Made reservations a week before to celebrate my wife's birthday. Reservation was made for 7pm on a Friday evening. Arrived 15mins early and was met by two very friendly hostesses and was promptly seated. We requested to be seated by the window to see the beautiful view everyone seems to post about this restaurant. The view was nice, but.... this is where the real experience started. The restaurant didn't seem too busy as we saw a couple of waitresses standing by the bar talking as we were seated and noticed that there were several open tables. We sat down and started looking at menu's expecting to have someone come to us and ask how we were doing or if we wanted anything to drink. There were other patrons there and they seem to be getting visited by the waitresses. My wife and I sat there for over 15 minutes waiting to be acknowledged. Not sure what the protocol is for this particular restaurant - were we supposed to flag down someone and get their attention? After reading other reviews - this didn't seem to be the case. My wife and I got up, went to the very nice hostesses and explained to them that no one had come up to us or even acknowledge us since we sat down. They looked very surprised and didn't say anything. I said thank you... and left the restaurant. We ended up calling another restaurant on S. Battlefield to make reservations.... although they were busy, they were able to get us a table on short notice. The service we received at this particular restaurant was day and night compared to Amber Lantern. Despite the good reviews Amber Lantern has received, it has left a bad taste in our mouth and will not try to visit this restaurant for the fear of receiving the same horrible service. read more

Outstanding evening. Great place for that special occasion! Excellent food and atmosphere!

Loved my experience and the ambiance was magnificent! We received the right food portions and were so impressed with the taste of all dishes ordered. Definitely going back! read more

We went to this resturant for our 37th wedding anniversary on recommendations from several of our friends. We were not disappointed!!! We thoroughly enjoyed our evening here from the food, location and the staff were fantastic. Rachel was our waitress and she made our evening very enjoyable. We highly recommend that you give this place a try and sure you will not be disappointed. read more

More time is spent on presentation than the quality of the food. The tuna appetizer was fishy, a first for me. This place seems quite over priced. read more

I was not the least bit impressed by this restaurant. I ask for a bowl of lobster bisque soup, they were out. I asked for my beef tips to be medium rare, however I was told they couldn't promise they would be. Not to mention the hassle it is to get to this place now. The way the food was presented on the plate was a second rate attempt at best. For $70.00 dollars I think not. read more

Don't pass up! Very pleasantly surprised again. My wife and I stopped coming because the food quality seemed to fall off...returned over a year later after a coin toss. The food quality has returned, fresh and delicious, and the service was good for a young staff. If you are looking for a place to get away from a crowd and be able to have a discussion and give the people you are dining with attention this is your place. Only a 4 because after years of telling the staff I want a cappuccino they still don't have espresso machine. read more

So disappointed with you all. My wife and I had been looking forward to visiting your establishment. Tonight we had an 7:15 reservation. Even though we were seated at an appropriate time we did not have one single person approach us to even take a single drink order at 7:40. Thanks for ruining what was supposed to be a romantic evening. Thanks for nothing. Needless to say but we left and unlikely to return. read more

Amber lantern is one of my favorite places in Chesapeake! I've had both really good and okay service but overall the food is made perfect. I love the Tiramisu martini. They also have an extensive beer menu that is reasonably priced. It is worth the trip. The view is amazing and I wish they were open later!!! read more

Wonderful experience! This was our second visit (date night), and we were not let down from the first visit. The food is absolutely great, and the variety was good. Our server got lost a couple of times, but all and all, it was an outstanding dining experience. read more

Great evening. Very relaxed atmosphere and yet food was fabulous. Definitely a "go to" for a nice evening out!

I went to here for the first time last night with my family, and I was very pleased. I tried some of the caesar salad, which was clever and delightful. Maybe just a tad too much dressing? D; My entree was the filet mignon, and MY GOODNESS was it delicious! The flavors were so bold and it practically melted in my mouth. & the thing is, it was undercooked to what I ordered! Still managed to love it. I would like to say that I do wish they had a little more selection. The chef wasn't there when we went, but still. One of the members in my party was disappointed that his favorite ribeye was no longer on the menu! Nonetheless, I will definitely come again. read more

A little off the beaten path and SO worth it. My first impression was the great beer selection on tap, as well as their wine suggestions. Good drinks and nice ambience, and a particularly beautiful view from the patio. I had a delicious Caesar salad, as well as the seared ahi tuna starter. The tuna was perfectly done, and the flavor was great. A group near us had the French Baked Brie, and said it was absolutely delicious. The Amber Lantern is a breath of fresh air from the usual Virginia Beach spots. Can't wait to go back! read more

Love this place. By far the best calamari and crab cakes in the area. The creme brulee and tiramisu are both yummy. The interior of this restaurant is very nice. Doesn't compare to anything else in Chesapeake. read more

Just went to Amber Lantern on a Tuesday night. Food was fantastic and the service was fast! Still can't get over the fact that there is such a good restaurant in a place that looks so unassuming. Kind of reminds me of military lodging. My husband had the Mahi Mahi and risotto. Oh my, it was amazing! Perfectly cooked, and super fresh. It had a nutty coating with orange zest I think. The risotto was so good too. I had the shrimp and lobster over pasta which was good, but not as good as his. The shrimp was awesome though, wish they had given me more of that. I think some of the lobster had been undercooked or something, because it tasted fishy and I had a bad tummy ache later that night. For dessert, my husband had the coconut cake and I had the lemon & berry cake. The desserts were enormous! We probably should have shared one. They were outstanding as well. We were so full when we left. Will definitely go back here despite my tummy problems. It's super close to my in-laws house and I loved sitting outside looking at the water. read more

Not 5 because of the price but you get what you pay for. Wine and beer selections were fantastic. Although not attractive from the outside the inside was beautiful. There is no way you would guess. Service was spot on. We had the oyster appetizer. Some of the best prepared I have ever had. Dinner entree we both had stuffed shrimp with risotto and fresh vegetables. The shrimp was cooked perfectly. The crab was seasoned perfectly with just the correct amount of moisture. The risotto was creamy and delicious. Vegetables were cook correctly as well. Chesapeake finally has a great restaurant! read more

All I can say is the service was probably the best I have ever had. Friendly and went beyond what they had to do. I enjoyed the crab cakes. They where outstanding. read more

Expected this hidden gem to be a little more fancier due to the higher price tag...the ambiance was a bit causal, and too loud for my taste. Had reservations for our anniversary and our table wasn't prepared for us...was asked where we like to sit....so we said Booth...luckily a Booth was available. Food was pricey, but enjoyable. Complimentary bread while you wait, Crab Soup - was a bit salty/spicy for my taste, lumps were lacking...but hubby liked it. He also ordered the Tuna which he loved due to the freshness. I ordered 1 crab cake and a rasp salad, both were tasty. I wished they had more options with the entrees w/just 1 crab cake. The tiramisu was just okay, expected a little more freshness/moistness and more liquor/sweetness...didn't think the taste justified the price, but the portion was ample for 2. Service was no problem, waitress was attentive and quick. The building itself was surprisingly clean inside/out being at a marina. read more

This was my second visit, I went once when they first opened and it was ok then. It has taken me years to come back so I guess it didn't wow me. So we had a party of 12 for a birthday on a Friday night with a reservation at 7:30. The wait staff was great but very disappointed that our cake was not allowed. The dessert menu was not impressive. We spent quite a bit of money with drinks and food , yet they did nothing special to acknowledge the birthday. The drinks were ok, a little light on the alcohol for 10.00 a martini and they ran out of bottle beer. The place is quite hidden now with the new bridge. It wasn't crowded at all but our drinks took some time to get. Food was good, nothing wowed me. I felt like we were being kicked out , they wanted to close. I don't think it was 10:00 yet? Crazy read more

The food here is ok. The service is good, but a bit too fast. We were only halfway through our appetizer when the entree came. Felt rushed through the evening. Drinks were mixed well, and the calamari was good, but the lobster tortellini tasted bland, but better than the duck. I'm sad to say the duck was the worst I've had, and I was really looking forward to it. The accompanying risotto was soggy as well. The dessert was also just ok. For the price I would expect much better quality in the dishes. read more

Follow-up visit and again very good, this time tried the Calamari and Tale of the Sea (Shrimp & Lobster with Capers over Linguini in a Fresh Tomato Sauce). Calamari was good, batter could have been lighter, chili sauce was good with side of marinara. Entree was fresh, good quality & quantity, fast & courteous service. Considering what you get for your money, must say it's a better value than the other places I've tried in the area. read more

Great food, great service. Highly recommend leaving the busy part of town and heading to Amber Lantern to enjoy a wonderful evening. Also has a good beer selection if you're into that sort of thing. read more

Honestly..I guess I was expecting more from a place well recommended by locals AND a price point as high as this place. Setting - The location is a bit weird, it's in some 80's office complex turned restaurant/marina. A little retro for me, but it's not too bad. Service - About the same caliber as an Outback, TGI Fridays, or something like that. Greeters were dressed in flip flops with no uniforms and unkempt hair. Server didn't know anything about the menu, brought out things we had asked for one at a time, reached smack over my food and nearly into my mouth when she was setting down something. Checked on us often but couldn't tell when it was just appropriate to walk away without asking every single person at the table if we needed something. I appreciate the persistence but obviously our glasses were full and we were eating. It's always awkward when you feel like you need to shoo away your server. Maybe she was just nervous, but I feel like a restaurant that prides itself in its food should put the same effort into training their servers like they actually work in a place where an entree is $40. Otherwise, I'll just get a steak at Longhorn. My sister ordered the "bruleed" cheesecake, but it came out just a regular NY style. When she asked if it could be sent back because it was not as described, they wouldn't because she had tasted it. We're convinced our server hadn't even asked the manager about it, because the manager had come once to check on us for no reason and seemed very sweet/accommodating. I'm sure she would have visited again had she heard we were requesting a substitute or refund. We didn't want to raise a fuss, though. Food - The presentation was very 80's..so weird. All of our dishes could have used a generous sprinkling of salt.. or seasoning of any kind before they came out of the kitchen. Steak was beautifully cooked without flavor. I was hoping the sauce would fix it but that was just as tasteless. At least he salt shaker did its job tonight. Vegetables were pretty good, such a weird combo of vegetables (cabbage, bell peppers, carrots, and green beans??) We all had the crab bisque, delicious but it literally had no crab meat in it. Dessert was really good, try the lemon berry cake should you go! Drinks are great too, good sizes, a lot of liquor but made so you can't even taste it. A+ on that. Overall, wouldn't say it was worth over $300 for 4 people at all. Take yourself to Steinhilber's it you want expensive, consistent, AND 5 star service. read more

The presentation and the food was great & unique to the Hampton Roads area. I definitely recommend for a good "date night" restaurant.

This place is amazing and has great menu options. Racks of lambs are wonderful and the fried shrimp are great and we'll seasoned the sauce that comes with is mind blowing. read more

Love this place you feel like you are eating food outside the norm like an awesome chef has carefully thought out the menu instead of serving the same old thing every other place does. I feel like I'm eating food I would see on top chef. Can't say enough. read more

One of my favorite 'Date Night' restaurants. Warm environment, great food and good service. The rack of lamb is my favorite.

Amber Lantern is a good restaurant. The food is delicious and I would have given them five stars, but I feel they are a little over priced. It does meet our needs for a great date night spot and the ambiance is fantastic. We go a couple times a year for special occasions. When we need to decide where to go, it's a no brainer. Amber Lantern is the spot. I feel they got the short stick with the new bridge and the location is a little off the beaten path. I hope their reputation and great food are able to keep them going. If you need a special spot for date night and don't mind paying a little more than average, check out Amber Lantern. read more

So sad to say that the serve at this restaurant and I must include the food was not good at all. We were served warm coffee-that had to be returned. A friend of our ordered a slice of cake that looked like someone had already taken a bite off of it. When she tried to return it the manager, Madeline very rudely came over to our table and said "looks like you took a bite off of the cake" we say yea, that's why its being returned . This is what you gave us. I live in NC, friends with me were from Suffolk, Virginia Beach,Va, Chesapeake and Norfolk. Needless to say we will not return to Amber Lantern-The service is just terrible. read more

Went to the Amber Lantern for a meeting and was quite impressed with this restaurant. The location was very nice and the décor was great. The staff were very friendly and the food was great. A little pricey but not outside a comparable restaurant. I recommended this restaurant to some friends of mine for their Anniversary outing and they are planning to go there tonight. It would be nice if there were a couple of lower price items on the menu as well. I would love to go here more often but can only afford to go on special nights. read more

The food is always good here. Love the dining area and the deck area that overlooks the Elizabeth river. Sunsets are amazing!

I am giving this restaurant 5 stars because the crab bisque and crab cakes were the best we have had so far! We were told to try the place and since it was a birthday dinner we figured, why not?! The vegetables served were crisp and tasty, the salad had gorgeous greens and delicious dressing. We'll definitely return to try another dish. read more

This is our go to place for special occasions or a really nice dinner! The ambiance is so nice and the view is really pretty. We try to try something different each time we come and we've never been disappointed. My favorite is the calamari appetizer with the sweet chili dipping sauce. My absolute favorite calamari from any restaurant! The cheese plate is exquisite, as well as the mussels and the baked brie! My husband often gets a couple appetizers and a salad as his meal and we still bring home leftovers. The food is wonderful and a value for the portions you receive. I have recommended the Amber Lantern to many friends and will continue to do so! We love it here! read more

Lovely ambiance with a view of the working Elizabeth River, our waitress was attentive and not intrusive. The beef tips on special we're delicious, with interesting vedgies on the side. All was presented beautifully on the plate. My friend ordered the sea bass and was equally pleased with their dish. We splurged on dessert and we're not disappointed. My lemon blueberry cream cake was worth the calories. I'd definitely go back, prices were reasonable for the quality of food, portions were filling without going overboard. Highly recommend. read more

Excellent dinner at Ambern Lantern last night and even better company to share it with:~) All entrees were fresh and the presentation was fantastic...great calamari appetizer! read more

The food here is generally delicious, but I have agree with other reviewers that the service is slow and it seemed every server we had was working her first night there. Anyway, the last time we went, my husband told the server I was gluten intolerant and asked if we could we have an alternative to the crackers for the cheese plate. As usual, the server was very put off and we suggested something like cucumber slices. She said OK, but, "it will cost a couple dollars extra." We said OK and she brought out 2 slices of tomato and 3 slices of cucumber. We were charged $4.00 for it. Unbelievable. Also, I ordered steak with a demi-glace. After the server found out I was gluten intolerant, she brought me out a dry steak and told me she left it off because the demi-glace has gluten in it. I can make dry steak at home. Why wouldn't she ask me if that was OK before bringing something gross out? Why not an alternative sauce/gravy without gluten? Why not the opportunity to let me order something else? Also, there was NO discount on the bill for no demi-glace on my steak. I feel discriminated against because of my gluten intolerance. I've never had a restaurant charge extra for some veggies for my valid dietary need. If a diabetic or a person with high cholesterol asked for a similar type of substitution, would they have charged exta? I will never find out because I will never return. read more

Good food. Great staff. The menu has remained the same for a long time so I have had at least half of the menu. Well prepared and tasty what for some may be a great trait for me not so much - Consistant and unchanging selection but also quality. It may have been served with a little less flare this time through than last, but a solid value. read more

It was beautiful and quiet. The atmosphere was perfect for date night. Food was wonderful except dessert. Rack of lamb cooked to perfection, jewels of the sea was a great combination of seafood with nice basil pesto. We had chocolate lava cake for dessert and it was a mistake. It really was a chocolate muffin with fudge sauce. read more

I had high expectations of this place, as it came highly recommended and is a restaurant friends seem to go to for anniversaries and special events. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to the hype. The service was good, but the food was mediocre and overpriced. The fried oysters were outstanding but the other meat and seafood dishes we ordered were either dry, flavorless, or both. read more

Tonight I went to Amber Lantern planning to have a great time with some good friends. I found out that there is no communication with the manager and the owner at all! I made a reservation for 10-15 with the manager on Sunday~ calling again on Tuesday to confirm the reservation telling her how many would attend and sounded like everything was set. Obviously not!!!!!!!! When I got to the restaurant on my scheduled date I was soon asked to leave from the owner for undisclosed information. Are you kidding me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please talk to your manager and find out what is going on in your establishment. I was rudely asked to leave without any explanation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have been a patron as well as several others for the last 2 years. I have raved about this restaurant and sent many new people here. I live about 1 mile away and it's always a nice spot to stop after a long night or a fun weekend dinner. Not anymore!!!!!!!!!! You have just lost alot of patrons for being so rude as well as me making a public announcement to everyone that was there. Don't think the the Riverwalk website as well as everyone in the area will hear about how I and my friends were treated!!! Did you really need to go and tell me to leave a 50.00 gratuity on the bill!!!!!! I would have appreciated a "goodnight" as well. I'm sorry for the awful review but in my opinion you are a horrible business owner and need to work on better communication and people skills. read more