Meet the winners of the Best on the Beach 2023!

Meet the winners of Best of the Beach 2023!

November 8, 2023.

We would like to express our special thanks to everyone who participated in the Best of the Beach 2023 contest, organized by OBXToday.com and JAM Media Solutions. This year, over 71,000 votes were cast, with more than half a million individual votes from readers for their favorite restaurants, shops, bartenders, souvenir stores, fishing tours, surf schools, and much more.

The winners are as follows:

Around the beach

• The best radio station:Radio Free Outer Banks
• The best podcast:Outer Banks This Week with Autumn and Justin
• The best place to work:Southern Shores Realty
• Best public figure:Greg Smrdelj
• The most colorful personality:Greg Smrdelj
• Best non-profit organization:Korolevsky Wild Horse Fund
• The best place for a wedding:Manteo
• Best local radio host:Lisa Brickhouse
• Best area:Manteo
• Best local website:OBX Today
• The best weekend trip:Okrekok
• The best public school:First Flight High School
• The best private school:Outer Banks Montessori Collective
• The best kindergarten:Little School of Fish
• The best place for surfing:Jennette's Pier
• Best local author:Suzanna Tate
• The best panoramic spot:Downtown Manteo waterfront
• The best psychic:Donna Perez

Art and entertainment

• The best dance school:Outer Banks Dance Academy
• Best/friendliest pier employee:Brandy in Fish Heads
• The best mobile DJ:John Harper
• Best museum/aquarium:North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island
• Best local two-day getaway:Okrekok
• The best annual event:Seafood Festival at the Outer Banks
• The best art gallery:Swell Ceramics
• The best tourist attraction:Beach
• The best karaoke place:Jolly Roger
• Best local band/musician:Tai Fleming

Dishes and drinks

• The best cheap food:Fish Heads
• The best burger joint:Art's Place
• The best oyster:Awful Arthur's
• The best burrito:Plaza Azteca
• The best fried chicken:Publix
• Best catering:Black Pelican
• Best cocktails:Tiki Bar Mama Kwan's
• The best desserts:The Saltbox Cafe
• The best family restaurant:Henry's
• The best restaurant for kids:Jolly Roger
• The best fish restaurant:Basnight's Lone Cedar Cafe
• The best service team and service:The Saltbox Cafe
• The best cookies:Crumbl Cookies
• The best donuts:Duck Donuts
• Best bar:Fish Heads
• The best choice of beer:Fish Heads
• The best outdoor venue:Fish Heads
• The best hour of happiness:Fish Heads
• Best local gadget:Avalon Pier
• The best open patio:Lost Colony Brewing
• The best restaurant on the waterfront:Tale of the Whale
• The best French fries:Five Guys Burgers and Fries
• The best food truck:Eduardo's Taco Stand
• Best coffee shop:Front Porch Cafe
• The best breakfast:Henry's
• Best barbecue:Pigman's BBQ
• The best romantic restaurant:Colington Cafe
• The best soup:The Saltbox Cafe
• Best bartender:Dirt Batman at Lost Colony Brewing
• The best bagels:Barrier Island Bagels
• Best brewery:Lost Colony Brewing
• The best bars with snacks:Lucky 12 Tavern
• The best chocolate/candy store:Big Buck's Ice Cream
• The best restaurant for pets:Mulligan's
• Best new restaurant:Lost Colony Tavern
• The best fish market:Billy's Seafood
• The best bakery:Orange Blossom Bakery and Cafe
• Best brewery/restaurant:Outer Banks Brewing Station
• Best distillery:Outer Banks Distilling/Kill Devil Rum
• The best Mexican restaurant:Plaza Azteca
• The best breakfast and dining at the hotel:Colington Creek Inn
• The best winemaking:Sanctuary Vineyards
• Best pizzeria:Nags Head Pizza Co.
• Best takeaway:Food Dudes
• The best ice cream/frozen yogurt:The Chill Spot
• Best sushi:Single Fin
• Best Asian/Thai restaurant:Thai Room
• Best lunch:Barefoot Bernie's
• The best salad:Barefoot Bernie's
• Best brunch:The Saltbox Cafe
• The best vegetarian restaurant:The Saltbox Cafe
• Best smoothies / acai bowls:The Spot
• Best chef:Randolph Sprinkle at The Saltbox Cafe
• The best wine bar:Trio
• The best choice of wine:Trio
• The best wine shop:Trio
• The best waiter in the restaurant:April at The Saltbox Cafe

Health and fitness

• The best dental office:Atlantic Dentistry
• The best hearing center:Outer Banks Ears Nose and Throat
• The best doctor:Dr. Kara A. Summers
• Best chiropractor:Dr.

Rest and fishing

• Best fishing charter:C Legs Sportfishing
• The best fishing boat:Miss Oregon Inlet II
• Best camping/RV park:Frisco Woods
• The best pier:Jennette's Pier
• The best water sports company:Kitty Hawk Kites
• The best surfing lessons:Outer Banks Surf School
• The best marinade:Shallowbag Bay Marina
• Best golf club:The Pointe Golf Club
• The best tour of wild horses:Wild Horse Adventure Tours

Services

• The best plumber:Absolute Plumbing
• The best home improvement/renovation company:Wake Zone Services
• The best building materials store:Ace Hardware
• Best landscaper:OBX Tree Doc
• The best tree care company:OBX Tree Doc
• The best company for heating and air conditioning:Anderson Heating and Cooling
• The best association management company:Signature Touch Property Management
• The best carpet cleaning company:Atlantic Carpet Cleaning
• The best builder of large boats:Bayliss Boatworks
• The best towing service:Setos
• The best real estate agent:Corey Taylor
• The best residential real estate company:Carolina Designs Realty
• The best real estate rental company:Carolina Designs Realty
• The best company for commercial real estate:Southern Shores Realty
• Best customer service:Carolina Designs Realty
• The best housekeeper/cleaner:Davis Cleaning
• The best property management company:Carolina Designs Realty
• Best car service/repair:Coastal Fast Lube
• The best kitchen and bathroom renovation:Cozy Kitchens
• The best jeweler:Creative Jewelers
• The best skincare and spa care specialist:Aqua Spa
• The best church:Lighthouse
• The best propane delivery company:Suburban
• The best hotel:Outer Banks Motor Lodge
• The best car company:Lady Jane
• The best appliance repair:Manteo Furniture Appliance
• Best photographer:OBX Family Photography
• The best computer and IT services:Objects of external shores
• Expert in the field of car rentals:Enterprise
• The best digital marketing:Bright And Social Co.
• The best pest control:Outer Banks Pest Control
• The best local construction company:Premiere Contracting Inc
• The best children's boarding house/care/nursery:Hatteras Island Pet Resort
• The best veterinarian/veterinary clinic:Coastal Animal Hospital
• Best paramedic/ambulance service:Joe Hilger
• The best services for pools and spas:Riptide Pool & Spa
• The best company for long-term rentals:Southern Shores Realty
• The best insurance agency/agent:State Farm Steven Gillis
• The best beauty salon:Oasis
• Best hairdresser:Panda
• The best electrician:Contract electrician
• Best installation and maintenance of generators:Slu Generator Services
• The best firefighter:Omareon Combs
• The best tattoo studio:Vertigo
• Best police officer:Rodney Rawls

Shopping

• The best building materials store:Ace Hardware
• The best wedding boutique:I Do OBX
• The best antique shop:Class and Trash
• The best flower shop:OBX Florist
• The best bookstore:Island Bookstore
• Best boutique:Foxy Flamingo
• The best clothing store:T.J. Maxx
• The best department store:Target
• The best second-hand store:Hotline
• The best vape shop:Outer Vapes
• The best flooring/carpet store:Kitty Hawk Carpets
• The best company for selling/servicing boats:Manteo Marine
• The best furniture store:Manteo Furniture
• The best home appliance store:Manteo Furniture and Appliance
• The best gardening/nursery store:Harmony
• Best car dealership:Outer Banks Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram
• Best car salesman:Cory Pidgington at Outer Banks Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram
• The best beach equipment rental company:Atlantic Ocean Rentals
• The best bike shop:Outer Banks Bicycles
• The best grocery store:Publix
• The best weapon store:OBX Guns
• The best store for babies:Rock A Bye Baby OBX
• The best toy store:Kitty Hawk Kites
• The best surf shop:WRV
• The best shoe store:Sound Feet Shoes
• The best sports goods store:Kitty Hawk Kites
• The best store for fishing gear/bait:T.W's Bait and Tackle
• The best pet store:PetSmart
• Best shopping mall/shopping center:Outer Banks Mall

A complete list of winners can also be found on our special Best of the Beach page.linkExpect details on how we will celebrate our winners with banners and other promotions. Subscribe to our Daily Newsletter! Get the top news from the Outer Banks in your inbox every morning.

The previous construction team for the coastal line project and the resilience project in Dhaka has scheduled home visits for the Deer County Library on Wednesday, November 15.