Summer is here! Let’s go to Duck, NC (OBX)

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At first, I wasn’t attracted to the Outer Banks (OBX) beach scene. Maybe it was because I really didn’t grow up traveling down to the Outer Banks for family vacations. Maybe it’s because I prefer the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean.  Jason, however, spent much of his childhood summers vacationing in OBX. For the first time last year, Jason and I made our way to this popular beach destination for a long weekend. Jason, who was already a fan, made me see what I had been missing. I feel in love with the area and we decided to make our way back several times to write a blog about our OBX food experiences.

As this will start off as a small review, hopefully over time it will grow. As the OBX is such a popular place to visit for so many, please feel free to comment below with your favorite’s places to grub.

When we think about the beach there are three food categories that we look forward to enjoying: Seafood, Pizza, Ice Cream.

Slice Pizzeria:

As we have mentioned in several other reviews, we LOVE Pizza and always try to find the best place to get a pie when we travel. Slice Pizzeria is one of, if not the best pizza joints in OBX. They have a fabulous slice bar with a huge selection or ‘gourmet’ slices. Pick your favorite and mix it up to create your own tasting. We recommend you try their baked ziti slice. If you are a lover of pasta and pizza, then you’ll savor every bite of this thick, delicious pizza. It’s got gooey mozzarella cheese, sweet ricotta, homemade tomato sauce, imported parmesan cheese and fresh parsley. I wonder if they deliver to the Washington DC metro area because I am craving a slice right now! Seriously, check them out and let them know that CookingShorts.com sent you.

Red Sky Cafe:

We found this super cute cafe in downtown Duck. I love going into restaurants to find people that don’t take themselves seriously. Red sky cafe has a very chill, laid back atmosphere with a vibe that fits the non-serious bill. They focus their attention on what they should, the food. The chef makes his way around the island every morning to hand select fresh fish and produce for the ever-changing menu. He likes to keep everything simple and fresh, which we like. When available, the steak and cheese sub with onion rings is my favorite and out of this world.

Red Sky Cafe also offers a really awesome service called Chef’s on Call. Say you have a large group renting a beach house. Sometimes it is almost impossible to get everyone into a restaurant. With Chef’s on Call, Red Sky Cafe brings the restaurant to you. You work with the chefs to design a menu that will fit your groups’ wishes and Red Sky Cafe comes to your home and prepares it. The service makes me you feel like you have a personal chef for the evening.  How rock star is that?

Flying Fish Cafe:

We came across this restaurant by accident and we were happy that we did. We actually had reservations at Kelly’s but after waiting an hour into our scheduled dinner, we left in search of something else. Flying Fish Cafe is a romantic, cozy cafe with an intimate atmosphere. The menu is classic and sophisticated and the owner likes to interact with guests. We watched as the owner made his way from table to table, sharing stories about food and travel. I love that stopped and talked to those he didn’t even know. We recommend Flying Fish Cafe if you’re looking for a couple’s adult night with a sexy menu. Because this hot stop’s menu of fresh salads, warm pasta and fresh fish changes daily, it’s hard to recommend items for the menu. Check out their website for a $15 coupon for first time customers. Let us know what romantic dish you enjoyed.

Henry’s:

We recently had a family vacation to OBX to celebrate my nieces 10th birthday. As we picked this restaurant, we were nervous about having two kids melt down as we waited for our large order. We were excited to find that this was the perfect family friendly restaurant to celebrate my niece’s special day. What we loved about Henry’s was the southern hospitality that they brought to our table; they were so kind and accommodating. They made us feel like we were at home by anticipating our needs. Henry’s is popular among families and it was nice to know that the kids could be a little loud without disrupting others. What was especially nice was the manager on duty allowed us to bring a in homemade cake to sing happy birthday. They were happy to help us cut the cake and provided plates and forks for no additional cost; we were pleasantly surprised. The super sweet waitress deserved the BIG tip we left her.