Josh makes the best dirty martini. Everyone run to get one. He's a gem and the ambiance is top notch. Josh deserves a raise

I spent the day in Cape Charles with my family and wanted to find a place that offered some local fare. While walking along Mason Avenue, I made reservations at The Shanty, and it turned out to be a great choice. The restaurant is just a short stroll from the main shopping area, down by the docks. You can park for free along Mason Avenue or drive directly to The Shanty, which has its own parking lot. One of the highlights was enjoying fresh seafood on the open-air porch with beautiful waterfront views. The atmosphere was relaxed, charming, and perfectly summery. They also had plenty of options for the kids, including mac and cheese and chicken fingers, so everyone was happy. I ordered the fish tacos, while my mom enjoyed the seafood chowder and a wedge salad. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and exactly what we were hoping for after a day exploring Cape Charles. If you're visiting the area and looking for a casual waterfront meal with great seafood, a family-friendly menu, and a fun coastal vibe, The Shanty is definitely worth a visit. read more

The Shanty - Kids Mac N Cheese - New American Near Me - Cape Charles, Virginia

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Great environment and good food! During a stop in Cape Charles, we visited The Shanty based on a recommendation from our shuttle bus driver from the campground and we were very pleased. The Shanty is not a large restaurant, but it has an amazing bar and great views from their deck on the bay. The service was great and our server created a "no rush" just sit back and relax vibe, even though they were busy. The drink menu has a nice selection of cocktails. My wife, an orange crush connoisseur, said the Shanty's crush was very good! They also have a nice beer selection including local area craft beers. The Frogman Lager on the menu has been one of my favorites when I visit VA, so it was nice to see on the menu. We started off with a 1/2 dozen local oyster, which were nice and sweet. The crab dip was amazing and full of crab! We split the shrimp Po-boy. The sandwich was loaded with plump tasty shrimp on an amazing roll. Typically, in beach towns the shrimp Po-boys are skimpy on the shrimp, but not at the Shanty. Overall, a great visit and a place we'd return. read more

We started with calamari and hush puppies for appetizers. The calamari themselves met expectations, but I wish there weren't so many fried onions and jalapenos among them. The hush puppies were plentiful with a hard outer skin and a little mushy inside. They came drizzled in honey, which was nice. We arrived at 4:00pm and dinner entrees were not available until 5:00. We appreciated not being made to feel rushed to order something we didn't really want. Thanks for that. She got the crab cakes, which really looked full of crab with little, if any, filler. She said they were a little bland for her pallet, but I prefer them that way. My seared tuna was overall ok. It appeared as though the entree was ready too soon and sat because the tuna was only slightly warm and the searing had started to migrate toward the middle of what should have been medium rare. The fish was good quality, though. The rice accompanying the tuna was disappointing. It was cool, the shiitake pieces were few and microscopic, and I'm still not convinced there were any Brussels sprouts there. When we arrived, the restaurant was a bit over half full. By 6:00 pm when we left, the line was out the door and the restaurant was pretty loud. Our server was appropriately attentive and didn't make us feel rushed. Where this restaurant failed, like so many do, was (in my opinion) in the billing. I really dislike the server standing right there when I'm inputting a tip in the machine, and I really really dislike tip suggestions based on after-tax prices. If the restaurant provides a service for those tax dollars then fine, but they don't, so I won't tip based on the tax. On a scale where five stars means greatly exceeded expectations, three stars means met expectations, and one star means seriously failed to meet expectations, The Shanty scores a 2.5 in my book. Unfortunately I can only rate with whole numbers, so I'm forced to (grudgingly) give three stars. read more

An absolute staple of Cape Charles, the Shanty will not disappoint. They have a massive staff because they know their only weakness is how many people that they're going to have to serve that night. The worst part about it (often the case with restaurants in Cape Charles) is that you might have to wait a bit to get a table. So you just grab a drink, enjoy the view, and slow down. Because when you do sit down, you won't be disappointed. From beautiful views of sunset on the Bay to exceptional food (oh, those clams!), this is a must-go-to spot for sure. read more

This is a wonderful local place to stop in and feel the breeze! The food was good - the service was good. I absolutely will stop here again read more

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The food was really good and the bar service was perfect. We ordered the Angry Clams, Tuna Sliders and Blackened Mahi Tacos. All three were perfect. The bartenders were friendly and attentive. My only negative is $8 domestic drafts and $10 local craft beer was over priced. The ambiance and sunsets are a big plus. read more

The Shanty - Bar scene - New American Near Me - Cape Charles, Virginia

We always love coming to The Shanty for a drink and/or a meal when visiting Cape Charles. This time we decided to pop in on a Sunday. They were opening at 11:30am so we arrived at 11:15 (no reservations) and sat outside until the doors opened with several other families. Seating was prompt and we chose to sit outside on their covered deck which was just lovely. The weather was perfect and we really enjoyed the location. It is right at the City docks so the atmosphere is nice with the beautiful boats surrounding the restaurant. I had the roasted beet salad which was plentiful with beets and great flavor from the dressing without being too saucy. No drinks for me this time, but I saw many fun looking cocktails passing by! I usually love their Orange Crush- Server was friendly, attentive and timely. read more

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Stopped by here for some lunch and the food was amazing! The crab dip is a definite need to order. Quick and friendly service with great outdoor seating. read more

The Shanty - Raw Oyster Platter - New American Near Me - Cape Charles, Virginia

Worth the drive from Va Beach. Fresh seafood. The painkiller was delicious. Beautiful scenery walking distance to a quaint town. Friendly staff. The bartender was amazing. (Sorry I forgot this name) read more

Great atmosphere and friendly service! Very busy during the high season, but we got a high top at the bar. Food mostly good, but the hash puppies overcooked, drinks just okay. read more

The Shanty - Crab dip - New American Near Me - Cape Charles, Virginia

The crab cake sandwich was delicious. The atmosphere is chill and casual. Excellent service sitting at the bar.

What a hidden gem. Great food with an incredible view. Our waiter Coop was attentive and charming. Hush puppies were delicious as was the crab cakes (no filler all crab) read more

Clams were tiny the size of dimes, lemonade not fresh tastes artificial like out of a can, crab cakes were very small and dwarfed the bun, overall small portions, not impressed for the money not worthy it. read more

the crab dip is spectacular, prices are the only downfall but for good seafood it's worth the extra penny, service was excellent and the view from the outside seating was lovely ambiance read more

The Shanty - crab dip - New American Near Me - Cape Charles, Virginia

if you only get the tuna sliders this is a great choice everything else meh. By meh I mean not good.

Came to Cape Charles for the day from Va Beach saw some positive reviews about The Shanty so we figured we would check it out. We sat at the bar being greeted right away for drinks. Ordered food, and never were given silverware. Food arrived, we asked the bartender who was busy if we can get silverware he help up his pointer finger meaning to give him a min... well we waited. It took 3 times 2 different bartenders to get silverware. The food looked good however it had the lingering freezer taste. Our friend ordered the steak and he only ate half mentioning the same thing. The hush puppies however were very good. Unfortunately, I don't think we will return. Only good thing was view of the water. read more

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Good vibe, got 2 draft beers at the bar and our bill was $25.. One was an IPA made at Cape Charles Brewery which was $12. That is ridiculous when the brewery (about 1 mile away) charges $7.50 for the same beer. read more

Great location which is the highlight for a sunset. Food was average at best. Service was good. Not many choices in the area, which is why they seemingly have a wait most nights. If they ever get some competition in this area, they won't continue to do so well. Up your game. Source better quality food. read more

The Shanty - This was the best part of the meal. - New American Near Me - Cape Charles, Virginia

We've been coming to the Shanty since 2018. On our first visits, the food was incredible - we came back multiple times, and recommended it to friends and family in the area. When we came last year, it seemed like they were having an off night. We came today, however, and this will be our last visit. Our bill was over 100 (2 adults and 1 child, water to drink), and had the most disappointing food ever. Everything was incredibly bland, to the point of almost inedible. We began with a half-dozen order of oysters, which had very little meat. Even more frustrating was how they were served - they were full of shells mixed into the meat and dry (all the water had been dumped out), which meant that the people shucking did not know how to properly shuck an oyster. The crunch of the shells also made for an unpleasant eating experience. The lobster rolls had absolutely no flavor. I have never not finished a lobster roll in my life, but about halfway through I just gave up. We wanted to order crab cakes, but they were out (note that they've been out on our last several visits - this time we were there right when they opened, so they could not have run out). The children's chicken tenders appeared to have come straight out of the freezer. The Caesar salad was tasteless. I ordered the local vegetables and was given the option of Brussel sprouts or broccolini (these have been the options every time I've visited no matter the season). I was disappointed, since there is great produce on the Eastern Shore in the middle of July, none of which includes the fall/spring produce of Brussel Sprouts or Broccolini. The Broccolini wasn't cooked, but appeared to have been warmed while doused in olive oil (but no salt or other seasonings). The middle was still cold. We saw our server only a few times when she took our order and dropped off our food. Someone else dropped off the oysters, and dropped the oyster fork on the floor. She picked it up, apologized, and promised to return but we never saw her again so had to eat the oysters with the forks we had used for the caesar salad (not the best combination). The oysters weren't great to begin with, so it probably didn't make much difference. I'm disappointed in the Shanty, and disappointed at how much we spent on such a mediocre meal. I won't return. read more

We came for the shrimp poboy. Beware - new menu - no poboys! We stuck around and started off with the hush puppies. They were good - drizzled with honey and served with whipped butter. It's a dense savory hush puppy, not a fluffy sweet one- which was perfect for a starter. I had the cheesesteak and my wife had the buttermilk fried chicken sandwich. Both were delicious. Steak sandwich was tender and flavorful, perfectly seasoned and very beefy. The potato salad was really good. The house chips weren't very crispy and needed a bunch of salt. If I had a do over idea get the old bay fries - they were crispy and lightly seasoned. Chicken was really high quality- no gristle or fat and very tender. Will be back! read more

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Location, delicious food, tasty cocktails...all made for a wonderful dinner! If we were here visiting longer we would definitely head back because there were other menu items that sounded delicious. The Cape is such a beautiful place and it was so nice to be able to dine on the water. The waitress could have been a little more attentive but I didn't take off for that. Edited to add more photos because we went back a second time! A rarity for us but it's truly the best restaurant around. read more

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Cam, she waited on my wife and our 6 kids and she was phenomenal! Perfect service, food was amazing, desserts were great. Cam gave us many recommendations of good shops and beaches to go too. Definitely will be coming back. Management was friendly aswell. 10/10!! read more

Watching the sunset over the water waiting for a table made the wait seem so short. We went in with a party of 19, our waitress was incredibly helpful and tentative. Our food came very fast and everything everyone had was divine, full of flavor and filling. We had a table over looking the water outside but the inside is all windows so you have a great view everywhere. read more

The Shanty - Sesame tuna - New American Near Me - Cape Charles, Virginia

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Not exactly a brunch place...no eggs or traditional brunch foods BUT a good place for lunch nd dinner items. Good service, great menu choices. Fair prices! Can be very noisy however good outside seating and nice water view. read more

I have visited a lot restaurants and pubs up and down the east coast. The bartender on the night of April 3rd, 2026 at 7pm was the absolute rudest, unpleasant and unprofessional bartender I have experienced in my life. Update: I found out from my bank statement that the bartender added a $25 tip that I did not approve on the bill. The restaurant has been contacted multiple times to try to resolve this, but they have not returned any calls. read more

Not my day, I suppose. My wife did a 'to go' order on location. We drove back 15 minutes to where we were staying for the night. My order was the Flounder and Chips. Only, they forgot the chips and slaw. At least they didn't forget the fish. It was not worth the price. read more

The Shanty - Fish and chips when they forget the chips and slaw. - New American Near Me - Cape Charles, Virginia

Went here on a girls weekend on a whim. This place was bustling on a Friday. Food Food was ok, nothing overly spectacular, however the food was fresh and not old. The cheese dip was more of a cream cheese base than anything. It was still good nevertheless. I asked the server her favorite drink in the restaurant, she recommended a margarita. It was delicious and not too much tequila. Service The service was good, the service was prompt and attentive. She was overly chipper or forcing niceness. She was down to earth, and focused on her job. Ambiance Nice local spot in Cape Charles, matching the vibe of the area right on the marina. There were views of the boats and the Chesapeake Bay. read more

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Better than last year but won't return this year- this used to be a regular stop when we travel and sometimes just drive out here to eat. We give a try every season in hopes of it being better. This year WAS better than last year but last year was atrocious and I don't think have been any worse. Service is fine- the hostess wasn't overly friendly but we were seated quickly, not necessarily greeted. Just asked 2? Yes, inside or out? Inside please. Turns away, grabs menus.. "you can follow me" Ambiance is great- good music, not too loud. The waitress was very nice, attentive. Food- sigh*** 3 stars instead of 1. Maybe if we loved fried food? Idk. But anything semi healthy has been a disappointment the last three years we have dined here read more

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The food and service were very good. Right on the docks so great atmosphere. Good menu selection. I had the mahi tacos very good, but I would do without the sauce next time. Mayo siracha style sauce, not the best for mahi. Drinks were strong read more

beautiful place but the food was very mediocre. there was only bacon in the clam chowder - no clams.almost sour tasting. the nachos said it had blackened chicken and jalapeños on it - the chicken didn't have any seasoning .. just white chicken chunks .. I didn't have any jalapeños. I got the quarter lemon salad .. I'm a huge salad fan .. I was so disappointed .. what sounded like a refreshing, flavorful salad, was not .. not sure where the lemon came into play but it definitely didn't have any lemon flavors .. it was just very odd. read more

We were told that there would be a short wait. That turned out to be over 45 minutes without any updates and with very rude responses to our inquiries. The tacos were good. The swordfish was ordinary, but it was on a very good risotto. In all our experience was very disappointing. read more

Went for lunch on a hot summer day. Slow service but very nice people! We did not mind waiting. read more

The Shanty - Quarter lemon salad with crab cake - New American Near Me - Cape Charles, Virginia

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They seat people they know before people waiting!! Bad customer service. Don't waste your time.

We stopped here on our way to Chincoteague. It was a beautiful day on the water. I am sure this place gets very busy in the summer. Our bartender was awesome. If you have food allergies this is where you want to eat. I don't but our friend does and I was very impressed with the attention to detail about the food and allergies. She felt very comfortable eating there. I believe the bartender said the kitchen staff is trained and certified in food allergies. I simply got the tuna sliders and brussel sprouts as a side. My tuna was a little overdone....I would have preferred more pink but they were good. The brussel sprouts were good. The orange crushes were delicious and reasonably prices. My friend got a lobster roll and she said it was good but a little dry. I would definitely go back......great atmosphere and good food. read more

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It's time for an update of my 2016 review of The Shanty. They've changed their menu around a bit, added a beautiful back deck bar area that it seems not everyone is even aware of, and a few other improvements. I've been a few times this summer while visiting with my husband and we absolutely love this back deck. It's smaller, more intimate, and has a spectacular view of the water from the bar. There are probably 10-12 seats at the bar all overlooking the ocean through garage-type windows which can be opened fully and about 3-4 high-tops for two along the walls. If the front bar and inside/porch dining is full, you're free to walk back here and wait or dine if you can find a seat. They've added some yummy salads and lighter sides/apps to the menu so it's not as fried food heavy as in years past so I appreciate that I can come and get a salad or some steamed shrimp and still have a great meal without feeling so miserable after. We've tried the Tuna Sliders, all the salads (love the mixed summer berries and lemon dressing), as well as steamed shrimp (always a win and very fresh) and the fish and chips. Hands-down - the best fish and chips I've ever had. Theirs was fried flounder I believe and you get a huge portion of an entire fish filet, lightly breaded and fried, and piping hot and delicious with some spicy slaw and fries. Run, eat them all, thank me later. Noms! A fav when we're in town! It can get VERY busy on weekends during tourist season - but it is worth the wait and the vibes are super chill and laid-back here. No one is in a big hurry. Note: They do close fairly early (9pm) except Saturdays in summer is 10pm. read more

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We were seated right away as it wasn't crowded on a Thursday evening. Our waitress was nice and attentive. We ordered hush puppies and oysters to start. The hush puppies were dry so we only ate a few. The oysters were the smallest I've ever seen. I should have sent them back. All 6 together were about the size of a normal oyster. For dinner, my husband ordered the steak tips (cooked medium) with a loaded baked potato and vegetable. The steak came out cooked longer than well done. The "loaded" potato had butter and cheese. We're from Texas and loaded means butter, sour cream, bacon, cheese and chives. It also came with broccoli. He sent the steak back. The waitress brought the baked potato and broccoli back for him to eat while he waited for the new steak and the broccoli was cold. He sent it all back and asked for new sides with the steak. The steak came back cooked fine with over microwaved broccoli and potato. I ordered the flounder stuffed with shrimp and crab with the same loaded baked potato and vegetable, but I got Brussel sprouts. I wasn't a fan of the potato because I'm used to it having all of the toppings and I don't care for Brussel sprouts. The fish was tasteless and I only found one small piece of shrimp in the stuffing. The fish was sitting on a cold, flavorless, cream sauce of sorts. I had a few bites. After we paid our $130 tab, a man with a broom stopped by and asked my husband if "he was the one that had a problem with the steak". My husband said yes and mentioned the cold then over microwaved broccoli. The man said, "I'll get with the kitchen about this". My husband asked how that would help us at this point. The man shrugged and walked away. We were only in town for a day so I can't recommend anywhere else, but I can't imagine anywhere being this bad. read more

The Shanty - The smallest, over-priced oysters I've ever seen - New American Near Me - Cape Charles, Virginia

Good service. Sat at the outside bar area which has an awesome view of the water. Grapefruit crush was okay but not my fave. Conch fritters were so tasty & meaty. Side of coleslaw had a weird spice on it & I was not a fan. read more

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This is a gorgeous little establishment and it had a beautiful view of the water! Don't know why it doesn't get better reviews! My only complaint is that I ordered a salad with fish on it and the piece of fish was quite small In my opinion. Other than that, super nice! read more

Quaint old restaurant on the water with a great view for sunset. We sat at the bar and enjoyed an amazingly good seafood dinner. Started with oysters on the half shell and my husband had the Scallops and I had the special, Cobia over couscous. We finished with the lava cake. It is a small, popular restaurant so plan to wait for a table, especially if your party is larger than 4. Very laid back and worth the wait! read more

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