Tortugas’ Lie Shellfish Bar & Grill

I would say they only got two stars because the food was really good! Upon arrival none of us felt like we got a warm welcome. We got greeted but the servers seemed to not want to be there. Our own waitress wasn’t much better. I don’t think we got one smile throughout the whole service. I ordered a burger and when asked how they were cooked she told me they cook them through. I asked her for medium and it seemed like it was a burden for me to even ask her. I’d say definitely go for the food but don’t expect anything but awkward and rude from the servers.

I had the «Lunch Special» oyster po-​boy and thought it was really good. Casual atmosphere was right up my alley!

We usually squeeze in a trip to Tortuga’s on one of our many trips to OBX throughout the year. I love that they are open in the off season as well. The food never disappoints and the wait staff is usually friendly, just not so on the ball. More like 2.5 stars, but you can’t do that.
This particular trip they weren’t what I’d call packed, but they were still slightly busy. Our waitress seemed rather frazzled all evening. She wasn’t sure which tables were hers and she was a little slow to get to our table or to bring us our drinks. We ordered the chips and salsa as an appetizer because we knew it would be something that would come out quick. We watched it sit on the bar waiting for our waitress to pick it up for at least 5 minutes if not more. When she brought it to our table she had the tray she was carrying it on tilted and she dumped salsa on my father and our chips all over the floor. Instead of bringing us another basket or cup of salsa she proceeded to pick up the half empty basket of chips and place it on our table as well as what was left of the salsa that my dad wasn’t yet wearing. No apology. No offer to bring more. No napkins for my dad to attempt to wipe salsa off his shirt and pants. Nothing. She didn’t even sweep up the mess off of the floor. No manager came to ask us if everything had been resolved either. After 10 minutes of her having vanished she returned and still didn’t acknowledge what she’d done. My father asked her for more chips and salsa to replace what had been dropped. She said nothing, but brought half a basket of chips and a small cup of salsa. Maybe a whole new one would have been kinder? The rest of the meal was fine. Food was good. When we checked out we advised the manager that someone probably needed to clean the chips and salsa that had been dumped all over us off of the floor. She had no idea it had even happened. Lack of communication, spotty waitressing, but good food.

Great food. Was open on New Year’s Day which was great as we couldn’t find anything else open.
The restaurant has a good island vibe, has a nice bar, beer on tap was 6 dollars (tall) and all the dishes were a little bit on the pricey side.
We ordered the oysters from the daily specials, chili wings, the pork Antonio and key lime pie for dessert.
The oysters were very good, got 6 for 11 $. 4 stars
The chili wings were ok, nothing extraordinary 3 stars
The port chop with habanero jam was delicious 4 stars
Key lime was very tasty 5 stars
Overall it was a very good restaurant and I would return if I was around. But there are so many others around as well with very good rating. So I might check those ones out as well. ;)
PS: the place was so crowded, we had a waiting time of 20 mins not sure if it’s this way all time

We waited a bit, but well worth the wait! They have an outside deck area where you can sit and hang out while you wait. The décor inside was very cool, very bright, very fun! Our waiter was super friendly & very attentive and helpful. We ordered the conch fritters and wings. I had the crab cake for my entrée, which was very fresh. The sauce they use/​make was so delicious that we bought a bottle to take home before leaving. Great place & a must try!

This is a very good diner type restaurant with quality food. The food is fresh and delicious. The food is a good value and decent for the price. It is a nice experience for families with a casual atmosphere and fun drinks for the kids. It also has fairly good beer selection.

Every single time we come here is great. And we’ve been coming here for years. Fantastic food.
Anything that you get will be wonderful. Had the Fried Fresh Oyster special. Wow.
Their servers are fantastic. And I’m in love with the girl that probably is a manager. So nice and extremely good looking.
We will definitely be back many more times.

We have been eating here since the location was Quagmires and that is a LONG ASS time ago…(can it really be?) Tortugas has expanded since, and their popularity has also grown. I hear that even Triple D came by. Who cares… the food has been great here for a long, long, time.
I will admit to something: I often order the Pepper Steak, which is actually sliced london broil with a peppercorn garlic cream sauce and beans and rice. I bet I’ve had it 10 times… and it’s always good. Sometimes I just got off a fishing charter. Other times I am on vacation and have eaten 10 tons of seafood. Whatever, it’s a really good dish.
Their chowder is excellent… although I am a sucker for Hatteras style chowder. And I love their conch fritters, although I will say they are getting pricey at 11 bucks an order.
Last meal there I had the St. Martin Shrimp and Pasta… and it was great. That perfect combination of sauteed shrimp, onion, tomatoes, garlic, and bacon, tossed with penne pasta. They do it really well.
Fish tacos are a great stand-​by as well.
We used to try Sushi nights, but it has been crazy busy in the summers.
Still, we always enjoy our trip to Tortugas

Bottom Line: Not just TV drama, Tortugas’ Lie serves legitimately good food in a casual, beachy atmosphere.
Originally I visited Tortugas’ Lie with my father because he had seen it featured on Diners, Drive-​Ins and Dives on Food Network. Since I’ve had mixed experiences with places featured on TV I kept my expectations in check but Tortugas’ did not disappoint. All of my experiences at Tortugas’ Lie have been great. As much as I appreciate the southern hospitality and attentive staff, its the delicious food here that makes Tortugas’ one of the best eateries at the beach. The food is flavorful and prepared with attention to details. I’ve had a variety of dishes here and I’ve never been disappointed.
(As Seen on TV: Food Network’s «Diners, Drive Ins and Dives»)

Got here early for lunch, good thing too because it was packed 15 min after arriving. My friend got the tuna sandwich special, it came with cheese which is weird for a tuna steak. The rest of the group got fish burritos. I ordered the Hatteras chowder and steamed shrimp. The chowder was nothing to talk about but the shrimp were steamed perfectly, sorry if ur squeamish but they don’t clean the shrimp before they steam them. All in all really nice experience, they have a habanero peppa sauce that is out of this world too, so I would totally recommend.

Five star casual dining. I have been dreaming about Hatteras chowder since last year when my nephew brought to our vacation home.
Alas, I am back in the OBX and when it was cloudy and rainy today, I decided I needed to get my fix on.
Three of us went for lunch. One in the party is not a seafood person (I know, why is she even at the beach). She ordered the coco loco chicken which she devoured. She thought it was a fantastic option for non seafood lovers. My husband and I both got the fish tacos which were very good.
The place has a great vibe to it and our server, Sarah, was downright awesome… efficient, fun and very accommodating.

I had high hopes for this place after reading the reviews and left underwhelmed. The place is cool inside with license plates everywhere. I assume during the high season the outside area is fun with the volleyball courts. I got the fish tacos that everyone raves about. They were okay, not nearly the «best on the eastern seaboard» as someone else put it. The habanero hot sauce they serve on the side is not very good. For drinks I had the shark attack and a margarita. The best thing about the shark attack was the rubber shark that I took home to my 3 year old son. Other than that it was wayy too sweet and not enough vodka. The margarita was bleh. As usual, if guy fieri recommends a place. you’re better off staying away!

Came here because of Guy’s rave reviews on his show.
This place is a typical fare shop near the beach. The place did have some cute interior decorations, license plates on the ceilings, and a huge bar seating area.
The food was ok, not sure what everyone was raving about. The fish tacos were pretty decent but nothing spectacular. Mm, I did like that there were big chunks of fish in it. I ordered the fish taco dinner (comes with three tacos) and it came with a side of beans, rice, tomato, and sour cream. The best part of the sides was the rice.
My bf ordered the coco Loco chicken, basket of fries, and conch fritters. The conch fritters were huge! Mm they were fresh and oh so tasty. Probably the highlight of our meals. The coco Loco chicken was pretty good too but again it wasn’t anything special. I wish it had come with a side of dipping sauce.
Probably won’t be coming back here again if and when we are back in OBX.

Recommend fish tacos & crab legs! The crab legs were cooked perfectly & easy to crack. Fish tacos came with a side of rice and beans. These were mediocre.
Wait staff was kind. Timing of dinner was average. We had no complaints! We’d come back next time we’re in OBX.

Went here about 7 years ago before Guy Fieri and loved the food then. Had a shark attack drink sans vodka last time so had to live it up this time around.
The shark attack drink was simple and hilarious, pink lemonade, vodka and grenadine that you pour out of a plastic shark.
I had the Jamaican jerk chicken which was tender and full of flavor. It came with a pineapple pico de gallo and rice and beans. So delicious! My husband got the tuna steak which was a special that evening. He loved the green bean side.
Honestly the food is worth the wait. It is so good. No complaints whatsoever about waiting for a table. Also staff was awesome!

We have tried to get into Tortugas for the last three summers but were always discouraged by the crazy long waits. We finally decided this year to make a go of it and arrived at 5:30 pm. The pleasant hostess gave us a 45 minute wait time and we waited outside, watching volleyball and playing cornhole. The expanded section has its own mini-​bar, making it easy for us to order drinks while we waited.
We were seated 45 minutes later and our server promptly came to let us know specials and get our drinks. We ordered the chili wings and conch fritters to start, followed by an assortment of dinner items, including crab cakes, a scallop special and the jerk chicken.
Service was brisk and our appetizers arrived quickly — they were good, not great with decent spice and flavor. The appetizers were cleared very quickly and entrees followed right away. While the portions were generous, the flavors were bland, lacking vibrancy and the typical Jerk spiciness. The scallops special was good but drenched in butter, so much so that there was a pool of it on the plate.
Our server came over at least three times to check on us and the bus person also came three times to clear before our check arrived. Overall the impression was that they were in a hurry for us to eat so that they could seat another group.
After all the hype for this place, I have to admit it was very disappointing. Yes, the atmosphere is cool but there are other similar places nearby (notably Bonzers) that have a similar vibe, much better food and don’t feel the need to rush you out the door.

This place is a must visit when in Nags Head or KDH, but expect a long wait if you from 11:30−2pm or 4:30−7pm. It is just that popular. They have tables in the back of the building and they pack them in, so it is not a small place, but just a destination that many know about. Went for a late lunch with a party of 7 and were sat within 30 minutes. Our waitress was very friendly and service was pretty darn quick. The fish tacos were very, very good and they have their own hot sauce that is as advertised… hot, but with a very nice flavor, so not just heat. Worth the burn.
Beer selection is decent if you are into craft beers. $ 6-​$ 7 range. Mixed drinks too with some specials every day.
So, at the end of the day… Guy made this place a destination for many but it delivers without a doubt. You just need some patience and an appetite and you won’t leave disappointed.

Awesome Yummy Spicy food!
I had grilled fish burito Rice bowl with black beans.
They have delicious Jerk varieties as well.
Try their ingenious Habanaro Peppa Sauce it’s sweet and spicy available for sale 50Oz bottle for $ 5.00. The label of the sauce bottle says it is completely natural with no artificial Ingredients.
The staff were friendly and the place is quite busy and we had to wait some 20min before they found a table for us.

Always good, always busy. This is an amazing find for tourists visiting the Outer Banks and fabulous grindage and watering hole for the locals. Try the coco loco chicken, fish tacos, or really, anything that looks good – because it’s all good. Great for lunch or dinner. And don’t forget sushi night!
Full bar, not sure how they get all of it into their small space. If you’re drinking red wine it’s served at room temperature. The bar is a fun place to sit and watch surf videos.
Tortugas is good for kids too, so bring the family. Pro tip, camp out at a beach nearby and grab some takeout before or after the lunch rush.
Enjoy reading all the license plates. And get you favorite gear or hot sauce in the small gift shop.

Was out in Nags Head for the weekend and remembered ‘Hey wasn’t Guy Fieri here somewhere?!’ Oh yes he was at that place? So had to do a quick search and whined up at this small– off the main road– restaurant, I guess it qualifies as a dive…
Ordered the today’s special, fried flounder with sweet potato waffle fries. Guessing by the texture of the fish it could be frozen because it was a little mushy. But It’s late Fall not Flounder season so what can I expect. Sweet potato was also frozen, not fresh homemade cut waffle fries. Dang.
Hubby got jerk chicken with rice and beans. Soooo… beans taste straight out the can, rice taste like Uncle Bens & jerk chicken was baked leg quarters with jerk seasoning. Chicken wasn’t even marinated to give the inside flavor. Only the top of the skin had the jerk flavor because it was the only thing that had the seasoning on it.
Our meals was Nothing special, not bad but definitely not a place I would say «Oh they have good food, we’ll be back!»
The atmosphere was like the neighbor bar to chill with friends and TV’s showing college football and a bartender to serve it up!