Yes, there is a Bob at Bob’s Grill. Bob McCoy is the hands-on owner of this longtime favorite KDH restaurant, and he’s part of the reason it has such a loyal following.
Most anytime you come to Bob’s Grill, you’ll find Bob. You can’t miss him – he’s a big, handsome guy, with bright blue eyes, a big smile and whitish-gray hair, the guy who’s talking to all the customers. Bob loves to greet his regulars and meet new people and find out where they are from, and he loves to joke around.
It was good-spirited joking around with customers that led to Bob’s Grill’s famous slogan, “Eat and Get the Hell Out.”
It started long ago at lunch hour, when people have to eat quickly and get back to work. The restaurant was so busy at lunch that Bob would say to the regulars, “Look, y’all have got to eat and get the hell out so I can feed these other people.” The regulars loved it, and someone suggested that Bob put it on a T-shirt. He did that and sold 12 dozen shirts the first night! The now legendary “Eat and Get the Hell Out” slogan continues to this day, now printed on cups, sweatshirts, thongs, aprons and more.
The funny slogan is all part of Bob’s philosophy about his restaurant. He believes that dining out should be fun and affordable and that the customers should get exactly what they want. Bob and his staff make sure that their customers are happy. “I do anything but lay brick,” says Bob, with a laugh.
Bob started Bob’s Grill 16 years ago in Kill Devil Hills, and his wife, Jennifer, joined the team five years ago. Bob’s serves breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week.
For breakfast, Bob serves all the eggs, meats, biscuits and grits you’d expect, along with kickin’ homemade hash browns, a killer crabmeat and cheese omelet, and blueberry or chocolate chip pancakes.
At lunch on the weekdays, you can’t beat the $6.99 daily special, which includes two sides, hushpuppies and a drink. Everybody knows that the Friday special is fried oysters. On weekends, the hot creamed chipped beef on biscuits or toast brings in the crowds.
Bob’s best deal has to be the $25.99 All-You-Can-Eat Dinner Special. This includes steamed crab legs, steamed shrimp and fried shrimp, all cooked to order, plus two sides and Bob’s famous Dixieland hushpuppies. The secret to Bob’s hushpuppies? Confectioner’s sugar sprinkled on top. (They taste like funnel cake.) Keep ordering as long as you like, and they’ll keep bringing you hot, fresh seafood and hushpuppies.
But Bob says the best thing in the whole restaurant is the carrot cake and key lime pie that Jennifer makes fresh every day.
Bob has consistently offered reasonable prices for all of his 16 years in business. He takes care of people, and that’s why he’s had such a loyal following. Stop by Bob’s Grill and meet Bob and Jennifer and all of their friendly staff. Bob will probably be the guy wearing a funny hat.
Bob’s Grill, Milepost 9, Bypass, Kill Devil Hills, 252-441-0707, www.thecoastalexplorer/bobsgrillobx |
