2009.09.08
Picture this...
What kind of idiot goes away for a long weekend at the beach and forgets her digital camera? Um, one with red hair and the first name "Lindsey" and a last name that conjures up images of short shorts. That's who.
This same brand of idiot thought the traffic to the Outer Banks wouldn't be too bad on Labor Day weekend. And that the hotel room for which she paid $165 per night would be large and roomy and wouldn't smell like gym socks. And that the swimming pools would not be teeming with screaming children desperate to eke every last moment of enjoyment out of summer vacation before school started today.
There was nothing left to do but eat and drink (and wish I had a digital camera with which to take tantalizing food photos). Instead, you'll have to picture this tour of Outer Banks restaurants:
* At J.K.'s: Oysters Rockefeller made with spinach pesto and bubbling hot Parmesan cheese, served with a crusty French baguette and pats of real butter shaped like flowers.
* Also at J.K.'s: Clam chowder (my all-time favorite soup so long as it is made with heavy cream and not destroyed with tomatoes) crowded with big chunks of potato and some of the most tender, delectable clams I've ever had melt in my mouth. If you travel to the Outer Banks and you have not tried J.K.'s, I highly recommend it. The best bartender in the world works there. His name is Rick. But I'm biased. Rick is my friend.
* At Food Dudes Kitchen: A roasted vegetable quesadilla stuffed with portobello mushroom, roasted red peppers, corn and zucchini. Did you know the term "portobello," which roughly translates to mean "fat beauty," was invented as a marketing ploy to sell an ugly mushroom that nobody wanted? The things I learn from "Food Lover's Companion" never cease to amaze me.
* At the Black Pelican: A frittata with sun-dried tomatoes, spinach and goat cheese served over a pile of jalapeno-cheddar grits.
* At the Kill Devil Grill: Cheesesteak egg rolls stuffed with minced steak, caramelized onions and oozing white cheese. For an entree, we split a full rack of ribs. They weren't bad, but the egg rolls were better.
* At Port O' Call: Crab and cheese wontons and a big, fat, juicy piece of fried flounder on a sub roll with tartar sauce, lettuce and tomato.
* And finally, the chain restaurant I could not resist -- Dairy Queen, where I bought a large Strawberry Cheesequake Blizzard and consumed the entire thing before feeling like my stomach was going to burst inside me. Why, oh why, did I decide to DQ something different? But then again, that's what vacation is for, right?
If you need me, I'll be at the gym.
I got hungry, full, overly stuffed, and then experienced a belly-ache all in the time it took to read this. Sounds delicious, just not all at once!
Oh, and I totally sympathize with your hotel experience - so, so sorry!
Comment by Angela — September 8, 2009 @ 10:30 pm
You MUST try the Outer Banks Brewing Station the next time you go back!!! I'm not a beer fan, but their fresh brews are good enough to make me reconsider. And the food-nothing short of gourmet! Not at all what you'd expect when you drive past and see the dull exterior and out of place windmill. Oh yeah-the brewery is wind powered which just adds another interesting layer to a very cool place.
Comment by cole09 — September 9, 2009 @ 8:58 am
Locals love both the Kill Devil Grill and Food Dudes. If you have a chance to visit in the Fall or Winter (ocean rockfish season), check out Kill Devil Grill's rock specials - you will want to pick up your plate and lick it clean.
Comment by Lee Whitley — September 10, 2009 @ 7:01 am
Next time instead of going to DQ you should try John's Drive-In, on the beach road!! It has the best shakes of all time and the food isn't bad either. http://www.thecoastalexplorer.com/JohnsDriveInOuterBanks/?scid=51&intAdID=4993
Comment by Cameron — September 10, 2009 @ 12:35 pm
Cameron, I am no stranger to John's and I LOVE IT. But I wasn't sure if they would be open that late at night and it was a bit of a haul down the beach rode from my hotel.
Comment by Lindsey Nair — September 10, 2009 @ 4:33 pm
We spent Labor Day weekend there and enjoyed an Outer Banks fixture -- Owens Restaurant -- yummy coconut shrimp. And then witnessed a beautiful sunset at Sugar Creek, not to mention treating ourselves to delicious flounder and scallops. Makes me realize there is nothing like fresh seafood at the beach!
Comment by Susan — September 11, 2009 @ 10:59 pm
Sugar Creek is great Susan...it's our family's traditional Friday night "Oh no it's time to go home let's have one last great meal" spot! The view there never disappoints, nor does the food.
Has anyone ever tried those take-out steamer buckets from any of the places that offer them at OBX? I can never tell if they're a good deal or not, or how much work then need once you get them home.
Comment by Kristen — September 13, 2009 @ 8:50 am
Owen's is WONDERFUL. We had an amazing dinner there with friends a couple of years ago.
Never been to Sugar Creek. Will have to check that out.
I haven't tried any of the steamer buckets, Kristen. Usually when we go, we stay with my husband's mother and stepfather, so we cook at their house. If we rent a house we have steamed seafood there in the house kitchen. We often go to Austin's (aka "The Shark Store") on the bypass up near the sand dunes to get seafood. Others like Billy's Seafood Market.
Comment by Lindsey Nair — September 14, 2009 @ 10:30 am