Almost Eleven

It was Sunday morning and although it was getting late, I was obsessed with finding someplace for a late breakfast. We drove down the beach road and found Miller’s to be nearly SRO on the porch. We kept driving and debated Mulligan’s brunch. I decided not to drive on down to Sam & Omie’s knowing there would be people lined up outside at this time of the morning. I slipped over to the Croatan Highway and drove back north. We saw Almost Eleven and it was clearly open with not too many cars in the parking lot, so stopped in. We found a fairly nice place with only a few tables occupied. It seemed like some of the cars must have been employees.
The menu was limited to very common breakfast fare but that was OK. I was set for an omelet or some eggs but we both just had The Classic, two eggs with choice of meat. Ms T had sausage patties and I asked for country ham. We both chose grits over home fries and biscuits over toast.
They were not busy but this simple order was slow to come. We were not in a rush but both commented that we wondered what they were doing with it. It was all pretty mundane when it finally arrived. To start with, their clientele, if they have any for breakfast/​brunch seemed to be 75 or older. We are not quite there yet. We thought maybe Seniors can go here for salt free, fat free food. None of the food except the meats had any salt or any other seasoning. This means that anything that they made for us and had any control over was totally, completely and utterly unembellished. There was no signature of anyone who knows anything about cooking on this food. I know it is simple stuff and you don’t expect a lot of creativity. I had commented in the car as we drove, looking for a place to stop, «It’s just breakfast, they can’t really screw it up, right?». I was wrong. My scrambled eggs? Absolutely no salt, no butter or grease and way, way, way undercooked. I know as soon as I saw them they would be bad. You could pour them onto the plate. I kept salting as I went and added black pepper three times. I doused them with Texas Pete trying to make them interesting. Meanwhile in my mind I kept comparing them with the eggs and chorizo that I had had the evening before at Plaza Azteca. These were about halfway cooked. Why did it take so long?
Maybe the time was spent overcooking Ms T’s over-​easy fried eggs, also completely unsalted. She found the sausage seasoned to bitterness with sage and did not like it. I did however like my large slice of country ham, which saved the meal. Country ham is expected to be salty and it helped my scrambles which I did not seem to be able to salt enough. It was a nice slice of good quality country ham (not too country, so approachable). The biscuits were pretty good, but there is nothing but Smuckers jellies to garnish them with.
Finally the grits. We each received large bowls of coarse white grits. I never did get them to be very palatable. I know I am a Midwesterner and probably don’t appreciate true, pure grits. These were a little too pure. I never did get much detectable salt in them. They were a salt black hole, sucking up all that I added and allowing no salty information to escape to my taste buds. I added black pepper and a little butter and managed to eat some but got tired of pretending that I had made them edible.
Sometimes I complain when restaurants try to be too creative with basic food. This time it is the other way. It is like the cook (s) have no concept of how to make the simple things we had. This is the South, at least I think so and we love soulful down home southern cooking. This food had the least love or soul of any I have ever had. It was extreme in its bland mediocrity. I have no idea if the dishes typically served later in the day are better executed. If not, Almost Eleven will join the list of restaurants that have failed at this location. I give them less than a year unless things improve. Two stars is charitable and given only for decent biscuits and country ham.

Went here for breakfast when there was a line out the door for our first choice. When we walked in, nobody was there to seat us. When someone did finally come over, they asked us to wait so they could clean some tables. We were seated and ordered our drinks. We had our children with us and they got apple juice and silver dollar pancakes. My husband ordered steak and eggs and I ordered the French toast with grilled bananas. I left the table for a few minutes and when I got back, our meal was there. I went to slide my plate in front of me and realized the plate was completely broken. While I waited for our server to come back, I began cutting my children’s pancakes. They were so rubbery that instead of cutting, they tore into pieces. My husband was given the same type of knife given to us for pancakes and French toast and couldn’t even cut his steak. I had to call our server back to tell her about my plate. Her response was that the plate was in one piece when she brought it to the table. It was as if she thought we broke it. When she went to remove the plate it left broken glass on the table. She never offered to move us to another table, so I informed her that we wouldn’t be sitting there because of the glass. When they brought me a new meal, it was adequate. I found this restaurant to be overpriced with very little to choose from for breakfast. An apple juice for my child cost $ 3. There were dirty tables yet to be cleaned. The toilet in the women’s bathroom didn’t want to flush and this was the upstairs bathroom. The downstairs ladies room was out of order. Actually, my husband used the men’s room and said he didn’t know if he wanted to eat here. It was that bad. I don’t know if they were short handed, but I wouldn’t go back here again. You live and you learn I guess.

Vacation breakfast! My daughter enjoyed her meal. I tasted the homemade biscuit and it was yummy. I wasn’t hungry so I didn’t order anything but I would recommend and/​or go back again.

Beautiful inside. Kind and caring waitress who freshly squeezed the orange juice herself after we ordered it. Everyone was more than pleased with their meal, and i ordered the french toast, which was beyond amazing. Eggs cooked perfectly to how you wish. They have been open for only 2 months but are already much better than some restaurants that have been open for 10 years. [only thing, i would not order ham, too salty]

Brunch was wonderful! Everything was freshly made it seemed like. Good freshly squeezed orange juice for a mimosa. Service was good very good, very attentive server. We had the omelettes (shrimp and veggie), red velvet waffle, and english muffin french toast. We all enjoyed it! Coffee could have been better, tasted very watered down.

This establishment had a few owners in the past. I remembered when it was a steakhouse and it was out of this world.
Anywhoo…the restaurant was just switching over to the lunch menu and I was wanting breakfast but the kitchen was kind enough to be willing to make me anything from the breakfast menu. After looking over the menu I opted out for lunch.
I had the crab cake sandwich and it was just ok definitely had better seafood at OBX.
Our waitress was so nice and attentive.

Fantastic and fresh food! The lobster roll and oyster po boy were delicious. Staff were courteous and friendly!

Great quality food! Biscuits are fantastic & fluffy! Prices are a bit high & not much selection on kids menu.

All I can say is WOW! Very good food best shrimp po boy I have ever eaten! The food was amazing! They have a very good lunch menu with many options to choose from. The margaritas are made with fresh ingredients. This will be a place we will be visiting again when we come back to the outer banks. This is a must visit for lunch.

Very disappointing. Empty tables could have been a clue. crabmeat crostini flavorless, crab legs were salty, shrimp and Parmesan very plain. Sorry but true.

This is a new place in a place where many have been before and closed their doors, so it is not a place locals are use to going to. I plead guilty and even passed by it and had to u-​turn to get back. I doubt that will be a problem in the future since I now know exactly where it is and ready to go back soon. This place is a hidden gem.
There were 2 of us. We started dinner with a martini and a Cabernet. Both excellent. We go the fried shrimp and the fried combo. Both included hand cut fries which were FANTASTIC in themselves. The fried shrimp was perfect with a nice crisp batter. A better cocktail sauce was my only complaint to the whole meal. The combo has shrimp, mahi mahi filet and a crab cake along with the fries. It was delicious and well priced under $ 25. The waitress was polite and friendly and not pushy to hurry us up in any way. The place is clean and welcoming, we will definitely go back many times. This is a place you should try if visiting. They have a small menu with local fish as specials if they are truly local and fresh.
They are open for Breakfast to Dinner.

Softshell crabs were good. Tauter sauce. Really? Be creative people. The place looks like ran out of money. Over cooked asparagus. Waiter forgot our salad. He said he didn’t remember. But, told me he made the Caesar himself. No more bad stuff I don’t have the energy to go on. Sorry guys your just not going to make it come winter time.

BEST breakfast I have had on the OBX in a very long time! The crab binadict is a must try for breakfast. Service was fast, efficient and friendly. I will definitely be back.