Dining Out on the Outer Banks: Sandbar and Grille, Buxton, NC

After a day spent exploring Cape Hatteras including the famous lighthouse, we were ready for a great dinner.  Speaking of the lighthouse, I'll be writing some blog posts and sharing some pictures of all five of the lighthouses in the next week or so.  

We chose the Sandbar and Grille which is enjoying their 22nd season in business.  We arrived around 6:30 or so and the parking lot was full.  The overflow parking lot was full.  I know many people who say they won't wait at restaurants because there are other choices.  BUT, we were on vacation, had nowhere else to be, and we knew their deck would allow a breathtaking sunset.  We were correct!

We were warmly greeted and welcomed which was nice after our not so pleasant entrance into that other Buxton restaurant I blogged about previously.  We found two stools at the bar and enjoyed people watching, a delicious top-shelf margarita that was generously poured (AND garnished with blue salt) along with a top-shelf Long Island.  We were perfectly content to wait our turn for a table.

I really liked this guy!

After we were seated at a lovely window table that allowed us to enjoy the view of the water, Sweet Harold realized it was time to get those sunset photos!  Isn't that amazing?  

Jenny our server was a very busy lady, but never made us feel rushed. She had several tables to serve but was gracious, friendly, and extremely welcoming.  We asked her opinion on several of the menu items and chose the blackened scallops with a pineapple/jalapeno salsa as our appetizer.

The scallops were perfectly cooked.  Of course, they had some heat because of the seasoned.  Extremely tender and not a bit of that rubbery text you can get when they are improperly cooked.  The salsa was a nice cooling extra against the blackening seasoning.  A lovely presentation as well.

I chose a half-pound of steamed shrimp and drawn butter with a side dish of green beans.  The shrimp were steamed perfectly with no "mushy" ones in the bunch.  The green beans were tender and seasoned well.

An extremely fresh side salad with house-made Italian dressing was also served with my meal. I would be remiss if I didn't give this salad its due.  It was beautifully plated, served cold and crisp, and the dressing was extremely flavorful with garlic and herbs.  

We all know Sweet Harold and his fried shrimp and flounder obsession.  Of course, he chose the fried shrimp dinner.  His choices for sides?  Y'all should really know by now!  lol 

The potatoes were served hot and still had those "homemade" little lumps in there and that he adores!  I'm encouraging him to write his own blog post comparing and contrasting all the different slaws he tried.

Doesn't he look happy?

We thought we were too full for dessert so we ordered a peanut butter cup cheesecake to go.  When Jenny brought it to our table, I opened the box to take a picture and then we both picked up our forks.  It was INHALED immediately.  My apologies to the pastry chef who made this masterpiece.  I've regretted that I don't have a better picture that would do this amazing dessert justice. 

We compiled a "Best Of" List of our dining experiences on the OBX.  I'm proud to say that Sandbar and Grille made the list in the following categories:

Best Steamed Shrimp
Best Coleslaw
Best Mashed Potatoes
Best Dessert
Best View
Honorable Mention for Best Cocktails and Best Salad

Server Jenny, Thank You!

Our score 10/10.....based on SERVICE, atmosphere, food quality, and taste, and just all around nice people.