O’Neals Sea Harvest is how I imagine all beach front restaurants should be! Fresh, delicious, and simple. Make sure to stop at this beloved local joint in Outer Banks.
When we go on vacation, we want to eat like the locals eat. Sometimes this means going off the beaten path to get a delicious meal. O’Neals Sea Harvest fulfills all these characteristics and more.
Located in the Wanchese Harbor in Outer Banks, this family owned and operator spot is part restaurant, parter seafood wholesaler and is definitely a place you need to visit.
O’Neals was a little bit far from our beach house so we only went one day for lunch but I probably could have eaten here every day of vacation. Not only do they have daily specials depending on what they caught that morning, you can also get fresh fish to take home and cook!
Their prices rotate depending on season, availability, etc., but all the meals were about $6-$12 depending on side dishes. You can check out their standard menu here on their website.
O’Neals Hours and Location.
They are open Monday – Saturday from 10am-4pm and they have a full children’s menu. It was a super family friendly environment with kiddos at just about every table!
O’Neals is actually fairly close to the Roanoke Island Aquarium so you could just make a whole family day adventure with these two spots! Their address is 622 Harbor Rd. Wanchese, NC 27981.
This place was bustling, people buying fish and lunch and just all around enjoying themselves on a hot July day.
Being from Ohio, I’m always so impressed and in awe of spots that have fresh seafood that they legit pulled out of the ocean that morning. Trust me, we aren’t eating out of the Olentangy River here in Columbus.
Fresh fish is the best fish.
I’m pretty sure this guy knew I was taking his picture but I wanted to point out that you can literally see into their production area. Sorry fishmonger but thanks for the traceability to your fish!
When you walk in, you head over to the ordering area that hosts the menu and any of the fresh fish you’d like. They also have an area with spices and other merchandise that you can purchase.
After you check out, you grab a table and then wait for them to call your number over at the pick up area. I just love that this place isn’t flashy or looking to have the trendiest thing on their menu, it’s just solid, great food, with a welcoming atmosphere.
I got the special which was a lightly fried drum sandwich with all the fixings including a sauce that I wanted to bottle up and take home.
The way they fry fish in Outer Banks is just SO good, it’s light and crunchy but doesn’t over power the fish by any means. I firmly believe that all seafood should be fried in this manner.
I love a good side dish too. I opted for the potato salad which had the perfect about of mayo and mustard with a sprinkling of paprika for extra flavor. I’m literally drooling writing this right now.
Other side dishes include oysters, crab cakes, soft crab, okra, French fries, onion rings, cole slaw and a Caesar salad!
Last but not least, dessert! They just had a whole table of these flawless looking cake slices for under $4. We didn’t get any but that pineapple supreme was calling my name all day long.
Whenever you find yourself in the Outer Banks area, make sure you stop by O’Neals Sea Harvest for lunch!
If you need additional Outer Banks restaurant recommendations, we’ve got you covered.
- Biscuits N’ Porn. Don’t let the name fool, this place is delicious and worth the visit. It’s in a gas station and again, it’s delicious.
- Barrier Island Bagels. I think about these bagels constantly, I miss them so much.
- Bros Sandwich Shack. These sandwiches are worth the drive to Avon in the Outer Banks.
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