Victorian Station

This is a rather mixed review of the new Bistro at Victorian Station. It had been a very long time since I had eaten at the former Victorian Station Tea Room, and the Bistro has replaced whatever replaced the tea room. We went for lunch on Tuesday and the place was closed. No hours posted. We tried again on Thursday and voila! it was open. All the tables now are downstairs in the former Ute's gift shop. It is very eclectic in that room with mismatched everything. Upstairs where we used to dine has sofas and coffee tables. I gotta say, the place seems musty and the vibe took me back to some places I'd rather forget about from the early 70's. Parking is scant, kind of a "it's ok to park on the grass" kind of place.I was dining with 2 friends and one would give the place 3 and one a 4. My friend who would give it a 4 said the water was the best water he ever tasted. So there you go. There was one long table reserved but we were the only guests. Before we left 2 more tables had guests.The waitress was very sweet. She handed us paper menus and on the back was a coupon saying free iced tea with lunch purchase, so when she took our drink order I said I would have the special on the back - the iced tea. "Oh no," she told me. "That is a coupon for a flyer they had passed out previously and they just used the flyers to print the menus to save paper." For crying out loud. You give me a menu with a large coupon stating I get a free iced tea, and tell me it doesn't apply. I'm sorry but right there, the iced tea that would have probably cost you five cents to honor, should have been provided. How am I supposed to know the info on the menu isn't valid? So I ordered the afore mentioned water. I believe we all ordered the chicken salad. It was OK. I wouldn't get it again but the menu is still 'under development.' I was told.I asked if the potato salad was made with mayo or mustard, and she told me mayo with a teensy bit of mustard. I ordered it and out came a very yellow mustard filled potato salad that I did not like at all. It was like the kind you get from Food Lion in a big tub and bring to a pot luck when you are too busy to make anything, even though I'm sure it was made fresh. My friend liked it and the other one got potato chips - def NOT homemade.They have live music at some times I guess, and my friend who is an aficionado of live music said he would come back there. He probably won't though. I think he just liked the place better than I did. I can't imagine the sound in there if a band was performing because the tables are right up to the performing space.Since we visited we added it to our list of places for lunch, but the two times I have suggested it I've received a resounding, "No!." So when I will be able to give it another try I don't know. Hopefully before it changes hands again.

My first time here. Great local restaurant with a unique atmosphere. Friendly staff and live music.I am under the impression that the menu changes. I just with they offered at least one healthy meat like grilled chicken or fish. They do offer salad and veggies though. The food was tasty though!

I went back to the VTS after a long absence hoping they had decent food (since either the ownership or catering seems to change hands after each of my visits) and I was disappointed.They have no menus - they just tell you what they have which was very limited. Hot dogs, burgers, brats and BBQ. A scant few sides. I ordered the pork BBQ and got a plate of lukewarm chopped pork which was mostly gristle and fat. I'm ok with a little fat but this was just...not good. I couldn't finish it. Wasn't much in the way of flavor either.The sides were ok.As for drinks....we were used to super affordable wines and beers from previous trips to VTS. Gone are those days. We ordered a bottle of Chardonnay that I know for a fact can be had for $7.99 at Food Lion. I buy it all the time (it's surprisingly good for the low price). The VTS charged us $18. I understand a mark up but that is insane!!! In the past we had a wonderful (huge) cheese/charcuterie platter, a big tray of steamed shrimp and two bottles of wine for FAR less than what we paid last night for a truly sub par meal. The tea service may be excellent I don't know. The staff was super friendly and the place is very charming. The music was a blast. For those reasons I'd give it a 4 star but the food and high wine price brought it down. They really have no place calling themselves a southern smokehouse. I hate giving it this kind of review as I have enjoyed myself there but I would not eat there again. Not unless they get a better chef/menu/caterer whatever.

The Victorian Station is under new management and is now called the Black Dog at Victorian Station. They have a new menu and have done a lot of upgrades in the restaurant, however unfortunately I have not yet been able to dine there yet. However, they still every Friday have the AWESOME Wampler Brothers Blue Grass Show that is always 5 stars and is worth going there even if just for the show and some cocktails. It is just one great evening of fun music and you never know what guests are going to show up. Defiantly go check this out on a Friday night, it is a neat old cool building and the entertainment is just wonderful. Hopefully get out and try the menu soon. So for now, the entertainment, building, atmosphere, beer and wine are five stars. Great place.

I'll start by saying that everyone was nice here. Our cousin was interested in coming to this restaurant, so when we were in town for the Spring Fling we decided to check the place out. The inside was nicely decorated with hanging lights. I thought it was charming, but I wouldn't have picked it to bring my small son. A few older ladies were sitting at the middle tables when we walked in, but other than that the place was empty. We waited a few minutes until someone came from the back and told us we could sit wherever we liked. We were given a menu and decided on the Brats, Ribs and Bbq sandwich with Sweet Tea. The tea was not good, or sweet. The Brats was good, but cold. This surprised me because it seemed like they were cooking the food fresh out back. I tried my husbands Ribs and thought they were good, but again barely warm. Our cousin like his sandwich, but wasn't impressed. I wanted to enjoy the visit a little more because everyone was polite and really sweet to our son, but I have to say that I don't plan on returning.

Got a flyer in the mail saying hours are Monday-Saturday 7-2... We tried coming at noon on Saturday and everything was closed? No indication of hours on door.

'The Pink' in Phoebus. Live music on Friday nights. The Wampler Brothers. Open mic, too.

I attempted to book a wedding brunch at Victorian Station and received a lack of timely responsiveness and considerable lag time when I attempted to nail down dates to meet and go over plans. I was completely "ghosted" after repeat calls and emails several months closer to the date with no follow up. I wouldn't recommend it for major event planning for large groups. I decided to go to another venue due to this lack of follow through.

We went in this morning, the barista was very friendly. The place is BEAUTIFUL. My drink was ON POINT. I usually have to make adjustments to my drink because I am very "particular", but it was PERFECT! As an added bonus, it was $1.12 cheaper than my Starbucks drink and slightly larger! I will definitely be making this place my new favorite coffee shop. Close to home, affordable, and free WiFi. Can't beat it!

My husband and I made reservations for a Saturday night dinner with live music. What we experienced instead was more like going to someone's house and ordering takeout. We were sorely disappointed to be seated in a room that smelled like body odor. When we asked for a drink, we were told the bartender was at the ABC store. Once our food arrived, it was not prepared on premises, coming instead from Olde Towne Tavern down the road, and was served lukewarm.We went with an open mind, hoping to be pleasantly surprised as we usually are with the restaurant scene in Hampton. But this does not compare.