Nags Head Restaurants on Diners Drive-Ins and Dives

It’s not every day that there is a celebrity on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. (Actually, it probably happens more than we realize.) It’s not every day that there is a celebrity on the Outer Banks who is filming a show for the Food Network. (That’s a more accurate statement!)

Guy Fieri is an American restaurateur, author, game show host, and television personality. He’s the star of several successful shows on the Food Network, including Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, a TV series where Guy travels from coast to coast in search of good food. All of the restaurants that he visits during the series must be independent and locally-owned.

When Guy Fieri visited the Outer Banks in 2012, he had no trouble finding restaurants that meet his requirements, there are dozens of amazing food joints on the OBX to choose from!

During his trip to the Outer Banks, Guy visited and filmed at six locally-owned restaurants: The Black Pelican, The Outer Banks Brewing Station, Tortugas’ Lie Shellfish Bar & Grill, The Brine & Bottle, Ortega’z Southwestern Grill & Wine Bar, The Weeping Radish, and Cravings Steaks & Seafood.

Below is some additional info on Tortugas’ Lie, one of the two Nags Head restaurants that were featured on the hit Food Network series a few years ago. The other restaurant, Brine & Bottle, is unfortunately no longer open due to an issue with the space the owners were leasing.

Tortugas’ Lie Shellfish Bar & Grill

Located between the two main roads in Nags Head, just off NC 12 (beach road) is Tortugas’ Lie, a laid-back, beach-themed restaurant that is the perfect place to enjoy a sandwich or seafood entree after a day at the beach. Reggae music is almost always playing, and surfing videos are usually displayed on the restaurant’s many TVs.

Shoes are not required to dine here!

After Guy visited Tortugas’, he deemed the restaurant the official “hot spot” on the Outer Banks to eat at. Since then, the business has certainly picked up for this locally-owned spot. In our opinion, the owners were absolutely worthy of this title, they’ve taken a small building near the beach and turned it into one of the best places to eat on the barrier island.

The staff is super friendly, the bar is well stocked, and the food is good – really good. If you’re hungry and wanting to eat at a restaurant that was once featured on a Food Network show, be sure to check out Tortugas’ Lie Shellfish Bar & Grill!

Locals Tip: Try to arrive during off-hours, this place is busy! Shoot for either an early or late lunch or dinner to cut down on the wait times.

Tortugas’ Lie
Milepost 11 on the Beach Road
3014 S Virginia Dare Trail
Nags Head, NC 27959
(252) 441-RAWW