We called the day of for dinner reservations, but they were fully booked for our party of two. Thankfully, the hostess let us know they always keep space for walk-ins at the bar and screened porch. We arrived just after 5:00 and were seated right away on the porch overlooking a peaceful creek—it had such a relaxing, secluded atmosphere.
Our server was attentive and knowledgeable, and although the menu was small, everything sounded amazing. The flatbread was a fantastic starter, my husband's ribeye was excellent, and my shrimp appetizer with a side salad made the perfect meal. Don't leave without trying the homemade cream pies—the coconut cream pie was absolutely delicious! Great food, wonderful service, and a memorable dining experience. We'll definitely be back!
Such a cosy, homely spot. The ambience makes you want to linger, and the staff were warm and welcoming from the moment we walked in.
But the food is the real highlight — everything we tried was delicious. We had the Mediterranean falafel, the tofu bowl, spring rolls, a glass of wine, and the coconut dessert to finish. Not a single miss.
Special mention to our server, Keli, who was patient throughout and served us with a genuine, friendly smile. Will definitely be back whenever we are at outer banks next!
This is a hidden gem of a restaurant. My fiancee and I go every year and every year (this is year 7) we are just blown away! Its high end dinning with a laid back beach atmosphere. Its small and definitely requires a reservation especially for bigger parties, but its completely worth it. I can't wait to come back next year for the N.O.L.A. Shrimp, wine tails, and revolving menu. Also the watermelon gazpacho last night was a stand out!!!
I’ve been to the Saltbox Cafe twice and it is hands down my favorite dinner spot in OBX. It’s nice but casual, and as a vegetarian, their vegetarian options are super creative and filling entrees. Their nightly special happened to be a vegetarian dish and it was great! And don’t get me started on the desserts. I just wish I were in town for brunch!
This was a lot more than what I was expecting from a little restaurant like The SaltBox Cafe.
For an appetizer, we got the N.O.L.A. BBQ Shrimp. It came with a delicious and mild sauce, toasted bread, and 5 shrimp. I put the shrimp on the bread and drizzled the tangy sauce on top. It was very good and I would definitely get it again.
We also got a soup to share. It was the soup of the day (Grilled Chicken and Mushroom). It was very creamy and packed with the perfect amount of flavor. I'm not a big soup person, but this was my favorite soup that I've ordered and that should say it all.
For an entree, I got the Catch of the Day, just like my husband, my son got a Pan Seared Crab Cake, like my mom with sweet potato fries, and my other son got the Grilled NY Strip. I tried all of them. My Catch of the Day was fall apart tender and the sauce was amazingly creamy, which elevated the dish to the next level. My son’s Pan Seared Crab Cake was cooked to perfection and the sauce was great, and the vegetables were delicious. My other son’s Grilled NY Strip was perfectly cooked, the mashed potatoes were buttery, the fried onions added a level of crunch, and asparagus that was very good.
The desserts finished the meal with a bang with three cake slices. We got a Toasted Coconut Cake, a Double Chocolate Cake, and a Chocolate Pecan Cream Pie. The Toasted Coconut Cake was very good with lots of coconut flavor. The Chocolate Pecan Cream Pie was very creamy with a little crunch from the pecan. Lastly, the Double Chocolate Cake was all the chocolate goodness that you would expect. This was one of the best restaurants in kitty hawk.
