Amber Lantern is AMAZING. My husband and I have eaten there twice now for two special occasions and are so so so happy they've reopened. The service is top notch (servers are attentive but not in your face), the food is DELICIOUS, and the views from the patio are great. Do yourself a favor and make a reservation now. We have had the gnocchi, the seafood pasta, pork chops and the crab stuffed shrimp. The crab and lobster bisques are perfectly creamy with chunks of meat. The salads crisp, cool and refreshing. Everything we have eaten was cooked well and yummy. They have a good selection of desserts and drinks too. I'm already counting down the days till we can go again! read more

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We enjoyed our meal here. It's a little fancy. Folks were dressed up. A nice change from the Walmart mentality of too many restaurants.

We had dinner there last night. Everyone ordered and I ordered Tale of the Sea. I do like capers, but there must have been a whole jar of capers in my pasta dish. It was so very very salty, I could not eat it. I try to watch my salt intake, but even my husband said it was way to salty. Maybe the Chef could let up on the salt and let people put their own salt on the dish. We enjoy dining there, I hope this helps.. May I add, the service was wonderful and the atmosphere was also very nice! read more

Awesome food beautiful presentations cheerful service. We have eaten there many times never a bad meal read more

Perfectly Perfect! I came here for my birthday on a Tuesday evening. We didn't have reservations and was able to seat us right away. At first we decided to sit inside but changed to outside seating for a better view. The hostess was very friendly and polite. Our waitress was also friendly and was able to go over the specials with us. I liked how we didn't have to ask for anything like refills or bread, she as very alert and attentive to our needs. We started off with bread and butter while waiting. Loved the bread!!! Also chose calamari for a starter. Calamari was perfect! It was a large portion with the right amount of crisp. Perfectly fried and offered with seasoned seewead salad. My boyfriend and I both chose the specials of the day. He had the sword fish and I had the scallops. Risotto, mashed potatoes and vegetables were all perfectly paired along with the beautiful sunset. Will definitely return. read more

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So I saw the Amber Lantern on Google maps when scouting out the area along the river. Decided to take a drive there before going by boat. Well, the atmosphere is awesome, the ambiance and views of the river are superb. The Staff and service are just what they should be friendly but not too friendly, service but not overbearing. I went three more times and I can't wait to go again. I enjoyed the lamb risotto and asparagus which was to die for. I meant to take a picture before getting into it, but I forgot, and it was good. Halfway through I remembered sorry but a great meal will do that for you!! read more

Amber Lantern Restaurant - Lamb - Seafood Near Me - Chesapeake, Virginia

We were very impressed with the service, our server was always close to assist, The chef put together such a good menu we were already planning what we would order on our next visit which will be very soon this is truly my now favorite place to eat read more

So this place was a very pleasent surprise. It's tucked back in an industrial area and is on the second floor of what looks like an office building when you approach. The staff and service were wonderful. They wEre very patient with our slow review of the menu. The Ahi tuna carpaccio is wonderful. The seafood pasta was great and went really well with the bottle of Malbec. The duck breast was huge and the sauce delicious. It was perfectly cooked. The vegetables and risotto with it were both good. We were there for our anniversary and for desert they made us a special lava cake. read more

Amber Lantern Restaurant - Desert - Seafood Near Me - Chesapeake, Virginia

It wasn't great. The filet came with gravy on it which wasn't expected. The lobster tortellini was filled with cheese and only a couple small pieces of lobster on top. The service was also pretty slow and the decor was really outdated. Lastly the views that looked so promising in pictures ended up being a great view of the grain silio's. We won't likely be back. read more

This is first time here. We made reservation a week ago. Arrived early and sat by the windows. We waited for about 20 minutes before I had to ask why no one had come to our table. The hostess apologized and the waitress came right over. The decor is very nice and the view of the water from the window booths is great. We ordered the fried oysters for an appetizer. They came out cooked perfectly the sauce on the place was the right blend or spicy and tangy. We order two of their signature entries (Crab stuffed shrimp and lobster tortellini). Both came out cooked perfectly and both were very delicious. This place is five for the food, but the service issue we had when we arrived made the overall experience a four. This definitely a must go and we will be back. read more

Lovely experience and beautiful setting. It was very pricey though, so I'd recommend it for special occasions.

Food was great. The ambience was nice. Perfect place for a date night but I would not recommend for a large party. read more

Amber Lantern Restaurant - Super Lump Crab Cake with mashed potatoes and veggies - Seafood Near Me - Chesapeake, Virginia

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Nice restaurant with great service and food. The area where this restaurant is a bit of an industrial area but the restaurant and grounds are nice and has a great view. Wish they got a little more creative with their dishes, most have all the same sides but still tasty. read more

Consistently good food and service. Private rooms available for large groups. Indoor and outdoor dining overlooking the water and marina. On-site parking, ability to make reservations in advance, tableside bread service and full bar. I recommend the crab stuffed shrimp, scallops, and chocolate cake. read more

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Great food. Never crowded. Great view. It is hidden away, but worth the trip. One of my favorites.

Really good restaurant with a good view. The food was great, service too. The drinks we good, but they did run out of ingredients for the drink I ordered. We ordered the chilean sea bass special with fig sauce that was awesome, and the rack of lamb. The ambiance was a tad lacking from our expectations. Overa a good night to celebrate a special occasion. The lava cake was great! Recommendation: legit. read more

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I've been here a couple of times and this is still by far my favorite restaurant. It's romantic as you have arial view of Elizabeth river with soft jazz playing in the background. If you get there at the right time you can see the sunset as the evening glow fills the room. Very beautiful! The food was awesome! I had the Salmon with crab and it was so delish. The food is fresh and the presentation was top notch, I didn't want to eat it. They truly have Chefs back in the kitchen working it out! read more

Amber lantern has an amazing ambience. Great restaurant for a date night. I recommend this restaurant to anyone who wants an upscale experience. read more

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The Tale of the Sea pasta was good, but not worth the price. I would try a different dish next time. The baked brie was tasty with the fig and mango sauce. Although it is mostly fig. read more

Amber Lantern Restaurant - Tale of the Sea Pasta - Seafood Near Me - Chesapeake, Virginia

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Celebrated our 22nd wedding anniversary in May. Amazing food, great service, loved the ambiance!

Dinner here was a delightful surprise. We started with the baked brie, which was nicely presented and delicious. We shared two entrees, the duck and the lamb, and they were both really good. Then I had to have the creme brûlée, even though I had to take home half my dinner to leave room for it. This one one of the best I've had, and I'm a creme brûlée addict. Maggie was our server, and she was very pleasant and attentive. The prices were a little high, but we felt they were justified by the quality. For us, this was especially true because we got a free night's stay at Top Rack Marina as part of the deal. We will absolutely be back here twice a year every year, as long as we cruise. read more

Amber Lantern Restaurant - Baked Brie - Seafood Near Me - Chesapeake, Virginia

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Returning to the "Amber Lantern" recently, since 2009 because I found out back then that I had "Celiac", a genetic autoimmune gluten problem. I looked up their menu online recently and found they have a "Dedicated Gluten-Free" menu posted. They have so many gluten-free options, I had to go and dine. The Chef uses "Corn Starch" instead of AP Flour to make the ROUX for both the Lobster & Crab Bisques, find that in Hampton Roads, good luck. They're delicious. Jumbo seared sea scallops, jumbo shrimp cocktail! My family loved everything off the regular menu too. Great service & food. My only complaint, the NY Strip wasn't medium rare but medium so I needed a little more knife then I expected but that's it. I would have posted pics, but the plates were empty by the time we thought about it. Lol Thank you "Amber Lantern Crew" for my special Celiac gluten-free dinning experience! See y'all soon... read more

Little off the beaten path, but we'll worth the effort. Food is delicious, atmosphere delightful and if your lucky enough to get a table, all the more. Give it a try! read more

recommended by a business associate's EA for a 6 person business dinner. When you have exceptional food ( i had a fig crusted Chilean sea bass to kill for) , very attentive service, well spaced tables for a comfortable feel, and a reasonable price for the experience (5 = $231, on an expense account , so freely spending :) ). view out to the river was peaceful. ON a side note, I was very concerned on the road in, as it has the ambience of a mob hit site, but once arrived and upstairs, also killer, but in a good way. on my short list. read more

Amber Lantern Restaurant - pass some industrial on way in , but overlooks river, ample parking - Seafood Near Me - Chesapeake, Virginia

This restaurant is in a secluded location by a marina. Enjoy waterfront views while you dine on the best seafood in Chesapeake. I started with the brie, which was served with a warm fig sauce and pieces of fig. Super incredible but really sweet. I would probably order it after my entree instead of an appetizer next time. For my entree, I ordered the "Jewels of the Sea," which is a pasta dish with scallops and oysters. Because scallops are my fave and I'm not big on oysters, I was allowed to substitute for more scallops. Very best decision. The scallops were perfect and huge. This linguine dish also included tender, flavorful artichokes. I loved every bite, but it was a lot of food and I couldn't handle dessert. That's why I'll be back, and you should go. It's low-key romantic. Make it a date. read more

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My husband made reservations for our Anniversary. We were expecting a nice evening at a restaurant that we had heard so many wonderful things about. Even though he was asked if this was a special occasion when making the reservations- it was not acknowledged. We were sat next to a party of 20 including a dog who barked on occasion. It was as if we were in Texas Roadhouse- loud, hot, and not what we anticipated at all. The website mentions fine dining and talks about the atmosphere. On our anniversary I had no plans to eat at a restaurant that was so loud we had difficulty hearing each other. We were so disappointed. read more

Sat us next to large parties with many open tables. Food was ok. Service was good, didn't really have any issues

We went early (Saturday} for Mother's Day dinner. Made reservations for 6 at 7:30pm . The nice young lady who took our reservation asked if it was for a special occasion and asked if we wanted a booth and window. I said yes, it's for Mother's Day dinner and yes we would like a booth by the window. We arrived at 7:20pm and waited for our seats after checking in. The nice hostess escorted us to our table. I asked the young lady about the booth at the window, and she told me that they gave that to the couple (2 people) behind us and that the window seats are not guaranteed!!!!!! Really!!!! The couple of two got the window booth after I made a reservation for this !!!!!!! I sat at our table and was angered of the evident mismanagement of the reservation process. We ordered our dinner with our waitress and enjoyed our food immensely. We enjoyed the food and the restaurant, just was upset with being disrespected read more

A great date night restaurant to go to. Food is delicious! Every time we have eaten here we have not been disappointed.

If I could give this place 6 stars I would. Everything was great between the food, atmosphere, and service. I can't wait to come back read more

Amber Lantern Restaurant - Patio view at sunset - Seafood Near Me - Chesapeake, Virginia

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Nice cozy place, not too pricey and the staff is good and friendly, food is delicious Highly Recommended read more

Great food with an attentive staff. Very nice atmosphere and ambiance. Stopped for the night at the Top Rack Marina 10/2/21 while on a voyage South. I would highly recommend this place if you are in the area. read more

Love love love this restaurant. My husband and I had our wedding anniversary dinner here months ago. The location wasn't as I expected but it was ok, parking was easily available so that's a plus. However, a sign for the restaurant entrance would be nice so people don't go walking around the entire building looking for the restaurant entrance. Interior: restaurant was really cleaned, decor matched the style and the smell was clean inside as oppose to the outside fishy smell. The floors were cleaned, the tables were nicely decorated and didn't smell. Plus in my books. - The restroom was very clean and didn't smell like a locker, so good job on keeping the female restroom cleaned. Food: There is not enough words that could explain the deliciousness of the food we had at this restaurant. I had a mixed steak meal that was recommended by the waitress and booooyyy was it on point (please see photos for plates). My husband had the pork chop meal and that was real good, the meats were easy to cut through and the taste wasn't to strong on a particular flavor, it all meshed well with the meat and vegetables. We also had the spinach appetizer; the presentation of the plate was very clean and the taste was right on point. Again, please see photos of the wonderfully presented meals and judge for yourself. I will definitely be returning to this restaurant for more meals. Great job staff!!!! read more

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Amazing time for valentines weekend dinner. Our waitress Sky was attentive but not overbearing. And very informative on all items. We arrived early for a rsvp and were seated promptly. Both dinners (stuffed shrimp and ny strip) were amazing. We each had a mixed drink. The pomegranate martini was the BEST we have yet to find. We had an amazing time. And highly recommend for a special occasion or just a nice evening out of the house. Thank you for a nice but relaxing dinner Amber Lantern. read more

Amber Lantern Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Chesapeake, Virginia

What a huge disappointment. Our meals were lack luster- and was really lacking flavor. It was loud, and the server was not attentive at all. We wanted a nice night out for our anniversary- and walked out disappointed. Hubby and I both said the same thing- we will not be back. read more

Ok, so it's been over 2 years since my last visit. I do want to say they have totally redeemed themselves. I made reservations for 4pm on a Sunday for my daughter's 21st birthday. I will point out that I'm still sore they do NOT allow any outside food or drink inside, including birthday cakes/cupcakes/desserts. Anyway, we all were seated immediately, most of us ordered the filet mignon. My hubby ordered the ahi tuna entree with vegetables. He said his tuna was cooked perfect but the sauce that was on the plate was too salty. He also said the vegetables (according to the menu) was suppose to be marinated and it was not even close. I had the filet mignon, garlic risotto, and the mixed vegetables sautéed in soy sauce. My meal was wonderful! This was actually the first time ever ordering a steak. It was cooked to perfection (medium) and so was the risotto and veggies. Our server was nice and swift, however, she could have been a bit happier. She had such a serious face the whole time. We had calamari for an appetizer which was beautifully prepared and showcased, however, the it could have been fried a bit longer (the breading was coming off with just a touch). Their kids menu was great, our son loved the buttered noodles. Food was wonderful. Decor is gorgeous right on the water. I just don't understand why they cannot allow a birthday cake for a customer trying to celebrate there. Anyway, much better with their service and food. read more

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Service was very good and the food was as tasty as was its presentation. Definitely will be return customers.

Great venue and service complement great food and drink. Closes early but is accommodating to diners already in the restaurant by closing. Great spot for fine dining! read more

After yet another unsatisfactory family meal I must tell you why I won't be coming back here for diner meal. First, our reservation (made two days prior) was lost for NYE. Since I planned it for early meal at 5pm, they were still able to sit us. However it took 20 min for our server to finally come around to take our drink order and tell us their specials. Mind you, it wasn't busy yet, at this time of the evening. This wasn't our first visit, so I can confirm that their specials were same as on other occasions. We enjoyed the calamari the best. I end up with seared tuna dish that arrived cold. I was told twice that it was supposed to be raw inside. I know! But it still should be warm (seared) outside, not cold. The risotto was not tasty at all and out of 3 of us having it, no one like it so stick to mashed potatoes which are much better. My hubby had the lobster tortellinis and that dish was very good. The desserts were not impressive and we didn't finish one out of 4. It was very mediocre meal. We didn't order soups or salads which I forgot to add to our order and our server never suggested them as a reminder to us. So one appetizer for 5, 4 desserts and 5 main courses later= $250. I guess, I could go back for a drink and an appetizer and a guaranteed evening sunset view but nothing more. read more

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Wow, what a disappointment. Not the food from a few years ago. The restaurant was literally empty. Service was good but... The bread was hot, moist and airy, very good. Did not order an app but did order a couple of beers which was really good. The 'Jewels of the Sea' entree was bad. The cook/chef obviously dropped way too much salt into the sauce, like 20x too much. Not talking about personal taste, we're talking accident amount to the point of almost inedible. So, either the chef didn't test taste it prior to serving or was simply hoping no one would complain. We share meals so we both sampled it and both agree. My wife was very hungry so she just ate it. We were also staying there at the marina so we did not bring it up so that's our bad. Trying to taste the core food through the salt, it appeared it would or may have been a great dish. Who knows? The individual parts like the scallops, oysters and roasted tomatoes seemed fine if drained from the salt bath. The other entree was Chilean sea bass. Excellent. Was not over cooked like most restaurants tend to do with seafood. Seasoning was just right and didn't overpower the fish. The risotto was hot and delicious but the veggies were coldish and chewy. The green beans and bok choy were obviously sauteed together with the carrots which resulted with the carrots being more raw than al dente. Might try Amber Lantern again someday as we travel up and down the ICW waterway but hope for better results or that's it for stopping here. read more