It was our 54th wedding anniversary and Nancy and I were off to Nags Head to celebrate. Being the offseason, we knew there would be limited activities, but we were looking forward to relaxing and eating some great seafood. On our way down, we were trying to decide where to eat for this special occasion. We decided on Miller’s for a romantic waterfront experience. But Miller’s was closed. So was Owen’s, Basnight’s, The Dunes, Sugar Creek, Tale of the Whale and we were quickly running out of options.
Maybe Outback?
“Absolutely not,” my wife declared.
“Then I’ll see if Darrell’s Restaurant in Manteo is open.
They were, thank heavens, and we ate there.
Darrell’s is not a fancy place, kind of a family atmosphere, but these people know how to cook seafood. They’ve been at it over 60 years.
We ordered a combination of Fried Flounder, Shrimp, Oysters and Scallops and everything was delightful. The local Fried Shrimp were especially good, and their Fried Oysters were out of sight. Even their sides – a crisp garden salad and their made in house cole slaw were exceptional.
Darrell’s has an extensive menu, and many come for their Carolina Style BBQ or daily specials. We saw lots of families eating there and the service is unbelievably quick. We had our salads within five minutes and before we were half though, they brought our seafood. Their prices – like everything else – are up, but reasonable, I thought.
We wanted good seafood for our anniversary meal, and we got it. Darrell’s truly saved the day.
The restaurant is located at 521 Virginia Dare Trail, the main street of Manteo. If you’re on the Outer Banks and want some really good seafood, no matter when you go, give them a try. You won’t be disappointed.