Restaurants in Elizabeth City

Mediterranean Cuisine’s Lebanese owners craft a battalion of freshly prepared, authentic fare from scratch. Taste expeditions commence with appetizers that sample grape leaves stuffed with spiced rice and hummus blended with chickpeas whipped with tahini, garlic, and lemon. After a light and lemony fattoush salad, guests can tuck into full platters of succulent meats, such as chicken tawook and beef kebab, complemented by fuchsia pickled turnips and soft pita disks, used to scoop up bites or act as edible frisbees.

At Central 111, energetic music thrums from the DJs' speakers and rich aromas dance in the air, engaging each human sense with a feast of input. Bright, narrow beams of light lance through the space, bathing the dance floor in bright colors while leaving four-seat tables under the low glimmer of conical ceiling lamps or one's mildly regrettable glow-in-the-dark tattoo. In keeping with tapas tradition, chefs prepare small, shareable portions of Spanish-style cuisine replete with luxury ingredients such as lump crab meat and petite beef filets. Glasses brim with fermented potables chosen from an ample wine list or contain craft cocktails from the regularly shifting menu. The venue hosts themed events regularly, such as ladies nights, various industry nights, and regular events that collect the talents of prominent local DJs.

Perhaps it’s the dining room’s glittering chandeliers that make diners feel as though they’ve stepped back in time, or maybe it’s the silver tea sets displayed atop baroque-style tables that bring to mind a bygone era. Though it’s difficult to single out the one element of First Ladies Tea Parlor that transports diners to the past, it’s evident that owner KJ Jordan has realized her vision. KJ’s passion for all things old-timey manifests itself in the parlor’s varied schedule of events, from historic fashion shows and presentations by authors and historical interpreters to speakeasy dinners that keep the spirit of the 1920s alive via live jazz and free admission for ghosts. Away from the sun-dappled dining room, chef Gabby Bauman and her culinary crew bustle about the kitchen whipping up light lunches featuring entrees named after first ladies, including the Lady Dolley sandwich filled with roasted turkey and avocado and the Lady Betty salad dappled with salmon fillet and apricot-ginger dressing.

A pair of stock cars sits beneath the checkered-flag designs of NASCAR Sports Grille's exterior, which contains a chorus of cheering fans basking in the glow of three 16-foot televisions that beam live races and sports. Tables and a long, wooden bar sit beneath the towering displays, and cozy booths—each with a built-in TV—form an intimate setting where fans can attempt to feed nachos to the images of their favorite athletes. Outside, NFL banners hang from the ceiling of a covered patio, where groups share appetizers of homemade crab dip. Each of these eating arenas sets a competitive stage for grill fare all-stars, including six juicy burgers coated in eclectic toppings such as bourbon chili.

A mechanical bull flares its nostrils at passersby outside of Tapps by PBR Hampton Roads. Whether or not they tame this bucking beast, diners wrangle stories worth telling at this cowboy-themed cantina, where craft beers brim from taps and bottles at six full-service bars. Live music spills from the stage as the sweet, smoky notes of Jack Daniels barbecued ribs serenade taste buds. Feasters can earn a T-shirt, a photo on the wall of fame, and contend for their mother's memoirs by taking part in the restaurant's PBR Hampton Challenge and devouring four jumbo burritos.

Boardwalk Fresh Burgers and Fries was initially opened in 1981 by brothers Dave and Fran DiFerdinando, who admired the piping-hot and addictive french fries of the Ocean City boardwalk. Since then, they’ve expanded their menu of made-to-order hand-cut fries so patrons can pair potato products with never-frozen, always-fresh burgers. Patties can be customized with unlimited toppings and sauces that will pique your hunger tooth and activate dormant burger glands at the base of your skull so that your jaw unhinges a little. The menu also includes hot dogs, chicken tenders, and milkshakes.