Circa 1918

Circa 1918 is pure perfection and I can't believe I was honored enough to get a reservation there on a Saturday night!This restaurant is located on a little cute strip, filled with vintage looking shops. It's cozy on the outside and in the inside. The ambiance at night is giving romantic date night. It's a pretty tight space but it gives an intimate feel. I personally love that.I went here because one of my friends said that it is his favorite restaurant. He explained how their menu frequently changes and is chef-curated. He really hyped it up. And the experience I had here with friends really lived up to the hype!! Immediately waking up, the hostess greeted us with upbeat and high energy and she quickly seated us as well. The hostess also ended up being our waitress. She was very well-informed and knew the food and drinks like the back of her hand. I'm always impressed when waitstaff know what they're talking about because I've been in their shoes before. So I know the work it takes to get like that.We started with a house appetizer. I don't remember what it was exactly but it was all beautifully topped on a slice of naan. It really started off the night on a great note. Our appetizers were the charred octopus, beef gyoza, and the fried oysters. Our drinks were excellent craft cocktails that I don't remember the names of. But each one was gorgeous and delicious! Next up, we had the grilled asiago bread, bison meatloaf, pan seared duck breast, and the seared jumbo sea scallops. Goodness. Not a single disappointment in any of these dishes that I listed. Maybe one disappointment is that I couldn't have unlimited charred octopus and duck breast... LOL. I often get lost in thinking about the charred octopus here. It was crispy on the outside with the perfect amount of char, but yet it was soft and tender in the inside. I got my duck cooked at medium rare. The duck breast melted in my mouth. I didn't want the experience to end.Overall, this place is absolutely worth the hype and is all the rage. I'm 1000000% coming back here when I'm back in town again.

First is that you have to make reservations, as there is limited seating. The outside of the restaurant is so enviting and when you go in its very narrow, but the ambiance takes you bwck to "France" . Very romantic and intimate. It's definitely a local favorite. With that being said I couldn't wait to try the dishes. For starters I had "Pan seared Foie Gras" OOH My! It's tender and juicy it jist melts in your mouth. I could eat like 3 more of those! LolAll the flavors went perfectly! I couldn't wait to try my main dish. The main course I ordered was the "Pan Seared Duck Breast" Yes, no complaints! Nice light crisp on the outside and tender juicy on the inside. The black garlic butter poached cauliflower and mixed spices was excellent! I was savoring every bite...And the wine I ordered went perfect with my meal! What do they say the night and experience was "Cest Magnifique"Definitely a place to take someone on special occasions! Will be back for sure!

This place is a gem. It has never disappointed in all the times we've been here. They are passionate about the experience of their guests - from being greeted with a warm smile to the prompt and friendly service, to the amazing bites of food.Ambiance (5/5): this restaurant is on the smaller side, so reservations are highly encouraged (2 couples who tried to walk in tonight were turned away due to no availability). The decor is perfectly classic yet modern. They have tables that seat 2-4, and also seating st the bar.There is street parking right in front, but also a little parking lot down the road that you have to enter into from the back road.Service (5/5): Regina was bubbly and attentive - it felt like we were being taken care of by a friend. Kip was moving between guests and taking care of everyone, especially the regulars. We love that the entire team seems genuinely eager to connect with patrons, new or regulars!Food (5/5): hands down an amazing experience every time. The amuse bouche they surprise us with is always something creative we would never try on our own, which starts the dining experience off with interest and delight. We had their pork belly bao buns tonight and it was my favorite bite of the night - perfectly balanced and deliciously savory.Their asiago bread with garlic honey whipped butter is *chef's kiss*.Their bison meatloaf is a classic staple that never disappoints - elevated and with a little spice.As always, it was an absolute delight. We hope to be back sooner than later!

The food and the service were excellent! We went for restaurant week and had a great experience. This intimate restaurant is located in the quaint Hilton area and has a great ambience. We were a party of 4 girlfriends and had such a wonderful time. I had the meatloaf and chocolate moose cake . Loved them both . We shallDefinitely return!

I can only say great things about Circa 1918! Had a wonderful experience for dinner on a Wednesday evening. I made a reservation in advance for four of us at 6:30pm. We arrived a couple minutes past and I was seated right away despite the rest of my party not being present as they were parking the cars. Pro tip: arrive a bit early so that you have plenty of time to park as street parking can be a bit limited.I was surprised that the restaurant was a little bigger than I thought it would be, but still small, and it was completely packed - I think we were sat at the last open table. I am confident that had we not had a reservation, we likely would have either had to find a seat at the bar or go elsewhere. I am glad that was not the case.Kip, our server, greeted me promptly although very up close and personal (the restaurant is a bit narrow and on the smaller side). I was immediately offered still or sparkling water while I waited for the rest of my guests to arrive.Upon the arrival of the rest of my party, Kip asked us if we would like anything else to drink besides water. I ordered the Pinkkaso. I have to say, I love Campari, Aperol, unsweet tea, all things bitter - but this drink was not my cup of tea. It quite honestly just wasn't well balanced. The ingredients didn't really feel congealed like they should have been, it was too much going on in the wrong way. The rest of my party ordered wine and they seemed to enjoy it.Kip informed us of the specials for the evening, a soup, starter, and an entree that I recall. We opted for a few starters while foregoing the one on special. We enjoyed the Bao Buns, Octopus, Grilled Asiago Bread, and Fried Oysters. Although my favorite was the Bao Buns and the Octopus was a close second. The Fried Oysters had an interesting, slightly overpowering tartness and the Grilled Asiago Bread was just okay - nothing special in my opinion.Our main course was the best part of the meal. My husband and I opted to share the entree special, which was a delicious Pork Tenderloin cooked medium (chef's recommendation) over a bed of polenta puree with veggies including cauliflower and some others. It was delicious and they even took the liberty of splitting the dish for us on two separate plates! My brother had the Baked Halibut from the menu and my sister in law had the steak. I tried both and they were also so delicious! Overall we had a great experience and I am glad I was able to try so many of their different offerings. I look forward to returning to enjoy my favorites and try other options that I have not yet. Cheers to Circa 1918! Highly recommend.

My family and I have been coming here for years. The restaurant itself is small which makes it homey and intimate. The staff is friendly and in a way, treat you like family. I like that the menu selection changes periodically which gives you the opportunity to try new things. Overall, the food is delicious and well presented. Portions are just right and there is a good selection of wine to pair with your food.

I have no idea what witchcraft they use, but each bite is better than the bite before! It MUST be magic!My friend and I recently had dinner here before an event. We mentioned our plans to our server James, who made sure every timing detail was worked through for us. The first course was a sample of an appetizer from the chef. I immediately asked if the chef was married! Then we ordered a few appetizers so we could sample a good variety of options. The portions were generous, the presentation was flawless, and the layers of flavors were nearly orgasmic! We finished off with dessert. The cheesecake with bananas foster on top was unparalleled. It was the best cheesecake I have ever eaten, bar none. Both my friend and I got goosebumps, our eyes closed, and we couldn't speak because we were overcome by the incredible flavor sensations!The place is tiny - as in miniscule. I made reservations 4 days ahead and the only option was bar seating, so do yourself a favor and plan accordingly. Make your reservation well in advance. The food, service, and atmosphere, are perfect in this well-hidden jewel. I wish the restaurant was 4x larger than it is. They could fill it every night. The prices are a little high but you get what you pay for and I am more than willing to pay for this kind of gastric fantasy.Congratulations to Circa 1918! You've set the bar for fine dining in Newport News!

I would come back again! Every dish my sister and I had here was extremely delicious! I normally take photos of all meals but this time I didn't - maybe I was starving, maybe my sister and I were having a fun time, but one thing's for sure - there were no crumbs left! We licked those plates clean! Service was pleasant and staff was always attentive.

Circa 1918 is one of my favorite upscale restaurants in the area. The staff are consistently friendly and provide prompt service. The interior is cozy (albeit a bit loud during wine dinners!), so reservations are highly recommended. The menu is always being updated, but the quality of food is consistently delicious and creative. Cocktails are also consistently unique and well-made. On a recent visit, I enjoyed the Domo Orgeato cocktail which was lightly sweet between the orgeat and hibiscus, topped with a jewel-like candied hibiscus flower. The tuna tartare taco special appetizer was light and fresh with a good mix of flavors and textures from the crisp taco shell, to the lightly seasoned tuna topped with pickled vegetables. The seared duck breast was perfectly cooked with swirls of different sauces to accent the flavors, and the baked halibut was light and moist served with a delicious curried rice. The chocolate bombe dessert featured a dark chocolate ganache covered with a chocolate shell served in a crème anglaise sprinkled with pistachios. The whole meal was spectacular, and I'm already looking forward to my next visit!

What a find! We went based on Yelp ratings and it completely justified the scores. Well crafted cocktails, amazing appetizer of duck tacos, equally amazing entrees: one of perfectly cooked lamb and the other of scallops sautéed just right; solid wine list.We'll be back.