| Route 66 | Cities | Beaches |
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Hatteras Village |
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Hatteras Village is at the far western tip of the island, but it's the home of the island fishing fleet, because the boats can go out through Hatteras Inlet straight to the Gulf. The ferries depart from here. Dolphin watching cruises, diving expeditions, parasailing and kayaking tours go out from here. A very good July 4th fireworks display is staged off the beach here, and the Museum is here. There are five restaurants in the village and three are outstanding. |
| The Breakwater on the waterfront in Hatteras Village is now the special occasion restaurant of the island. It's where locals go to celebrate birthdays, business deals and graduations. It would make a fine place to eat the last night of your visit. Their Appetizer menu is one of the best anywhere. The Bleu Cheese Mussels are mussels and leaks sauteed, then simmered in roquefort cream. Blackened Scallops are sweet sea scallops and fried leeks in tomato basil vinaigrette. Blue Crab Ravioli is ravioli in wild mushrooms, asiago and roast shallot sherry cream, stuffed with lump blue crab. Breakwater Fish is fresh local fish in andouille sausage and leeks, simmered in Cajun cream, topped with asiago.Wow. Only then do you get to Entrees. Their Crabcakes are served in a pineapple jalapeno salsa. The Hatteras Seafood Stew includes shrimp, scallops, clams, fish and blue crab in a tomato clam broth, with peppers, leeks, onions, corn on the cob and sausage. The Scallops al Greco is scallops sauteed in mushrooms, spinach, tomatoes and feta in wine oregano butter sauce. Great views of harbor sunsets. They take special pride in their breads and desserts. Open for dinner only, 5:30 - 10 pm. |  |
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Dinky's sits high above Hatteras Harbor with beautiful views. The decor features lots of wood and brass and nautical artifacts. The layout is a large U-shaped bar with seven tables along the windows. On weekends, 90 minute waits are common. Appetizers lead with Honey Chipotle Barbecued Shrimp, Hickory Smoked Tuna Crostini and Black Bean Goat Cheese Chimichanga in Roast Red Pepper Cream Sauce. Whatever the Soup Of The Day is, order a cup. They're all spectacular. Entrees include New Zealand Rack of Lamb, French Pork Chop, Cuervo Chicken and Chicken Franchese. But the seafood items are the stars. We like their Scallops, a simple treatment of garlic, herbs and shallots in chardonnay sauce. Or try the Shellfish Pescatore. But the Seafood Stew is their masterpiece : local shrimp, scallops and fish in garlic, herbs, tomatoes, potatoes, onions, carrots, apple smoked bacon and asiago cheese in Dinky's own broth. |
| Hatteras del Sol is the village's newest restaurant. It's beyond the charter fishing harbor, around the bend toward the ferry docks. It's the creation of Chris Setzer and Christy Davis and is only open for dinner. Among the Appetizers, we like the Blue Crab Dip and the Parmesan Clam Strips. The She Crab Soup is one of their signature items (it's cream based with nutmeg and sherry) but their Clam Chowder (with bacon and veggies) is very good. It's their Hot & Sour Shrimp Soup which is the star, however. You've never had anything like it anywhere else and it's delicious. The Goat Cheese Spinach Salad and Tomato Mozzarella Salad are both good. The Entree list is pretty long, but it features Shrimp & Grits, Seafood Alfredo, Pan Seared Crabcakes, Shrimp & Scallop Pasta, and Beef & Shrimp Diavolo. The Orange-Lemon Creme Brulee is their best Dessert, but the Key Lime Pie and Banana Fosters Cheesecake are also worth ordering. The deck looks out over Pamlico Sound so you can eat dinner while enjoying a spectacular sunset. As their reputation spreads it gets harder to get a table during the prime 6 - 8 pm slot. You might come at 5 or 8:30. | .jpg) |
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Sonny's is the local hangout. It's been here for 30 years and offers good food at low cost. Being right across the road from the docks and around the bend from the ferry, it can get crowded at breakfast. It also serves lunch and dinner. They offer the usual seafood, chicken, steaks, salads, soups and appetizers. But we like Sonny's Steamer Specials : Crab, Shrimp, Mussels, Clams and, most famously, Crawfish. Other island restaurants offer crawfish as occasionbal specials, but this is the only place on the island you can order it standard off the menu. Sonny's is not always open, so you might want to phone ahead. The big parking lot can hold your boat and trailer and there are enough tables that you won't have to wait. It can get crowded again late in the day as the fishermen get in off the Sound and Gulf Stream and families drive off the ferries after a day at Ocracoke. |
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