Oceanas Bistro

Service was great, don’t get me wrong. However, the food was way below expectations. They took it off the bill, but I order a medium rare prime rib with a side of mashed potatoes. I cut into it to take a bite, only was the prime rib well done and they took my dish back to “fix it” but they returned the same exact prime rib with the cut into it and potentially cooked it even more. The mash potatoes were also ice cold. If you want to go for drinks it’s a fun place for it, but food simply was not good.

We love Oceanas, everything you eat from there is incredible from shrimp to tacos and the mango salsa is incredible. We love all our waiters and waitresses but they have a gem in Amy. You couldn't ask for a sweeter, attentive waitress who knows you when you walk in. Highly recommend!!

Spent about a week in Avon -- I think my boyfriend and I made a stop here almost every day! Nice place to grab a couple beers and we've tried several food items on the menu. Favorites were the clam chowder, hush puppies, fresh shrimp (really any shrimp item), and seared tuna. The bartenders were also super friendly and attentive. Thank you guys!

So I was pretty hungry after a day on the beach we swang by. First off its very noisy restaurant and it wasn't that full the food was very good lobster bisque one of the best I've ever had. I had the Mahi and shrimp also delicious the reason for the four star right off the bat I hair in my mac and cheese some people would have left no one star. I'm a big boy just pulled it out and ate the mac and cheese anyway which was still very good.

My husband and I just wrapped up a trip to the Outer Banks. During a day exploring Hatteras Island, we decided to grab a late lunch at Oceanas, and it turned out to be a real highlight. The place has a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere, which was perfect. What stood out was the menu. As a vegetarian, I often find limited choices, but Oceanas had a good variety of appealing options for me. The food itself was delicious. My veggie quesadilla was fantastic, and my husband enjoyed his crab cake Reuben. Everything we ordered (drinks and food) was well-prepared and tasty. Our server was also very kind and helpful. Oceanas was our favorite restaurant from this trip. If you're on Hatteras, it's worth a stop!

7/5/25 update, returned and had a great lunch! Our server was Laura and she was great to work out party of 5, we had 2 birthday ladies and one retirement guy we were celebrating. The seafood nachos app was a meal in it's self!! Also the Mahi fish bites were great (light breading). We had crab cake reuben sandwich and pulled pork sandwiches and fried platter with mahi and fried oysters and a mahi sandwich. Everything tasted good and all parties were happy. Our server was Savannah, she was great. We had our dog and was able to have on outside porch (on a leash). Had the blackened mahi sandwich with home made potato chips,. Very good size/taste and price. Also we had the oyster sandwich which was very stuffed with Fred oysters. Will definitely go again for other plates

We (me, my husband, and friends) visited this restaurant while on a trip to Avon NC to celebrate our friend birthday and retirement. The restaurant was nice and clean, and I can always appreciate a clean restroom. The wait time to be seated was minimal. Drinks were ok. When we asked our waited what seafood she liked or would recommend, her reply was “I don’t eat seafood”, and although that was an honest answer and appreciated, perhaps she could have followed up by saying letting me go grab one of the other waiters and see what recommendations they may have (after all it is a seafood restaurant). I will blame myself for this next comment, because I was told many years ago, whatever restaurant you choose to visit be sure you order whatever they specialize in. Well, I got the jerk chicken wherein I was highly disappointed. The color was wrong (jerk chicken/Caribbean chicken usually has a very dark appearance as it is rich in spices) and it is usually quite succulent, wherein this chicken was quite dry. Then to top it off the mango salsa was disgusting. Mango salsa is usually sweet, spicy, and the veggies are somewhat firm. This salsa was mushy and had more of a pickle taste to it. The onion rings and broccoli was ok. I didn't want to make a fuss since it was my friends birthday, so the second picture is me changing the dish to make it edible the next day. My husband and my friends were pleased with their meals; they all ordered seafood. I did thoroughly enjoy the bang bang shrimp we had as an appetizer.

All 4 stars. Food was okay, not the best but filling. Staff were pleasant and restaurant was clean and well maintained.

We were renting a beach house in Avon for Christmas 2024. On two nights, we had dinner at Oceanas -- once with five people and another time with 10. Each time were greeted in a friendly, welcoming manner and were seated quickly. Both times, the restaurant was more or less full, even though this obviously the off-season on Hatteras Island. Service was friendly and efficient. The noise level was fairly high, but we could still talk to each other. We had many different items on the menu, which for a small place was fairly extensive, with a section of fried and grilled seafood entrees, seafood baskets, pasta entrees and sandwiches and burgers. I thought that the best deal was the seafood baskets -- fried shrimp or fried oysters with French fries (very large ones) or coleslaw. These were $15 while most entrees were around $30. Several of us had beers (mostly $6 or $7) or wine. One night my partner and I each got a fried basket, one shrimp and one oysters and split them. They were nicely fried, with not too much breading, and very satisfying. My question were why the only fish on the menu was mahi-mahi, which I understand to be mostly a warm--water fish, and why there were no clams on the men, other than clam chowder I would have liked to have tried the clams and a local catch of the day. Oceanas is one of the few restaurants open in winter around Avon. We've eaten there before, and we still like the food and atmosphere and would go back again.

Tasty, fit for a special occasion or everyday type meal. We make a tradition of taking out former realtor here for a treat. I had the Seafood Platter of grilled Mahi Mahi and fried oysters. It was all very good, though the oysters were quite salty. They provide a lemon wedge, definitely recommended. I got the sautéed veggies and mashed potatoes which were perfect. Yum. My friend got the shrimp scampi, surprisingly creamy. It was all very good.

Busiest restaurant on the strip so we stopped in for a quick bite. The fried shrimp was excellent but the tasteless cole slaw was just sad. The fish and chips (cod) is also a good choice. Aside from being forced to eat in the bar, the service was fast, food was good. Nice outdoor seating area. Inside is blah but the bar was where all the action was. Would go back for more fried shrimp any day of the week!

Ordered the fried oysters with cole slaw and broccoli. Everything was freshly made and delicious. The server was very attentive.

This is probably my favorite restaurant in Avon. We come back every year for their seafood nachos - they just can't be beat. I like getting them for an entree so I have leftovers. Service is always fast and friendly. Great atmosphere and cool decor. Bar area is laid back. TVs with sports on. Their shrimp, Mac and cheese, and slaw is also great. 10/10!!!

Great sized restaurant with friendly and fast staff and good food. Football was on the TVs but not obnoxious.

The food and service was amazing. Bar on one side and eating area on the other. Was cute and cozy.

We stopped in for lunch because we were in the mood for some seafood and gluten free options. The prices were affordable online and the menu selection seemed promising. When we arrived, the dining room was decorated with mermaid decor and it had a very beachy, retro feel. There was a board listing daily specials and plenty of options on the menu. I gravitated directly toward the mahi sandwich. Mahi isn't a regular menu selection at home, so I had to have it. They also offered gluten free buns so the meal would be complete. The food came quickly and our server was very attentive, but let me tell you the best part. Omg, that mahi sandwich was amazing! The red pepper aioli that's served on the side was delicious. I also added that nice squeeze of lemon! Perfection! I loved the potato wedges because who doesn't love those?! My food was so good that I kept raving about it on the drive afterwards. I was full and so happy. Please pay them a visit!

Our group came here for our 1 nite out & enjoyed it. Food was good. Apps: Mahi mahi bites & Fried Green Tomatoes. Bites were very good and Tomatoes were small but plentiful. Tuna Tacos were the best. Burger was good. Fried Ousters were very good. Steak n cheese was good but pricey for value. Grilled was unique and delicious. Nice laid back vibe but service was a little slow & not friendliest. We all have bad days. Thanks for a good meal.

This place is a must try when you're visiting! You get friendly service & the food is delicious! We ordered the blackened mahi mahi bites & open-faced crabmeat quesadilla! Every bite was so good!

Food was great. The crabmeat Benedict - crab had a good flavor, hollandaise sauce was on point- over easy eggs made it a Benedict to write about. The Bloody Mary was a homemade bloody Mary mix and was a welcome change from the typical zing zang drinks. Strong horseradish flavor gave a great kick. Mimosa was your typical mimosa- which never disappoints. Jake was our server and he was very attentive and responsive. More than happy to bring anything. He was present but not TOO present. He was very polite and respectful. We went in for breakfast and there were a few couples/families in as well. Dining area was quiet and clean - the adjoining bar had a patron or two who seemed to be catching up with old friends. In general great experience- would love to go back for the dinner menu.

My wife and I went here for dinner. I had blackened Mahi Mahi and she had Tuna tacos. I do not usually provide here say opinions but my wife has been raving about the tuna tacos. She said they are to die for. The Mahi Mahi was very good. The only small complaint is it really was not too blackened and could have had more blackening seasoning. I am picky about my fish and it can't be too "fishy." In this case it was fine and the tarter sauce was good. The service was top notch and the server was very friendly. We had a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc which was very fruit forward and went great with seafood, The bottom line is this is a great example of outer banks cuisine and I recommend it for a nice romantic evening.

Firstly - our server was wonderful! It has a cool beach fish joint feel. We had a couple deserts, key lime pie and funnel cake fries. Fun looking bar area and good craft beer selection. Had a small misunderstanding - we thought they said dogs were ok on the deck, so we came back 2 days later with mom and the dog, and they said that dogs aren't allowed at all - which was disappointing. I would give 3.5 if I could; maybe good for others without pets or young ones.

2nd time attending. The food was fabulous. High quality meal. Our server was friendly and attentive. Only complication was the long wait time. We arrived at 5:45 (busy dinner hour) and were not seated until about 6:30. For a party of 8 this is expected but the inside is very small. If you want food fast, I would suggest sitting at the bar. Good pina coladas!!

Fish and chips was good Caribbean grilled chicken quesadilla was good the drinks margaritas was undrinkable my husband asked for a little more tequila in his thinking that would help nope changed $11.00 for a shot and he only got half of his margarita down and could not drink no more I took one little sip of mine that's it they was so bad said something he said no one has ever complained so have to charge you for them so $22.00 in drinks that was never drank. food was ok staff was just ok never come back to refill our water or nothing

Wow. We have been here in Avon all week on vacation. Came here tonight for the first time. Excellent food. Definitely one of our favorites. It's a small quaint environment. Service was good. Just an all around great experience. We will remember to come back next year when we return. Thank you.

This was a small and tight place with a bar that occupied the left side of the restaurant. The right side upon entering was where the dining room was. The menu was extremely large with a few specials as well. The food came out very fast while the service was friendly. They also had daily deals depending on the day of the week. For starters, the mahi mahi bites ($12), hush puppies (6 for $3), and wings ($7.50 for 10 special) were ordered. The bites came with a roasted red pepper tartar sauce. The red pepper tartar sauce was a different touch and went well with the bites. There were generous pieces of fish inside the bites. The honey pepper and BBQ sauces were chosen for the wings. The wings as a whole were large with plenty of meat. The honey pepper sauce was a little plain, but the BBQ sauce was great. The hush puppies were crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, very standard and tasty. For an entrée, I had the blackened grouper special ($28?). It came with 2 sides. I opted for the sautéed vegetables and broccoli. The grouper was not really blackened and came with a cream sauce. The cream sauce was an odd choice to be used with grouper, but it was okay. There was plenty of vegetables and broccoli. They were cooked nicely. I also tried the grilled flounder. It was dry and contained lots of bones, very disappointing. The crab cake was another item I tried and these were not bad. There was plenty of crab present and the red pepper tartar helped the overall dish. Will I go back? Probably.

Not only was this spot open in March, it was phenomenal. Seared tuna starter, hush puppies, tacos, scallops, and an extra salty marg. If it wasn't already my birthday, I'd think it was due to the quality of this meal. Bravo! OBX isn't completely shut down during off season after all. 10/10. Bonus- we walked here from our rental!

This was a great choice for dinner and everyone said their dinner was delicious. The food was brought out in a timely manner and service was top notch. Definitely coming back as this was a very good restaurant in Avon.

We really like this place. The food was good and the drinks were amazing. The place was clean and the service was top notch.

Stopped in while on vacation. Food was delicious, staff was incredible. LOVE their vibe.

We chose to visit Oceana's because the menu seemed to be the most diverse and appealing of any other restaurant in the Avon and Rodanthe areas. We visited on Tuesday for a later dinner (8pm) with a party of 6. We did not have to wait for a table. None of us are seafood lovers. We ordered the pretzel bites for appetizers. They arrived hot and the cheese sauce was good. For dinner, we had prime rib, chicken alfredo, jerk chicken, and 2 kids meals. All were cooked to perfection and very delicious.

The food was okay, just regular breakfast food. I got the breakfast bowl & it was decent but a little flavorless. You can tell the home fries are frozen & not made in house. Juice is $4, same for a small cup of coffee which I found to be overpriced considering there's no free refills. Our service was good & the outdoor seating is lovely. It was an easy quick breakfast stop but nothing more.

Well this used to be one of my favorite places to grab a quick fish sandwich but I went there for dinner last night and I can't believe my eyes. My girlfriend's shrimp was overcooked and she didn't like them. I ordered a fried mahi mahi sandwich and it was thinner than a smash burger. We also got the pretzel bites and it was pretty much $1 each pretzel bite you saw the pretzel roll across the basket as the waitress was setting it on the table at least make the presentation look a little bit better. The hostess also had booty shorts on with her cheeks hanging out and don't plan on getting a refill.

We live Nags Head and we're out for a ride in our slingshot when we came upon this place. We had been here before but it was so busy that we opted for another place. Big mistake but another story. This is a nice place with outdoor seating. S Our server was quick to take our order. My wife ordered the Spinach Salad and I ordered the Blackened Mahi Tacos. Salad was fresh and plentiful which my wife said that it tasted great. The tacos were absolutely delicious and packed with fish and mango. I could only eat 1 and a half comfortably. Service was exceptional and fast. Everything was 5 stars and I don't give 5 star ratings often. We will be back and if they are busy we will wait in line because they are worth the wait

Crab Cakes with fried & vegetable of the day-sautéed squash w/ red onion & colored peppers. The piece de resistance -- good sized pair of crab cakes, fabulously tasty even without the accompanying cold Rémoulade. Fried Oyster Basket with a side of fried onion rings Delicious House Side Salad with Caesar dressing. Miss the old menu but this was a fantastic dinner!

We have been here twice on this visit. Once for just a bite to eat (snacky app) and drinks to tide us over until dinner. And again the next day for lunch. Both times the staff was great! The food was really good. Fresh, seasonal of course, and soooo delicious!! He has the Mahi bites, blackened. I had the sesame tuna. Both were prepared just right. We will definitely be back!

Popped in for lunch during the shoulder season en route from Ocracoke. Friendly service and inexpensive food. Overall food was fine, but not memorable (not all food has to be). It was Taco Tuesday so they had simple, homemade tacos for $1 each (minimum order is 3 tacos). I followed this with Blackened Mahi Tacos which were good. Usually they have pineapple mixed in, but today it was mango.

Stopped by this restaurant for lunch on a Tuesday on the way to Ocracoke, it's such a disappointment. I ordered the clam chowder cup, it filled with large chunks of potatoes so you barely get any other things out of the soup. And I had fish and chips that's probably the worst ever, it came in three fish fingers and chips from a bag. It's more like from a kids menu for $14

Great spot for breakfast! We were so excited to find this place! It looked so crowded but when we pulled up, one of my sons ran up to see what the wait was and there was no wait! Yay!!! So we all pile out because we're all hungry and what else is new! There's plenty of room and we're seated immediately. Already I'm liking this place. I smell fresh coffee brewing but their cappuccino machine isn't up. So coffee it is. It's fresh and hot, so I'm happy. Plenty to order so let's see what we have. Biscuits and gravy, French toast, pancakes... and good drink selection, too! Lastly, any place that brings the bill with Hershey kisses is the best!

First time diners during prime season Went with first time dinners overall Greeted promptly & pleasantly Able to be seated within a few moments The waitress was nice, sociable, knowledgeable and spot on for the whole meal We started with the hush puppies (dark, slightly overdone) but enjoyable Meal orders were the club sandwich, shrimp & scallops, mahi sandwich and the star of the show ...the crab griller I ordered the fish sandwich, it was delicious, but I have to admit I had griller envy! Everyone left satisfied and announcing "it was the best meal we had while on the island":

Best food I've had on the Outer Banks. Our server was friendly and got our drinks right away. The pan seared tuna was great and came with ginger and wasabi. The French fries were excellent and the coleslaw was really good.

The food was so good, I got the crab cake Rueben 10/10 for appetizers we got the fried pickles, old bay chips, hush puppies and the bang bang shrimp. The service was great I wish I got her name, our family went last year and we were so happy to have gone. Best food in the island.

Great seafood tacos. Friendly staff. Nice laidback atmosphere! Family friendly and you always feel welcome and appreciated. It is our "go to" place in Avon!

Food is great but the attitude of the servers is not the best. Maybe it's due to the volume of the customers and they are overwhelmed with constant orders and needs of different clients. 3 nice meals with non-alcoholic drinks : 85$ without tips.

Do not come here. Prime rib was cold, and when asked to recook they microwaved the same steak. Shrimp sandwich was super mushy and gross. The shrimp was either over cooked or super mushy. A few people at our party of twelve got food poisoning. The waitress seemed to not care at all about anything and she did not give off a good vibe. The wait wasn't too long but the food was terrible. I do not recommend.

Well this was our favorite place, so sad. Couldn't wait to go for dinner. Their hush puppies WERE the best.. now they are frozen garbage. Service was terrible. Fish bites were nasty as well. What a disappointment from past years. It's not even full swing in season and they were terrible. We won't be back.

In all the years I've been coming here I have never stopped to Oceanas Bistro, and I'm really glad we did this year. Covid 19 review : This restaurant has taken awesome measures to ensure customers are safe. Once you arrive; the hostess station is located outside. We didn't request to sit outside but I'm really glad that's where we we're seated. The menu is available by scanning on your phone. Tables outside were huge, which I loved. In addition to the tables being giant to they were spread out from others (I would say even more than 6 ft) At no point throughout our dinner did I see a single employee without a mask on. They even wore them properly! Condiments were served single to avoid germs. After going to another local restaurant and seeing how awful they were handling covid, I would highly recommend coming to Oceana's if you're someone concerned with Covid (which you should be) Ok now the food: Huge menu selection; very affordable prices; food came out quickly and was very very tasty! Also happy with the portion size. Will most definitely come back next year!

Excellent food, excellent staff, and excellent atmosphere! My trips to the OBX are never truly complete until I visit Oceanas Bistro. I want to give a special shoutout to Laura. She's always smiling and very welcoming. I love this place!

Go here if you want to be treated like garbage. Walked in and waited patiently in line to be seated. Finally able to choose an outside table. We were asked by the waiter to move for the next large party coming in, we obliged. After moving to a table in direct sunlight we were never served. Set a timer on my phone waiting for service to come. The party we moved for already had drinks coming to them as we were leaving. As well as a couple seated 15 minutes after us were being waited on. We were completely ghosted by the staff.

Blackened Mahi Tacos were awesome! Great fresh place on Hatteras Island. Service was great, highly recommend for families.

Fantastic bar with excellent service. Best wings I've ever eaten. Food Service and Atmosphere were fantastic!

This place used to be really good. I ordered a shrimp poe boy wich says it comes drizzled with bistro sauce....which apparently is tarter sauce...litterally a shrimp sandwich with tarter sauce. Not impressed we used to go at least 1 time a year. no more.

First, we are so grateful that they were open. We visited On January 6, 2022. We drove around for an hour before we found this place. Everyone was friendly and we felt at home at once. I ordered the Snow Crab legs and coke slaw. Both were great. My husband ordered the King Prime Rib and ate it all. Will be going back tomorrow night for dinner.

This place has a decent sized menu. We had a party of 9. All of our meals were fairly good. The shrimp Alfredo actually was very good, as were the hush puppies. Everything else was good, but nothing special. The service was just a notch above inadequate, and we were charged for an extra drink.

From the moment you walk into the moment you leave you feel like family. We haven't had a bad meal here ever. From the hush puppy appetizers to the mermaid drink and the seafood tacos everything is good here. Come with a smile, and leave with a smile and a full belly. whether you live here or you're just visiting this needs to be a stop on your trip.

Great food, service, and house tartar sauce. They don't boast an entirely massive menu by any means, however, everything they do offer is sure to be good.

Went with a large party and the service was great. Would recommend the food is good, no complaints.

Solid, although not particularly adventurous, food with a beach ambience. Service was pleasant and the restaurant was active. We were a party of seven and tried a number of different things including the Greek salad with tuna, spinach salad with tuna, tacos, New York sirloin, scallops, and the salmon. Overall, most of us thought that the food needed more texture and flavor. It was fairly bland. But there probably are not a huge number of options in Avon so you take what you can get.