A good crab cake should taste like crab, not like a pile of bread crumbs pretending to be seafood. Sadly, plenty of restaurants stretch a little crab meat with a lot of filler and hope nobody notices.
Along the North Carolina coast, from the Outer Banks down to the Cape Fear region, a handful of waterfront spots keep the focus where it belongs, with big lumps of crab and just enough binder to hold things together. Here are seven places where the crab cakes live up to the name and the view comes free with every plate.
1. NC Coast Grill & Bar, Duck, NC
Chunky is the word that comes to mind with the crab cakes at this Duck favorite. They are packed with real crab, not breading and not a crab substitute, which is exactly the kind of honesty a seafood lover wants.
NC Coast Grill & Bar sits at 1184 Duck Rd along the Currituck Sound. The outdoor seating faces the water, so a table outside turns an ordinary lunch into a calm, scenic break from the beach crowds.
The crab shows up in more than one form here. There is a crab cake bubble and squeak on the menu, plus crab dip, and the kitchen also turns out Carolina Kissed Scallops, Chef Wes’s Shrimp & Grits, NC Oysters, and Pescado Street Tacos.
Not everyone in the group has to love seafood. The Ember Chicken Stack, a Tomahawk Chop, a chicken goat cheese pasta, and a vegetarian Mexican Poutine keep the whole table happy, and there are full vegan and vegetarian menus too.
I would save this one for a birthday dinner or a sunset meal with family. Kids get their own menu and high chairs are available, and dogs are welcome at the outdoor tables.
Hours run 11:30 AM to 9 PM daily. Dinner reservations are recommended, since there is usually a wait and parking can be tricky to find in peak season.
2. Black Pelican Oceanfront Restaurant, Kitty Hawk, NC
How many restaurants can say their dining room started out as a lifesaving station back around 1874? Black Pelican can, and that bit of Outer Banks history makes a crab cake lunch here a little more memorable.
The building sits right on the Atlantic at 3848 N Virginia Dare Trail in Kitty Hawk. There is rooftop seating, and a fireplace inside for cooler months.
Now for the part that earns a spot on this list. The crab cakes are big, crispy on the outside, and made with no fillers, and they come with a sauce that is worth saving a bite for.
Gluten-free diners will like that crab cakes can be served on a gluten-free bun. Pricing is fair for oceanfront dining, landing around $20 to $30 per person.
If you want to branch out, Philly’s Pecan Crusted Mahi and baked crabmeat and scallops are strong seafood picks. The Wanchese Fishermans’ Risotto, Dixie’s Finest Shrimp & Grits, a flounder po boy, and Key West Rock Shrimp and Crab Dip round out the coastal side of the menu.
Leave room for the Coconut Cream Pie. The dessert menu is one of the reasons people linger.
Hours are 11:30 AM to 9 PM every day, and parking is usually plentiful. Friday and Saturday evenings get busy, so a reservation helps.
3. Tale of the Whale, Nags Head, NC
Roughly 90 percent lump crab. That is the kind of ratio that separates a real crab cake from a seafood-flavored biscuit, and it is what makes Tale of the Whale a standout on the soundside of Nags Head.
The crab cakes here are solid lump crab with just a little breading holding them together. Big chunks of meat are the whole point.
Crab fans should also order the She-Crab Soup, which is loaded with crab rather than thinned out with cream. Hot Crab Dip and Snow Crab Legs & Steak give you even more ways to stay on theme.
This is a dinner-only spot, open Monday through Saturday from 5 to 9 PM and closed on Sundays. The setting overlooks Roanoke Sound, and the outdoor deck is a pleasant place to wait if your table is not ready yet.
The mood leans upscale and romantic, with live music in the lounge. Even so, families are welcome, with a kids’ menu and high chairs on hand.
Prices range from about $20 to $60 per person depending on how big you go. Grilled swordfish, halibut, a Grilled Fish Trio, and broiled combo platters are all fair game if someone at the table wants a change from crab.
You will find it at 7575 S Virginia Dare Trail, with plenty of parking.
4. Basnight’s Lone Cedar Cafe, Nags Head, NC
Just up the road from Tale of the Whale, Lone Cedar gives Nags Head a second soundside stop for crab cakes done right. Local seafood is the focus, and the crab cakes are made without fillers.
The address is 7623 S Virginia Dare Trail, in a waterfront setting with wide views of the water. The vibe is casual and family-oriented, so sandy flip-flops will not raise any eyebrows.
I like this stop for the sides as much as the mains. A grit cake and squash casserole sound like something off a Carolina Sunday dinner table, and they pair nicely with crab cakes or fresh fish.
Other seafood options include fried scallops, broiled sea scallops, jerk tuna, and Sautéed Shrimp and Stone Ground Cheese Grits. The Jumbo Lump Crab Dip and she-crab soup are easy add-ons for anyone who wants crab in every course.
Dessert deserves a plan. The Hershey Bar Cake is the headliner, with Creme Brulee as a lighter option.
Timing matters here because the hours are limited. Lone Cedar is closed Mondays, open 4:30 to 8 PM Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday, and 4:30 to 8:30 PM on Friday and Saturday.
One small tip: ask for a sauce on the side if you like your crab cake with a little extra moisture.
5. Oceanic at the Crystal Pier – NC, Wrightsville Beach, NC
Eating crab cakes while sitting on a pier over the Atlantic is about as coastal Carolina as it gets. At Oceanic, the outdoor tables stretch out onto the rebuilt historic Crystal Pier in Wrightsville Beach.
The crab cakes are huge and close to 100 percent crab meat, with large lumps you can actually see. They come with homemade sauces, including ranch, tartar, and cocktail sauce, plus a side of slaw.
Oceanic leans into crab in a big way. The Carolina Crab Dip, she-crab soup, and Crab-Stuffed Salmon all give you more chances to enjoy it.
Not in a crab mood? Tuna Poke Nachos, Island Shrimp Tacos, Crispy Calamari, Oceanic Seafood Linguine, and fresh local catch like grouper cover plenty of ground, and truffle fries make a solid shareable side.
The hours are generous for a beach restaurant. It opens at 11 AM most days and at 10 AM on Friday and Sunday, staying open until 10 or 11 PM depending on the night.
Live music adds to the relaxed atmosphere, and dogs are allowed at the outdoor seating. Saturday afternoons and evenings are the busiest, so dinner reservations are a smart move.
Find it at 703 S Lumina Ave. Finish with Key Lime Pie if you can manage it.
6. Oliver’s on the Cape Fear, Southport, NC
Southport has a knack for charm, and Oliver’s fits right in. The restaurant is set in an 18th-century ship chandler building at 101 W Bay St, right on the Cape Fear River.
Here is the good news for anyone who avoids gluten. The crab cakes are gluten-free, and they are actually crab rather than bread filling, which keeps them light instead of heavy.
A soft-shell crab bite appetizer is a fun way to start. Maine Lobster Bisque and Shrimp Cocktail are other popular openers.
The menu mixes upscale New American cooking with coastal comfort. Grouper Oscar, Jimmy Shrimp, Shrimp and Grits, lobster mac, a Calabash Cape Fear Platter, and fried flounder share space with well-cooked steaks and filets.
The waterfront view is a big part of the appeal. Outdoor seating puts you close to the river, and dogs are allowed outside.
This is a nice pick for a date night or a relaxed lunch after walking around downtown Southport. The atmosphere can be quiet and romantic, but it still has a fun streak.
Oliver’s is open 11 AM to 9 PM Monday through Saturday and 11 AM to 8 PM on Sunday. Reservations are recommended for brunch and dinner, especially on Saturdays and Sunday afternoons.
7. Elijah’s Oyster & Fish Camp, Wilmington, NC
Sunset on the Cape Fear River pairs very well with a crab cake. Elijah’s sits right on the Wilmington Riverwalk at 2 Ann St, and its waterfront deck is one of the better seats in town when the sky starts changing colors.
This longtime downtown spot has a relaxed feel with maritime decor. There is also a fireplace for cooler evenings.
The crab cakes are crab forward, with big chunks of meat and a flavorful sauce on the side. Some regulars come back for them again and again without ever opening the rest of the menu.
That would be a small shame, though. Crab dip, crab stuffed shrimp, Cape Fear Stuffed Shrimp, and snow crab legs all keep the crab theme going, while Fresh Local Oysters, Roasted Oysters, and Oysters Rockefeller show off the oyster side of the name.
Other picks include Blackened Mahi on Linguine, Fish and Chips, Shrimp and Grits, and shrimp cheese bread. Carolina Chowder is a comforting starter on a breezy day.
Hours are 11:30 AM to 9 PM Sunday through Thursday and until 10 PM on Friday and Saturday. Reservations are accepted, and Saturday is the busiest day.
Dogs are welcome, which makes this an easy stop after a Riverwalk stroll with your four-legged friend.
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