Seafood
outside next to the boardwalk or in the spacious dining area. Inside
seating is in tiers... everybody has a great view of the ocean. Valet
parking sometimes gets backed up and expect a slight wait for seating.
Reservations accepted. Lunch & Dinner. April 06
entertainment on boardwalk stage. Valet parking. No reservations in
summer. Great lunch menu includes 7 specials for $7 everyday. One of the
managers visits each table to inquire about satisfaction with service and
food. Nice touch. June 2008
4;
10 appetizers averaging $8. 25 sandwich selections ranging $6-8 make it a
great luncheon spot. It has a large outdoor dining area and a number of
window seats overlooking the ocean. May 05
Rockafeller's Restaurant.
When crossing the bike path, look both
ways! The bruise you save may be your own!
Fish Bones Buffet.
13th & Oceanfront.
422-4557. Food-2. Service-3. Atmosphere-4. Fish Bones is actually two
restaurants with the same kitchen. The Oceanside half has ample indoor
dining and an outside porch overlooking the boardwalk. Although some of
the entrees are available from the Atlantic side restaurant, most dinners
here opt for the $23.95 buffet. Choices include fish, raw and steamed
shellfish, crab legs, chicken and steak dishes, a salad bar with seafood,
hush puppies, corn bread and a dessert bar. The food is filling but a bit
bland. It’s not bad, but we’d like a little more seasoning. However you do
get your money’s worth. There is plenty of free parking on the upstairs
deck inside the Surf Side Hotel where Fish Bones is located. (See
previous review) July 03
Lynnhaven Fish House Restaurant. 2350
Starfish Road. 481-0003. Food-4. Service-4. Atmosphere-5. A Bay
institution, this place has won all kinds of travel club stars and awards.
Built on a pier suspended over the sand, there is not a bad dining view.
No reservations accepted but they are able to handle large parties without
a long wait. Plenty of wait staff, each covering only a few tables. An
abundance of entrée averaging $20+. Appetizers - $8. The complementary
hush puppies are tasty and the delicious fresh baked bread comes in a warm
little pot. Valet parking, a private dining area for up to 50 and filtered
water help make this place a dining pleasure. Lunch is served from 11:30
to 3, and averages $9. Choose from 20 items, which come with hush puppies.
June 03
Ocean House Waterfront Seafood Restaurant
(formally Island Republic ). 19th & Boardwalk. 425-8600. Food 1.
Service 3. Atmosphere 5. Upstairs is probably the best outside dining view
at the beach. You overlook the boardwalk to a panoramic view of the ocean.
Old style wooden booths and bench tables. A great place to drink. Just
don’t be tempted to order the food. Even the she-crab soup was tasteless.
Dinner seafood, steak, and chicken entrees average $17, and appetizers $8.
Lunch platters average $12, appetizers & salads $7, burgers $7, and
sandwiches $8. Kid items $6. Early bird specials 4-6, live music nightly
and oceanfront dining on 2 levels. Outside downstairs dining atmosphere is
a 4. Parking at the 19th street lot. They also get the award for having
the longest restaurant name at the oceanfront. June 03
You never see many seashells on the beach.
So how come there are so many for sale on the strip?
Ocean Eddies on the Pier. 15th St .
425-7742. Reopened but we haven't had
time to rate again. This is the old rating: Food-2. Service-2. Atmosphere-4. Ocean Eddies is
literally on the beach. Well, actually, over the beach. The outside
dining porch offers a great view no matter where you sit. However,
the beach music, while enjoyable, was too loud for easy conversation.
Food was a disappointment. The fresh fish tasted like it was frozen
too long, and the shrimp was tough. The crabcakes were tasty.
Appetizers ranged from $3.25 to $10, sandwiches $7-8. Dinners,
steamed platters, and seafood specials averaged $16. One meat selection
was $23. Try to avoid using the bathrooms unless you must check out
their automatic towel dispenser, which was empty in the men’s room.
Parking lot in front by the amusement park. “Guppy” menu; lunch and
dinner; no reservations accepted; and entertainment nightly. June 03
For dessert, try
the ice cream shop on the pier across from Ocean Eddie's.
Bubba’s Crab House.
3323 Shore Dr.757-481-3513. Food 3. Service 3. Atmosphere 4. This is a
casual waterside restaurant. We sat dockside at plank tables with lots of
boat traffic for entertainment. (You can arrive by boat if you want.) This
elevates our 'atmosphere' rating to a '4'. There is air-conditioned
seating indoors. Our seafood meals were average in taste and presentation.
The Fish of the Day and crabs are fresh from the dock. The menu was lacking
in non-seafood offerings. Entree choices were Teriyaki or blackened
chicken. Hamburger and chicken sandwiches come with crabmeat. The house
coleslaw was delicious, as was the blackened chicken. The fresh fish is at
market price, while other seafood entrees range $15-$17. Soups, fresh
salads, appetizers and desserts are available, as are beer, wine and liquor.
June 04
Catch 31. 3001
Atlantic Avenue. 213-3001. Food-4. Service-3. Atmosphere-5. Bar type dining
experience… a bit on the noisy side, but conversations possible. A variety
of seating options, either at the bar, the raw/steamed bar or café tables.
Outdoor eating terraces overlook the Boardwalk and Neptune’s Park with fire
pits for cool weather. Plenty of fresh seafood on the menu (average $24)
along with steak ($30), chicken ($19) and prime rib ($23); pizza ($10) and
pasta ($18). 4 appetizers average $10; and 4 desserts average $7. Basket of
breads outstanding. Soups, chowder, stews and salads offered. Buffet
breakfast. Dress casual. Adjoining Salacia restaurant more traditional and
upscale. Ground floor of Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront. February 06
Croakers. 3629 Shore
Drive. 363-2490. Food-5. Service-5. Atmosphere-3. Reservations suggested.
This is a popular local’s hang out with a dozen starters for about $9 each,
a seafood salad for $18 and dinners averaging $20. Choose from 19 seafood
entrees including five pasta dishes, two steaks and a chicken or beef stir
fry. You can even order a spicy Creole dinner…shrimp scallops &
lobster in a tomato based Cajun spice sauce. In addition to the
dinners, there are ten other specials, also averaging $20. A half-dozen
sandwiches average $9 and consist of seafood, steak and chicken. Not fast
food. Items are prepared after you order. Ok wine list with beer and mixed
drinks. Cozy dining. You’ll be waited on by three or four people. (See
comments section.) April 06
Courtyard Cafe.
2501 Atlantic Ave. 491-6222. Food - 5 ; Service - 4 ; Atmosphere - 4. The
Cafe offers the expected appetizers, soups and salads to occupy you before
your entree arrives. These, as well as the entrees, lean towards seafood
and chicken. For the beefeater, there was a New York Strip steak amongst
the entrees. For lighter fare, there are six sandwiches, again with an
emphasis on seafood. (The ocean is a few yards away, after all!)Our
entrees were all attractively presented and all were enjoyed. The chef
invented a vegetarian dish for one diner, which earned a '5'. The main
dishes ranged from $10.95 to $23.95. Sandwiches and wraps: $6.95 to
$10.95. Salads: $4.75 to $9.95, which can include chicken or seafood added
to the greens. The food items are available from room service if you are
staying at the Marriott. There was only one server (on a slow night in
September) who was efficiently attentive. There is a boardwalk and ocean
view from the nicely decorated dining room. November 06
The Galley. 1401
Atlantic Ave. 491-6478. Food: 3; Service: 3; Atmosphere: 3. The Galley is
tailored to the seafood lover, featuring a buffet for $24 with at least 10
seafood entrees. These include favorites like devil crab, crab-stuffed
mushrooms and crab legs. The raw bar with oysters is included as are
mussels, shrimp and very tasty she crab soup. For the landlubber, the buffet
carried lemon pepper chicken, ribs and pot roast on the night we dined.
Dessert is included but not your beverage. From their menu you can order
more seafood and two regular steak meals; 6 pasta dishes from $10 - $26 and
6 kid-friendly items from $3 - $5. There are soups, salads and appetizers at
moderate prices and full bar service. The same menu is offered in-season in
their companion dining room facing the boardwalk, with some patio tables.
November 06.
Terrapin.
3102 Holly Road. Pinewood Square, Suite 514. 321-6688. Food: 5; Service: 5;
Atmosphere: 4.
Tucked away in a little shopping complex,
Terrapin is a gem worth discovering. Chef Rodney Einhorn, formerly Executive
Chef of ’39 Degrees’ in Aspen, uses fresh local produce to concoct enticing
entrees on a menu that changes seasonally. Our visit was enhanced by the
attentive wait staff. There are 12 appetizers running $6 - $14; 8
mouth-watering desserts (loved the bruleé); those attractively-presented
entrees costing $20 - $33; and a full-service bar with an extensive wine
selection. As Terrapin’s is a small restaurant, a reservation is
recommended. Eating at the bar is encouraged. From there, you can glimpse
your meal being prepared in the open kitchen. Terrapin’s is open for dinner;
closed Mondays. Mar 07
Blue Pete's Seafood Restaurant.
1400 N Muddy Creek Rd, 453-6478. Food-4.
Service-4. Atmosphere-4. My wife and I spend two weeks a year in VB and
love the area. We are in the restaurant business in NY and are always
looking for good eating experiences. We read about Blue Pete's on your
site and others and HEARTILY AGREE with those who recommend this
restaurant. We went on a Wed. night, only a few people there, you locals
need to discover this place. Greeted by the owner, Paul. Very nice
atmosphere, upscale, but a welcome home feeling. Seth was our server, very
attentive and knowledgeable. App's were great; scallop caprice, and
she-crab soup was awesome. Seth was a little quick w/the entree's, still
enjoying the soup when he showed up. We both loved the seafood offerings.
My wife had the Angel hair encrusted Rockfish and I had the Flounder Bercy.
Great portions for the price. We were then worried that we would not be
able to partake of their dessert selections due to our over-indulgence.
What a great surprise when we were able to have a sample of their
selections. What a concept!!! We are looking forward to our first visit
next year and a return trip to Blue Pete's! 
multiple servers. Tasty homemade desserts. Small parking lot in
rear… metered on-street parking available. Limited inside dining but
several screened porches are inviting. This was, after all, a cottage.
Interesting blend of background music... from jazz to bluegrass...but not
obtrusive. Reservations suggested. May 07
rved
from 10-2. .Atmosphere ratings suffered because of high noise levels, but
marina views during the day and outdoor seating in nice weather could make
up for that. Reservations are
recommended. Valet parking. Kids
menu from $5-$8. Jan 2010
Award winning DVDs on tips to increasing your catch rate
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