Cafe - Deli - Grill - Pub

Rockfish Boardwalkbar & Seagrill. 1601 Atlantic Ave. (Boardwalk Hotel) 757-213-7625 Food-4. Service-4. Atmosphere-3. (We went on an off day –not many customers.) Entrees average $17, with combos at about $22. Ten appetizers average $8, as do burgers and sandwiches. One of our party was impressed that they had 7 different ways to serve crabcakes! Only 1 steak entrée for the meat-eater for $22, and a veggie pasta for $11. Indoor and outdoor dining. The walls of the indoor room are adorned with what they call "The World’s Greatest Collection of Beatles Memorabilia". Neat. Parking is not on the premises –i.e.: you’re on your own, and will pay to park, if you can find a place. A note about the service – the manager visited each table to inquire as to the service and food, which is always appreciated. May  03

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Surf Rider Grill. 2100 Marina Shores Drive. 481-5646. Food-3. Service-3. Atmosphere-4. There are actually five Surf Riders in the area but this is the only one in an open-air gazebo. It’s also the only one that is called a grill. It resembles Caribbean dining. Ceiling fans keep the air moving and the bugs away and heat ducts are welcome on cooler evenings. Canvas and plastic window flaps come down when the weather turns stormy. You dine overlooking a large, private marina. But there’s no restaurant dockage, so don’t plan on arriving by boat. Vehicle parking is ample, however. Meals consist of about a dozen sandwiches, which average $9. Brews abound, as do mixed drinks. There’s a small outside dining area, which puts you closer to the water, and a couple of sit-around bars inside. May 03

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An easy way to make your way up and down the oceanfront resort area is to take the VB Wave Trolley System. The fares are $1 for adults and children under 38 inches are free. Discount fare cards with unlimited rides are available and cab be bought at fare card dispensers along Atlantic Avenue.

Cabana Café. 1203 Atlantic Ave. 428-3981. Food 2. Service 3. Atmosphere 4. This is the only outside boardwalk dining area that actually faces southeast rather than east. This should mean more cooling breezes on summer evenings and protection from nor’easters if dining on a stormy night. This is not a destination restaurant. It’s ok if you are passing by and want a quick meal but the food comes straight from the freezer by way of the deep fat fryer. The inside dining area is small… only 6 tables, but outside there are 13 tables for two, 3 for four and 3 for six. Entrees average $16, appetizers $7, sandwiches $8, and kids $4. What they call “Popular Choices” are $10. Breakfast is $6. Plenty of free parking in the adjoining Newcastle hotel garage. June 03

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Latitudes & Attitudes. 2101 Atlantic Ave. 491-1500. Food 4. Service 4. Atmosphere 4. "Very tropical", said one reviewer, with palm trees framing the view of the beach. It reminded her of Foxy's in the British Virgin Islands, with a green lawn separating patio diners from the boardwalk at just the right distance. There is well-appointed interior dining as well. This is a cafe/grill, not a full-blown restaurant. That said, this was the first restaurant reviewed which offered a Cobb Salad. Eight entrees averaged $18, seven sandwiches averaged $9. A handful of appetizers and salads complete the menu. The food is good but the one hamburger ordered came overcooked and was obviously not a fresh-formed patty. Typically with boardwalk restaurants, no on-site parking is offered. There is a surface lot at 19th St. & Pacific Ave. July 03

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18th Street Cafe & Grill. 1801 Atlantic Avenue. 428-5309. Food-3. Service-3. Atmosphere-4. Another of the boardwalk restaurants offering outdoor dining with views of the ocean and passersby. Adding to the pleasant atmosphere the evening we dined was an acoustical music group which, although a bit loud at times, played the kinds of songs you'd want to hear at the beach. Has a variety of broiled and grilled seafood entrees ($14-$19) and a platter for $20; two steaks, two uninspired chicken dishes, four chicken or seafood pastas. Several different salads with chicken or seafood; $2.50 for a salad with the meal. Interesting but limited sandwich and burger offerings ($6-$9), including a fried egg, bacon & cheese burger. We didn't try it but would go back to do so. A handful of simple desserts. Offers breakfast from 7:30-11:30. July 03

If shopping is on your "To-Do" list, there is a Shoppers Express Trolley which will take you to the Hilltop shopping and dining area and further along to Lynnhaven Mall... one of the largest malls on the east coast.

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Pier Cafe (on the Lynnhaven Pier). 2350 Starfish Road. 481-3579 or 481-4292. Food-3. Service-3. Atmosphere-4. Perhaps a bit out of the way for oceanfront visitors, this cafe shares a kitchen with the renowned Lynnhaven Fish House (see separate review). With local fisherman it also shares a pier suspended over the sand. All tables have a window view of the lower Chesapeake Bay. A cafe menu with 8 appetizers ($3.25-$14), 9 sandwiches ($9), 4 salads ($9 - these are interesting...one is a pastrami salmon salad, also available as a sandwich); a fresh catch at $12 and some yummy desserts. 8 domestic and 8 imported beers are offered, along with two wines by the glass and a full bar with specialty drinks at $5.50. The 'Lush' was de-lushious! August 03

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Belvedere Coffee Shop. Oceanfront & 36^th St. 425-0613. Food 3.  Service 3.  Atmosphere 3.  Part of the Belvedere Hotel, a Boardwalk icon from memory lane, before the days of Fast Burgers and plastic forks.  Great comfort food: breakfast, hot and cold sandwich staples, sides, salad and cold plates, “assorted” deserts. On average, $5 and tip and you won’t leave hungry.  Nine counter seats, room for about 20 in booths.  It’s like eating in your favorite aunt’s kitchen.  Dependable, yes; exotic, no. No need to ask for your check – it’s at the cash register, and they’ll know what you ordered.  If you want good food fast, with real cutlery, and a taste of the way Virginia Beach once was, this is the place.  October 03

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Murphy’s Irish Pub & Restaurant.  2914 Pacific Ave. 417-7701  Food 3. Service 3. Atmosphere 4. Appetizers (nachos less than average), typical Irish dinner selections, seafood (mostly fried), vegetarian pasta, and veggie burgers (in summer) are offered.  Salads and soups, sandwiches and Hearty Sandwiches are also available. They have a Nightly Special (yummy pork chops) and a Champagne Brunch on Sundays.  Ambiance is warm and friendly with fireplace in the dining area and 2 sports bars (one with 2 dart boards). Outstanding draft beer list and large assortment of bottled beers. Decent food at decent prices and a great picture to the left of the glass doors as you enter.  Live entertainment; parking on premises.  Lunch and dinner.  January 04

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Beach Pub. 1001 Laskin Road. 422-8817. Food-3. Service-3. Atmosphere-3. This is a locals restaurant about one mile from the beach. Very popular so plan on a wait. Choice of two dozen appetizers/soups from $2.75 to ‘market price’. Hot & spicy items after 4 PM. Fourteen seafood entrees from $9.95 to $16.95, plus one at market price; Fish & Chips for $7.95. They offer three steaks averaging $10.50 plus a Ground Chuck Steak; Hawaiian Chicken; and a Blackened Tuna Sandwich. There is a Kids Menu and Grilled Cheese among the sandwiches ($3.45 - $7.25). On our visit the crab cakes were dry but the French Fries & Hush Puppies were VERY good! Open for B/L/D 7 days a week, with specials every day except Sunday. Smoking section. Happy Hour Mon.–Fri. 3–7 PM. Full bar. July 05.

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Four Bays Ocean Grill. 3501 Atlantic Ave. 757-425-9000. Food-4. Service-3. Atmosphere-4. With a dining room looking out over the ocean, the food and atmosphere here are above average. They offer 4 appetizers ($6-10; the chicken quesadilla was  very good); 3 soups (including lobster bisque); 2 salads ($4.25-7.50); 8 entrees ($10-29, with most under $20; steak, chicken, and seafood); 3 pasta  dishes (seafood & chicken); and an extensive wine list. Dieters will appreciate  the low-carb menu. They had two desserts on our night there: chocolate cake and a luscious cheesecake. July 04

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Atlas Bar and Grill. 2158 Great Neck Square Shopping Center 496-3839. Food-3. Service-4. Atmosphere- 3.  Food like momma used to make. Comfort food, it’s known as now. Good but not great. Prices average $10. Big portions. Couple of good wines but nothing to write home about. House cab $4. Drink prices on the low side, also. Desserts like pie ala mode about $5. Carbs galore. You won’t go away hungry. Dinner atmosphere.  Parking ample… it’s in a shopping center, after all. Off Great Neck Road…not to far from Lynnhaven Inlet area. You could eat here every night and think you never left home. Except someone else does the dishes. It’s owned by the same folks who own Chick’s Beach and the City Grill on Birdneck Road. Each completely different.  October 04.