Can't say enough about our dining experience at Cafe Pamlico. Both my wife and I agreed that we would definitely eat here again when we come back. The service is superior and we really love the casual approach to fine dining. The view is amazing and we even got to have a great talk with Steve Nelson the owner of Cafe and the Inn. Steve, our servers (Melissa and John) all made us feel at home and really made our dining experience better. The food was great as well. We enjoyed breakfast twice and dinner twice. All four meals were on point. My wife's filet was very flavorful and tender and hardly needed a knife. I opted for the special which was blackened Mahi over rice with their verde sauce. Amazing! For dessert we had strawberry shortcake with strawberries from their own garden. Again amazing! Can't wait to visit again in the near future. read more

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Had a lovely breakfast here! We got the omelette with filet, peppers, tomatoes, and cheese, eggs Benedict, and a side of the banana bread French toast. So delicious! The toast and hash browns that came with the omelette were delicious! Beautiful view of the water to boot. read more

Hands down THE best meal i have had on this trip. The service was friendly and attentive while leaving space to enjoy the meal. Live music during dinner was a pleasant accompanmentI had questions about the most delicious Old Fashioned ive tasted and got a quick lesson on how to make my own at home. The views from the windows are peacefuland the whole atmosphere is a personal invitation to come back. I will absolutely be doing so read more

We've celebrated several anniversaries here over the years and it is largely for the fine dining experience. If fried seafood gets to old and you are looking for fresh takes on seafood that also come blackened, broiled, or grilled, then give this place a chance. The cocktails are wonderful, the wine list decent, and while the inside is cooled, don't dismiss the outdoor patio that has gorgeous views and live entertainment. With a nice Hatteras breeze going, we didn't even think about how hot it was. We started with a fruit gazpacho soup that was refreshing on a hot day as well as the crab dip with fresh spinach, Gruyère, and toasted pita points. I had the yellow fin tuna special which was perfectly prepared while my wife had the crab cakes dinner which were phenomenal. Our service was excellent and we never felt rushed. Pro tip: make your reservation AT LEAST two days in advance. They fill up quick for a very good reason. read more

Amazing dinner in the most beautiful location! We can't wait to come back!! We loved the fresh seafood options, cocktails, and splurge worthy desserts. This was absolutely one of the highlights of our trip! read more

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A very charming waterfront spot. We celebrated our 6th anniversary here and even though we didn't have a reservation on a Saturday, we were able to get a seat at the bar. The service was friendly and helpful, food was fresh and prepared with care, drink selection varied (we loved our red and rosé wines), and the pier and view outside were beautiful. We ordered a special of shrimp scampi with seasonal vegetables and penne, as well as crab cakes and key lime pie. The scampi was especially tasty, crab cakes a little under-seasoned, and the key lime pie tasty (my husband liked it because it wasn't very tart, which is precisely why I found it a little disappointing.) All in all, a really nice meal and excellent special occasion spot. read more

Staff was accommodating & friendly. Food was outstanding, best meal we had in the Outer Banks. Awesome location, away from major crowds but still on the water. Scallops & Fried Green Tomatoes, Brie Puff pastry, & Creamy Prosciutto Brussels were some favorites. Would definitely recommend and will be returning next time we're in town! read more

Enjoyed a wonderful breakfast overlooking the water.. the service was great! Very personable staff... the meal was delicious!... would definitely visit here again and recommend it to friends. read more

Update!! So the portions are not small when it comes to the short rib dish! That thing is huge and so tender and delicious. I loved the cauliflower au gratin as a low carb version of one of my favorites! Everything just tasted so fresh, a lot comes from their own garden. Breakfast was super great the first day, but it was so different the second day. The seasoned potatoes were my favorite on day one so I was excited to eat them again on day two, but was very disappointed to find out they were different. Day one was shredded and seasoned with spices, they had a very orange color. Day two was cubed and fried with hardly any flavor besides salt and pepper. The portion of potatoes and bacon was much less than day one. read more

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Who know? This hidden gem was here all the time. We dropped in for a sound view with great food and on my list now is the inn ... will be back for an overnight stay with amazing views and food read more

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Had Flounder (catch of the day) and Duck. Both were perfectly cooked, presented beautifully. The pink mule was awesome too. Service was top of the line (thanks Melissa!) and overall a great visit. Be aware the meals are pretty expensive, but Café Pamlico is great for a couple looking for a waterfront date spot on the island. read more

We decided on the restaurant at the Inn for a sunset dinner. What a gem of a restaurant at the Inn on Pamlico Bay! Likely the best food and service available near the village of Hatteras on the Outer Banks. We started with cocktails -- I chose a strawberry-basil mule and she had the lavender lemonade with vodka. We ordered a bowl of steamed clams in a delicious sauce that incorporated bacon, tomato pieces and bleu cheese bits. On to the salad course with a Caprese tomato/mozzarela/fresh basil stack and a stupendous savory cheesecake. This cheesecake was light, and filled with savory goodies....the type of dish that makes your eyes widen and causes you to take a moment to yourself to revel in its pleasure. I had the duck with sweet potato confit and she had the catch of the day; steamed Flounder on a bed of risotto with stir fried bok choi with an Asian edge. They were both exceptional dishes. Melissa was our handler and was lots of fun and a cheery, helpful server. We had no room for dessert but they all sounded delicious, including the flourless chocolate torte. We were not disappointed by anything we tasted, the service was great and not rushed, and all the staff were very helpful and personable. We highly recommend this establishment for a fine meal. read more

The best meal I've had in a looooooong time. First off, the hostess was so courteous and understanding. We arrived in Avon to find our rental a total mess. Our original 630 res had to be pushed back to 745. At check in, she followed up on how things were going. We sat inside with a fantastic view of the sound. We got to see sunset and enjoy culinary delights. Started with the limeade (yummmmm). We shared the fried green tomatoes (my fav dish of the night) which had a blackened cream sauce and grilled shrimp. We also shared the scallop and pork belly (my husband's fav). I had black drum on risotto topped with collards (excellent) and he had the ribeye which he seemed to enjoy as his plate was cleaned. We didn't leave room for dessert but are staying right across from the island bakery, who supplies the desserts for the restaurant. Lucky us! Ashley our waitress was delightful as well. Definitely worth a visit! We'll be coming back again later in the week. read more

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Was it just a bad night or has food and service taken a turn for the worse? It was Saturday night July 10, 2021. and finding most restaurants not taking reservations we were excited knowing the Pamlico Inn did and rhere would be no wait. And wait we did. Not waiting for a table, we were promptly sat. Our water glasses were filled with room temperature bottled water (chilled would have been nice), and we scanned the QR code for a digital copy of the menu and cocktails. We both ordered the Pamlico (Rum) Punch. The night's features were Scallops or fresh Red Drum. I ordered the scallops, the Mrs. ordered the Shrimp and Crab scampi over pasta. We waited. The waitress returns and tells me they are out of Scallops. I order the Red Drum. We waited. The bread shows up and another warm glass of water is consumed. The waitress returns to tell me they are out of the Drum. I order the Tuna with Wasabi mashed potatoes and Bok choy. Our drinks are next in line at the bar and will be out shortly. It is now almost an hour into the sit down. The drinks do arrive and as much as my wife and I enjoy rum, we drank them because they were cold, not because they were tasty. Our main courses arrived. Her dish was warm, certainly not hot. She enjoyed the shrimp and crab but left the penne pasta. She described it as too al dente and having no taste. I did not taste it because I an sensitive to shell fish. She was also disappointed because she was expecting the traditional spaghetti or linguini with scampi instead of penne. My tuna, cooked medium rare was good. The wasabi potatoes were just warm and had so much wasabi I found then inedible. Reading the previous Yelp reviews we had high hopes. Total time 2.5 hours. Two stars, one for taking reservations and one for the bread. We did enjoy the bread. read more

Fabulous setting, house and seating. Drinks, appetizers, and wine list were exceptional. Entrees were overcooked and over seasoned. Three proteins, pork chops and lamb, had no pink centers, one requiring more effort with knife than one should expect. Pepper seasoning very heavy handed (pepper lover here, observed by three at the table), notably grind was far too rough resulting in sharp bites dominating other flavors. The Prisoner red wine was an excellent pairing to blunt. House service exceptional. Phone reservation encounter quite pretentious and overbearing necessitating comment. It matters not to me as a patron your desire to understand where I heard of your restaurant. I hadn't heard of it prior to seeing it while driving down the road. That's what my daughter told you. Yet, you pressed in such a manner that was off putting, particularly in the context of also being scolded for not knowing reservations needed to be made two to three nights out. We stopped in previously, checked menu and setting out, observed "reservations and walk-in welcome sign". That's how we learned of you... read more

We are local school teachers and received a kind invitation by the owner to have breakfast there. We had a beautiful view, excellent service and the food was delicious! Thank you for your generosity and your staff rocks! Steve read more

One of the best restaurants I've been to in buxton. With gorgeous sunset waterfront views amazing servers and delicious food. Our server was Melissa and she was one of the sweetest and helpful servers. She definitely knows hospitality. We ordered several things off the dinner menu and we were not disappointed. The food was absolutely delicious and the drinks were on point. I will definitely be returning and recommend this place ! read more

We were staying at the Inn, so we ate dinner here the first night and breakfast here each day of our stay. Service was friendly and fast, and the views of the sound were perfect. Each day for breakfast, we sat by an open window overlooking the sound and watched a heron (#birdnerd). We tried a few different breakfasts, and each was very good - highly recommend the shrimp & grits. For dinner the first night, we had the fresh catch of the day (red drum) and a risotto. Reviews on the fish were good. I didn't like the risotto, but I don't think I like risotto in general. Unfortunately, it was the only vegetarian thing on the menu ( except salad). And this is why we didn't eat here again - extremely limited vegetarian options. Yes, salad - boring no matter how good it is, and something I can make at home. At least offer a few pasta options? If there were more vegetarian options, we would have had dinner here each night because everything else was great. read more

We loved this place so much on our recent visit to Frisco! We ordered takeout early in our trip and ended up ordering from them 2-3 more times during the week - it was that good. Market catch, shrimp scallops and grits, green curry, blood orange margaritas- all amazing!!! Highly recommended. And the location is second to none. read more

The bar food is just as good as the dining menu -- our orders of fried green tomatoes were served with shrimp cooked to perfection and an awesome sauce (did we taste a hint of bleu?) Decorum kept us from licking the plates. The dining menu is phenomenal!! Brie bites, shrimp and grits, seafood pasta, steak, ahi tuna that melts in your mouth, and Mahi mahi. No one was dissatisfied with taste or our impeccable service--Thank you Dallas; you treated us well. The restaurant is a true find in Buxton. read more

Service, quality of food and drink, and atmosphere are wonderful. Be sure to make reservations as the place fills up fast. Fried green tomato appetizer was delicious. We had quidcocks G&T and red wine to accompany our entrees. read more

This Cafe Pamlico is a must visit! I stopped in for breakfast and it was amazing. What a great way to start the day for breakfast with a beautiful peaceful view of the sound.. The breakfast was really delicious and the homemade biscuits were fire (awesome ). The atmosphere is chill and cool and the staff is very friendly and welcoming. I highly recommend to make the Cafe Pamlico a must visit whenever you're hungry and in the area. Can't wait to experience dinner next! read more

My husband and I recently enjoyed a mini moon to Hatteras Island and out meal at Cafe Pamlico was definitely a highlight! Not only were the views STELLAR (even from inside) and the service pleasant, but the food and drinks were incredible as well. We enjoyed a sunset dinner starting with blood orange and lavender lemonade mocktails (we thought about cocktails but these sounded too delicious to pass up)! For our entrees, I had the catch of the day (which happened to be blackened mahi) over summer risotto and my husband had the summer risotto with chicken! We also enjoyed the bacon brussel sprouts and the delicious complementary bread! If we find ourselves back in Buxton, we will most definitely make sure Cafe Pamlico is part of our trip!! read more

Cafe Pamlico - Blackened mahi over Summer Risotto* - Seafood Near Me - Buxton, North Carolina

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Came here for dinner on a Wednesday evening in October. Excellent service from Melissa. Food and drinks were on point. Singing guitar player was really good, great selection. Would definitely teturn. read more

The food and drinks were fabulous and Melissa was an amazing server. All staff members were accommodating and helped make our anniversary special. I definitely recommend making a reservation to watch the sunset. read more

Our group of 9 was welcomed into our own private space, served with kindness and efficiency, and enjoyed delicious food & drink--it was a great evening! Favorite cocktails included Pamlico Punch and the Ruby Red Elderflower Martini. Several of us enjoyed the catch of the day which was mako, served with a delicious sundried tomato risotto. Another big hit was a special, a pasta dish with wahoo. Our extended family group was just meeting up that evening, so we were kind of last minute in calling for a reservation, and were impressed that they could accommodate us so nicely. We look forward to our next visit! read more

Wonderful place. Was there for breakfast twice and both times was great service and delicious food.

We visited this establishment last month. I put up a review mistakenly for the "inn on Pamlico" instead of the Cafe. Instead of responding they just had it removed and never responded. Like they don't talk in the same building. That fact on top of the humiliating experience really show who they really are and I now even more think everyone needs to know. When we arrived we saw a very large sign on the road that clearly says that walk ins were welcome. When we came in we were very rudely given a lecture in front of other guests that "we never have room for walk ins" and you " have to make a reservation to eat here", "we are always too busy for walk ins" We were incredibly insulted by the rude lecture we were given and the fact that they have a sign on the road actually inviting walk ins made the entire situation such an insult. When I looked at my Yelp account and saw my previous review was gone I was disturbed. I feel so strongly about our horrible experience that others need to know how we were treated. We purchased a vacationloop home in Buxton last year and had heard good things about the food. After this experience we feel others should know how we were humiliated. The management of this restaurant should remove the sign if they do not want walk ins. Now they post this arrogant out right lie of a response. We arrived at 8:00pm exactly. We said not one word to anyone about it and just walked out. His response is an absolute lie. I will now get the other three people there to put up there review for you. How dare you come on here and lie about what happened. And by the way the restaurant was less than half full. It was still light outside and parking lot was near empty. This response says everything you need to know about this place. More bold face lies. Unbelievable. I never said a word. That just proves what I'm saying. My 73 year old mother was the front person. This guy is so blinded he will do anything to distract from what happened. We did not respond at all. Completely lying about what happened. We were not throw out. Were just told what I said. What a pathetic person this lying unethical guy is. The reason we reference the sign in the review is because like I honestly said we were told rudely that "we are always to busy for walk in" and "we never have room for walk in". This guy has a real problem with the truth. Sure you have good reviews but does that mean you are perfect. This happened and his way of handling shows a real character problem. Now we came "after 8" after I proved when we came when he said we walked in at close, 9pm. My 73 year old mother only said thank you and walked out. I never said one single word. We had forgotten about sign until we got to car and were driving out. Wow..... The only other logical explanation could be is has us confused with another party in which case my point is further proven. " Damanded to be seated", I mean how do you respond when the owner of a business just makes stuff up to defend a simple bad experience that he admitted to not even witnessing. He must really have insecurity issues. And yet even more lies...his response keeps getting changed. Mine has been added to with nothing deleted. And he has no communication with me saying I am "enjoying" any of this. What a pathological liar. read more

Cafe Pamlico - Clearly says "walk in"...Shame on you. - Seafood Near Me - Buxton, North Carolina

A hidden gem in the heart of paradise! This restaurant won't disappoint you from it's breathtaking views, super friendly staff and beyond amazing food! We started with 2 cocktails, the Uncle Dilly and the Mae Cherry Limeade and they were perfect. For an appetizer we had fried green tomato and the Brie bites 200% recommend those dishes! For dinner we had pan seared tuna and the shrimp and grits. The shrimp and grits was the best I've ever had! The tuna came over a bed of summer risotto and was just divine. We finished the night with the homemade cheesecake with a fresh berry compote and it was as delicious and it sounds! This restaurant far exceeds any expectation and is beautiful for a romantic date night! read more

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Worst culinary experience in the entire OBX. Dive bar serves better food. Untrained staff, poor ambience, small portions, tips already included- so you don't have a choice- just to name few read more

What a disappointment! The Caesar salad had split cherry tomatoes that were half rotten rendering it inedible. The potatoes on the crab cake entree had been reheated and were mush. The fresh catch of the day was okay but some the cherry tomatoes were used as well. The crab dip was superb. The staff were forcing smiles but the tension was heavy. This was not a good place to eat. Over priced and food mediocre overall. read more

The food and service here are perfection. The view is the best on HI from a restaurant. Love the frequent live music. It IS expensive, especially for HI, and for the South in general. And reservations are a smart idea. Would love to actually stay at the Inn one day! read more

We were part of a large wedding party which filled up the Inn, and we enjoyed Breakfast at the Cafe three mornings in a row. Our server was outstanding, friendly and attentive, and the food was very good. Because of Covid concerns, we sat in the covered, open-air dining area (which was equipped with floor fans to keep us cool during the hot weekend. The food was fresh, well-prepared, and presented very well. Avocado toast was great, as was the waffle with fruit, and the shrimp and grits. They make a good Bloody Mary, and my friends raved about the Mimosas. I especially appreciated the good service knowing that so many restaurants are understaffed now due to Covid concerns. This cafe handled our large party in stride. As a bonus, the Inn also place homemade cookies in the lobby of each villa every afternoon -- and they were really good. What a nice treat. read more

Great Menu! We had a complimentary breakfast every morning when we stayed at the Pamlico Inn and although I normally never go to complimentary breakfasts, theirs was awesome! Great food, awesome menu. I would absolutely go back! read more

Being able to enjoy such a relaxing dinner was a treat! The seafood was FRESH and perfectly prepared. The cocktails...WOW. Bravo to bartender! They are the reason that I forgot to take a picture of our wonderful meal, lol! Great wait staff, also! Loved the background music... read more

If you need fine dining or a romantic date night in OBX, this is the place. We went for date night, and got outdoor seating and the sound side views were simply amazing. Wife was very pleased. If you reserve for an early dinner slot before 6pm, you can easily get an outdoor table. The service was excellent with the waiter being very nice, attentive, and overall pleasant. The cocktails were amazing and well done. The food was fantastic and of a quality you would fine at a higher end restaurant. I got the grouper special (caught locally) without regret. Once you're done with dinner, you can walk out to their own boardwalk with 2 Adirondack chairs waiting for you:) read more

This was our first time at Cafe Pamlico, but it will not be our last. The atmosphere, service, and food were extraordinary. It was a leisurely paced dinner, with our server Ashley knowing when to bring our next course and paying attention to every detail. My husband had the perfectly seared duck breast over puréed sweet potatoes with rainbow carrots. I had the sea scallops over a melody of fresh vegetables perfectly seasoned. If you haven't tried Cafe Pamlico on Hatteras Island, now might be the time to make a reservation. read more

We chose Cafe Pamlico for our anniversary dinner, and they did not disappoint! The food was phenomenal and the view was breathtaking. Our server, Cody, was great as well. Drunken Tuna Ceviche, Caesar Salad, Crab Bisque, and Pork Belly for appetizers. Filet Mignons, NY Strip, Scottish Salmon Special for entrees. GM Creme Brûlée and Mascarpone & Fruit pound cake for desserts. Blood Orange Jalapeño Margarita, Prosecco, and Roy Rogers for beverages. Every single item was prepared and plated beautifully. Well done! This will certainly be a new tradition for us! read more

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We had takeout. It was great and leaves you hanging on for what sitting in and dining would be like as we all know food is so much better dine in. Scallops and fresh vegetable curry over rice noodles was delectable. Meatloaf was generous and flavorful. Swordfish special was juicy and delicious. Risotto was heart and fulfilling the tuna on top was a tad overcooked but our fault for ordering it well done. We can't wait to come back under normal circumstances and enjoy the entire experience. What a beautiful impressive spot. read more

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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