Half Vaster - Feb. 06
   
 
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  REVIEW: Austin Creek Grill  
  RECIPE: Chocolate Pudding Cake  
     
 
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RESTAURANT REVIEW:
Austin Creek Grill
The swankiest place on the island

Austin Creek Grill is located at the southern tip of Hatteras
Island; it’s in the shopping center to the right of where you catch the ferry to Ocracoke. It’s the most expensive restaurant on the island and has fantastic food. You’d think such a place wouldn't do well on Hatteras, but it’s been packed every time we've been there. We suggest you make a reservation if you want to go.

There are actually three parts to Austin Creek: the restaurant, the bakery (Austin Creek Baking Company) and the catering business. They catered our wedding reception in June 2004 and got rave reviews from our guests for both food and service.

They can be, like a lot of folks on Hatteras, devilishly hard to reach by telephone. Don't be discouraged. They will call you back eventually and they will do a good job with your event.

Here's what they served buffet-style at our rehearsal dinner, just to give you a feel for their menu:

Crab Salad on Belgian Endive Leaves
Tomato Basil Bruschetta
Andouille Sausage in Puff Pastry

Austin Creek Spinach Salad – Baby Spinach, Crisp Apples, Poached Pears, Caramelized Pecans, Red Onion & Warm Bacon Dressing

Char-grilled NY Strip au Poivre
Crab Stuffed Flounder with Chili Béarnaise

All this was served on family style platters on the kitchen bar at Sound Mind and Body. The cost was $35 per person plus 8% tax plus 18% gratuity plus a delivery charge of $100 plus the cost of one server ($175). They aren't cheap.

How was the food? Well, my father-in-law put it best when he said, “I think that was the best steak I've ever had.”

We’ve also eaten at the restaurant a few times and it’s fabulous too. One New Year's Eve we were having trouble finding somewhere to go. Austin Creek Grill had two dinner seatings that evening and we managed to snag a last-minute table for a truly memorable night out.

And, what about the bakery? You’ll find many of the other places on the island use Austin Creek’s bakery products; in fact, they often feature them.

My quest in the bakery arena is to find whoever made that coconut cream pie that I had at the restaurant at the dock on Ocracoke Island on our honeymoon. I’m not sure who made it, but the waitress said it had just come in, so I know they didn’t make it themselves. I suspect it was made at Austin Creek Baking Company, but I have not been able to confirm this. If I can ever get anyone to pick up the phone at Austin Creek, I'll ask them.

 
   
   
 
     
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Penny Lane Sound Mind & Body