One of the best things about exploring a new place is exploring the food scene.
When you first sit down, there’s the excitement of hearing the specials or seeing the menu for the first time.
Then, there’s the difficulty of picking something to try.
Finally, there’s the anticipation as you wait for your food to be delivered.
Hopefully, it all pays off with a great meal.
So, how does Edenton stack up to bigger cities when it comes to our food scene?
One of the problems with visiting Edenton (if you could call it that!) is figuring out where you’ll eat.
There are just so many options!
So, today, I’ll help you figure out which places YOU should stop when you schedule your visit to Edenton.
Breakfast
If you are going to explore historic downtown Edenton, your perfect place is the Edenton Coffee Shop. Hot breakfast sandwiches, massive cinnamon rolls, and donuts combine with locally roasted coffee and a bevy of specialty drinks. The Edenton Coffee House is located in the middle of downtown, so it’s perfect for your exploration.
You’ll find the new Inner Banks BBQ a short drive up the street, as well. Pancakes, avocado toast, and other hot and delicious starters are perfect for a hearty start to your day. When you eat at the Inner Banks BBQ, you support local restoration efforts from some of our historical buildings! It tastes excellent and benefits a great cause!
Lunch
Lunch is hard. There are so many great lunch spots. You’ll have to come back a few times to try them all.
Downtown, just a few hundred feet up from the Edenton Coffee House, is Emilios General Store and Takeaway. Emilio has traveled the world, spending a career as a chef in fine-dining establishments. But now, he’s settled in Edenton and opened up Emilio’s, which is the perfect sandwich shop featuring delicious and unique sandwiches on fresh-baked bread.
A short drive from Downtown is a true destination restaurant, Old Colony Barbecue. Owner Adam Hughes is an Edenton native, world champion pitmaster, and Food Network chopped Champion who has brought his award-winning recipes to Old Colony. Get here early because this place is always packed and sells out daily.
In the mood for pizza or want to sit at a bar and catch a game? Governor’s Pub is the best place in town. Eat inside the restaurant or grab it to go. Either way, you’ll have something delicious.
Afternoon snack
Who doesn’t want a nice pick-me-up in the afternoon? Stop by Blount’s Mutual Drugs for a fresh-squeezed orangeade, lemonade, limeade, or some hand-dipped ice cream if you are downtown.
If fresh-made pastries are more your style, stop into the Sugared Fig Bake Shoppe. They offer a rotating selection of cookies, pastries, and other tasty treats every day.
Dinner
So, where do you go after a day of exploring all the historic and iconic places around Edenton? Where do you eat when you’ve worked up a mighty appetite?
Downtown, you can’t go wrong with local favorites 309 Bistro or Waterman’s Grill. Both restaurants are locally owned and always packed with longtime customers. 309 features pasta, steak, salads, and sandwiches, so there’s something for everyone on the menu. Their shrimp and grits are perfect comfort food. Watermans features fresh seafood and a raw bar for seafood lovers.
Craving Mexican? Mamasitas is the place to go. Drink specials, street tacos, a wide range of favorites, including enchiladas, fajitas, and more. Mamasitas is always busy because it features great food at a great price.
Meals with a romantic twist
Edenton Bay Oyster Bar is a 5-minute drive from Downtown Edenton and sits on a marina overlooking Edenton’s Albemarle Sound. Dine inside and watch the sunset over fresh seafood on the patio.
There’s no better place for a quiet and intimate atmosphere than the award-winning The Table at the Inner Banks Inn. Consistently rated as one of the best restaurants in the region, it’s the perfect setting for a quiet, intimate dinner, whether you are celebrating an anniversary or looking to have a quiet meal.
Edenton has a restaurant for almost every occasion.
Whether you want a quick bite on the go, want to eat at a destination restaurant, or want to have a quiet romantic dinner that rekindles the spark in your relationship, there’s something for everyone.
