The Most Scrumptious Southern in Virginia Beach

The Dunes Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.9 (448) • $$

"In OBX for a family vacation. Stopped by here randomly based on online reviews. I'm very happy. Restaurant was busy, but not crowded, and the service was super fast.They start with the lightest, fluffiest hush puppies I've ever had, and they were great. The whipped butter complemented them perfectly.I got the "Pick Your Catch" and got the Crab Cake and OBX Shrimp. The shrimp was large, lightly breaded, fried and very fresh tasting. The Crab Cake was very meaty with a great blend of spices. My kids got the Chicken and Waffles, and were happy with them. Wife got the popcorn shrimp, and has happy as well. I tried some and it was yummyOverall, a good vacation dinner. Not sure if it would be a tradition, but ai would come 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."

Five Forks Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.1 (333) • $$

"Five Forks Cafe seemed like it would be a great little mom and pop greasy spoon. It was not. The positive:1. Hot cakes2. A perfect egg over-easy 3. A fabulous egg sandwich4. Delicious sausage gravyThe meh:1. Service was friendly but not attentive 2. Biscuits tasted like Grands Frozen BiscuitsThe negative:1. Hash-browns were not seasoned and definitely frozen because they were still cold in the center. 2. The corned beef hash was easily identified as canned by the tiny dehydrated potatoes and potted meat consistency. 3. Terrible coffee"

Yoolks On Us Southern Bistro

★★★★☆ 3.8 (346) • $$

"What a wonderful experience. I had ham and eggs, just as I had ordered. The service was fast, the restaurant very nice would go again!"

Helen's

★★★★☆ 3.8 (282) • $$

"Friendly service, great vibe, excellent playlist and above all, fantastic food. My only suggestion would be to offer better hot sauce, one without sugar or xanthan gum, like Cholula.It was hard to decide between the steak and eggs and the full Irish breakfast......I went with the steak and eggs so I guess I'll have to come back ‍"

Boss Queens Soul Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.8 (272) • $$

"I have heard some amazing things about this spot, so since we made the journey back to Norfolk we had to pop in. We lucked up on their reverse happy hour from 6p-9p (Tuesday-Thursday), we got a margarita and Long Island for $6 a piece they were well made. Service was quick and everyone was polite! The vibe in here is everything I need in a soul food spot, great music and all. Now food, I got the fried catfish with mac and candied yams with a corn bread. Everything was good on my plate and I would order it again. So far this is the best soul food I've had in VA! The catfish was fried perfectly, mac was so cheesy with the 7 cheeses, and the candied yams were the perfect sweet touch! My husband got fried turkey leg with cabbage and mac, the turkey was good and fried with a good crunch. I would for sure recommend this spot and that's saying a lot for a VA spot."

Jake's Place

★★★★☆ 4.1 (231) • $$

"Services is amazing and food is out of the world , I love the redneck egg rolls place is just outstanding."

Nags Head Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.1 (224) • $$

"The food tasted amazing. The service was good. The only downfalls are that their lattes (pictured) are tiny for $6.50. They also do not serve water to drink unless you would like to purchase bottled water. Overall great experience."

Vintage Tavern

★★★★☆ 4.1 (217) • $$$

"We made reservations for tonight. When we sat down I told our server I was allergic to seeds and nuts. For appetizer we ordered pimento cheese. Out came crackers covered in seeds. I sent them back and soup came out with more seeded crackers. It was loud in there. People who worked there wore clothes I would clean the house in....the atmosphere did not marry with the menu. Food was great but everything else did not add up for a date night nor NOT allergy friendly... be on guard."

Family Secrets Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4 (198) • $$

"The food was great!! When I say great, I mean GREAT! I really didn't want to leave this review because I didn't want to spread the word about this gem of a place. However, someone needs to enjoy the deliciousness that me and my family did this Sunday. We went after church and it was packed! Service was slow but I understood it. The staff was friendly, attentive and just all around great. It really felt like you were at a large family dinner. Ooohh! The cornbread!!!! I'm not even a cornbread eater and after sampling my husband's piece I ordered my own. Nice vibe, great music, definitely going back soon, maybe this weekend."

Smohk RVA BBQ

★★★★☆ 4.3 (167) • $$

"When my GPS led me down an alley to this restaurant I was incredibly confused. Online it says "no frills" and that is for sure the truth. We had a table of 6 and all tried something different-- not a single person was disappointed with their meal. Absolutely delicious, fresh smoked barbecue! My sister got the brisket with mac and cheese and that was a real winner!The owner is also super friendly and provided great service! We will definitely be back soon!"

Sting Ray's Restaurant

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (232) • $$

"cool place that's been around a long time. In a gas station but TASTY. We ordered at the counter and they brought food. Kids menu is a HUGE plus. Lots of seafood- fried or steamed. HUGE fish portion. The sides- the minus to them is they all sound good, so it's too hard to decide! Good for kids, adults, people passing through. Some seating and there were larger tables for groups.Some salad for your vegetarian friends but it's a seafood joint!"

Simply Southern Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.3 (119) • $$

"We came here for lunch. It's a cute little restaurant. I like the decor of the place.I ordered Fried chicken 3 pieces with hushpuppies and collard green. I like that they lightly sprinkle salt on the hushpuppies to enhance the sweetness. The fried chicken was cooked perfectly and still juicy.Blueberry pie with vanilla ice cream was perfect to end the meal. The warm blueberry filling and the cold vanilla ice cream complimented each other.The staff are friendly and attentive. Highly recommend this place."

Nanny's Restaurant & Catering

★★★★☆ 4.2 (117) • $$

"Let's start by saying I am not a fan of Buffet's. When I walked in and saw that it was a buffet, I almost left... OH MY GOODNESS.... I am so glad I didn't. The food was amazing . Seasoned, fresh, delicious. All the years teaching 95 and never knew this gem existed . Whether local or traveling ... homeCooking can't be beat. They also have take out and a grill if you don't want the buffet"

Southern Comfort Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.6 (129) • $$

"I honestly didn't know this place existed until a co-worker wanted to try this place. So I was with a party of 3 and we were seated at a high table. The place is nicely colored teal and black. It took a while for the server to come over (they weren't busy). She was very pleasant and took our orders. I will tell you they are NOT fast! The drinks came which were mediocre (2 of us tried the southern comfort punch). Now the food on the other hand was good! If you like your food seasoned this is where it's at! They have a lunch menu, happy hour food & drink menu, plus brunch, taco Tuesdays, and they have daily specials. I will most likely be back to try other food items."

Court House Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.9 (102) • $$

"Three of us had lunch, we chose it for the second time because we enjoyed the food last November. I had grilled salmon which came with two sides. I chose steamed broccoli and baked potato. Each item was cooked perfectly. My companions has a seafood medley and the other the days special of rockfish. The service was friendly and responsive. The ambiance is clean and comfirtable cafe and bar style. Everyone was warm and friendly. Will keep on my list for future visits."

Tap It Local Chesapeake

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (158) • $$

"The service can be a bit slow... but the good is very good. We normally order the Ruben's w/ onion rings or their potato wedge things. The Brussel sprout appetizer is absolutely delicious. We don't normally eat in anymore due to service and sometimes it's a bit loud but we will order out. They are open late so my husband can pick up on his way home from work and we can eat late night."

Mason's Grill & Smokehouse

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (128) • $$

"Honestly am in love with this place! It's cute and casual, and the staff are friendly and nice. The food is really good as well. We had gotten the nachos to share, and they hit every note. Savory from the meat and cheese, spicy from the jalapeños, sweet from the bbq, and texturally pleasing as well. I think them adding the salsa is a bit unnecessary because of this, but for some of the chips that don't have a lot on them, it works. As for entrees go, I got the shrimp tacos with hushpuppies, and I could eat that all day honestly. Their hushpuppies don't come with a sauce, but it truly isn't necessary, they're so flavorful and tender and overall great on their own. The shrimp tacos, while not looking like much, were also so bomb. I love the spicy sauce they're tossed in, and with the toppings, they really work well together. Their pickled onions are flavorful and were a nice added touch. I'd love to try more things and come here again sometime!"

Chicken Salad Chick

★★★★☆ 4.4 (72)

"This was the first time I have ordered catering and it worked out perfectly! It was easy to order online and it was all ready and nicely packaged up when I arrived. It was also ready at the time I requested. The staff was very pleasant too and offered to help walk it out to my car. I ordered their combo that included two chicken salad choices, one side and dessert for 12. There was plenty of chicken salad, crackers and there were 12 cookies. The side which was the grape salad was just enough and some people didn't take any. A larger serving of this would be nice. Everything tasted delicious and would use them for catering again!"

Strangeways Brewing RVA-Scott's Addition

★★★★☆ 4.4 (53)

"The lady working the bar was very friendly and engaging and I like the vibe of this place. They have a huge beer selection as well. I wasn't a fan of the Flemish Ale at all but I'm sure they have other offerings more my speed. I plan on coming back here to try some other beers most likely."

Pollard's Chicken

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (94) • $

"Hands down : it's the best fried chicken. The flavor is not only in the coating but also in the chicken meat itself. It's juicy and the white meat is not dry at all.Do yourself a favor if you enjoy fried chicken and eat the best."

Canvas Social Cuisine

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (97) • $$

"We came here for brunch on a Saturday, and we had a good time. The wait wasn't long. Customer service:Phenomenal. Our waitress was so attentive and amicable. She was very good at making recommendations, checking in with us, and keeping up with refills.Food:My meal was a 10/10. I got the Steak N Eggs. My steak was cooked to my liking and well seasoned. The scrambled eggs were creamy and delicious, and the potatoes were seasoned well.Drink:I got the "pull out," and it was so good. Very strong but good. One drink was more than enough.Atmosphere:They had excellent music playing, and the vibes were incredible. The music wasn't too loud where you couldn't talk. It only got loud when they came out with signs for people's birthdays and celebrations. I will definitely come back. I had an amazing time."

Ellens Homestyle & BBQ Express, llc

★★★★☆ 4.1 (53) • $$

"If you're looking for soul food that feels like a warm hug, Ellen's Homestyle & BBQ LLC is the place to go! I ordered the collard greens, macaroni and cheese, and three fried pork chops, and every bite was absolutely delicious.I didn't eat inside it was a to go order. The collard greens were seasoned to perfection. The mac and cheese was creamy, cheesy, and baked to a golden perfection--comfort food at its finest. And those fried pork chops? Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and packed with flavor. They were fried just right, without being greasy.The portions were generous, and the food tasted homemade, like it was crafted with love and attention to detail. The staff was friendly and welcoming, which made the experience even better.Ellen's Homestyle & BBQ LLC is now my go-to spot for real homestyle soul food cooking. Highly recommend it for anyone craving a soul food feast!"

The Circle II Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.6 (65) • $

"We decided to take a chance on the Circle Restaurant because we have a good restaurant by the same name back home in Ohio. Food and service were great! Restaurant was clean and filled with friendly locals. We had seen comments on here about the restaurant being dirty, but this was absolutely not the case while we were here. I had the country fried steak and my husband ordered the corned beef hash. We highly recommend both! I wish i would have taken pics of before, but my husband cleaned his plate and I barely had any leftovers. We will definitely be back on our next vacation."

Jackie's Restaurant

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (78) • $$

"Enjoyed the food and atmosphere. The service was good. Staff made us feel welcomed. Salmon cakes were delicious."

Plank Road Steak House

★★★★☆ 3.5 (64) • $$$

"Wife and I made our first visit here this past weekend.01/14/22We did not have a reservation but we were able to be seated immediately at a bar height table in the bar area, which was fine for us.Our waitress, Theresa, was very helpful and attentive. Our food come out quickly. I had the BBQ Pork Chop which was cooked perfectly to order and was so juicy and tender. Very good.Wife had a burger that she said was wonderful.Appetizer was potato skins which were good. Drinks were well made also. We ordered a Chocolate Confusion dessert to go. We had it later on and it was fantastic and not too rich.Thanks to Theresa and the rest of the staff for making our first visit a great experience."

Hollands

★★★★☆ 3.9 (44)

"I was staying in Downtown Suffolk overnight with my best friend for a wedding and we decided to pop into Holland's for a quick brunch before heading home. Walking in we were really digging the rustic, yet modern décor.After looking over the menu I decided on ordering "The Hangover Burger" topped with country ham, bacon, fried egg, jalepeño, chili, and pimento cheese. It was so good. Admittedly, I would've preferred the beef patty to have a little more seasoning; however, the flavor profile of the chili mixed with the pimento cheese on top of the burger was FIRE and gave it plenty of flavor. I was also a big fan of the battered fries that came on the side; furthermore, I loved the fact that they serve their sides of ranch (and I assume other sauces) in metal 1/4 measuring cups and that soft drinks come in mason jars. Little cutesy touches like that always make dining out that much more enjoyable. Our waitress Amanda was very nice and accommodating and checked on us regularly throughout our meal with a positive attitude. Overall, Holland's serves up delicious food with a homey feel and my friend and I had quite a pleasant experience."

Terrie's Breakfast & Lunch

★★★★☆ 3.8 (45) • $

"If you want some true Mom n Pop eats with that homemade taste, Terrie's is the spot. I have been ordering food from Terrie's since before they moved locations. You can guarantee your food will always be fresh and hot even if you order through delivery apps. Terrie's never disappoints. Anything on their menu is delicious. Whatever you have a taste for. I can't recommend just one thing because I haven't ordered something I didn't like but their Omelette's, grits and French toast are my favorite. But my number one item that I will always reorder is sausage biscuits and gravy! Try Terrie's, you can order for the whole family for half the price of any other breakfast restaurant around."

Le'Pough's Barbecue

★★★★☆ 3.9 (42) • $

"I love BBQ. I'm from Alabama where we love our BBQ and this brothers and sisters is some of the best BBQ I've ever had outside of the mother land. There's nothing in GA, Or North Carolina east or west that I've had that can hold its on to this little whole in the wall. I had the "John Coffee" a sandwich with pork, a hot link and slaw. I had them make mine with pulled chicken. It was the bomb and the sauce was a must and based with a little kick. It was so good I ordered a second. Be sure and call ahead because Yelp said they closed at 7 and they were closing at 5 also they said they were going to be closed the rest of the weekend. If I ever come back to Chester,VA I'll be eating here. If they were going to open tomorrow my butt would be coming back before I fly out. Great find!!!!"

Roux Raw Bar and Grill

★★★★☆ 4.1 (36)

"This Johnson & Wales-trained chef has roots in South Louisiana. So, do I. And I tasted his influences all throughout his fabulous food. I started with the fried frog bites. Delish! The rest of my Mike was equally fine."

Daily Menu Restaurant

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (50)

"I love this place!! I always go for the vibes. If you're looking for a laid back spot that plays great music, and has good food & drinks, this is it! I was pleasantly surprised by the extensive options available for vegans/vegetarians. I have tried every plant based option on the menu from the vegan burger, plant based brunch wrap, beyond meat tacos, mushroom tacos, and my ultimate favorite, the fried oyster mushroom "chicken" sandwich. That alone is worth a visit. Seriously, it gets a 10/10! Service is great, but it can get a little busy during peek times like weekends, so I tend to visit during weekdays/happy hour and definitely on Sundays for brunch. Vegan girlies, this is a safe place ."

Pollard's Chicken - London Bridge

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (50) • $

"I will start by saying, I'm not a fan of the chicken at Pollards. Never have been. It has been years since I stepped foot in one after several bad experiences over several of their restaurants.Fast forward to now and I was really craving some Mac & Cheese, baked beans and cabbage. I found this Pollards had at least the Mac & beans, so I placed an order online.The staff was friendly, but I don't believe they pay attention to online orders, and don't start anything until you arrive. If you are in a rush, be prepared for about a 5 minute wait (depending on your order).Now to the sides. I got the Mac, beans and greens. I was just trying to kill a craving! This had no business being this doggone good! The greens were perfectly seasoned, the baked beans has great flavor and the Mac didn't disappoint. I know it was just sides, but I've already been back twice in the past few weeks...and they are constant!So, will I try the chicken at this location? Probably not. We are having a great relationship with these sides. I don't want to risk this relationship over some under cooked poultry. Don't let this sway your decision not to get the chicken. I never had the chicken from here, but I'm good with the sides."

Munchies Southern Soul

★★★★☆ 4.2 (22) • $$

"4 of us decided to make Munchies our supper destination after reading about their story in The Virginian Pilot. It's a new soul food spot that just opened this year. Wow were we impressed!! The location is right off Rt 199 in the Lightfoot area of Williamsburg.. super close to Ford Colony as well (hint hint - market this place to Ford Colony). It's tucked in the middle of a shopping center to the right if you're turning onto Olde Towne Rd from 199. We were there early so the place was all ours. The menu had us falling over ourselves - immediate hunger pains like... All the goodies.. it was so hard choosing. So we ordered waaay too much food 90's R&B hits swayed in the background.. we are not apologizing for singing Toni Braxton at the top of our lungs.. we honestly didn't have a choice. For a starter we picked the Crab Bites. These were just solid crab meat.. 5 crispy bites to an order and each one is a good 2-3 bites. The dipping sauce was a tangy honey mustard aoili (I think) - "the perfect amuse bouche" was uttered at some point. We all got extra sides. Because it was impossible to choose. Here's a summary of the sides: - Mac n Cheese - baked, classic, not gooey, DELICIOUS crust- Collards - mine had a big ole piece of meat in it and I was in heaven. First time trying these with Red Hot and I'll never be the same...- Green Beans - best I've ever had. - Yams - sorry mama, I didn't mean to do that it was was like a reflex - Mashed potatoes - classic, smooth and fluffyFor entrees we got the 2 piece dark chicken, pork chops, and crab cakes.. everything was hot and crispy. Crab cakes were just like the bites - none but lump!! For dessert: banana pudding and cherry cobbler. Listen... ...we were on the floor those desserts were so tasty... And the portions were fabulous.. a whole pint container of each.. we asked to meet the chef that created the desserts. Sheldon came out and we learned that everything we ate was his mom's recipes. He had grown up helping her in the kitchen and is carrying his family's legacy.. how beautiful is that!? Very reasonably priced place also - appetizer and entree with extra sides was around $30. Can't beat that. Please check this place out. I will be back and I may even be inquiring about catering soon!"

The River Restaurant & Lounge

★★★★☆ 4 (10)

"I've visited this restaurant 3 times and it was amazing all 3 times! The buffet is always clean and orderly. The atmosphere is comfortable even though I've only had take out. The food though baaabbbyyy is EVERYTHING! It's always fresh and full of flavor. It's never dry like some buffets can be. I give them a 10 out of 10!"

Pollard's Chicken

★★★☆☆ 2.8 (18)

"I had lunch from Pollards Chicken in Great Bridge recently. I've been working from home for months, as have many of us, and just needed something different. I didn't feel like driving out. The lunch hour is to short for the drive there and back, so to maximize my hour I had the meal delivered via DoorDash. I ordered the 4-Piece Chicken meal which comes with a breast, thigh, wing and drumstick. Along with that 2 sides and a couple of puffs. Sides were mashed potatoes with their chicken gravy and fried okra. The meal arrived very quickly after the driver picked it up and was still hot upon delivery. I enjoyed half of it for lunch and the other half for dinner. Zero complaints. I'm looking forward to having some more Pollards soon. Especially their chicken gravy. It's amazing."