Only At Renee's

As a Filipino from California looking for a piece of home in VA, this really hit the spot! Sinigang was sour and we added egg to the sisig and asked for spicy. Prices were reasonable for the portions and we even had enough for leftovers. Will be back again to try the other dishes.

Feb 15Pretty darn tasty. But price for the amount of food, that wasnt it.Service was superior.I cant spend that much and get that little, times are way too tough.Esp when there are other Filipino restaurants that have better prices, flavors and more options. I rank my decisions to eat somewhere again as:1 star - if someone else buys it I won't eat it, I would rather go hungry.2 star - if I'm hungry, no other options are open and someone buys it - I would consider eating it3 star - I'm ok with eating it as long as someone else pays4 star - I will eat again and pay for it and be a semi-regular customer5 star - I will travel for good food and pay good money and be back on a regular basis and maybe even pay for yours just so we can go

Filipino restaurant close to Virginia Beach, where it felt like being in a hut in the Philippines with the cute decorations and Titas walking around. Came in on a rainy day, right when it opened and they were so friendly greeting us in Tagalog, which added to the ambience.I ordered the Adobo Fried Rice and Pork Tocino. I couldn't really taste the adobo much in the fried rice, so I would skip on the extra dollar for it. The Tocino came in a large portion which was amazing. I enjoyed the sweetness of the bite and it wasn't just drenched in the sauce. The dishes were a little pricey, but delicious. Sadly I was unable to try the bulalo special, but would come back again whenever I'm in back in the area.

Food- lacks a little flavor. Im from the same region that the chef is, the flavors do not reflect our region's flavors. When you want to use Kampampangan in a restaurant it needs to bear the same strong and proud culinary spirit of this region. There is a lot of room for improvement. If the owner is reading this i wish you good luck and hope for the best.The sisig- lacks tartness from calamansi and there is no liver. That is not KapampanganKare Kare- Lacks peanut flavor, and needs saltiness.Torta- the eggplant needs to be charred not boiled and topped with eggPares noodle soup- needs a little more sweetnessThe Langka with coconut milk, needs better quality coconut milk. lacks sweetness and saltiness. Tinapa Fried rice- I broke a filling eating it the rice was to hard. you need cold or one day old rice for fried rice but man that was probably older than 1 day.They did not tell us they charge a 20% tip automatically.I dont mind paying a 200-500 bucks for a dinner but make sure it is quality and delicious. Service.

What a treat to try this place. Living in Arlington, there is no shortage of attempts to elevate Filipino food in the DC, MD, VA metro area. Too modern; too traditional; too fancy; too casual. Only at Renee's blends both traditional and modern beautifully by capturing the spirit of Filipino classics but elevating them just enough to cater to your comfort zone while keeping your tastebuds guessing with delight. If you're longing for the signature sweet yet sour, pickled yet rich, fresh yet decadent play of Filipino cuisine, you will indeed have your food wishes fulfilled here. The fact that the food and accompanying sauces are homemade are what makes this place a standout. The chef could've easily thrown together prepackaged longanisa and sauces from the Asian grocery store but making their own... this makes all the difference. For example: The chili sauce for the lumpia and Mang Tomas-esque sauce for lechon kalawi are dynamite. The garlic fried rice made spicy felt new to me. The perfect spice blends in the lumpia filling, the sugary savory longanisa and tocino; the earthy sisig. So accurate and yet a notch above; so good. The hot calamansi was a revelation to me; I've known this citrus (my Dad's favorite) all my life, but never had it in hot tea form. If that isn't elevated comfort, I don't know what is. The service was also prompt and accurate, with a kindness and humility that made me realize good people have a hard time receiving compliments sometimes. Fam - I love your place; it's my favorite Filipino restaurant in the Hampton Roads area. And I look forward to coming back for more.

Masarap (delicious) Filipino food in Virginia Beach!When I visited my cousin late last year, I was looking forward to trying good Filipino food in the area as Virginia Beach is a host to a huge Filipino diaspora from the 1980s (thanks to the many Filipino Sailors stationed in Naval Station Norfolk!). I was especially excited to try Only At Renee's after hearing that the dishes are inspired by the Philippine province of Pampanga, the culinary capital of the Philippines!My cousin who lives in the area suggested we have a Sunday lunch here. She made a reservation as the restaurant is small, yet popular. We all loved everything we ate! We ordered:- Ensaladang Talong: A mango salad on a bed of grilled eggplant- Nilaga with beef- Pork tocino- Bicol Express (Daily special)- Sizzling inihaw na pusit (grilled squid)- Sago't gulaman for me- Only At Renee's Hot Tea for my husband - Ube shake for our friends' toddlerThe quality of our meal seriously felt like eating at Lola's (grandma's home). The friendly servers were like your Tita and cousins serving you!

Authentic Filipino food. A small restaurant with real Filipino vibe. The food served fresh and fast. The place is clean and with a lot of parking with friendly staff . No wait when we came today at 5pm on a Saturday. Highly recommended.

Service was super poor and they automatically charge a 20% gratuity for parties 5+. It took them over 15 minutes to get our beverages, I understand it gets busy but we didn't even get the water jug (that we have to serve ourselves) or utensils until asking multiple times. It also took almost an hour for the food to arrive which is ridiculous. Despite that, the food was good, I'm not sure what the names of the dish were since we had Filipinos in our group who decided what we were eating. The oxtail in peanut sauce was so good omg definitely my favorite of the four dishes, the pork dish was great too. The fried tofu dish and fish stew were good, I personally wouldn't get again but I can see the stew being popular amongst older folks. The interior is nice and homey feels like someone's house in a more curated way.

Stopped by here for an early dinner when I was in VA beach. It's located in a shopping center with plenty of parking. I was really craving bulalo but unfortunately, they didn't have it when I went. I ordered the sisig instead, which came out hot on a sizzling plate. The sisig was traditional with chicken livers. I actually prefer it without, but it was still good and flavorful. I enjoyed the citrusy kick. I wish rice came with it, but I had to order that separately. The sisig was enough to share for two people. Our server was also friendly and fast. I could tell they treat their regulars well. I also loved the decor inside!

October is Filipino American History Month, so my friends and I decided to check out Only at Renee's. According to their sign outside, the cuisine is inspired by the city of Pampanga. It's a small establishment, and when you walk in, you are transported to a night market perhaps (?) or the feel of someone's home. Super cozy! There are straw baskets in a variety of different shapes, sizes and designs adorning the walls and friendly staff.- Parking - Center lot.- Sips - Melon juice - this was so refreshing! It reminded me of a cantaloupe agua fresca, but here, they also add shredded cantaloupe in it. I could probably drink gallons of it! Sago't gulaman - this was my least favorite of the drinks. From the description, it truly is exactly that, sugared water with some toppings in it. I would not get this again.Calamansi crush - another winner! So refreshing! For those who are not familiar, calamansi is a Philippine lime, a citrus fruit that has a green peel, but has an almost tangerine like interior. It's so good, and they add a bit of crushed ice (not too much), so it keeps it cold, but it's also not a slushie. I would drink gallons of this too! - Noms - Sizzling inihaw na pusit: sizzling grilled squid garnished with onions and bell peppers⁠. The size of this squid was HUGE. It was grilled, so it had the char taste which was delish, and served with a vinegar-based chili dipping sauce. So delicious! Oxtail kare-kare: oxtails stewed in a creamy, peanut sauce with eggplant, green beans, and bok choy⁠. This was my least favorite dish. I have had kare kare once before, so I don't really have anything else to compare it to (it wasn't the best either). I think I just don't like the dish. It's super heavy and maybe I should have mixed some shrimp paste in the sauce to add more umami, but I think I just don't like the rich and heavy nature of the dish. No shade on the dish, as I know it's a favorite for many. The presentation and the quality of the ingredients were from what I could tell was far superior than the previous experience of my first kare kare dish. I normally love oxtails, but this preparation is just not for me, I think! Fried street food - platter of lumpiang Shanghai, fish balls, longanisa, fried pork belly, marinated angus beef, sweet plantains, and fries⁠. This is my type of plate which has a little bit of everything! Definitely great for sharing! Garlicky fried eggplant: grilled whole with garlic⁠. I just love eggplant and garlic, so this was a killer combo.Garlic fried rice: Filipinos are speaking to my Korean heart with this dish! I have recently discovered Filipino breakfasts and the starring role is the garlic fried rice. Only at Renee's is beautifully presented with some red onions on top! Good to soak up any sauces you have from the other dishes! Halo halo: in Tagalog, meaning "mix mix", it's a combination of crushed ice, evaporated milk, fruits, and homemade ingredients. ⁠As if all the things we ordered weren't enough, we had to end the meal with a grand finale. Halo halo reminds me of a Filipino version of a Korean shaved ice dessert called patbingsoo. I think most Asian countries have their own versions of this. Halo halo was a party of flavors from starchy to fruity, to icy and creamy and even the puffed cereal-like topping! I have heard that the owner's parents actually have a popular restaurant in NY and was the inspiration behind the opening of this restaurant. Love that they decided to bring it to the 757! My friends and I left full and happy, and I can't wait to go back to try more of the other dishes!Happy Fil-Am History Month! Go out and support and enjoy!