Outstanding experience from start to finish! We just visited this seafood restaurant in Norfolk, and everything was absolutely top-notch. The atmosphere and interior were beautiful and welcoming, the food was excellent, and the entire team made the experience memorable. Our server, Catherine (I hope I'm spelling her name correctly!), was outstanding - friendly, attentive, professional, and made sure we had everything we needed. You can tell that the management cares about both the quality of the food and the customer experience. Great service, great atmosphere, great food - everything came together perfectly. Definitely one of those places you leave already thinking about coming back. Highly recommend! read more

Here's a polished Yelp version that keeps your frustration clear without sounding over-the-top: The food was very good, but the service really brought the experience down. The raw oysters were excellent, and the Bayou Steamed Shrimp with vegetables and Cajun spices was tremendous. The broth was fantastic and absolutely begged for some bread to soak it up. I asked our server if they had any bread I could get or buy, even garlic bread, and was told they didn't have any. That seemed strange considering they serve sandwiches on ciabatta rolls. A little bread with that dish would have made it even better. Unfortunately, the service was the biggest problem. We were seated in a front area away from the main dining room and bar, which would have been perfectly fine if someone had actually been paying attention to the section. Instead, we could rarely find our server or anyone else to help us. We even asked other staff members and a busser to help locate our server. I had to get up three separate times just to ask for things like additional napkins and an iced tea refill. My shrimp dish also came out well after everyone else's food. Eventually I had to ask the hostess where it was, and shortly afterward our server finally appeared with it. Later, when we wanted dessert and then the check, we again had to go looking for someone. What made it more frustrating was seeing several employees on their phones while customers were trying to get assistance. One person near the front appeared to be watching videos with AirPods in, and a couple of other employees seemed to be on their phones frequently. The food here is good enough that I wanted to leave a much better review. The oysters and Bayou shrimp were definite highlights. But when the food is this good, it's disappointing to have the experience dragged down by inattentive service. Being seated in a separate area is fine -- someone just needs to be responsible for actually taking care of the guests seated there. read more

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On the way to our downtown hotel in Norfolk, we took a detour down the "Norfolk Beach Road". We found this popular place via Yelp. It was mid day and they were offering n early happy hour. Most of the "happy hour" was for the bar food. We started with the happy hour brisket tacos. We also ordered other snacks on the regular menu. The menu is huge and somewhat overwhelming. Food was served hot. Flavors were ok. We tried a variety of cocktails. Bar staff person was very nice. Seemed like it was a slower pace during this early happy hour(3:00ish). The parking lot is small and I'm sure can get crowded during the prime hours. read more

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Thanks to fellow yelpers we chose this "locals" favorite to stop for our first meal in Norfolk. This place is located on the ocean side of Norfolk. We stopped in during their early happy hour. The menu has so many options. We chose tacos off the happy hour menu and then had sandwiches for lunch. The taco had a bbq flavor mixed in a birria type seasoning. It was ribeye and the meat was tender but the sauce was unusual for my taste. The Cuban sandwich was my choice. It had large slices of pork, more than I am used to eating. The bread was thick. The bar area was dark almost lounge like. Seats at the bar were available. Service was good. Our server was friendly and made sure we had everything we needed. read more

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The good: the cocktails. They were refreshing and had a good amount of alcohol in them. They also have a huge selection of cocktails. Service was also quick and polite. My only complaint was that she didn't tell us what kind of oysters she gave us. The not so good: The food was nothing to rave about. I got the oyster po boy. There wasn't much sauce on it so it was very dry. Our waitress even offered tartar sauce for it which I thought was strange because it came with a remoulade. The blackened rockfish was pretty disappointing. There wasn't much flavor to it. The raw oysters were okay but you could tell there were different kinds as they tasted different. It would have been great to get a description of them read more

Captain Groovy's Grill & Raw Bar - Seafood Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Food was excellent and abundant service was good very little wait time for food Clean and sufficient. Will definitely be going back

I went out for a casual lunch at captain Groovy's and it was a great time. Serena was our waitress and was very friendly and helpful. I tried one of the mozzarella sticks my friend got as an app and it was delicious. For my entree I got the east beach trio and I was very impressed. The crabcake was legit and seasoned well. The fried shrimp were a good size and also seasoned well. The mac and cheese was creamy and had a good portion size. I didn't even make it to the flounder because everything else on the plate was so filling. Very reasonably priced, delicious seafood. One note I would offer is that the restaurant felt a little warm. Maybe turning the AC up a couple of degrees would help. Other than that, I will definitely be back to try their other seafood dishes. read more

Captain Groovy's Grill & Raw Bar - Gus' east beach trio - Seafood Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

This spot was recommended by the hotel staff and it was located right down the street from the hotel. I missed happy hour by minutes but the menu had many options. I sat at the bar, the wait was long but I finally ordered. I ordered the fish and chips with an old fashioned. If in the are again, I would definitely try to make happy hour. read more

Came for happy hour with my friend who loves raw oysters. It wasn't too packed for a Saturday afternoon, so we were seated quickly. I ordered the shrimp platter and a cup of she crab soup. My friend got raw orders and she crab soup. I tried the house sangria and she got the hh margarita. Our drinks came out quickly. Then the shrimp came. It was seasoned well, I was just surprised that it was only the shrimp. Typically a basket comes with fries. My friend enjoyed her oysters and we both enjoyed the she crab soup. I would definitely come back for the she crab soup!! read more

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Second time I have been here. I came back because the place is always packed! People seem to love it! Drinks were great! The food menu is so large it's overwhelming. The service was great! Our server Eve and an older gentleman kept walking over to see if we were good and needed anything. The portions were huge, but the food quality was just ok. I got the scallop plate with rice and vegetables. The scallops though a lot of them seared were nothing special. The rice was cooked well but not a lot of flavor and the vegetables were severely over cooked. My friend got the grouper with hollandaise sauce and crab meat on top. It looked quite messy. She said the grouper was good but left 3/4 of the food on her plate. She may have been full but made no comments about how wonderful it was. I love seafood and took more than 3/4 home to my hubby who ate the scallops and discarded the rest. His opinion was the same as mine. Love the vibe but not the food! Not sure I can give this one a third chance read more

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Stopped by around 7:30 pm for some dinner. No wait time, just a decent handful of people already dining in. Waitress was friendly and a lot of the items on the menu sounded really good to try. After placing out orders, it did it take a long time in between receiving each item. Our drinks came out pretty fast along with one of our appetizers, but following that, both our main entrees took forever. While we were waiting on them, we noticed my entree had been sitting on the hot bar for a good little minute waiting for the waitress to pick it up who was dealing with other customers for a long time; (4/10) on the wait time/service for me. We started with some Fried pickles (9/10) the batter and the pickles both tasted yummy, hot, and fresh. Voodoo wings in mild sauce (10/10) there was a slight like crunch and crisp to the wings that added to the already delicious flavors and the wings were really big! Crabbie Mac (10/10) it was tasty, creamy, and all around my favorite of the night. The groovy daddy burger (6/10) this was the very last item to finally arrive to the table and after such a long wait, I was expecting much more from it. It had a decent flavor but was dry. For drinks, I had the Cherry limeade crush (5/10) just tasted like soda honestly; don't think much to any alcohol was really in it. The flavor of it was refreshing though. I can see myself coming back again to try the other items on the menu, but I was definitely disappointed in the long wait times and my drink. My overall rate of experience : 6.8/10 read more

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I ventured here with a few other Yelp Elites after an event we were at, that failed miserably. I was left hungry since the event did not prepare well enough. We did a quick research for places in the area... through Yelp of course. We came across Captain Groovy's. One of our fellow Yelp Elites had been here a few times and suggested it. So we all hopped in the car and headed down the road to Captain Groovy's. Parking was plentiful, and easy to navigate. They are located on a corner and I am sure different times of day can be busier than others. But, we had no problem around 8pm on a Thursday night. Once inside we were seated towards the back. It was nice, and quieter where we sat. The restaurant kind of gave off a beachy coastal vibe with a little smattering of Jamaican rum. hehe Our waitress was phenomenal! She had no clue about what happened before we got to Captain Groovy's, but somehow turned our frowns upside down. We browsed the menu and made some choices. There was three of us and we ended up getting coconut shrimp, she crab soup, escargot, and fried shrimp. The coconut shrimp and the dip the pairs with it was fantastic and full of flavor. The fried shrimp was great as well. The breading had great flavor with spices. We ended our night with some dessert to include a slice of Smith island cake. I absolutely LOVE a smith Island cake. The perfect portions of cake and icing. Captain Groovy's is on the list of places to visit again when I am across the water. read more

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First thing... eye lashes on the menu. Servers thought it was funny. No one came to apologize. They almost dropped the eyelashes on us. Took 2 hours for food and fish was rubber. Was sent back. Food came out one at a time every 20 min. By the time the last food was served , we had to box up and leave. No one ever came to apologize for the food coming out at different times or the fact it was utter crap. I do not plan to ever go back and I will tell everyone I know about this experience and caution them not to eat at this place. I NEVER LEAVE A BAD review Rates a zero. read more

Captain Groovy's Grill & Raw Bar - Eye lashes! - Seafood Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

We really enjoyed our meals. My husband had the fried catfish and shrimp, and I had the salmon Marsala. Our food came out hot and pretty quickly. Everything was very tasty. I also had the she crab soup which was delicious. It could have been hotter but the flavor was awesome. Our waitress was very nice and friendly, as well as, the other staff who interacted with us. The restaurant is decorated very festively. Oh, my sangria was tasty, too! In the area? Check Them Out! read more

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Well it's been over 10 years since I've been here and the experience, service and food was the same as then. Went on a Sunday afternoon about 1pm and didn't leave out until 2:35pm, with my hubs. What did we order? 2 salads and wings! It took that long to be served those simple entrees! It was ridiculous! It wasn't the wait staff but the kitchen with 2 cooks. The wings were still good and the salads were good. You can have decent food, just expect to wait forever!! read more

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Stopped in here for the first time to take advantage of their Saturday Happy Hour Specials, and they did not disappoint! First off our waitress was super sweet and attentive! Food wise everything was delicious. The salmon tacos had tons of fish in them, the wings were delicious, and the shrimp had a great flavor. The fries we ordered were just a side but also cooked well! The only complaint was that the ranch was more on the runny side and I like a thicker ranch. The white sangria was delicious! There are plenty of tables inside and beach/ocean themed! Will be back! read more

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Longstanding local favorite for seafood, drinks & happy hour. Casual, beach vibe, with friendly, fast service. Nice covered outdoor patio with fans. Our party of 6 enjoyed an early dinner during happy hour: good mixed drinks, beer selection. Seafood platter portions were plentiful, large; above average in taste. Limited parking in front but more in back. Def would go back. read more

The food was decent. the AI generated signs and menu's are atrocious so tacky. The pictures of food looked ridiculous. I don't support AI use because their too lazy to type a menu read more

I go here a lot. Great neighborhood sports bar. Good food. Good friends. Great menu! Wonderful owners!

Went around 12:30pm on a Saturday, there was no wait and they let us sit where we wanted. We sat in the covered patio the weather was perfect. Decor was beach/cozy. The restroom was decorated very cute and it was clean! The food and drinks came fast. Oysters were fresh tasting and the fried food was also clearly freshly made. The drinks were delicious both flavors highly recommend. Service was great right amount of attentiveness. Highly recommend for either a cute date or just lunch/dinner near the beach. read more

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First time and definitely not the last time coming here! I came in and was greeted with a waiter who was playfully joking at my seating choice to sit outside in 90 degree weather. I stepped one foot and turned around! Didn't want to put the wait staff through that! But fortunately I sat at the bar next to the Chef! And he was very pleasant and feed me great knowledge about the restaurant! Now, what attracted me here was the happy hour! I devoured some delicious cocunut curry mussels and some steamed oysters! They were very filling! I wasn't planning on drinking but the bartender definitely helped me decide on a bees knees martini. read more

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Easily the best happy hour in the area. We found this place years ago and make it a regular spot to visit whenever we're in the area. The daily happy hour is a great way to get good selections of food and plenty to drink for an affordable price. The entire staff is excellent and add to the overall experience. Be sure to pay attention to the times for Happy Hour since they change based on the day. Outside of that, the menu offers other great selections. Virtually all the seafood is fresh and prepared well. Moreover, the other offerings are good as well. Definitely a place to go for cold drinks, great food, and awesome overall experience. read more

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Located off Ocean View Avenue in Norfolk, parking is awkward and tight. Wanted to give this place a try for a while and I was disappointed. I ordered the oyster Rockefeller and the first batch came out with no spinach and then they bought me the correct batch with spinach. It was just OK a little salty then I tried the she crab soup and that was very salty and bland. I ordered the crabcake sandwich with fries. The crab cake was full of salt, but it all crab meat and the fries were just ordinary fries. My server Ariana was good. I don't think I will return. read more

What a great place for locals and visitors. You know exactly where you are when you arrive. It's well marked and bright. We sat at the bar but they have more dining than bar. AKA....it's a restaurant with a bar. Good for larger groups. They have a smoking section too with TV's and it looks like an outside area but it was too damn cold to check it out. We had 2 appetizers....the psychedelic mushroom and the mussels. The bartender was very good about filling my water....I am doing dry January so I drank water like I have never seen it before. The food was delicious....that coconut dill sauce with the mushroom was freaking delicious. I could put that on anything!!! We asked for extra bread and sopped it all up!!! The mushroom was stuffed with crab. Very good! The mussels were delicious but spicy. If you don't like spice then be careful when ordering. The rustic bread was sooooo good. I could make a meal out of that bread and coconut dill sauce. They have HH EVERY DAY they are open!!! Check the hours because they change. I definitely want to go back. I really liked the vibe in there and the food was delicious and the bartender was very nice. I wish I got her name. Definitely worth checking out. read more

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We got a platter so that me and my wife could try a few things from the place and overall the food was good. The only complaint is the fries and the catfish were not seasoned. The server checked on us frequently and was very helpful. The inside was very cute and ocean themed. The menu was not just Cajun, it was a mixture of Mexican, American, Cajun, seafood, and Indian. This would not work if it wasn't for the scarcity of good food in the state. If you want drinks the only time to come is between 2-5pm as the drinks are not normal price until then. read more

First timers will def be be back!! Everything was so tasty. Our server Jasmine very personable explained the menu which I really appreciate. The house marg was really good. The ribeye tacos were the start of the show . read more

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The cleanest place I ever been in the US. Good food and drinks! Service was very friendly! read more

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No commentary on food. I cannot even comment on the taste of the water. After 15+ mins I got two apologies and no water. If you are too busy to serve me I get it...but do not sit me until I can get at least a hello and a water. read more

Horrible service. Our waitress rolled her eyes when we asked for separate checks, 2 different checks mind you. She then proceeds to inform us that they are out of 2 of our orders 20 minutes after putting our entrees in. We both changed burgers. All the food except the burgers came out an hour and 20 minutes after ordering. The burgers followed 20 minutes after that and not at the same time. How hard is it to cook a burger? Horrible service, not worth the price & and don't sit outside. read more

I want to update a previous review I wrote because Captain Groovy's absolutely deserves the credit. I was disappointed the last time I ordered a burger and discovered it was a frozen patty, but I'm very happy to say they brought back the quality and flavor that made their burgers great in the first place. We recently went back and had an outstanding experience from start to finish. We ordered raw oysters, the Oyster Americana, French onion soup, the pimento cheese burger, and the rib & Swiss sandwich -- and every single dish was spot-on delicious. The burger especially was back to the fresh, juicy, flavorful quality I always loved. I also want to give a big shout-out to our waitress, who gave us excellent service all night. She was friendly, attentive, and made great recommendations. She helped make the meal feel relaxed and enjoyable, and we really appreciated how well she took care of us. Overall, Captain Groovy's has fully won me back. The food is great again, the atmosphere is always fun, and the service we received was fantastic. Thanks for listening to your customers and bringing the quality back -- we'll definitely be returning soon. read more

The food was phenomenal! I was expecting a lot of fried food but that was not the case. These dishes were top quality. The environment was clean and the staff were attentive. Definitely stop by Captain Groovy's and try these amazing dishes! read more

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I visit norfolk once in a while and been looking for place to relax and this place have good reviews and says fresh seafood so we went and give it a try. The place have a spaceful parking, we get seated right away. We order most is appetizer coz we just want to drink and chill. We get lucky they have happy hours. So the food are mouthwatering. Must try the AB oysters Rockefeller and the coconut curry mussel its a 5 out 5 highly recommend. Ribeye street tacos 4/5. Nacho is a let down,its salty.. Bucket of clams is also 4/5. The place is clean, a place to relax and all. The reason I'm only giving 4 star is the service. Even the server see us calling it keep ignoring us we have to ask someone else. It takes the drink to arrived were almost done eating when my second martini arrived. Other than that food is great.. read more

Seafood restaurant near the airport. It was a little muggy inside. Food was okay. Might come back. read more

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Wow this is our new favorite local restaurant! The food and service were both top notch! Ashley was our server and she was so kind and attentive. Their voodoo wings are a favorite especially the hot wings. I love that there's a breading and crunch to them! My husband ordered the burger and said it was the best burger he's had. It had caramelized onions and bacon on there and he absolutely devoured it. The mashed potatoes come with a gravy on top and it was a touch of southern comfort. So delicious that even my toddler kept coming back for more. The penne marinara pasta was also a hit for our toddler. We are grateful they have a kids menu with crayons for kids to keep them entertained. I enjoyed the calamari, just don't forget to add a squeeze of lemon on top and needed a sprinkle of sea salt. I probably won't order the steak bites again. The first time I ordered it "medium", it came out well done but they remade it for me. This time, it was as if the steak was steamed and barely any sear or flavor to it which I was not a fan of. Last time I came here I ordered the garlic parm oyster's and they were soooo good! I highly recommend them if you're an oyster fan. They have a large variety of dishes and a large menu you can choose from. It was Valentine's Day and we were sat within minutes, the food came out quick and service was impeccable. We highly recommend making a stop here and giving them a try because you will not be disappointed. They're a sister restaurant to Aberdeen Barn. We will definitely be back! Oh and they have a great happy hour menu with lots of deals on drinks and food! read more

Groovy, baby! Seriously it's a great menu and friendly service. The whole staff pays attention to you without bothering you. Fun menu has great seafood options and more. read more

I visited here on vaca with my family and a friend and their family (table of 9). our server, Ashley was AMAZING! We felt welcome, and extremely taken care of the whole time we were here. our food was delicious, and the she crab soup was particularly good! I highly recommend visiting Captain Groovy's any time, and I'll certa be back soon! read more

Amazing service, amazing food, great ambiance, overall a fantastic experience!!!! Loved it

This is a must dining when visiting Norfolk VA. When I tell you well seasoned, well fried, salmon cooked to perfection for the tacos and I removed most of what goes on there. My Fiancé loved the crab soup; he said " one of the best to do it". Lovely service was given , nice cozy spot to enjoy your meal. read more

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The first thing you see as you walk in is the glass dessert display and then a beautiful raw bar and the first thing that comes to mind is " I love this place already. The dining room is big and simple. Typical seafood place with open kitchen. On the wall you have special written in colored chalk. We decided quickly on the fresh grill snapper and seafood Vongole. The snapper was absolutely delicious. Just a little lemon and no sauce. You can taste the freshness and flavor of the snapper. The Vongole was generously filled with big (and I mean big) Cherry clams and big Shrimps. The linguine was cooked just perfect, Al Dente. The white sauce was great with delicious fresh garlic and parsley. Can't go wrong with this one. Then we also ordered the fried shrimp taco. Wow! It's definitely worth the extra $1 to have the shrimp fried. I don't know what batter they used but it's was light and delicious. The yellowish white sauce added a tang to the taste. It was just really tasty. We also had the shrimp and chicken Etoufee, it was very good. Our server was friendly and kind. So Happy we found a new place to eat! We definitely will be back on our next trip to Norfolk!!! read more

Best oysters in town. Great happy hour. All the wait staff are great. So much on the menu to return for and try. read more

Captain Groovy's Grill & Raw Bar - Delicious oysters - Seafood Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia