Howard's Pub — Restaurant in Ocracoke

Arrived on O-Island on a Sunday so with most businesses closed had to unfortunately choose between Howard’s & 1 other. Wife & I each ordered a “build your own” entree seafood (plastic mini) platters. 1st negative: Server explained catch of day was Mahi-Mahi & King Mackerel but of 3 items in seafood platter Mahi-Mahi was “not included”, “only the Mackerel” one of the cheapest, oily fish from the ocean. My wifes’ tiny; 1/4” thin x 4.5” long fillet had to come from a std., not King Mackerel, so obvious misrepresentation for someone knowledgeable of fish types. Both her & my 3-4 scallops were minute, took 2 fork points to pick off plate & my mostly small breaded oysters tasted of being frozen for who knows how long with foul, lingering after taste. 2nd (-): Calamari appetizer basket was smallest ever dropped hastily on table since Server was obviously embarrassed at low quantity, the breaded rings had no flavor & were thin, thin so sauces quickly slid off them, not clung to breading. The 2 cups of Tomato Marinara + Tartar sauce (best items off the dinner) weighed more than Calamari & took less than 3-4 mins. to eat them. 3rd (-): no bread or yeast rolls. 4th (-): The 2 sides w/platters were skimped on as well barely filling the small plastic bowels. For $32.50 per platter, $82.00 total we expected something to be fresh, not frozen, thawed as received, like it came out of a Sisco tractor trailer, definitely not local sourced from a coastal island. Upon viewing other review pics our portions looked anemic, not even close so ours must have come from bag bottoms. Interior motif was a conglomeration of haphazard hung same beer brand signs, nothing much else. I wanted to leave our Server Christian a better tip as although he checked on us often he forced an awkward, embarrassed (desperate for tip) smile but I’m not one to cover up, compensate for near total disappointment. In past I had been a Server (3 restaurants) & when checking back on guests I always kept a water w/ice pitcher in-hand ready to top off their glasses, he never topped ours’. I got the impression this restaurant doesn’t care about repeat business & sole objective is to maximize profits. For the entree amount charged they need to earn it, not soak folks getting off the NC Ferry Service trip. If I ever return to the island I’ll bring subs or get ice-creams or stop at bakery a short distance away on Hwy 12. I’ve sincerely tasted better frozen seafood from the grocery store case. This review is 100% truthful so I suggest not taking a hit or miss chance as we did. This ENTIRE very mediocre Bar & Grill needs an extensive overhaul. You’ll do better elsewhere or carry it onto the island rather than need to decide amongst 2 restaurants on a Sunday, when dining competition is minimal. I ONLY gave 2 stars due to being thankful to Howard’s staff we hadn’t been food poisened. Don’t believe there exists a hospital ER on O-Island & it would have made for a miserable ferry ride back to...

Passing thru the town and finding a decent spot for dinner this was by far one of the very few top choices we had. Due to the end of the season for most restaurants around. And also because this particular restaurant had the most variety of food options on the menu. For the island it seemed like a lot of meals and stuff to chose from, but any where else off island...it seemed like a normal menu size. So that didn't really shock or surprise me there. As for the inside and the atmosphere, I liked it..just didn't love it. Others and locals may love it. Since our family was passing thru, it was a normal size indoor restaurant to us. Nothing way too exciting. I ordered a salad as an app and while I liked it, should've asked for the dressing on the side. It's like every other restaurant around the US...you have to order the salad dressing on the side or else they pre judge and assume to put that on top and bathe the salad!! * Don't be afraid to ask for salad dressing on the side. Less calories for that care.* The main meal was very good. While I liked the fish very much, it was a good amount. Not all customers have the stomach capacity to eat several ounces of non fried fish! I do wish there was sweet potato fries as an option. Not just regular handcut fries. A bit better for you. - As for the service it was well. Obviously wasn't a ten star rating, or a hundred percent perfect/ outta this world. It was just well. I give the staff props for doing their jobs but the lack of personality and being friendly was not a hit or miss. It was a miss by a landslide! If I'm being really honest, regardless of many attributes (work related or not) one should always have a good attitude at the job. Face expressions say a lot! The staff did a very job, and worked hard makig sure customers got what they asked for and everything else in between. As for the outside of the building, I was less then impressed by the parking lot and figuring out how to get up to the front entrance...had I needed a wheelchair to access the door. Not just...

Food was fine. Burger was better than seafood. My reason for leaving a review is that the server wasn’t just bad, but offensive. When he came to the table, he blew us off when we were asking questions and said he was doing the drink and app only. Ok, he’s rushed and in the weeds. I get it. Then he took our dinner order and every time my partner asked a question (I.e., can I get that blackened or broiled) we got a sarcastic “sure” instead of an actual answer. He passed by our table several times and did not acknowledge us. He was not in the weds. We heard him chatting up other tables. He finally stopped and we said “oh hi there” and he said hi and walked away- did not check to see if we needed anything. He came by with the check (ok I guess we are done) and I gave him my card. When he came back, he said he mixed up the checks but it was within a dollar of ours and we paused trying to understand and he said “ok, nice chat” and walked away. We hadn’t said anything and it was completely rude and sarcastic. At this point I was like, hey- stop. Did we offend you or something? I told him he’s been rude all night and it wasn’t acceptable. He said oh, I had a difficult table and then basically walked away when we said, yeah, still not ok. We called the manager after we left, nothing. Been coming to Ocracoke for years, own a VBRO here, and this was such a disappointment. This isn’t short staffed. This is entitled staff, rude staff. People will wait and deal with shortages, but spending 80+ on dinner should still mean decent food...