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Rusty's Surf & Turf, Buxton, NC

Rusty's Surf & Turf

5.0
5
395 Reviews
$30 and under
Seafood
  • Neighborhood gem
  • Good for groups
  • Great for creative cocktails
Adventure at Rusty's Surf and Turf!
Indulge in a culinary journey that will transport you to exotic shores and create cherished memories with your loved ones. At Rusty's, we're passionate about delivering the highest quality seafood and steaks, prepared by our chefs using global techniques.
Immerse yourself in a symphony of flavors as you savor our mouthwatering shrimp and grits, lovingly crafted with homemade country sausage. Or dive into our tantalizing Spanish-style paella, brimming with a delightful fusion of ingredients.
Our mission is to make every moment unforgettable, evoking nostalgia for past vacations and igniting the joy of shared experiences. We cater to locals, Island visitors, tourists, families on vacation, and adventure seekers like you, creating a welcoming atmosphere where everyone feels at home.
Reserve your table now.

Not bookable

This restaurant is open seasonally. Unfortunately, it is currently closed.

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Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Seafood, Steakhouse, Global, International
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Wed–Sun 5:00 pm–8:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (252) 995-4184
  • Payment options
    Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Neighborhood
    Buxton
  • Parking details
    Private Lot
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 395 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

5.0
5 based on recent ratings
  • 5Food
  • 5Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4.7Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Coastal North Carolina

    Good for groups

  • Coastal North Carolina

    Neighborhood gem

  • Coastal North Carolina

    Seafood

  • Outer Banks

    Best Overall

  • Outer Banks

    Best Food

  • Outer Banks

    Best Service

  • Outer Banks

    Best Ambiance

  • Outer Banks

    Best Value

  • Outer Banks

    Good for special occasions

  • Outer Banks

    Lively

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Rusty's Surf & Turf offers a delightful dining experience with "amazing food and top-notch service." Known for its fresh seafood and standout dishes like shrimp and grits and fried green tomatoes, Rusty's combines "local seafood" with a community vibe. Guests appreciate its reservation system and friendly staff, ensuring a memorable visit every time.

395 Reviews
  1. Linda

    Raleigh

    18 reviews

    5.0

    18 reviews

    Dined on October 11, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Being able to make reservations is a big plus for Rusty’s especially when you have children. Rusty is always there and having an owner operator in a restaurant is almost always best. Food variety is very good and his seafood is fresh and seasonal. I love his shrimp and grits.

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  2. Phil

    Columbus

    18 reviews

    5.0

    18 reviews

    Dined on October 9, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I have been coming to the Outer Banks over 50 years and this may be the best meal that I have ever had. Absolutely outstanding! Coconut mahi bites with mango chutney were unique and flavorful. The shrimp and grits were better than any I have had anywhere across the country. My wife loved the tortellini with scallops and shrimp. She had them spice it up and said it was perfect. And, the cocktails and dessert drinks were made to perfection. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention our server, Kelly. Attentive with a great personality. Best dining experience in the Outer Banks all the way around.

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  3. Aaron

    Western NC

    8 reviews

    4.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on October 5, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 2
    You are greeted at the door with a sign warning you they are short staffed. However, our service was great and the food was fantastic. Unfortunately there was a large group with young kids who were allowed to be as loud as they want. It is frustrating to spend $60 a person (table of 5) and have to struggle to hear each other. I am not a fan of sitting smaller parties with large parties for this very reason. Other than that it was a great meal and great service.

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  4. Courtney

    Charleston

    14 reviews

    5.0

    14 reviews

    Dined on October 3, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    don't miss this incredible dining experience! delicious food and great service! Everything we had was delicious!!

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  5. Ann

    New York City

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 2, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent dinner starting with appetizer & main meal. Great drink & wine selection. Highly recommend the restaurant.

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  6. Robbie

    Wilmington

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on September 28, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    As usual, we were once again extremely happy with the food we ate at Rusty’s! I am always too full to indulge in one of the delicious desserts, but this time I just could not pass up the Pumpkin Cheesecake. I took it to go and it was absolutely heavenly! Thanks to everyone at Rusty’s for contributing to our delicious experience. We have eaten at Rusty’s a few times and everyone makes us feel like we are coming to visit friends! I just bought myself a fleece lined Rusty Surf & Turf jacket that I look forward to wearing when I go beach combing in the chilly weather. Thanks again to everyone at Rusty’s, we hate to see you close for the season! robbie

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  7. Barbara

    VIP

    Denver

    25 reviews

    5.0

    25 reviews

    Dined on September 19, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Excellent food and service. We have dined here in the past and looked forward to this visit.

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  8. OpenTable Diner

    Philadelphia

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on September 19, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    First time at Rusty’s and we will definitely go back. We had a large party that was treated extremely well. The food all came out correctly and on time. Kelly was our server and she was exceptional. Kind, patient and offered us a personal dining experience. Rusty came over and asked how our meals were, everything was awesome. Don’t hesitate and definitely book a reservation to ensure you don’t miss out on great island food and hospitality :) have a great off season everyone

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  9. Robbie

    Wilmington

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on September 19, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This was not the first time we have gone to Rusty’s, we feel that out of all the restaurants on the island, Rusty’s is consistently exceptional and the wait staff are extremely friendly and treat us like family. In addition to the menu Rusty has, that does change up every so often, he also has delicious specials everyday that he offers. The best part of all is that Rusty, who is the owner, will stop by our table to personally check and make sure everyone is happy with their meal. To me that makes me feel that he really cares that his patrons are truly enjoying their dining experience, whether they be a local or someone visiting from out of town. We have never had a bad experience at Rusty’s. We just wish he could stay open all year round, but not many restaurants can do that here on the Outer Banks. I admire every dessert that I see go by but usually am too full to indulge. Once in awhile we will bring something home to eat at a later time. The desserts offered are also delicious. It is a very pleasant experience whenever we visit Rusty’s and I recommend it to all!

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  10. Jennifer

    Wilmington

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 14, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Kalbi steak is my fav and it did not disappoint !! The tempura shrimp, Brussels sprout and fried green tomatoes were all delicious and ended with the chocolate mud pie !! All spectacular !

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FAQs

Rusty's Surf & Turf is rated 5 stars by 395 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Not bookable

This restaurant is open seasonally. Unfortunately, it is currently closed.

Google Map for Rusty's Surf & Turf

47355 N.C. Highway 12, Buxton, NC 27920

Additional information

  • Neighborhood
    Buxton
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Wed–Sun 5:00 pm–8:00 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Seafood, Steakhouse, Global, International
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Private Lot
  • Payment options
    Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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