Enable JavaScript to run this app.
Skip to main content
OpenTable logo
  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Coastal North Carolina
  4. Outer Banks
  5. Buxton
Cafe Pamlico, Buxton, NC

Cafe Pamlico

4.9
4.9
344 Reviews
$31 to $50
Seafood

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
  • Great for scenic views
  • Charming
  • Neighborhood gem
Cafe Pamlico's mission is to provide a world class dining experience through exceptional food, outstanding detail oriented service, an inspired wine and cocktail program, and gracious attentive Southern hospitality. Our contemporary coastal cuisine is driven by locally sourced seafood, meats, and produce. Our menu changes frequently in accordance with the fresh ingredients our chefs discover on the island, most notably the fresh local seafood we feature. The fish we serve each evening is frequently taken from the nets of friends that very morning. We are committed to supporting local farmers and artisan food producers first, sustainable resources second, and organic third. The Cafe serves elegant gourmet dinners prepared by our world class chefs from four to seven nights each week, depending on season. Dinner reservations are highly recommended, as the restaurant is often filled to capacity by reservation. We are open to the public every morning for our famous casually elegant breakfasts, called "Best on the Outer Banks" by National Geographic Traveler. Cafe Pamlico is committed to extending gracious hospitality beyond the walls of our restaurant and into the community. We manage our organization in an ecologically sensitive and economically sustainable manner, driven by genuine concern for our environment and the jobs we create in our community, and always in accordance with the customer satisfaction policies of our business model. We invite you to learn more about Cafe Pamlico by downloading our current brochure, or by getting in touch with us. Whether dining in one of our intimate well appointed dining rooms, at our elegant copper topped bar, or al fresco on one of our soundfront decks, you will experience exceptional food and service which the Times of London described as "Fabulous" while surrounded by the natural beauty and grandeur of the Pamlico Sound and the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Seafood
  • Hours of operation
    Mon, Tue 8:00 am–11:00 am Mon, Tue 5:00 pm–8:00 pm Wed 8:00 am–1:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (252) 995-4500
  • Website
    https://www.innonpamlicosound.com/dining/
  • Payment options
    Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Location
    49684 NC Highway 12, Buxton, NC 27920
  • Neighborhood
    Buxton
  • Parking details
    Private Lot
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Vegan, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 344 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.9
4.9 based on recent ratings
  • 4.8Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.6Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Coastal North Carolina

    Best Overall

  • Coastal North Carolina

    Best Service

  • Coastal North Carolina

    Best Ambiance

  • Coastal North Carolina

    Best Value

  • Coastal North Carolina

    Great for brunch

  • Coastal North Carolina

    Romantic

  • Coastal North Carolina

    Great for scenic views

  • Coastal North Carolina

    Seafood

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Cafe Pamlico offers an unforgettable dining experience with "outstanding food" and "spectacular" views. The menu features creative, well-prepared dishes, making it a must-visit in the OBX. Guests rave about the setting, especially during sunset. While some service inconsistencies exist, overall, the "wonderful atmosphere" and "delicious food" make it a top choice.

344 Reviews

  1. Elizabeth

    VIP

    E. Tennessee

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    The food was only average at best. The place wasn't super clean. Junky in places. Loud children. Slow service.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Bill

    Washington DC

    9 reviews

    3.0

    9 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    We've been to Cafe Pamlico several times and it's been good - a step above the other local restaurants. The last two times it's been just okay for the price point. But the New Year's Eve dinner... the service was great but the food was mediocre. It was a four course dinner - soup, appetizer, entree, dessert. The onion soup was good. The oyster appetizer had so many flavors going on you couldn't taste the oyster. I ordered the seafood special which was served over a rice kind of medley. The rice was just ok but the fish was very dry and had no little flavor. I had just a couple of bites and declined to take the rest home. Our waiter said that other diners had said the same thing. Given that, it would have been nice if they'd taken a bit off the $300 bill. Yes, there was a bottle of wine in that price tag but it was a large bill for mediocre food. I doubt we'll go back.

    Is this helpful?

  3. pam

    Baltimore

    22 reviews

    4.0

    22 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Nice brunch! Great choice of mimosas and other brunch drinks. Food was good - nice variety of options. My entree was shrimp and grits and it was a little small compared to others at the table and my friends grilled cheese was light on cheese. Other than that, we really enjoyed ourselves. The live music and view really added to the atmosphere.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Ivy

    VIP

    Washington DC

    15 reviews

    5.0

    15 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    It was fabulous! We are visiting Nags Head with my parents and made a special trip to Cafe Pamlico for brunch to celebrate my dads birthday. Everyone had great time!
    Cafe PamlicoResponded 6 days ago
    Ivy, thank you SO much! Pls come back, bring friends and post your review to TripAdvisor and Yelp :-)

    Is this helpful?

  5. Edward

    Richmond

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on December 22, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Superior in every way possible. From food, to service, to ambience!!
    Cafe PamlicoResponded 6 days ago
    Edward, thank you SO much! Pls come back, bring friends and post your review to TripAdvisor and Yelp :-)

    Is this helpful?

  6. Michael

    Atlanta Metro

    29 reviews

    5.0

    29 reviews

    Dined on December 20, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Fabulous food and service. Dallas is fantastic server with great hospitality. Love this place.
    Cafe PamlicoResponded on December 22, 2024
    Michael, thank you SO much! Pls come back, bring friends and post your review to TripAdvisor and Yelp :-)

    Is this helpful?

  7. Michael

    Atlanta Metro

    29 reviews

    5.0

    29 reviews

    Dined on December 16, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Fabulous food as always. Great wine pairings. Excellent service
    Cafe PamlicoResponded on December 17, 2024
    Michael, thank you SO much! Pls come back, bring friends and post your review to TripAdvisor and Yelp :-)

    Is this helpful?

  8. April

    New York City

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on December 6, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Cute place. Excellent food and attentive staff. Will visit again.
    Cafe PamlicoResponded on December 7, 2024
    April, thank you SO much! Pls come back, bring friends and post your review to TripAdvisor and Yelp :-)

    Is this helpful?

  9. David

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 30, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This place exceeded any expectations. Great location. Excellent view. Fantastic food and spirits. Thoroughly enjoy this place every time I go. Highly recommend.
    Cafe PamlicoResponded on December 10, 2024
    David, thank you SO much! Pls come back, bring friends and post your review to TripAdvisor and Yelp :-)

    Is this helpful?

  10. Rick

    VIP

    Washington DC

    18 reviews

    5.0

    18 reviews

    Dined on November 28, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing Turkey Day experience. Great food and great service.
    Cafe PamlicoResponded on November 30, 2024
    Rick, thank you SO much! Pls come back, bring friends and post your review to TripAdvisor and Yelp :-)

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Cafe Pamlico is rated 4.9 stars by 344 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Google Map for Cafe Pamlico

49684 NC Highway 12, Buxton, NC 27920

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Neighborhood
    Buxton
  • Hours of operation
    Mon, Tue 8:00 am–11:00 am Mon, Tue 5:00 pm–8:00 pm Wed 8:00 am–1:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Seafood
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    Private Lot
  • Payment options
    Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Vegan, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
Discover
OpenTable
  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Careers
  • Press
More
Our sites
Businesses
  • Delight more diners
  • Open for Business Blog
Join us on
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
Copyright © 2024 OpenTable, Inc. 1 Montgomery St Ste 500, San Francisco CA 94104 - All rights reserved.
OpenTable is part of Booking Holdings, the world leader in online travel and related services.
Booking Logo
Priceline Logo
KAYAK Logo
Agoda Logo
OpenTable Logo