Very unexpected ambiance (in a good way!) that this restaurant gives off a cozy yet upscale feel…read more Booths provide for enough privacy with high backs and dividers, making the ambiance conducive to both family gatherings and romantic dates! Can't say that am partial as the owner is an acquaintance but I do know that he works hard and has a presence in the kitchen himself and comes out to mingle to make the ambiance friendly and personable. The service is very friendly. I was immediately greeted at the door not only by the wait staff Sarah! but those in the kitchen. Giving very local neighborly vibe! With the weather being 100 degrees, I wanted to start off with the gelato bomb. It was vanilla and chocolate gelato enrobed in chocolate that was thin enough to crack and enjoyed with a spoon. IG has maraschino cherry in it. I also decided to order something light, so ended up with the caprese salad. In other places they use large heirloom tomatoes but use of cherry tomatoes here works as well. Love the balsamic dressing, seems authentic with it being a great balance of sweet and tart, not watered down. Would definitely come back for a pizza next time.

Came here for dinner with a friend and overall had a great time! Service was great, they weren't…read moretoo busy, and it had a nice chill vibe. Blueberry Lemon Drop Martini 5/5 - I asked for a little extra blueberry and it was delicious Americano Pizza 5/5 - Crispy cup pepperonis and just enough sauce & cheese Fettuccine Alfredo - 3.5/5 - The pasta was good but i like my pasta a little more al dente and the sauce tasted extra creamy rather than cheesy

So I honestly don't know why this restaurant has low ratings. It was a very solid restaurant…read more Service wasn't bad - waited only 10-15 minutes for our food. I got 1/2 portion of chicken Marsala and I thought it was delicious. I wish there were more noodles though. Next time I'll get a full portion and see how much more food that is.

This used to be one of our favorite Italian spots but in the last year or two we have felt like the…read morequality has gone down. Once while dining in we had the arancini ball and it was ice cold in the middle, other times our food tasted just luke warm. Today we gave it another shot and ordered delivery after a long travel day and we were so disappointed, paid $10 for a ceaser salad and it was very small with 5 croutons and looked like the lettuce was just poured out of a bag you'd buy at the grocery store. The pastas were okay but nothing impressive. Expensive for what we got. I don't love leaving bad reviews but now that this has happened a few times here I feel the review was warranted.

It's rare to have a meal where every bite is a total win and this was one of those meals. From the…read moreaward-winning She Crab Soup to the perfectly prepared stuffed chicken, we enjoyed everything. This has been on my bookmark list for years and finally got a chance to check it out. The She Crab Soup was at the top of my must-try list and I absolutely see why it gets rave reviews. Packed full of tender meat, nicely creamy without being thick and a very unique marsala flavor. I can't imagine ever visiting again without ordering this. For my entree, I got the Pollo Portofino, which was recommended by our server and fantastic. Stuffed breast with prosciutto, fresh mozz, spinach and topped with an amazing marsala sauce and lots of mushrooms. I will order it again for sure. We also learned that they hand-pull their mozzarella and it was fantastic on the chicken parm, which my dad got. Atmosphere is cozy and casual, service was great. My ONLY hint of disappointment was that they don't make any of their own pastas, but their sauces are perfection! Can't wait to come back!

Absolutely delicious! Bartender was super attentive and made the experience even better!! Food was…read morebeyond exceptional! Prices and serving service best expectations! Will be back-for sure!!

Food was really good! The lobster gnocchi was flavorful. They have a huge assortment of whisky so…read moreif you're a whisky lover I would recommend getting the whisky flight. The restaurant was really small and I recommend making a reservation in advance if you want to go. Otherwise, they will turn you away.

This was kind of a meh dining experience. I called the restaurant to make a reservation for 3…read morepeople on a Tuesday evening. I was told that there was no availability for the evening and I should try to walk in for bar seats. Upon arrival, the bar was not busy so we took three seats and noticed that the table behind us never got sat the entire time we were there. To me, this is a pretentious restaurant that falls below the bar in every way. Second time dining here and would not return because service from Branice C. was a C- in her caring that she was even at work, to the upcharges for extra marinara sauce to go with the greasy overbreaded calamari appetizer. The oil saturated flavor was almost nauseating. Please change the oil in your fryer! Prices were not excessive but the upcharge for using a credit card was. Who really walks around with $300 cash in pocket to pay for dinner without a credit card fee. JUST ADD IT IN YOUR MENU PRICES!!!! The Boar Ragu was truly not boar but probably run of the mill ground beef and the four tiny slices of steak on the Caesar salad was a joke. There are so many other lovely restaurants along this block that this is a skip right past for the future.

Everything served is fresh! We had Amanti salads and two pizzas. One was the OG, which featured…read moreonions, tomatoes, mushrooms and olives. The name of the other escapes my memory, but featured pepperoni and sausage. Both were a delight. I can't stress it enough: this is freshly made food. They serve wine and imported beer, many labels were from Italy and weren't familiar to me, but complimented the flavors well. When you walk in a stranger at Pizza Amanti, you walk out family. It is an incredibly personal experience. We were greeted by Rico, the owner, and served by his wife. We visited thanks to a Yelp recommendation, and would go back in a heartbeat. The perfect place for families and for anyone passing through. Skip the chains! Go to Pizza Amanti!

Outstanding pizzas and cannolis! Staff is so friendly and helpful, also. They have a few tables…read moreoutside, as well, which is nice for us to bring our dog. We'll be back!

our go to place for good italian food. pasta always cooked just right. sauces whether red or white…read moreare excellent. fresh bread always served. good wine selection. ambiance good but can get a little loud/noisy on busy nights. but worth it.

Manga Qui is always a fun stop! The staff is friendly, the service is great, and I've never had a…read morebad experience. Now, as an Italian, I have one tiny (okay... gigantic) complaint: the garlic! If you're using garlic from a jar, I'm begging you--stop the madness! Fresh garlic is one of life's greatest gifts, and anyone who loves to cook can taste the difference from a mile away. Jarred garlic has its place... but that place is not in restaurant food. Come on, Manga Qui--you're so close to perfection! Spend the extra few bucks, use fresh garlic, and you'll have this Italian singing your praises instead of staging a garlic intervention.

Baba's Pizzeria 10/10! - got the chicken parm, the cheese…read morepizza which tasted just likw nyc pizza, and calzones - great service!

When we crave pizza, BABA's comes to mind. Pizza is thin, crispy and baked to perfection with fresh…read moretop quality ingredients. NYC Pizza at its best! I've had the famous garlic knots every visit! Also have had a large pepperoni pizza, meat amore pizza, pepperoni Stromboli, white margherita pizza, Bianca supremo pizza, calamari within multiple visits. My kids have loved every kids entree from spaghetti with meatball, Alfredo, chicken tenders and fries etc. We keep coming back to try something new, and everytime it keeps on getting better and better. Service is top notch as well as my drink is never half empty. Ambiance feels like a NYC pizza spot. Very glad we decided to try this place a few weeks ago because this has been one of our favorites. Looking forward to our next visit to try something different.

Tucked along a quiet tributary of the Elizabeth River, the Amber Lantern remains one of the area's…read morebest-kept secrets. Time your visit well, and you'll be rewarded with a sunset that is nothing short of spectacular--an ideal backdrop for an already memorable dining experience. The restaurant strikes a rare balance: refined without being pretentious. The atmosphere leans toward fine dining, yet the dress code is refreshingly unforced. Jackets and ties coexist comfortably with shorts and flip-flops--a subtle nod to Chesapeake's "come as you are" sensibility. Whether you arrive by boat or by car, the experience begins the moment you step inside. We started with the ahi carpaccio and a classic Caesar salad--both fresh, well-composed, and thoughtfully prepared. For entrées, my wife chose the crab-stuffed shrimp, finished with a lemon-herb beurre blanc and accompanied by sautéed vegetables. It was an excellent dish--rich, balanced, and, notably, not shared. I opted for the 13-ounce New York strip with a garlic and herb demi-glace. Cooked to a precise medium-rare, the steak was properly seasoned and executed with confidence. In a moment of generosity, I offered a few bites across the table--well received, though her loyalty remained with her own selection. From the waterfront setting to the attentive service and well-crafted cuisine, Amber Lantern delivers a dining experience that feels both special and approachable. It's a place worth seeking out--and returning to.

Beautiful restaurant great service great view! It's kids…read morefriendly and we had a great waitress ! Unfortunately, the food was not that great. It was very bland and the drinks were very bad as well The bartender did not know what she was doing. I had to return the drink twice. It was just a lemon drop pretty easy to make. I ended up exchanging it for a wine. My husband had a old-fashioned. It was very watered down and sweet. It's a shame it's a beautiful restaurant, but it's literally been a run by kids right now. They need a better management team in there to overlook everything. Everything got late to our table. It wasn't our waitress fault she was so apologetic. I really want more for this place. It's so pretty and it has a great view. I would recommend new management or manager and to upgrade the menu and train the bartenders . I feel bad leaving this review, but I just wish this restaurant the best !