Welcome to The SaltBox Cafe
At The SaltBox Cafe, nestled in the charming Colington area of Kill Devil Hills, the essence of New American cuisine shines brightly. This cozy café invites locals and visitors alike to indulge in a thoughtfully curated menu that balances comfort and creativity. From the Southern-style Shrimp & Grits to the delightful Crabcake on fresh spinach salad, every dish is a symphony of flavors crafted with seasonal ingredients. The inviting atmosphere and attentive service enhance the experience, making each meal a memorable occasion. Whether you're savoring brunch classics like Berry Stuffed French Toast or diving into fresh seafood, The SaltBox Cafe promises an exquisite culinary journey.
- 1469 Colington Rd, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Hotline: (252) 255-5594
Welcome to The SaltBox Cafe, a charming eatery nestled on Colington Road in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. This delightful cafe has quickly become a beloved staple among locals and visitors alike, providing a cozy atmosphere and a curated menu that captures the essence of New American cuisine.
One of the standout features of The SaltBox Cafe is its commitment to quality and flavor. The menu, though modest in size, is a well-thought-out selection that caters to various tastes, ensuring that every dish is crafted with care. From their Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes drizzled with a luscious candied peach syrup to the savory Crabby Benedict—a delightful combination of chilled crab and poached eggs atop a perfectly toasted English muffin—the offerings are nothing short of spectacular.
- Brunch Highlights: Don't miss the Colington Biscuit & Gravy, featuring poached eggs and a rich country ham and crab gravy. For a lighter option, the Garden Frittata served with a fresh garden salad delivers vibrant flavors and wholesome goodness.
- Lunch-Licious Options: The Southern Style Shrimp & Grits stands out for its comforting blend of shrimp, andouille sausage, and seasoned vegetables, making it an irresistible choice for seafood lovers.
The ambiance at The SaltBox Cafe is equally impressive. With its inviting decor, friendly staff, and occasional live music, the atmosphere feels like a warm embrace after a long day spent exploring the Outer Banks. The appreciation for both food and service resonates through customer reviews, highlighting the attentive nature of the staff and the chef's visible presence in the dining room.
Brenda G. enthuses about the blackened sea bass sandwich paired with sweet potato fries, praising the freshness of the ingredients. Meanwhile, Penny C. captures the heart of the dining experience, stating it’s an excellent spot for a casual meal, filled with charm and local flavor.
For dessert, the cafe does not disappoint, offering treats like the Blueberry Ricotta Pie, a light and not-too-sweet finale to any meal. It’s these touches that elevate The SaltBox Cafe from just another dining location to a memorable culinary experience.
In summary, if you're seeking a cozy spot with an exceptional menu that balances creativity with comfort, The SaltBox Cafe should be at the top of your list. Just remember—reservations are highly recommended due to its popularity, especially during the bustling seasons. Indulge in the flavors of the Outer Banks at this hidden gem; you'll find that every meal here is indeed a work of art!

Excellent food, charming atmosphere and good service! Great location in Colington on the sound side of Kill Devil Hills. Mostly locals gather here for a nice casual meal.

Outstanding! A real gem. A small menu but so well curated that it's hard to decide between the vegetarian, seafood and meat dishes. Everything was well and carefully prepared. The staff was sensational and friendly. And it was awesome seeing the chef/proprietor.

Great food and cool atmosphere. Went there for brunch and decided to go on the lunch-ier side. Shrimp and grits were outstanding and my wife loved finding a place with gluten free crab cake. Will definitely go back!

I ordered the fried Sammy and my sister ordered the chicken sandwich, Mom ordered a salad with crab cakes. Everything was absolutely delicious and our server was wonderful. She was very attentive and kind. I highly recommend them.

Came here as a recommendation from our bed and breakfast, and this did not disappoint! Reservations go fast as it's a small place, but the bar and outside is open seating. We were told to go right as they open at 5pm to get a seat, and luckily we got the last 2 seats at the bar; however, by the time we left (7 or 7:30-ish), there were several empty seats at the bar and it probably wouldn't have been an issue coming later (unless that's not normal for them?). This was on a Saturday as well. Moving onto the food, we shared the jalapeno popper dip appetizer which came with homemade kettle chips and it was delicious, but it definitely could've been spicier for our palette. My boyfriend had a crabcake for the first time as the waitress highly recommended it. He has nothing to compare it to but he enjoyed it. I was between 2 items and the waitress recommended the arancini entree to me and it was also amazing. I am iffy on gorgonzola sauces because gorgonzola sometimes has a goat cheese taste to it which I don't like, but this didn't give off that nasty taste. I would 1000% eat here again on our next trip to OBX!

This little cafe was wonderful! And such a sweet surprise. We order the Sammy, which was a blackened sea bass sandwich with sweet potato fries. So very fresh and yummy. Highly recommend!

We loved this place! They were kind enough to squeeze us in for a last minute reservation towards the end of the night. There was also live music playing outside the cozy cottage, which was really lovely. We ordered the NOLA bbq shrimp, pan seared crab cake, and catch of the day. Everything was so delicious and bursting with a lot of flavor. Highly recommend all three of these dishes. We then got one of their house made desserts, the blueberry ricotta pie. It was really light and not too sweet, which is right up our alley for post dinner treats.

Delicious food, fantastic service, and one happy group of siblings. Each year that we travel to the Outer Banks, we forget to make reservations in a weeks in advance - if you want to eat here, I recommend doing so. However, upon our arrival, a kind couple was nice enough to move so that our party of seven could occupy the rest of the bar. We started off with the shrimp appetizer, the brussels sprouts, and the ciabatta. All delicious and well-portioned. For dinner, we had the ribeye, the tuna, the pork chop special with peaches, the lamb, the shrimp and grits, the crabcakes, the Mezze plate, and the portobello mushroom pasta dish. Everyone was very happy - especially the vegetarian in our group. We finished the night with a spiced pineapple cake, a peaches and cream cake and cannoli pie. All good - not our favorite part of the meal, but good. A solid evening out with great service!!

The SaltBox Cafe is still on our permanent list of places to eat every time we come to the OBX. The food is always top-notch! No matter what time of year it is, I highly recommend getting a reservation if possible. My family and I came here recently for my birthday. We all got different dishes, and everyone was *chef's kiss* over their food. We also got dessert (they even lit a candle on mine!) and took food home. The inside is cute and cozy. They do have outside seating when the weather is nice. Add this place to your OBX vacation dining list!