Ketch 55 Seafood Grill - Avon

I really enjoyed this restaurant. Our server was extremely kind and took the time to explain the menu to us. It is definitely one of my top choices. I highly recommend it!

We always dine at this restaurant whenever we are on vacation in OBX. Despite its unassuming exterior, the food here is some of the best on the island, in my opinion. They have a fantastic selection of drinks, including rotating drafts and cocktails. I highly recommend trying the P.E.I. mussels (the broth is so flavorful, I eat it like soup and always request a spoon) and the delicious shrimp appetizer. The menu changes seasonally, but I have never been disappointed with anything I have tried. We will definitely continue to visit this restaurant on our future vacations there!

We arrived at 5:45 on Saturday, October 14th and were seated immediately. Our server, Jeannie L., greeted us promptly and our drinks arrived in less than 3 minutes. Jeannie covered the daily specials and featured fish varieties. The parking lot was busy, but there were plenty of available tables. The restaurant started to fill up around 6pm. Our food arrived quickly and was hot, fresh, and flavorful. My wife's filet was cooked perfectly medium rare and she enjoyed her potatoes. I was pleasantly surprised by the haricots verts, as I typically don't enjoy them. My seared yellow fin tuna special was excellent, cooked perfectly with warm center. The Asian noodles, veggies, and sauce were also delicious, though the carrots were a bit too firm for my liking. Desserts, tiramisu and apple dumpling, were both superb and made in-house. We will definitely be returning to Ketch 55 in the future. Note: The driveway and parking lot are in poor condition, so it may be best to arrive in a sturdy vehicle, especially in bad weather. Parking can be tight and navigating the potholes can be challenging.

Ketch 55 is always a highlight of our annual fishing trip. Perfectly planned and ready to eat the best shrimp and grits in my list. Unfortunately, the service I received tonight is far from a highlight. After a long day of fishing, I made several attempts to call and inquire about the specials for the evening. When I attempted to call back less than 5 minutes later, no answer. I attempted to call several times over a 15-30 minute period. Still no answer. So I walked in to place my order. The hostess said to order at the bar. Walked to the bar and waited about 5-10 minutes before the bartender was able to take my order. When I said that I wanted to place a carry-out order, the bartender said “Our kitchen is closed to carry out orders.” I told the bartender I had been trying to call, where she said “oh when it’s busy, we just take the phone of the hook.” The bartender refused to take my service. In her very mild defense, I’m not dressed to impress. But had we been able to sit at the bar and dine in, we would have been able to order the same dishes (circumstances would not allow us to dine in). In all my years of food service in high school, undergrad, and doctorate school, I have NEVER refused service to a paying customer. Extremely disappointed in what used to be one of our annual favorites.

I only gave 4 stars because I found the place expensive, but what isn't in the Outer Banks? The food was delicious, and the service was awesome despite the waitress running about trying to keep up with the many patrons in the place. What pleased me most of all being a beer connoisseur was the great variety of beers, most made locally or at least in NC, and not just stupid IPAs.