Lots of folks will make late summer and early fall runs to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. And who can blame them? Except for Labor Day week, the crowds will have dispersed, the weather will be cooler, and the fish will definitely be biting.
Whatever you do while on the OBX, don’t miss the opportunity to grab a hot dog or two at Capt’n Franks. It’s a mandatory stop as soon as you cross over the Albemarle Sound.
Capt’n Franks is in Kitty Hawk around milepost 4.5 on Croatan Highway. They have inside and outside seating, but we always grab one of the picnic benches outdoors and feast there on our dogs and fries.
Back in 1975, when the by-pass at Nags Head was two-lane and mostly sand dunes lined the road, the Hess family opened their hot dog stand. They styled it after the once poplar walk-up stands along the many beaches of the Atlantic Coast.
Their menu includes Philly Cheese Steak sandwiches, Chicken Salad and Chicken Breast sandwiches, Shrimp and Fish Boats, Steamed Shrimp and Wings, but when you go to a steak house, you order steak, right? And when you go to Capt’n Franks, you order a hot dog – or two. My favorite is The Chicago with mustard, onions, chili, and coleslaw. What more could you ask?
But they also offer Foot Longs, Chili Cheese Dogs, Mac & Cheese Dogs, Bacon Cheese Dogs, Junkyard Dogs (the works), Carolina Dogs (with BBQ sauce) and even BLT Dogs.
But trust me. Get The Chicago.
Their French Fries and their Onion Rings are delicious, and their beer is ice cold. I think a PBR is best with a Capt’n Frank dog but some like a Corona.
Capt’n Franks is open from 4 to 9 pm, Monday through Saturday in the summer. Their hours change seasonally, and they are closed in the winter.
As Capt’n Franks likes to say, “You can’t fake a great hot dog or a sincere smile” and it’s impossible to leave Capt’n Franks without a big smile on your face and a good feeling in your tummy.
The GPS address is 3800 N Croatan Hwy, Kitty Hawk, NC 27949-9210.
