Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Rundown Cafe

    4.1 (571 reviews)
    ModerateSeafood, Caribbean
    Open 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Rundown Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    RUNDOWN CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

    You might also consider

    More like Rundown Cafe

    Recommended Reviews - Rundown Cafe

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Key lime pie
    Troy H.

    We sat upstairs on the open deck on a warm autumn day. The waitress was patient as we questioned the menu options and returned when we finally decided. She ordered the drink special which ended up being very sweet so she settle for a gin and soda and I had a nice spicy Bloody Mary. She ordered the jerk burger medium rare and I ordered the coconut chicken. The burger came out overcooked and was returned, the second burger came out just as overcooked and the jerk sauce was overly sweet. The fries are very good. The Coconut chicken on the other hand was amazing. Not only was the chicken moist all the way through, the crusted coconut on the outside was flavorful, the chicken had a wonderful coconut flavor all the way through. For the end she had Key Lime pie that she enjoyed and I had an extraordinary slice of cinnamon roll cheese cake

    This is the wall where the mural used to be. Please bring it back!
    Holly S.

    We couldn't wait to see the renovations. So glad we went to the bar to have drinks and hors d'oeuvres. The service and staff are as awesome as they have always been. The thing we missed the most is the mural on the wall in the bar. Everything is so vanilla now. They need to add a little bit of color back to the walls.

    Hawaiian Mahi Sandwich
    Dan M.

    I came back here for another sit-down meal. I had the Hawaiian mahi sandwich. It also came with a side of fries, which came out hot and seasoned nicely. There was a nice crisp to them too. The sandwich had a blackened mahi loin on a brioche bun with lettuce, tomato, grilled pineapple, and a Cajun tartar sauce. This was well put together. The ratio of filing to bun was ideal. The piece of mahi was seasoned appropriately and was a nice size. The pineapple added a little sweetness to it. I was expecting more from the tartar sauce, but not a big deal as I enjoyed the sandwich as a whole. I also tried the rundown fish burrito which had grilled ahi tuna, tomatoes, cheddar jack cheese, black beans, jalapenos, and BBQ sauce. I was hesitant to try this because of the presence of the BBQ sauce, but it was not really tasted because of the rest of the flavors incorporated. The fresh jalapenos on the half I tried were extremely spicy. Besides that, it was well received.

    Burger and fries
    Dave U.

    This is a re-review based on a recent visit. I brought my guests here for a light lunch. My wife and I usually eat here and the food is usually good. This last visit fell short of my expectations. I brought 5 old friends here to enjoy a nearby lunch. Light lunch was our intention. We ordered beers and they were fine. Food was not fresh. I had a. Arafat salad that was served with "soggy" croutons. Not sure how this could happen unless the salad fixings w ere preserved and refrigerated. The others ordered light meals such as the tuna bites and the tacos. Nothing memorable. Hope this was just an "off day"

    Tuna Burrito
    Pyro C.

    We stopped here for lunch after visiting the town of Duck, home of Duck Donuts. Not sure what to expect, but we enjoyed the entrees offered. Although the menu is somewhat limited to the selections, all of our dishes were well prepared and presented. The interior was decorated with a island theme. There are two main seating areas, ground level and an upper level. Like other popular establishments in Outer Banks area, it can get crowded during peak lunch and dinner hours. You may want to visit outside the normal peak hours.

    Menu as of March 2024
    Rich M.

    We were in the mood for seafood and Rundown Cafe had high reviews. We came here early afternoon, it was not busy at all. Our server was friendly and attentive to our table. The ambiance is a chill spot and ironically isn't 'rundown.' At the time of our visit their rooftop deck/patio was under renovation. The food we got was exactly what we were looking for. It was delicious! The crab cake burger was so good. They serve their dishes with a chipotle tartar sauce and its boss! Overall this place was a total win and we'd come back in the future!

    Shrimp tacos
    Mary Lynn J.

    Food was delicious. I had the shrimp tacos. There are lots of shrimp on the three tacos. The coleslaw and avocado added great taste and texture. My husband had the mahi blackened sandwich. We would both order the same again. Our waiter was friendly and attentive. The only issue was that it was ridiculously cold in the restaurant. It was 58 outside but was probably 55 or less inside. Maybe the goal is to sell their sweatshirts.

    Chips queso and salsa
    Caroline J.

    This was our first lunch stop on our trip to the OBX and it was pretty good! We started off with the chips, salsa and queso. Chips and queso were delicious but the salsa tasted off to us. We mentioned it to our server and she was kind enough to bring us an extra queso for us! We ordered the fried shrimp tacos and they were fresh and crispy. The black beans were good and the rice was okay. Could have been cooked more. Our server was kind and attentive. We were here for a late lunch and it was not overly busy for a Monday in August.

    See all

    1 year ago

    Food was great, the staff was friendly and helpful, and the atmosphere was enjoyable. We've driven by but never stopped in. Glad we did!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Usa J.
    7
    128
    0

    2 years ago

    This is your average, typical Outer Banks American food place. Food was fairly decent and average.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Nice place good food good atmosphere. Food comes out on time service is great nothing to complain about

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ann C.
    1
    142
    52

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Had lunch, food was great. We had seafood burrito and Tacos. Service was excellent. Definitely going back.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Belle J.
    27
    134
    134

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Chris A.
    9
    131
    11

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Delicious meal for lunch from a Poke Bowl to Clam strips for a family party of 7. No wait, fast service, high quality meal.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Great food and service. Location was perfect, on the way to our house. Check it out the next time in town.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    An amazing experience; me and my girlfriend went as a date and had amazing service food was very fresh and great view. 100% recommend.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Pj G.
    0
    21
    13

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kim E.
    112
    40
    22

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Great food - tacos were delicious, nice view, fast service, reasonable prices. Overall, terrific place!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Bob T.
    0
    79
    1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Excellent food and even better if you can get a tale overlooking the ocean. Thai noodles are wonderful!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of M T.
    79
    70
    9

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 3 of 15

    Ask the Community - Rundown Cafe

    Did this place shut down? We stopped by several times end of last week and this past weekend and it was closed (8/26-8/29)?

    They're temporarily closed

    What time do they switch from lunch menu to dinner? so we'll know which menu to order from for takeout. Are they doing takeout right now?

    Lunch specials are available until 3. The regular lunch menu is available until the switch to dinner at 5.

    Do they allow dogs?

    Back has tables with umbrellas . Our boxer loves the food!

    View All 6 Questions

    You might also consider

    Steamers - Steamed Spiced Shrimp & Oysters on the Half Shell

    Steamers

    4.4(710 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$$
    Locally owned & operated
    31 years in business

    We decided to try Steamers in Southern Shores because it was conveniently close to our hotel, and…read morewe are so glad we did! From the moment we arrived, the beautiful view and relaxing atmosphere set the tone for a great dining experience -- and the food absolutely did not disappoint. Everything tasted incredibly fresh -- the steamed shrimp, oysters, and crab were AMAZING. OMG... so fresh and delicious! You can truly tell the quality and care put into the seafood. A special thank you to Tess, our server, who made our visit even more enjoyable. She was so friendly, welcoming, and brought such positive vibes to our table. She made us feel right at home and added to the overall wonderful experience. Between the fresh seafood, great service, and beautiful views, this place is definitely worth visiting. We enjoyed every minute of it and will absolutely be back soon when we visit the Outer Banks again!

    Fantastic seafood place with a classy feel. We had a party of 6 on a Friday in April during…read moreoff-season. I imagine lines are crazy during season, but I can't say for sure. Dining extends to 2nd floor, which is where we sat. Nice menu with higher-end choices. The menu says no subs, but some of the entrees come with accouterments for advanced palettes, so I would ask about substitutions (squid ink pasta w/rockfish , for example). The Fish & Chips were among the best I've ever had. I'm very picky about slaw, and this was perfect. More pickly than sweet. We did see young children in a party, but I would not say this is a great family-friendly option.

    Photos
    Steamers
    Steamers - SoSho Crush

    SoSho Crush

    Steamers

    See all

    NC Coast Grill & Bar - Steamed mussels

    NC Coast Grill & Bar

    4.1(468 reviews)
    5.0 mi
    $$

    We had such a lovely experience at NC Coast Grill & Bar during our trip to the Outer Banks! From…read morethe moment we arrived, everything about this place made for the perfect dining experience. The food was absolutely amazing -- fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. Every bite was delicious, and we truly enjoyed our meal. A special thank you to our server, Jenn, who was so warm, friendly, and attentive. She made us feel welcomed and took great care of us throughout dinner, making the experience even more enjoyable. The views here are absolutely spectacular and made the evening feel extra special. After dinner, we took a relaxing walk along the boardwalk to walk off all the delicious food and ended the night watching the most beautiful sunset -- the perfect ending to a wonderful evening. Great food, beautiful scenery, and wonderful service. We will definitely be back again. Such a memorable evening in the Outer Banks! P.S.: Shout out to Julia, the bartender, for the beautiful drinks!

    NC coast has a great view of the sound. We were seated quickly upon arrival and discussed dietary…read morerestrictions (pork) with the waiter. He was initially warm and as we ordered, asked that he let us know if we inadvertently selected a dish containing pork. The dishes arrived with astonishing speed. The Caesar salad had some unidentified fried object on it and when I asked the waiter, he let me know it was pork rinds. He did not acknowledge that it was an error and flippantly suggested I remove them. I asked for a plate to put them on. The waiter's demeanor turned cold after this (what I considered innocuous) exchange. Regarding the dishes, everything was beautifully presented and arrived hot and fresh at our table. I would not recommend the fried cauliflower as it was very bland with some chili sauce splashed over top. The scallops were very well prepared however. NC Coast is a nice spot for a special meal, especially with the view. Just hope the service is more consistent with other guests.

    Photos
    NC Coast Grill & Bar - Sitting outside

    Sitting outside

    NC Coast Grill & Bar - Delicious  tuna appetizer

    Delicious tuna appetizer

    NC Coast Grill & Bar - Patio view

    See all

    Patio view

    Rundown Cafe - seafood - Updated June 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...