Help me eat my way through the Outer Banks

Next month, I'm scheduled to board a plane for Duck, North Carolina to sun, swim, horseback-ride, and imbibe in the long-awaited luxury of being able to just chill. Although the beauty of this trip is to truly not plan a thing, it is nearly impossible for me not to daydream about all of the wonderful seafood I will stuffing into my face.

Does anyone have any favorite places?

I have not been in a few years, but you should check out the Orange Blossom cafe. They have great lunch and for breakfast get an apple ugly. I also purchased their cook book which has some really good recipes. I hope it is still around...Buxton on Hatteras Island, NC

That area is a favorite place with many fond memories! Enjoy.

Spent a month there two years ago. I didn't have any great restaurant experiences, but most people are cooking out at the cottages. In the center of Corolla, there's a tremendous seafood/farmstand, where hours-old tuna, grouper, and shrimp are on hand. That's the way to go.

Be sure to stock up on booze at the liquor store south of town, since it's the only one and the blue laws in that county of that state are among the most comprehensive I've seen. Avoid the Food Lion on Saturday if there's any possible way to do so. Other than getting ready for a hurricane in FL, I've never seen anything like it. Packed to the gills and staffed, inexplicably, by European teens over for the summer to work. Not too motivated to deal with mobs of just-arrived Jersey families loading up for the week. If you can, I'd also consider stopping at a larger, better and better stocked supermarket before bridging over to the OBX. The pickings are pretty slim on a good day on the beach.

If you'll be driving, there have been some great travel posts, including one regarding the drive to VA Beach. Some nice BBQ, ham, and drive-in stops along the way in KY, WV, VA and NC.

Oh, in the old village of Corolla (by the lighthouse) there is a very traditional BBQ shack for solid estern-style 'cue. Corolla Village BBQ, I believe.

You'll see that most of the restaurants are in strip malls. The beach is reserved for cottages, more or less.

All in all, a great place.

It has been a LONG time since I was last there, but I remember marvelous fried oysters at a place called Gandalf's (maybe in Kill Devil Hills?), watching the sun go down from atop Jockey's Ridge, getting beer at the Brew-Through...

i go to outer banks every year my favorite place is Austin Creek Grill.It is at the end in Hatteras basically next to the ferry.the chef is amazing and atmosphere awesome.I give it tops!!!!

Problem is Duck is hours away from the restaurants to the south.