Brian Nagele
Right where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean sits the gorgeous coastal city of Virginia Beach. This city is a hotspot of activities for all of its locals and visitors alike.
You can visit places like First Landing State Park, Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, and Ocean Breeze Waterpark, there’s no end to the fun.
All those locations are just the beginning of the attractions in Virginia Beach, if you ask me. The real treat is the restaurant scene.
A place like Virginia Beach that gets tons of visitors every year is bound to have some great places to eat, and I set out to find all the best ones.
Right down below, you can take a look at all of the greatest restaurants Virginia Beach has to offer.
I went around the city and found all of the top-rated restaurants, bistros, eateries, and any other place with delicious food in the area so that I could put them all on a convenient list like this.
The Bee & The Biscuit
1785 Princess Anne Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23456
Phone: 757-800-5959
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Up next is one of my all-time favorite breakfast and lunch spots called The Bee & Biscuit. This place is so charming and inviting that I usually end up hanging out for a while with a cup of coffee while I get some work done.
They do it all here at The Bee & Biscuit. You can get everything from wraps and sandwiches to eggs benedict and French toast.
My favorite is actually their cowboy benedict and I highly recommend it to everyone.
Check out The Bee & Biscuit off of Princess Anne Road, just south of Bonney & Sons Seafood And Produce.
Terrapin Restaurant
3102 Holly Rd Suite 514, Virginia Beach, VA 23451
Phone: 757-321-6688
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The first place I want to talk about is none other than Terrapin Restaurant. This place is one of the best places to eat in Virginia Beach, hands down, and I suggest this restaurant to anyone in the area.
What I love the most about Terrapin Restaurant is that they’re an Italian restaurant where you can get all of the tasty classics we know and love.
Check out Terrapin Restaurant over off of Holly Road near the Virginia Beach Boardwalk and Neptune’s Park. It’s the perfect place to eat dinner after a long day of soaking up the sun.
Bay Local Eatery
Multiple locations
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Bay Local Eatery is the next place I want to mention and I really think you’re going to love this one.
They have multiple convenient locations around Virginia Beach, but the one I frequent the most is over off of Laskin Road, right across the street from the Beach Cinema Alehouse.
When you’re going to see a movie, this is the ideal place to stop for food before and after.
What I love the most from Bay Local Eatery is the brunch menu. They have all sorts of mimosas to make it nice and boozy.
Blue Seafood & Spirits
2181 Upton Dr #420, Virginia Beach, VA 23454
Phone: 757-689-5395
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Right inside of Red Mill Commons shopping center on Upton Drive is Blue Seafood & Spirits, right next to The Home Depot and the Walmart Supercenter.
It’s a very convenient location for dinner after a day of shopping at nearby stores.
Of course, as the name suggests, seafood and spirits are what most people come here for, and I definitely fall into that category.
My favorite thing to order from Blue Seafood is the fresh seafood combination that comes with the fresh catch of the day, sea scallops, and lump crab cake. What more could you want?
Aldo’s Ristorante
1860 Laskin Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23454
Phone: 757-491-1111
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Right inside the La Promenade Distinctive Shops shopping mall off of Laskin Road, right next to Kroger Plaza and Whole Foods Market, is Aldo’s Ristorante.
This Italian joint has some of my favorite wood-fired pizzas, not to mention classic Italian cuisine and plenty of wine to go with it.
If you’re in the area enjoying the shopping malls, this is a great place to visit for a delicious lunch or dinner.
I think the pizza is what really shines here at Aldo’s, but the menu is not limited by any means, so there’s plenty more to choose from.
Waterman’s Surfside Grille
415 Atlantic Ave, Virginia Beach, VA 23451
Phone: 757-428-3644
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This next place is called Waterman’s Surfside Grille and it’s the ideal place to eat if you want a gorgeous waterfront view of the Atlantic Ocean while you dine. You can’t really eat any closer to the water without getting wet.
I love the seafood here, of course. I feel like seafood is the only logical choice when eating at a restaurant on the water like this.
Check out Waterman’s off of Atlantic Avenue, just up the road from the popular fishing charter, Rudee Tours, within walking distance from beautiful Grommet Island Park and the Schooner Inn.
Coastal Grill
1440 N Great Neck Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23454
Phone: 757-496-3348
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Coastal Grill is the next place I want to point your attention towards and I really think you’re going to love this place as much as I do.
Coastal Grill is a seafood restaurant, so if you enjoy seafood, then this is the place for you.
You can check out Coastal Grill off of North Great Neck Road, just past the Great Neck Village shopping center, not far from Great Neck Park.
When you come here, I suggest starting with a drink or two, and then going for an order of the peppered seared tuna as your entree.
Commune
501 Virginia Beach Blvd suite b, Virginia Beach, VA 23451
Phone: 757-963-8985
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Up next is Commune. This restaurant specializes in New American cuisine and they do it very well.
I try to come to Commune as often as I can because the food is so incredible. Not to mention, Commune has a seasonal menu, so it changes all the time to keep things interesting.
You can keep coming back for something new. When I went, I had the crispy potato bowl and I highly recommend it.
Check out Commune over off of Virginia Beach Boulevard near the Virginia Beach Oceanfront public beach, just southeast of the Virginia Beach Convention Center.
Doc Taylor’s Restaurant
207 23rd St, Virginia Beach, VA 23451
Phone: 757-425-1960
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Doc Taylor’s Restaurant is an incredibly popular restaurant around town and it’s really easy to see why once you’ve had the pleasure of dining here.
Brunch is the name of the game here at Doc Taylor’s, so when you come here, I think that’s what you should be planning on eating.
My favorite things to order from Doc Taylor’s include the breakfast burrito, their chocolate chip pancakes, and pretty much any one of their omelets.
Check out Doc Taylor’s off 23rd Street near Jungle Golf of Virginia Beach and The Ocean Sands Resort, so there’s no shortage of fun in the area.
Repeal Bourbon and Burgers
202 22nd St, Virginia Beach, VA 23451
Phone: 757-321-8885
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Right next to Pirates Paradise Mini Golf and across the street from Marjac Suites hotel is Repeal Bourbon and Burgers.
I honestly cannot recommend a better burger spot for anyone in town craving one.
Repeal Bourbon and Burgers is a prohibition-themed hamburger shop that you don’t want to miss. Even if you’re just looking for a cool hangout to drink some cocktails at, this place has you covered.
Of course, you have to get a burger when you come here. They’re just incredible.
Repeal does offer a small selection of salads and appetizers as well for anyone not craving a burger.
Route 58 Delicatessen
4000 Virginia Beach Blvd, Virginia Beach, VA 23452
Phone: 757-227-5868
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Right inside of Loehmann’s Plaza shopping mall, right across the street from the Thalia Collins Square shopping mall, is the absolute greatest deli in all of Virginia Beach in my opinion.
This place is called Route 58 Delicatessen and they truly never disappoint.
My all-time favorite thing to order from Route 58 is one of their reuben sandwiches. It’s probably what they’re known best for around town, so you have to try it.
The “Super” Reuben is my go-to order almost always and I highly recommend it, but there are plenty of other great options to check out as well.
Blue Pete’s Restaurant
1400 N Muddy Creek Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23456
Phone: 757-426-2278
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The next restaurant I want to talk about is called Blue Pete’s Restaurant. They’re located over off of the appropriately-named North Muddy Creek Road, not far from the North Bay Shore Campground.
There isn’t much else around this part of the city, so Blue Pete’s is really the only reason to head out this way, but it’s always worth it.
Seafood is what they do best here at Blue Pete’s, and I always find myself going for some fresh fish or shellfish.
Last time, I tried an appetizer of fried calamari and the shrimp po’boy for an entree.
Il Giardino Ristorante
910 Atlantic Ave, Virginia Beach, VA 23451
Phone: 757-422-6464
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Next up is Il Giardino Ristorante and this should come as no surprise to anyone who has eaten here before.
This Italian restaurant makes food so good that I thought my Italian grandmother was back there in the kitchen working when I came here.
When you come to Il Giardino Ristorante, I highly recommend ordering a negroni to sip on while you peruse the menu.
After that, I think you should try one of their incredible pasta dishes or something from the grill. Whatever you do, make sure to save room for one of their decadent desserts.
Mannino’s Italian Bistro
4402 Princess Anne Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23462
Phone: 757-474-4446
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Right off of Princess Anne Road in the more suburban part of the city, Mannino’s Italian Bistro is serving up some of the most delicious Italian food that I’ve ever tried, and I think you should definitely try it too.
Mannino’s serves up all the familiar classics that we know and love, but one thing that really stands out every time is their signature crab soup.
I usually have to order a bowl whenever I come here to prime my appetite because it’s so delectable.
Don’t forget to check out their extensive menu of wine and beer as well when you come to Mannino’s.
Masala Bites
2133 Upton Dr UNIT 128, Virginia Beach, VA 23454
Phone: 757-563-2828
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This next place is called Masala Bites and you can find them inside the Red Mill Commons shopping mall, right next to Petco.
This restaurant is known for having the most amazing Indian food anywhere around town, by far.
Definitely check out Masala Bites if you’re ever in the area. My all-time favorite dish from Masala Bites is their curry.
I usually order it every time, but don’t let that stop you from trying something else because the menu here is absolutely chock-full of delectable meals. The butter chicken is always a winner as well.
Bubba’s Seafood Restaurant and Crabhouse
3323 Shore Dr, Virginia Beach, VA 23451
Phone: 757-481-3513
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This next restaurant that I want to mention is simply perfect for a delicious seafood meal after spending a day nearby on Chesapeake Beach, just before the John A Lesner Bridge.
What I love about this place is that they have a marina right outside for any hungry mariners out there looking for a place to tie up and grab a bite to eat.
This is definitely a place to go when you’re out on the boat and you start to feel peckish.
I highly recommend some local oysters from the raw bar to get you started when you come here.
The Swan Terrace
5641 Indian River Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23464
Phone: 757-366-5777
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Lastly, we arrive at The Swan Terrace. This upscale restaurant can be found inside The Founders Inn and Spa, Tapestry Collection by Hilton next to Regent University’s campus.
I highly recommend coming here to dine on some fresh-caught seafood and high-quality steaks.
If you’re looking for brunch, however, then look no further. The Swan Terrace has a phenomenal brunch menu that you don’t want to miss.
It’s one of the most fun things to do on the weekends here in Virginia Beach.
They also offer a really amazing lunch buffet here as well, so be sure to stop by for that, too!
Best Restaurants in Virginia Beach
- The Bee & The Biscuit
- Terrapin Restaurant
- Bay Local Eatery
- Blue Seafood & Spirits
- Aldo’s Ristorante
- Waterman’s Surfside Grille
- Coastal Grill
- Commune
- Doc Taylor’s Restaurant
- Repeal Bourbon and Burgers
- Route 58 Delicatessen
- Blue Pete’s Restaurant
- Il Giardino Ristorante
- Mannino’s Italian Bistro
- Masala Bites
- Bubba’s Seafood Restaurant and Crabhouse
- The Swan Terrace
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, this list should shed a little light on just why I love the restaurant scene in Virginia Beach so much.
For me, the sheer variety and quality of the establishments are reason enough to visit this city, not to mention all the other fun things to do around town.
Go ahead and get started checking places off the list above and find your new favorite place to eat in Virginia Beach!
You can also grab a drink and a meal with a view at the rooftop bars on our list here.
If you’re looking for the perfect place to eat brunch in Virginia Beach, you should check out this list.
Did we leave a restaurant out of this list? Make sure you leave us a comment and we’ll check it out!
