Top Dog Cafe
25202 N Hwy 12, Waves, NC, 27982
Top Dog Cafe Menu
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Address :
25202 N Hwy 12
Waves, NC, 27982 - Phone (252) 987-1272
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Drive-Thru : No
Caters : No
Categories
Burgers
Burger or Hamburger is savored as the most desired fast food meal in the United States. A hamburger is basically a sandwich prepared by stuffing ground meat patty, generally beef, between two slices of a bun cut in half. Hamburger is also famous for its seasoning. Most popular condiments used in hamburgers in the United States are mustard, mayonnaise, and ketchup. Besides ground meat patty, hamburgers are also stuffed with lettuce, onions, tomato slices, pickles, and cheese.
Hamburgers are also categorized into two types in the United States. Fast food hamburger and individual hamburgers served at restaurants are two basic types of burgers served in the United States. The individual hamburgers served at restaurants are prepared using everything including lettuce, onion, tomato, and sliced pickles as well as melted cheese on the patty or crumbled on top. American restaurants also serve veggie burgers for those who don't relish meat. Cheeseburgers are also hot favorite in the United States.
McDonalds is the most popular fast food burger restaurant serving different types of burgers in the United States. On the other hand, there are several restaurants such as Burger King are famous for serving the best hamburgers in the United States. Most burger restaurants in the United States often serve hamburgers with French fries and other condiments. If you have a liking for burgers in the United States, then you won't be disappointed. You can easily find the best burger restaurants in your city on our Restaurants Listings directory. Check the reviews and ratings of the top burger restaurants and savor yourself with the best hamburger in the city.
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Doug H.
Good food. A little tight inside. Weird drink refill policy. But it's a good place for lunch.
(4)Andrea B.
Frequented this place several times while on vacation. It was walking distance and great service! The waiter was funny as hell and really nice. Laid back atmosphere and really good food. Will definitely be going back next year.
(4)Matt J.
Great variety on their menu! Excellent fish tacos! Kids menu actually had variety instead of the usual burger or hot dog. Waitress was very nice and helpful!
(5)Michele D.
While in the OBX you have to make this hot spot a "must do". Located in Waves, it's totally worth the drive! The portions are huge, the quality is superb & the service is impeccable. Both times I've been, I get the Crab Melt - it's that good! I'm talking premium lump crab meat with cheese melted on top and seasoned to perfection. It's a sandwich but I eat it like a pizza- only half the bread. It's heaven! The hubs likes the burgers. This time he went for the big burger challenge and yes ate it all! Hands down while visiting the OBX add this to your life of casual Delish spots to eat at.
(5)Bindu H.
Greasy goodness!! Every bite is delicious. It's pretty fast service. Indoor pat ion type place. 10.00 Minimum to pay by card.
(4)Francesca O.
MMM, good! This is a local gem not to be missed. My coconut shrimp were crispy and tasty, while my husband had a great burger and the chicken fingers were yummy. The service was friendly and prompt. We'll be back. :)
(4)Alexis T.
We have been twice this week and both times it was great. Two different servers and both were fast and attentive. Fish tacos were amazing and the key lime sauce is to die for. Lunch today was a salad and it was ok. A little small for $10 but the rest of it makes up for it. Enjoy!!!
(4)Lori S.
Fabulous place! found by accident, but couldn't be happier. Food was plentiful and delicious. Would recommend to anyone in the area. We had Fish tacos, shrimp wrap, and 'bubba gump burger', all were excellent!
(5)Steven Natalie P.
Want good food at a restaurant that looks like a whole in the wall? You'll enjoy Top Dog. Small inside porch dining area. Ate lunch when we visited, but think there's an upstairs bar/dining area that was closed during lunch. Had salads, sub & wrap. Enjoyed it very much. Not far from the Inn at Rodanthe. Service was very friendly, and attentive.
(4)Jim N.
Went there for dinner and went back twice more,..The Baja chicken was excellent as was the Jamaican Joe burger special. Service was friendly and attentive, I saw a few reviews that people complained about plastic chairs and forks...really people?...it's the Southern Outer Banks,The Beach...stay in the Hamptons next time
(5)Frank F.
Completely unexpected! We ordered off the daily special menu and of the three meals I tasted, all were very good.
(5)Kerry C.
What a terrific place to eat! Great burgers, wraps, and sandwiches. Our group consisted of 10 people and everyone really enjoyed what they ordered.
(4)Tino D.
We got the bacon blue cheese burger and the mahi-mahi melt for lunch. Both were extremely good. The burger came out fully cooked, but still had flavor and not a bit of toughness. The tomato that they gave us was a double what you might find at other places. The mahi-mahi melt sandwich was close extraordinary. It was like the fish never touched the pan, it was that tender. It could have used a little more salt, but other than that, it was an all around very good meal! I would recommend this place if you are ever in the area.
(4)Genevieve D.
The vibe is perfect for the area and eating in the enclosed deck during sunset is a great ! Food is better then I expected, veggies are cooked perfectly and beer is cold and lighting is just right
(4)Lacy D.
The food is good so there's no problem there. The issue is that the grill, per the waitress, is super small so it took 54 minutes for them to prepare a BLT wrap and shrimp wrap. If you have time to spare, feel free to stop by, but if you're expecting to leave in a reasonable amount of time, try somewhere else.
(2)Jaime H.
Great food and beach atmosphere. The creative specials are inspired by the local seafood. Awesome find!
(5)Christina R.
We were hungry and not at all familiar with this area. Pulled out the phone and Yelped and found the Top Dog Cafe. This place has a laid back feel and you can tell they care about the food they serve. The special board is filled with fresh selections. We went with a Mahi-Mahi BLT and it may have been the best piece of Mahi-Mahi we have ever had! It was firm but juicy, sweet and delicious. They used real applewood smoked bacon and the bread was toasted with butter to perfection. We also had a bacon burger that was delicious, juicy with just the right crust and a bun that was delicious. The entire meal was so yummy and the wait staff was so nice.
(5)Alex S.
Everything is good here. The burgers are prepared perfectly and they taste fantastic. For a challenge, try the tsunami or cyclone to win a trophy or medal. The fish is great all around and they always have some special that you can't resist. Coconut shrimp out of this world. Casual dining in an outside environment. Must eat!
(5)Kim W.
Great place! No frills very beachy. Plastic patio beach chairs but the food was good and great for kids!! The wait staff was great. Fish tacos were good, and shrimp wrap was great. Very friendly wait staff upstairs! If you go, ask for Margaret gave us some great island tips and was super friendly! She made the experience enjoyable. She was great:)
(4)Stephanie W.
I didn't see anything like the complaints are referring to. They were quite accommodating to our party of 12 right at lunch time. The server was fast, friendly, and helpful! The lunch was delicious and the price was reasonable. We will be back!!!
(4)Ashley K.
I really enjoyed eating at Top Dog. It was casual and relaxing. I loved the screened in patio area. The breeze at nice was really nice. Also, the waitstaff was extremely friendly and prompt. Our beverages come out right away. There was two of us and we split buffalo wings. These were good because they weren't greasy and dripping in sauce, but still had a nice kick to them. For dinner, I ordered the taco salad, which was out of this world. It was excellent. There was the right amount of ingredients with plenty of beef, that wasn't overly spicy. I would definitely come here again. The atmosphere and food were great.
(4)Steve R.
Great food! I had pasta topped with jerk tuna and the wife had Caribbean mahimahi. Both were fantastic. Great friendly service. The atmosphere is not fancy and you're basically on a porch. Don't let that deter you.
(5)Melissa C.
This was my first visit to the Outer Banks and if I'm lucky enough to go back, I'll be sure to stop at Top Dog. I absolutely love seafood and Top Dog made me a happy lady. I ordered the Jerk Tuna Sandwich and it was a massive tuna steak covered in the best jerk seasoning. It was so flavorful and the tuna was fresh and perfectly cooked. My sister ordered the greek salad with shrimp and really enjoyed it. My gluten free husband enjoyed a burger with no bun and he said it was good. Add a couple cold beers on a warm day and we were a happy group! The prices were a little expensive but it's located in OBX. The prices are certainly comperable for the location. The restaurant itself is shabby but in a charming way. The chairs and tables are plastic. The decor is plastic ocean creatures and little wooden signs with fishing and beach sayings. The service was good and our waitress took time to chat for a bit, very friendly.
(4)chris w.
Ive been here a few times over the past few years and never once has it disappointed me. Just last week I was there at Waves and we stopped by and I had their special, Bubba Gump shrimp burger. It was amazing. The service was very prompt and food was tasty. Definitely stop in here. My only gripes was there wasnt any AC, so the temps werent very comfortable. I was also not a fan of the only one free refill, but restaurants down in that area seemed to be a fan of that policy for some weird reason.
(4)TJ B.
I've been here 3 time now and while the food is okay, the management and wait staff is consistently rude. When they were one of the few places in town serving food options that weren't fried, they could have gotten by, but now that there are several other FRIENDLY places with very good food, there is no reason to go here. Spend your time and money at a place which appreciates your business, even if you walk in 10 minutes before closing. Check out Good Winds, Atlantic Coast Cafe, or Big Waves Market for superb food and friendly service.
(2)Justin T.
This was FANTASTIC. It has an old beach house feel and the food is definitely homemade. Get the Jerk tuna steak sandwich. I read other reviewers mention it and I'm glad i went with their recommendation. Their jerk sauce is made on site. My friend dining with me is a professional chef and he said his jerk burger was the best he has ever eaten. I plan on going again before leaving! It loses a star because they don't do takeout. If they did they would get all the stars available.
(4)Morris S.
Great service and a nice beach menu. The servers were great, and the food got out very quickly. Recommended for lunch or dinner with families.
(3)Ian B.
I try and get the family here each summer, can't really put my finger on why. For dinners in the past we've waited quite a while to get in, but once you're seated things move fast. This year we stopped by for lunch, there were only a couple of other parties there and service was efficient, even if the server was a little surly - my attempts at small talk were met with puzzled looks and her overall demeanor was just not friendly. Portions were generous and tasty. One minor mistake, I asked for onions on my burger and didn't get any, my son asked for no onions and got them. They were different burgers, so it's not like we got the wrong 'plate' (basket). I'll still try and get back next year - even bought myself a T-shirt!
(4)Don T.
Stopped here for lunch on our first time in Rodanthe. Staff was welcoming and friendly. Wait staff was running around nonstop with orders, seating, and cleanup. Their lunch menu is very minimal. Consists of several sandwiches and wraps and a handful of appetizers, very typical items you would find at a local cafe or dinner. My gf and I each ordered a sandwich. She had the Jamaican jerk tuna sandwich, while I had the Cajun mahi sandwich. Her Jamaican jerk tuna was cooked medium and had just enough jerk spices that didn't make it overwhelming. She loved every bite. My Cajun mahi was delicious. Nicely cooked, but maybe could have used a little more Cajun spice to add so kick to it. Overall, very enjoyable beach cafe.
(3)Robert L.
Fantastic little dive restaurant. I was blown away by their menu selections. I got a Jamaican Joe Burger that was probably the best burger I've ever consumed before. It was lathered rich in Caribbean Jerk BBQ Sauce that was delicious. I will definitely regular the place whenever I am on the Outer Banks vacationing.
(5)Arrrrgh R.
Perfect place to grab a bite in OBX. Extremely casual vibe makes you feel like your on vacation. I had the peel and eat shrimp as well as the jerk tuna sandwich. The fish was cooked to perfection and the favors were great! Perfect afternoon lunch with a couple of beers. Waitress was funny!
(4)Chris W.
Really quality food, I've eaten here multiple times over the years. The safest bet for good food that I've found in rodanthe/waves/salvo all the way down to hatteras village. Quality food. The waitress this time was the best one they've ever employed. Usually the problem here is how the locals treat the tourists. To be fair, I didnt experience that this time around. My most recent visit was pleasant and the prime rib sandwich blew me away. Hamburgers are a specialty of theirs as well. You won't eat a bad meal here. Truth.
(5)Bob B.
Good casual, island lunch spot. Patio dining with no A/C!! Good food, beer selection. Fish Tacos are great as was the shrimp quesadilla.
(2)Kelly M.
Great OBX eatery! Menu is loaded with great choices. Fish Tacos, Spicy Tuna and Shrimp wraps awesome! Atmosphere is laid back, and relaxed! Love it there!
(4)Steve Tess T.
We got burgers and the grilled shrimp wrap with beans and rice. Food was excellent and place has a lot of character. We have found a new destination restaurant when we come to Rodanthe.
(5)Liza P.
First of all, this Top Dog has NO RELATION AT ALL to the Berkeley Top Dogs... but it's also really really really good! Must be something in the name! So, Top Dog is a 5 min walk North up HWY 12 from Real Kiteboarding, and at lunch you will find a whole lot of wet, half naked, sunburned but very happy kids from the kiteboarding school. You're guaranteed to get really simple but very delicious food, while you sit on their wooden patio and brace yourself for another 3-4 hours of kiteboarding in the late afternoon. This is my way to happieness.
(4)Charles H.
This is always our first stop when we get to the beach. The place is a dump - as it should be. The food is good and the beer is cold.
(4)Chris M.
Went here based on a referral since we were in town visiting for the weekend. The experience started out great, but generally declined from there. Just read the owners comments and attitude in the various Yelp reviews - - it's not customer centric and there's never an apology or holding themselves accountable, they just point the finger back and put the customer down. Allow me to break down each experience from start to finish: 5 stars = Waitress. She was excellent, funny, friendly, liked to chat, and was prompt and courteous. 4 stars = Coconut shrimp. It was pretty good, you get 5 of them for $9. A little pricey, but good. The sweet sauce that came with it was excellent (more on that later......) 4 stars = Fish Tacos. We were told they were excellent, and they're a healthy sized taco, but the fish was a bit bland. I've had fish tacos before, and these are good - but not great or excellent. 4 stars = black beans that came as your side (w/ the tacos) were fresh. 3 stars = the rice that came w/ the black beans as a side was a bit on the bland side. 1 star = the bill. $28 for a 2-taco dinner + coconut shrimp appetizer & 2 waters. Wow. I'm sorry, but I think it's premium priced - and it wasn't a premium tasty dinner. 1 star = they refused to give us more sweet sauce for our coconut shrimp. Yeah - no joke - I've never been refused extra sauce, but we had a couple of shrimp leftover to take home and asked for an extra side of that sauce. The waitress responded "well, I don't think she's gonna go for that". We thought she was being sarcastic, and we laughed, but she came back w/o any sauce. WTF? I can understand if you'd like to charge us $0.50, but they just outright refused. There was no explanation provided, only "she won't go for that". And finally: 1 star = kitchen people staring from a small window as you walk out the door. Yeah - so whoever controls that special sweet coconut sauce back in the kitchen just stared at us as we walked out the door. It was quite an uncomfortable experience I tell ya, and I don't think it's worth going back. Premium prices + average food + secret sauce w/ no refills and no explanation + people in the back staring at you while you walk out = 1.5 stars. ------------------------------- I'll let the owner's response speak for itself (see below). Unprofessional w/ a Debbie Downer attitude. It's obvious as to what type of people run this establishment. Instead of focusing on improving quality and customer service to sustain customer equity, they put customers down in an attempt to mask their issues. There are a plethora of better options in that area instead of Top Dog Cafe. My Yelp review was accurate and honest, that's what is owed to the business owners and Yelp community. I'm so glad it will be reviewed by the millions who use the internet as a resource for information. Life is too short, make love - not war - so I really do wish you the best of luck.
(1)John G.
This rating is based on service and attitude of the owner. The food is actually good - hot dog with spicy onions, chili and cheese is awesome. Got to the place 30 min before the rest of my party of five. Got a table and ordered a drink and the hot dog to hold me over until they got here. When I finished the dog, my party was less than 10 min away. I was told that I had to give up the table. I was told if i wasn't using the table I had to leave - but I was using it.
(2)Raymond G.
Fun place with a relaxed Key Westesque vibe. Perky servers. A tad pricey, but not too bad. Eclectic menu makes it a worthwhile stop.
(4)Fred B.
We've been coming here off and on since it first opened. It is a somewhat shabby place, but wears it well. There is a small amount of seating inside, and a number of plastic tables and chairs outside, within a screened in porch. It is elevated, so climbing a few stairs is required, and remember: they'll need to be negotiated as well coming down, so drink responsibly. The food is here is mostly sandwiches, burgers, and seafood, much of it fried and/or in sandwiches. The burgers are nice, and a nice size. The Wild Thing burger with jalapeno peppers and cheese is awesome - hot and huge. They have a huge belt-buster burger that they challenge folks to eat - some have tried, some finished, but most apparently do not. The fried seafood is generally good, but this is a small place, family run, watching their dollars, so it may not be the freshest on the lower part of the OBX. The service is friendly, food is fixed to order, so it will take longer that a Big Mac. Owners are nice folks, give'em a try.
(4)Jack H.
Very casual and kitchy place, right down to the plastic patio furniture. The food and service was okay. A good place to stop if you are staying in the Rodanthe area.
(2)Robin G.
Best fish tacos ever!!! Made with grilled Mahi Mahi . Amazing!! Great waiter who busted his A~~.
(5)Amy M.
Went here recently while vacationing in Waves. We went here our first night since no one felt like cooking at it was close. It was very hot since there is no dining in air conditioning. I have to say, the table fans nailed to the walls really grossed me out with all the icky dust in them. The service could definitely use some improving. I get that it was busy, but the fact that the waiter just started asking for drink orders while he was still walking up the stairs to our table seemed a bit rude. He just seemed way to busy to even give a crap. The food was eh. All across the board for the 6 of us, I think we were all satisfied but not impressed to say the least. I ordered a Cancun Salad with grilled mahi. The fish was ok, not seasoned at all. The corn and black beans on the salad were obviously canned. The guacamole was from a tube or something. I'm no chef, but could have done better myself.
(2)Jonathan S.
We went here upon our arrival in Waves while we waited for our rental to be ready. The food was not exceptional, but solid and extremely welcome after a long drive. They have a kids menu and it's family friendly. There's also a respectable beer list. What really sets this place apart is the shaded, screened outdoor deck, the mellow island tunes and the hospitality of the friendly staff. I would go back again for that alone.
(4)Kimber B.
Just go somewhere else. Plastic chairs and tables. Average food quality. Expensive. Poor service. After being seated the waitress pointed to a specials menu board and said we could walk over and read it. As we were finishing our dinner the waitress told us they were closed. Why did they seat us if they didn't want to finish serving us? Just go somewhere else.
(1)Shannon H.
I don't know what everyone is complaining about. This place was great. It's a no frills, island dive sort of place. I don't understand where the other reviewers think they are. If you want a high end, fancy place, go to Duck or Corolla. This is just what I want from a place in Rodanthe or anywhere else on the island. Anyway, we arrived at almost closing time on a Weds night and they were happy to seat us. There were only a few other tables and one server. She did an excellent job of taking care of everyone there. And she was very pleasant. There was a guy working who I think is either the cook or owner (or both?) and we had a very interesting conversation with him about life on the island is like in the off season. The food was great! I ordered the shrimp wrap special. It was loaded with shrimp (big ones too) and was cheesy and delicious. My husband had fish tacos which he thoroughly enjoyed. My only complaint (and this is not an actual complaint) is that the portions were so big that I couldn't finish it! BUT, they were happy to wrap it up for us and we had a yummy late night snack later. We had a great experience there and wish we had the time to go back before out vacation ended. Something to look forward to on our next vacation.
(4)Tom E.
Service was very slow. Our appetizers were out after our entrees also. The appetizers were cheap US Food products that were just thrown in a fryer. Also one member of our party was not feeling well afterward. I would not go back there
(1)JJ L.
Go out of your way to enjoy this place. I love the clams or mussels, I've had both, in garlic wine sauce. comes with dipping bread.
(4)Dave J.
Great jalapeno pepper and jack cheese burger! Good prices and service.
(4)Skippy A.
Dear Pat - It wasn't one menu that was dirty - it was all FOUR that were handed to us and they were disgusting - why would I want to even attempt the bathrooms after the initial impression? As for the tip - I am a former waitress and I felt bad [server guilt] leaving so abruptly so YES I did give the guy a nice tip for 4 sodas. As for the other restaurant I reviewed - I am assuming you mean "Uncle Pauley's" - they are definitely not as expensive as Top Dog and their first impression was much more favorable than your restaurant. And if you are, in fact, affiliated with this restaurant your snarkiness wouldn't seem to serve it very well. We were vacationing at the nearby KOA - I simply don't see what "agenda" we could have had against Top Dog - it was just what it was that night - and as for "kickbacks"? What a fascinating conspiracy theory! I would love to know more about this - it might help finance our vacation to Rodanthe this year.
(1)Julie L.
I heard it was good, but it's kind of shabby. A dive perhaps, or just how it is on this island. Anyhow, the food was okay. I had seafood and my roommate had a burger. It's no-frills. The service wasn't very speedy or great when we went.
(3)Jessica O.
No idea how this place got such bad reviews. We stay in Rodanthe every year, and always make sure to visit Top Dog. The absolute best cheese steak sandwich I have ever eaten! The mahi mahi is also a good choice.
(5)Leanna T.
My boyfriend's dad and brother stopped by this place for lunch by chance, and ended up having a great meal, so we all returned as a party of 8 the next day. There was just one server for the fairly large, multi-roomed establishment, but he was quick to accommodate our surprise! large group. The space itself is very casual: fairly grungy (but certainly not in a way that bothered me), plastic chairs, all semi-outdoors (like eating on a big screened-in porch). The menu is pretty vast, but in a good way. The service continued to be very good throughout the meal, especially considering that our waiter had to deal with the entire space almost by himself. Now to the important part: the food was great. I had the fish tacos, which consisted of two very large tacos, rice and black beans, and salsa and "Key Lime sauce" (sour cream flavored with lime and maybe cilantro?). All of it was delicious. I also managed to steal an onion ring from one of my fellow diners, and it was very tasty. Everyone else enjoyed their food -- my boyfriend's dad declared his fish "perfectly cooked." And the fountain sodas had a perfect ratio of syrup to carbonation. I haven't been to many restaurants in the OBX, but even so it was clear that the Top Dog Cafe is a diamond in the rough. I'd recommend it to anyone who happens to be in the area, for any reason -- especially families.
(4)Beth C.
First time having fish tacos was today. Top Dog set the bar high! Enough for today and tomorrow! Service was great. Very accommodating to his 5 yr old guest as well as the rest of us! They will see us again this week!
(5)Tom A.
WE were a party of 4 adults and had dinner at Top Dogs on May 27, 2013. Our waitress was an older woman who was very friendly, courteous, and did a great job explaining the menu or answering our questions. The food arrived in a reasonable length of time and was excellent. prices were very reasonable and all the members of our party were very pleased with the food and service. We would highly recommend this pace if on Hatteras Island.
(5)Charlie S.
Hey... It's Beach food... And depending on the help working that particular month- it can be a fun, or a not so fun experience... But gotta love the Fish Tacos...and the bacon wrapped scallops...with. Corona w/fruit.. Goes down easy..
(3)S B.
Stopped in for lunch - menu is the same as it is for dinner. Food remains consistently good. Fish tacos remain my favorite - portion remains huge! Only thing missing was a smiling waitress this time....
(4)Pam R.
Not too bad- we were hungry and it was close. Not a favorite but ok in a pinch !
(3)k o.
We wished we had found this place sooner. AMAZING FOOD.
(5)Scott R.
I love to visit Real Kiteboarding in Waves every year for a few days of kiteboarding camp. After a few trips, I only eat at Top Dog - by a long shot they have the best food in town. Flavorful, fresh, unique items on the menu which is far better than the standard tourist beach fare. I eat every lunch and dinner at this place every day... try the tuna wrap for starters.
(5)A G.
My wife and I went here for dinner. I had some fried clams, she had a burger. Both were good, but in no way remarkable. The service was a little slow, but nothing atrocious. The beer is $3.50, which is sweet. I give it 3 stars because it's, simply, middle of the road.
(3)Erin F.
Great casual place with outdoor seating. The menu was overpriced but the burgers were worth it. I would recommend the mushroom and Swiss burger with onions as well as the veggie wrap. Both tasted great!
(4)Claire R.
Top Dog has been one of our favorite Hatteras Island restaurants for many years. It is what others have said, very casual, which is exactly what we want after a day of enjoying the island. The atmosphere is pure beach and cozy. We have always had great service, and even better food. Some of our favorites are the fish tacos, burgers, pasta and chowder. We have never been disappointed. Top Dog is the first place we head when visiting, it's awesome.
(5)Sam D.
Had dinner at about 7:30 on a Friday - rush hour. The server was friendly but VERY busy. So the service was a bit slow, which was not from lack of hustle. I had the shrimp wrap - good and spicy with lots of shrimp in a cooked wrap -big top and bottom grill. The better half had the fried shrimp dinner - 8 large shrimp and sides. The bill for 2 meals and a beer was $28. The food was great. The place has a nice casual beach atmosphere. Be aware there is no A/C but plenty of fans kept it comfortable. The rush seemed to end about 8 We will return before we leave the OBX
(4)Shawn B.
Friendly atmosphere and setting. Food was delicious and I will return during my stay.
(4)Beth G.
Best lunch hands down in OBX. Fish Tacos and Crab Melt were awesome. Not a bite left on our plates. Wait staff is extremely friendly. Would recommend you stop by and enjoy.
(5)Anne B.
The top dog has become a tradition for us. Informal dining, it feels a lot like a key west type of restaurant. My favorite is the fried grouper but the fried shrimp are great. The fried clams were good too. About the size of a finger. Burgers looked good too. My 9 year old can't wait to get big enough to try the colossal burger.
(4)Mary E.
Met by very friendly owner who made sure that we and our 3 grandchildren were seated promptly. Very kid friendly. 13 year old: the food was so good! You could tell it was made to order. 11 year old: no two customers are alike and my burger was made in heaven. 8 year old: food so good I thought I'd never get food this good again! Bathrooms clean and nice. You could tell the owner cared about his business. Definitely recommended!!
(5)Daniel W.
We had a party of 9, and sat upstairs with no wait. Everyone throughly enjoyed their dinner choices. I'm not one for seafood, so I ordered Cheeseburger. loved it. Prices and service were great. WARNING: no air conditioner in there! It was hot! but fun... kinda like Key West. :)
(5)Kayleah M.
Great spot for lunch! Their sandwiches and specials are always good. I most recently had the Mahi BLT with Island slaw and it was fantastic! It's a very comfortable, relaxed place that is reasonably prices. My husband and I go everytime we're in OBX.
(4)Betsie M.
One of our family favorites! Casual beach clothes, fun atmosphere, friendly staff. Oh yeah, and they have great food! It gets packed so plan on that. Great burgers. They are huge. Eat the big one and you get a prize! Enjoy
(4)Joe S.
This place was ok. The food was really good but the prices were high and the wait staff was a bit snippy. Its the beach! Relax! I got the grilled fish sandwich. No frills. Just a good old piece of fish. Probably wont come back. We are rarely in the area and there are too many other places to try.
(3)Terri M.
Our server was so friendly. Wish I would have caught her name. Food was very good. Table had special Jamaican Jerk Burger which was very good. Hatteras Steak Sandwich, was also good. Would have been good to have the roll toasted, but still very good. Chef Salad with ranch, good and chicken fingers and fries from the app menu, was a good portion size for lunch. Waitress filled our drinks to go. suggestions: would make, keep the font on your menu simple. It was super busy looking with the monocursive italic font. Also try getting a few more of the plastic chairs without arms. They're snug for people of size. I looked around and saw I wasn't the only person squishes into one ;) We'll would be back next time we're at beach. Thanks
(4)James V.
Top dog, fish tacos were amazing. Wife had prime rib and loved it. Son had tsunami burger. Bottom line great place
(5)Jemiel N.
I don't want to sound pretentious or anything but let me just say that as a native New Yorker(not one of those fake ones that lives in Long Island, no I actually live in Manhattan) I know a thing or two about Mahi Mahi tacos, or as they say in Hawaii Mahu Mahu. So imagine my surprise when my bud (he's an epiiiiiiiic bro, this is a term I learned when I was there. Fyi everyone that is in the area is either inbred, no joke look it up, or an epiiiiiiic surfer bro) and I went there and tried the mahi mahi "tacos" only to find out that what they serve there does not really qualify as a taco. No what they serve is more of a quesadilla. It's massive. It's a large tortilla with about a pound of grilled mahu mahu, cheese, slaw, and salsa. It's delicious. And they give you two of these gigantic things. For like 15 bucks! 15 bucks! I from New York, these taco monstrosities would have cost at least 45 bucks each there! But the bottom line is they weren't tacos, and so I have to deduct a star for that on principle. Actually no what I am deducting a star for is the fact that no where on this island do they serve bourbon or rye. It's all I drink, and at this place they didn't even have hard liquer so I was forced to drink pino grigio. Gross. Minus one star for that.
(4)Shannon H.
Always amazing. Best fish tacos ever. Lovely staff who are kind, relaxed and deliver delicious meals every time. Fourth year in a row eating here and this is always are first stop. Be patient seating fills up so sometime you have to wait on the ramp. Just remember to keep the door closed (no one likes a side of flies :). We will be back next year.
(5)Jan W.
We got two recommendations from locals before eating at Top Dog. The portions were large, and the food was very fresh. We arrived at about 12:30 and the first floor screened area was full except one table, which we took. There was only one waitress on serving both the bar upstairs and our floor, and she did a fantastic job of checking in several times after we got our food. I got the fried grouper platter special for $13.95, and it was more than 1/2 lb of fresh grouper, perfectly fried. Not greasy, but crispy to the last bite. My companion got the fish tacos, which were huge. There was a lot of fish, nicely prepared, not too much filler. The black beans were fresh, not canned, and we're very tasty. We'd definitely stop in again.
(4)Alice Q.
Top Dog had amazing food! I had fried grouper and fries. The seasoning was great and fish cooked perfectly! My husband had a hamburger and loved it. It was somewhat pricey but I would definitely go back. Restaurant was busy but staff did really well.
(5)Marina K.
"The food is excellent, and there's plenty of it. The fish tacos were delicious - they've got a crisp shell, topped with cheese, coleslaw, and a spicy sauce. It's a great blend of flavors and textures. The shrimp wrap was also good. We loved the no-fuss waitering - our server was attentive, and present when needed, but not too often. We'd definitely come back!" I wrote this review on behalf of my in-laws, who ate here twice during our week of vacation.
(4)Rebecca P.
Very good specials. Had the grouper basket, wasn't greasy. Steak sandwich was good. Casual atmosphere, friendly service.
(4)Bubby K.
Went there on a Thursday night for some beer and apps. Place was pretty crowed at about 7:30 pm. We sat on the 2nd floor bar and enjoyed some beers and conversation with the others at the bar and the bartender. There is no draft beer here only bottles, but it was a decent selection. We ordered chicken fingers with fries and a burger. They where both very good. Would go back to try other things. Only issue we had was at like 9:00pm the bar shuts down and we had to settle up and leave. There were others at the bar just as confused as we were, why close so early with customers. It was not like it was midnight or 2am. Owners would do much better to stay open a little later. Overall a good experience and good food, but would start a little earlier next trip.
(4)Abigail W.
We have eaten lunch and dinner here many times and there is an incredible feeling just knowing you are getting Fresh Local Seafood that is so good you think about your childhood! Grouper Sandwich, Paradise Pasta, fresh steamed shrimp, Fresh Mahi tacos, I could go on and on! 10 stars in my book. And by the way, they help the homeless cat population by trapping to spay and neuter as well as give them Veterinary care! What A Gem! !
(5)Liz S.
Hands down the best crab melt and fish tacos I have ever had. Always great service and a must when in town. I can't imagine a stay in Rodanthe without eating at top dog.
(5)Evan M.
This is exactly what you'd expect from a restaurant so close to the beach. It's a small screened in deck type of atmosphere, with surfboard decorations, and white plastic deck chairs. The servers are very friendly, and it is a very casual and comfortable place to be. The food is also very good (albeit a bit pricey, but you are on the Outer Banks so that can be expected). We got salads and burgers, and both were excellent. Beers are cheap. If you are looking for a lunch/dinner place that has sandwiches, burgers, and "comfort food", this is the place you are looking for.
(4)J M.
Very overpriced for what you get. Not sure why others say huge portions we had 8 people and not one of us got a large portion. Mahi sandwich was all breading. Crab melt was not that great. Spend the same amount of $$ somewhere else and don't deal with no a/c and flies. Also, they must have imported a large group to work there because they don't even understand English.
(2)Kay T.
Any time we're in town we stop in for their fish tacos. They are fresh and come with rice and beans which is a good meal. Service is always on point and they are very kid friendly. Can't wait to visit on our next trip!
(5)Robyn A.
Food was not good. Tacos were too salty and flavorless and loaded with way too much cheese. Scallops were overcooked and the coconut shrimp was also overlooked. Overpriced & underwhelming & not great service. But the atmosphere was great- rustic and not fancy.
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