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    Boil Bay

    4.2 (464 reviews)
    Open 12:30 pm - 10:00 PM

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    BOIL BAY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids

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    Shef S.

    One of my favorite places to eat. Come early to be seated! The boils are really good and the Cajun rice is a hit. We tried the shrimp po boys, hush puppies and the fried corn the other day. It was seasoned really well and delicious. I was surprised the po boys didn't come with a side, I feel like a sandwich should always have a side. If you don't like loud environments, this isn't the place for you. The bathrooms in VB location were blasting music so loudly you couldn't think. The Norfolk locations they're always playing music way too loudly and you can barely talk to your table. Some nights they do karaoke and it's even louder with bad singing.

    Martini Flights $15 (on the happy hour menu)
    Saudia S.

    If you're looking for a good seafood boil and a great drink to match, you should definitely come try boil bay on holland road ! Let's start by getting into the drinks. I ordered the martini flight for $15 and they were DELICIOUS!! They serve another flight of martinis for $25 that ain't apart of the happy hour deal. I tried their Cajun fried rice along with the catfish basket and it was so good. The catfish could have used a bit more of seasoning, but it was fresh and the Cajun fries were amazing !!! For my main dish, I ordered a "Combo C" which consisted of 1lb of snow crab and headless shrimp. The ambiance was amazing !!! They displayed a lot of Halloween decor for the month of October (not too scary for the kiddos). Kenneth was our waiter and he displayed top tier customer service !!

    fish Fried Cheese Sticks & Oyster Basket
    Sarah K.

    The outside almost made us turn around but once you step foot into the restaurant it becomes a better vibe. Service was decent, the servers were polite and we didn't have any issues. For appetizers we got fried fish sticks which were 8/10, tasted fresh. Along with a basket of fried oysters, they were decent and they came with cajun fries. The combo D was a good size for 3-4 people depending how hungry everyone is. we got boil bay special as the sauce and mild spice, 10/10 baby. we loved the flavor and the freshness of both ingredients and meat. Also ordered a mango marg, but it was nothing special. I would've preferred a beer with this meal but again, 10/10 boil I would recommend this place.

    Lobster Tail
    Cora C.

    Our server was friendly and the food came out quick. Large dining area and clean. The crab legs and lobster and shrimp were good quality but their house sauce is on the salty side. Had great flavor tho. It's definitely on the pricier side but for lobster and snow crab is expected.

    Family!!

    My family and I had an amazing time! We went on a karaoke night for my birthday dinner. Music was nice and welcoming! Food was great! Waiter was very nice and helpful for a family of 12. Music made it 10x better enjoying everyone and We were able to create an atmosphere of song and praise unto the lord! And that meant a lot to me!

    Menu
    Ashlyne T.

    Let me tell you such a fun place. Every Friday and Saturday evening there's karaoke while you eat. Food is seasoned and tasty. Service was amazing for the amount of ppl in our group. Simply beautiful place. Can't wait to return in the summer

    Papi ..

    The food was pretty good, absolutely demolished it. The service was great and the ambiance was very laid back and relaxing with nice decorations. Spent a decent amount but don't remember how much. Worth the price.

    We went to celebrate my kids father heaven birthday and it was amazing. We will be going back there.

    1/2 Shrimp Head On, 1/2 Black Mussel

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    Food was great cooked just right. Services were attentive to our needs with frequent follow up.

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    Page 1 of 12

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    Ask the Community - Boil Bay

    Are the shrimp with no head deveined?

    They were definitely deveined and I think heads off. They were easy to peel because the deveined.

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    Blue Seafood & Spirits - Blackened Mahi with mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables

    Blue Seafood & Spirits

    4.8(883 reviews)
    4.9 mi
    $$

    Best dinner ever . I had the crab cake and my mum had the…read moresoft shell crab. The service was great and It was the best food experience I have ever had. 5 stars

    I remember no reservations accepted for this place and I double checked to make sure two people…read morewith physical disabilities could be accommodated. The staff and even some fellow customers were very accommodating to my friends to help them get seated. Other customers were excited to let my friends know that it is worth the trip. The trip was two+ hours one way. My fried oysters, cheese chive potatoes, asparagus, and crab cake were superb. The cheese samplers were on point. My one friend could not have the nuts and my other friend had some different food allergy that I don't remember- so I had to eat all three samplers because fingers crossed I have no food allergies and I like to minimize food waste as part of being more sustainable and my own culture. I seem to have missed a picture of the Jellyfish Sting drink I had. It was flavorful enough and I liked the rose syrup in particular. The blueberry lemonade cocktail was sweet like I like my drinks. The key lime has a cashew crust that sounds like it compliments the key line well and I had it the last time and loved it. I am not sure if they always use cashew crust. My guess would be yes. Unfortunately one of my friends is allergic to nuts and he could not have it. I believe all the food is made from scratch and it certainly tastes that way. I think the quality prepared seafood and the making from scratch contribute to the limited opening hours of this restaurant. If you are in the area, a must visit if you like seafood. 5/25/26: I forgot to add that I was impressed that they added a mocktail menu and vegan chicken as an option. I think that they should have a vegan seafood option as well being a top notch seafood place in keeping up w the present times for what people would like for options within reason.

    Photos
    Blue Seafood & Spirits - This is a view of the Bar Area.  Photo taken March 31, 2026.

    This is a view of the Bar Area. Photo taken March 31, 2026.

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    Ocean Grill & Seafood Buffet

    Ocean Grill & Seafood Buffet

    4.0(75 reviews)
    1.9 mi

    I went in there on a Friday night and it was crowded and we went probably 430 5 o'clock. The people…read morewere nice. The place is huge and I'm ashamed to say I thought it would just be crappy but I was totally blown away by the food the size of the place the waitresses were pretty good. There was one or two that we called a couple of times and just they walked right past us and one had the audacity to say "it's not my department" she deliberately walked right by us and she was a waitress no less so another waitress saw that and came and helped us and I know (because I was a waitress myself once years ago) that it gets busy and crazy but at least say to the customer paying the $25 per person that I'll be right with you. Don't just walk right by the customer tables! Back to the food... the king crab legs are delicious, but mine were cold and not completely cooked. The new waitress actually went and got me some more hot cooked crab legs but the other food was amazing, too. Everything in there was amazing. I actually walked out of there and I was very impressed and a "happy camper"!!! King crab legs are only served from Friday to Sunday evening. I believe that if anyone goes in the Ocean Grill & Seafood restaurant you'll also come out very impressed. AREAL IMPORTANT thing I'm going to point out to everyone is that they are one of a very few open bars who actually keep up with replacement of all the food sitting on the bars for the customers and I LOVE that and I certainly hope they keep it up without raising their prices. p. s. The ambiance in this place is casual and laid back and I love that too. Who wants to eat all dressed up to eat finger foods NOT me!

    Visited The Ocean Grill & Seafood on a Thursday evening after seeing so much hype on social media…read more The service was solid, and the staff kept everything running pretty smoothly the whole night. They've got both booths and regular tables, which is nice depending on what kind of seating you like. Nothing fancy about the ambiance a typical buffet restaurant decor. The cold seafood section looked really full and well stocked, even though I didn't personally try any of it. I ended up getting a hibachi plate with noodles, shrimp, broccoli, mushrooms, and a mix of veggies. They actually had a pretty good selection for the hibachi grill, which I liked. As for the buffet overall, it honestly didn't quite live up to the social media hype for me. There were definitely tons of options and a lot of variety, but I'm more of a quality over quantity person. I also didn't try any of buffet items. Now my daughter had the complete opposite experience. She loved it! She was really into the sushi selection and tried several buffet items. She already said she'd definitely want to come back. A couple things to know before you go: they charge a surcharge if you pay with a card, and they also charge for food waste, so don't overload your plate as you may be charged for food waste. Overall, would I rush back? Probably not. But if I'm nearby and in the mood for a decent Chinese buffet with lots of choices, I'd come back again.

    Photos
    Ocean Grill & Seafood Buffet - This is one of several views of the food available.  Photo taken December 25, 2025.

    This is one of several views of the food available. Photo taken December 25, 2025.

    Ocean Grill & Seafood Buffet
    Ocean Grill & Seafood Buffet - Meat area

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    Driftwood Kitchen - Pickled Shrimp

    Driftwood Kitchen

    4.5(170 reviews)
    7.3 mi
    $$

    Walked in on a Saturday evening. With great weather that day, sitting outside was nice. Our server…read moreSamantha took good care of us. I loved the salt cured ham and brie plank! Everything went well together! The pickled okra was a revelation. I liked it! The pita bread was warm, flavorful and had great texture. The raw clam and mussel were okay. Blackened tuna with broccoli salad and grilled asparagus was also nice. Broccoli salad was delicious. Vanilla cheesecake with berry compote was a great way to end the night. Had great food, service and experience here.

    Apparently if you make a reservation here you get to sit on the left side of the restaurant. We did…read morenot, so we were directed to the bar and high-tops on the right. The place was spotless and decorated with...driftwood pictures. Obviously. It's in the name, folks. There is a free parking lot onsite which is a plus, but it's very tight. Larger SUVs and trucks may have a tough time. Our waitress was nice and went back to the kitchen to get an answer for my food question (they're white onions not red in the veggie omelet). I was also a fan of her raspy voice. Whoever did their website did a great job...at deceiving the public. The pictures look much better than how the food tasted. Maybe I should've ordered differently? I ended up getting the veggie omelet (without peppers and tomatoes). One plus was that they didn't pre-butter the toast. I liked that. Most places put gobs of butter on, that I end up wiping off with a napkin. This is also one of the few places that sell creamed chip beef (which isn't my jam but might be yours)!

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    Driftwood Kitchen
    Driftwood Kitchen - Grilled Crab cake dinner with penne pasta & grilled asparagus

    Grilled Crab cake dinner with penne pasta & grilled asparagus

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    La Oficina Steakhouse and Cantina - Mahi Mahi

    La Oficina Steakhouse and Cantina

    4.4(83 reviews)
    3.4 mi

    La Oficina Steakhouse and Cantina is located in the Market Square Shopping Center along Virginia…read moreBeach Blvd. This is the same shopping center where Hobby Lobby is located, but they are at the other end of the shopping center. My most recent visit here was on January 23, 2026. I've seen this place several times as I have gone with my mom to Hobby Lobby. It caught my attention again to try this place when they were listed as a part of the 2026 Virginia Beach Restaurant Week. This is what ultimately got me to get in and try them out. The outside of the place is similar to other places next to the business, but they are very easy to spot. On each of my visits here, I didn't encounter any issues with parking and such, so there seems to be ample parking available. When my mom and I first came in, we were immediately greeted and were able to get a table immediately. I wasn't sure what it would be at first since I saw stuff about reservations. This first visit was on January 21, 2026. Once we were seated, our server came to the table to ask us what we wanted to drink. I did the water with lemon, and my mom went for a Coke, though the Coke never came to the table during this first visit. In the end, that was no big deal. Since we were here specifically for the restaurant week, we stuck to that menu that evening. For the appetizer, I went with the Picanha Empanadas. For the main entree, I went with the 8 oz Filet Mignon with Green Beans and Queso De Mano as my two sides. For the dessert, I sure did go for the Rum Crème Brulée. My mom ended up doing the same thing on this first visit. A few minutes after ordering, the Empanadas came to the table. This came with an olive mayo chimichurri for dipping. The empanadas and the chimichurri complemented each other very well. The taste was amazing too. A few minutes before the entrees would come out, our server came over and put some hot sauce and chimichurri sauce at the table to use. When the entrees came out, they looked really good, and they were hot, so it took a few moments to start. I started with the green beans, and they had such a great flavor to them. By the time I finished that, it was time to indulge in the Filet Mignon. I had ordered it on medium, and it was cooked perfectly. This is not something I have often, but this was awesome. The flavor paired with the chimichurri sauce made it an enjoyable entree. I finished off the main course with the Queso De Mano cheese. This was a very flavorful cheese. The last course was the Rum Crème Brulée. It was quite the surprise when the server came with a blowtorch to go over the top of the dessert. This dessert was the ultimate indulgence for me as I don't normally do these types of foods. The experience was so good that we decided to come back a few days later, on January 23, 2026. I would end up getting the same set of items since it was still restaurant week, but we also ordered the Guacamole appetizer since we were there during happy hour. The chips and guacamole were amazingly good. You can tell it was made fresh. My mom got the Picanha Burger this time. I can say she really liked the burger. Overall, these were two excellent experiences during the restaurant week. The food and service were great with no major issues. One thing I want to note is that they do charge a 3.5% fee if you use a card to pay instead of cash. If you're looking for a unique type of steakhouse, this place is absolutely worth checking out.

    I went on Mother's Day for dinner with my boyfriend and the place was packed with a steady stream…read moreof people coming in. We did not have a reservation but were still seated immediately. We had three servers approach our table to get our drink order until one of the three settled on being our server. Odd. I ordered their Filet Mignon and it came with two sides. I picked boiled yucca and asparagus. (Note: Asparagus and Green Beans were the only vegetable option.) They seemed to have a dedicated staff for delivering food to the tables, but they brought the wrong order to our table at first. Thankfully, it was a quick turnaround for the right order. We may have waited fifteen minutes tops for our food after placing our order. Not bad for a busy place. I got my steak rare (the only way to eat a steak) and it came out perfectly. It even had hints of flavor from the grill. Know what I mean? My yucca was okay. Not excited about the pickled onions on top (it didn't say that on the menu) which I scrapped off. It was seasoned lightly with butter and salt. My asparagus was crisp and delicious. Anytime I cook it at home it gets mushy, yet theirs was spot on. The restaurant itself was a bit dark inside, and decorated with a country-western vibe. (I remember when it was a karaoke bar, RIP!) The service could have been better, but their food is a good enough reason for us to return.

    Photos
    La Oficina Steakhouse and Cantina - This is an overall view of the Bar Area.  Photo taken January 21, 2026.

    This is an overall view of the Bar Area. Photo taken January 21, 2026.

    La Oficina Steakhouse and Cantina - Grilled chicken

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    La Oficina Steakhouse and Cantina - This is an overall view of the storefront.  Photo taken January 21, 2026.

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    This is an overall view of the storefront. Photo taken January 21, 2026.

    Mariscos Nayarit - Pina Loca

    Mariscos Nayarit

    3.8(24 reviews)
    1.9 mi

    2025 has been the summer where I've been on a ceviche bender, trying it each time I see it on a new…read moremenu. Let me tell you, this place has The BEST ceviche I've had this year. I really wish I didn't live so far away! Service: 4/5. Everyone was pleasant, attentive, and our food and drinks came quickly. Water came slowly, but no biggie. We came at an odd hour on a Friday in the afternoon when it was super quiet and service changed over because of lunch breaks, but we were looked after well regardless. Drinks: 5/5. We chose the Margarita flight and found the drinks to be strong and just right in size. Food: 4.5/5. The starter is the only reason for the docking of .5 because the calamari in the fritanga de mariscos were slightly over-fried (only the batter, the center was still perfect) however, a very generous sized portion. We then chose the ceviche nayarit (there were 5 others to choose from!) to share with intention to order another entree after but wow were we wrong, we had no room to order anymore after those two plates thinking they'd be small. We substituted the ceviche's hot sauce for freshly chopped jalapeños and did not regret it. The mango mixed with the fresh cucumber and tomatoes, crunchy jalapeños and onion, smooth avocado slices, and shrimp bathed in a citrus/wine sauce made for the perfect combination and delicious meal. Overall, I'm giving this place 5 stars and will 100% come back when I'm in the area.

    MARISCOS NAYARIT Seafood Restaurant - Mexican Style…read more I saw this restaurant while I was scrolling through a couple of Yelp Elite reviews. Everything looked so delicious. The bright, brilliant colors captured my senses right away. Then I looked at some videos online of the restaurant, and everything again looked so wonderful. I guess where I made my mistake at is the choice of what I picked, and I did not have my glasses on that day, so it was hard to kind of like read the menu. Although they did feature a lot of pictures--which again, because I didn't have my glasses on--it was hard for me to see. I got excited with the choice of shrimps, but I did not know that the head was left on it, which was a big turn-off for me. So I picked sort of like a stir-fry meat, which had steak and shrimp, but I thought it was a whole steak that I was ordering with shrimps on top and some vegetables on top. But to my surprise, that is not what I got. It was sort of like thin steak with the shrimp. I didn't want the pepper, and I got it anyway--it ended up coming out on my order, which wasn't no big deal. I was able to roll with it. I was just not pleased with this order. But I loved the side items. I loved my rice, I loved my pico de gallo, and I loved the guacamole. All of that was delicious, and I'm sure that the other food would have been delicious if I would have got what I thought I was ordering. Now, the person who was with me got a big ol' juicy steak. It tasted rather delicious, and all the sides were good. I guess that's what I really wanted. But I was able to salvage everything by taking my order home and giving it away to someone else who enjoyed it. I liked the way they presented their menu and pictures, and everything was so colorful. Of the food that I did eat, I loved the way that it tasted. The restaurant was characteristic to the style of food that they were cooking, although it was a little dark in the restaurant. It had a seafood theme. The bathrooms were very clean. The staff was very accommodating. It did seem like they had a little trouble understanding English, and we had trouble understanding their language too, a little. But it was only one or two waitresses on staff--and I think the owner or the cook or somebody like that was there too. I will say that I might go back and try this restaurant one more time to give it a fair shake, 'cause at the point that I'm at now, I would give it a 3 out of 5. But my friend loved it--he gave it a 5 out of 5, whatever scale we're grading on. There were other families there who seemed like they were regulars that seemed rather happy with their food and their order. To tell you the truth, I cannot give a fair rating on my food because I was so disappointed in my choice. But going by everybody else's reactions to their food, I'll give it a 4.5 out of 5.

    Photos
    Mariscos Nayarit - Outside

    Outside

    Mariscos Nayarit - Torre De Mariscos

    Torre De Mariscos

    Mariscos Nayarit - Spicy Mangonada Margarita jumbo size

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    Spicy Mangonada Margarita jumbo size

    Boil Bay - seafood - Updated June 2026

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