When the weather shifts and the summer tourists go home, what do Hatteras Island residents, second homeowners and fall visitors do? Enjoy the beach, surf, fish, kiteboard, hike – and go out to eat! And where do they love to dine? Here are two of their favorites.
Muffins and Scones
Muffins and Scones in Avon is celebrating its seventh year of being an Outer Banks favorite, not only for its delicious menu of bakery and coffee offerings, but also for being the coziest, hippest gathering spot to relax and unwind on Hatteras Island.
Open year round, Muffins and Scones is the perfect spot to share some island time with family, friends and neighbors in an inviting, welcoming space.
“Our coffee shop encompasses the essence of Hatteras Island during the off season, when the friendly staff have the time to welcome old friends and get to know new ones who visit the shop,” says Blake Taft, co-owner.
Whether you have a sweet tooth, need a caffeine boost or are looking for delicious lunch or snack, Muffins and Scones is open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and features everything from seasonal drinks and pastries to soups, quiches by the slice and paninis. You’ll fall in love with the shop’s seasonal offerings such as pumpkin-themed coffee and pastries this fall and Christmas-inspired peppermint and gingerbread flavors around the holidays.
It’s no surprise that Muffins and Scones is an Outer Banks favorite with their team of bakers that start every morning before dawn – around 3 a.m.! – to have the best bakery items fresh out of the oven when guests walk through the door. Once the morning’s baking is done, manager and baker Sheryl O’Neal gets to work on the shop’s famous custom wedding cakes and pies, available year round.
When it comes to favorites in the bakery, guests love Muffins and Scones’ blueberry muffins, cinnamon rolls and peach, apple, blueberry and cherry turnovers, all baked fresh every day. And you don’t want to miss their brown sugar cinnamon scones to compliment a warm cup of coffee.
Favorite savory sandwiches are the Nessie with lox and cream cheese, the OBX Caprese sandwich and the Atlantic with prosciutto and smoked Gouda. On chilly afternoons, locals know that this is the place to pick up quart containers of homemade soups, like the potato bacon soup, for dinner. As you can see, Muffins and Scones is more than a bakery. It has delicious menu options no matter what you are in the mood for coupled with a great space to hang your hat for a bit.
The Froggy Dog
There’s no better place to enjoy an off-season meal on Hatteras Island than at The Froggy Dog Restaurant. The local favorite restaurant in the heart of Avon has earned an outstanding reputation for delicious cuisine, great customer service and an authentic island vibe regardless of the season.
While guests can always expect an unforgettable experience at The Froggy Dog, in the off-season the staff savors the extra attention they can provide to their local friends and visitors who walk through the doors.
“We really love the off-season because a lot of our regulars come back, and we really like seeing all the familiar faces again when things slow down,” says Blake Taft, who co-owns the restaurant with his mother, Julia Taft.
Blake and Julia and their staff invite everyone to stop by, relax with a great meal and mingle with the locals. During the fall, The Froggy Dog will be closed on Tuesdays. During the winter, The Froggy Dog will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays but open for lunch and dinner the other days and even for their popular Sunday brunch.
Fall means guests can enjoy The Froggy Dog’s much-anticipated lunch specials and delicious comfort food, including locals’ favorites like Fried Chicken Friday. The Froggy Dog’s chef takes special care when preparing their famous Southern Fried Chicken with mashed potatoes, gravy and collards. And if soup or meatloaf is something you crave when the weather gets cooler, you won’t be disappointed in the menu offerings.
The Froggy Dog is excited to bring seasonal flavors to the Sunday brunch menu with the change of seasons. Nothing says fall like pumpkin spice pancakes with pecans or perhaps a fall-inspired avocado toast with pears, gorgonzola and honey. Heading into the winter months, guests will be treated to warm hearty soups, crispy Brussels sprouts and orange cranberry mimosas. And when things start to warm up again come spring, be sure to stop in on Sundays for The Froggy Dog’s strawberry and lemon French toast and lavender mimosas, all made with the freshest ingredients.
If it’s The Froggy Dog’s popular wine dinners that are on your mind, there is still time. Set your sights on March when monthly wine dinners will resume. And for all the sweethearts out there, Valentine’s Dinner at The Froggy Dog is the perfect way to celebrate; couples will enjoy a romantic, intimate fine dining experience with live music. The Froggy Dog is excited to participate again in Hatteras Island Cancer Foundation’s annual Pink Drink fundraiser for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Stop in during the month of October to see what pink drink The Froggy Dog will be serving up this year.
(252) 986-5109
40126 N.C. Highway 12, Avon
MuffinsandScones.com
(252) 995-5550
40050 N.C. Highway 12, Avon
FroggyDog.com
About the Author Michelle Wagner
Michelle has been writing about the Outer Banks for 25 years. She lives on Colington Island with her husband, two children and a number of dogs and cats.
