First let me state the outer appearance of this place does not do it justice. It's located in a strip mall but is far from a hole in the wall. It is dimly lit with modern decor which already sets the stage for a romantic atmosphere. Nonetheless, I came for a girls night out. The flights were generous and the food was cooked with love. We had the buccatini pasta, chicken Florentine, and the chef's special crab ravioli. For dessert we had cannolis and chocolate cake. The wait staff were great and full of personality. We had a great time but we walked out with our heads down from our sinful indulgence. I've been stuck on Pulcinella's for Italian but I'd definitely come here again! read more

Sirena - Chicken F.... - Italian Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

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I use Yelp all the time but have never written a review. Sirena has inspired me to write mid dining! Hands down best Caeser salad ever and we have eaten a lot of Caeser Salads! Calamari was so light and delicious. My father cannot stop raving about his Pasta Carbonara. We also had the Farfalle Gorgonzola with pear and it is also light and delicious with fresh herbs. What a lovely dining experience. Great way to end a great vacation. read more

Delicious dinner out. I'm rarely up for an Italian dinner because I find it filling and I tell myself I can just make pasta at home. Yeah, right! I ordered the gorgonzola stuffed fig with prosciutto to start. I'm used to eating goat cheese with fig, so this pairing was a nice surprise. For my main meal I ordered the Linguini con Calamari. The dish had plenty of calamari and did not disappoint. I know I probably should've paired it with a white wine, but I went with the Best Rosso Sampler. I highly suggest the sampler because it's the best bang for your buck. My three samples of red wine were filled as though they were a regular order. Needless to say, I needed my son to drive home. The waitress also suggested the Spaghetti alla Carbonara, so my friend ordered it. I took a bite and was blown away. We both agreed that it was the best carbonara we ever ate. All in all, it was a excellent place for dinner. read more

We ate at the Norfolk location several years ago, but hadn't made it to the new Great Neck location until tonight. We went for hubby's birthday and now wonder what took us so long to make it back. We made a phone reservation by leaving a message yesterday and received a confirmation call from Fabio today. We are told that now walk-ins are welcome as well. When we arrived at 6:30 Monday night, there was only one other table occupied. However, by the time we left several hours later, the bar area was completely full and very lively and at least half the tables were occupied. The food, service, and atmosphere were all wonderful. We had such a great dining experience. Our servers were attentive and professional. Fabio came around to the tables to chat it up with the diners and was giving what sounded like a boisterous and entertaining Italian language lesson to the bar patrons as well. Hubby and I started off with the calamari Luciano, which was sauteed in a delicious, spicy red sauce, and the the insalata gorgonzola. Very tasty! For dinner we had the pollo fiorentina and Sardi pasta. Can't say enough good things about both dishes. Everything tastes so fresh! We finished the meals with cappuccinos (served with a small biscotti and real cubed sugar), cannoli, and tiramisu. Don't judge- we're carbo-loading for a marathon haha. I lived in Rome as a college student and everything at Sirena is authentic and delicious. We definitely won't wait so long to go back again! read more

Just had an alarming experience at Sirena. My husband and I walked in about 7:45 tonight. There was no one to greet us, which was ok, but we waited a very long time (conservatively about 15 minutes) to be noticed. Another couple walked in behind us and were also ignored. Wait staff were moving back and forth but no one looked at us. The other couple was even more annoyed than we were. The lady made two trips to the bar to gain some attention. They came very close to leaving. The owner, Fabio, finally appeared and asked if he could help us, as if we were solicitors. He was not friendly. We asked for a table for two. The other couple had a reservation and were seated. He disappeared for another long period of time. I walked to the bar area and asked Fabio if there was a problem. I was very cordial and polite. I smiled. The restaurant was busy, but there were tables open. Fabio became obviously angry and scolded me like a child in front of the patrons. "Can't you see we're in the middle of a rush?" He went on and on in a nasty voice waving his arms. He created quite a scene directed exclusively at me. I was stunned, but remained polite. I told him that we love his restaurant and just wanted to know if there was something wrong and when might we be seated. When he didn't calm down I quietly turned away and we left. It's too bad because we really liked the restaurant. He was like a crazy person. read more

A TRUE TASTE OF ITALY!!! The service was superb, the food was DELICIOUS!!! The owner Fabio is genuinely interested in pleasing everyone from his customers to his employees.. I was so fortunate to find this location & dine in!!! The place is hands down one of the best places to eat REAL ITALIAN FOOD in the HAMPTON ROADS!!!! Best wishes !! Anthony THASMgallery read more

Sirena is our "go to" restaurant now. The food is very authentic Italian. If you're looking for fettuccine Alfredo with loads of cheese on top this probably isn't for you. However if you're looking for true Bolognese, fresh housemade pasta, a fresh fish deboned table side, or an amazing seasonal salad check out Sirena. The house made desserts are pretty amazing too! read more

Great food. Good services. Reasonable prices. My wife got the 4 cheese ravioli and loved it. I ordered a pasta carbonara and I lived in Italy for two weeks...they nailed it. Bruschetta was fantastic as well. No complaints from us tonight and if you look at my other reviews that is not normal fir me. read more

Excellent italian, must be one of the best if not the best in Virginia Beach! Real italian, the closest to Rome I've felt in the states

For "real deal" Italian, this is a place you can't miss. They escaped the mismanagement of the city of Norfolk for the looming boondoggles of Virginia Beach. Hopefully, in a few years they won't be in Chesapeake. For now, they're the best thing to open on Great Neck in years. Located at the old Beckett's location in Great Neck Plaza, they make their own pasta and bread, unlike some "highly rated" Italian restaurants in the area. You'll immediately tell the difference. The wine list is full of Italian varietals and the "cafe style" dining room will give you the romantic feel of Italy. Keep in mind, the secret is out on Sirena's, so reservations are advised. People are now lined up at the door ........on a TUESDAY. To beat the rush, have an early lunch (11:30am). The "pulpo" (octopus) appetizer is excellent and the calamari dishes,(not fried, of course) are fabulous. The entrees run less that $20 and they have many wine options under $30/bottle. When visiting, expect growing pains. Because of unexpected popularity, they have been running out of menu and wine selections, and the service, because of inexperience and understaffing, is slow. But this place is one to not miss if you love Italian. Get in line read more

This is THE Best Italian restaurant in all is Hampton Roads!!!! The wine is fabulous. Fabio is a wonderful host. The patrons are fun.

My go to spot for serious Italian. Fabio is hands down the best authentic example of what you would get in Rome. Bucatini is my fave!!

This is our go-to restaurant for authentic Italian dining. We moved here from Philadelphia in 2010, where we enjoyed some of the best Italian food in the country. This restaurant meets our expectations every time. Sirena also passed the test with our 'foodie' son who was visiting from Philly and was skeptical that VB would have an Italian restaurant that would meet his standards. Well done Sirena!! read more

Had a fantastic lunch here. We were late joiners to a party of five and they went out of their way to accommodate us, which was kind. Ordered the bruschetta and the tagliatelle with bolognese. It was fantastic! Service was top notch and the space is lovely. I would love to go back for dinner sometime. Highly recommended. read more

I love this place!! Have been here for lunch and dinner. The Octopus is fabulous! Tonite I had the ravioli & rock shrimp... I didn't ever want this meal to end! Service is exquisite... Thank you, Oscar. Fabio, the owner, always visits each table.. Very personable and wants you to have a truly authentic Italian experience. read more

Craving carbonara and I saw online they serve it. Heard some great reviews when they first opened but they always had odd hours for me. When I arrived I didn't know if they were open since the windows are blacked out and there's no sign. Pulling on the door and voila, I was going to eat some carbonara. It came out shortly after ordering and I think it was great. The spaghetti was cooked perfectly, pancetta was tasty, and the carbonara wasn't too heavy for what it is. I think they served a great portion size as well. I'd definitely come back to try some other dishes. read more

If you want a true Italian experience, and by that I mean as close as you can get to the real deal, this is the place to go. I've been to Italy before and this restaurant was recommended to me by a woman who is from Rome. So, missing the food, I decided to have my birthday dinner there. Best decision ever! The food is delicious and flavorful but very clean and light, and the portions are good. It leaves you feeling wonderfully full, not the greasy ick full. My whole family loved it and we will be coming back! I tried all of my family's dishes, from my own lamb shank special to the seafood pasta and gnocchi. I did the same with the desserts and found each one to be just as amazing. I have to come back to try more on the menu because there wasn't a single thing not delicious. I felt like I was back IN Rome. They surely made my birthday a very memorable one! The waiter was very attentive and the owner came in to check on us as well. Lovely warm atmosphere. New favorite food place in Hampton Roads! read more

My favorite place in Virginia Beach with great food very good wine selection cannot beat this place

I called, emailed, and , left a phone message but nobody notified me about reservation. I will never try again. Thats too bad I eat out all the time and it wont be with Sirena`s. read more

Excellent kitchen, excellent wine, excellent service. It was a bit noisy when we were there, but good ambiance and there is space between the tables. It's an "again". read more

Great service but i didnt really like the food maybe i just got the wrong thing. Ill just stick to olive garden from now on.

Fantastic food, great atmosphere, good wine selection, and very welcoming service. They do magic here with the dishes.

My wife, my family, my friends, my whole wardroom of Navy officers have been to this or the Norfolk location (RIP). AMAZING. AUTHENTIC. And I've been to Rome. My wife is Italian. This food is great. The owner is a pro and genuinely a great guy. Frutti di mare. Ossobuco. Saltimbuco ala romana. Or just randomly put your finger on the menu. Really no down side. read more

Good atmosphere for a stip mall. Takes reservations. Service was pretty good but not great. Vodka pasta was excellent. Good portion of calamari for appetizer. Beef dish was not that good. I thought it would be tenderloin or something good. It was Angus ground beef and not worth it. Wish I got something else. It was good but ready to try out something else. A bit pricy for what you get. read more

I have been to Sirena three times for lunch and have never been disappointed. The dishes are not your typical Italian-American faire, but are somewhat unique and thoughtfully chosen. The service was pleasant and friendly. This is a great place to go for an intimate meal with close friends or a relaxed conversation. read more

Stopped in last Thursday night for dinner. Food was good but not great. We were pretty regular customers in Norfolk. Might have been an off night. Service was fantastic. read more

I was very disappointed when our group of 6 had to leave on a early Thursday evening after the manager, in no uncertain terms declared his restaurant was a "nice place" and they do not provide high chairs. This restaurant could make no accommodations for my son. If you enjoy a nice restaurant with paper roll table coverings then leave your child with a sitter and go try the food. We never got the chance. To be fair the waitstaff was very apologetic and nice, however I cannot support an establishment that is not willing to meet me halfway on this issue. I hope that a more appropriate proprietor takes the lease on that space soon. read more

Food is very good but contacting them to make a reservation is a PIA. they won't answer the phone and direct you to their website to send an email requesting the day and time you want. Then you don't get an answer for several hours. Not a great way to run a business. I realize this is the age of social media but why even bother to have a business phone if you're not going to personally answer it and help your customers patronize your business? read more

So I truly hate not having the best experiences places and having to give my honest opinion when it's kinda mean but where we go .... Went here last night w my best friend when we first walked in, nice, not a crowd at all but it was 830 so late dinner eaters. We were seated and both us could not take our jackets off bc it was extremely cold in there, then we are trying to read the menu and can hardly see it bc of the lighting in the place our bodies would create this terrible shadow on the menu so you would have to hold it far away and then you can't read it at all. Not a big deal just annoying. Also there was this man at the bar, I don't know if it was bc the way the bar/ restaurant is set up or this man just thought it was necessary to be that loud bc there was maybe 8 ppl dining (if that) and this man's voice carried over the entire place to where I could seriously hardly hear my own conversation. Again not a huge deal but annoying. So over all rating the atmosphere they get a 1. Now on to service, it was sub par at best the waiter had a very strong accent which whatever that's cool but with that and the extremely loud man when he presented the specials I couldn't hear or understand him. Then my friend and I always share anything we get we like to be able to sample as many things off the menu as we can so we share all that is ordered. We order two apps Bruschetta and Caesar calamari literally took them almost 25 min to bring that out ?!? Confused bc those are very simple apps. In the middle of eating those we decide on the main course and order after finishing the apps we wait once again for entirely too long for the main. Long story short service I'll rate at a 2. Now food honestly the apps were great bruschetta was delish as was the salad, also the bread was so warm and lovely when it came out. After waiting forever the main course comes out and I can't remember the name it was chicken stuffed w spinach and mozzarella w noodles and seasoned potatoes, honestly is was mediocre and I feel like it was something I could have made in my own house and there was this sauce drizzled on top literally had no flavor I didn't understand the purpose of this component to the meal when it tastes like nothing. We also got the cannoli to go and it was amazing I love dessert !! So as for the food I'll rate it a 3, it was just mediocre for me. I was not wowed w this restaurant it was sub par at best I expected more bc of the reviews. So it was ok I don't see me returning in the future. read more

The minute you walk in the door and are greeted by the host you feel like family. Each person who works here makes the experience that much more fun and exciting. The waiters are more than happy to explain all of their specials and will go into detail what each special contains. The bartenders go the extra inch to make sure you are not skimped on alcohol in your drink and if you order a filthy dirty martini like I did, you will get a small container on the side to ensure you get your money's worth. When I go to restaurants solo, I generally sit at the bar, and here everyone makes you feel like you are part of the family. The food arrived hot and freshly cooked. I ordered the ravioli Quattro formaggi and let me tell you, that was some of the best food I have eaten in a long time. The bread they bring out to the table is hot and the evoo is some of the best. I highly recommend this place for a date night as it's not crowded and very intimate. I will definitely keep coming back. Thanks "Big Kahuna" and staff. read more

Sirena - Italian Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

I have a cousin visiting from Rome and wanted to take her to one of my favorite Italian restaurants. Sirena's was one of my favorites, from the days on Granby Street in Norfolk and only became more convenient when it moved to Virginia Beach. We are regulars. We tried to make a reservation for dinner this past Saturday night. There was no answer when we called. We decided to eat elsewhere but take a shot and have dessert and coffee at sirena's instead. We called again to check on availability, but again, no answer. We stopped by on the way home and the staff asked us to wait a few minutes and that they should be able to accommodate. After 10 minutes of waiting, Fabio the owner came out. He was very rude and very direct in telling us that he could not accommodate us. No apology, no thank you for coming. Just very direct and with an attitude in saying we don't take walk-ins and I am very busy before asking other people who were waiting if they had reservations. Ironically, I was looking at 3 open tables that would accommodate and another table of 10 that paid their bill and was getting ready to leave. Fabio, you are understaffed, and no matter how good the food is, your service and attitude cannot overcome it. The food AND service is excellent across the street at Coastal grill and Havana's. And for Italian food, I will take my business to Aldo's, Mannino's and some of the other great Italian restaurants in our area. Ciao Fabio. read more

Based on the great reviews, my friend and I decided to try something new. We came in and asked for a table for two. The host replied that the whole place was reserved! However, he said that we could take a high table or seats at the bar. We took a high table. I ordered the Sardi e Salsicca and my friend ordered the Ravioli Quattro Formaggi. Our server's name was Michelle. She did a pretty decent job when she took our orders, and checked in on us once while we were eating our food. The service was okay so I gave it a half a star. My dish, the Sardi, had shells, tomato ragu, and sausage. I took a bite. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't particularly great tasting either. The shells also tasted a little underdone as well. My friend's raviolli dish was underwhelming. Five or so huge pieces of raviolli with cheese inside. We were both unimpressed. I believe my dish was unique and tasted decent. However, we both expected the raviolli to be better considering it was $15.50. I would have enjoyed the raviolli at Olive Garden for a much lesser price. Overall, I won't be too harsh, but meh, I've experienced better, fits with how we felt. A subpar meal for $40 including tip. We will not be back. read more

Showed 700pm with reservation. Just busy, not full1/3 tables free, 2 at the bar. No one to seat us. After 5, Had to go to the bar and ask the group of 4 or 5 employees to seat us. After a few, we were seated, waited, waitress said a minute, then gave us the specials but didn't take drink orders. After a while, she came and got our drink orders and brought water. Out of Bruschetta? By now we are still happy, but not excited to eat here regardless of the reputation. Owner/manager came by. Cared about our experience, complemented our wine choice. Made Bruschetta appear by magic, very nice. Bread and a little oil and balsamic was nice. Felt much better. Didn't see our waitress for 30 minutes. Food came, nice bowl of parmesian. We had a variety of pasta dishes, all good took home canoli. Satisfying, good atmosphere. Will take another visit to validate the reputation. read more

So glad to hear that Fabio decided to stay in Hampton Roads and especially on the Southside. I knew things were not going well in Norfolk and was afraid he would leave us altogether. We have moved to Florida but on visits home I will now know where to find his outstanding authentic Italian cuisine! Welcome to Virginia beach, Sirena! read more

My wife and I had dinner at Sirena a couple weeks ago and it was excellent... many of the other reviews give high praise to the food, while suggesting that there's room for improvement with the service. We wholeheartedly agree that the food was fantastic, but we also had a truly excellent service experience. We sat at the bar toward the end of the evening, but the restaurant certainly wasn't empty. The bartender was attentive without being overbearing, adding considerably to the experience. We shared beef carpaccio and an authentic sausage ragout pasta dish, both of which easily earn 5 stars. Tonight we called up to order the carpaccio again (to pick up this time) but the chef - to his credit - didn't want to serve such an elegant dish in styrofoam. The solution? He let us take two dinner plates away with us, promising to return them in the morning! Perhaps there's a slight wait at the height of the dinner rush or servers discourage substituting menu items, but a chef who takes so much pride in his food that he'd rather trust patrons with the restaurant's flatware than compromise presentation is providing 5 star service. We'll be returning without a doubt, as well as recommending Sirena without reservation to anyone who'll listen. read more

OMG! I could eat forever here except my stomach is not big enough ! The food is beyond excellent and the friendly staff is like the icing on the cake! This is a "do not miss"! read more

Yesterday, two of our friends asked us to join them for lunch at Sirenas on Great Neck Road in Virginia Beach. They had frequented the place several times in the past month and highly recommended it. My wife and I looked at all the 4 and 5 star reviews and were impressed with the write ups and looked forward to having lunch. We downloaded the menu so that we could get some idea of what we wanted to order. We arrived at the restaurant at 11: 45 and were impressed by he decor and the greeting by the waitstaff. Three of us decided to order from the Panini luncheon menu and were informed that they were out of bread. While trying to figure out what we were going to have, the waitress returned and said, "Yes, they did have some bread to make Panini." The sandwiches arrived and it was obvious they had not been prepared in the traditional way...on a Panini Grill. The bread on the bottom of the sandwich was soggy as if it had been soaked in water and it stuck to the plate. When you tried to pick up the sandwich, the whole mess collapsed. We pointed this out to the waitress and asked her what was the problem. She replied "We don't have a Panini Grill to make the sandwiches." To top it off, my wife ordered coffee which was cold when served. Bottom line: We won't be going back to Sirenas. Rather, will return to the Beach Pub on Laskin Road where we have gone for years. The food is always great, prices are reasonable, and the waitstaff will satisfy your every wish. read more

What an experience tonight! I am so full and still brought home some pasta for lunch tomorrow. I started with roasted figs and grapes with prosciutto, Gorgonzola and honey. Yummy! Then Bucatini all'Amatriciana and finally for dessert Tartufo al Caffe. Oscar is a wonderful server and I enjoyed meeting Fabio! read more

I found this place on Yelp. I am glad I found it. This place deserves 6 stars! The outside is not catchy, actually. So, walking in surprised me, a little. All the tables had white tablecloths and stemmed goblets, linen napkins and heavy silverware. I had already looked at the menu and knew it was reasonably priced. So, the decor surprised me, a little. We had a difficult time choosing from all the wonderful dishes presented on the menu. I chose the Farfalle Tricolore. It was bow tie pasta with chicken breast strips and broccoli and tomato. The white wine sauce was out of this world. My friend had the Sea Bass. It was perfectly grilled and tasted delicious. Another friend had the Tagliatelle Bolognese. I didn't get a chance to taste it because he couldn't keep his fork out of the dish! He said it was fantastic. I am big on service. I will not go back to a place where I had poor service. Unfortunately, this is way too often, today. The waiter we had was the best I have seen in a restaurant in a long, long time. This is the service that you'd expect at a restaurant costing triple what we paid, here. Water glasses were never empty. He did not write down our orders. He did not get confused with the many changes in the orders. He patiently explained all the specials and any dished we had questions about in full detail. The owner came over and chatted with us for several minutes. He is a very nice Italian man who is obviously proud of his little restaurant. My recommendation is that if you want GREAT Italian food that is not your regular spaghetti, lasagna or ziti, try this place. Oh, did I mention that they make all of their own pasta in house? read more

This was our first visit to Sirena and we look forward to going again. First, the service was superior from start to finish. Our waiter was very personable and attentive throughout the evening, and gave a good description of the menu items in which we were interested. Second, the food was delicious and the portions were just the right size. The fried calamari was one of the best versions of that dish that I have had. Lightly battered and not over cooked. The house salad was good but nothing spectacular. Our spouses both had the linguini with clams and loved it. I had the penne with smoked salmon and it was delicious. The fourth member of our group had one of the daily specials and was happy with it. All four in our party decided to pass on dessert since we were full at that point. The wine selection offered sufficient variety to satisfy most tastes. Sirena is on the small side so the atmosphere is cozy. Not sure if they would be equipped to handle a very large party. We've eaten at a number of Italian restaurants in Virginia Beach and while one visit doesn't provide a sufficient opportunity to say Sirena is our number one favorite, if our experience on future visits is as good as this one, it will be our number one choice. A word of caution however. If it's your first visit, Sirena is a little difficult to find. We relied on our GPS and while it got us to the right strip mall, we had to circle around the parking lot several times before we spotted it. Probably a good idea to call them to get clear directions. read more