I love Cafe Pamlico! Been coming here for years and normally sit on the deck, which we'd also planned this year, but sadly it was rained out. With, COVID we've been trying to stay careful, they seated us in a room with only 3 other tables spaced carefully. We were able to have a nice dinner and feel safe and normal for the first time since March. We started with a bottle of spring water and a half baguette with Parmesan olive oil dip. Our appetizer was the fried green tomato stack which was EXCELLENT. I could drink that Cajun bleu sauce. I had the filet which was AMAZING. I ordered medium rare and it was so tender, yet perfectly seared. My boyfriend had the crab cakes which were also delicious. We had a nice bottle of wine and finished with an Italian lemon cake. We never order dessert at other places, but we always make room for it here! 10/10 would recommend! I wish I knew my server's name because she was also amazing! read more

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Great little gem had a lovely breakfast there they manage to get us in at the end of the service highly recommend read more

Cafe Pamlico - Seafood Near Me - Buxton, North Carolina

We arrived around 6:15 to a nearly empty restaurant and were a bit surprised when asked if we had a reservation. We didn't and were told there would be an hour wait. We turned to one of our favorite tricks and got seated at the bar where there was both a bar menu and full dining menu available. Dave at the bar took good care of us. Fun to watch him make cocktails and we loved the one we chose (Jack and Ginger: Jack Daniels, grapefruit juice, pickled ginger, ginger liquor and lime) so good, we had two! I had Brie en croute appetizer. Originally thought I would share but ended up eating it all myself. Husband had the smoked fish appetizer; there is a different fish daily and he had salmon. It was excellent. We then had salads: mine was super green with kale, cabbage, Brussel sprouts and husband had the spring mix. Both were good, although on the slightly smaller side. Had originally considered sharing a dessert but had a second cocktail instead. Note: while the restaurant did fill up, two of the tables were still empty when we left an hour and a half later. read more

Cafe Pamlico - Brie en croute with Granny Smith apple slices, walnuts, and honey - Seafood Near Me - Buxton, North Carolina

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While we only had dinner my wife and I, and without the kids in tow, it was anything but the memorable experience I hoped we would have had. We arrived promptly at 6:45 for a 7:00 pm reservation and were seated right away at a table with a gorgeous view of the sound. We ordered prosecco to start and the waiter came back with some yummy bread and olive oil. Then we ordered dinner, two Caesar salads, and my wife ordered the special local fish of the day over risotto, while I ordered the seared tuna over sticky rice, an Asian inspired dish. I'm sorry to say that the risotto was woefully undercooked and my wife, though usually not to picky of an eater wouldn't eat it. She ate my meal and I ate some of her meal. The prosecco glasses stayed on the table the whole time. We didn't stay for desert but looked around the grounds which are very nice. I wish it was a better date night for us but sometimes these things happen The owner graciously offered a redo. When we are back at OBX we will take them up on the offer. I knew it was just a bad day for them. read more

Cafe Pamlico - Seafood Near Me - Buxton, North Carolina

A must try when on the island. MAKE A RESERVATION! A must stop when vacationing in OBX. The food is fantastic, the atmosphere and ambiance are amazing. Wine selection always impresses as well as bartending skills. Staff is competent, friendly and very accommodating. The view while dinning is beautiful, and breathtaking at sunset. The shrimp and grits, tuna, and crab cakes are favorites. Menu items change daily. So fantastic you will want to come back multiple times when on the island, like I did! The deserts are delectable, I indulged myself 3 times on the flour-less chocolate cake last week 9/1-9/7/13. Portion sizes are perfect for one. Well worth the money spent! But don't forget to make a reservation! Try it, you won't be disappointed! read more

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What an amazing hidden gem. We had such a fantastic time and meal. Our waitress was superb and fun to have. We all had such a great meal and time, one we will never forget. read more

The food was very good and the view is amazing. It had a casual elegant feel to the place. I think the waiter could have used some deodorant , which is a must in a high end restaurant but other than that, we had a nice dinner read more

We liked the view. Staff was nice. Otherwise underwhelmed slightly by the food taste. Ordered portabella caprese salad - the cheese was like rubber and it was way overpriced - kind of felt like a rip off that one. Had the mussels - the top mussels were dry - like someone reheated them in the microwave - meh. The fish of the day was dry as well. Drinks - whatever. I mean - I don't do fine dining on daily, but if it tastes worse than the meal I had the other day for half the price then something is wrong. read more

We went here for a birthday dinner and everything was beautiful and delicious. Our favorites were the starters - stacked fried green tomatoes with shrimp, scallops and pork belly, and Brie bites. The cocktails were excellent - especially loved the lavender lemontini. Entrees were good too, but we honestly could have stayed happily just with small plates. The Mac n cheese and Brussels also looked delicious, but we didn't try. Gorgeous view and with a dinner start time of 5:30, we hit sunset right at we were finishing dessert. Our server (Melissa, I think) was awesome and I felt like all of the staff were doing a great job keeping things Covid safe, with spaced tables masking etc. live music was a plus! read more

We made reservations for dinner here, which they recommend as seating is limited, and ate in their outside space facing the water. The view was lovely and the entire experience was wonderful. The service was impeccable, they were kind and welcoming, our order was correct and they even made a special version of one the the dishes to accommodate my mom not liking spicy food. The prices are in line with the quality of the food, so no complaints on that front, even their extensive wine list is reasonably priced. Whomever is in the kitchen is a master of cream sauces and knows how to perfectly cook seafood. An additional treat in the evening was the gentleman playing guitar and singing. He had a great voice, was quite talented, and while he sang covers, it wasn't the same old same old that everyone is tired of hearing. We loved our experience, we highly recommend! read more

Absolutely sensational experience. The staff members were amazing - welcoming, attentive, and personable and the proprietor engaging and incredibly approachable. The food was spectacular, perhaps the best meal I've ever had. The view was amazing and the entire place was warm and charming. The only disappointing thing is I can't go back until the next time I'm in the Outer Banks. Awesome experience, highly recommend. read more

Food was very good however regardless of how many in your party, 2,4,6 they will not split the tab or give you separate checks. This is a major inconvenience and something I never encountered in any other restaurant. Also other restaurants allow you to bring your own wine and pay a corkage fee. They do not allow this. read more

My husband and I are locals and we love this restaurant. The ambiance is second to none with water views and background music. The new fresh air dining space that was constructed provided the warmth of the indoors while still dining al fresco. The unique cocktails had us ordering another round and the food was most flavorful with us trying both vegetarian and seafood dishes. The staff was also enjoyable from the pleasant gentleman who took our reservation to the friendly hostess that seated us and the cordial waiter that ensured we were well taken care of. We look forward to our next date night at the Cafe. read more

We have dined at Cafe Pamlico several times and have never been disappointed. Service was slightly slow this last visit but that is an issue right now area wide so I can't attribute that to this restaurant alone. Considering the service industry staffing shortage all around, Cafe Pamlico does a pretty good job of keeping up the best they can. The food was still delicious and the overall atmosphere is warm and relaxing. read more

We ate breakfast here. We walked in when the opened at 8:00 and did not receive our food till 8:55. Our waitress was gone for almost 20 minutes getting us water. We had chicken and waffles and they were just ok. Nothing fancy. My husband had the eggs Benedict. He said they weren't warm. We could never tell our waitress cause she didnt come back for 25 min after delivering our food. Not sure we will ever return. read more

By far the classiest place around. Service was top notch, views amazing, food was perfect and even had live music. read more

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Absolutely delicious breakfast and dinner. You cannot beat the views or the wine selection. I wouldn't normally try a sushi-esque plate outside of a Japanese restaurant, but they nailed it with the Mexican Pipeline. Great food aside- the staff is welcoming and friendly. This place is a must try for anyone visiting or local to the area. read more

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Stayed in the OBX for about a week and a half and ate up and down the entire area. Out of the dozens of restaurants we ate at, this was BY FAR the best. The ambiance was great, sitting outside (they provided bug spray!!) listening to live music. The food just tasted better. The cocktails were creative and made better. And Vail was the best server we've had the entire trip. As a former server myself, I watched in awe as Vail handled multiple tables, often being double and triple sat, with grace and a smile. She was knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive. Her recommendations were on point, and she was straightforward without being pushy. I would have given this place 5 stars on the service alone. But the food was truly exceptional. You can taste the difference in the high quality, fresh ingredients. I'm not a leftover eater, but I devoured mine the next day. Highly recommend making the trip out to this place while you're in town. read more

My husband and I had the most fabulous dinner at Cafe Pamlico tonight! First time there and our expectations were definitely exceeded! The lavender lemontini is absolutely delicious, as was everything else we enjoyed which included the brie bites and two surf and turf entrees. My husband had the ribeye and I had the filet, both with shrimp skewers, mashed potatoes and veggies. We both agreed that his was one of the best dinners of our lives. The atmosphere is wonderful, so is the view. Also our server was pleasant, helpful and made the experience complete. We love traveling to Buxton and this will be included in our visits from now on. Highly recommend! read more

Gluten Free Options!! I suffer from celiac disease and it is hard to trust restaurants with my health. The staff was very knowledgeable and the menu offers multiple gluten free options. The food and drinks were amazing. read more

Cafe Pamlico - Enclosed dinning room with fireplace - Seafood Near Me - Buxton, North Carolina

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My husband and I had dinner here last night. We arrived not long after opening and were lucky enough to have the patio, with a beautiful view, to ourselves for a while. Well, except for the visit from one of the local dogs, Layla. Lol. Our server, Zach, was great and all of his recommendations were on point. From appetizers to dessert, everything we had was beautifully plated and just plain delicious. This was our first night out together since my husband finished cancer treatment. Thank you for helping to make it a memorable evening. read more

Dinner was delicious and beautiful romantic atmosphere! The dinner in the room was also a lot of fun. Jennifer was our server and she is so sweet. I definitely give dinner 5 stars. I would have to give breakfast 4 stars. They say they serve from 8-10 but when we arrived at 9:50, the server told us it was rude to arrive so late and that the chef had already turned off the grill. We ordered yogurt parfait and from then on made sure to arrive by 9:30. That was a little stressful because we like to sleep in on vacation so would have liked if breakfast was served till 10:30 so we could arrive at 10. Also at breakfast, they didn't tell us if something had run out. I ordered the pancakes with fresh berries. When it arrived there were no berries. When I questioned the server, he said they were out. It was fine. I ate them with maple syrup but it would have been nice to know that when I ordered because I may have chosen a different dish. The same happened when the eggs Benedict came without spinach. I ordered that for the spinach so it would have been nice to be notified at the time of ordering . Anyway, the restaurant is beautiful with the view of the sound so all in all a lovely experience. read more

Cafe Pamlico - Seafood Near Me - Buxton, North Carolina

Went for dinner there on Friday, July 1. We had reservations and were seated immediately with a wonderful view of the sound. Cocktails and starter (crab Mac & cheese) were on point and our dinners were amazing. I had the shrimp & grits (because yum! of course) and my husband had the fried triggerfish with mango chutney. I prefer shellfish over finfish but his triggerfish was outstanding. Quite possibly the best fish dish I've ever tasted. Finished it off with some white chocolate crème brûlée. Lovely date night! And our server Ashley was wonderful. We will go back next time we're in town. I definitely want to try their brunch, too. read more

This is a wonderful place to Great stay -The Pamlico Inn. Great people and amazing view. The meals at the Pamlico Cafe were fantastic. Our vote for the best meal ever is the Shrimp Scallops and Grits!! The grits are over the top! The staff is delightful - especially Miss Melissa who took good care of us! read more

No surprise that this beautiful Inn has a wonderful Cafe. We had Breakfast 3 out of the 4 mornings we were there and it was phenomenal each time. Dallas was our server throughout our stay and he was so personable and even played with our 1 year old for a few minutes allowing my husband and I to actually be able to sit and eat! We also had our Thanksgiving dinner at the Cafe and it was probably the best Thanksgiving dinner I have ever had!!! Show less read more

Just wanted to follow up and say that we made it back here for our Third year in a row and it was every bit as amazing as it always is, I again had the Local catch which turned out to be a last minute Wahoo that the Chef was allowed to serve after a Rehearsal Dinner that I know was caught THAT morning. The Sunset was amazing the drinks and food were so spot on. I LOVE THIS PLACE! read more

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Simply delicious and a beautiful view of the sound! If you are in the area don't miss out, you have to dine here and you will not regret it read more

Cafe Pamlico - Roasted red pepper bisque soup was amazing; wild mushroom risotto was even better! Great view too! - Seafood Near Me - Buxton, North Carolina

My husband and I came here for our date night during our week in Frisco. We had a 8 pm reservation, which suited us fine so we could get our daughter settled into bed before leaving her to my family. We arrived 30 minutes early because our evening went more smoothly and we figured we could just hang out until our reservation but were seated immediately--after grabbing drinks at the bar. The service was extremely, extremely slow. As in, it took a good 30 minutes for us to get bread. The bread was given to another table, our server explained after about 20 minutes, but its...bread. I didn't understand whey they didn't just throw together another basket. My food (crab cakes) was EXCELLENT. I cleaned my plate because I was famished by this point. The sun setting over the Sound was gorgeous (we were seated on "the bridge.") The mosquitos eating me after the sun set was decidedly less romantic, but thankfully we had finished our meal and ran for our car after about 4 bug bites. My biggest complaint was the cost of my cocktail. $12 for a cosmo. I'm from Boston, and if a cocktail is more than $10, it better be mind blowing. It was neither particularly top shelf or amazing. I could go to some of the best bars in the city here and have a better drink for less. They had live entertainment when we were there, which was okay, but we would have preferred mere quiet and the sights. If we come back, it will probably be on a non-entertainment night and we probably skip the alcohol and stick with iced tea. read more

This is a review for the restaurant only. It is really difficult to find good food at the outer banks. We had hoped that this would be a step above the usual seafood fare. Food was nothing special, prices very high. Service was ok, a bit slow, but its the beach so who cares about that. You would be better off buying fresh seafood and cooking it yourself. read more

We started with the very nice Brie bites appetizer: puff pastry - wrapped Brie served with sliced apple and some berry preserves. The best dish we had was the shrimp and grits, which was very flavorful and hearty. The crab cakes were expensive ($30) but tasty, and came with a horseradish sauce and sweet potato purée. The crab bisque was simple but good. The Thai vegetables, had a nice selection of fresh vegetables, but the sauce was rough: the Thai curry was not blended with other flavors. The Caprese salad had disappointingly few small cubes of mozzarella and the tomatoes were not all ripe; however the balsamic dressing was very good. The only downside was the disruptive smell of the compost heap. It diminish the atmosphere a great deal, and is really inexcusable for an upscale restaurant. read more

The reviews mentioned slow service, so I was prepared. Yes, it was slow, but not obnoxiously so. You're out to a nice meal...they don't want to rush you. The food was amazing. We had a tuna sashimi and artichoke, mushroom bruschetta to start. Both we're spot on, especially the tuna. For entrees we had the catch (mahi) and the scallop carbonara. Note: This review is from October 2013, but somehow it saved instead of posted, so, I'm posting it late. read more

We are back to being fans of the Inn on Pamlico Sound. Last year was an A-OK meal with excellent wine - This year we all enjoyed the She Crab Soup, and I enjoyed my Pistachio encrusted Mahi-Mahi with tropical fruit salsa. We ate here Wednesday Night 6/9/10 We were able to dine outside - service was good - there was a wedding and reception that evening..... read more

My wife and I celebrated our 20th anniversary there. We ate outside on the deck overlooking Pamlico Sound. Mojo Collins played guitar and sang in the corner. Our server was excellent, neither hovering or ignoring us. We had drinks and Asian beef skewers for appetizer. My wife had the duck and I ate the filet. The duck was delicious and tender. The filet was probably the best steak I've had in my life -- so tender I had trouble keeping it on the fork as if fell apart on the way to my mouth. Everything was made on site, there was no hint of frozen or food service reheats. They run a quality kitchen. They offered us a complimentary dessert and we chose the chocolate cake. It was great. In all we spent a luxurious two hours listening to music, watching the Sound and enjoying some amazing food. When the check came, our server (who knew it was our anniversary, of course) said "Can I get you anything else?" I shook my head no. "Did we do it?" I shook my head yes. We had an appetizer, two entrees, two glasses of wine, a beer and a soda. With tip it came to about $121. read more

We really enjoyed our meal here -- had fresh clams and rockfish, which were fresh and well-prepared. We liked the wine selection and had a great server, along with a great candle-light dinner outdoors for our last night of vacation in the obx. Gratuity of 18% was included for a table of 4 as another diner commented below. If left to our own judgment, we probably would have given our server 20%, but I think including gratuity for a table that small is ridiculous and refuse to add extra. read more

A nice cozy place with a great view. Our server wasn't the best in the world but still pleasant. While the place was busy it would have been nice if she would have lit the candle on the table AND remembered to refill our water glasses. On the positive side... My wife had the corn and crab bisque which she said was delicious. For her entree she had the crab cakes which were load with real crab meat. I snuck a taste and yes they were very good. I had six oysters which were supposed to be Rockerfeller but were delivered raw. No problem but the sauce needs a kick of horseradish and the kitchen needs to practice their shucking skills. For my entree I had the best shrimp and grits that I have ever had. Delicious!!! Yes, we would return but for tonight we will venture out and see what else the Outer Banks has to offer. read more

I have to say, overall I had a good experience here. The service was very friendly, the food was tasty, and the ambiance was well above par for the area. There was one downside to the evening, which you'll read about soon. Our party of 8 was able to make a reservation roughly 1 hour prior to arrival, which was nice, however the place wasn't really busy when we were seated. They have a nice little bar, and a really nice outdoor deck area that has a great view of the sunset on the sound. On this night, they also had a talented young lady playing guitar outside. The atmosphere inside is a bit more upscale, as is reflected in the pricing. For starters, my wife and I each had the crab and corn bisque, which was delicious. The soup came out to our table about 45 minutes after we had ordered. About 30 minutes later, salads arrived. By this time, I would have guessed entrees would be up as well, but that was another 30-40 minutes. For entrees, I had the filet (medium rare), excellently prepared, with scallops (also perfect), and my wife tried the rock fish (fresh catch). All went swimmingly. For dessert, there were 4 offerings - we chose to split the 5 layer chocolate extravaganza, which my wife later referred to as "the best chocolate dessert she had ever us at a restaurant" - pretty high praise. Overall, the food was excellent - well worth the price. The only downfall was that we spent 3 full hours of our vacation here. This meal could easily have been accomplished in 1-1.5 hours. Do try, but leave time in the schedule just in case! read more

Fabulous breakfast/brunch, made with the freshest of ingredients! We wish this restaurant was near to our home. It's obvious, there's a very talented chef here! read more

We had an ocean view table and an outstanding meal. I had short ribs with fresh spinach and mashed potatoes. My husband had a seafood dish with mussels and clams and shrimp. Both meals were outstanding. We each had an alcoholic beverage and 2 salads which were extra and the total bill was $89 which I don't think was too bad. I don't mind paying if the food is good. Josh our waiter was excellent.When we left we noticed outside there was a vegetable garden which I'm sure they used for our meal. This place is definitely worth the trip. read more

Cafe Pamlico - Mussels and shrimp and clams - Seafood Near Me - Buxton, North Carolina

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My previous review was 2/5 stars due to a lapse in service that resulted in me and my party waiting for our breakfast for an extended period of time. However, the owner contacted my husband directly mere hours after our meal and offered an apology and compensated my party and I for our meal. This level of professionalism definitely deserves 5 stars, as the staff and the owner demonstrate impeccable hospitality and service and the desire to make things right. The food and view, as my previous review stated, was lovely. The staff and owner are a very courteous, considerate and responsible team of people. read more

Melissa took care of us on our visit last night. Location is beautiful! Blood orange jalapeño margaritas were FAB! Enjoyed portabella caprese appetizer. Pics of our entrees - flounder was catch of the day. Shrimp and grits was a winner! read more