Outer Banks Family Restaurants

This upscale seafood restaurant, overlooking Currituck Sound, boasts a lively interior and bright decor, which make it a great choice for a nice family dinner out. The menu is heavily focused on local seafood, done in local southern style. Dishes include crab soup, sweet chili-glazed Louisiana shrimp and southern-style cornmeal-fried catfish. They are open year-round for those who want to enjoy the quiet coast in winter.

Owners Eddie and Lou Miller met in the Outer Banks when they were teenagers and then opened up this family restaurant in 1978 after they were married. It's long been a favorite stop for vacationers who want a good, filling meal in a family-friendly atmosphere. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the restaurant offers classic southern and beach favorites like hushpuppies, hot crab dip, fried mozzarella sticks and steamed shrimp. Of course they also have a children's menu, although their whole menu is already very child-friendly.

If you want to eat out, get some local seafood and ensure that the little ones are entertained throughout so that you can actually eat, this is your place. Right on the waterfront, featuring nightly "walking the plank" gags, Pimlico Jack's is a pirate-themed restaurant with an "adult edge" that Mom, Dad and the kids can enjoy. The menu is full of fresh local seafood specials and also offers a "little pirates" menu with palate-pleasers for the pickiest diners.

A seasonal restaurant that's open March through November, The Captain's Table is a local favorite, known for its baby-back ribs, homemade soups and pastas, and a kid's favorite -- milkshakes. The Captain's Table features a children's menu and senior options if you are traveling with an extended family. Be sure to check out the local seafood -- visitors rave that it's the freshest around.