Dajio — Restaurant in Ocracoke

Not sure what's a good word to describe my experience... memorable, delicious, exquisite... I had an incredible dining experience at Dajio in Ocracoke, NC! The food was simply amazing, so much so that I went back two nights in a row; the quality was consistent on both nights. If you're in Ocracoke, I highly recommend visiting Dajio for a memorable meal. It's a must-visit restaurant!

I got something off their "specials" both nights. Night one is the moqueca, a Brazillian curry stew. I can tell they used fresh tomatoes and poured in fresh coconut milk at the very end. The jasmine rice was cooked to perfection with hints of lemon and vinegar. My waiter, Cole, told me the secret is that they fly in a special type of root oil from Northeast Brazil. I think there's another secret: the rice was cooked in a clay pot with the bottom of the rice burnt, then use that pot to cook the curry sauce (acidity from the tomatoes would help "scrape off" the burnt rice)! And, of course, the fish and shrimp were cooked to perfection - so perfect that I could feel the shrimp flesh bounce!

Night two was another fish and shrimp dish. I believe the rice was cooked with butter to bring out additional fragrance (or maybe it's that special root oil). There were a few different types of tomatoes used to bring in different flavors: cherry tomatoes, Roma tomatoes, green tomatoes, ripe and less ripe tomatoes cooked at different stages. I also think that the special root oil was used to cook the beans and bring out the sweetness in them.

Beautiful meals, great atmosphere, and I cannot...

While the food is absolutely amazing and probably the best on the island, the poor service diminishes the experience. Arriving during the Shrimp Hour there were plenty of seats at tables outside but they were not available due to limited waitstaff.

We decided to wait 30 minutes for a table and went to the bar to grab a few drinks. After about 15 minutes of being ignored while the bartender served food to those seated we decided to leave, but figured we would place a take out order.

Upon returning for the pick up we found 5 different parties inside the tiny waiting area while the hostess took a very long to go order by phone. After she was done she hung up the phone and disappeared for another 5 minutes without saying anything to the guests waiting. Several other guests popped in to see what was going on and eventually left.

When the hostess returned she took a to go order from someone who was waiting and then disappeared again! Several more people decided to leave. I finally got her attention and told her I was there to pick up a to go order. I left with the food and saw many faces of frustrated guests who were standing outside waiting. Some communication from the hostess and bartender and help from staff who we could see folding napkins would have...

Friday evening, the 15th of August, my family decided to go to Daijo for supper; the aroma was intriguing and inviting. We were promptly seated in a warm, ambient dining room. Soon after, we were greeted by our server for the evening, hello Patrick. I wish I could say that you complimented our evening, but honestly, it was quite the opposite. As soon as we provided him with our drink order, a large party was set down next to us and you could immediately tell the change in his demeanor, we were no longer of any substance or value to him. He checked on them constantly, refilling there drinks, making small talk, Yet, comes to my table and rudely assumes I didn’t want a refill of tea, and ignored my son when he asked for one. Any conversation between her and us, he was rude. I guess a family of 3 isn’t sufficient for him, yet my bill was $87 for the 3 of us. Even despite his terrible service I gave you the change from the $100 when truthfully, you didn’t deserve to shiny Pennies. The food was phenomenal, I enjoyed the grilled drum that was cooked to perfection. I just wish the service could’ve held a candlelight to the food, because despite how delicious it was, the lack of good service made a rather unpleasant evening. Patrick you certainly...