So good! I brought my 92 year old mother here for dinner on a Sunday afternoon. It's small with a…read morefew 4 low tops, a few 2 high tops and a 4 high top. The kitchen is open. It looks like they do quite a bit of take out. We were sat immediately and our waitress was very helpful. We got the small basilico salad and spaghetti with meat sauce. Everything was delicious. The sizes were recommended and they were huge and more than enough!! I love the build your own pasta so you literally pick your pasta, sauce, protein and veggies. It's like a family style and I would love to go with a group and we all share. They also have a happy hour. I will definitely be back. Now....my 92 year old mothers complaints. 1. It was too cold. We were going to move but they had a big fan blowing and they turned it away from her. Now take that with a grain of salt because the heat in her room is set to 76 and it's April. 2. It was too loud. Since the kitchen is open you can hear the cooks doing cook things. She was irritated by the noises coming from the kitchen but once again....grain of salt. The volume on her TV is at 80 and she can't hear it but can hear the kitchen noises. 3. The seat was too hard. Once again....grain of salt. She is skin and bones but I will bring her something to sit on next time. She actually did enjoy the food but I got the leftovers. :) We will be back.

Was at a coffee shop nearby and decided last minute to try this Italian spot a few doors down--so…read moreglad I did. The salad was amazing, with fresh greens and perfectly seasoned steak. The happy hour apps were a really nice surprise, and the staff were attentive and welcoming the whole time. Definitely a great spontaneous find

You know an Italian joint is going to be good when the first thing you encounter is someone making…read morepasta by hand. Sorella's carries a philosophy throughout. The food and cocktails are executed with remarkable precision, but two deserve particular mention: the crab rice and the Espresso Martini Dark. The crab rice performs that wonderful Italian trick of making something luxurious without making it precious. A seemingly humble dish is elevated into something genuinely gourmet--rich and deeply flavorful in every bite. Then comes the Espresso Martini Dark. Its pleasure lies in balance--the invigorating cold bitterness of fresh espresso against the measured sweetness of Kahlúa. Neither wins, which is precisely why the cocktail does. The bartender is equally accomplished behind the bar and in the increasingly neglected art of hospitality. Its outdoor seating has the easy elegance of a little restaurant one might stumble upon in Italy or Buenos Aires: intimate, convivial, and seemingly unconcerned with trying too hard.

We've tried a couple of Italian restaurants at the Beach and been happy but wanted to try a new…read morespot. Sorella's is just steps from the oceanfront and although (online) they were booked solid on a Monday night, we called in and were able to get a table for three at 5:30. Higher ceilings with a bar area near the entrance and spacious interior as well some outdoor seating. Our kind Server gave us all the information we needed and we didn't plan on Happy Hour but why not as they offered delicious apps and drinks. We ordered the Fritto Misto (perfectly fried calamari/shrimp), Baked Meatballs (delicious) and a Caesar Salad that came with anchovies (we usually have to ask). For wine (all part of Happy Hour), it was Pinot Grigio Sassi), Rose (Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo) and Pinot Noir (Franco Serra)-all tasty and paired well with our dinner. We all wanted pasta especially since they made their own and they had a few options. We ordered the Malfadine (first time having this pasta -resembles torn up lasagna pieces given the ridges, sausage, pesto all played nicely together), Lumache (short rib and vodka sauce-delicious!-who knew?) and Radiatore (Carbonara with Pork Belly-usually Guanciale, pancetta etc. but the Belly worked!). We liked that the Pasta portions were just right (still had leftovers despite) and priced accordingly. Evan took great care of us. He was attentive and so engaged! What a find! Our entrees reminded me of the deliciousness we had in Rome. Happy Hour was also impressive. Definitely now on our list of musts at the Beach-we will be back!

Absolutely amazing! The food was fantastic! I mean really fantastic! Cannot say enough great things…read moreabout the food! Just mind blowingly good! Great vibe too! everybody laughing and enjoying themselves. There's a beautiful old school wine rack above the bar, outstanding wine selection! They have an Atrium with a big Ficus tree growing in the foyer! Extremely considerate wait staff with impeccable timing! Just a really great atmosphere. We live in Chesapeake and I have to say, it's definitely worth the trip! The Executive Chef Jaime Young was super nice! To find time to greet some customers and just to say thank you for coming speaks VOLUMES to there character! Please go and have the best dinner of your lives! Thank you IL Giardino!! We WILL be back!!!!

Can't say enough good things about the food. We've enjoyed every item ordered. However, they're so…read morebusy that the wait staff is frequently overwhelmed and a bit slow. Off season brings Locals Specials, which packs the house. Many of those nights look like tourist season is still in full swing. Weekends bring musical entertainment which is always enjoyable. Bring your patience and you'll have a great meal.

Very small but oh such great food and service. This is my go to Italian food restaurant. Even…read morebetter treat is it is affordable.

The food was delicious!! I came here on a Tuesday night and it was packed! I guess it's no longer a…read morehidden gem. I am not sure if that is the norm but it was busy! Several people had reservations and I wish I had made one too. Next time, I will. We definitely had to wait for a table. There were only 2 servers. Our waitress was very very nice but service was definitely slow. I feel bad even saying anything because she was so nice but very busy. Forgot a few things but never seemed flustered or rushed. We ordered 2 pizzas and a pasta with meat sauce. It was delicious. The pizza crust was thin and crispy. Pasta was cooked perfectly. We did get bread and it was okay. Nothing special. But the everything else was delicious. Make a reservation and enjoy the food.

Discovered this place by accident and we are so glad we did! Exceptional, authentic Italian food…read more Fresh baked bread. Fresh pasta. Perfect sized portions. And, if you are interested in pizza, the pizza is the best in Virginia Beach! It gets pretty busy most every night, so water refills can get a bit slow for the very experienced servers. But the food and the experience is worth the wait!

Made a reservation for my husband's birthday. This restaurant has been on my Yelp list for a while…read moreand I loved that they have fresh made pasta. Upon arrival we were greeted and immediately sat. A gentleman brought us all waters and explained that our server would be with us shortly. Our server was very nice. She described this evenings specials and gave us some time to look over the menu. My husband got the tomato cream tortellini, one son got chicken parm and the other son got Alfredo. I ordered the special, sausage and shrimp tortellini with asparagus and pesto. Our fried mozzarella appetizer was pretty good. The mozzarella on its own was a little bland but the marinara had great flavor. When they brought out our entrees I was excited. My dish was barely lukewarm. I think the sausage would have been better had it been seared but it seemed to just be sliced and warmed in the dish. It was rubbery. I couldn't taste pesto which was disappointing. Underneath everything was just very watery. The shrimp had that texture that it gets when it's overcooked. Overall I didn't really like any aspect of the dish. My husband's tortellini was good and still very warm. The garlic green beans he ordered had amazing flavor. Both of my sons said their fettuccine was mushy. I'm glad we gave it a try but sometimes things are a hit or a miss. Unfortunately this was a miss for us.

Decided to do a date night & Dined in at 7:30pm on a Sunday night. Our server was welcoming,…read moreprofessional & attentive. She was patient, answered all of our questions, knowledgeable about everything on the menu. We received Great service tonight! Our food was delicious, huge portions & came out quickly! We ordered and shared a Caprese salad. The ingredients were so fresh! We loved it! We ordered the Pollo Marsala and their Spaghetti with Meatballs. These entrees came with bread and butter. Everything was great but we didn't have enough room for dessert! We will have to try & save room for it next time! Thank you for not making us feel rushed!

Food was just okay. The $10 meatballs were absolutely not worth it. They tasted frozen, lacked any…read morereal flavor, and were basically oversized Chef Boyardee meatballs--which is honestly an insult to Chef Boyardee. The restaurant itself also had some issues. The ceiling tile above our table was literally falling out and looked like it was one bump away from landing on someone. On top of that, it was uncomfortably hot inside. Considering how hot it was outside, it seemed like the air conditioning either wasn't working or wasn't turned on. The biggest disappointment was the service and how the restaurant handled multiple mistakes. We had a party of eight, and our checks were completely messed up--including one check that somehow had a 42% gratuity added. That's the kind of error that should have been easy to correct. Things only got worse from there. One person's leftovers were taken to be boxed up and never came back. When we asked about them, they returned with a steaming hot container of broth and tomatoes... except the original meal was seafood with shrimp, mussels, and fish. It was obvious the food had been lost and hastily replaced. Another friend had his leftover pizza dropped in the kitchen. To make up for it, they offered him a complimentary dessert... then actually charged him for it. The final straw was the interaction with the "manager." When one of our friends politely questioned her bill, he immediately became aggressive and said, "How can I fix this problem? I'm not a mind reader." Instead of listening, he became defensive from the start. He first offered about $80 worth of desserts, then agreed to remove part of the bill instead. A short time later, he returned and claimed he couldn't do anything because "the manager wasn't in yet"--despite presenting himself as the manager moments earlier. The entire interaction was rude, unprofessional, and completely unnecessary. The only bright spot of the evening was our waitress. She was kind, attentive, and clearly doing her best despite everything going wrong around her. Mistakes happen, but she handled herself with professionalism and kindness all night. Unfortunately, between the mediocre food, the multiple service failures, and the way management treated our group, this was not an experience I'd want to repeat.

Absolutely amazing! Outstanding everything!…read moreHighly recommend! Clean, knowledgeable, service, food,

Came for a celebratory dinner with our closest friends. Overall, everything was fantastic. The…read moreonly complaint was my husband wished the pasta had sauce on it and most of our dishes were just a bit over salted. That said, I would definitely come back.

First time here and won't be the last. Fresh delicious food, bartender was friendly, welcoming and…read morehelpful with helping us to choose an entree. Such a real authentic experience with Italian cuisine, loved it!

The server was very friendly, but I felt neglected. Our reservation was for 7:30. It took them over…read morean hour to take our order and then when we were ready for the check, that also took awhile. The oysters were DELICIOUS!! Definitely a must try!! I ordered the Alfredo. The sauce was tasty and noodles perfectly cooked. I didn't like the quality of the sausage or the chicken in the dish.

We took a family friend for her birthday to Baladi Mediterranean; they were closed Sunday evening…read more Then we went to Azar's Greek restaurant around the corner --closed. Cobalt Grille was next--you guessed it, they were closed too. We drove around and stumbled upon Gaston's. Not being able to eat at those other restaurants was the BEST thing that could have happened to us that day! The ambiance and the gentle vibe you get when you walk in this place is palpable. And the food lives up to the ambiance too. My party haslamb chops, cowboy steak, asparagus and a myriad of sides that came with these meals. I heard lots of "oohs" and "this is delicious" from my family. Unfortunately, I am a vegan and the choices were virtually nonexistent for me--but in Gaston's defense, they are an Italian steakhouse (they never said they catered to vegans). This evening was for the birthday girl--and she loved lamb chops. Simply put, this restaurant exceeded her expectations.

I was really excited to try Gaston's Italian Steakhouse because I'd been looking forward to having…read morea great steak. Our first impression was very good. We were greeted immediately, seated right away, and our waitress was attentive and friendly throughout the evening. Before ordering, I actually spoke with the owner, Gaston, because I wanted his recommendation for the best steak on the menu. He confidently recommended the Cowboy Ribeye, assuring me that it was one of their signature steaks. I ordered it medium rare with a little char, exactly the way I enjoy it. I also asked if I could substitute the mashed potatoes and broccoli for another side since I don't eat either of those. I was told substitutions were not allowed. For a $60 steak, I found that disappointing. I wasn't asking for anything extravagant--just a different vegetable or a simple side salad. When my steak arrived, it was much smaller than I expected for the price and didn't resemble the Cowboy Ribeye I was anticipating. It was cooked slightly over medium rare, and while it wasn't terrible, the flavor was only average and had a slightly off taste, almost as if the broiler hadn't been cleaned recently. To make matters worse, the mashed potatoes and broccoli I had specifically asked to leave off the plate were served anyway. To be fair, the service was excellent. Our waitress handled everything professionally and even apologized for the sides, explaining the kitchen had plated them before she could stop it. The chicken scallopini ordered by someone else in our party was very good, and the other chicken entrées were also enjoyed. Unfortunately, I came for the steak, and that's where the experience fell well short of expectations. At this price point, I expected a high-quality cut of beef, some flexibility with side dishes, and an overall experience that matched the cost. Instead, it felt like every effort was made to minimize portions and avoid accommodating a simple request. I always try to support local restaurants, and I don't enjoy leaving negative reviews. But when you're paying premium prices, the food should reflect it. Based on my experience, I can't recommend the steaks here.

Food: We got the clams oreganata for appetizers. I would skip this next time as the breadcrumbs…read moreoverpower the clams taste. For entrees I got the veal piccata. I've never had veal before but I took a chance since the waiter said they are known for their veal. It was delicious. The sauce was zesty and creamy. My husband got the veal chop, medium rare. It was DELICIOUS. The flavors were deep and meat was tender. I definitely recommend getting that and I will be getting that next time. Drinks: Cocktails were good but the star was the wine. We got a bottle of the BANFI COL-DI-SASSO. Service: Top notch. No complaints Ambiance: Very high end. They do have a dress code which includes no logo shirts

Having been here a few times now, Ilse of Capri is one of those rare places that just gets…read moreeverything right. From the friendly greeting, to the excellent service, amazing Italian food, and a spectacular view overlooking the ocean. This place just checks all the boxes. Despite being in the Holiday Inn, they have their own separate elevator straight to the restaurant. And its a glass one so you can see the ocean as you ride up to the top. The restaurant itself has an amazing view over the whole beach. The servers are phenomenal- friendly, attentive, answering all the questions. For my kids, they happily split a portion of the lasagna for them, and my kids loved it. The spaghetti and meatballs are a hit as well. For me, the veal marsala is my go-to- a large portion perfectly cooked and seasoned. I have never left a drop on the plate. This is hands down one of my favorite places in town and one we will continue to go back to every trip here.