Pony Island Restaurant

Pony Island Restaurant serves sit-down American and seafood fare in Ocracoke village, close enough to Silver Lake Harbor for a meal right after stepping off the ferry. The name nods to the island's own herd of Ocracoke ponies, kept in a fenced pasture farther up NC-12 — a bit of local history baked into the sign long before you'd ever reach the pasture itself. It's a budget-friendly, no-frills stop, priced for visitors and locals who'd rather put their money toward time on the water than a big dinner tab.

• Closed Tuesdays; open the other six days of the week.
• Located in Ocracoke village, reachable only by the free Hatteras ferry or the longer toll ferries from Cedar Island and Swan Quarter.
• Call ahead for current hours and specials — the restaurant posts updates on its Facebook page rather than a standalone website.