I had a tasty lunch here after reading the great reviews. They did not disappoint! Food: 5/5 - started with a bowl of their famous crab soup which was superb. It came with freshly baked mini biscuits. I had one of the staff's favorite (my favorite) seafood quiche. There were plenty of seafood such as scallops & crab. I could taste the fresh spinach inside the quiche. It came with fresh fruit. Unfortunately I had no room for dessert. Note: they have a weekday lunch special which is a great value. Service: 5/5 - great service from Ian who was friendly and efficient. Thanks Ian! Ambiance: 5+/5 - stunning interior especially the stained glass windows and high ceilings. A special historical place to dine at. Their hours are M- Thurs from 11 am to 9 pm; Fri & Sat from 11 am to 10 pm & Sun from 10 am to 8 pm. A fantastic venue for all occasions. They take reservations. If you love tasty and wholesome food, this is a must visit. read more

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Was recommended to go here when on a quick business trip to Norfolk. When I heard it was in a converted church I was excited to see it. Went for brunch and the place was beautiful, the food was delicious. It actually got their burger with the fried egg on it. Everyone in my party loved their meals and our server and the bartender were friendly and gave us recommendations on what to see in our short time there along with excellent service. Definitely going back read more

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My husband surprised me with dinner at this spot. I admittedly hadn't heard of it, but what a pleasant find. First the location is very cool- an old church turned restaurant with lots of charm and character. We had a reservation so we're immediately seated. Looks like they highly recommend reservations based on signs at host stand and website! Our server, Justin, was very very attentive. He checked in often and gave a lot of great recommendations when asked. A full cocktail menu, wine choices and more! It's pretty cool they offer a cocktail flight of some of their staples! We both had the prime rib, which was the special of the night, and we're both so happy with the choice. The portion was large and cooked well. We had the creme brûlée and their version of an espresso martini for dessert- so good. read more

Freemason Abbey Restaurant - Prime rib dinner - New American Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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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. read more

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The atmosphere was excellent with the Harry Potter theme for Halloween. The French onion soup was superb. The prime rib medium rare was well made and flavorful. Daniel our server was so friendly, attentive and just an all around outstanding person. Was a great way to celebrate. read more

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Celebrated girlfriend's birthday last night. The service was terrific, our waitress was attentive but not intrusive. We both had the salmon. Delicious. I love She Crab Soup. Highest recommendation! read more

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

First the server took drink orders from men ignoring the women. my husband asked for his filet medium rare, it came out rare, very rare. he sent it back and when it came out the filet was tough and the vegetables were mushy. One of us ordered prime rib with was loaded with grizzle, one of us ordered NY strip that had more fat than meat and was overcooked. my salmon was delicious. We usually visit a few times a year but I don't think we're coming back. read more

The entire team is super hospitable. We came into town late, and they were closing in an hour, but I couldn't tell because they were very nice and paced well. The food was amazing. read more

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We were passing through Norfolk on vacation and wanted a nice meal in the city. Freemason Abbey was one of the highest rated spots on Google, so we booked a reservation and hoped it would live up to its reputation. FYI: on a week night, the crowd is sufficiently sparse and a reservation isn't really required. The restaurant occupies the space of a former Presbyterian church dating back to 1873, so the historical significance is certainly intriguing. But the interior looks like it hasn't been updated since the '80s and feels quite dated (and not in a historical way). While the prices on the menu indicate the upscale nature of Freemason Abbey, the decor certainly does not. The calamari appetizer is awful, chewy rings in a questionable batter that makes me think they bought them in the freezer section of a grocery store and heated them in a microwave. The crab cake entree is pricey, and certainly filled with ample crabmeat. But they're just not that good, especially for a region of the U.S. known for mastering this dish. Worst of all, the servers let the water glasses go empty and rarely refill them, a cardinal sin of waiting tables. There was one bright spot beyond the delicious rolls. The She Crab Soup is advertised as an award-winning concoction, and indeed it's one of the best bisques? I've ever tasted. Rich, flavorful, with a lot of crabmeat and tremendous depth, it's a really winner. But a meal that runs $60 per person including tax and tip should be noticeably better than this. We feel that Freemason Abbey is serving subpar food at exorbitant prices. Either don't go or just order the soup! read more

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Excellent classic recipes and great flavors! Definitely a favorite place to take friends and family visiting from out of the area. Ambiance is amazing as well! read more

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

The kitchen staff are somewhat more talented than average for Norfolk. I enjoyed the crab soup even though it is a bit thicker in texture than I prefer. My wife's shrimp were jumbo one week but mine were smaller the following week. The hostess was efficient but had that Philly-NewYork attitude rather than the Southern charm that seems to be disappearing sadly. Waitress was pleasant and helpful. Looking forward to returning to try other dishes. Church architecture adds a charming ambience. No music, please. read more

Great service, best she crab soup and fried shrimp!! I really like how they transform the Abbey for each holiday! Only a 10 min walk for me! Woohoo! read more

Im going to give them a 4, that way they have something to work toward Im going to give them a 4, that way they have something to work toward read more

This was an awesome experience: I me too great servers and the food was certainly in the top scoring realm. My phone was about to die and believe it or Not Anna and Madison went above and beyond to at least find a charger for me. My review for restaurants and servers are now on a different platform in Italy. But for those who remember me do know that I don't hesitate to be blunt. Well this place is ligit. And thanks to these 2 angels. I was very satisfied all around read more

Wanted a delicious lunch after morning errands & realized it was Norfolk restaurant week so we finally came to Freemason! I have been here before broadway shows just to stop at the bar but have been wanting to dine here for a while. For restaurant week we got an appetizer & entree. The she crab soup was truly some of the best I've had! And the season salad was refreshing. The entrees were absolutely delicious, my husband could not stop raving about the chicken! I love how the inside is decorated and it just sets a really nice mood. Our waitress was very kind & attentive. They run specials all the time. This is definitely the perfect spot for a date night! read more

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The food, service, and ambiance are all top tier at this restaurant. I absolutely love the she crab soup but all the food we have tried has been wonderful! read more

I wanted to give more than three stars but I really didn't enjoy my broiled seafood plate.The scallops ,shrimp and rockfish seemed to be flash steamed and the food was barely like warm.I would have preferred them to have more texture kind of like a sear or even a crust from a good broil.The vegetables were excellent and so was the couscous salad.I actually sent my plate back, I didn't want it thrown away because I didn't want to waste however I was given a new plate of food.When they brought back the new plate the seafood was no better.The service that our waiter gave was top tier.He gave us such good service and displayed all of attributes that one would expect from a seasoned waiter.The restaurant was beautiful and the atmosphere was amazing.I wouldn't discount them from this one experience. read more

Great food and atmosphere. They were great in making special accommodations for our party of 9 when they were already full. Thanks so much!! read more

My wife and I eat there for Valentine's Day meal. Everything was outstanding. The food was cooked perfectly and very tasteful. The service was outstanding. Also, our waitress is very friendly and recommended the perfect meal. We will go back there again. read more

This place was just ok for me. It had it highs and lows. What they do well: -service -soup -bread The things that need attention: - we were the only family in there and we got put upstairs in the darkest, dingiest of corners. I legit couldn't see -the veggies had WAY to much seasoning and the seasoning overall was just a complete miss -the prices were high esp for the portions and this area I personally wouldn't recommend or return. Just wasn't for us. read more

Freemason Abbey Restaurant - Riverside Salmon - New American Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Super super food and an amazing atmosphere. Our waiter, Brandon, was so professional and efficient. I would highly recommend this restaurant. Be sure to make a reservation! read more

Really good food in a cool old church. Definitely make reservations here, they wouldn't seat us on a Thursday night, we got lucky and found bar seats together. The she crab soup is really good. read more

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I had a tasty lunch here after reading the great reviews. They did not disappoint! Food: 5/5 - started with a bowl of their famous crab soup which was superb. It came with freshly baked mini biscuits. I had one of the staff's favorite (my favorite) seafood quiche. There were plenty of seafood such as scallops & crab. I could taste the fresh spinach inside the quiche. It came with fresh fruit. Unfortunately I had no room for dessert. Note: they have a weekday lunch special which is a great value. Service: 5/5 - great service from Ian who was friendly and efficient. Thanks Ian! Ambiance: 5+/5 - stunning interior especially the stained glass windows and high ceilings. A special historical place to dine at. Their hours are M- Thurs from 11 am to 9 pm; Fri & Sat from 11 am to 10 pm & Sun from 10 am to 8 pm. A fantastic venue for all occasions. They take reservations. If you love tasty and wholesome food, this is a must visit. read more

I dream of the seafood fantasia. Drinks are ok but the food makes up for it, servers are kind and it's in the coolest old church. Will be back every time we are visiting!!! read more

Freemason Abbey Restaurant - SEAFOOD FANTASIA - New American Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

I felt like this place was a hidden gem! I really enjoyed their shecrab soup. I enjoyed the vibes, the venue, and all the character in the restaurant. All it was missing was the ambience of live music. I really enjoyed the location as well and just so you know there's free parking in the back! read more

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Prime rib melted in my mouth. Service was good- we were a large group, and they managed to get everything out quickly and at the same time. The abbey is beautifully repurposed as a restaurant. read more

I do have to point out right away that the service here was very very slow. I spent almost three hours here because the service was really slow. We got appetizers She Crab Soup and Bang Bang shrimp. I was so hungry by this point that I forgot to take a picture of the appetizers and had to order a salad on the side with my entree. My fiance who got the scallop orzo said that it was very heavy in the stomach and it was a lot more food than he thought it would be. Seafood Fantasia was pretty good because I appreciated the amount of vegetables were in the dish, but it was a little bit more salty than I liked it to be. Because the service was so slow, we didn't have time for dessert, which was a bummer because I wanted to try their dessert. The seasonal sangria was the best part of the restaurant. I also have to point out that our waitress was very aggressive because she would splatter water or sauce everywhere when she would hand us our food or place our drinks on the table. They have their own parking lot in downtown Norfolk, which is convenient around that area. read more

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This restaurant is absolutely awesome. From the atmosphere to the waitress to the meal, it was an exceptionally fine dining experience. I'd give it a 10 star review if I could! read more

Freemason Abbey Restaurant - Chicken Asiago - New American Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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My fiancé and I went here to celebrate last night and we are over the moon about this place! I've been wanting to try it for a little over a year and I regret not coming sooner!! Our service was 10/10, food 100000/10 and drinks a big 10/10!!! Daniel (I think, guy with dreads and face tats) was our server, he's so great and personable. Really nice man and is always on his toes! The food was absolutely amazing. I mean, we go out to eat a lot! Like, at least once or twice a week. I have never, I mean EVER, had food that good in our area. The prices were perfect for the food, we were happy it wasn't too expensive. The drinks were also so great. I got the cocktail flight, margarita but they were all good! My fiancé got the old fashioned, he loved it. For food I ordered the Asiago chicken, mouthwatering.... He got the burger with bison and kangaroo, with duck bbq on top, the duck was immaculate!!! Between drinks and food the bill was about $80 which I thought was great for the amount of drinks and food we had. I want to go back immediately lol. You need to try this place!!!! Just a side note - as someone who's been discriminated against for tattoos myself, I LOVE seeing front line customer service roles carried by likewise people. As a business owner, this is something I love to see and personally makes me feel more comfortable knowing other business owners and managers hire for work ethic over someone's image. Big shoutout on that one. read more

Server was a little slow but the other servers seemed on point. The filet mignon was cooked like a professional but the potatoes and carrots were just whole potatoes and carrots heated up on the plate. Crab dip was magnificent. Seating was a little close together as the person behind me kept bumping into me. read more

How did so not know about this place! It's pay to talk to friends on where to dine. My friend recommended we eat at Freemason Abbey. I quickly went to Yelp and the internet to see what I was in for. I was totally for it. When we arrived we were seated immediately on the second floor in the corner at a round table that overlooks the 1st floor. It was the perfect spot! The interior was gorgeous, especially when it was decorated for the holidays. The architecture was stunning. Our waitress was amazing! Seriously. My small group of friends I was were big jokesters all night and she handled well. Jokesters in a nice polite way... nothing mean. Anywho... she was great. She helped us chose our meals. Our door was pretty good. It came out nice and hot. My favorite was the onion soup and the she crab soup. I enjoyed my vegetable curry as well. It had nice flavors throughout. I will definitely return. read more

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I've heard so much about this place and it's been on my Norfolk hit list for a while. I was happy to have had the chance to check it out for a later dinner. - The Vibe - It was once an old church that they have since turned into a restaurant in 1989. The hostess gave us the whole spiel about the history and although it was interesting, I was distracted by the interior and also by my friends. I'll have to listen better next time and take notes LOL. The restaurant has two floors and it's just amazing to walk in and look at all the details of the stained glass windows and other elements. Beware though, I heard it was haunted in the wee hours. - Service- We got the corner table on the top floor and it was just the perfect place for us to sit. I enjoyed sitting there since I got a birds eye view of the bottom floor and got the feel of the high ceilings. Our server was fantastic, super patient and good humored. She was an absolute doll! - Noms - They have a simple 2 page menu with a holiday themed menu currently. They serve complimentary warmed rolls and butter. These were great! Our table ordered to the following: She crab soup - choice of cup or bowl, went with the latter and it's filled tot the brim, topped with a thin, hard, sesame type cracker. This is their award- winning soup and although it was good, there seemed to be too much sherry flavor for my personal preference and there really wasn't that much lump crab in there. French onion soup - French onion soup, however, for me was the clear winner of the two soups! Maybe I am biased because I love French onion soup (but I do love a good she crab soup too), but I really loved this one more than the crab soup! The broth was light and very flavorful, but not salty! The cheesy-ness and the bread. I got order envy since my friend ordered this one. Crab dip - this had a great flavor, nice and creamy, but I just wish there was a better melted cheese topping on this. They provided a decent amount of the toasted baguette slices so the ratio of dip to bread ratio was perfect! Shrimp pesto pasta - This was a good dish. Had some spinach, slices of mushrooms, and other veggies. Lot of cheese. Prime rib au jus - We made the mistake of ordering this medium, so by the time we ate it, it was just a bit overcooked. Nice thick piece though and nicely paired with creamy mashed potatoes and lightly sauteed vegetables. Vegetable curry bowl - can't comment on this as I didn't taste it, but it looked like a generous portion of curried vegetables served on a bed of rice. Chocolate mousse cake - LOVE chocolate and love mousse so this was a winner for me. It was probably a bit overkill to have dessert after the massive amount of food we ordered, but I still managed to finish it LOL! Overall, it's definitely an experience to dine at Freemason. The history and architecture alone, pulled me in. I appreciate the simple 2 page menu. They seem to do the dishes that they do offer, well. Stay safe, Friends! read more

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Every restaurant week, Freemason Abbey is my first stop. Sometimes it's my only stop if I don't have the time or budget to frequently go out to eat, but it's definitely a must. This season I went for lunch. The $15 2-course meal lets you choose between a garden salad to start or a bread pudding to finish. I usually go for the bread pudding. For the main courses, there was a Philly cheesesteak, salmon quiche, chicken piccata, and a lemon pepper citrus roughy. There were even drinks on the restaurant week menu as follows: a margarita and a health[T]. I ordered the tea, which had health benefits due to its inclusion of turmeric, and it was delicious! I was debating between the fish and chicken, but I ended up choosing the chicken because of the sides it came with. The smashed potatoes and asparagus paired very well with the lemon caper sauce that topped the pan fried chicken. The chicken was tender and juicy with some crisp on the outside. I didn't finish it all because I was saving room for dessert and I was honestly almost full after my cup of she crab soup and the complimentary bread! So everything was boxed up before I received my bread pudding. It has the perfect amount of sweetness that wasn't overwhelming to the tastebuds. I should've ordered more bread before I left because it would've been nice to have some to enjoy at home with my leftovers. But service was good, I came in right before the lunch rush. I was very happy with my restaurant week selection. I've had many hits, and very few misses. Maybe I can finesse another visit for dinner lol. Thanks, Freemason Abbey! read more

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This was one of my favorite places to visit for my birthday. It is located in the perfect place. I learned it was an old church that was turned into a restaurant. The staff are very kind and attentive. The vibe was very chill and calming. It was not loud at all. Food was simply delicious. I love when I don't have any left overs ! read more

We were only in Norfolk for one night. It was cold and there were flurries. The guy at the Marriott told us it was a five minute walk. What a perfect place to go. It is indeed a converted church. Excellent salads, she crab soup and the pork chop. The service was excellent. We couldn't have picked a better place to dine. read more

This is the second time I've been here, and each time it's been a great experience! We did get a reservation ahead of time (good thing we did). To start, Morgan our server was amazing. She was able to switch our seats from a table to a booth. She was very accommodating and attentive the entire meal. We sat upstairs, and it was such a neat experience. This time I ordered one of the Christmas specials, but they have prime rib on the menu (it's just called something different for the Christmas menu). The prime rib, smashed potatoes, and balsamic Brussel sprouts were so good! We also got the artichoke dip appetizer. I didn't get a picture of that because we dug in as soon as it was set down lol. That was also really flavorful! read more

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Such an awesome experience! Upon entering you feel like your in a 5 star restaurant. Beautiful inside and everyone is so friendly . Our server, Hays, was top notch. Very attentive and helpful. Food was amazing. Forgot to take pictures but I had Chicken Asiago. The cream sauce was the best I've had. Broccoli was perfect. Rolls served before food were amazing. Super soft and good flavor without anything on them. My husband had the combination of Filet Mignon, shrimp and scallops. He said I was delicious. Highly recommend this for fine dining. Prices are a little high, but worth it. read more

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This place is sooo pretty. It has been around since the 19th century and was once a church. It has the high cathedral ceilings and stained glass windows. They reinvented the inside and now it has a huge dining room and a small bar area. We got a high top in the bar and ordered an app and a meal to split. The shrimp dish we had was fantastic. The beef caprese was okay but not my favorite. They have a great menu and if I lived her this would be a frequent stop! read more

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