I’ve asked Craig for a list of his favorite Outer Banks restaurants. Craig first started going to the Outer Banks in 1974 and moved from West Chester, PA (not far from my neck of the woods) in 1977. I met Craig when he was recommended to me for the maintenance of my pool and hot tub for my Salvo house by the person who cares for my pool in Duck. Today, Craig runs Three Seas, Inc., a successful pool and hot tub maintenance company.
There is no doubt that the Jolly Roger in Kill Devil Hills serves one of the best breakfasts on the Outer Banks.
The omelets are fluffy and delicious. The eggs benedict come in several varieties: Plain Jane, Canadian bacon, country ham, and crab. Want biscuits and gravy? You have your choice of sausage gravy, creamed chip beef gravy or red eye gravy. There are breakfast wraps, an Italian frittata, and home-baked goods if you prefer. Are you from the northeast? The Jolly Roger’s offering of scrapple might be right up your alley! A nice touch that I love is the flavored coffee creamers available at the table, and the breakfast Bloody Mary.
While waiting for your food, you can check out the small gift shop set up in the lobby of the restaurant or you can just look around at the eclectic collection of objects that hang from the ceiling and the walls.
Outer Banks Restaurant: Mama Kwan’s Grill & Tiki Bar
Meal:Lunch
Location: Kill Devil Hills
Number of Times Been There: At least twice a week for many years
Reservations recommended: No
Mama Kwan’s is a great little restaurant serving Polynesian American cuisine right in the heart of what the locals call “French Fry Alley” (McDonald’s, Burger King and Wendy’s).
My favorite appetizers include the pepper seared ahi tuna, the pork wontons and the Thai money bags. The crab cakes (either sandwich or plate) have just enough Japanese bread crumbs to hold them together, and they are fried to a golden brown. The Hawaiian pork plate and the special occasion pasta are also favorites. The special occasion pasta is a penne pasta with roasted peppers, shitake mushrooms, snow peas and scallions in a soy-cream sauce. You can order it plain or add shrimp, chicken or tuna. Mama’s also has a children’s menu.
Stopping in for an afternoon drink? Try Mama’s specialty drinks including the Tiki Trauma, the Wahini Wipe Out or the Loco Louie.
If you are only going out to dinner one night during your stay, you must go to Owens’ Restaurant.
The menu is an extensive one, and there are also nightly specials. For appetizers, I am partial to the coconut shrimp, the escargot and the lobster bisque. Crabmeat Remick, lump crabmeat prepared with herbs and spices and topped with mozzarella cheese, is available either as an appetizer or as a main course. Main courses include pecan crusted sea scallops, various seafood combinations, veal scaloppini and shrimp, and a variety of cuts of Angus beef. Desserts are home-made.
While you are waiting to be seated, you can view the display of original memorabilia from the U.S. Lifesaving Service, look around the gift shop, or enjoy a cocktail at the upstairs bar.
Not quite what you are looking for? Try these Outer Banks restaurant recommendations:
Outer Banks Restaurant: Owens’ Restaurant 
