“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.”
This statement certainly rings true for the founding trio of Virginia Beach’s Outer Banks Boil Company. The concept behind this alternative dining experience is a signature take-home boil prepped by the company’s staff and steamed at home in an official Outer Banks Boil Company pot.
Here’s the scoop: Outer Banks Boil Company was established in 2016 by Matt Khouri who turned his private boil hustle into a full-time gig along the North Carolina coast. After harboring much success in his two Outer Banks locations, Khouri turned to franchising as a means to share his unique dining concept with folks across the East Coast. He recruited close friend Kyle Vrhovac and business partner, Parker Byrd, to open the first franchise location in Charlottesville, Virginia. The concept of take-home boils garnered much excitement in Central Virginia, so Vrhovac looked closer to his hometown of Suffolk for the Boil Company’s next location. He and Byrd decided on Virginia Beach and enlisted the help of longtime friend and hospitality guru, Evan Verbeek, to get the shop up and running.
The three officially opened their doors on April 10, 2021.
Verbeek, who doubles as co-owner and general manager of Outer Banks Boil Company, is a lifetime Virginia Beach resident and is extremely passionate about using his business to unite the community. “We are so excited to serve the Virginia Beach community,” says Verbeek. “We provide a family-oriented experience that we cannot wait to share with our friends, families and visitors in the Sandbridge area and beyond.”
Verbeek sheds light on the one-of-a-kind offerings the Boil Company brings to the beach. “We prepare everything for you, so that the only thing you have to do when you get home is steam the pot,” says Verbeek. “You can choose from any one of our signature seafood boils, which all begin with a base of sweet corn, authentic Andouille sausage, red bliss potatoes, Vidalia onion and a half-pound of jumbo shrimp per person. We also give you butter, lemons, and our house-made seasonings and cocktail sauce.”
While the ingredients of the Boil Company’s cocktail sauce and seasoning mixes remain highly secretive, Verbeek hints at flavors similar to that of Old Bay, but with less salt and more spice. Both are available for purchase at the Virginia Beach shop.
You can also upgrade your boil to include snow crab, lobster tails, clams or mussels in the Boil Company’s handful of selections. Choose from the Maine-Lander or Clamshell to the fully-loaded Overboard. In the works are distinctly-Virginia Beach pots that bring the unique flavors of the 757 to your kitchen. “We source fresh, local ingredients whenever possible,” says Verbeek. “We pride ourselves in providing the highest quality food to our customers.”
Aside from takeout, the Outer Banks Boil Company provides catering services for parties of 10 or more. “We cater for weddings, birthday parties, corporate events and more,” says Verbeek. “To make the experience COVID-friendly, we provide everyone with their own serving tongs and pre-portioned cups of butter and seasoning.”
Verbeek also notes that the Boil Company serves more than just a meal, but a show. “Our favorite part about the boil is dumping the freshly steamed pot on the table for everyone to enjoy,” he says.
The Outer Banks Boil Company is located at 1253 Nimmo Parkway, Suite 113 and is open daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome, but a 30-minute heads up on takeout orders is preferred.
Grace Silipigni
Grace Silipigni is an elementary school Spanish immersion teacher based in Virginia Beach and a regular contributor to Coastal Virginia Magazine, covering a wide range of topics such as health and wellness, education and learning, food and drink, happenings and events, travel and getaways and more.
