Exactly what we needed after 3.5 hours on the road and anxious for beach vibes on a cold April day…read moreand hungry for brunch on a budget! It checked all the boxes. Shrimp & grits heat was made to order with hot sauce bar to change it up! Service was attentive and friendly. I forgot to pack earrings and was feeling naked- shopping for those was even checked off my to-do list allowing more time to enjoy the surf at our hotel! They had a delightful assortment of affordable and cute beachy souvenirs. Would definitely go back when we're in the area

6/1/26- Hubby and I wanted to try somewhere new and our original destination was unexpectedly…read moreclosed. Yelp suggested Karla's as being about 10 min away so we headed over. Parking can be rough, there are a few spots behind their building and we were lucky to get one as someone was leaving. If you're less lucky you can look for street parking and walk over. We arrived about 11:50 AM and weren't sure if we should seat ourselves. The place was busy and the family that arrived after us had a short wait. The dining area has a cozy, local beach vibe with fresh colors and refreshingly diverse mix of diners. We asked the bartender about seating and she responded "he's coming now to seat u." A friendly elderly gentleman headed our way and slowly showed us to our table. The waitress came a few minutes later and was friendly despite how busy she clearly was. Drinks were ordered and a few minutes later she took our food order. The food was a bit slow coming out but I tend to expect that on Sundays at busy local spots. My husband got the pancake breakfast and I ordered a 2 egg breakfast. The pancakes were delicious and so was the sourdough toast that came with my meal. I subbed handcut fries for the breakfast potatoes and while the fries tasted good... they were room temp as were my husband potatoes which were also under seasoned. I was hoping that the longer wait for food would mean it was going to come out hot. (But no luck) Overall, I'd come back. Side note: tipped the waitress a $20 on a $40 tab because my husband said "no change needed" before I could tell him I only had 3 $20 dollar bills. Instead of chasing her down I decided maybe it would earn me a kindness karma point somewhere along the line, lol.

Should've gotten a photo of the food, but I ended up enjoying it too much that it was gone before I…read morecould bring the camera out. Whatever is used to make the Tuna Melt is delicious.

SandFiddler's Cafe Off Shore Drive…read more I stop by SandFiddler's Cafe whenever I bring somebody to the Ocean View Medical and Dental Clinic. While I wait, I grab a cup of coffee and something to eat. Most of the time it's breakfast, but I've tried a few different things here and the food never disappoints. I've had the Crabby Benedict, the Sand Fiddler Special (eggs, meat, pancakes, toast, coffee), and one time I had a burger with beef, hash browns, eggs, cheese, and onions - loaded up and really good. The food always comes out hot, filling, and full of flavor. Even the pancakes, which at first looked like they might be the frozen kind, turned out to be homemade with little touches that let you know they care. The coffee's solid too - not that bitter Starbucks taste, just smooth and easy to drink. What I really enjoy is the cook in the back. Every time I come in, he's singing along with the music. He's got a nice voice and it sets a good vibe - not too loud, just happy. Having worked in restaurants myself, I know when the staff is enjoying themselves, it makes the whole place better. You can feel it in the food and the atmosphere. The café is clean, with artwork on the walls (for sale), plus bags and t-shirts since this area gets touristy in the summer. The waitresses are always kind and helpful - I even saw one go the extra mile helping a man who was having trouble get his food out to the car. That stuck with me. The guy at the register isn't the most smiley, but he does his job, no complaints. Overall, SandFiddler's is just a good, comfortable spot to eat. Not too loud, friendly people, and good food that fills you up. If you're in the area or don't mind a short drive, it's worth checking out.

Amazing food. Ambiance is so relaxing,warm and inviting and the service is excellentread more

The restaurant has a warm and inviting brand new renovation that makes you very comfortable…read more Greeted by Mama, you feel as if you are being invited into her home. The service is a little slow bc of new staff issues but the wait is so worth it, and with a full bar, you can relax with a nice cocktail while you wait. We shared the drip chicken sandwich, ribs, fries, collards and corn bread. The ribs and drip chicken sandwich were the best I ever had hands down, and the corn bread and greens were to die for. In fact, I ordered extra corn bread for my morning coffee. I cannot say enough good things about our experience. I knew leaving that this was going to become a landmark Hampton Roads eatery in time.

We made a special trip to Rustic Spoon for my husband's birthday because their website listed…read morescotch eggs, which was something he'd been craving forever and that we hadn't been able to find anywhere around town. It happened to be Restaurant Week, which made us a little nervous, but it ended up being totally fine. The dining room never felt overly crowded, the noise level was comfortable, and having the Restaurant Week prix fixe, drink specials, and regular menu all available gave us plenty of options without feeling overwhelming. One small note: the plastic logo cups served with the water decanter felt a little out of place. They were a bit sharp on the lips and didn't quite match the rest of the dining experience. Minor detail, but noticeable. The drinks, however, were excellent. On our server's recommendation, my husband ordered the Gingerbread Old Fashioned and I had the Salted Caramel Martini. Both were seasonal specials and both were fantastic. When we asked about the scotch eggs, our server explained they're normally a brunch-only item. We were a little disappointed (and may have made a few pouty faces while explaining we'd come specifically for them for his birthday), but we quickly let it go, it obviously wasn't her fault. What we didn't realize was that she went back and told the kitchen manager that it was his birthday and that we'd made the trip just for those scotch eggs. Since the kitchen wasn't slammed, they decided to make them anyway and surprised us with an order. We were honestly floored. My husband was thrilled. That kind of thoughtfulness is rare. And the scotch eggs were exactly what he'd been hoping for! They were crispy on the outside with a rich, savory center. For entrées, his Nashville Hot Chicken was juicy with the perfect amount of heat without being overwhelming. My Haystack Burger was stacked and delicious, though the BBQ sauce was strong enough to overshadow the pickled green tomato a bit. The fries were fantastic - crispy, battered, and perfect from first bite to last. Our server checked in at all the right times and kept drinks refilled without us needing to ask. The fact that she went out of her way to do something special during one of the busiest weeks on a restaurant's calendar says a lot about both her and the restaurant. Rustic Spoon is the kind of place that works just as well for a casual date night as it does for a birthday dinner or a night out with friends.

We were here on assignment and a friend recommended this place for good comfort food. It was quiet…read moreTuesday so we were greeted and widely seated. The place has a bar feel and casual. Upon seating, our waitress Faith came, introduced herself, and took our order drinks while we look over the menu. We decided both brunch & lunch. In a short wait everything came out hot. Overall the service was great, food delicious & great for group casual dining.

Looking for some seafood while in the area, the Yelp review was a great guide. The vibe was a match…read morefor the marina view. Started with the delicious Maryland crab soup, then onto clam strips. Even the hush puppies were great (usually not a fan). Friendly waitress gave just enough attention. Glad I didn't pass on the blueberry pie.

i really wanted to love this place, i really did. but it just fell a little short for me. i'll…read morestart with the good. i loved the ambiance. this spot is located right on the marina. and just sitting outside looking at the boats is a nice little vibe. i also ordered the stony's orange crush which was super tasty. now, on to the food. the she crab soup was really good. full of crab. only thing i wish is that the base was a little thicker. i also ordered the fish tacos. the fish that day was flounder so i had it fried. the fish lacked flavor, and they most definitely could have been seasoned was better. not very impressed. and our server was nice, but he was soooooooooo slow.

Hubby and I came here for dinner before a meeting in the area. It just so happened to be Cinco De…read moreMayo so we knew what to expect and was fine with it. We arrived about 4:30pm and the place was already poppin. The lovely hostess was super nice and we ended up waiting about 25 minutes to be sat down at a table. Our server was very sweet. We ordered shrimp tacos and a goat cheese and quinoa Chile relleno. Everything was delicious! I made my shrimp taco Lola style and I loved it. Everything was great. I can't wait to go back and try their other menu items.

Pros: First time at this restaurant, nice Margaritaville type atmosphere, laid back vibes, clean…read moreestablishment and clean restroom. Food was delicious! We ordered the Carne Asada, Lola's burrito, nachos, kids meals: cheese pizza meal & chicken tender meal. Enjoyed everything we ordered. Would come back again and highly recommend to family and friends. Cons: although staff is friendly & we were seated quickly, I think waiters could kindly be a bit more attentive. I kept looking for a waiter to ask for drink refill and more sauce, but had to go to the bar myself to ask the bartender if I could refill my drinks.

This place is awesome and dog friendly!!! Yayy…read more My boo took me and my little dog to the beach to get away and relax. I decided to Google and find dog friendly restaurants in VA Beach and I found this place. Pros They absolutely love dogs here and loved my dog especially. Dog water bowls are provided Food was awesome - no complaints. Pics attached. We ordered pulled pork nachos, iceberg lettuce wedge, and we had a smores brownie dessert Waitresses were great, down to earth, friendly and gave my dog plenty of attention. He loved them all l LOL. Cons NONE! Yayy

You have the option of indoor, outdoor, and bar seating in this place. We were sat by the kitchen…read moreso we got to see all the food orders coming out, and my goodness, this place doesn't skimp on portion sizes! My boyfriend ordered the chicken sandwich with tater tots. The sandwich was the size of his forearm (not even kidding) and there were enough tots for two. Yeah, he ended up taking leftovers home. I got a salad that I modified (per usual with most dishes I eat). One of my modifications was subbing salmon for my protein and I was surprised to see how large of a piece it was that sat grilled on top. Very delicious (after scraping off the grey bits underneath of course - who eats that part?). We were served our food in a reasonable amount of time, but it did take longer to get our check. In our waitresses defense, she said the patio was busy. They had a lot of yummy lunch and dinner items, so we'll be back to try more. Maybe even get a spot on the patio next time.

The food and service were so good. I really think they should maybe change the ambiance a little…read morethough. Make it brighter and a little nicer . But we loved it!

I haven't visited 1608 Crafthouse much, which is a shame because I've always enjoyed their food and…read moreservice. The last time I set foot inside their Pleasure House Rd location was at least 10 years ago. I celebrated my birthday there as my friends were kind enough to take me out. It was a Sunday morning and I sought out a place that offered brunch. I noticed 1608 was open and decided to head over, especially since I haven't visited them in ages. When I walked in, I noticed their dining room is dimly lit - much darker than I remember. I was greeted immediately by a kind hostess and she proceeded to sit me at a nearby table and provided me with menus (one food, one alcohol). I took my time looking over the food menu, and in the meantime I ordered a pint of Center of the Universe's Bald Irishman and a bottle of Boylan's Black Cherry soda (they do not have a soda fountain). What made this visit memorable was that 1608's bartender, Hunter, was an old acquaintance from back in my restaurant days. He spotted me and came over to say hi. After my meal, I continued to catch up with him at the bar. His presence made a pleasant experience even more fantastic. I thought I was hungry, so I ordered 2 dishes - Smoked Ham Fried Rice and the Breakfast Burrito. According to Hunter, every item is made fresh in house. After biting into each, you could tell that's true. Both the fried rice and burrito were delicious and boasted lots of flavor. Although I prefer my fried rice a bit simpler (if you give me just garlic fried rice, I am SET), 1608's fried rice (veggies, garlic, soy, basmati rice, 2 runny eggs, smoked ham) had a lot going on, which made for a flavorful dish. I liked the rice and the burrito (Korean style fried chicken breast, scrambled eggs, cilantro lime, cheddar, pico de gallo) a lot. I didn't finish either because it was a lot of food (I really thought I was hungry, haha). But these leftovers turned into a fantastic dinner later on. 1608 looked clean and organized, although I thought it was a little too dark inside, at least for brunch service. That's not a dealbreaker since everything from the food to the service was as excellent as I remember. I hope to return soon with my mom. Regardless, I'll find my way back eventually. Thank you, 1608 Crafthouse! And great seeing you again, Hunter! JV

Friendly staff and customers, blending neighbors, locals and visitors in-the-know in a comfortable,…read morecasual environment. Lovely people watching, yet it's not so loud that table conversation of challenging. You'll notice that this is quick-ish dining. It's not fast-casual, but you're not waiting 30 minutes for your food. Expect at least 10 minutes for appetizers to arrive. Our entrees were ready in about 20, and the place was near capacity. The great thing about the wait? It was well worth it. Piping hot food, served with that homemade flavor arrives on dishes that almost match. I chuckled at the mismatched bowls that hit our table. I felt like family before my first bite. Meatloaf! I can't make one, but I'll eat one that is well made. Dense, flavorful and portioned to take some with you. My bonus was that I got my wife's leftovers, too. It was delicious! It was even better when I warmed it for lunch the next day. Traditional sides, worthy of their own review, but I'll keep it brief. Get the mashed potatoes! Send a thanks when you're full.

My husband and I enjoy No Frill when you're in the mood for just that -- no frill, laid back, good…read morecomfort food. the portions are huge and it's always consistent. The service is always great and the hosts/servers are always friendly. Our go to is the meatloaf. when you're looking for a good ol' comfort food - that's the best. They also have amazing desserts that are worth a try. We found this restaurant good for families (including our toddler)! Food was toddler approved!

Stopped for the tuna steak, some shrimp and a salad!! All 3 were better than chicks oyster bar, was…read morevery happy and thankyou!

Awesome place shipmates and I love it there. We have a reunion there every once in a while. Never…read moredisappointed with the people food and drinks or the staff.