Ocean Boulevard Bistro & Martini Bar - Kitty Hawk, NC

Flounder Special

Previously, I have mentioned how much bad food there is on the Outer Banks. This is still the case. Stick with restaurants that have limited seating and do not serve the masses, have a dress code of sorts (people are not wearing baseball hats at the bar or tables!) and where waiters are professionals, meaning they do this for a living and take pride in it.

Ocean Boulevard is one of the chosen places I will dine. Prior to last fall, I had not been since I became a vegetarian as I was unsure of my options. My mistake! Ocean Boulevard has a completely separate (and full) vegetarian menu. It is not a restaurant where they piecemeal together random vegetables to make a wannabe dish (this drives me insane). They have appetizers, salads and entrees that are completely vegetarian, i.e. they do not contain seafood, and care has been put into the ingredients.

Pinot Nior Risotto

Last fall, Nikki* and I decided to give Ocean Boulevard another shot once I discovered they had a vegetarian menu. That evening, I enjoyed a rustic vegetable gnocchi with a light white wine sauce. I needed something with carbs but not too heavy as I was running a half marathon the following day. The gnocchi was homemade with spinach, Brussels sprouts, garlic and white wine. Homemade pasta is one of my absolute favorite entrees and Ocean Boulevard did not disappoint in their creation. The vegetables were cooked to perfection and the sauce was just what I needed that evening. Nikki and I split the White Chocolate and Macadamia Nut Tart. This is an absolutely fantastic dessert. The pastry is made from scratch, which makes me never want pastry that is not, and topped with caramel ice cream. Could it get any better? It was just the right size to split the night before my race. I wanted something sweet but not a dessert to myself. Nikki is not quite the dessert addict that I am, but she took one bite of this dessert and decided she would surely get her half this time (I usually take care of three-fourths of desserts when we ‘share’). The presentation is worthy of the Food Network and the flavors are as well. There are always five or six desserts and a few varieties of homemade ice cream for the choosing at Ocean Boulevard.

White Chocolate and Macadamia Nut Tart

This past weekend included another half marathon and therefore, the increased rigidness of my schedule and diet. Our waiter, who also served us in the fall, was very professional and knew the wine and food well and from the wine selection, Nikki chose a half bottle of the Sauvignon Blanc ($24). The fresh bread and soft butter also win praise. Out of the four vegetarian entrees, I chose the Pinot Noir Risotto ($17), which came with sautéed asparagus, roasted tomatoes and red onions and honey. The honey meshed so well with the other flavors in this dish. I was thrilled and would love to have this again. Nikki ordered the special, lightly fried flounder with asparagus in a white wine bacon sauce ($30). She said the sauce was watery and would not order this again, so Ocean Boulevard missed a five on the food rating.

_Alex

Food-4
Service-5
Beverage-5
Restrooms-5
Value-5
Ambiance-5

Ocean Boulevard
4700 N Virginia Dare Trail, Kitty Hawk, NC 27949
http://obbistro.com/index.php
Open for dinner 7 days a week, all year long
Open Table Reservations Click HERE

Outer Banks Brewing Station - Kill Devil Hills, NC

According to their website, “The Outer Banks Brewing Station is the first wind powered brewery in the United States! We were also the first business to produce wind power on the Outer Banks. We pride ourselves in being innovative and conscious about the environment, while helping others learn as much as they can about renewable energy and sustainability.” Okay, that is great, but how is your food?

Spring break found me down at the OBX for an overnight with my family. Arriving right around lunchtime, we headed for a familiar spot we had been before and liked: The Outer Banks Brewing Station. The restaurant interior is dark. The decor doesn’t appear to be overly thought out. My daughter found it hilarious that rugs were hung up high on the walls, right next to the disco ball. The women’s restroom doesn’t say “Ladies” or other iterations on the door; it simply has a Wonder Woman Doll. This always makes me smile. Everything has the look, feel and smell of a bar, but what else would you expect? Live bands play most nights and the restaurant morphs. The real eye catcher is the brewery, of course. Through large windows you can see the all the inner working of the process. Occasionally you will see someone walk through doing whatever task is needed at all the different stages of brewing. I am not a beer drinker these days; however they also offer non-alcoholic home brews of Ginger Ale, Root Beer and Cream Soda. My husband tried one of the hearty beers and I sampled the Root Beer. Hands down, the best Root Beer I have ever had!

We were the first customers of the afternoon, followed by one or two other tables during our stay. The service was brisk and friendly. I think they have a great kids menu, which even includes a kid’s steak. My daughter ordered a kid pizza (typical). The crust on their pizza is really more of a whole grain flatbread, with cheese topping and very light sauce. Not at all a typical kid’s pizza, but she devoured it. It was so large we had to take leftovers home. Leftover packaging is recyclable and compostable. Nice! I ordered a Caesar Salad with grilled Salmon. It was perfect. Sometimes Salmon gets overcooked at restaurants, but this one was just right. My husband ordered the Barbecue. When it hit the table I knew I had been out-ordered. I am a hush puppy lover, and had to steal one from his plate to sample. They were tasty and sweet. The cornmeal was a light flavor that came though subtly versus overpowering other flavors.

As Alex has mentioned several times, there is a lot of mediocre to bad food at the Outer Banks. This seems to happen in most resort/vacation type cities. Over the years I have found the Outer Banks Brewing Station to consistently serve good meals and good service along with their tasty brews. That they are making a concerted effort to be innovative and conscious about the environment is a great added bonus. Because, let’s face it, if the food is bad, no one is going to eat there regardless of your environmental efforts. The restaurant is conveniently located close to the Wright Brothers Memorial. If you are there with your family, I recommend this as a nice lunch place for all.

_Laine

Food-4
Service-4
Beverage-5
Restrooms-3
Value-4
Ambiance-3
Outer Banks Brewing Station
600 South Croatan Hwy, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948
Open 7 days a week! Mon – Sun at 11:30 am, Brunch on Sun til 4 pm

1587 Restaurant, Manteo, NC

Situated within the Tranquil House in Manteo, 1587 Restaurant has a lot to offer. Nikki* and I had talked numerous times about heading over to Manteo to have dinner. We are in the Outer Banks quite often and for a while, we only ate at a few select restaurants because as I have said before, there is a lot of mediocre (fried) food in the area. Manteo is about a 20-25 minute drive from our house and with the summertime traffic, one can easily opt to stay closer to home. Finally, we decided it was time and made a reservation. We had to take a slightly earlier time because the 7-7:30 slot was filled. They obviously did not know who was coming....me.

The Tranquil House Inn is a quaint bed and breakfast that sits on the water in the downtown area of Manteo. Downtown translates into a few blocks, so you will not get lost trying to find the inn. Parking was easy, as a front spot awaited us. We were seated as soon as we arrived and the restaurant only had two other tables dining and a couple having drinks at the bar. The restaurant was pretty quiet until about 8-8:30, but it did fill up then, so that is potentially why they did not have a 7-7:30 time...overlapping risk.


I researched 1587 online prior to visiting and when the waitress handed us the menus, a lot of the vegetarian dishes were missing. I was distraught because quite a few things looked delicious and very different from your average vegetarian fare. After fretting, I finally thought I would ask if they would make a vegetarian version of the pasta du jour. Apparently, my anxiety was in vain, as there is a separate vegetarian menu upon request. A great weight lifted off my shoulders immediately, upon seeing all of the wonderfully described selections I had found online. Always good to ask if restaurants have a separate vegetarian menu and especially with 1587’s options, even those who are not vegetarians might find something they want to try. With all of these resurrected choices, I had a hard time deciding, but finally settled on the vegetarian version of the chef’s pasta selection. My rationale was that this was a dish they might not have the next time I journey over to 1587. A tomato cream sauce and a plethora of vegetables, broccoli, squash, peppers, onions and green beans, were served over penne pasta and sprinkled with Parmesan cheese. The vegetables were fresh and cooked to perfection. This was certainly a dish that was made to order. Nikki had the same dish, simply carnivore style, with beef tenderloin cooked impeccably. We began out meal with the soup of the day, chilled yellow heirloom tomato, and the black and white truffle mac n’ cheese. The soup was average, not thrilling, but the mac n’ cheese definitely made up for the soup and then some. Very rich, but a manageable portion, a side that can be very boring in some restaurants was turned into an exquisite burst of flavor. Truffle oil makes a dish. Finally for dessert, I chose the seasonal fruit cobbler. Fresh blackberries, raspberries and blueberries were topped with a homemade granola and served over homemade vanilla ice cream. The waitress said there was no sugar added to the mixture and she was right on when she said that makes the dish so unique. You taste the full flavor of the berries, rather than added sugar.

Other interesting menu selections include roasted butternut squash and Parmesan stuffed homemade ravioli, local tuna steak over udon noodles and white bean ragout. Tranquil House also serves Filet Mignon, braised pork "Osso Bucco" and a boneless half of chicken on their chop menu. Desserts change with the season but there are usually five to six to choose from and you cannot go wrong with any of them.


Our table was by the window and with Tranquil House being on the water, we watched other diners and inn visitors mingle with the residents who keep their boats at the small neighboring marina. It was very pleasant, as is the town Manteo in general. Make a reservation and then arrive an hour beforehand or take some time after the meal, to stroll through Manteo.

~Alex

The Tranquil House Inn and 1587 Restaurant are located at 405 Queen Elizabeth Avenue
Roanoke Island, NC 27954. For reservations, call (252) 473-1587.
www.1587.com

Mama Kwan's, Kill Devil Hills, NC

I will admit, until now, I was terrified of the reasonably priced restaurants on the Outer Banks. Here's why: I have had really bad food at some of them and just swore the others off. Thankfully, Christy and Claire had been to Mama Kwan's quite a few times and excitedly suggested it as an option for Saturday night. These are the people that you trust and think 'okay, if they say its good, let's go'. We pull up and immediately see what we think is a gray feral cat hanging out in the parking lot. We have to pet him and worry about his existence but fortunately, discover that he is Kwan, Jr., the well-fed and beloved cat of the restaurant. We all felt much better and could eat in peace knowing this about Kwan, Jr.



Mama Kwan's menu has an Asian flare, but with some familiar casual dining selections. Appetizers range from wings and blackened tuna nachos to honey jerked chicken fingers and pork wontons. Sandwiches, salads, burgers and entrees, such as crab cakes, scallops and the infamous garbage plate make up the rest of the menu. I was torn between ordering one of two appetizers or an entree. I finally settled on the Pad Thai for $11.99 (plus $1 for an egg). You can add tuna, shrimp or chicken for a few bucks. Nikki ordered the California style fish tacos, which were highly recommended by our waitress for $12.99 (plus .75 for blackened), Claire chose the oriental chicken salad for $9.99 and Christy went with the wings ($8.99) and Thai Money Bags ($6.99 and a really cool name). I note the prices because everything is reasonable and portions are generous. The Pad Thai comes mild, medium or spicy and I opted for medium this time. I usually always go for spicy or hot, but with a new place, I wanted to be cautious and I think I would stick with medium going forward. The dish had a good amount of moisture, which is a plus since some Pad Thai meals are a little on the dry side. I was very excited about my meal. I tried one of the money bags and they were very cute to begin with and filled with shrimp and some vegetables. Its a take on an egg roll, but with less money and more bag. Christy said the wings were great did Claire in regards to the salad. I tried one of the tasty cucumbers, which are doused in Japanese rice vinegar. These are offered as a side, as is Butter Rum rice, which is on the list for my next visit. Nikki's fish tacos were huge, big enough to also necessitate a doggie bag (or kitty bag, as you will see) and she said they were some of the best she had ever had.


Nikki had a glass of the house Pinot Grigio and was pleased, as were Christy and Claire with the margheritas (mango is a flavor option). With the margheritas, you get Mama Kwan cups to take home, so you can try to remember your evening the next day. Other frozen drinks come in Tiki mugs or parrot-shaped glasses. These are the kinds of drinks that put me on the floor and I was driving, so I had to steer clear. Mama Kwan's bar is a happening place. It was almost full from the time we arrived (sometime after 8pm, a little earlier this night) until we left (after 10pm). The restaurant has a 'tiki' feel and is bright and clean inside. Our waitress was nice, but quiet, so we had to ask her to repeat a few things. Unlike, the jerk at Tortuga, this gal was very nice and happy to oblige.

Leaving the restaurant, we saw Kwan, Jr. sleeping on one of the benches outside. Again, we had to pet him, but this time felt better since he is the resident kitty at Kwan's. On our way home, we stopped for gas and saw a few feral kittens hiding in the brush by the gas station. Immediately, Nikki's leftover fish tacos were donated to the kittens. Its sad that people do not take care of their pets (spay or neuter) and these poor things have no homes. We hope that the fish tacos took care of them for a bit and hope for their best. They were shy, but I know they devoured Nikki's leftovers as soon as we pulled out. We were all happy to give to these cuties and only wish we had had more to offer to them. Some cities have a feral cat program where volunteers catch them, spay or neuter and then release the cats where they found them. The Outer Banks has a large feral cat population and this would be a good idea for the area.

Mama Kwan's is open daily for lunch and dinner and I will definitely be a repeat customer. Look for Kwan, Jr. to greet you.

~Alex


Mama Kwan's
Mile Post 10 on the 158 Bypass
Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948
www.mamakwans.com

Tortuga's Lie, Nags Head, NC

I had only had one prior experience at Tortuga's Lie before this past weekend and let's just say it was not a great memory. First, this place gets PACKED during regular summer dining hours (6-8pm) and unless I am somewhere I am dying to eat, usually I cannot stand to wait. Second, I ordered the Steamed Vegetable Plate which was probably a mistake on my part. That's what I get for trying to eat healthy. This second visit proved very different. If you go at 10pm, there is no wait! Novel idea, eh. We bellied up to the bar to survey the menu and quell our hunger. I thought about the white pizza or the nachos supreme, but then the appetizer special caught my eye, a Cajun shrimp quesadilla stuffed with shoepeg corn, sweet red pepper, red onion, cheddar and jack cheese. One of my companions, Claire also ordered the quesadilla. We both thought the dish was great. Just the right size of a 10pm meal and the Cajun shrimp gave it a twist. I must mention, not much sour cream is on the plate, so ask for extra. Nikki and Christy ordered the crab cake sandwich, Island fries for Nikki's side and beans and rice for Christy's. I swiped some of the fries and they are spicy and delicious. Nikki and Christy were both happy and said the crab cake had hardly any filler, if any at all. I noticed on the menu that Tortuga's only carries this seasonally because they use local crab meat. Extra points for Tortuga's for going local. Seasonal can also mean a price variation, but its worth it for local fare.

The daily specials are always of interest. One that caught my eye, in addition to the quesadilla was the salad du jour. Pepper grilled salmon, gold pineapple, sweet red pepper, grilled portabellas and a sesame ginger dressing topped with p-nuts and scallions. Prices are reasonable; this salad was around $11 and the quesadilla was $10.

Now, let's chat about atmosphere. T-shirts, shorts and flip-flops are all acceptable, as Tortuga's is very, very casual. It is not a big place, but eating at the bar is fine unless the jerk that worked when we dined is manning the bar. When we asked him to repeat the specials, he actually had the nerve to say 'do I really need to say that again'. We were all quite taken aback and he lost credibility and tip money the second that came out of his mouth. We never stiff a waiter because that makes us look bad and its just not good manners, but he definitely worked himself out of what could have been a good darn tip. Tortuga needs to give him a little talking to.

Besides the jerk, we had a great meal because we had a great group of people. The initial bad reaction I had to Tortuga's has been erased and I will definitely go again, just not during the rush since I have little patience.

~Alex

Tortuga's Lie is open Monday-Sunday 11:30am-10pm.

Tortugas' Lie
MP 11 on the Beach Road
3014 S Virginia Dare Trail
Nags Head, NC 27959
www.tortugaslie.com

Chilli Peppers Restaurant & Bar - Kill Devil Hills, NC

Chili Peppers - Outer Banks
Two words, DON'T GO! I have harped before on the multitude of bad restaurants on the Outer Banks and Chili Peppers is right up there. I was down last November (belated review) for the annual Outer Banks Half Marathon which has to date always been scheduled on a Sunday. Nikki and I drove down Saturday to have lunch, do a few things around the family cottage and have dinner before I had to hit the sack early. I know my grandmother has eaten at Chili Pepper's with my aunt and I hope they had a better experience than we did. Chili Peppers offers Tex-Mex style food and a good deal of fried seafood (why does everyone want to fry everything at these mediocre restaurants on the OBX?).

Nikki ordered the Chicken Taco Salad and said it was pretty lame. The vegetables were tired and the chicken rubbery. I, on an equally bad note, selected the tuna steak sandwich. The tuna was so fishy, I could not eat it. And what is with the bread at restaurants? The bun was terrible, cold and the cheapest, grade F type you might find at a Bottom Dollar should you venture in there. I do not, but my suspicions tell me that type of bread would exist there.

The decor reminded me of a bad dream. Dark red carpeting, very cheap wood tables and VERY uncomfortable chairs, those straight back 'cottage' chairs that want to make you stand up and eat. There were quite a few other victims having lunch and I do not know their opinions, but I sure do know one thing. I will never eat there again. Luckily, it was not expensive or the hot air from anger would have shot me to the moon and back.

I do not recommend this restaurant at all, but should you want to throw yourself to the wolves, it is located at 3001 N Croatan Highway, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948.

~Alex

www.chilli-peppers.com

Red Sky Cafe, Duck, NC

The Outer Banks is full of BAD food. The beach road and bypass are lined with mediocre restaurants that I am determined prey upon unknowing victims...at least I am hoping. Either that or there are a lot of people that do not care about or know good food. I am there frequently throughout the spring, summer and fall and I have been running Blue Point Grill and Colington Cafe into the ground the last few years. A friend told Nikki that her favorite OBX restaurant was the Red Sky Cafe, so we thought two things, we need a change in a big way and this was an approved referral source. Off we went.

Upon arriving, we both got pretty nervous pretty quickly. The restaurant itself is a little dark and reminded me of a diner though it was not a true diner set up. We both feared we were walking into one of 'those' OBX restaurants that I described at the beginning. But we were there and figured we should push through our anxieties. The first calming force was the Asiago Artichoke Dip and bread. Amazing! The dip was asiago cheese melted (maybe with a little sour cream or something) and then topped with fresh, chopped tomatoes, green peppers, red onion and I believe a little jalapeno. What a spread. I noticed on the menu that they charge $5 for any dip and bread after the first serving. I can see why, people would wipe them out otherwise. Very quickly, our appetizer, the Thai Pork Spring Roll, arrived. Another winner. The roll was very tasty and was served with a soba noodle and seaweed salad mixture. We had barely finished the Thai roll and our entrees arrived. We were both astounded. I have never had a meal move this quickly. My choice, the Sesame Lacquered Salmon, was okay. It more more Teriyaki than orange-glaze (and yes they could be considered in the same family of flavors, I suppose) and I am not a huge fan of Teriyaki. My mistake. The side vegetables were steamed and could have had more flavor but the the mashed potatoes were very creamy...that was my favorite part of my meal and I am not a mashed potato-addict.

Nikki fared much better. Her Chardonnay Shrimp and Pasta was fantastic. Shrimp, mushrooms, peppers and onions and the Chardonnay sauce was not as heavy as an Alfredo but very creamy and full of flavor. The winner of the entree course. Lastly, I had spotted the dessert tray and had to know what some of those decadent things were. There were about ten choices, including three or four types of cheesecake, some kind of cookie pie and a host of others. I had my sights set on the three layer devil's food cake with white-Hershey icing. A good choice to ease my entree disappointment. The one kicker, we arrived at 6:50pm and were in the car by 7:48pm. We knew the food came out quickly, but there was almost no break between courses to relax. I think we might have just missed the early bird rush and just beat the dinner surge. Prices are standard for a good meal.

Pay a little more and get something good rather than going to one of 'those' restaurants and getting a frozen patty burger and terrible fried seafood. Run far and fast from the 'everything is better fried' types of places and any restaurant that has an 'All U Can Eat' sign. The Drunk Taxi driver (there are a few services that will cab you to and from bars and restaurants) told Nikki there is a place down the road from our house that serves things with 'all of those French sauces'. What? I guess he did not recognize her for the gourmet cook she is and she that not only had she heard of 'all of those French sauces' but she can make them as well. Crazy!

I will definitely journey to Red Sky Cafe again, but will choose a different entree. They have a wide variety of dishes, so I am sure I will find something to fit my pallet. I do suggest making a reservation. This prevents a long wait at most of the nicer restaurants on the Outer Banks.


Red Sky Cafe is open for lunch and dinner daily and is located at 1197 Duck Road, Duck, North Carolina 27949. For reservations, call (252) 261-8646.
www.redskycafe.com

~Alex

Colington Cafe, Kill Devil Hills, NC

Driving on Colington Road, you will come to a turn where there is a pretty little white house, lights illuminated inside and in the garden. When you see that, you have arrived at Colington Cafe. The restaurant is small but very charming. I am not a fan or frilly knick-knacks, but these decorations do not seem to bother me at Colington, probably because the food and service are both very good.

From the appetizer course, I have had the hot crab dip, which is served with toast points, the grilled shrimp, the She-Crab bisque and the salad composee, which has pears, blue cheese and candied pecans and a balsamic vinaigrette over mesclun greens. I enjoyed all except the crab dip. It was strong, a little crabby', but the grilled shrimp were outstanding and I often choose that appetizer. If salmon is the fish du jour, I typically order it and have always been please. I have ordered grouper as well and that came with an artichoke and sun-dried tomato bread pudding. Often, bread pudding is associated with dessert, but a different twist and it was extraordinary. I hope to see it again soon in my dining adventures. The one peculiarity is that Colington does not have a broiler. A restaurant without a broiler? The point, the crab cakes only come fried. I tried them and was not excited about it. I probably will not order those again unless a broiler is put on the capital expense list. Nikki ordered the pasta primavera one visit and that was exceptional. Fresh, light and very flavorful. Another popular item is the Le Grand Trio, grilled Filet Mignon, grilled shrimp and jumbo lump crab meat served with Bearnaise. Variety and a lot of taste. There are quite a few choices, so you will certainly find something to satisfy your taste buds. Colington has an enticing desert selection, Toll House cookie pie, cheesecake, seasonal fruit cobbler, cheesecake, key lime pie, triple chocolate cake and a few others. I have had an array of the desserts and have always been pleased. I suggest a reservation at Colington as well.


Colington Cafe serves dinner daily and is located at 1029 Colington Road, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948. The restaurant does close for three months in the winter, January through March. For reservations, call (252)480-1123.

~Alex

www.colingtoncafe.com

The Blue Point, Duck, NC

I love Blue Point. My first meal there was almost 20 years ago, if that says anything. The food, the location, everything. The restaurant overlooks the sound and during the summer, a reservation around 7:30-8 gives you a beautiful view of the water and setting sun. The bar stools are retro and red and the floor is large black and white tile. I think the atmosphere is warm, inviting but still elegant. You know you are going to have a good meal!

I have had quite a few of Blue Point's offerings. Any soup I have had has been wonderful. In the winter, you will see things like an acorn squash or lobster bisque and in the summer, you will see a Gazpacho or cold potato-leek selection. The lunch menu has meatloaf with chili sauce and mashed potatoes and this is some of the best meatloaf I have had. I promise. I have also had a chicken tostada during lunch which was also excellent. Pulled chicken, black beans, green peppers, avocado and pepper jack cheese.

Blue Point recently changed their menu for their 20-year anniversary. I have only been once since the change but was please. I selected the pan seared Scottish salmon. Their fish is always cooked to perfection and the accompaniments are expertly matched. I plan on trying the crab cakes the next time. As many times as I have been there, I have not tried them yet. Other crowd pleasers are the jambalaya, the cornmeal fried catfish and the specials. Tuna, often served with spinach or another green, and a tomato sauce is a frequent addition to the menu and has always been a hit. The one portion of the menu I am not sold on is the dessert selection. Key lime pie, pecan pie, cobbler and a dark chocolate selection. I tried the cobbler once and one of the ingredients was rhubarb, one of my least favorite things. My fault, I should have read beyond blueberry and peach cobbler. Rhubarb is strong and to me, overtakes a dish. There are quite a few ice cream places and of course, a Coldstone Creamery and a Dairy Queen, so I always know I have other choices.

The Blue Point is located at 1240 Duck Road, Duck, North Carolina 27949 and serves lunch and dinner daily.

www.goodfoodgoodwine.com (252)261-8090

~Alex