're in town. If you're not in town, make the trip. I drive hundreds of miles to go here every year, so what's your excuse? read more

Went here before our flight and was unimpressed. The food was mediocre, service similar and food just fine. I had the crab cake sandwich, tried the sashimi, pizza, fresh crab salad and a number of other dishes. They were all decent but nothing special. Not sure when I'll be back in OBX but won't go out of my way to eat here. The story about the building and "black pelican" is cool though. read more

Great place tucked away from the tourist this place is full of locals and good food and the price was not bad considering all of the over priced places in the OBX. I had the Cavatappi special with shrimp and scallops and it was delish! Creamy and orgasmic. Had the oysters Orville and they were just OK because they were too globby cheesey and not enough flavor. The Margherita pizza was also really good. The service was wonderful and the room we sat in by the bar had a fire place. My friend had this pork shank that looked prehistoric but it was simply better than Justin Timberlake naked and bigger for sheesy. Next time you're in the OBX try this place for a reasonable and fun time and sit back and enjoy the locals. read more

We had a pleasant time here. Although my goal was to have a romantic quiet evening out at a nice restaurant this place was way too packed and loud for that. And it seems as though they are usually packed like that. There weren't many booth seats at all. The wait was a little long but nothing out of the ordinary for any average popular restaurant on a Friday or Saturday. Our food was great! My crab and shrimp bake was perfect! The best part at the end was being able to walk just across the street and take a little nighttime stroll along the beach. It was a little pricey for the quality of the interior they had but not TOO too pricey. read more