Kimball's Kitchen

Our experience here exceeded all expectations! The staff was incredibly accommodating, even with our toddler. The restaurant has an upscale ambiance that still feels welcoming to families (which is hard to find).We ordered the scallops, tomahawk pork chop, and children's spaghetti. Each dish was delicious. The scallops were tender and flavorful, the pork chop was juicy and well-seasoned, and the kids' spaghetti was a hit.The server was great, ensuring our meal was enjoyable. I will admit, he didn't explain the dishes quite as well as the server next to us. During our time, the manager even came over to chat and make sure we were happy a few times (unprompted of course). I completely forgot to take photos--proof of how great the food was and hospitality. I highly recommend for anyone looking for a memorable dining experience that caters to both adults and children alike! *I will note, we came before a normal dinner rush at 5PM. Based on others, things could be different depending on the time of your visit. This is our new fave restaurant in OBX.

Ryan made a Kimball Sour for my wife. Turns out it is his signature drink and it is amazing. We are having a full dining experience here later tonight but can't wait. Yohan, at the bar was soFriendly and skilled, as well.

This was by far the best dining experience we had in OBX. As this restaurant is higher end and is on the expensive side, we saved it for our last night and anniversary dinner and it did not disappoint. From beginning to end this place went above and beyond. We got to our reservation 30 minutes early and while we would have waited until our time slot, the hostess gladly sat us early stating she "saved this table specifically" for our anniversary and sat us at a table by the window with a view of the water. Speaking of service, our waiter was top notch and incredibly kind. He continually checked on us while also giving us privacy. When we needed a few boxes, they packaged it up and held it for us at the hostess stand. The chef brought out our entrees and the restaurant manager came over to check in on us to ensure the meal was going well. Of course they cleared the table of crumbs in between courses. To say this staff cares about the service and experience is an understatement. Now moving on to the food - the meal starts off with a palate cleanser that was watermelon/mint/ginger and was very refreshing. They also brought around warm bread with olive oil, whipped butter, and sea salt. Our appetizers were the crab soup and bone marrow (with mushrooms and a toasted baguette) and it was phenomenal. The drinks kept flowing and the cocktails were well executed especially since we ordered a drink that wasn't on the menu. For the entrees we each got a steak, one Oscar style with crab and asparagus in a béarnaise sauce and the other with roasted onions and scallops. Both were incredible and accompanied with a roasted garlic bulb and rosemary. Additionally we got a crab Mac and Cheese to share which was perfect to split between 2 people. Lastly, this place has a great modern vibe with a beautiful view of the inlet. Everything was exceptionally clean and well maintained. The chairs were comfortable and tables had a slight cushion that really added to the overall experience. The small details here really made a difference. Do not skip this restaurant on your OBX vacation.

This was a birthday dinner location that we selected. This is an upscale restaurant in an upscale neighborhood in the Outer Banks. Service and offerings were spectacular. I had the crab soup which was excellent. I followed it with Low Country pasta which was loaded with seafood and sausage. Of course being by the ocean, a significant amount of rum accompanied the meal. It all paired perfectly, as far as I can remember.The service was perfect. Not hovering, but always there, the moment you need anything. I don't think there's a finer restaurant in that neighborhood. I will return on my next visit to the O.B.

Kimball's has an ornate decor including high ceilings and the most comfortable suede seats. We were greeted by the sommelier who seated us. Not surprisingly he imparted his wine knowledge of the best Cab from Russian River valley. After ordering the wine, our waitress took our order. I wasn't highly impressed nor disappointed. The food, on the other hand, was exceptional. I ordered salmon with snow peas in broth. The salmon was cooked to perfection and very flavorful. The dessert was the icing on the cake. We ordered some home-made almond icee cream which wasn't too sweet! I loved it.

The sunset view of the sound was the only winner here for me. Our table of four was shocked by the just too loud and angry bellowing of the head chef barking commands at the staff. While this may somehow be considered appropriate and perhaps even entertaining to some, we found it to be misaligned with the low key vacation vibe that brings us to the OBX annually. It is often said that you can't go wrong with a filet. Kimball's Kitchen found a way. My order for medium rare was clearly medium with a gritty texture I would never have expected in an establishment that presents itself as world class. Two additional diners reported their halibut to be overdone as well. Our server attempted to offer us the level of service one might expect at a four diamond restaurant. Ultimately it was acknowledged with an apology that a staff shortage made it difficult to be fully attentive. Kimball's kitchen is both convenient for those in the area and beautifully appointed. Yes, our table was offered a complimentary dessert but you just can't make up for the overall bad experience with a simple cheesecake. Not for me anyway. I've never made a reservation with cheesecake as my goal not even at The Cheesecake Factory.

The food is fantastic. The dining room is well appointed and the view is excellent.Our entire group raved about the food.Our party of six arrived a few minutes before our reservation and we were seated immediately which was wonderful except it was 5 minutes before our waitress acknowledged that we were there and another 5 minutes before we were served water.It's a minor complaint on the service but at the price point they are charging I expect the wait staff to be put into a better position to impress. It almost seemed like they were more focused on delivering the juice to "open up our taste buds" and oblivious to the value in stopping at our table shortly after seating us to introduce themselves and offer water.I would certainly recommend Kimball's for special occasions and would dine again if we vacationed in the area more often.

Yohenn and Rhyon are the best bartenders in the OBX! Excellent drinks and excellent food!

Ambiance is lovely. The service was adequate. The food was *incredibly* subpar. Completely unseasoned steak. Like doesn't even taste like it's seasoned with salt and pepper. Steak was topped with a tasteless cheese of some sort with an unpleasant grainy yet airy texture. Very thin and largely tasteless béarnaise. Truffle in way too much stuff, even the herb butter for the bread. Meh burrata with tasteless tomatoes. Meh pork. Meh eggplant special. Half of our party barely ate and it was over $450 for the 4 of us. Food that costs this much should be quite good. But I've had better steaks at Outback. This place doesn't even hold a candle to a Ruth's Chris. I've had better burrata from the grocery store. This place ain't it and it's clearly limping by because it's one of the only really nice spots in the area. Spare your wallet and go get a burger in this locale.

This restaurant is different every year, not surprising because it is closed in the offseason. This season the menu is more restricted and quite ordinary. The wine list, which used to be extensive, is now very limited and totally insufficient for a restaurant that tries to be upscale. Our server appeared to be brand new and was not knowledgable about food or wine. The food was generally good if not exceptional. The oysters were covered with a dressing that not everyone will like instead of giving the customer the opportunity to apply the dressing of his/her choice. The setting of this restaurant is beautiful, the tables are not too close together, and conversation is possible at a normal level - a huge plus.