The SaltBox Cafe — Restaurant in North Carolina

The Outer Banks doesn’t exactly have a reputation for top-tier cuisine, and when the average diner wouldn’t know bold flavor if it slapped them in the face, you don’t often expect much. Thankfully, The SaltBox stands out as one of the best places around, though it still has its shortcomings.

The highlight of the meal was the frog legs—crispy, golden brown, and tender with just the right juiciness in every bite. If I’m being honest, the coleslaw garnish was a bit lackluster. It could’ve used more seasoning—salt, pepper, and perhaps some acidity. A tangy Greek yogurt with a splash of local mustard and apple cider vinegar (or lime) would elevate the dish to a solid 10.

On the other hand, the green curry crab soup was a bit of a letdown. Green curry should be vibrant, rich, and bursting with layers of flavor. Unfortunately, this tasted like a watered-down, off-the-shelf curry mix (Think: Taste of Thai), with a surprisingly low amount of crab. The soup was also served lukewarm, which didn’t help matters. I don’t expect much from Asian fusion in the OBX, but this was a missed opportunity.

The guy next to me at the bar would have loved it, who thought a "crustini" was some sort of brand of chips. But for the price and ambiance, it should have been better.

The seared tuna, on the other hand, was right on point. Perfectly cooked to temp with a crunchy pistachio crust, fingerling potatoes, and crispy Brussels sprouts (I think). The Bearnaise sauce was executed well, but there was something missing—maybe just a touch more seasoning. Salt, perhaps? This lack of seasoning was a theme across most dishes.

The shrimp and grits had great potential—plump shrimp, creamy grits, and a delightful mix of spinach, andouille sausage, cherry tomatoes, and onions, all of which created an exciting flavor profile in most bites. However, the grits were warm and the sauce lukewarm. The shrimp, though, were slightly overdone, but I doubt the average diner would notice.

Overall, The SaltBox is a solid choice, especially considering the mediocrity of the surrounding restaurants. The creativity and presentation are on par with its reputation, but the execution left something to be desired. If they could dial in the seasoning and be more consistent with heat and flavor balance, it would be a true standout. Stick to coastal Americana or focus on refining the flavors for more ambitious dishes like curry.

Service was okay—though the young staff could use more training to match the restaurant's ambitions. Overall, it’s a 5/10 for me. I’d give it another shot, but after I didn’t show up for my second reservation, I’m...

My husband and I were together long before we finally tied the knot. Whenever we talked about our wedding dreams, it always included the statement, “I want Saltbox to cater the wedding”. When it came time to book our caterer, we knew walking into the tasting that this decision would be as easy as it was delicious. What became a favorite date-night spot, will now always have a forever memory in our hearts because of what Amanda and Randolph, and their entire staff, worked to deliver for us. If you’ve never had an opportunity to experience the creativity, flavor and love that goes into Saltbox’s food, then I strongly urge you to check that off your to-do list. If you’re on the wedding planning journey and searching for a catering company, this should be your first and last stop. Amanda and Randolph were extremely responsive and open to the entire vision we had for our Viking-themed wedding…an evening feast fit for a Viking King. Our goal was to build a seasonal, yet varied cuisine menu that celebrated the local seafood and nuances of Outer Banks and would leave our guests talking about this dinner for years to come. From the detail that was put into our hors d’oeuvres, through the flavorful and perfectly executed plated dinner service, ending with the most decadent spread of desserts/hot chocolate bar (best in OBX of course), we were beyond impressed with every single bite we ate that evening. Additionally, Saltbox provided the best bartenders who executed our fun “his and hers” cocktails and (2) full bars with ease and smiles. We are still receiving endless compliments about how amazing the cocktails were. From Saltbox’s attentiveness during the planning process, to a detailed site visit to review the kitchen/service needs, to a well-executed plating set-up, to each staff member’s warm and professional service style throughout the evening of our event, I would recommend again and again their catering services. The execution, timing and presentation was impeccable – but most importantly, their entire team was such a delight to have in and out of the kitchen as they truly delivered the best feast we’ve ever had. From a professional perspective, I am also a career Event Planner, working to organize events from weddings to high-end galas nationwide – this was hands down the best quality and executed event service I’ve seen in a career...

This charming place was well worth it. I love being able to sit in the screened gazebo type thing next to some gently waving grasses outside the window . Our server Tia'ana (sp?) was on point the entire evening. Very cheery, very kind and made sure that we had everything we needed. Attentive but not overly so. She's the kind of waitress that makes you realize that she enjoys what she does and that they treat her well and that to me is important. The food was excellent. The flank steak with the pistachio chimichurri was unique and fabulous. The meat was thinly sliced and melted in my mouth. The asparagus was fresh and cooked exactly right tender, not mushy. Very flavorful. The mashed potatoes were scrumptious. Light and fluffy and held the sauce well. I am not usually a meat person, but this dosh was really exceptionally delicious. We also ordered the catch of the day, which was ahi. I liked that as well. It was very tender and not fishy. Very fresh and delicious. The daikon and carrot on top were the perfect complement. Cannoli cream pie was also excellent. Not too sweet, soft and creamy with chocolate chips throughout. We ordered the cold melon soup which was very unusual and cooling. It had some spicy micro greens. I liked it but it's not necessarily something I would go for again, but I'm glad I had it. I also enjoyed the sangria and the CBD infused blueberry drink. There was a singer who joined a little bit later. She was great, and the music was not too loud, the perfect accompaniment. It was very hot today but the fan in the gazebo kept it tolerable and we really enjoyed being the only people in it for the first part. There are both four-seater and six-seater booths in the salt box gazebo. Our friends who've been coming here for years are the ones who recommended it and invited us there, and we are so glad they did. It was a delightful and...