1. Chilli Peppers Coastal Grill
City: Kill Devil Hills, NC
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (252) 441-8081
Address: US 158, MP 5
Insider Pick:
Description: World fusion with a southwestern twist describes the cooking at this fun, award-winning restaurant. Adventuresome diners are wowed by the chefs’ wild concoctions. Most dishes have some type of chili in them. If you prefer a milder meal, they can do that and still tickle some untapped taste buds. The menu here changes frequently, with daily lunch and dinner specials sometimes stunning even the regulars. Weekly Tapas Nights, which feature little plates of dishes from a chosen cuisine, are held on Thursday night in fall, winter, and spring. One week you might taste samples of German food, the next Italian, the next Moroccan, and so on. This is a big hit with the locals. Sushi nights are also popular.
2. Front Porch Cafe
City: Kill Devil Hills, NC
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (252) 449-6616
Address: US 158, MP 6
Insider Pick:
Description: The Front Porch Cafe sources top-quality coffee beans from all over the world, then roasts each batch by hand in their store. Owners Paul Manning and Susannah Sakal enjoy chatting with customers in their friendly, relaxed community coffeehouse. Freshly baked cinnamon rolls, scones, and muffins are available every day. Customers can also select from the wonderful varieties of teas on hand.
3. Awful Arthur’S Oyster Bar & Restaurant
City: Kill Devil Hills, NC
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (252) 441-5955
Address: NC 12, MP 6
Description: Awful Arthur’s is a comfortably casual place where you won’t mind peeling seasoned shrimp or picking the meat from succulent crab legs with messy fingers. Seafood is the specialty. You’ll find scallops, oysters, clams, mussels, homemade crab cakes, and daily entree specials. The bartenders are some of the fastest shuckers in town. Bass ale and several other varieties of beer are on tap, or order from a full line of liquor and specialty drinks. For landlubbers, several nonseafood sandwiches are served. At night Awful Arthur’s is usually packed. A late-night menu is available. Awful Arthur’s T-shirts are seen all over the world and are local favorites. This popular eatery is open seven days a week year-round for lunch and dinner.
City: Kill Devil Hills, NC
Category: Restaurants
Address: NC 12, MP 6
City: Kill Devil Hills, NC
Category: Restaurants
Address: US 158, MP 7
6. Goombays Grille & Raw Bar
City: Kill Devil Hills, NC
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (252) 441-6001
Address: NC 12, MP 7
Description: This island-style eatery is light and bright inside with lots of artwork, an outrageous fish tank, and a wall-size tropical mural in the dining room. The ambience is upbeat and casual, with wooden tables and chairs and a bare tile floor. The horseshoe-shaped bar, which is separate from the eating area, is a great place to try some of the delicious appetizers or drink specials. Everything here is reasonably priced and flavorful. A raw bar is open until 1 a.m., serving steamed shrimp, oysters, vegetables, and other favorites. Key lime pie is always a smart choice for dessert. In season Goombays has live music every Wednesday. Goombays is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week in summer. Call for off-season hours. Goombays closes for Dec and Jan.
7. Jk’S
City: Kill Devil Hills, NC
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (252) 441-9555
Address: US 158, MP 9
Insider Pick:
Description: Fine-dining insiders love JK’s selection of mesquite-grilled meats. JK’s serves western beef shipped directly from Nebraska, lamb and veal from Summerfield Farms in Virginia, and ribs from the Midwest. A seasoned, professional staff fits right in with the classy, comfortable dining room and bar. Three to four varieties of fresh fish are offered nightly. The menu varies according to the best meats available, but generally it has a prime rib chop, porterhouse steak, New York strip, Kansas City strip, top sirloin, veal rib chop, and lamb loin chops. Ribs and chicken are dry marinated with JK’s special seasoning and are then mesquite grilled. JK’s has a full bar and an excellent wine list with some really good values. Dinner is served from 5 p.m. year-round; takeout is available.
City: Kill Devil Hills, NC
Category: Restaurants
Address: US 158, MP 9
City: Kill Devil Hills, NC
Category: Restaurants
Address: US 158, MP 9
10. Dare Devil’S Authentic Pizzeria
City: Kill Devil Hills, NC
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (252) 441-6330, (252) 441-2353
Address: NC 12, MP 9
Description: This pizza parlor has been in business for more than a decade and is known for its superb stromboli and hand-tossed pizzas. You can also order any item for takeout. Dare Devil’s is open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner from Mar through Nov.
11. Mexicali Brewz
City: Kill Devil Hills, NC
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (252) 480-0069
Address: NC 12, MP 9
Description: The vivacious colors of the outside of Mexicali Brewz invite you to a gratefully good dining experience. The inexpensive menu offers surprisingly great choices. Overstuffed fish burritos and mildly spicy chipotle chicken, both served with black beans and rice, are two of the delicious choices. A full bar specializes in beer and margaritas. This kid-friendly spot is open Mar through Oct. If you like to spend time outside, live music is offered occasionally in the side courtyard. Corn hole is played while patrons enjoy the Outer Banks summer nights.
City: Kill Devil Hills, NC
Category: Restaurants
Address: US 158, MP 10
City: Kill Devil Hills, NC
Category: Restaurants
Address: Colington Road, 1 mile west of US 158