The Best New American in Virginia Beach

Twist Martini

★★★★☆ 3.9 (354) • $$$

"Twist is a great experience for drinks and appetizers or drinks and dinner. Fun time all around. My friend and I were there for several hours catching up so alot of dishes and drinks were ordered. Everything was incredible. Our waiter was very attentive, funny and knowledgeable on the drinks and the menu. I would recommend this establishment for first dates, hanging out with friends, and after work drinks. We sat in the bar area but there is a more quiet and secluded dining area for date nights."

Hook at Harvey a Cape Charles Bistro

★★★★☆ 4.4 (55)

"The experience was definitely worth five stars. Our server, Rachel, was very nice and friendly and informative about the menu as well as the history of the restaurant.  We had eaten at its precursor, Hook U Up, downtown a few years ago and were impressed then also.  So, their quality hasn't declined with the move to a larger (and more scenic) space.  For starters, we had the Wild Mushroom and Goat Cheese dumplings.  Absolutely delicious! We also ordered the Mixed Greens with blood orange, figs and chevra goat cheese.  Also very tasty.  For our main course, we had the Kelp Infused Fettuccine with seared scallops, shrimp, lump crabmeat and braised octopus and the Honey Mustard Rubbed Rack of Lamb with a fig gastrique and whipped sweet potatoes. To be honest, the kelp did infuse the pasta with a green color, however did not seem to infuse any additional flavor. Or, it was too subtle for my palate.  However it was cooked excellently, a good portion and the proteins and sauce were excellent.  Other than expecting to experience a different flavor profile, there is nothing negative about the dish and lots of positives.  The rack of lamb was a fairly large portion and cooked very nicely at medium, as I asked, with a good outside sear and blush of pink in the loin.  The fig gastrique paired great with the lamb and the whipped sweet potatoes were delicious  I enjoyed it thoroughly and would order it again.They do require reservations. However, they do seat people at the small bar on a first come first serve basis. They also have an outdoor patio where you can sip some drinks and overlook a scenic working Harbor. However they do not serve out there.All-in-all, an excellent dining experience that I will look forward to the next time I am in Cape Charles"

Syd's FishPig Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.2 (62) • $$

"Intimate ambience & elevated food experience without being fussy. Just go! Alone or with friends, you will enjoy every bit! I can't wait to go back for amazing craft cocktails, friendly service and unique menu."

Lockside Bar and Grill

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (342) • $$

"We recently had dinner at Lockside Bar and Grill located just before the Great Bridge Locks in the heart of Chesapeake.The atmosphere here is fantastic and the waterfront setting is amazing."

Venue 112

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (84) • $$

"** Speaking only for Game Night Tuesdays! :D $2.50 wells for happy hour until 9PM?! COUNT ME IN. It's also a taco night~ But really, the charm of this place is N64 games set-up: Smash on one side and Mario Kart on the other. I wasn't really... around for N64, but I love the console regardless. Man, do those joy sticks do work on your thumbs though. It's awesome. Get drunk. Play games. There's also robot boxing available! Another thumb-heavy game, lol. Connect Four is set up, and it's a quick round of a 1 v 1 if you want bragging rights against your friend(s) for the night. Cards Against Humanity with expansions are available, and that game is hilarious. Operation is missing some pieces, but it's still difficult af. Jenga is the best group game to play drunk, often with the rules of "loser takes a shot." The bartender that's been there the past couple times is awesome! He tries to remember your order, and he's super accommodating! He's quick and friendly. Even if you wanted to enjoy happy hour alone and watch some TV, this is the guy you want behind the bar. He cares about the customers and is experienced in his field."

The Egg Bistro

★★★★☆ 4.3 (570) • $$

"Had a great morning breakfast with my wife and a co worker. The breakfast was so good!!! The vibe was relaxed and the service was quick and pleasant. I recommend the chicken sandwich with the egg!! And the buffalo cauliflower bites. Great choice for appetizers. Will definitely come back and try more options on the menu."

Codex

★★★★★ 4.7 (155) • $$$

"Codex serves excellent cocktails and the chef clearly knows their way around the kitchen. Desserts could use a little work, but otherwise the food is noteworthy. Servers are chill and check in often without being annoying. If you're dinning with folks that appreciate quality food that's a touch fancy, Codex is a great option. 4.1 stars."

NC Coast Grill & Bar

★★★★☆ 4.1 (403) • $$

"Food - really really greatParking - really really badService - really really badFirst, parking lot is extremely small. You'll have to find some place else to park before you walk over.Food - I'd absolutely come back here to eat again. I had the pesto cream seafood pasta with a goat cheese salad. That's probably the first time in my life I've cleaned off that much food at a restaurant with no leftovers; it was really enjoyable. Service - The couple sitting next to me at the bar commented on how bad the service was, and the couple sitting next to them said the same thing. There was only one bartender to oversee an entire bartop and also make floor drinks. Customers tend to be very understanding if you are just kind and acknowledge we exist. I felt like an inconvenience asking for anything, and we all got put on the back burner. Since you can't eat service, I'd absolutely eat here again and recommend you just sit at a table instead if you see one bartender working.Update to owner Wes' response: Wes, that's just a backhanded reply. A response of "We are sorry you feel that way" rather than "Hey, sorry service IS lacking." Your history of feedback to customers is defensive and backhanded when you don't like what they have to say. I'm not looking for a handout by "speaking with the manager," and I'd write back to you directly about your insincerity if that was an option. Regardless, I'd stop in for the food sometime again."

Pixels Pints & Bytes

★★★★☆ 4 (112) • $$

"Philanthropic restaurant who supports our sons' little league. Visit on a Saturday afternoon earned 4/5 overall. Some challenges with parking and 1 waitress for the entire second floor (she was hustling though). My sons were with me and enjoyed the old school video games while we waited (a long time) for food and drinks. Good variety of beverages. Food menu had surprising number of options; prices on par w Ghent area dives. Hot chicken sandwich was better than expected, though I envisioned more than 5 macaroni noodles when I read the description. Tots looked good but found to be meh."

Esoteric Craft Beer and Curated Provisions

★★★★☆ 4.3 (372) • $$

"Esoteric has such a vibey atmosphere. It's the perfect spot for a night out with friends. The staff was super friendly from the moment we walked in, making us feel right at home.We came just for drinks, and let me tell you, the espresso martinis did not disappoint. We ended up getting a round for the table because, clearly, we're all big fans. I've tried my fair share of espresso martinis, and this might just be one of the best in Virginia Beach. Creamy, smooth, with just the right kick. definitely a 10/10.We didn't try any food this time, but the menu looked incredible. I couldn't help but eye the spicy chicken sammie, and I'm already planning to come back to give it a try. It seems like the kind of place where you can't go wrong, whether you're just grabbing drinks or sitting down for a full meal.Overall, Esoteric nailed it. Great vibes, and awesome drinks. If you're in VB and looking for a spot that checks all the boxes, this is it. Can't wait to come back!"

Sandbridge Island Restaurant

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (171) • $$

"Pretty good food. Might be a bit overpriced but overall not bad. I would recommend sticking to the raw bar items if you're looking for seafood. The crab dip was good!"

Famous Uncle Al's

★★★★☆ 3.9 (59) • $$

"The staff was friendly and the wait time was not that long. The fried pickles were good and the firecracker hot dog was also good. It's nice place you can hangout with your friends."

The Gourmet Gang

★★★★☆ 3.6 (76) • $

"I've been a fan for many years of gourmet gang and it's still one of my top five favorite lunch places to go in the Hampton roads. Our office had a meeting today and allowed us to pick our choice of this yummy goodness and just as I remembered this was still just as good as I remembered. I ordered the Chicken Caesar salad with added chopped egg added and also ordered the peach tea which was also delicious. If you've never experienced the lunch here I strongly recommend trying it here. I've eaten here numerous times at multiple locations and I've never had a meal I did not like here and I've tried several different selections from wraps, sandwiches, salads, pasta & cookies. Must try in my book. I love it here!"

Vintner's Cellar Winery of Yorktown

★★★★☆ 4.2 (71) • $$

"Wine made in-house that tastes absolutely delicious. I would have never known this cute spot was here had me and my friend not walked in to check it out. No regrets!!!We booked a table for a Saturday evening, whilst we were by far the youngest in the restaurant area, everyone was there for the same reason. To taste wines, and decide on what to drink a bottle of with our food over some live music. Our server was delightful; she asked what our favorite style and types of wine were and went on her way to come back with plenty of bottles to try. Now I'm usually a white wine kinda gal, and I like it sweet and fruity - I ended up drinking a bottle of red to myself. It was delicious. Black Majik (Pomegranate & Blackcurrant Zinfandel) & Bear Paw (Black Raspberry & Blueberry). Yes please. The food wasn't too badly priced considering it was fine dining style and all was presented very aesthetically, plus the goat cheese and parmesan polenta was to die for! Sadly, we weren't warned ahead that the creme brûlée was out... This place would be amazing for a bridal shower, or bachelorette, or even a birthday - have a private wine tasting! There's plenty of room! If you haven't stopped by and you enjoy a bit of wine, or feel like creating your own (yes - you can really do that here!) why not pop in?"

Urban Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.4 (217) • $$

"Upscale, but casual small restaurant with exceptional food while still being family-friendly.We love the Outer Banks, but always somewhat dread the food scene since it tends to be overpriced and mediocre while also not being the most kid-friendly in the world. Urban Kitchen turned all of that on it's head.We got into our beach house about 2p, did a quick trip to the beach and then realized that we had to either get groceries and cook at home before bedtime or find someplace to eat out. We'd had our eyes on Urban Kitchen for a bit, but finally decided that we could really use the break from cooking and we'd try it out. We showed up 12 minutes before they opened (on Saturday night) and I'm glad we did. The hostess was tracking everyone that was out there and we were already the 6th party. When they did start seating people, we were either the last or 2nd-to-last group to be seated. They turned away several groups after us--so, lesson learned show up early.The crowd was there for a good reason. We had the porch chop, strip steak, flounder and my 5-year-old daughter had the chicken tenders. It was all fantastic. The best thing was probably my 8-year-old son's steak, which he got with the horseradish sauce on the side. He demolished 2/3 of a huge steak that was perfectly cooked medium to be pink on the inside and easy to eat, but still juicy. The horseradish sauce was also great, but we used it mostly as a dip for his fries. The arugula salad on the side (which I ate almost all of) was also great.My daughters chicken tenders and french fries, which they offered off the menu without being asked when they saw we had kids, were fantastic too. They were real, nice chicken breast filets with fantastic breading cooked to crispy goodness. The fries were lightly salted and herbed shoestring fries, but not over-cooked.The flounder came over wild rice topped with thinly sliced pears and carrots over a cauliflower purée. The fish was cooked beautifully with a nice crispy outer layer and the veggies on top and salty cauliflower brought things together. My wife said pork chop was probably the least exciting thing we got, but it was still quite good.To push things over the top, they saw that we were having a bit of trouble keeping the kids entertained while we waited for our food and brought us a bowl of crayons to draw on the butcher paper that they had on top of each table. The result was a great dining experience that everyone enjoyed.I didn't get a chance to check out the wine list, but the beer list was decent and had a lot of local beers and some nice national ones. Bells two-hearted ale (in cans) and Stone IPA (on tap) were two examples. I got a blackberry original sin cider that didn't disappoint."

Civil Libation

★★★★★ 4.5 (275) • $$

"Amazing food and decor. The art flows through out. There is an amazing motif that encompasses framed art and murals. I went simple with the rib eye. It was amazing. The greens almost overshadowed the steak. Not to be missed. Cocktails are on point. Don't miss the old fashioned that features Japanese whiskey."

The Gourmet Gang

★★★★☆ 4.1 (90) • $$

"I confess, I have not actually visited The Gourmet Gang restaurant but I have attended several business luncheons that were catered by them. The food is always ready on time and always fresh and delicious. The orders are always accurate and portions are generous. Sandwiches, wraps, salads, desserts, fresh fruit and much more are available. I have been able to sample a variety of offerings and have enjoyed every item. I particularly enjoy the Italian sandwich, club sandwich, potato salad, lemon dessert bar and Heath cookie. Business hours at this location are Monday to Friday from 10 AM to 3 PM. If you desire a nice lunch in the Greenbrier area of Chesapeake you should definitely consider The Gourmet Gang."

Winston's Cafe

★★★★☆ 4 (202) • $$

"Perfect little spot!! The food, the ambiance and the service were all just awesome!! Live music by Chris Morrow, rocked the house! I started with the potato soup, now, when I say that this is the best potato soup that I have ever had, I am a veteran of hundred of bowls from dozens of place! The soup alone was worth going!! Following the soup I had the biggest and one of the tastiest club sandwiches that I have ever been served! And the fries were also top notch, crispy, not greasy at all, beautiful!! Ask about the desserts, we had the peach cobbler with ice cream, it was hot and with the cold ice cream just spectacular!!! Tara was super friendly and efficient, and saw to it that we had everything that we needed, so nice! You have to go here!! If you can go on a night when Chris is playing you'll thank me even more!! I will be back again and again."

Blu Farm To Table

★★★★☆ 3.8 (50)

"First thing, the entrance is on the water side not the street side.Second, make reservations for brunch.Third, enjoy! Cocktails are good, and the food was delicious. We had the lobster french toast and the breakfast empanadas and both were great."

Toast

★★★★☆ 4.4 (402) • $$

"Nice atmosphere, but the front of house service time was absolutely insane. 1 hour until food arrived at the table, roughly 40 minutes for the kitchen to push it out. From the look of it, they seem very understaffed.I couldn't tell if there was only one person in the kitchen or not, but she also seemed to be waiting tables.If you're understaffed, make sure to not take on more tables than able.The food was good but not memorable."

Mack's Barge

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (163) • $$

"My daughter and I have been twice. It's our new go-to spot for good food and drinks for me. The service was excellent. Everyone was very nice."

Surf Rider Restaurant

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (138) • $$

"My sister wanted to take me out for a seafood dinner for my birthday so I decided on Surf Rider. We both enjoyed the crab dip especially the pita rounds for dipping. I absolutely love their crab cakes and my steak was tasty, too! She enjoyed her seafood combination especially the crab cake! Our waitress was awesome. Made sure we were happy all around from my Sangria to the appetizer to our meals. Definitely recommend! My husband really enjoyed the Shrimp Po' Boy we brought back for him, as well!"

Hot Tuna

★★★★☆ 4.3 (725) • $$

"Love Hot Tuna! We probably go there once a month. The staff is friendly and helpful, and the food is delish. Can't wait for summer to have their succotash! It's our favorite."

Busky's Chill & Grill

★★★★☆ 3.7 (41) • $$

"Just wanted to add that we stopped in again Friday and soooo delish! I had the French dip sandwich great flavors. My husband ordered something from the special for that day the catfish sandwich I believe. He said it was extremely good!"

Midlothian Chef's Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.1 (151)

"11/6/2024: Everything about this evening was perfection! So glad to revisit MCK where everything is elevated and symphonic. Our girls dinner started with pork & shrimp dumplings in pork broth, salmon belly egg roll, and smoked beef tenderloin tartare. All apps were delish but the beef tartare stole the show as well as being a great shareable. Entrees were rockfish with summer succotash and lobster cream, fried calamari with squid ink pasta in a basil espuma, and butter poached filet with brown butter broccoli purée. Whoa! I was unable to choose a favorite as each dish was so incredibly well executed. Finished once again with all three desserts, strawberry basil cake described by our party as 'summer in a bowl' ,blackberry thyme pots de creme (this girl loves her custard!), and spiced chocolate ganache with coffee ice cream and chocolate crumbles.. very rich but very good!Another amazing dinner with amazing friends. Thank you MCK for your consistently outstanding service and your creatively delicious offerings."

AJ Gator's Sports Bar & Grill

★★★★☆ 3.5 (74) • $$

"This place is surprisingly large when you walk in. My family had dinner here and all the food was wonderful. The server was very attentive and was patient taking our order (as some in our party kept changing their mind). Though it is a sports bar, it's a nice family restaurant when not busy and no big games on tv. I do like to come here to watch the Steelers during NFL season. Fast service and clearly marked TVs make sure you are sitting with the right people for your game."

Liberty Public House

★★★★☆ 4.4 (276) • $$

"I went out to LPH last weekend for the first time with family. The restaurant is really cute inside. It is steps down to the tables but they do have a wheelchair lift. Their happy hour is 3-6 daily which is amazing! We ordered the pimento and pickles as an appetizer and not only was it delicious but also came out very quickly. Our meals were amazing as well. I have the chili with grits and it was really tasty - as well as vegetarian. The grits were cheesy, the cornbread was sweet and the chili had a great flavor. I have a few sweet potato fries off my husband's plate and they deliciously crunchy with a balanced salty and sweet!"

Culs Courthouse Grille

★★★★☆ 4.3 (105) • $$

"Stopped by for an early Saturday lunch and tried a few new dishes. Food: Lobster Bisque was still delicious as last time but it cooled very quickly. I love my soup hot, so next time I might ask for them to heat it up hot! Chicken wings-very good and the one sauce was flavorful. Good ranch and blue cheese as well as it came with carrots and celery. Fried green tomatoes-nice and crispy coating. Crabcake sandwich-not much filler (barely any) lots of crab! Also came with a pasta salad that was good. Our server was sweet and checked on us often. Brought my husband a sample of a beer on tap to make sure he liked it. The owner even stopped by and talked a little football with my husband and made sure our meal was good. The restaurant is in an old house and literally has a homey feel. There is a small bar and it's not overly large inside, altogether about 8 tables. The bathroom is also large one stall! Food www still great 10 months later and will stop by when driving through."

Todd Jurich's Bistro

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (209) • $$$

"Honestly, this place is a blast! I can't get enough of the amazing people here. The staff deserves a standing ovation--they were beyond phenomenal, especially for a new mom like me who still has to juggle work. Talk about a warm welcome! Even during a business dinner with my adorable infant, they made sure we felt right at home. Not every restaurant can handle that, but these guys went above and beyond! The only thing missing is a changing table, but no worries--they whisked me away to a private room where I could take care of my little one without any hassle or judgment.And let's talk about the food--OMG, I'm still drooling! You absolutely have to try their mouthwatering pork chops; they are pure deliciousness. The she crab soup is another must-have. If you're torn between options, skip the crabcake and go for something different like the lumpia--trust me, you won't be disappointed. Oh, and don't even get me started on the desserts! I devoured the Keylime pie, while my coworkers demolished the chocolate mousse and bread pudding. Seriously, there wasn't a crumb left on the table. It was dessert heaven!So, if you're up for a fabulous time with incredible food and a staff that treats you like royalty, this place is an absolute winner!"

The Hill Café

★★★★☆ 4 (403) • $$

"I love this cozy local haunt. You can find The Hill Café in Church Hill. There is free parallel street parking out front and nearby. You can also take the bus or bike here.My bestie and I came for RVA Brunch Weekend. They open at 10:30am on Sundays. We got there a little early so stopped by Riverbend Roastery to grab a drink nearby. We were seated quickly at a very cute two person booth. There is plenty of seating here, both inside and outside.We loved our server. She was super sweet and made us feel welcome. I love when you don't feel rushed at a place, but also very taken care of. I ordered 2 Eggs your way and my friend got the Fried Green Tomato BLT sandwich. I'm rarely a home fries person, but I really liked their home fries here. I also really enjoyed my biscuit. My friend adored her sandwich and the potato salad. I highly recommend brunch at The Hill Café."

Gershwin's

★★★★☆ 3.7 (309) • $$$

"I've always heard good things about Gershwin's so I looked forward to the opportunity to try it out for myself. I sat at the bar with one other person. This was on a Sunday evening so it wasn't busy. We were quickly seated and served. There's a pretty good mocktail selection. I asked the waitress which one she preferred and she suggested the Cinderella. It was okay. Nothing particularly special. I'll try something different next time I'm there. However, the crab mac and cheese was on another level! Definitely one of the best restaurant mac and cheeses I've ever had. Perfect flavor and generous with the crab meat. It's on the appetizer menu so I don't wasn't expecting it to be so good. I'll definitely be back for it specifically!"

Venture Kitchen And Bar

★★★★☆ 4.1 (373) • $$

"It has been a minute since Sophia and I dined here. When it comes to finely made pizza, they deliver. Not only did we dine in, a few people from our meetup group joined us where we were able to snag a table in the back for a semi-private dinner (a group of 9 were there but were pretty casual). Would this bring back good times or leave us with utter dissappointment?Walking in, we were able to get seated along with the rest of the party. Inside, it had a nice crowd but not overwhelming. And the whole place looked spotless. After a few minutes, we were all ready to order. I selected one of their newly added items, the Thai Me Up pizza. It consisted of ginger wasabi peanut sauce, chicken, carrots, red onion, shredded mozzarella, cilantro and chives topped with a sriracha swirl. This was pretty good. Each ingredient came together nicely. To have the peanut sauce as the binder was a great call. It did have some spice as expected but not overpowering at all. And the rest of the group really liked their dishes. When you have great company enjoying conversations along with their meal, it's a win-win. And I can't say enough about how tentative our waitress was with us. You know we'll be back here again :)"

Industrial Taphouse

★★★★☆ 4 (352) • $$

"Food was great-- easy stop off of 95. Service was great. Big biscuit-- though I can't rate it because it was under the eggs etc. The arugula was a very nice touch on the Southern Benny (pork belly Benedict). The fruit was very good even though it's the middle of winter. Tasty black coffee. Lots of fun breakfast items like strawberry shortcake pancakes and winter drinks to try."

Poppy's Top Dog

★★★★★ 4.6 (32) • $

"Enjoyable breakfast in this place that does short order cooking well. I sat at the counter and drank my fill of coffee while looking over the posted menu board. Nothing outlandish or complicated here, so I went to my "go to" and ordered a ham and cheese omelet.A big omelet arrived on my plate (I asked for no toast or hashbrowns) and it was delicious. Cooked properly and very inexpensive. An excellent breakfast, thank you.The restaurant is not fancy, but it's not supposed to be. It is clean, the food is good and inexpensive, and the service was very good.[Review 10878 overall, 649 of 2019.]"

Leadbelly's Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.7 (25)

"I'm giving this place 4 mainly because we were totally surprised, in a really good way. We'd been here several years ago and it was just meh...nothing special. We drove by last year and it looked closed down. Being on the Northern Neck, there's only a hand full of decent restaurants. We thought we'd give Leadbelly's at the Fairport Marina another look-see because we heard it WAS open. Glad we did!Nothing fancy. Nothing. It's a Marina. You can smell the sea lingering from the work boats docked there. There's outdoor screened porch seating, but it was closed "due to extreme heat". The waitresses wear t-shirts advertising the restaurant...and they wear flip-flops...probably against code, but what the heck.There were 4 of us. I ordered the fried oyster appetizer ($12) with a side of fried cabbage ($2.25) My dinner mates each ordered the oyster platter for $20 which came with 2 sides and "big butt rolls". Now...we've been going to another place where the oysters are tasty, but the portions have shrunk over time. When our friendly waitress (who grew up on the water and didn't eat seafood) brought our meals, I was pleasantly surprised at the huge mound of oysters. They had just the right amount of breading and the fried cabbage was delicious, cooked just right. I forgot to count how many oysters I had, but I know this: I got a big mess (a whole lot) of plump fried oysters for not a lot of money. My buddies had more on their plates than I had for the appetizer portion and they couldn't finish...they toted the remains home. If you are in the area of Fairport on the Northern Neck of Virgina, definitely give this place a try. Down home, local hangout is worth the trip!"