Sonny's Waterfront Restaurant

I had coffee and six eggs over hard with 2 pancakes. Their pancakes were big but I'm a big eater. The waitress was very nice and continued to check in on us so I'm grateful. The food was delicious and I'd eat here again. Hopefully before we go back home. I'd recommend this place. Be safe and enjoy the food.

Food was not very good. My hushpuppies and my friends blue crab chowder came out within 2 minutes after ordering. The hushpuppies and chowder were warm, not hot, and were not fresh. We ordered the fresh catch mahi blackened which was seasoned but pretty dry. The fried mahi had very little flavor and was extremely dry. The parmesan green beans were greasy with a strange textured parmesan cheese on top. The service wasn't good. The server only stopped a couple times. We will not be back.

The staff is cheerful and attentive. The price is inexpensive for breakfast. One of the few places that understand eggs over easy. Coffee is good. The choices of sides are grits and hash browns. I've been around for a long time and apparently they don't know the difference between hash browns and home fries. They serve burned home fries cooked with onions, burnt not browned. If I go back, I'll just have eggs and toast with sausage.

Great as always. I had the Hatteras Scramble and it was excellent 👌. Great service and the food comes out fast.

Good breakfast and lunch place near the ferry area. Seated fast. Relaxed atmosphere. Employees friendly. Service good. Food tasty, nice portions and made fresh, good, and tasty. 10/27/22 and 10/28/22 returned for the first time in several years. The Missus had a custom cheese, onion, and pepper omelet, and well seasoned, very tasty home fries (called hash browns here). I had the lump crab (loaded with crab!) and cheese omelet both mornings. It was probably the best omelet I've ever had. Lunch served here and hours are limited to 6:30am to 11am for breakfast. Up to 2:00pm for lunch. Then dinner until 9:00pm. Lots of locals go here. Seems you can't go wrong with this super good, homecooked meal diner/cafe.

This was our first visit to Sonny's and we made a return trip later in the week. Recommended by locals at the marina and backed up by other good reviews. We stopped for lunch due to limited options on a Monday but don't let that keep you, food was good, prices were reasonable and staff was friendly. Lunch menu was no extensive but dinner menu had more options. Not sure if this is a seasonal choice but there was still something for everyone.

I don’t usually give a 5 ⭐️ rating, but this place deserves it! My breakfast was perfect! I ordered the Hatteras Scramble and it came out perfect. My girlfriend ordered a cranberry mimosa and western omelette. Our plates were cleaned! Service was excellent and the atmosphere was pleasant and prices more than reasonable! We will be back!

Had dinner here with my daughter. The food was delicious. I had fried mahi with garlic,bacon mashed potatoes and coleslaw and it was so good and my daughter had poor boy's hamburger steak that was delicious as well. Will definitely come back next year.

Food was amazing! Staff was super kind. I lost my voice and they brought me a lozenge. 10/10 would come back. Thank you!

Great bang for your buck!!!!! Nice staff. Got in and out A recommended restaurant.

Ordered the take out here after coming from the ferry, wish we could have a chance to dine in, as it seems like the our take out food had smaller size than the dine-in version. We ordered kids burger, steam shrimp, two pastas (chicken and shrimp). Flavor is ok, however after the meal, wife and kids said they were still hungry, and complained about portion size.

My husband liked the Hatteras scramble but to me it was just an average breakfast place. I didn't enjoy the gravy. It taste like it come out of a can. Tea was good. Restaurant was clean. Service was great.

Good if you enjoy fried food. I asked and got my crab cakes broiled, which was better than my daughter's friend choice. This was decent for lunch but definitely not our first choice in OBX. The service was just "meh" as the servers acted like they were doing us a favor to take our food order. Pick another spot unless you're in the mood for fried, well, everything.

Our group was disappointed with the overall experience. Two had the scallops and loved them. But the ones that had fried shrimp and steamed crab were disappointed. The crab had an excellent flavor, but it was served with nut crackers instead of crab crackers. Owner said to use your hands, but didn't provide plastic gloves or wet wipes. So it was just an unpleasant experience and a lot was left behind in frustration. Shrimp wasn't anything special. We did hear the breakfast is really good, and we would give it a shot for that. Our server was really pleasant and got everything correct. When we visited there weren't towels in the women's room. Place seems a little run down and could use a good cleaning and update all around. I think if they worked on cleaning/updating/providing correct supplies for everything then they would do a lot better. Owner was very nice.

Excellent service and delicious food. Pleasant atmosphere. Wait staff and hostesses were kind and exceptionally efficient in seating and service.

Got the seafood platter. The fish was really good and fresh. The oyster platter was very good as well. The service was fast and friendly. The place reminds of the old time seafood restaurants that are always great and now hard to find. Will definitely eat here again!

A nice little restaurant. Service was good. Food was good but portions were a little small. Fried mahi was good, could be a little more fish. Shrimp burger was great. Definitely we'll be back.

Service was great, staff was very friendly. The crabcake sandwich was homemade and well worth it. This place just feels like home.

My husband and I have been vacationing in Avon every year for the past ten years. We like to try different places each trip but always end up at Sonny's for breakfast. Solid service and food.

The most amazing food! We were here for 5 days and 4 nights and we ate here for 4 meals, 2 breakfast and 2 suppers. Everything we had was delicious and they welcomed us even when they were closing. Thank you for being our trusted safe spot!

Great food atmosphere and service. Loved the seafood platter. The view was just the icing on the cake

We almost didn't go here because of some of the negative Yelp reviews, but we are so glad we did! It was amazing and exactly what we were looking for. Simple menu, insanely fast service, and delicious food. Prices and servings were very reasonable, especially compared to some of the other restaurants in the area. The vibe was very casual and perfect for tired travelers with a toddler. It honestly checked every box for us. We loved it so much we changed dinner plans on our last night to go back. Definitely recommend Sonny's! For those curious, things we tried were: shrimp, clam strips, onion rings, clam chowder, fries, mashed potatoes, hush puppies, chocolate mousse dessert, and the raspberry donut cheesecake. All delicious!

I love Sonny's. Great home cooking, fresh seafood and excellent prices. Don't miss this hometown favorite.

Good breakfast Great friendly service with smiles What a great group of employees

What a great, friendly diner this is! The food was delicious, large portions, friendly, efficient staff.

Excellent service, good food for the price. I had steamed shrimp and my husband had the seafood platter. Looks like a diner but would definitely recommend

Hidden gem! Many restaurants are closed on Monday's but we found this place in our travels. This spot is a locals favorite and many customers were on a first name basis with the wait staff. Claim strips were delicious. My husband had the Captains Platter with garlic mashed. Everything but the crab cake was tasty. Hush puppies were tasty (outside a little too crunchy for me) but the flavor was great. I was a little worried after I read other reviews but we will definitely be back!

Fantastic food! Quick and efficient service! Kaylee was extremely friendly and provided excellent service! Would eat every meal here if not out on the beach. great prices too!

Seems like everything closes at 9pm on Hatteras Island, so does Sonny's. We arrived at 8:40pm (sorry), but they were still nice to us. Great hush puppies that came free with the meal. I had the stuffed flounder--stuffed full of crab imperial. It was pretty rich, but balanced with my sides being a side salad. GREAT salad, so much more than what you might expect. No iceberg here. My co-diner had grilled mahi-mahi southwest style and also enjoyed it. Restaurant was nicely decorated with a fishy theme, clean and being cleaned while we were there, and spacious.

Our experience at Sonny's was fairly average - it is a casual place to stop by for lunch that has a range of seafood choices. The service was good, we didn't wait too long for our food. There are lots of choices for fried seafood including fish and shrimp. Most entrees come with sides. We got french fries, which were tasty! For dessert, we ordered key lime pie which was quite sweet but still enjoyable and tart. One aspect which we were disappointed in is that the restaurant isn't really waterfront in the sense that the water is not visible from the inside of the restaurant. There are some nicer restaurants in the area that do actually offer water views.

Love Sonny's Breakfast. Lots of food and fast, good service. We've gotten breakfast every morning while in the OBX . Thanks to the morning team, your doing a great job!

I love going to Sonny's. It is one of the highlights of going to Hatteras. It is great for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. My 9 year old son asks if we're going there when we plan on visiting the Outer Banks.

This was a great place to come for breakfast while we visited Frisco. Got the hotcakes, French toast, and sausage egg sandwich. My 7 year old said it's was 5 stars. Service was friendly and food was fast! Would recommend!

Pretty casual place. The food was good. My wife had the Captain platter and she was very please with it. I had the fish of the day which was the Mahi Mahi blacked. It came with rice, black beans and a few tortilla chips and salsa. It wasn't over done and was good. They had a small selection of drinks available.

This place is not actual waterfront as one would think by the name. There is no view or outside seating. It was beyond freezing inside as well. The older woman server was very friendly the first time we went. The younger woman server was quite the opposite the second time. Food was okay, western omelette veggies were almost raw though. And the sign on the hostess stand was pretty obnoxious. "It is Customary to Tip Your Server Atleast 15%" Atleast is not one word, and also give me a break, it's trashy... As well as the Fox News blaring at the bar.

Sonny's is a simple and quaint family-owned restaurant with a warm ambiance feel. There was no wait on a Thursday evening. The server was prompt and pleasant. From pasta and steak to seafood, the menu has a lot to like. The pilsner beer was cold and refreshing and the taste of the hush puppy appetizers were a promising sign of the entrees to come. The good first impressions stoped there. The crab legs were about as average as you find at a red lobster chain. The shrimp in the shrimp marinara was tough and tasted as average as the frozen kind sold at Food Lion. The chicken parmesan consisted of rubbery fried chicken strips covered in melted cheese, over top penne pasta with Ragu marinara. With a new chef and some renewed passion for freshly prepared meals, Sonny's may once shine again.

very poor service from the beginning. I was not asked for a drink order nor my food order. the hostess got my appetizer. I ordered a drink from the bar from the bartender using my ID. Then I was carded 3 more times from multiple people at the restaurant after they asked if I had my ID and I explained I showed the bartender when I ordered it. I would've ordered it from my server but she kept walking away as well as the hostess. Then our server the bartender and another employee made jokes and laughed at our table and our server said "she'd fake being nice" although we were not rude or bitter. overall it was a very poor experience and very uncomfortable. we will not be going back.

I've come here for years when down this way, and I think it's the best breakfast on the island. The staff is friendly and attentive, also incredibly sweet. My go to is the chicken biscuit, hash browns and a coffee. I highly recommend stopping here as the prices are extremely low for the amount and quality of food you get.

Food was quick and good, they had a great beer special and the chocolate desert is awesome

Unfortunately not everything is a winner when you're on vacation. We stopped in on our way back from Ocracoke. It wasn't a busy time so we were able to sit right away. We wanted just a few sandwiches to share. The Crab Cake Po Boy was on their specials board so that was our top choice. We also shared the NC pulled pork sandwich. The crab cake po boy was good but nothing exciting or memorable from my standpoint. For some reason I always expect more especially when I'm on the waterfront. Our crab cake was not very large. It's seemed to be more filler than crab. The NC Pulled Pork Sandwich was also underwhelming. The pork was very very dry. The bbq sauce was scarce. Fortunately the plate came with a side of coleslaw. My friend and I both added it to the sandwich making it edible. Otherwise I wouldn't have finished any of it. If you happen to be in this area, look for another dining establishment and thank me later.

I must say the critically acclaimed Sonny's as being the number one breakfast spot is somehow true in the fact that there is no competition on deck or posting a fear for breakfast in the Hatteras area. While the way staff is perfect the food is good, the crab omelette is great. There is always room for improvement I was not wowed by the atmosphere or the presentation of the food. I think there's room for improvement here.

Lovely large deck, good service, plenty to see inside and out with a funky little shop attached. Our first time in Manteo and a nice intro to that downtown

Had chicken parmigiana dinner ...very little chicken in it was primarily pasta. Also , no salad with the meal. Disappointed with good but service was good.

Slow service. Rude staff. We waited for almost 40 minutes on simple breakfast dishes. A table that had come in after us was done eating and gone by the time we got our food.

Our favorite breakfast place in the Banx! My 7 year old said the breakfast potatoes were bussin and asked for seconds. Excellent service with cordial staff! We Definitely must check them out for lunch and dinner!

Just discovered this place at the end of our trip. And I was very happy with the meals and the prices. I actually went 2 days in a row. Not a lot of options for breakfast but Sonny's opens at 6am. First day I got 3 hot cakes and a side of grits. Very good hot cakes. They are huge. The grits were good but did have some clumps. Second day I order the country ham. It came with 2 eggs, home fries and toast. Also ordered another side of grits. Meal and service were both great and no complaints. Highly recommend this place for breakfast.

Outstanding restaurant for breakfast! Great food (Hatteras scramble) and good coffee and juice. Attentive service, too.

Great breakfast, friendly service, and reasonable prices! It was a bit busy when we came, but the hostess was so accommodating and helped us right away. Thank you all!

No good, it tasteless and the ambiance and atmosphere is not good , fast food is better

This business never seems to be open and when they were, I called and they told me to call back in 1/2 hour because they were to busy. Not many places to eat on the Iskand so it would be great if they were open more consistently.

Delicious and great service - we had a party of 7 with three kids - waitress was on point and had a great interaction with them - very little wait for anything - food was delicious and her recommendations were very helpful - ambiance was simple but place was very clean - very satisfied - thanks for a great experience !

Exceptional food and service at great prices. It's very hard to find anything open due to Covid and no enough workers to staff businesses in the OBX. But Sonny's is fully staffed, friendly and Covid responsible. Near the Ocracoke ferry (which is free)

Great food, delivered quickly. Angie is our favorite! We had crab cake and catch of the day, mahee. Probably spelled wrong.

Came here for breakfast. I got the waterfront meal. It was pretty filling and a good portion. The service has been very good. We got a very nice waitress. I would definitely come here again.

Great breakfast spot. Service was outstanding. The best French toast around! Make sure this is a spot you try out in your trip, you will not be disappointed.

Sonny's is the place where Hatteras locals go to eat damn delicious food. It's not gourmet, just good food cooked with love.

We were looking for a place to get a good breakfast for a decent price near where we were staying in Buxton, NC. We found this gem on the first try. Great breakfast food, good price, plenty of food. Plus, the folks working there were very friendly, especially the dark headed lady that always filled my wife's coffee. We ate breakfast here everyday of our stay, never more than $22 for 2 of us and we were full until supper time.