I spent the day in Cape Charles with my family and wanted to find a place that offered some local…read morefare. While walking along Mason Avenue, I made reservations at The Shanty, and it turned out to be a great choice. The restaurant is just a short stroll from the main shopping area, down by the docks. You can park for free along Mason Avenue or drive directly to The Shanty, which has its own parking lot. One of the highlights was enjoying fresh seafood on the open-air porch with beautiful waterfront views. The atmosphere was relaxed, charming, and perfectly summery. They also had plenty of options for the kids, including mac and cheese and chicken fingers, so everyone was happy. I ordered the fish tacos, while my mom enjoyed the seafood chowder and a wedge salad. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and exactly what we were hoping for after a day exploring Cape Charles. If you're visiting the area and looking for a casual waterfront meal with great seafood, a family-friendly menu, and a fun coastal vibe, The Shanty is definitely worth a visit.

Great environment and good food! During a stop in Cape…read moreCharles, we visited The Shanty based on a recommendation from our shuttle bus driver from the campground and we were very pleased. The Shanty is not a large restaurant, but it has an amazing bar and great views from their deck on the bay. The service was great and our server created a "no rush" just sit back and relax vibe, even though they were busy. The drink menu has a nice selection of cocktails. My wife, an orange crush connoisseur, said the Shanty's crush was very good! They also have a nice beer selection including local area craft beers. The Frogman Lager on the menu has been one of my favorites when I visit VA, so it was nice to see on the menu. We started off with a 1/2 dozen local oyster, which were nice and sweet. The crab dip was amazing and full of crab! We split the shrimp Po-boy. The sandwich was loaded with plump tasty shrimp on an amazing roll. Typically, in beach towns the shrimp Po-boys are skimpy on the shrimp, but not at the Shanty. Overall, a great visit and a place we'd return.

This was a surprise hit for quality food during our trip to Cape Charles. They know how to cook!…read more My husband got a 4-piece fried chicken dinner with onion rings. The chicken was so good. Next time I'm here, we're getting chicken from Salt & Sand and taking it to the beach. My daughter got a friend chicken tender salad that she loved. I got a cheeseburger and fries. The cheeseburger was just okay. I'd definitely get something different next time. Hats off to the owners for making tasty food and thriving in this small community. I hope Word gets out about how good you are!

Not dog friendly…read more Was ignored by staff, when I was finally able to get their attention we asked for dog, friendly seating and they were not dog friendly.

If you're spending a day on Virginia's Eastern Shore, Cape Charles Brewing Company is absolutely…read moreworth a stop. We popped in for a casual beer break, and it quickly turned into one of the highlights of the day. The space itself is gorgeous! It's open, airy and designed with a laid-back coastal vibe that fits Cape Charles perfectly. You order both beer and food inside at the counter, which keeps things easy and low- key. I went with the Pilsner, and it was exactly what I wanted, perfect after a day out exploring. Their beer list has something for everyone, whether you're into lighter options or something with a bit more depth. We didn't order food this time, but everything coming out of the kitchen looked incredible. They've got plenty of options like burgers, nachos, and other brewery favorites that definitely seemed worth trying next time. What really stood out was the atmosphere. There was so much going on in the best way. They had a dog adoption event happening outside while we were there, which added such a fun, community-driven vibe. They also host live music and other events regularly, so it feels like there's always something to check out. The outdoor space is huge and perfect if you're with a group or bringing kids. There's a fire pit, games like cornhole, and plenty of room to spread out and hang for a while. Definitely the kind of place you plan to stop at for one drink and end up staying much longer. I will be adding this to my must visit list anytime I'm on the Eastern Shore.

So, a burger costs $18 and comes with fries…read more A side of Fries alone is $7. A side of onion rings is $8. However, if you want to substitute onion rings instead of fries it will cost you $8 extra, making it a $26 meal. So really you're just buying a side of onion rings and also not getting the fries. This is not a substitution. This is buying more and getting less. Please tell me how this makes any sense!?!? I gave quite a bit of push back along with some real life number crunching... but the employee could not seem to understand the lack of logic that, based on their menu prices, an onion ring substitution should be more like $1, and not $8. This is adding 45% to the cost of the meal which is absurd. This is not a surcharge, it's just buying onion rings and also not getting the fires that come with the meal. I wasn't going to pay $26 for a burger, so got the fries which were actually amazing, but not what I wanted... and the burger just was okay... but I can't seem to get over their lack of understanding that this makes no sense. Just write no substitutions if you don't want to bother catering to your customers! I was a tourist heading home from a mini vacation and REALLY craving onion rings, this venue made me super grumpy for no good reason except stubbornness and lack of math skills and reasoning and customer service. Not impressed.

Visited on a Saturday night around 7pm - was told 25 min wait that ended up being more like 45 min…read moreto an hour, but we killed time by walking around nearby shops. The food, ambiance and service was all good.

All too often, the "one pizza joint" in a small town can let you down. Deadrise Pizza will not do…read morethat. They use a dough that makes you want to eat the crust and a combination of pies that will make you overbuy how much you need. Good thing your rental will come with a fridge! Another one of the establishments that really is a solid choice to have a meal on the water as you watch the sunset, Deadrise is a solid spot and a must check out restaurant during your next stay in Cape Charles.

Look, crab legs aren't cheap. But it's hard to find a place that really justifies the prices. A1…read moreSeafood is a solid spot to go to or order a boil for your beach house. You'll spend $150-200 for two families but you'll probably have leftover shrimp or potatoes (not a bad thing!) and everyone will be saying the same thing, "wow, that was amazing." They know what they are doing and are exceptional at giving you the full experience at your own home (rental). I am not even a die-hard crab leg guy but this is almost absolutely on our must do list each year when we visit Cape Charles.

Yummy! Very good spread but I wish they were open a little later. The whole works were…read moreoutstanding. The steamed oysters were moist even when dinnertime rolled around. Would 100% pick up another family dinner.

Smalls BBQ & Oysters in Cape Charles had been on our list for a while, and we finally made it in…read morefor a quick lunch. The smell of smoke hits you as soon as you step out of the car--which is always a great sign. We were greeted and seated quickly, and our waitress was attentive from the start. She walked us through the highlights and shared a few of her personal favorites, which was a nice touch. We kicked things off with the Oyster Rockefeller. The oysters themselves were nearly perfect, though the dish leaned a bit salty. Still, a solid start. The crab soup was good as well--also slightly on the salty side, which could just come down to personal preference. Now to the burnt ends--one of my go-to orders anywhere. I'm happy to say these didn't disappoint. Like others have mentioned, the brisket was a touch dry but still impressively tender and full of flavor. The BBQ nachos were messy in the best way and packed with flavor--definitely a hit, especially with my son. As for the slaw, we were told it would be "wet," but it's actually on the drier side, so keep that in mind depending on your preference. Overall, a really enjoyable stop with good food and friendly service. We'd definitely come back again.

Took a few minutes to get seated, even though the restaurant wasn't very busy. It looked like they…read morehad just finished up with some large groups. Jennifer was pleasant and took our drink orders, but it was about 10 minutes before we got our drinks and placed our food order. The appetizers took about 20 minutes to arrive. We ordered a dozen fresh oysters, but only 10 came out. We had to ask for the other two once we were finally able to get someone's attention. Making a joke that the kitchen could not count to 12. The food was really slow coming out. The calamari and crab soup were great, and the sausage and pulled pork were delicious. The ribs, unfortunately, were not a favorite. We decided to stop here because there was no wait, but honestly, we might as well have waited at the harbor. The food was good overall, but the service and wait times definitely took away from the experience. Seems to be a kitchen help issue more than anything.

We came for Easter Brunch, The food was excellent! I'm…read morevegan, so I had the grilled cabbage with curry sauce and peanut. The sauce was flavorful and smooth not overwhelming. My mom had the steak Diane and my boyfriend had chicken and waffles, they were both very pleased. We also had the key lime pie and the flourless chocolate tart ! The service was very good, we didn't have to wait too long for the food... a decent amount of kids . they had an Easter egg hunt . Plenty of parking ! They just painted the place so it looks very nice .

Visited on a Friday evening and waited about 15 min for a table. It's a beautiful area with amazing…read moresunset views. They were short staffed but our servers was so sweet, attentive, and the runners brought drinks and food in a timely manner. The best two items I tried were the hush puppies and bread pudding. Burger wasn't bad but the patty's weren't smashed very thin and it was too messy with the sauce (I recommend getting the sauce on the side). Overall we had a great experience and I would return!

This was actually our second visit to Hook @ Harvey, and it was just as amazing as the first! Don't…read morelet the unassuming exterior fool you--this cozy little restaurant may be small, but it delivers in a BIG way! We arrived a little early for our reservation, and the staff was incredibly welcoming. They seated us right away and gave us plenty of time to look over the menu without feeling rushed. The food was unbelievably fresh, beautifully prepared, and absolutely delicious! Every bite was fantastic, and the service was exceptional. Friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming--it made the entire experience even better. A few tips if you're planning a visit: Make reservations! This place books up quickly. Bar seating is first come, first served, but there are only six seats. There's a beautiful patio overlooking the marina where you can enjoy drinks (no food service on the patio). It's an intimate space with around 10 tables, making for a cozy dining experience. It's a 12-and-up restaurant, perfect for a relaxing date night or an adults-only evening out. It's easy to see why we came back a second time, and it definitely won't be our last! If you're visiting Cape Charles, Hook @ Harvey is an absolute must-visit. We can't wait to return!

Great food and service. Expensive for this area and they do not change the menu often enough. Also…read morethe $20 fee to make a reservation is unnecessary and annoying especially since advance booking is always needed. Can't give this place 5 stars for those reasons. Often very NOISY...

Absolutely great cooked as you order food. Local small restaurant attached to gas station and small…read morestore. Went for lunch. Table of police officers eating near us. To me that's proof of good food. My wife had a club sandwich. Too big to finish. It looked excellent but my bbq sandwich was a good size, I had no room to help finish her sandwich. If this place was near my home I'd be a regular. Careful ordering, portions are generous. I consider Sting Ray a home run.

I had the misfortune of having dinner at Sting Ray's last night. The fried oysters were horrible…read more They weren't even whole oysters. They were tiny pieces of oyster that were almost invisible in the breading. They also tasted horrible and gave me an upset stomach the rest of the evening. Quite possibly the worst dinner I've ever had. On top of this, the service was painfully slow. It will be a cold day in hell before I eat there again.

Drinks are delish! George was fantastic and very knowledgeable! Pricey but a fun hang....We'll be…read moreback! Kim

Drinks were pricey and not very good. Same with cigars. Great place with three floors and maybe…read morethey can turn it around.