Packed following church service on Sunday and always busy during the mid-summer months, Sam & Omie’s has been an Outer Banks tradition for over 70 years.
Located on NC 12 or “beach road” across the street from Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head, North Carolina, Sam & Omies is hands down one of the very best restaurants on the beach.
Open year-round for breakfast, lunch and dinner, I’ve been to Sam & Omie’s quite a few times over the years and unlike most every other place I’ve frequent for food, there isn’t a single occasion where my dining experience was anything short of exceptional.
Rich History
Founded by Sambo Tillet in the 1940s, Sam & Omie’s was originally called “Sambo’s” and was a big favorite among commercial fisherman who frequently enjoyed early morning breakfast before starting their long, tiring day on the open water.
Shortly after opening the restaurant, Sambo decided to start booking charter fishing trips for himself and his close fishing buddies right out of the restaurant.
In the 1950s, the restaurant’s name was changed to include Sambo’s son Omie – the restaurant’s name that’s still used today was first born. Once Sambo decided to become a full time charter fisherman, he sold the restaurant to an Outer Banks local by the name of Tom McKimmey.
Bookings for fishing charters at the newly built fishing center on Hatteras Island (Oregon Inlet) and Sam & Omie’s continued up until the early 1960s when business was booming at Oregon Inlet and the McKimmey concluded the restaurants charter booking operations. The Waits sisters purchased the restaurant in 1971 and they not only expanded the square footage, they also modernized the popular local spot.
Wonderfully Simple
Cozy booths and retro fishing photos line Omie’s walls, the simple decor and old photos bring you back to roots of the restaurant. Nothing about the place is new or cutting edge, but that’s what makes it so charming and inviting.
A place like Sam & Omie’s may never survive in a major metropolitan city but it can certainly thrive in a town as unique as Nags Head.
The Outer Banks has blown up and popularity and having places that have changed only slightly over the years is good for everyone. Nags Head didn’t used to be packed with hundreds of vacation rental homes like it is today, it used to be nothing more than a measly two lane road, rolling sand dunes and places like Sam & Omie’s.
Although there are no surf boards hanging on the walls or tiki men lining the shelves, it’s obvious that this is a restaurant that belongs on the Outer Banks, no tacky decor needed.
Sam & Omie’s Food
During my most recent trip to Sam & Omie’s (I eat here way too often) I stopped by for lunch with my date that also frequents the restaurant.
Although I’ve tried most things on their menu, I tend to gravitate toward the Shrimp Burger which comes with a healthy portion of delectable bite-sized shrimp served on a warm bun with melted cheddar cheese and North Carolina style coleslaw on top.
It’s impossible to eat this sandwich without having a mixture of shrimp, coleslaw or cheese spill over, and that’s okay if you ask me.
The shrimp was fried perfectly, not too crisp and still full of that great fresh shrimp flavor. The healthy portion of coleslaw that compliments the shrimp is always delicious and has just the right amount of mayonnaise, not too damp, yet not dry. I can’t stand dry coleslaw.
Accompanying the scrumptious Shrimp Burger, is a sizable portion of fresh French fries. Crisp, fresh and salted wonderfully, I could eat a plateful of the delectable fries in one sitting.
My lunch partner reviewed the menu and decided on the barbeque platter – not the sandwich, but the platter. Consisting of a mountain sized portion of North Carolina barbeque, delicious coleslaw, a bite sized helping of fresh corn bread and a side, this is one of Sam & Omie’s absolute best dish.
Corn bread is a staple for just about every southern barbeque platter, and it wouldn’t be complete without it. Served with a side of Sweet Baby Ray’s barbeque sauce to drizzle on the NC barbeque if you choose, my lunch partner never opts for the sauce. She states that the tender, moist pork doesn’t require any condiments, it’s perfect just the way it is.
Also, if you like clam chowder or have never tried it before, you have to order a small cup if you stop by Sam & Omie’s for lunch or dinner. Seriously, their clam chowder is award winning and the recipe was recently featured in the USA Today.
If you are an Outer Banks local I don’t have to tell you to visit Sam & Omies because you probably already know how great their food is. However if you are visiting Nags Head or the surrounding towns, I’ll tell you that I highly recommend giving Sam & Omie’s a try.
Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner year-round, I recommend arriving either early for breakfast or dinner, or opting for lunch and avoiding the busiest times of day.
Thanks for reading and until next time remember to eat local…. always!
Sam and Omie’s
7228 S Virginia Dare Trail
Nags Head, NC 27959
252.441.7366
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Filed under: Food, Nags Head, OBX Eats, Outer Banks, Outer Banks History
