Darrell's Seafood Restaurant is located in Manteo, NC on Roanoke Island. Operated by the Daniels family for more than five decades, Darrell's is a family-style seafood restaurant that's been a favorite since 1960. Seafood is our specialty; the fried oysters are widely regarded as the best around, served with the traditional fixings of coleslaw, French fries and hush puppies.
But there's much more. Darrell's has a wood-fired grill for barbecue and many other options for the land lovers. Both a children's menu and lighter fare options are also available. Darrell's helpings are generous - you won't leave hungry, and our desserts are homemade and delicious! Be sure to save a little room.
But there's much more. Darrell's has a wood-fired grill for barbecue and many other options for the land lovers. Both a children's menu and lighter fare options are also available. Darrell's helpings are generous - you won't leave hungry, and our desserts are homemade and delicious! Be sure to save a little room.
Services
From a modest beginning in 1960, Darrell's Seafood Restaurant has emerged as one of the more popular facilities with a growing need and dependable source of palate-pleasers. Darrell and Dora Daniels founded the business as Polar Bear Drive-In, an accessible place for a growing and consuming satisfied public.
Roanoke Island's history is legendary. Long before Jamestown and Plymouth were settled, the island played host to the first English-speaking colonists in America. In 1584, an English fort and settlement with more than 100 men was established on the north end of the island, but it was abandoned the following year due to weather, lack of supplies and poor relations with the Native Americans.
Darrell's is a family-style seafood restaurant that's been a favorite on Roanoke Island since 1960. Seafood is the definite specialty; the fried oysters are widely touted as the best anywhere, served with the traditional fixings of cole slaw, French fries and hush puppies. Locals know that Darrell's does seafood right.
Reviews (26)
Mark K.
Jan 22, 2022
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Darrell's was a very nice find for lunch on the main drag in Manteo. It is housed in an unpretentious, folksy building that projects the idea of a hometown restaurant where the locals gather. This might essentially be the case, though they bill themselves as a seafood restaurant.
Inside we found a nice homey decor that tended toward a maritime theme. The dining room was divided into three sections. The compartmentalization and the low(-ish) ceiling gave this place a comfortable, cozy feel.
We were seated right away and our server was rather quick in getting to us. She did a good job during
Inside we found a nice homey decor that tended toward a maritime theme. The dining room was divided into three sections. The compartmentalization and the low(-ish) ceiling gave this place a comfortable, cozy feel.
We were seated right away and our server was rather quick in getting to us. She did a good job during
Mel MacLachlan
Jan 10, 2022
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Gary M.
Jan 07, 2022
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I dined here once for breakfast and once for dinner. Breakfast service was iffy. We waited longer than you would expect to receive a menu, then it was a longer wait for the waitress to come to take the order. While the food was very good, we once again felt ignored when it was time for the check. Dinner service was better. The quality of the food was about average: no real complaints but nothing spectacular, either.
David T.
Dec 21, 2021
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I'm allergic to seafood and I couldn't stay away from here. I never did try lunch or dinner, but I can easily say this is the best breakfast on the island. Tried a few different things over a few days, and the 4 other people I was with all had the same impression as me. Every single thing was delicious and staff was very friendly. Cannot wait to go back!
Elisabeth Fairchild
Dec 15, 2021
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To start with, our server was amazing, this review does not reflect the level of service! The two star is because the food was extremely lackluster, especially for the price. We ordered the she crab soup, which unfortunately was some of the worst I’ve ever had, and also came out cold the first time (our server was great and took it off the bill, which is good because the bowl is $13 dollars). We also ordered fish, shrimp, and fries. The fries were cold and the fish was bland (kinda tasted like frozen fish and was dry and tough), however the shrimp was decent. It would be a great place if the
Victoria Perry
Dec 15, 2021
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Shauna Morrison
Nov 23, 2021
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Patricia Jackson-Frisby
Oct 30, 2021
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K. X.
Oct 24, 2021
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The best food in Manteo plus awesome service everytime. The hush puppies are cooked to perfection. The offer broil option instead of just fry seafood here which I prefer. It's much healthier. Their deserts are not overly sweet just enough to satisfy your sweet tooth. Get the pumpkin cheesecake while it's in season before it's gone. The onion rings are great definitely give it a try. This is our go to place in Manteo every time we come to town. There is a reason they have been here for 60+ years. More parking in the back of the building.
I read a review on racial profiling by the manager here.
I read a review on racial profiling by the manager here.
Mary G.
Oct 22, 2021
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Chad M.
Oct 16, 2021
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We recently visited the OBX and my family wanted some seafood. They seemed to enjoy their food and the portions were pretty good. I found $84 for three meals to be expensive, but I don't eat seafood a lot.
I would expect to have my fries to not be soggy and gross. Everything else was pretty good. They were pretty quick on the food and the staff were wearing masks. I would eat there again, as I, by myself order popcorn shrimp, so it is pretty normal pricing.
I would expect to have my fries to not be soggy and gross. Everything else was pretty good. They were pretty quick on the food and the staff were wearing masks. I would eat there again, as I, by myself order popcorn shrimp, so it is pretty normal pricing.
Barbara T.
Oct 08, 2021
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This was the best food we ate on our stay in the Outer Banks. I had fried oysters with potato salad and green beans- perfect. My husband had the boiled drum special. He agrees that this was the best meal of our trip. It's not a fancy place but you can tell it's good by all the local people enjoying a meal.
Dan Morris
Sep 27, 2021
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Austin Y.
Sep 17, 2021
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Joshua G. Tan
Aug 27, 2021
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Visited this restaurant after enjoying the local aquarium nearby. In short, the food was nice, but nothing too extraordinary. Ambience was mild and somewhat relaxing, and we had an attentive waitress who took our order and brought food out in a timely fashion. However, the reason I am leaving 2 stars is because of the immediate curt and nearly demeaning attitude me and my fiancé were shown by the women at the front upon arrival. She seemed to be the manager, yet looked as though she wanted us anywhere but in the restaurant. No smiles, lack of eye contact, and dismissive energy while leading us
Rebecca M.
Aug 27, 2021
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Quaint restaurant. With an 8 top, we walked in with no wait which was nice and unexpected. They were completely out of crab which was disappointing, but they did have plenty of other options to choose from. I will say that the platters that included fried food were not very good. There was just something with the fried taste that was really off. My sister actually said she got an upset stomach after eating hers, which is always a bummer! Also, for any northerners going to the outer banks, new England clam chowder is NOT the same as the clam chowder served here, I wish I would have known that!
Brianna S.
Aug 22, 2021
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Not a bad little place to stop. We came early and there wasn't a crowd. Server was very attentive, polite & professional. Restaurant appeared clean. Only drawback was they were out of crabmeat. They said it was due to very high prices. The shrimp I ordered was yummy and everyone else liked their food. Very understandable. Would visit this place again.
Jonathan Carson
Aug 19, 2021
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Ended up eating at Darrell’s THREE times in one week. Call me crazy or call me a glutton, but their food was fantastic! I like to consider myself both a cat and dog person and this was only further solidified in my enjoyment of their fried catfish and hush puppies. Absolutely delicious! The second time there I had the buffalo shrimp (spicy but not too spicy) and the third time I had the fried fish sandwich. Also we love the silly fish on the logo who looks like he has had one too many! Too funny.
Tai Sanders
Jul 12, 2021
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Looking for some down home southern cooking, well this is place, from sea food to down bbq. They have it all. Appetizers a plenty. We had the hush puppies and onion rings. If you I suggest ordering additional hush puppies they are that good. Very family and kid friendly. Will definitely be back. Lots more to try.
Melanie G.
Jul 06, 2021
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Grogory T.
Jun 26, 2021
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Timothy W.
Jun 25, 2021
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One of the best lunches that we have had on our family vacation. This was a suggestion on the limb. Very reasonable priced for the portion of food. I had the fried oysters and the kiddos had popcorn shrimp. My wife had the bbq and we had one of the friendliest waitresses we have ever had at a restaurant. Wish we would have got her name to share with everyone. Fed a family of four under $60.
Andrea Martin
Jun 15, 2021
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Came here for Saturday breakfast on the way off of the island- the pancakes tasted like they were cooked on the same griddle as onions and other vegetables and the most of the Biscuit Benigets came out raw in the middle which was sad because the cooked ones were good. It’s your average breakfast spot that is a little less than average.
Stacy H.
Jun 13, 2021
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After a day at the Aquarium & Alligator Wildlife reserve in Manteo, we were looking for some food. This place has been in business since 1960. The she crab soup is delicious. Soft shell crab sandwiches are excellent. Good hush puppies & onion rings. Plenty of parking and good service. The dessert looked fabulous but to full to try it. I would definitely stop by again next time in Manteo.
Dee Y.
Mar 21, 2021
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Picked up lunch here after a visit to the aquarium. Customer service was great! Ordered pick two -fried shrimp and crab cake with mash potatoes/gravy and green beans and my mom ordered fried flounder with spiced apples and mac-n-cheese. Overall good was just ok. Shrimp could use seasoning and mac-n-cheese was was the non baked kind. However, my mom really enjoyed the apples and fried flounder. Portion size were small but enough for lunch.
Sarah E.
Sep 01, 2020
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Our first seafood lunch in OBX and what a disappointment. The bright spots were my son's broiled scallops and my husband broiled shrimp. The crab balls seemed OK but I have nothing to compare them to so I'll put that in the good category. Also points for their cocktail and Tartar sauces - both were really on point.
The not so great part: I had fried clams that were inedibly chewy and fried oysters that seemed to be all breading. Everyone's fries had definitely been sitting around for a while. My husband commented that both his scallops and shrimp was overcooked. Hush puppies
The not so great part: I had fried clams that were inedibly chewy and fried oysters that seemed to be all breading. Everyone's fries had definitely been sitting around for a while. My husband commented that both his scallops and shrimp was overcooked. Hush puppies
