Rating: TERRIBLE RIBS 1/2/2017
Reviewer: piro piro

I WAS HERE ON DECEMBER 31 2016 I CHOSE RIBS THEY WERE FATTY AT ONE END AND THIN,DRY AND ALL BONE AT THE OTHER. THIS WAS THE THIRD BAD MEAL I HAVE HAD HERE THANKSGIVING AND EASTER BUFFETS BOTH LAST YEAR FOOD WAS EITHER COLD OR WARM BARELY AND DRIED OUT.

Rating: Terrible Ribs 1/2/2017
Reviewer: piro piro

I was at owens December 31 2016. I had BBQ RIBS they were the worst ribs I have had can get better from su

Rating: Beautiful during the holidays! 12/10/2015
Reviewer: jdj1991

Owens is beautifully decorated for the holidays! Garland, trees, lights, ornaments...it's gorgeous. It's true the food is pricey but the inside is beautiful, the staff is very courteous and was very quick and efficient. The food came quickly and was very tasty. I would definitely go back again for future visits.

Rating: nice scenery.... 8/26/2014
Reviewer: MongOBX

.... but food isn't worth the prices... I liked what I got, but my wallet felt lighter than it should

Rating: our favorite restaurant in the OBX 2/7/2013
Reviewer: beachreader

We eat here every time we go to the OBX during our yearly May and Sept trips. It's the only restaurant to which we make a return visit every single time. The food is excellent and the service has always been top notch. We love their crabcakes and coconut shrimp. We have never been disappointed in any meal we have had there.

Rating: A must visit for me 2/5/2013
Reviewer: fjaco68

Pricey but I love this place. Food is great and well prepared - have to get the chocolate mousse everytime, it even travels well when I have to get it to go.

Rating: owens 9/9/2012
Reviewer: kochise

we ate there this year for dinner. Had lobster tail and salad and baked potato for two people. was 100.00. Nothing spectacular that i would go back. very pricey

Rating: Don't understand the bad ratings 9/8/2012
Reviewer: Jstangl

We had dinner here last Saturday and really enjoyed it as always. Their seafood is consistently well prepared and of excellent quality.

Rating: pricey, service sucked, ok food 5/19/2011
Reviewer: Gigi Reynolds

Overpriced terrible service....restaurant had a musty odor. Food was ok would not say I had to have it again

Rating: I love this place. 3/1/2011
Reviewer: Sue

I am surprised by some of the negative reviews. I have been to Owens' several times and have always had pleasant service and wonderful food. I also really love the decor and atmosphere.

Rating: One of our favorites 10/5/2010
Reviewer: George

This is usually where we go for dinner our last night of vacation. It is my wife's favorite place.

Service is always attentive, and friendly. They do a great job with our child's food allergy.

The food is always very good and portions are big enough that we have some to take home with us.

Rating: Outstanding as always! 9/20/2010
Reviewer: Jstangl

We ate here two weeks ago and absolutely loved it - as we always do. Consistently among the best restaurants on the Outer Banks in our experience - well worth the drive down from Corolla.

Rating: NOT WORTH THE MONEY 7/6/2010
Reviewer: DANNY

CRAB HAD SO MANY SHELLS IN IT MY WIFE GOT CHOKED. cOME ON NOW YOU PAY 35.OO FOR FILET OSCAR THE CRAB SHELLS SHOULD BE PICKED OUT. I KNOW FRESH SEAFOOD SHOULD HAVE SHELLS BUT FOR THE MONEY SOMEONE SHOULD BE CHECKING THE SEAFOOD. ONE OR TWO SHELLS FINE BUT COME ON THERE WAS ABOUT 3 OZ OF CRABMEAT AND IT HAD 15 SHELLS

Rating: Can't handle parties of 6 acts like we are intruding their space 6/14/2010
Reviewer: jim

Hostess got very disgruntle about having to sit a 6 top table. She said I really don't know where to put you wth? She then suggested we sit upstairs in the lounge area...servers were sitting around doing absolutely nothing. One server was stinky and the food was ok but not worth the 20-35+

Rating: Totally Sucked 6/11/2010
Reviewer: Thomas Wilson

Party of 9 of us, got split up, food sucked, never going back, waste of money, must be owned by Obama Supporters.

Rating: GREAT FOOD, EXCELLENT SERVICE, MUST DO 6/2/2010
Reviewer: Bill Foreman

Had a great dinner over this weekend~ a little pricey but you pay for quality not quanity

Rating: Gone way down hill 6/1/2010
Reviewer: Evon Simpliski

Ate here over this past weekend and was extremely disappointed!!!!! Last year we ate upstairs and had a young lady wait on us...she was wonderful! Catered to our every need made conversation with us....Stunning young lady juggling work and 3 young children. Was looking forward to seeing her again but was told she was not working there anymore....instead got an inexperienced young man...... rude and very unattentive. I don't think he had bathed from partying the night before. Food was mediocre compared from last year. I guess the server last year went to bigger and better places. If anyone working there knows who I am talking about and knows where she is please let me know~food and service go hand and hand!!!!!

Rating: Memorial day weekend~just say it was memorable!!!!! 6/1/2010
Reviewer: Sharon

I have never been treated the way my family was treated at this establishment. Extremely overpriced, rude service all around which began at the hostess stand, and top it all off~the owners son in law said if front of my table including young children~well what the f*** do you want me to do about it? This was after my wifes filet oscar priced $35.00 got sent back the first time cause it was well done then we asked to speak to the manager cause the kitchen staff decided to be funny and send it out still purple in the inside needless to say my pregnant wife ended up puking!!!! Btw she ordered it medium. Dont waste your time energy and especially money here~go to Basnights Lone Cedar or Tale of the Whale instead.

Rating: Always our final dinner for the week. 9/28/2009
Reviewer: JP

Love this place! We go here every year the night before we leave for a more fancy dinner. Others have mentioned the to-die-for pecan encrusted scallops, coconut shrimp, and crab remick. Some of the best salads you'll ever have. All the dressings are home made. My fiance has ranch on everything, and says their buttermilk ranch is the best she's ever had. Overheard a lady at the table next to us say she could bathe in their blue cheese dressing. lol! We've enjoyed their fried seafood and prime rib as well. Excellent dessert selection. Bill usually runs around $80 for two.

Rating: In my top 5 on the beach 9/28/2009
Reviewer: timobx

Always good food, always good service. One of the best places here. If someone else offers to pay I always go here. Not cheap but quality costs more and consistency does too and this place has both.

Rating: Outstanding 9/15/2009
Reviewer: Jstangl

We ate here twice in early September - the food and service were excellent on both trips. I had the flounder one night and the shrimp and grits the other - my wife had shrimp dishes both nights.

Rating: Used to be the place to go 4/19/2009
Reviewer: DeJean

Let me just say the service has been wonderful for the wife and me. Long waits yes, but what else do we have to do. The food has been getting just plain over the years. I have been going for 30+ yrs. We used to always saved the night for our anniversary dinner for Owens. I do believe their is going to be somewhere else. Don't get me wrong, the food was OK, but for the price, I don't know.
My wife has always enjoyed the Crabmeat Remick.

Rating: Better than I even expected... 5/8/2008
Reviewer: Haley's Mom

Service and Food are A+, atmosphere is what I would call laid back elegant. I'm a country girl from WV and I didn't feel out of place at all. Hands down our favorite restaurant. What makes it stand out is not only the food and service but the attention to detail in all aspects of the meal.

Rating: Wonderful dinner 4/2/2008
Reviewer: Nancy D.

We ate at Owens 3-14-08, the sign outside said it was opening night for the season. Everything was perfect. The pecan encrusted scallops as an appetizer were melt in your mouth fresh and tasted wonderful. I had crab cakes that were the best I've ever had. My husband had shrimp and grits and he said it was perfect. The service was impeccable and this was the best meal we'd had in a long time. No room for dessert. We're thinking of making five hour round trip one day soon just to go back and eat at Owens.

Rating: Overpriced mediocre food - horrible service 2/17/2008
Reviewer: Russ

True story. Where do I begin? Waiter was inexperienced and service was bad. Food was mediocre at best. We had an almost raw hamburger delivered to the table for our child. When we asked for a properly cooked one - we received attitude from the manager and the owner's daughter. We never received it and then asked that it be removed from the bill. The owner's daughter came to the table and actually said "you got your f------ hamburger". This was said to us with our child there and other children in the vicinity. We were very polite about the bad service and the raw burger up until that point. We were treated like typical tourists. We are not and will never be back. Pick another one of the great restaurants on the OBX. Don't waste your time and money here.

Rating: Excellent meal, excellent service 12/1/2007
Reviewer: Susan (obx4me)

For a Thursday evening in November, this restaurant was surprisingly busy but service was crisp and professional.

After the appetizers (pecan crusted scallops in a Jack Daniels sauce - simply sublime - and coconut shrimp) and the salads (homemade dressings were delicious), we were full!

My husband had one of the evening specials, fresh tuna with fried oysters, either of which would have made a full meal. I had a crabcake with coconut shrimp; it was delicious and a huge portion. In fact, I took most of it home with me!

We were too full to consider the dessert tray but maybe next time we'll forgo the appetizers and try dessert.

Since the demise of Austin Creek Grill, our favorite OBX restaurant, this has become one of our favorites.

Rating: Long wait for 2 people 7/23/2007
Reviewer: Unhappy after spending lots of money.

Wanted a nice dinner for our anniversary...arrived at 5:30 was quoted an hour wait. Two and a half hours later we were finally seated. Customer service is at an all time low. I understand that you can't give me a time exactly but most other rest. will be within 20 minutes. If you have been in the business this long and can't give me a good time estimate then that is poor management. Food was overpriced for portion size. When I pay that much for a meal I expect a full package of customer service, friendliness. The hostess could see how long we waited and the only thing that was said was thanks for waiting. Will not be back because of the high prices and lack of customer service. Our poor waitress was bussing her own tables. Hire some more staff so that I don't have to sit and wait any longer after being seated. Our waitress was nice enough and did a good job when she was waiting on us and yes I did tip her a little over 20%, since I am not going to penalize her for managements incompetencies. I will save my money and go somewhere else for next years anniversary.

Rating: Long wait for 2 people 7/23/2007
Reviewer: Unhappy after spending lots of money.

Wanted a nice dinner for our anniversary...arrived at 5:30 was quoted an hour wait. Two and a half hours later we were finally seated. Customer service is at an all time low. I understand that you can't give me a time exactly but most other rest. will be within 20 minutes. If you have been in the business this long and can't give me a good time estimate then that is poor management. Food was overpriced for portion size. When I pay that much for a meal I expect a full package of customer service, friendliness. The hostess could see how long we waited and the only thing that was said was thanks for waiting. Will not be back because of the high prices and lack of customer service. Our poor waitress was bussing her own tables. Hire some more staff so that I don't have to sit and wait any longer after being seated. Our waitress was nice enough and did a good job when she was waiting on us and yes I did tip her a little over 20%, since I am not going to penalize her for managements incompetencies. I will save my money and go somewhere else for next years anniversary.

Rating: Another OBX tradition 7/2/2007
Reviewer: Melody

Love this place and the food.

Rating: Not worth the price !!!! 6/10/2007
Reviewer: Old gray fisherman

The food is good,But not that good for the cost,use to get a plate full for less money ,now you get less food for more money...Had to wait about a hour for the food,,,But what can ya say we were on vacation....

Rating: Huzzah for Owens' 10/13/2006
Reviewer: YMINIowa

Every trip to the Outer Banks deserves one excellent dining experience, and at Owens' you can count on this. I've been there numerous times and have never had a less than superiour meal there. This year's dinner was extra special, as I took my guests from Denmark there for our final evening on the Outer Banks. We were not disappointed - our waiter, Josh, was incredibly patient in helping me explain the various entrees to the Danes. He was also extremely helpful in our choice of wine with dinner. We all had seafood platters and my only complaint is that the portions were too large! We thoroughly enjoyed our dinner - we never felt rushed, as we lingered over the meal, even though the restaurant was full. A wonderful time was had by all of us.

Rating: Great Place to eat- 9/8/2006
Reviewer: keywestlady@charter.net

The Shrimp and Grits are to die for. The service is impecible. The calamari is an excellent appetizer of course you are served cheese and crackers almost immediately. The tomato basil dressing is wonderful. The 10 layer chocolate cake homemade locally is a sin.

Rating: Gets a three 7/31/2006
Reviewer: MikeinNoVa

The food is fantastic, but it gets a three because The Lone Cedars food is just as good, bigger portions and is several dollars per entree cheaper. Two different atmospheres, Lone Cedar being much more casual, but that's what we like.

Rating: Snooty 7/19/2006
Reviewer: A traveler

Very snooty staff and overpriced, mediocre food. If I want NYC attitude, I'll go to NYC.

Rating: Best in OBX! 6/14/2006
Reviewer: PaulP

We go to Owens twice every trip. We were both born and raised in Maryland, the home of the crabcake, and I can tell you that Owens' are the best I've ever had outside of Maryland, and rank right up near the top for the best I've eaten anywhere!

Their menu has something for everyone, but the local seafood is their speciality and it is superb.

As far as the prices go, I've paid more for food that is nowhere near as good as theirs. Yes, it's not a cheap all you can eat buffet, but I refuse to eat in those places anyhow. The food is worth every penny, and in no sense could it be considered expensive. There are several more expensive places in OBX. Try 1587.

Rating: we go every year! 6/6/2006
Reviewer: caroline

the food is wonderful!

Rating: Puts others to shame... 5/2/2006
Reviewer: Kara OH

My father has gone to the Outerbanks well over 40 times in the past 35 years and said that his meal at Owens' was the best meal he has ever had on the Outer Banks. Service was outstanding, food was out of this world and the little store at the front is adorable! A visit to Owens' is absolutely a MUST!!

Rating: The Best 11/18/2005
Reviewer: Dave

Quite simply the best food on the OBX. We spend our summers in KDH and Owen's has been at the top of our list forever. Try the bacon wrapped scallops as an appetizer. Delicious!

Rating: Wonderful and contestant - AA++ 11/22/2004
Reviewer: Tim

This is on my top 5 list and is always great! Pricey but they have a right to be with the quality and service they offer. Go here and you will see! Wonderful wonderful

Rating: Always a Favorite 11/22/2004
Reviewer: Vi

We have been going to Owens since the 70's when Miss Clara (Owens) was alive. We often stayed at their motel across the street. We try to go there at least once each trip. The food is always good, well prepared, but now a bit pricey. Love their hushpuppies. Worth splurging!

Rating: Website Info 11/2/2004
Reviewer: KT Mae

Just for information, Owen's does have a website too:

http://www.owensrestaurant.com/

Rating: Nearly perfection! 9/2004 10/26/2004
Reviewer: YMINIowa

Owen's was just down the beach road from our cottage, so we tried it on a whim one evening when I didn't feel like cooking.

Wow! No complaints from me!

We ate upstairs in the Station Keepers' Lounge (full dinners, not just light fare) & the only bad thing about that is after a few bottles of wine, it's a long hike downstairs to the bathroom!

This is one of those places that you savor the entire meal - no rushing with dinner. A great place for either romantic dining for two or a group of your best friends to enjoy the food & atmosphere at a leisurely pace.

The service was suberb ... within 3 minutes of being seated, we had our drinks as well as a complimentary crock of cheese spread (very tasty), warm bread & crackers.

I had crab & scallops sauteed in butter - excellent! The rest of the party had the coconut shrimp & they raved about it.

Perhaps a bit expensive, but you get what you pay for & you get a wonderful meal there!

We spent about a half hour after our meal looking at the historical photographs & artifacts in the restaurant. All very interesting!

I would definitely return there.

Rating: A Special Treat 10/26/2004
Reviewer: KT Mae

We love Owens! Been going there since 1986. It is expensive, but to me, it's worth it for a pampered evening with a lovely atmosphere, great service and excellent food. They have a pretty diverse menu and we've never been disappointed. Again, pricey, but nice. We always dress up a bit and go out in style for a special evening here. When they have it, I love their French onion soup! And I always save room for the chocolate mousse.

Rating: Great but expensive 6/7/2004
Reviewer: Ace Mclean

That about sums it up. We really enjoyed Owen's as recomended but other folks on this site. The food and service were quite good, the atmosphere was comfortable, and the decor interesting. They have a big menu and a few creative specials.

The main drawback? It's expensive. Many entree's are over 30 bucks, and very few are under 20. This put's them 8-10 bucks more per meal that a few places of equal quality in the area. Still, it's worth checking out!

Rating: Owen's 11/11/2003
Reviewer: OBXBev (Beverly Rowell)

We've been going to Owen's since the 1960's and it is still one of our favorites. The food is excellent, the service great, & the atmosphere is nice.