Elation Brewing has a fantastic atmosphere. The space is large and open with an airy indoor layout…read moreand plenty of outdoor seating. It's the kind of place that works for almost any occasion, whether you're hanging out with a big group, grabbing a drink solo, or meeting up for a casual date. There are lots of different seating options, which makes the space feel flexible and comfortable. They also host live music and trivia on certain nights, which adds to the overall vibe. I went on a Sunday around 6:30pm. It wasn't crowded, but there was still a good crowd if that makes sense. It felt lively without being packed. Their drink selection is great. They have plenty of beer options, but also serve wine, seltzers, cider, and non alcoholic drinks, which I really appreciate since I'm not much of a beer person. I ordered the frozen rosé slushie in wild raspberry and it was strong. I also had the black cherry fruited cider, which was delicious. For food, I ordered The Hive pizza and it was excellent. The crust was thin-ish and tasted homemade, and the ingredients were clearly high quality. No complaints at all. Service was friendly and efficient, and the bathrooms were very clean. Random detail, but the toilet paper was noticeably better quality than what you usually find in bars. It was not plush, but strong and not paper thin. Overall, I loved the atmosphere, the food, the drinks, and the service. I will definitely be back.

One of my favorite things to do when it's nice out is go to a brewery, restaurant, or park and sit…read moreoutside! Tonight my sister took me to Elation Brewing, and I will absolutely be back! Elation Brewing has a huge indoor and outdoor area with plenty of different styles of seating! It is family and pet friendly, and they have fire pits for cooler days/nights. I love that the inside still has huge open windows to allow that fresh cross breeze in. They are known for their pizza, but they also have a variety of other things to eat on their menu. There is also a number of different beers, seltzers, IPAs, and wines to try. Tonight I had the White Cranberry Sangria from Water's Edge Winery (also in Norfolk) and the Downeast Black Cherry! While both were really good, I prefer the Downeast because it was sparkling and just more refreshing. We also had the bacon Gouda pizza and the Hive pizza with hot honey. Both were great! I had never had a hot honey pizza but would definitely get it again! Tonight was trivia night and they had a good size crowd come out. I like that you could actually hear the questions despite so many people. A lot of times I can barely hear! Also inside the same place is Voyager Coffee. They're only open 7-4. I would love to give them a try. Oh and Elation does offer military discount but only on their to-go beers! The ONLY reason I did not give Elation five star is because I wish they had actual servers. You have to go up to the counter to order each time, and the lines get pretty long. Being able to order from the table, even if from a QR code where you could order and pay online would be a plus. Lastly, for such a large space, the parking lot is tiny. You'd either have to find street parking or there is additional parking at the CEO building on Colley.

Ahh Birch.... still killing it like usual. The draft selection nice with the awesome GM that was…read moresuper friendly and informative. We enjoy coming out here for our rare date night. Even though we've been dabbling in more liquors, this place continues to step it up in exclusive meads and beers that are just practically impossible to find anywhere else. They've kicked it up a bunch of notches with their continued amazing grilled cheese sandwich menu. I wish I could elaborate more than just 'grilled cheese' but if you wanted to elevate a grilled cheese to fine dining, this is about what you'd expect. I appreciate this place as it's hard to believe I was there on day 1 when it opened. A lot has happened since then but it has definitely kept the core of it's intent - serve high quality beer. Food Taste: 5 Overall Service: 5 Value of food to cost: 5 Facility: 5 Ambiance: Small bar area that is nice in ambiance as I'm a big fan of the low-key vibe. Repeat customer: yes Dog Friendly: patio

Great selection on drafts. All the snacks were good. Especially liked the pickled okra & pickled…read morecauliflower & hummus. 10 out of 10. I did a cider/mead flight. And hubs got a sours & stout. Staff was super friendly and I loved the vibe in their. Such a cool spot.

Fantastic beer and a tremendous burger and even better to be able to enjoy both at Happy Hour…read morepricing and with great company. I selected The Veil as the spot for my UYE and enjoyed an evening of talking shop with the great J David H. while we drank those great beers. The Veil is a comfortable spot in the Railroad District and we were sitting in their dining area on the ground floor. Big tables and plenty of room this afternoon. Which we needed because that burger and fries needed elbow room to enjoy. I'd only suggest a pump-based ketchup dispenser as the packet thing is tedious. They opened here in 2019 - well after I was done with my projects in Virginia Beach and Chesapeake - transforming this three-story space into a family-friendly taproom and restaurant. The full kitchen specializes in indulgent smashburgers and Neapolitan-style pizzas that pair perfectly with the brewery's bold stouts, hazy IPAs, and seasonal sours. We didn't have the opportunity to enjoy the Only You Bar & Lounge upstairs. Maybe that's the next visit to Hampton Roads. [Round number review 1500 in Virginia - 911 of 2025 - 24467 overall]

First time and so freaking overdue! The Richmond based Veil is a beer juggernaut that opened up a…read moresecond location in Norfolk's Ghent hood pre pandemic in 2019. I only experienced the downstairs on my visit with Yelp friend Bruce K. The Happy Hour pricing was a draw as well as stellar reviews. Parking in their own smallish lot on a weekday was no problem. They also have free off street parking too! No debris in sight on my walk up. The signage is the building itself which is darn cool. They also offer outdoor seating. I started off with a Blend which is a Pale and Pilsner if I recall and it was tasty. The counter service was excellent. You can cash tip or card. Customers can also leave a tab open. The seating is wood bench type that comfortably seats six. The aesthetics of the first floor is high ceilings, concrete floors and walls. The kitchen has a garage door over the front. The space was previously a restaurant, but before may have been a factory, or warehouse. Only negative was music was a bit elevated for talking. Prior to Happy Hour concluding I ordered a $6 on special smash burger that comes with fries. No other dudes are available. The regular price is $12, so this is a deal friends. In about 20 minutes burgers and fries were delivered to the table. The look was downright amazing, so pretty much knew this bad boy was gonna be a hitter. The burger comes with double patty, cheese, Dukes mayo, lettuce a pickle. If something else I'm sorry I forgot. The first bite was phenomenal! Fresh bread, perfectly cooked 80/20 beef which was not greasy. The construction was a masterpiece. The thin fries were cooked crispy and seasoned well, yum! Honestly I could eat that burger everyday. The whole experience was exceptional and worthy of a full 5. Totally recommend checking The Veil Brewing out.

Came on St. Patrick's Day. The Open Faced Corned Beef and Cabbage Sandwich I had was truly…read morephenomenal and should be a permanent addition to the menu. Our servers Nick and Kevin were extremely knowledgeable and helpful with our orders. This is one of the absolutely best places to go in Norfolk.

Great vibes and well-poured drinks, but the service was extremely disappointing. One bartender in…read moreparticular was very unprofessional. I asked to close my tab twice, and on the second request she used profanity toward me and refused to return my card. Another staff member stepped in and was excellent--he helped me get my card back--but I was never charged for the drinks. When I later asked the original bartender whether my tab had been closed or paid, her response was, "I don't f****** know." Aside from that one individual, the atmosphere was good and the other staff member provided great service. Unfortunately, that experience seriously took away from what could have been a great spot.

Maker's Craft is a cool spot to hang out. There's a lot of seating both indoors and outdoors, so it…read morefeels like the kind of place you can settle in for a while without feeling cramped. One unique thing about this place is that it's connected to Emerson's cigar lounge, so if you're into cigars you can smoke either inside or outside in the designated areas. Not something you see at many breweries. Another thing I appreciated was that there are outdoor areas where kids aren't allowed. A lot of breweries turn into unofficial playgrounds with kids running around everywhere, which can definitely kill the vibe. There were still kids here, but they weren't everywhere, so it struck a nice balance. They also have a good selection of seltzers for people who aren't big beer drinkers, which is a nice option to have. The bartenders were cool and easygoing too. The bathroom was clean, which is always appreciated. The only downside was there were no paper towels, so I had to open the door with freshly washed hands like some kind of hand-hygiene gamble. Not ideal. Overall, a solid place to grab a drink and hang out.

Maker's Craft Brewery has a wonder variety of beers that one or a group of people can enjoy in its…read morehuge garden area. This is the epitome of a splendid beer garden. The brewery is very family- and dog-friendly because I saw folks (and dogs) of all ages from kids to senior citizens. Also, there's actually a couple of areas where folks can openly smoke without having to hide in the shadows. Generally speaking, I thought the prices of the beers were pretty comparable to other similar places in the area. Also, the staff was pretty friendly and helpful. Note to dog owners: The outdoor area has a 3-bark rule in that it's highly recommended that if your dog is constantly barking, then you should leave. However, I do not know if that rule is enforced because during our visit, a customer's dog was barking a lot, and no one seemed to care or say anyting.

Our server Parker was wonderful. He was very attentive and friendly and was quick to make things…read moreright when our food wasn't to our liking. My husband had the pulled chicken but was not a fan of the BBQ sauce used to prepare it. I ordered the smokehouse bacon burger which I was not a fan of but my son really liked it so we switched sandwiches and all was right with the world. My daughter in law enjoyed her meal but really the service was the best part of our experience.

The food here is good, every single time I've come. The drink prices are great also. I don't know…read morewhy I don't come here more often! My best friend spends a lot of time in here, so I join him every so often. The service when I've been has been bar* service/late night only, so you have to go to the bar to order (which is totally fine with me!). It's a cool vibe, and I really enjoy going here!

First of all can I just say WOW!…read more We were excited at the first because we thought the Neat Bird from Chesapeake had a new location in Norfolk Colley Avenue but there chicken sandwich was even delicious here too with a different owner! We met the owner, he is a cool band guy with a mustache name Dand. The drinks he made for us were so good and so was the way he talked with his staff and the way they worked together. My parner and I had seen that they pride themselfes on Scottish eggs, which we were lucky to try and it was also very delicious! We like that they have the vibe and also a board with many events of the community on the wall to check out while you sip on a delicious expresso martini. Good job to the Bird! now dont go opening another restaurant in Chesapeake or we will all be very confused!

Had brunch at The Bird on a Monday morning a couple of weeks ago, and it was amazing. The ambiance…read moreis cozy and homey, with a few tables outside, some high-top tables inside, bar seating, three half-booth tables, and even a couch area. You order at the register, and the staff brings the food out to your table. Everyone was attentive, and we had no issues with the service. We ordered the waffle plate, which came topped with fruit alongside eggs and their house sausage. We also tried the Huevos Rancheros, the Sausage Egg & Cheese sandwich, and a build-your-own omelette. For drinks, we ordered the brown sugar cold brew, dulce de leche cold brew, drip coffee, and an espresso martini. The waffle was huge, and the sides were great. My only complaint was that it could have used more fruit, as there were only a few small pieces. The Huevos Rancheros were delicious and came with a generous serving of avocado. The only thing that caught us off guard was the lack of salsa, since in traditional Huevos Rancheros the salsa is a key component. Even so, the dish was still flavorful and filling. The omelette was excellent, and the breakfast sandwich was equally delicious. I was especially impressed by the house-made jam, house-made hot sauce, and the perfectly seasoned home fries. As for the drinks, the brown sugar cold brew was excellent, but the dulce de leche version was far too sweet for my taste. From what I understood, they use two flavored syrups to make it, and I think using smaller portions of each would create a better balance. We ended up adding oat milk and some drip coffee to tone it down. The drip coffee itself was solid and came with free refills. The espresso martini really tied brunch together for me -- strong, well-made, and delicious. Overall, we really enjoyed both the food and the experience, and we'll definitely be back.

We dined recently on a Tuesday evening which happened to also be Burger Night. Although we didn't…read moreopt for a burger on this occasion, I have had one in the past here and they are great. I enjoyed the Fried Chicken sandwich which also comes with boardwalk fries which are sinfully good. The chicken sandwich is a favorite with just the right amount of pickles, Surry ham, and arugula. The aioli is a nice and tasty addition to the sandwich. The Lobster Roll was also ordered at our table. It was enjoyed by the guest although it seemed like quite a small meal presentation especially for the price of $28.50. It was served on a small plate and just didn't look like a $30 dinner. We also ordered the Halloumi Fries which were underwhelming in size and taste. We love Halloumi so this was a bit of a disappointment. Our server was fantastic. She knew the specials and the happy hour deals etc for the night which I believe for us was 20% off of our glass of wine. She was friendly and prompt with everything. The ambiance is always nice here with dim lighting and a relaxing atmosphere.

Fantastic place with very delicious food. I had the fanciest deviled eggs I've ever had here and I…read morealso had super tasty peanut noodles with swordfish (one of the day's specials) while my husband had very delicious beef short rib with gnocchi. To top it off we shared a pumpkin creme brûlée for desert. We had an amazing server who was really friendly and knew the menu by heart. She memorized all the day's specials alongside their prices and listed them off to us without any mistakes and even discussed in length what these food items were when we had questions. The prices are a little steep but the place is upscale and food is a bit on the fancier side. They serve authentic flavors and fantastic service and I think it's absolutely worth it. The space inside is small with a bar and has intimate lighting. Perfect for a cozy date with someone. There is also some outdoor seating as well. It is situated in the livelier part of Colley and sits right across Elation. It's nice to take a walk around afterwards to see what else is going on in the area! To the right of the restaurant they do have parking space but it is small and limited so anticipate potential street parking!

Great breakfast experience - mimosas were just the right strength and my waffle stack was on point!…read more Tasted as great as it looked!

The Good: The food was great! Enjoyed the fish and shrimp…read moretaco (we were there on a Friday which was their special of the day and modello. Also enjoyed their $5 burger special with a basket of their waffle fries. Also a $3 shot! They really do have some great daily specials! The Bad: The service! It started out fine but then our server seemed to forget about us. It was not busy but it took over 45 minutes for a burger. Another table that came in after us got their meal and paid and left before we even got our burgers. We asked to speak to the manager who was also the owner and he gave us 50% off, which is great but it was such a bad experience I'm not sure I will be back anytime soon, which sort of sucks cause their food is good and their specials too! Inside they have a mix of tables and booths as well as a patio area and bar. Garage doors were open when we visited due to the nice weather!

We have eaten here three ties now and all the food has been great. I've had the Reuben twice and…read morethe Torch Burger once. The service has been very helpful and in a good mood. The ambience is sort of industrial/warehouse but its very comfortable and the bar seems to be popular. A Torch Burger and iced tea (non alcoholic) were $23.87 including tax and a 22 percent tip. Reasonable by today's standards.

Me and a friend stopped in for a couple of drinks on Saturday (May 16th) the bar tender working…read morethat night was dismissive and only acknowledged me after I waived her down. The bar area was not crowded which made me wonder why the service was so poor.