Experience Chef-Inspired, Casual, and uniquely Outer Banks Restaurant in South Nags Head
Founded by a passionate father-son duo of skilled chefs, Sea Chef Dockside Kitchen offers the best of local Outer Banks cuisine in a relaxed, waterfront setting. Located inside the brand-new Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, Sea Chef features breathtaking views of the Pamlico Sound and the iconic Marc Basnight Bridge. Enjoy casual, counter-service dining with both indoor and outdoor seating options, all while taking in the stunning views of the Oregon Inlet Channel. Whether you're stopping by for a quick bite or a leisurely meal, Sea Chef is the perfect OBX Restaurant provides to savor fresh, local eats by the water.
Culinary-focused in a laid back setting
Sea Chef owners Mac and Jeff Buben boast impressive culinary resumes. Jeff, a 45 year veteran of the restaurant industry, began his career within some of the finest restaurants in New York before opening Vidalia Restaurant in Washington, DC, where he won the the 1999 James Beard Award for Best Chef for the Mid-Atlantic region. Mac decided to follow in his father's footsteps, and trained at The Culinary Institute of America, later learning under some of the East Coast's top chefs.
After decades in the fine dining scene, the duo moved to the Outer Banks in 2023 and opened their comfortable and cozy "seafood shack", inspired by their memories of fishing together out of Oregon Inlet. With a goal to combine their love of cooking with a mission to support local commercial fishing in the region, the pair have spent the past two seasons crafting high-caliber dishes that everyone can enjoy. Open for lunch and dinner, with catering availability as well!
