We had a great experience overall! We ordered the catfish with several different sides so we could try a variety of dishes, along with both the fried and smothered turkey chops. Everything came out fresh, piping hot, and full of flavor. The food was definitely the highlight, and I would absolutely come back for it. I also ordered a cocktail, which was just okay. The customer service was friendly and attentive. The only downside was the seating. We tried multiple tables because each one was pretty wobbly, and even after moving, the other tables we tried had the same issue. The ambiance also wasn't really my style, but that comes down to personal preference. Overall, the delicious food and good service made it a worthwhile visit. read more

Came in on a Tuesday around 6 PM, and it wasn't very busy. I ordered the ribs with collard greens, mac and cheese, and cornbread. The ribs were...just okay, which is surprising because I've honestly never had ribs that were just okay. They brushed barbecue sauce on top, but the underside of the ribs was pretty dry. It felt a little stingy with the sauce. The collard greens weren't bad, but they were saltier than I prefer. I also would have loved a little vinegar, though I know that's a matter of personal taste. The mac and cheese looked amazing when it came out, but unfortunately it didn't live up to the appearance. It was underseasoned and lacked the rich, savory flavor I was expecting. This is a soul food restaurant, so I expected a mac and cheese that was bold, cheesy, and full of flavor. Instead, it tasted very mild--almost like it was seasoned for kids. The cornbread was also a miss for me. I'm honestly not sure what all the other reviews are raving about. It didn't really taste like traditional cornbread, but it also didn't have the sweet, cake-like texture that some restaurants go for. It kind of landed somewhere in between, and it just didn't work for me. I wouldn't order it again. Our server, Kiya, was friendly but only moderately attentive. One of my biggest dining pet peeves happened at the end of the meal: she asked if we wanted to-go boxes, brought them out, and then disappeared without bringing the check. If guests are asking for boxes, that's usually a pretty good sign they're ready to leave. Reading the room goes a long way. Overall, nothing was terrible, but nothing really stood out either. It was just a pretty average experience. I left feeling underwhelmed, especially given the reputation and the expectations that come with a soul food restaurant. I'm not sure I'd go out of my way to come back. read more

Charm And Manners - Lounges Near Me - Portsmouth, Virginia

Charm and Manners has been on my list to try. When you go in, they tell you to sit wherever you'd like. Our waitress tonight was Kiya. She came over and got our drink orders immediately. However, we had to ask for straws and when our food came we had to ask for silverware. I got the fried whiting with Mac and cheese, green beans, and corn bread. The whiting was really good. Sometimes fried food at soul food spots are too salty, but it was seasoned just right! The green beans were good in flavor but they're were cooked WAY too long. I couldn't eat them; they were too mushy. The Mac and cheese was just OK. I didn't finish it, and I didn't take it to go. My son didn't like it at all. The corn bread was not good to me. To me it seemed like something prepackaged that was warmed up. I'd honestly probably get a whiting sandwich and some fries next time I will say the prices for everything was really good; they don't overprice at all. We all agreed everything was just OK. I live in Virginia Beach, so I am not sure I'd come back to Portsmouth to come here. read more

Charm And Manners - Fried whiting, Mac & cheese, green beans, cornbread - Lounges Near Me - Portsmouth, Virginia

Came here for a birthday dinner. I arrived to the party standing across the bar waiting as they don't take reservations. We were seated in about an hour after arriving. They were not able to accommodate the party size so we were split up at 3 different tables in the restaurant. I personally didn't mind as the birthday boy just got up and visited us at the different tables. Being at a smaller booth was a plus because we received faster service. I ordered the blush cocktail which was balanced & pleasant. My man ordered a Shirley temple. For food, I ordered the fried whiting with yams and mac and cheese. My man got the crab cakes with yams and collard greens, We also ordered cornbread. The whiting was fried nicely & well seasoned. 8.5/10. The yams were solid I'd give those a 7.5/10 solid but not memorable. The Mac and cheese was a 4/10. It had an unpleasant aftertaste and the taste didn't sit right with me. I'm a big fan of Mac and cheese & will tolerate most but this one I didn't want to keep eating. The greens were nice and tender to my liking but lacked spice and flavor I'd give them a 6.5/10. The crab cakes were solid nothing I'd go out of my way for but a good typical crab cake 7.5/10. The cornbread was sweet which I enjoy at an 8.5/10. Overall this is a cool lowkey spot to grab dinner. It's affordable so if you're interested in going out for dinner but it being more on the chill side I'd stop here. Plastic utensils, cheap but good food and average service. It's got charm. read more

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I grabbed dinner here the other day during Restaurant Week. I went with a good friend. They had 3 course meals with a teaser, entree, and dessert for $35. I had the hot wings, cornmeal battered catfish, and fried apple pie. My friend had shrimp, fried turkey chops smothered with onions, and the fried sweet potato pie. The hot wings had a sweet and tangy glaze. The catfish was nice and flaky. I had the yams, collards, and cabbage. All of the sides were very good! Our server Sophia was good - she checked in us and kept our drinks filled. Get the Arnold Palmer!! They have tables and booths. The fried apple pie was good. It resembled a burrito filled with apple filing. read more

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I wanted to check out this restaurant since it was Portsmouth restaurant week but I was super disappointed. It took me an hour to receive my to go order. The chicken wings were just okay and there were tons of feathers on them and they were greasy. The cabbage was the best part of the meal because it was seasoned to perfection. The macaroni and cheese was too salty for me. The bartender was the only one taking to to orders, calls ins, and bagging orders. He definitely deserves five stars because he was so patient helping everyone! read more

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I fell upon this Soul Food Restaurant a few months ago and let's just say every time I am passing thru Portsmouth, 8 out of 10 times I call to place an order to pick up. This little gem is not located on the main streets but nestled right in between some residential area. There is a small parking lot and street parking available... I order the same exact thing every-time I dine there. I truly enjoy their fried shrimp appetizer and Highly recommend them. They are a decent size and you can't beat the price. I order the Fried Catfish Platter with Collards and Bake Mac and Cheese. The mac and cheese is not my favorite but it gets the job done. Don't for get to a price of cornbread for $1 This platter has not disappointed me yet. read more

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Charm & Manners in Portsmouth, VA was a great experience. The host greeted us immediately when we walked in and seated us at a booth. It had just opened and we were the first guests there, so things were still getting settled. Our waitress never came over, so the young man who seated us ended up taking care of us instead. I didn`t catch his name, but our check said Kyle J, and he was absolutely wonderful--very kind, attentive, and checked on us multiple times throughout our meal. I ordered the catfish with mashed potatoes and gravy, along with collard greens. The catfish was absolutely superb--hot, perfectly cooked, well-seasoned, and full of flavor. Both sides were great, especially the mashed potatoes and gravy. My friend ordered the meatloaf with cabbage and mashed potatoes, and we shared bites of each other's meals. We both agreed that everything was fantastic. Great food, great music, and great service. We will definitely be back again and again! read more

Charm And Manners - Lounges Near Me - Portsmouth, Virginia

We decided to try Charm and Manners for a to go order and grabbed a few different dishes. I ordered the fried shrimp entrée with yams and string beans. The shrimp were nicely fried, the yams were a little on the stringy side, but the string beans were tasty and cooked just right. We also tried the turkey chops which were a good size and came with a dark, thick gravy. Personally, I thought the gravy could've used a bit more flavor, and the onions needed to be cooked down a little more to get that soft, melt-in flavor. The collards were okay not very flavorful, and they had a hidden spicy kick that wasn't really my thing. The rice was a bit undercooked and the gravy on top could've used some seasoning too. Now, plot twist someone else in my group really liked the turkey chops and thought the gravy was great, so maybe it's just a matter of taste! Overall, Charm and Manners has potential. Some dishes hit better than others, and with a little more seasoning. read more

I am extremely disappointed. Never have I experienced multiple servers look me dead in the eye and REFUSE to offer me service--water, a drink, anything. I could not rate the food because I STILL have not received any service. And the atmosphere is loud, cluttered, and disorganized--and I just witness a server berate and accost a customer for bumping into her. Just ridiculous! I went to a restaurant on Shore Dr recently that clearly did not want to serve someone who looks like me. However, even with the micro aggressions, I was served--offered water, a drink and something to eat. I have to say that place provided better customer service than Charms and Manners. I SO hate to say that but it's true. Please provide better service for your customers. read more

Charm And Manners is more than a restaurant... it's an experience. From the moment you walk in, you feel the excellence, professionalism, and care. The food was amazing, the ambience was perfect, and the customer service was exceptional. Eric, the owner, is an outstanding person who understands hospitality at a high level. His passion and personal touch truly set this place apart. Businesses thrive when great people lead them, and Charm And Manners is proof of that. Highly recommended! read more

Charms and Manners did an excellent job catering my son's graduation celebration dinner. The food was absolutely delicious, and everyone enjoyed it. They were professional, punctual, and had everything ready on time. They even kept the food warm in warming trays, which made transporting it home so easy. This isn't the first time I've used them--they also catered my Christmas dinner, and I've already booked them for our family reunion in July. Every experience has been outstanding. Their food, customer service, and attention to detail are top-notch. I highly recommend Charms and Manners to anyone looking for catering for a special event or family gathering. They truly do an amazing job! read more

My husband and I ate here during restaurant week, which was not a good idea due to the large crowd. We got there right before the crowd, but felt the impact due to the delay in our dessert. This is a cool little southern spot with cool artwork. It's a bit chilly in there, felt as if the heat was not turned on and then an employee kept opening the door which caused it to become more cold. Now the food--the food was the best soulfood I've had in a very long time. I ordered the grilled turkey chops, rice and gravy, and cabbage--all amazing. I also ordered a mimosa which was served extremely warm. My husband ordered the smothered pork chops, yams, and Mac and cheese-- & he said they were the best yams he's had in a long time. All of the food was amazing. I never received my fried Oreos due to the crowd. We will definitely be back during a time other than restaurant week. Food is very reasonably priced. read more

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This restaurant came highly recommended by locals. The first time we went to the restaurant it was on a Sunday. There was a typical Sunday crowd but we didn't wait long for a table or to be served. The music was nice and the restaurant was clean. We ordered a plethora of items from the menu although they did run out of yams and was unable to fulfill one of my side items. I was offered a replacement but declined. The waitress was very nice about it. The food was hot, fresh and flavorful. We went again during the week and the same vibes in the restaurant however my turkey wings were burnt, the green beans were cold and the sausage was burned. Had my first time going was during the week I would not recommend this restaurant. read more

The restaurant is in the old District location. I went during restaurant week and ordered two meals: Three slices of Meatloaf is was delicious. Sides were collards and yams. The Collards are a little spicy and good flavor. The yams were tasty. Grilled turkey chops smothered in onions. This a GREAT alternative to eating red meat. They grilled the chops to perfection and seasoned very well. The chops were juicy and flavorful. Sides Mac n cheese it was cheesy on the dry side and now Cabbage I love them it was not over seasoned. Finally the desserts Sweet Potato pie I would get again. The Fried Apple pie is a pastry with apple filling and fried with toppings of cinnamon and sugar. read more

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The atmosphere was amazing, the food was great, The service was on point. The waitress was extremely, really nice, she made sure we had everything we needed before waking away from the table. I will-be returning. read more

Love the food. I am local so I eat here often. It is never a miss. I typically get the fried wings dinner w Mac, yams, and collards. The portions are enough for me to make two meals for me when I add the extra side dish. Recently took my father there to try the catfish because I know he likes fish battered in cornmeal. He is a tough critic so I was nervous. He loved every bite! Other selections I have had were the turkey chips and mash w gravy and green beans w/ a side of corn bread. Everything is delicious and appetizing. Definitely a must try if you love old school soul food. read more

Charm And Manners - Catfish dinner w green beans a Mac. Fried wings dinner w Mac, collard, and yams. - Lounges Near Me - Portsmouth, Virginia

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I wanted to love this place because of things i heard. We were told to sit wherever but all the tables were dirty so we had to stand and wait for someone to come clean the table off. The waitress seemed like she didn't want to be at work. Once we sat they turned up the music and unfortunately the speaker was directly behind me the crab cake was good but Mac and cheese was dry. The drink was amazing read more

Charm And Manners - Crab cake dinner - Lounges Near Me - Portsmouth, Virginia

The vibe of this spot is cool & comforting. Kyle, our waiter, was friendly and customer focused! Everyone enjoyed their brunch. The chicken wings were crispy, the fish (whiting & catfish) was fried to perfection and my turkey burger was ON POINT! Wait....! The sweet tea!!! You gotta try it !! I'll be back for sure! read more

I soooo wanted to Love The Local Buuuut. It was a hard to wanna repeat The experience My girl and I both default opted for the pork chop, fried and smothered. It was smothered AlRight.. The Gravy OverLoaded in Salt as was the greens And Any Thing AnTyThing touched with Gravy. The server girl was as pleasant as she could be, attentive and answered what she could. Not enough to steer Me To Wanna ReTurn.. + ambiance + Staff Effort + Drink She was great and timely on the refill And very accommodating in attempts to repair our experience Above all things on this experience The Staff Were AweSome BUT I Came For Food A Meal I Could Not ConSume as Presented while There read more

Charm And Manners - Drink menu... - Lounges Near Me - Portsmouth, Virginia

Decent but not hot taste great. Our people! Food taste great but it's just luke warm...

First time here! Half our party was already at the restaurant and they got seated quickly. We joined them shortly after. When you first walk in you see the bar and on the other side of wall is the restaurant. We waited maybe 5-10 minutes for our waitress to come and get our drinks and food order. Service was a little slow and the server didn't seem all that attentive. Food was pretty good. I originally wanted the half bird but was told they didn't have it today. I got the shrimp instead and had fries and Mac and cheese as my side. If you do decide to dine here, be prepared for some wait times as it can get busy. read more

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DO NOT EVER GO TO THIS RESTAURANT ‼ Customer Service was horrible ‼ Food was horrible ‼ It took 30 mins just for someone to ask if we wanted drink . Additionally we waited for 40 mins for our food to get to us to be store brought yams and stoffers Mac and cheese . The chicken was not properly cleaned and had feathers on it . The catfish and chicken was cooked in old grease and tasted burnt . I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone . read more

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I really wanted to be able to give this place a good review but visiting there twice and having the same result will have me never coming back. The first time I came to this restaurant about two months ago I came on a night where I believe they had karaoke. So it was extra crowded. We were seated and we waited about 10 minutes. I was giving them grace because they were so crowded. No one ever came over to acknowledge us or to at bare minimum give us water. After waiting about a total of 15 minutes, my date and I left. Fast forward to yesterday, February 15 2026. My best friend and I came in to eat lunch. When we walked in. It wasn't busy at all. There were several empty tables. We were seated by the host a very nice young man. When we sat at the table, our waitress and other employees were peeking out of the kitchen door at our table, but no one ever came over and said anything. The waitress was closing out a tab at the table next to us, glanced in our direction, but again never acknowledge us or said I'll be right with you in a minute. After waiting at a total of 11 minutes. I decided to once again grab my things and leave. I'm not a hard person to please or get along with, but I believe that if you at bare minimum acknowledge us and say I'll be with you in a minute that let me know that you're paying attention and that you aren't just ignoring me. I wish this business the best, but I will never ever return and I will continue to tell everybody that asked me about it about my experience. read more

A hidden gem off High St. in Portsmouth. Very good food. We had fish and meatloaf. Both were excellent as well as the sides. Nice clean place. Good service. read more

IOrdered food online April 5 th when i got there to pick it up the lights was kept going out because of the rain me and other guest that order food online was told they couldn't make out food because of the lights and we will be refunded in 24 hours well it's been 9 days since i haven't been refunded and they been giving me the run around i see why some people don't support black own business read more

The food is amazing!!! I enjoy the atmosphere as well!!! I can't wait until the next Karaoke night!

Went tonight, 3/11/26 for my son's Birthday dinner. Food was delicious but let me tell you about our waitress SOPHIA!! If attitude was a picture, she would be the headliner! Right from the beginning she had an attitude. She seemed irritated with our drink orders, being choppy about what was and wasn't in the drinks and rambled something about happy hour is during the week and not on the weekend. What? Who asked about the weekend? Today is Wednesday. My father in law asked how many pieces of catfish do you get, she said 'one, that's why it says you can order an extra piece'. Was that comment needed? He didn't chastise her about the one piece. My son asked her was there pork in the collards, before he could get it out, she finished his sentence and went on to say, 'you just asked me that'. He was trying to ask was their pork in any of the sides. He finally stopped her taking our order and asked for the manager who wasn't available. We were getting ready to walk out but thankfully my son visits the bar often and asked the bartender to take our order. He was great and attentive (reason for the extra star) . All in all, food was good (party of 9) but THAT WAITRESS SOFIA, need another line of work or get an attitude adjustment. Turkey Wings Cat Fish Turkey Chops Crab Cake Collards (very spicy) Cabbage Mac and Cheese all good^^^. read more

I patronized this restaurant when it was called "The District." The food was great then, it's pretty good now. They used to have a "Sausage & Onions" dish that was PHENOMENAL!! This go round, it was good, not phenomenal. I ordered the "Trotters;" Pigs feet, potato salad, and collard greens. I took it home, the sausage & gravy with rice was so filling. Service, exceptional. Attentive and personable. The pricing... I know how they can sustain at these price points. LESS than $25.00 for an appetizer, entree, and a beverage...? No way. Ambiance... "under construction." I do recommend. I've extended great grace with this review. I believe they should be given a chance to thrive. read more

Charm And Manners - Sausage & Onions, with rice. - Lounges Near Me - Portsmouth, Virginia

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Waited 10 min to be seated. Only to be left sitting 15 more min with no acknowledgment. Couldn't even get to the food. Was turnt off by the lack of service. read more

We were seated quickly, but we had waited at least 17 minutes to see if someone was gonna say we will be with you shortly. Needless to say after the 17 minutes we just decided to get up and leave...very disappointed read more

This place is too familiar to the District Restaurant. The menu is basically the same. Food was not up to par as the District.

Very disappointed this time. They were out of pork chops. They were out of buns from my family crab-cake sandwich's. The fried fish was salty and my father's steak was gray.The previous 2 times were fine, but not today. read more

The food and service were mediocre. They were out of a few options, although we were there at the opening time

They started out good but has fallen off tremendously. I went on a Friday They had one waiter and one cook and a full house. We'll I thought I would try it today on a Saturday not a full house I just knew we were going to get served today. That didn't happen they were out of chicken,fish and some of the other main dish. Didn't find that until I have set there for 30 min. and nevered was ask to take our drink. I must say that is my last visit. Not worth it coming all the way from Chesapeake. read more

The best soul food restaurant in the area. Awesome customer service and VERY GOOD food. I have eaten here so many times. Love the atmosphere and the waitresses are always on point. This place is much better than The District which we did for Valentines Day. I tell anybody check out Charm and Manners. You won't be disappointed. read more

My son and I came to Charm and Manners during the Portsmouth restaurant week. Good food and choices. read more

I was super excited to visit this restaurant. I went to karaoke Thursday and had a little bite to eat the food was ok but I enjoyed myself. I decided to go again on Thursday 7/10 with my girlfriend. I had the crab cake which wax nothing but filler not much crabs, the shrimp was terribly over cooked and my bill had a 20% gratuity. I called the restaurant and asked why there was no gratuity last week when I came still waiting on a response. I'm disappointed because they were not consistent with their prices. If you're going to charge your gratuity, let it be every day don't pick and choose when you're going to add 20% to a customer check. It was OK nothing to brag about, but I don't think I'll be going back. read more

Food was delicious, the staff and atmosphere was great. Definitely going back. The French 75 was so good. Catfish was fried to perfection!

1-10 ratings Liver and onions-10 Fork tender! I love the slight sauté crisp to the edges and melts in mouth like butter. Smothered in a nice, dark, rich and perfectly seasoned gravy with succulent onions over a bed of fluffy rice. Trotters -9 Fall off bone, seasoned vinegary deliciousness. I love that they were in their own bowl so I could enjoy the rest of my meal without the intrusion of swine juice. Greens- 6 Tender and tasty. Most would want a bit more seasoning but I thought it balanced perfectly with the seasonings from the rest of my meal. Potato salad-7 Mustard forward but balanced with the right amount of sweetness from the sweet pickle relish. Well cooked potatoes with a good balance of mash (for those who know you know ). A lil more mayo with some egg and onion would put it on the top 5 list. Mac N Cheese-5 I'm not a huge Mac ' cheese fan but I did appreciate the taste of real sharp cheddar and the al dente cooked noodles. However my guest that eat, sleep and breathe Mac N cheese says it's a "Good Church Mac & cheese". Super satisfying. Yams-9 Soft sweet potatoes, vanilla, butter, sugar, spice and everything nice! Love that I can taste the sweet potato and not a syrupy sludgy mush. Chicken- 8 Crispy, crunchy, tender & juicy! It's like a Korean/Southern fried chicken. Delicious. Service- 10 KIA!!! At the door we were greeted with a hello and a warm genuine smile. Kia was very friendly, personable and courteous. She made our experience exceptional! We will always ask for Kia! Ambiance- 5 Clean, quaint and relaxing atmosphere. Soft white lighting gave a warm cozy feel. I love the large picture windows with the view of autumn leaf trees and beautiful historic homes across the street. Soulful R&B music played at a tasteful volume which allows you to talk and not yell at your dinner guest. If I could suggest anything, it would be to paint the ceiling black to camouflage the duct work, electrical and ceiling imperfections. I would also paint the walls black and hang colorful art for more personality, character and charm . Over all it was a wonderful and refreshing experience for a soul food restaurant. They truly live up to their name. read more