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    Freemason Abbey Restaurant

    4.1 (1k reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Freemason Abbey Restaurant Photos

    Business Info

    FREEMASON ABBEY RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Pamela S.

    Freemason Abbey is located inside an old church. Warm and inviting ambiance. High ceilings with seating downstairs as well as upstairs. A lovely wooden bar to your right when entering. Free parking behind the Resturant was available. They do recommend reservations so I went online and booked it for lunch prior to showing up. They were busy but not filled. Service was good but not great. My husband ordered the soup and salad combo with she crab and house salad. He raved about both. Soup was thick and flavorful and the dressing was very tasty. I ordered the club with turkey and ham with fries. Nothing special about it. Wouldn't order it again.

    Maggie K.

    Gorgeous space, extremely friendly and kind staff, not a thing I'd change. We did a brunch on a Sunday at 1130 and had easy parking and a day before reservation for five. Food is quite hearty and well flavored, and I want to try their dinner menu. There were a decent many options for brunch with brekkie and lunch available, so something for everyone. I wish there was a little more variety for brekkie but all in all good especially the she crab soup!

    Pork chop
    Kevin A.

    I would lean more toward the seafood at the place. We had a large party and the service was fantastic. Steaks could be seasoned better, pork was dry but everyone said the seafood was amazing.

    reeses cheesecake
    Maria C.

    Very good! My husbae and friends dined here a few months ago and it was our first time! I must say we're looking forward to returning. Parking wasn't an issue and finding this location wasn't a hassle either. The vibe inside seems dark but it's far from that. The staff, super inviting and our waitress was awesome. We dined upstairs and on a Thursday night I noticed a steady crowd. I believe the restaurant featured different entrees on this night but I opted to try something from the normal menu. Check out the pictures because I do not remember my meal but I ate it all and made room for dessert. It all was delightful. I'm removing one star because the waitress advised the margaritas are not made fresh. Bummer! Oh well. My classic old fashioned was on point. But the blueberry featured old fashioned not so much. I do recommend you dine here. As a group, alone or a date night. Have fun and enjoy life:)

    Grilled Stuffed Pork Chop
    Aleksandra B.

    I had to come back for another year of themed Harry Potter dinner. We came dressed up on the last weekend and I'm glad to see the decore and the menus were up. As always the service was very nice and prompt. We had a salmon appetizer which was nice but a bit on the dry side. I had the duck risotto and my husband had the tenderloin and those were 10/10 entrees! Risotto consistency was just right and the meat was cooked perfectly. I also enjoyed the butter beer. The drink menu was small but very vibrant. I went for the sacramental venom- refreshing and very strong! We finished with the pumpkin spice ice cream brownie and it was a perfect touch to wrap the diner. My kiddo had the Triwizard mac and cheese and seemed very happy. I also got their memorabilia goblet just for funzies. Staff was super excited that we wore costumes so we got a ton of coupons with discounts for future visits. I think this spot has a perfect ambience for fall Harry Potter themed events and it became somewhat of a family tradition. Looking forward to the next year!

    Seafood Fantasia  Smoked Gouda Tenderloin Penne
    Joslyn C.

    Freemason Abbey was a very unique restaurant, the restaurant is a church building which is super nice. The inside gives off such a cozy feel and the service was great. Our waitress was super friendly and food came out quick. I started off with the She crab soup and it did not disappoint! Real crab meat inside. Me and my boyfriend had two different pastas and they were amazing. Only thing I noticed was the food wasn't super hot. Blue drink in the picture is the liquid luck.

    Restaurant sign

    We visited the Freemason Abbey Restaurant while in Norfolk and absolutely loved the experience. The restaurant itself is stunning -- located inside a beautifully restored historic church building with so much character, warmth, and charm. The ambiance alone makes it worth the visit. We originally came hoping for clam chowder, but instead decided to try the famous She Crab Soup... and WOW. It was one of the best soups I've ever had. Thick, rich, creamy, and loaded with huge lumps of crab. The touch of sherry gave it incredible flavor and depth. Honestly, it was so hearty you almost needed a knife to cut it! They served it with their signature seeded crisp cracker, plus a basket of warm fresh-from-the-oven yeast rolls and butter that were absolutely delicious. The combination of the historic atmosphere, comforting food, and attentive service made this one of our favorite meals of our Virginia trip. If you visit, the She Crab Soup is a must-order. Just don't ask about the calories -- it's worth every single one.

    Broiled Seafood Platter
    Nate L.

    The building was built in the late 1800's, so you are immersed in the ambiance and history. The food here is simply outstanding and this visit, we went for a wider sampling then our normal. We started with their famous She Crab Soup, which is so decadent and rich, you can almost have just a bowl and and call it a meal! We also ordered the Calimari, which were so pillow soft and fresh, we really enjoyed them. For our main course, my wife had the Broiled Seafood Platter with Crab Cakes and without a doubt, the Flounder was the best I've tried...ever. I opted for the Broiled Scallops with Orso. The dish was perfectly balanced with the brininess of the scallops and the buttery orso...outstanding. We are already planning to return to Freemason Abby and also, the parking is in the back of the establishment.

    Outside view of the building
    Tom S.

    Couldn't get over last before they closed so we wait till the next day and went for a late lunch. Super cool building (old church with lots of history). Server did a super job and was right top of things. We decided to do the 3 course for $36. You get and app, we both went with She Crab Soup and thought it was the best we had anywhere. The we order the Smoked Gouda Tenderloin Penne which was amazing. Then the final was Apricot Brandy Bread Pudding. Wow everything was amazing. We couldn't finish everything so some came back to the hotel for my wife's dinner and get a sub. Highly recommended. Don't miss this if you in Norfo

    Chesapeake Crab Dip
    Lee M.

    Decided to check this place out during restaurant week. The waitress was absolutely attentive and nice. She suggested a couple of her favorite drinks that were really good. The crab dip was amazing! The honey buttered chicken, mashed potatoes, asparagus were amazing! However, I will say the flavor for the asparagus was good but it was super tiny and thin that you could only partially eat it. I was a little bit disappointment because I love asparagus. The ambiance is very old but cute. I feel like I deserve a free crab dip due to the fact I could not fully enjoy my asparagus. Haha.

    Joy A.

    Food was mediocre at best, ultra processed and cheap. We went towards end of brunch nothing was fresh. Service was terrible, none of our requests were correct. I ordered the breakfast burger no bun - came with bun, no big deal but missing the egg, the mayo and cheese was only half a slice barely covering the burger, and it was regular bacon not Canadian - sooo I didn't really get what I ordered. My hubs drink was wrong, his food came with the wrong side and no apology or fix. Cool looking place too bad it wasn't enough to draw me back - this one is no for me.

    Madison F.

    Very cool restaurant with great food. Service was excellent. Would be cute for a date night.

    Foyer entry
    Janine D.

    This beautifully renovated historic church building is now the home of a wonderful restaurant. Located in the downtown area of Norfolk, it is easy to locate. After spending the morning aboard the USS Wisconsin, we walked over here for a late lunch. Not familiar with "She Crab Soup ", the waitress informed me that this is a dish they are known for! ..."when in Rome..." It was delicious!! I'm very happy I chose a bowl, rather than a cup My companion chose the Tuesday Special, Bang Bang Tacos which he thoroughly enjoyed. Our server couldn't have been nicer. Food and beverages were delivered promptly. I would highly recommend this place!

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    2 months ago

    Absolutely beautiful atmosphere and the food was fantastic!! Our server was so on it!!

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    10 months ago

    Food was great. Cool atmosphere. Great service. Large yummy portions. Recommend the crab soup

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    5 months ago

    Great, interesting space! Our group enjoyed several seafood dishes and burgers. Attentive, friendly staff even on New Year's Eve.

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    Page 1 of 26

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    My reservations fell through at a different location, and I came about this restaurant online. Most…read moreplaces were booked on a Saturday night. However, I called 508 locals to see if they had any availability. The hostess told us to come on through. When I pulled up it wasn't too busy. They were welcoming and sat us right away. We had an awesome waiter. Judging from his accent, he was from Ireland. He was great. Very enthusiastic and attentive. I was pretty hungry. I ordered the crab cakes (great sauce and aioli), Brussels (hot honey with goat cheese and cranberries), junglebird drink (delicious, it wasn't overly sweet), and ribeye. All delicious. I was not disappointed. It was such a chill place. It wasn't overly loud. It was clean. I recommend.

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    Omar's Carriage House - Chocolate Mousse

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