Had gone during May, so it wasn't busy at all at lunch time. The food and mixed drinks were both very good. The service here is also very fast. We were seated immediately and our food was brought to us after 10 - 15 min of ordering.
The only downside is that it can be a little pricey for your average joe. For 2 drinks, a bowl of soup, a sandwich, and a pasta salad it was about $60.
After what was supposed to be a nice dinner out with my family I was highly disgusted by the service of the owner especially and our waiter. This poor establishment doesn't even deserve one star. Please avoid wasting your time and money where it is not well spent. Beware! They do not value customers in any way.
Love Love Love this restaurant!!! Great food and Great drinks!!!
One of the best bone in pork chops I ve ever had. The waitress was amazing and accommodating to our party of 9. Hush puppies, rolls and cup of the chowder were so good it was crazy. The main course of the bone in pork chop with smoked gouda and fresh sage stuffing where absolutely amazing.
Great food good atmosphere people were nice service was great food came out fast very nice people hush puppies were especially good very crispy would go again if I lived here.
Nice addition to the bar this year. Both of the bartenders (don't remember their names) Russian girl and taller guy were both very helpful and fun to be around. I told a lot of people about this bar and I will for sure be back next year!
Lovely space; excellent service; really good food. Daughter really enjoyed the snow crab legs :-)
Drop by here every few years. Feels like something changed for the worse. I always get the fry platter. This year it seems the amount of seafood was halved and the fries were doubled. Still tasty. Rum Runner I ordered was all mix.
Was quoted an hour wait time. When we checked back in an hour and fifteen minutes later the very abrupt/rude hostess said we were 2nd in line. When I didn t smile she said she d be glad to take us off the list. Really??!!
Awesome place, great food, drink & atmosphere. Gary, Billy and the staff are wonderful- great place for food and drink!
Not busy, so was a little worried, but the Shrimp cake sandwich was amazing! Service was great as were the prices. Worth looking for!
Food is average at best. Prices are high, as you d expect in a touristy place. Service was subpar. It s always telling when your server suddenly is nice for the first time when she brings the check!
We had a party of 10. The food was great and the service was spot on. An overall great dining experience was has by all.
The lobster tails are awesome! A little loud atmosphere, but good service.
Once again, another fantastic experience. The food, service, cocktails, I love everything about this place. Yes, it is small but the short wait is worth it, but if you go to the beach in the summer and don't expect to wait a little for excellent food, then you should do fast food. They also have a separate lounge/waiting area that is very comfortable and has small bites and drinks. Definitely the best place in the Outer Banks.
Food was some of the best ever and we live in Chicago with a just a few good restaurant. Wink. Definitely have a chef cooking or at least a chef trained the cooks well. Scallop appetizer wrapped in bacon and grilled was heavenly. Low country bouillabaisse was possibly best ever too.
Food was great but if you eat at the bar the bartenders are rude and ignore you. They need a lesson in customer service. I have had this same experience the last 3 times there!
Enhoyed grabbing lunch and a drinknhere while the kids played mini-golf and ride paddle boats.
Thought this was going to be a really nice restaurant. It is not. It is crowded, noisy and the prices are too high for the little bit of food that they do serve you. Plus they don't have tartar sauce???? What seafood restaurant does not at least make it's own version of tartar sauce for seafood???
It was an okay time but too crowded and too loud. They seem to cater more to the bar crowd than the restaurant....
Food was excellent and so was the service. A must go.
Delicious dinner. My wife enjoyed the seafood platter, I ordered the panko shrimp and my daughter had the filet minion. All were cooked correctly and were tasty. The sides of mixed veggies and smashed potatoes were also yummy. My wife s margarita was perfectly mixed. Food for adults may be a little high but we thought the food quality was easily better than the other restaurants we tried.
The small place was packed when we arrived at 5:30p; over an hour wait we were told. We skipped the line and took the three open chairs at the end of the bar. North Banks is located in an active retail/restaurant locale so one could walk to the other shops as well.
Unassuming storefront and off season: friendly and attentive wait staff, massive portions, good prices overall, and top quality food. Chef's Pasta is a particular favorite. Planning a return next time I'm in the area for sure.
Great atmosphere and the food was off the chain. Our waiter was attentive and nice. Definitely would recommend this place!
Place was small and comfortable thw gur behind the bar was great and interesting to conversate with. Bathrooms were nice and clean but had to walk outside to get to them. So 4 and 1/2 stars.
Delicious food, and the service was great too. End of the season for them, right before a hurricane was coming up the coast, and everyone was just chill and friendly. Helped set our mind at ease.
Wandered in last night wanting raw oysters. No hostess was at the stand so we peeked around to the bar to see if there were empty seats as the majority of places have open seating at the bar. We just took a look and then received a very unfriendly and angry greeting from the hostess who informed us that there was a waiting list for the bar. She was incredibly rude and nearly scolded us. We asked about the time to wait, but at that point we were turned off of the idea of staying and went somewhere else. Two of the restaurants we popped in directed back to North Bar and when we told them about our experience, they didn't sound surprised. Have been coming to Corolla / Whalehead for nearly 30 years, and that experience was incredibly disappointing and surprising.
Although we had a party of 16, they were able to accommodate us within a reasonable timeframe. The price is a little high, but matches the quality of the food and the service. Our waitress went above and beyond to make our experience memorable!
Stopped for lunch. Excellent food. Hard to find in back of shopping center.
20 minutes to get drink orders taken. My entree was wrong but not taken off the bill. Plus, 2 additional items were on our bill that we didnt order. Will not be back.
Extremely rude hostess. Very unprofessional and unpleasant. Unfortunately due to her actions we never experienced the restaurant. Whoever would have a hostess with that attitude. Would never be a place we would want to patron.
Good food, friendly staff, even during the off season.
Fresh seafood. Had a salad and steam platter, both were great. Nothing negative to say. Service was pleasant as well.
Very good. Good chowder, could use a little more kick. Caesar salad with tuna cooked perfectly rare. Oysters were great. Service was very good and friendly. Would go back for sure
Food was less than average for all 4 dishes and was considerably marked up.
Great food! Our server, Natalia K. was very friendly and helpful. She went above and beyond making sure we were well taken care of. We went during the lunch rush, and expected service to be slow due to that. However, we were pleasantly surprised that it wasn't slow. Location is on the smaller side, but we didn't have any issues with that. Highly recommend, and will return the next time we're in the area. Thanks again, Natalia!
Excellent! We came for lunch had a decent wait however everything our party of 9 got was delicious! Their chicken was amazingly tasty and tender. Others loved the house oysters, burger and the Tuna bites were considered to be the best they have ever had! We hope to dine there again before we leave Duck.
Delicious food and great conversation with the bartender. They were doing a good job with social distancing as well, while still getting people in to be seated in as timely a manor as possible.
Pleasant staff...great food and libations ...great experience
Food is good, at least Feschsteak / Fielet, which is not fried (old fat). Stainless steel tables are already strange when eating. Friendly service, but price rather too high. However, there are also few alternatives.
Food is amazing... Our Hostess and waitress were so great. They really made us feel at home. Thank you
Caprese burger was delicious, the 6.99 chicken and pasta was 2 meals worth, the grab grenades were so flavorful with the wasabi aioli. Server made the best comment "it would be a pretty bad business model to serve bad food" and he was right. Smaller little bar/restaurant, fun sea decor
Horrible experience for me! Hostess while serving me my drink spilled red wine all over my white shorts. Then the waiter hit me in the head with his elbow trying to serve the table behind me. No compensation offered- I had to ask for my drink to be removed and had to walk around with red wine on my shorts until getting back to our house. Over priced food, long wait times, too small of a restaurant and a clumsy staff
Staff was excellent everyone was very nice and the food was exceptional
Great place for local seafood. Fast service with a smile.
Great seafood! We sat at the bar and had a wonderful meal with great service from the restaurant staff. We had a dozen oysters on the half shell, the steamed crab legs, and some crab cakes. The oysters were so fresh and delicious tasting! The crab was very tasty!
Great food, be there September with Friends from the UK.They love this Bar.
North Banks is my favorite place in Corolla. Our family vacations there every year. We have gotten to know the owners and staff over the years and have become great friends. The food is great. Never had a bad meal. I highly recommend this restaurant when In Corolla. North Banks Rocks!!!!!
We went here on a recommendation from the inn where we're staying. Plus, this time of year, it's only one of a very few places open, and especially on Monday. My first impression when we walked up was not good. The doormat was extremely dirty and virtually worn out, the boards around the dooe needed to be painted, and the ragged half dead ferns should have been taken down weeks ago. Inside was small, cramped, and stuff sitting around, not sure what it all was. ??? The only thing that would bring me back are the lump crab grenades. If you have a choice, go to The Village Table & Tavern.
Started with the raw oyster special, 2 varieties from PEI. They were very good. We also shared Atlantic halibut bites that were perfectly cooked. My wife had the halibut special that tasted fine but a little dry. I had the mixed grill. The beef skewer and tuna cooked rare were fine. The shrimp skewer was overcooked. Service was great. Drinks seemed overpriced .
Excellent Seafood lunch! I'm old - and don't eat alot - so I got the child's plate of shrimp and french fries: Yummy. $6. I couldn't eat it all!
.............ice cream shop, small go cart track next door.........Salt Coast Outfitters couple of doors down. 11/7/18 Columbia sportsware sale. Won't see these prices in Cary/Raleigh.
Went here with the family because it was recommended by the home owners of the house we are renting.
Probably closer to 1 1/2 stars but will give them benefit of the doubt. The place was pretty busy so they must do something right.
1. I ordered their seafood bouillabaisse which I was told was their specialty. First of all, somebody at North Bankneeds to look up definition of bouillabaisse. Mine arrived totally dry with no soup and so salty, borderline inedible. Looked like a small plate of jambalaya. No soup yet they did include an old pieces of their dinner roll (not crusty bread). At $27, this was a total waste.
2. My wife ordered the caesar salad with salmon. Also arrived way too salty. She left half of it on the plate.
Kids enjoyed their meals of chicken tenders and ribs.
Not sure I'd really recommend this place but looked like a decent place for a drink and some appetizers.
Great place! We had a party of 6. The food was all very fresh, even the oysters on the half shell :). We will definitely go back. If you like fresh seafood, you will like this place. You do have to pay a little more for the quality of the food.
Their fresh catch of the day is always great. Don't bother ordering it as a sandwich, the buns take away the flavor. You'd be missing out if you didn't try the crab cakes as well!
We had a great dinner we absolutely love their clam chowder it was absolutely delicious.. the main course meals that we all had were phenomenal the fish was fresh everything that we had at the table was fresh
We went for lunch earlier today and are happy to say that it was pretty good. We ordered the crab dip for an appetizer and a burger and a chicken sandwich for our meal. I didn't feel that it was outrageously priced for what we ordered. The atmosphere was pretty laid back and everyone was friendly and helpful.
today I had a horrible experience. I dined in the restaurant last night with my family spent over $200 and always order the steamed spiced shrimp. Tonight I wanted more of the same, but just to take home and eat at our cottage. We walked in and wanted to order 3lbs to go from the bar and were denied service. there were seats at the bar and tables available so I not sure why this is a problen. We asked if we could sit at the bar and order Togo and were denied again. I get they dont care about $60 but having been in the restaurant business this isnt how you treat customers
Look out for the bill. The servers I've had try to Jack it up as far as possible. Food is just okay. Do lunch if possible, much less costly than dinner which is very very overpriced. I'm a foodie and the place is small, dark and never cleaned to my liking. Floor is usually Sandy. Service has always been substandard to me. We've been visiting for 10 + yrs. Service has usually been rushed. No great servers so far. $300+ bill and the server charged $2 for extra bread for my kids. At least mention the $2 bread Charge. It's the principle. I'm from NY, I prefer full disclosure. Charge was deleted when asked. Josh the bartender is the bright star there and takes great pride in his drink recipes and ingredients. If I return, I will sit at bar and be served by Josh. Travel blessings.
This is our 2nd time here sitting at the bar both times. Place is welcoming and always a nice atmosphere. We had the house specials, the wahoo and the rockfish. Absolutely delicious.
How can you think about giving it less stars! The Best
Great service with a sense of humor. I had the seafood combo, the scallops were especialky good.
Truly one of the best restaurants I have been to. The team here, impeccable! Jordon, his co-partners went out of their way to serve and take care of us. If ever in this area, definitely a must to enjoy the food and service.
Pricing is high, but matched for the quality and quantity of the food! There is not a whole lot of seating so if you have a large party, you might want to plan ahead!
had lunch there Thursday, was busy, ate at bar, food was fabulous!
had the crab grenades and skewer scallops! I think was the best food we had all weekend. will go back!
Love sitting at the bar, ordering full meal. Exceptional service as always!
Been here many times and have always been satisfied.
Worth the Wait!!! The food here is worth waiting for. The cheerful and friendly hostess informed us of an hour wait, we received a text that our table was ready and were seated promptly. The steamed clams and crab grenades were delicious. The filet mignon and lobster were grilled perfectly.
Great cocktails and everything is reasonably priced. The restaurant is small so don't show up starved, you will have to wait for a table. Sit at the bar if you can you'll receive fast and attentive service.
Excellent restuarant with a variety of seafood and other dinner entrees. Excellent service in a friendly atmosphere. We got seafood entrees and both were fantastic. A must try when visiting the OBX.
Went here for late lunch/early diner. Walked in and was told they only serve a limited menu from 3:30pm to 5:00pm so they could prepare for dinner. The place is small, so there was limited room at the bar top for our group, so we asked if we could sit at one of the tables next to the bar. The bartender was kind of a d-bag when he told us why we couldn't sit there. When you come to a place hungry and you are striped of options, try to explain in a way that doesn't make your patron feel like a jerk-o. Cheers.
Our server Ryan (Bigs) was absolutely incredible. He made the experience an A++ for us. Though the food and drinks were very good, he was great. Thank you Ryan for your hospitable service style and humor.
Disappointing and underwhelming-service and ambiance are good. We've been there before in years past with great meals. I'd heard that it was slipping in quality but decided to come anyway.
Had nice wine and good appetizers but my main dish- flounder- was mealy and with very little taste except for the chickpea and onion concoction that overwhelmed the fish. My husbands catfish was average but nothing to write home about. The creme brulee arrived burnt with several areas that were blackened. The server did admit that she thought it too dark but honestly the kitchen should never have sent it out like that. It was taken off the bill but overall disappointing especially after spending over $100.
It will be our last visit.
Best clam chowder I've ever had. The reason I come here. Don't recommend the flat bread. Think the crust is store bought.
Google Maps says we close at 8:30. Actually we close whenever the Fig we feel like it.
The Lump Crab Grenades are a must!!! Best thing I have had in a long time. Their lobster, shrimp, and corn chowder was very yummy and their raw oysters were on point. I highly recommend this place
A step in the door and I'm greeted by what seemed like a bunch of kids. Told me our wait would be 45 minutes to an hour unless we want to sit at the bar. Though kind of uncomfortable, we bellied up.
The waiter/bartender was great - so friendly and professional. He knew the menu in and out and never chided us for just having ginger ale, and water.. He recommended Crab Grenades for an appetizer - Wow! They were great. Then when our dinners came it was even better. My wife got Fisherman's Pie, and the fried seafood combo for me.
I once was young and now I'm old, and I have never had seafood so good, and fresh and so delicate, delectable, delightful, and delicious. Seriously, my first impressions almost had me ducking back out the door, but we stayed and have found a new favorite seafood restaurant in the whole circle we travel from Florida to Maine. It's the North Banks in Corolla.
I asked for recommendations of a place to enjoy a birthday dinner. Not a good choice!!!!! I'm unimpressed. The service was SLOW!!!!!!! The food was sub-par and WAY overpriced!!!! The rockfish was overcooked, potatoes were pasty, and all grilled items were very soggy. I'm very upset this is where I chose to celebrate. They didn't offer anything for my birthday either. I would never eat here again!
This place was terrible. It looked pretty promising until we got our food. The waiter was very nice, the steamed shimp was ok, but when I ordered the fried shrimp, it all went downhill. The shrimp was very bland, and the fries were ok. I would have sold it for five dollars. When they sold it for twenty. The background music was terrible and I will never come again. If I had to explain it in one word, it would be regrettable.
Great lunch. I had the steamed oysters. My wife had the spiced shrimp. Both fresh and tasty.
northbanks.com
