I called in my take-out order at 5:20pm and was told it would be ready in 20 minutes. I arrived for pickup about 25 minutes later and was handed the bag by Brianna, who was very friendly (wearing a mask). Most people I saw in the restaurant had masks on, but not the 4 sitting at the bar. At home we reheated the seafood pasta, the seafood stew and the mashed potatoes. Everything was very good, including the fall salad. We will eat the second half of the pasta and stew tomorrow night. We we pleased with this experience and will very likely return to Roadside in a few weeks. read more

Best shrimp and grits ive ever had in my life. Unbelievable taste and freshness to them. Tasso ham gravy and huge shrimp. This place was so good. read more

Great dive bar scene. Don't let the appearance fool you. Food is amazing. Try the Fish Tacos, you won't be disappointed. Great craft beer selection, and cocktail list. Indoor and outdoor dining available. Live music at night too. read more

See all

Spent 2 weeks in Duck and have to say, this was by far my favorite place to eat! I ordered the chicken salad which was absolutely delicious! The salad itself was very fresh and the chicken salad was very flavorful. Nice touch with the pistachios sprinkled around! The raspberry dressing on the side was just perfect - not too sweet and not too heavy. My SO ordered the shrimp and grits and loved them as well! The pricing was fair and the waitstaff was friendly and attentive without being "in your face." Friends of ours went earlier in the day and said the burger was the best they'd ever had. I highly recommend this place! Yelp lists this restaurant in Kitty Hawk but the address is actually in Duck, NC. read more

Roadside Bar and Grill - Seafood Near Me - Kitty Hawk, North Carolina

I WOULD NEVER EVER RECOMMEND THIS PLACE. Me and my mother in-law came to the bar to listen to the band playing tonight. We were trying to find something on the menus to eat and asked the bartender Molly if there was a kid menu because I am pregnant and can't find anything on the menu that I can eat without getting sick. She was so rude and nasty to us our experience was ruined. On top of all that the owner was drunk and still drinking while trying to manage his bar and grill. He was beyond rude and was acting completely out of character for someone who owns and runs a business. Wouldn't never in a million years recommend this place at ALL. read more

Eat their Duck in Duck. We had the duck in Duck and it was fabulous. Duck was perfectly cooked and topped width a lovely berry sauce. It came with rice and squash, both ok, just not memorable. Also had the shrimp and grits. Shrimp cooked perfectly, sauce was very flavorful. Grits had an interesting texture. Also had a lovely salad read more

Blink and you'll miss it, but you'll be missing out. This place is family and doggy friendly (only outside). A fun-vibe outside bar with live band and casual seating while you wait for your table or to hang out. Kid games for fun entertainment. Booths and tables inside make a great casual family setting. Very friendly wait staff and great service. No reservations and the place gets packed. Definitely worth the wait. Huge beer selection. Must haves: rib eye steak, clam chowder soup and tomato pie. You really can't go wrong with anything in the menu though. Great selection of fresh made salads. Reasonably priced menu. read more

Bartender was great! had dinner and drinks at the 4 seat bar which I think is classified as a dive but don't think the food is even close to dive bar food. Super fresh and tasty steam pot as an appetizer and then some great entrees before going out back for live music and outdoor drinks! read more

Nice little place with a small dining area. Food was fantastic and their pretzel bread and butter was awesome. Had to wait 30 minutes at prime dinner time, but that was not bad compared to other places with over 2 hours wait. Our party had the paella, ribeye, crab cake, pork chop and lobster Mac. Everyone loved their food and service was quick and friendly. Will go back when we return to obx. read more

I was blown away! Quirky place on the outside but the food was top notch. We had a large group and split into an inside group and one group outside to do the all you can eat taco bar. The inside crew had scallops which everyone raves about. A cobia special that was also excellent and the warm mushroom salad and tomato pie as appetizers. Everything was just wonderful. Our server was super laid back to our decreasing party size but was also very attentive too. My one and only complaint was the flies that were inside. Not too bad but would have been better without them. read more

Really enjoy this place! Good eats, but what a lousy business model. Daughter of the owner is very unwelcoming. Made us feel like we were intruding on her time. Life is too short, youngin' be HAPPY. Despite her attitude, we'll be back, cuz it's part of our OBX experience. read more

Had the best tuna I have ever had! So delicious! Cooked perfectly! We also had the chicken dinner which was also delicious!

Visiting my daughter so this is NOT my usual business trip review. Today I am shopping in Duck NC and had lunch at at Roadside based on recommendation from a local. Marley was a great waitress and my Caesar with blackened shrimp was delicious. The shrimp were good sized, fresh and cooked perfectly i.e. NOT over cooked !! Decor was interesting with sea glass art and cozy welcoming atmosphere inside. Looks like I need to come back for night time entertainment at their "backside bar". FUN!! read more

See all

This restaurant was incredible. Not only was the atmosphere totally cute with a waiting area to die for...I could have waited much longer! They call it the back side bar. It has outdoor tables, chairs, live music, corn hole, ladder ball, an outdoor chalk board mural, and it's own bar. The even had a projector and a movie screen. What's even better, they had popcorn for all sprinkled with an Old Bay type seasoning...delish!!! This was all before we got to the meal. The entrees were fabulous. We ordered a plethora of things: Paella- incredible, a must have. Soooo good Lobster - the best we've had, steamed and whole Seafood penne - phenomenal. Al dente pasta with the freshest seafood around Crab Cakes - ahhhhh! Yummy too We had zero room for dessert and that was ok. This restaurant was pricy but worth EVERY penny. read more

Roadside Bar and Grill - Back Side Bar at night - Seafood Near Me - Kitty Hawk, North Carolina

The crab soup was the best. Great service. I had the special that was a scallop salad and it was yummy. Will come again read more

Roadside Bar and Grill - Seafood Near Me - Kitty Hawk, North Carolina

This place has a nice environment but that's about the only thing that is good about this restaurant. First of all their menu is very small, secondly a certain dish I'd advise to stay away from. DO NOT GET THE PAELLA UNLESS YOU LIKE BLAND FLAVORLESS FOOD FOR $38. Out of a group of 14, 6 people ordered this and no one at the table liked it in addition to that it is $38 and you get probably 3 clams and 3 shrimp. Although this place had horrible overpriced food, the service was awesome. She had a great knowledge of the menu and helped us out with a smile. Having great servers saved the experience overall and me nor anyone else in the group will be returning here EVER. read more

Did NOT expect to enjoy my meal as much as I did. I was pleasantly surprised! We got a pound of shrimp as our appetizer. Delicious. I got the ribeye and my hubs got the tuna. We shared. OMG. So good. So. Freaking. Good. It was literally the best meal we had this whole week on vacation! read more

This place has been around for decades and the menu hasn't changed- for good reason- year after year this place serves consistently fresh and delicious food. I have always gone for lunch and this cozy gourmet kitchen serves up outstanding soups, salads, and sandwiches. For a number of years I ALWAYS got the clam chowder and roadside salad. Today, I got the turkey and Brie and I was not disappointed. Their sweet tea is wonderful too. Great for casual off-the-beach meal or as a date destination, this restaurant is a required stop for any Duck vacation. read more

Important, if you are searching for a kid-friendly restaurant (using the kid-friendly filter on yelp), this is not your place. The best they could offer a child is a buttered-noodle dish and lemonade; no milk, no burger, and no changing station (which led to an awkward diaper situation in the tiny parking lot with people wanting our space when we weren't really leaving). I would also say this restaurant is more like a $$$ restaurant. Otherwise - this place is AMAZING! The outdoor seating is lovely and quaint. The bread and butter prior to our meal were on point - a pretzel type bread, very soft, with a sweet butter. We were offered a variety of delicious cocktails and drafts. I really enjoyed the rum punch. We went for the shrimp and grits - with 5 generously-sized shrimp, cheesy grits and a yummy red-eye sauce. We also had what one member of our party describe the tomato pie as pizza in a bowl. To top it all off, we enjoyed the salmon special, and although the salmon was a tiny bit dry, the sweet potato purée all but made up for it. Overall, we would come here again, just more prepared with food from home for our kids. read more

This place is getting 3 stars only bc my boyfriend said he had the best BLT of his life here. Well done. The clam chowder was great-I finished the cup. Had that been where things ended, I'd probably leave a 5. Roadside, you lose two points for A.) not having an Appetizer Menu, B.) not having fries, and C.) serving me the worst version of Shrimp & Grits I have ever seen and tasted. I'm a southern girl. I have had it in plenty of places with a few change ups. Never have I ever Had it served with the "Grits" as an upside down cup with bits of red chopped peppers, HAM chunks, and shrimps with tails still on them parading around this ridiculous mound of Instant Grits while in ham water. So I pulled the tails off my own shrimp, and a loose something or other hanging off the back of one, and tried to stomach this. I'm used to a well spiced meal on ground corn with andouille and some heat. Roadside, take your "Shrimp & Grits" off the menu until you can get a real cook in there to show the ropes. read more

See all

Only went to the bar didn't get food but loved the atmosphere here. They have a stage with live bands and sand in front. The crowd got into it and everyone was dancing. It was so fun. Drinks were good and they have a decent selection of beers and fun cocktails. read more

LOVE this local spot - we have been coming here for over 15 years. It has become a bit busier over the years and now has an outside beer garden area, which is great for a night out. The food is ALWAYS delicious (the key lime pie is to die for). read more

Yes, lets just get this out of the way, the prices are on the higher side, but in our opinion it's so worth it! Last time around we both got great cocktails to accompany the Sea Scallops and Tuna Sashimi which as always were wonderful. We then the grilled swordfish special and a bottle of wine and left with full stomachs of great food. Definitely worth stopping if you're in the area! read more

We visit Roadside Grill probably every other vacation season. The lunches I think are way better than the dinners. We most recently visited for dinner. What was strange was the dining area was not at all busy and we were sat in a booth by the bar. This was fine but a little strange. The food was fantastic on this visit, with grilled halibut and tuna. The served us some warm bread and yummy butter before. The prices are definitely high and "touristy". They did accommodate for our kids as they really DONT HAVE A KIDS MENU at this restaurant. I would come back but probably just hit lunch. read more

I am a long time patron of Roadside Cafe and every time I go, I always wish I hadn't. Yeah, some of the food is good (for the outerbanks.... which generally is lacking) but the service and management is absolutely terrible. I'm not one to complain about service, especially when the food is good, but Roadside pushes my buttons. Where to start...there have been so many separate incidents that I'll only name a few. One time my father made a reservation for a large group of his buddies in the off season(months in advance), and come the week of their reservation Roadside decided they wouldn't accommodate such a large party anymore...no apologies. jerks. Just two nights ago my father called in a take out order (something they refuse to do after about 7 at night because they get too busy to put food in boxes for their loyal patrons) for a salad which he added a grilled chicken breast to along with two other dishes. He got to Roadside and he saw that they did not put the chicken on my salad. Apparently they couldn't do it or they didn't have chicken...some bs like that. He asked if they could put tuna on the salad and they said they didn't have tuna, instead they had swordfish (I think). He asked for swordfish on the salad and they said they couldn't do that. So he left, once again disenchanted and resentful of Roadside's inflexible and rude customer service. Trust me, these are just two of MANY MANY MANY horrible and aggravating Roadside incidents. Roadside doesn't care about their customers because there will always be clueless tourists to take your place, so PLEASE boycott Roadside out of principle. It's almost like my family has been in an abusive relationship for about 15 years with Roadside...one that we just keep coming back to. MARK MY WORDS ROADSIDE, that was the last mediocre meal you will ever serve me. read more

I can't believe this place is only ranked 3.5 stars. That is insane. This is a restaurant we go to in Duck every time we visit, and its a local gem. Small and cozy, super friendly staff, good selection of beer and wine and excellent food. Most reviewers here have mentioned the shrimp and grits. I am in complete agreement. You'll love it. On our last visit, for $8 I got a HUGE and excellent bbq pork sandwich. I felt like I was robbing them at that price. Delicious. My daughters like to split the BLT, and my wife of course got the shrimp and grits. It was by far the best meal we had on our trip that week. Definitely stop by the Roadside if you're in town. You won't be disappointed. read more

Solid lunch place. Neat atmosphere. Fish tacos were great, turkey and Brie good. Good spot to relax and refuel in Duck. read more

Roadside Bar and Grill - Seafood Near Me - Kitty Hawk, North Carolina

See all

Great food and service, but a bit expensive. I considered a 4-star rating due to the price, but that's not the restaurant's fault. It should be a $$$ listing, not $$. Apps were about $16 and entrees were in the $25-35 range. Tomato pie was interesting and good, but was really more of a novelty as it's a local thing in OBX. We had the jambalaya and the shrimp & salmon. The jambalaya was nothing like a traditional New Orleans jambalaya, but was seriously delicious. It was more of a seafood stew with shrimp, fresh clams in the shell and a tomato based spicy rice broth. It was almost like "jambalaya meets cioppino". If you like fresh seafood and spicy food, this is a good choice. The shrimp and salmon came with fresh steamed asparagus and a creamy scuppernong sauce. The salmon was large and cooked perfectly. The shrimp were juicy and tender. Oh, there were also cheesy grits that were creamy and flavorful. Our 1-year-old son also really loved the grits. Speaking of our son, there isn't a kids menu, but when we asked for some penne with Parmesan, the waiter immediately agreed that they could easily accommodate us. Our kiddo was a happy diner. They don't have high chairs, but if you bring your own booster (the kind that strap to a chair and has a seat belt) the chairs on the patio fit easily and work just like at grandma's house. read more

We were shopping in the Scarborough Lane and Faire shops and realized we were hungry, but not quite done. I had eyed the Roadside Raw Bar and Grill a few times when we'd passed by (so cute!), so we decided to walk over and grab a quick bite to eat before we finished up shopping. It had been a dreary morning, but the sun came out a bit in the afternoon. We told the hostess we'd like a table outside, so she told us it would be a short wait. Within about ten minutes, the table had been cleared and we made our way down to the patio. In that time, we had the opportunity to watch a very disorganized waitstaff running around like chickens with their heads cut off and snapping at each other. While they were fairly busy, it was obviously just a lunchtime rush and would shortly be over. Moreover, when your poor attitude is visible to the customer, you're making a bad impression... We stuck around, but that probably should've been our first clue to just pack up and pick somewhere else nearby. Once seated on the patio, it took about 10 minutes to get waters and put in our drink orders and food. We did it all at once since we had a feeling that it would be a little while. It was a full half hour (after the 10 minute wait to put in the order) before we actually got our drinks. I went through two glasses of water just waiting for my drink. He had the mojito, which was nothing impressive, while I had the Roadside Special (I think that's the name), which was actually incredible! I would've probably ordered another if I thought I'd get it before I was finished with my meal and ready to go. We waited a full hour for our food to arrive. He ordered the lobster roll, I had the special, the crabcake sandwich. Both dishes were surprisingly delicious! I really enjoyed the pasta salad as well. We asked for the check as soon as the food came and she brought it to us as we finished our meals. All in all, it took us at least an hour and a half to get in and out, which is absurd given it was after 1pm when we arrived and we only ordered 2 drinks and 2 sandwiches. Our waitress was friendly, but that really didn't make up for the excessive wait. I'd eat here again and have a fondness of it, mostly just because it's in Duck, but I'll make sure that there's no one else in the joint before I step foot inside and crack a menu again. read more

My friends and I were stuck in some horrendous beach traffic on the way to Corolla, and our stomachs were letting us know that they weren't pleased with the delay either. So, we stopped in Duck and decided on Roadside for a late lunch. We waited about 10 minutes but then were seated and served quickly. We tried the IPA on draft per our waitress' suggestion and it was a big hit. The rest of our orders included the chicken salad, shrimp and grits, salmon salad, crab cake sandwich special, a bowl of the clam chowder, and a Caesar salad. All were quite good and the portion size was good for the price. We had thought that eating at a touristy spot in Duck might mean higher prices but they were very reasonable ($9-$17). Our waitress was very nice and helpful, and the service was prompt -- the six of us were there for less than 1.5 hrs on a Sunday afternoon in the summer. Next summer I wouldn't hesitate to return! read more

My wife and I first went to Roadside Raw Bar and Grill about a year ago and loved it (I had Tilefish for the first time, can't remember what she had). This year we went again and were really blown away by the amazingness of it all. (Wham Bam Thank You Ma'am!) My boo ordered the special, (Crab cakes that were GIANT) and I ordered the "Jambalaya" veering out or my comfort zone in an Audi convertible, and let me tell you folks, that shit was fantastic! I felt like a wild stallion on the beaches of Corolla hooting and haying!! We shared a Caesar salad which was also pretty killer. So so good. I wanted to shake the chefs hand (but was politely declined as the waitress noticed some food on my face). I was more than pleased with everything about this restaurant and it is quickly becoming a favorite of ours when we visit the Outer Banks. Oh! and we had a bottle of the Hullabaloo Zinfandel which left us speechless with its boundless intensity and fruity goodness! BOOYAH! I would recommend this place to anyone. Great stuff. Sincerely, Me. read more

Absolute banger of a meal. I had fish tacos and they were superb. Highly recommend this joint

We went there today for lunch. Don't waste your time. I ordered a well vodka soda and they charged me $9! I got the burger and ordered it well done. It was well done on outside but raw and bloody inside. My fiancé ordered the fish tacos on the bartender recommendation. They were not good and the rice that came with it was a frozen ball of rice. We sat at bar and the cooks don't use gloves and they aren't washing hands as they switch items. Poor food and very over priced. read more

There are different sides to my review. The first about the food, the second about the service. Before I begin my family (just my wife, my 4 year old daughter, and I) went to roadside for dinner on a Friday evening at 7:00. The inside had a thirty minute wait but they could seat us immediately outside. We opted for outside as we had a 4 year old with us. My wife and I both chose the rockfish and my daughter had the only kids option available which was a plate of penne pasta with butter and Parmesan cheese. The food was incredible. I give it five stars. Now for the service. I am not exaggerating when I say it took 1 hour and 20 minutes from the time we ordered to the time the food came to the table. The waiter walked by about a dozen times during that period and never explained or apologized to us. Other tables complained and he kept giving the excuse that they are under staffed and really busy. I'm sorry but excuses don't cut it for me. If things are that bad you offer a complimentary beverage or at least go to each table and apologize and explain what is going on. He never did any of that. When we received the check I was hoping for at least my daughters 4.99 pasta to be taken off but no, everything was on there for full price and again no apologies. Despite the fact that the food was good I just can't imagine myself going back. Had they made any attempt to rectify the situation they would have had a customer for life, instead they get this review and a promise never to return. If the owner is reading this review I hope they learn some basic customer service and train their staff on how to handle these types of situations. read more

Our family of 9 loved this place. Each one of us. The flavors of the warm mushroom salad were perfect. The crab cakes were 100% lump with just enough filler to hold it together. And the paella had fresh seafood with rich flavor. Every dish we had was so great and fresh! We also really enjoyed the ambiance of the place as well. Cool unassuming bar with unique artwork. We are definitely coming back on our next summer vacation! read more

Other than Duck Donuts, which doesn't really qualify as a "restaurent". this place was my favorite establishment during our recent one week trip to Duck. The restaurent is in the heart of Duck, and has both indoor and outdoor seating. I enjoyed both the food and the atmosphere. My shrimp and grits was excellent - I haven't had grits too often, but these were by far the best I have had. The shrimp were fresh and crisp. My son's duck (go figure) was cooked perfectly medium rare to order, and was delicious. My wife, three kids and I all cleaned our plates. Quality food cooked by a real chef - what a treat. Several of the "touristy" restaurants in town are not this way. We ate outdoors on a perfect night, and the atmosphere with the overhanging vegetation and Christmas lights, as well as the live music, was wonderful. Very good beer and wine selection, and my wife's Cosmo was also very good. The wait staff was friendly and efficient, and even our expected 45 minute wait for a table was only about 15 minutes. Not cheap, but worth every penny. read more

Great food and great beverages-- they even have a bottle of chateauneuf/white on their wine list -- you dont see that unless you are in southern France. Its a small, casual gem of a place -- dont bring a large party and ruin it... No rezzys either. Had a great grouper entree special, others were happy with steaks, lobster, salads, and even a paella. Not too expensive for fine dining, but if you want cheap go elsewhere. read more

If you don't have any other choices for drinks pick this place last. Leave the kids at home and sit outside. Call ahead to see if they have a band. We enjoyed Tuesday night. Good service and great band. Wednesday night was totally different in a bad way. Bartender (blond female) was awful and had a bad attitude. Wednesday night band was not our style (country twangy?). We left after one overpriced beer. Why does a normal bottle of beer cost $5 here? Check out Coastal Cravings right down the street instead. read more

Roadside Bar and Grill - @ the bar - Seafood Near Me - Kitty Hawk, North Carolina

My favorite spot in Duck. Never disappointed. Live the Backyard Bar. Live music and great food.

My husband and I stopped here on a Tuesday afternoon...the day after Labor Day. It was around 1:30pm when we got there and it was still very busy. It looked like there were only two people waiting tables, so we ended up waiting for about 15 minutes before we were sat. It ended up being worth the wait. We split a salad which had a delicious raspberry vinaigrette. I had the BLT which was pretty good, and my husband had the shrimp and grits. He very much enjoyed it, though it was different than any shrimp and grits we've had. It had ham and a red gravy....different but enjoyable. The service was good even though they were rushed. Good food, casual atmosphere, good service. We'll definitely be back when we are in the Outer Banks next year. read more