My Memorable Dinner at Café Atlantic on Ocracoke Island, NC

Two years ago, my husband, children, parents, and I went on vacation to Ocracoke Island in the Outer Banks region of North Carolina. We liked the laid-back, artsy feel of the island and were enjoying our stay when we happened upon the restaurant known as Café Atlantic.

From the outside, Café Atlantic looked like a lovely place, and we all decided to give it a try. We were so glad that we did.

I ordered the Special House Salad which contains warm goat cheese, chick peas, sweet red pepper, and sunflower seeds and ate it with Café Atlantic's homemade Cucumber Dill salad dressing. It was delicious - one of the best salads that I have ever had.

My husband ordered the beef and shrimp kabobs, and my parents and children ordered steaks, scallops, and other seafood. All of them agreed that the food was exceptional as well.

We ate dinner there at Café Atlantic on two nights of our weeklong stay at Ocracoke. Both evenings, our servers were extremely friendly and helpful, and the hostess was a jewel. They all made us feel as if we were dinner guests in their home and even told us about interesting sites around Ocracoke to take the children to see. It was a very warm and welcoming feeling.

If you visit Ocracoke Island, NC, I strongly suggest that you visit Café Atlantic . It is located on Highway 12 in Ocracoke, North Carolina, and the phone number is 252-928-4861. Café Atlantic is open every evening for dinner and on Sundays from 11am-2pm for brunch (they have two separate menus for these different times).

For the dinner menu, prices range from $13.95 to $21.95 for dinner entrees, $6.00 to $9.95 for dinners for children and seniors, $12.00 to 13.95 for salads, $4.00 to $7.50 for appetizers, $12.95 to $18.95 for pasta and rice dishes, and $1.75 to $3.75 for beverages. For the Sunday brunch menu, the prices are somewhat more economical - $3.50 to $8.00 for sandwiches, $5.50 to $8.50 for wraps, $1.50 to $2.00 for side orders, $4.00 to $9.75 for soups, salads, and starters, and $7.25 to $15.00 for lunch platters. To view Café Atlantic's full menu, visit http://www.ocracokeisland.com/café_atlantic.htm.

Although the prices may seem a little expensive, the quality of the food and the splendid level of service is well worth it. I highly recommend Café Atlantic and plan to return there for a meal when my family and I return to the Outer Banks area