The Outer Banks, barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina, has so many good seafood restaurants gourmets will think they died and went to Heaven.  I picked just three of the more upscale here for Elite Eats (couldn't decide on just one as all are equally elite) but know there are tons of less upscale ones that are well worth a visit.

Coastal Provisions Oyster Bar & Wine Bar Café in Southern Shores is the ideal lunch spot .It's close to  the Wright Brothers National Memorial and Jockey's Ridge State Park. Dan Lewis and Scott Foster, both award-wining chefs opened the combination restaurant, market, and retail oysters to be a one stop shop for vistors wanting good food.

They offer more than 20 varieties of raw oysters , many sourced locally from Cape Hatteras Oysters. They don't stop at raw and have many great cooked oysters. My favorite is the oysters Rockefeller. They add a bit of bacon and blue cheese making it totally unique and delicious.. The menu also includes other dishes such as fresh-caught seafood and more traditional foods. Since rather than stay at a hotel, Their market is perfect the visitors who rent a house in the Outer Banks and want to cook their own food.

http://coastalprovisionsmarket.com

For equally delicious food plus a waterside dining experience, Blue Water Grill and Raw Bar at Pirate's Cove Marina in Manteo, is the place. Their menu also includes lots of local seafood with several meat dishes.  There oyster bar also offers those local Cape Hatteras Oysters.

You'll find appetizers like oyster shooters, a glass filled with a raw oyster, vodka, Bloody Mary mix, cucumber purée, lemon-honey horseradish, and an Old Bay rim and tuna sashimi, a concoction of pepper-seared rare tuna over wasabi coleslaw, crisp wonton, sweet soy sauce and Coleman's spicy mustard big enough for a full meal but do save room as the entrees are equally delicious. You can sit indoors or outdoors. They are famous for their sunset view.

https://www.bluewatergrillobx.com/

The most upscale I visited was Kimball's Kitchen at Sanderling Resort. It's another one where the view matches the food. Their huge all window wall on the waterside offers a wonderful view of sunset over Currituck Sound.

Their salads are almost too georgous to eat. My favorite seafood entree is the brown butter-basted scallops over rosemary grits. For dessert do not miss the crème brulee.

http://www.sanderling-resort.com/restaurants-and-bars/kimballs-kitchen

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