We were looking for a place that we could link up with friends from Williamsburg for dinner, where we (and they) could avoid 64 traffic at the start of a long holiday weekend. Started looking in the Smithfield and Suffolk area - and narrowed it down to three. After looking at the menu online, we decided that Vintage Tavern was our choice. We arrived in time for our 7:30 pm reservation, and were seated promptly. Service started out very good, and the chef has clearly trained his front of the house staff to give very good descriptions about what you're about to order. We ordered our drinks, and perused the menu. This is when things slowed down significantly. It was a good 15-20 minutes before we saw our server again. I noticed one of our friends still had his menu open - and pointed out that in fine dining establishments, the servers often watch to see when you close your menu so that you don't feel rushed/they're pushy. He closed his menu, and still no server. Then I noticed the server was also working a 10 top outside. Kind of weird that his tables would be that far apart, but ok. Eventually, he came by and took our appetizer and entree orders. We had the taste of southern goodness to share, my wife had the crispy pork belly wraps, and I got a cup of the tomato soup that was one of the specials. The tomato soup was one of the best I've had, hands down. The taste of southern goodness was really good, although some things on the plate I wouldn't call "truly southern", but they complemented all the other items. For entrees, I had the sushi grade tuna cooked rare over fresh local vegetables with a black garlic sauce. It was amazing! I'm still thinking about it this morning. My wife had the filet mignon, it was perfectly cooked - with a beautiful and flavorful crust on it. It was possibly one of the best filet mignons I've ever had. For dessert, my wife had the strawberry parfait and I had the Guinness Ice Cream with Bailey's poured over it. The parfait was just ok, but the Ice Cream was really good. All in all, we really enjoyed ourselves and have found another restaurants to put on our "to go back again" list. Why four stars instead of five? One, the service. I get it - you don't want us to feel rushed, but there has to be a balance between closing the menu and time. Some people don't know/understand that construct. Second, the deserts (at least the ones we tried) weren't up to the amazing level that we experienced with our dinner. Finally, portion sizes. This one is a double edged sword - most portion sizes at restaurants are TOO BIG. This one was perfect. We were able to enjoy a full three course meal, without feeling bloated or that we had over eaten. However, the pricing was more in line with restaurants (even fine dining ones) with larger portion sizes. I obviously don't get to see his books, but I'd guess that based on the knowledge and experience of the staff, in order to keep his prime cost around 65%, his food cost is probably hovering closer to 25%, rather than the usual 30% you see at other restaurants. I guess what I'm saying is, I'm more than happy to pay for those prices IF I walk away with no complaints (i.e. - I spent 15 minutes waiting for our waiter to arrive to take our appetizer/entree orders). I've been to a Michelin 2 star restaurant overseas, and spent about the same on this dinner. I honestly have no complaints about that dinner/experience at all - and would happily go to that place (in France) again. As for Vintage Tavern, again - very good. Worth the trip and the food was awesome. It's clear the chef has the passion to survive. I don't know that I'm going to go out of my way to go there though. Luckily, my in-laws are moving to Suffolk - so I'm sure I'll happily go back when we're visiting! read more

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My wife and I enjoy trying new places, especially in the price point of what is considered fine dining. By accident we actually ended up coming to the vintage tavern on it's grand re-opening after they had finished renovations. First the good. It is a beautiful place both outside and inside, it left me thinking of luxury hunting lodge. The staff we encountered were all polite, well trained, and personable. It was clear a lot of attention had been put on staff training. The manager did approach us twice in the night to talk to us and ask what we thought of the renovations, and to apologize about it being cold as the temperature had dropped outside, again very polite. Two things let this place down for us. First in an empty dining room, we arrived at 5 with a reservation, we were seated right next to the newly renovated bar. Which was busy, people were wanting to see the changes. What that meant is due to the orientation of the table and our seats we spent the entire time with someone's butt in our face, or having our picture taken by mistake as people rushed to do that. This really didn't start until after our appetizer was delivered and moving would have been a task. Other diners did not arrive until 6 when we were leaving. The second and most disappointing let down was the food. Our appetizer was a sampling plate, most of which was good. The bread that was brought to the table, you are served two small pieces, was the best thing we ate that night. Our main dishes were just not up to par with what was expected. My 60 dollar elk chops, 2, were crusted in what I assume was pepper. Only one bite had any of this seasoning on it and it was over powering. They were also from what I imagine was one of the smaller elk in existence. It came with three twice baked potatoes the size of a spoon. The best thing on the plate was spinach with cream sauce, it's also the only thing I ate everything of. My wife had the pan seared chicken breast, mash potatoes and Brussels sprouts with added Mac and cheese. It came out looking very nice, golden brown and was a nice presented plate. The chicken was bland but it was chicken, somehow they also made mashed potatoes bland with little to no flavor. The Mac and cheese was the worse offender in dire need of salt and I had the unlucky experience of having an onion the size of my thumb be confused for a noodle in it. Considering it was about 2/3rds of a cup in total serving there were two bites taken of it. My onion mistake and my wife's nibble. There are just too many places that make better food at or below its price point. The food will keep us from coming back. read more

They make the best ribs in town, and their pimento cheese is out of this world! So good! read more

This place is delicious! We went for my 35th birthday & this is what we ordered: Crispy duck & sweet potato grits Flounder & spoonbreads Mac & cheese Mashed potatoes Wine pairings Apple pound cake Key lime chess pie I can't possibly describe how awesome everything was but I know I want to go back for more. I love that they use seasonal menus and really creative takes on traditional food. The service was great and I highly recommend eating here. read more

I went to the vintage tavern last Sunday for my birthday party. It was my second time. We had a party of 15 and I was worried the service wasn't going to be good. My worries were quickly squashed as the drinks and appetizers started coming out right away. Our waiter was cute and charming - he was quick with recommendations and kept the drinks coming. I ordered the fish special. It was a local rock fish from the Chesapeake bay. The fish was cooked perfectly. Its flavor was too mild for my taste but that was saved by the delicious sauce and vegetable medley it came with. I also ordered a side dish of the macaroni and cheese. Holy sh*t . That was some good damn macaroni and cheese. I also tried the bison fillet which was a very good for as lean as it was. However, honestly not worth a 50 dollar price tag. I also tried the short ribs. Very good. The sampler appetizer is a fun choice. Try mixing and matching the items for fun flavor combos. (biscuits+ham+marmalade) (sausage + hummus) The Oyster Stew is ri-dic-u-lous... don't miss it. This restaurant is a good place for a nice date night. If you do go with large group make sure everybody knows it's expensive. My friends could of sent me on a cruise for the price of dinner. read more

Wonderful food, atmosphere, service and location. I took my wife out for dinner for her Birthday tonight. It was one of those times when you find yourself with the time to spend a night way from work and a reason to go out. When that happens I care less about the cost and more about the experience and the food. There is not much more to say than the Vintage Tavern exceeded all expectaions and yes you pay a premium for that quality. read more

Unfortunately, Vintage Tavern is located in a strange spot. Otherwise I'd go more. Straight up? It's fantastic. A meat-lovers heaven. The service was fine, the dining room lovely, but none of that matters once you've taken your first bite. The charcuterie plate is a one-of-a-kind experience for Hampton Roads, rivaling any other at any other restaurant in the lower 48. House-made sausages, terrines and other cured meats are expertly prepared. The entrees are large and satisfying, particularly the pork and steak dishes. The wine list is extensive and hits all price points, though it's a little loaded up toward the $100/bottle end. Bring your credit card. Also, somewhat of an anomaly in Hampton Roads, the VT sources a lot of its food locally -- so you're not getting some Sysco bleep shipped from who-knows-where. You can tell these people care about what they put on a plate, and people with taste and a conscience are thankful. It's perfect for a special occasion, one which you plan to spend a few bucks and have a great dinner. read more

My wife and I had a great experience at the Vintage Tavern. Our waiter Dr. J was outstanding and the overall service was spot on. The food was very good, while priced on the high end. I would have given it 5 stars except I'm a fanatic about wanting my food served hot and my meal (lamb shank) was not. I also found the seasoning muted. I also ordered the carrot cake for desert and it was probably just pulled from the fridge and thus was too firm. read more

It is difficult to convey just how pretentious and disappointing this restaurant is! I live very close by and there is nothing else out here that even pretends to be a fine dining establishment except a private club, and I was very, very disappointed on my two visits to this restaurant. I will not go into detail on my first visit except to say that this place does not own a blender or a high chair and if you come in looking for a frozen drink or happen to be carrying a baby, you are going to get a pretty unfriendly reception. After deciding to get past that experience, I visited VT one more time with my husband. We ordered from the appetizer menu. I ordered a seasonal special - 2 soft shell crabs over a light salad. My husband ordered oyster stew. I had one glass of wine. My husband ordered a beer. The crabs needed a knife to eat them and were still too hard to chew - so much for soft shell! When the oyster stew arrived, the first thing we noticed was that it was pink! Wrong color for oyster stew, we were thinking. Turns out the "stew" was milk loaded with red pepper and Old Bay and oyster crackers - we found 2 oysters in the entire bowl. The bill was $64 before the tip (service was very good). It has been a while since this happened. We have not been back. read more

VT was not what I was expecting. The food was good - not great. The chocolate cake and strawberry shortcake were meh. I might be back. Maybe. read more

We have visited vintage tavern several times for special occasions. Food and service and attention to detail are all above and beyond.

Nice ambiance, although if the weather is nice, I would definitely recommend eating out on the back patio that surrounds you with a spectacular garden, water features, statues, and stone walls. The food, however, did not rise to the occasion. The flounder was bland and oddly paired on top of spoonbread which resulted in a mushy presentation; vegetables, rice and/or lentils would have been a much better choice. The crab cakes were better but rather small. The bread provided was very small - not sure why the portions had to be so tiny; addition bread was provided, but did I really need to ask at this price point? The waiter provided great service, and the personalized menu was a nice touch to commemorate the occasion. Overall, I would probably not return as there are better choices that provide more value. read more

We need to get some of you locals out of Hampton Roads! 3 Stars means A-Okay, and that is what this place is. A very nice experience, great decor, food is solid and creative. My first experience here was better than my last where the scallops and collard greens were way over-salted and I am a sodiumphile. It was so oversalted it was as if both had been soaked in a brine solution for hours, no kidding. The service is good and friendly, the food is creative, but it lacks some refinement as if a considerably talented chef has come up with the recipes but the execution is left to lesser mortals. So kudos to the lovely husband and wife, but crack the whip on the kitchen staff! read more

Always the absolute best. Drinks are great. Food is fantastic. No better restaurant in the Smithfield/Suffolk area.

A friend and I visited Vintage Tavern for the first time this evening. Our experience was exceptional. Our reservations were honored online and the front staff seemed genuinely excited to see us (if you're gonna call it a "Southern" restaurant. an overtly friendly staff is necessary and Vintage has that covered.) Our server, highly recommended, was Dr. J. He, too, was exceptional...knowledgeable, a salesperson, warm, quick, and thorough. He welcomed us wholeheartedly and made us feel like regulars. The food quality was excellent. We had soup, Pimiento cheese, an amazingly well cooked and delicious pork chop, steak, and two amazingly delicious desserts. Overall, this is one of the best restaurants in Hampton Roads and I'm sorry we didn't discover it earlier. We will be back! read more

Anything duck from them is fantastic. I got into craftier, more rustic cocktails thanks to them. For all its cozy hunting lodge decor in the bar and more upscale demeanor throughout; a very nice and in my opinion reasonably priced for the classy fare served. If you have an opportunity to attend one of the beer/wine or other tasting dinners, I highly recommend. I love Harper's, River Stone and here but this by far is best. read more

Hands down best meal I've had since I moved to Norfolk in March 07. I actually heard about it in April 06 when it opened up, but at the time I thought, "Where is Suffolk anyway?" Fast forward to last night when my boyfriend had heard about it from a co-worker and I'd just returned from a business trip and didn't want to cook. From downtown Norfolk where we live, it should be a 15-20 minute drive, but we got lost. Upon arriving, we were happy we'd taken the drive. The Vintage tavern is located pretty much in the middle of nowhere. It's on the gounds of "Governer's Pointe", which, as far as I can tell, is a pretty swanky subdivision. We decided that we sit in the bar, it was inviting and comfy. Award winning animals bagged by the owner decorate the walls. It has a little "lodge-y" feel. We ordered a martini ($9ish) and a G&T ($8ish) decided that we'd eat at the bar. We looked at the menu and right away several things caught our attention. We asked our bartender her fave thing on the menu and she replied quickly, "The pork chop," which is what I'd been eyeing. The bartender asked two of the servers who approached the bar what they're fave dish was and they both said the pork chop with much enthusiasm. We ordered a mixed greens salad ($6.50) and the sausage app ($10). The mixed greens were pretty straight forward with a few red grapes and a nice apple cider vinegar dressing. It also has a delicious, delicate cheddar cheese cracker atop. It was wonderful, just full of butter and cheese, crumbly and crispy and a tad spicy. The sausages are all made in house and the specials for the day were a lamb sausage and a duck and black currant. Served with a cranberry mustard, bread, grilled onions and a little cucumber salad. Wow, the sausages were delightful! Flavorful and not greasy at all. The lamb was lamby and the duck was just a little gamey -- great really. BF ordered a glass of Pinot Noir ($11) and headed to the men's room. Of course, that's when the entree arrived. It was an apple cider marinated pork chop, grilled and served medium ($23). It's not a Frenched chop, so there's meat up the bone. The sides were mac & cheese and brussels sprouts with bacon. Oh, my! Slap me silly. I had a bite of the mac & cheese and tried to figure out how I could eat the entire serving before BF returned from the men's room and then explain to him that, "No, there wasn't any mac & cheese." It's super cheesy, bread crumbs on top, a little spicy and amazing. Nothing fancy -- no lobster or crab or blue cheese or anything added at all, but simple and spectacular. Brussels sprouts were actually opened and leafy, still bright green and crisp with onions and bacon. Very, very good. And the pork chop, oh the pork chop. I think I will remember this pork chop for a long, long time. It was pink and juicy and flavorful and tender, with good grill marks. There was a mustard sauce that really made it even better. It's a huge serving, I can't imagine being able to eat it alone. Well, we had to have dessert. All of their desserts, including ice creams are made in house. We had the special -- a pineapple upside down cake with vanilla ice cream. We also had a half size of the Guiness ice cream, which is served with a wafer and Bailey's on top. The pineapple cake was good, surprisingly not too sweet. I only got to taste one bite, so that must mean the BF like it very much. The Guiness ice cream was very good, almost like a light coffee ice cream. Their ice creams are very well done, dense and full of flavor. I had a glass of port and the BF had a second glass of wine. The bill ended up at $105 with tax, before tip. I loved it and would definitely go back. The only negative I have to say is that it did seem a little forced and a little corporate. There wasn't a lot of character, other than planned character. It seems a little bit like a fancy chain. But still, so much nicer, better quality than anything I've experienced in the Hampton Roads area yet. read more

I love good food, I should say I love outstanding food. While travelling down to VA Beach this summer I was intrigued to hear Virginia Tavern was voted one of the top 50 restaurants in the country...so I made it my quest to go visit. Vintage tavern is nested in a nicely secluded neighborhood of Suffolk, southern Virginia. Surrounded by lovely estate and small family owned foodie shops (right accross the streets on Saturdays is the fresh market). From the outside the place doesnt say much, I mean is not a hole in the hole or a warehouse, its a nice house looking like building. It blends nicely with the green surroundings of the location. The interior is dimmly lit, and it gives a feeling of an Alp ski chalet. Lots of wood, lots of natural colors, and lovely live flowers spread throught the place. Indeed a lovely touch of southern elegance. The service is exceptional, the manager came and checked of us possibly three times. For starters, this people really do aim to please. For drinks I explained to our waiter the cocktail that my companion wanted, something we had seen on the food channel and obviously not on the menu. He assured it could be made....and I assure you upon receipt of the cocktail, they had done a perfect job into bringing my recipe to life. I on the other hand ordered a martini with Hendricks gin, served with bacon stuffed olives (stuffed at home...perfect). The martini had a little of ice floaties, I know I am picky, but something I ought to mention that even with the floaties, the martini was EXCELLENT!! We ordered the Southern sampler....a delicious array of homemade marmelade...just like my mom use to make (even though she is not from the south) home made buscuits, home made deviled eggs...local sausage and local Virginia ham, from a neighboring family's farm. I love how everything is home made, everything simple and everything just a dance to my taste budds. For entrees I had a massive Bison filet. Cooked to perfection!! I like things rare, well it was not mooing, but it was surely cooked with an attractive rareness to the middle. My entree was definitively from the south, but I tell you this, I thought I had had the best piece of meat ever in England, but this one battle that place head to head. Bison sometimes tends to be a gamey in flavored...well this one did not have a slight hint of gameyness.. My companion, a true southerner from the heart of Missisipi (accent and all, you all)had a southern Jambalaya sorta dish...lovely humongous praws delightfully condimented on a bed of savory rice. She was extremely pleased with her choice. Additionally she was very impressed with the truly authentic corn bread (wich I learned is supposed to be non sweet) and with the onion bread pudding. Overall this place is a delight. Truly one of a kind. If you like good food a trip to Vintage Tavern is definitively worth it. read more

Vintage Tavern - Southern Near Me - Suffolk, Virginia

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I had been to the Vintage Tavern a few times before, but always dined in the private room upstairs. The food and wine were always good and the service was quality. However, I recently joined a friend for dinner in the dining room a few weeks ago and had the Prime Rib special or the evening. I was floored! This was the best Prime Rib I have ever tasted and I've had fantastic cuts from some tremendous restaurants all over the country. In addition to the cut, the potato that was served was just over the moon (I'm trying to keep my carbs to a minimum but ate the entire thing, skin and all). On top of this, the service was superb, and am hoping to get the Prime Rib and twice-baked potato again during one of my future visits. This was easily one of the two or three best meals I have ever had ... I just can't decide which one was the best. read more

This was outstanding. My husband and I were celebrating our birthdays (yes we have the same birthday!) and decided to trust in yelp. The service was phenomenal. Just the right between taking care of you and not hovering. We never felt rushed or pressured. The food was amazing. Yay for crab month! We started with the crab mac n cheese which i'd go again and again for. Both of us ordered the rib eye, very well seasoned and delicious. this will be a go to place for celebrations! read more

The food wasn't great, tasted canned, frozen, cafeteria type. The wait was long for food, and the staff was not rude, but not friendly either. Save your money and go to the new Metro Diner off Harbour View Blvd! YOUR WELCOME! read more

Such a great place. The ambience was great and the staff very friendly, the night couldn't of been better. Food was exceptional and wine list even better. Great place for a date night! read more

Vintage Tavern - Southern Near Me - Suffolk, Virginia

Had dinner here recently on the suggestion of coworkers as a good 'higher end' southern cooking restaurant. They did not disappoint. The service was terrific, the meal was very good Southern with a modern twist but true enough to Southern original that it was unexpected and delicious! The wine list was terrific too. I had the shrimp and grits and he had the pork loin and we were both very happy with our choices. The shrimp and grits is one of those dishes with a modern interpretation but was still very delicious and not as heavy as the traditional style. The atmosphere is also very cozy and warm. Definitely a must try. read more

My sister held her rehearsal dinner here back in December. The staff were delightful and the food was fantastic! Since we had more of a heavy hors d'oeuvres/buffet, the staff keep the food coming, never once was the table empty for a second. And made sure that each food item was at the right temperature at all times read more

Came here for my anniversary dinner and the food was divine!!!! I had the clams for appetizer, hubby had the tuna. We had the duck and elk for main. The cocktails were awesome and dessert and the coffee were amazing!! My was husband and I really enjoyed ourselves, the waitress was wonderful she got a big tip because of it! Its pricey ,classy and intimate. I will most definitely be coming back! I think i will try there other restaurants as well ! read more

Excellent food and terrific service. The Rockfish was to die for and the Elk was fantastic. Great for that special occasion. Wonderful atmosphere. read more

We invited our friend her for her birthday and we were not disappointed. The atmosphere is quaint and very friendly. We made reservations in advance so we were seating right away. The views out to the back gardens were beautiful. The waitstaff promptly came to the table to explain the flow of the menu and chefs recommendations for cooking of the meats. Very knowledge about the products served and very informative. We had a guest with is that has severe gluten allergy and they are very gluten free accommodating. The waiter was very in tune to everything that came out to make sure she didn't have anything on her plate. They also made her Gluten free cornbread , to go along with ours. The food was fresh ingredients all from local vendors which are listed in their menu. The quality is excellent. The main course was perfectly cooked and the pairing of sides they selected worked well with the meats. Then dessert.... homemade Ice cream sampler is a must try. The strawberries are fresh picked, the blueberries, the orange and the chocolate were all the best I think I have had. We will definitely come back. It's a great venue for that special occasion. read more

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Great find with our first time to Vintage Tavern! Laurie and Chandler took great care of us. Bartender made great cocktails. Food was amazing. We stuck to appetizers but have already selected entrees for our next visit. You must try tuna tostadas and warm pretzel sticks served with beer cheese and homemade brown mustard. Salads looked delicious, especially the beet salad. Best of all great service and friendly people. Great outdoor seating area with fire pit and comfortable seating. Setup well for Covid precautions. Can't wait to go back. read more

The food was amazing! This location is a great date night or special occasion. Our waiter was super knowledgeable with great recommendations! read more

Went for a quiet family dinner. Due to software failure (they have been trying 3 years to get it fixed) we were in the bar and couldn't hear. Manager told us about software problem but never offered a drink or appetizer. Think he needs to learn about hospitality. When I spend that type of money I do expect better service .from management read more

I'm only giving 1 star because 0 isn't an option! Seriously save your money people, the food made us physically ill, and our experience with new "manager" left us pretty much assuming her last position was as a high school student. My husband and I made the mistake of eating there Friday night, I'll never forget it because we spent all night Friday and most of Saturday still ill from what we guess was the charcuterie plate which was an unfortunate selection of house aged and cured meats...... Sorry I just threw up in my mouth a little just writing that. Not only that but we were shocked at how horribly overcooked and under seasoned my husbands filet was. In retrospect, I probably would have preferred gnawing on a hockey puck, and would rather do so in the future if faced with enduring another Vintage Tavern experience! The charcuterie plate tasted okay, but honestly a bit off but we were so hungry after having to wait so long for anything to eat that we scarfed it down, I know I was convincing myself that must just be what authenticity tasted like, more like what gastroenteritis tastes like! The bread we were promised three times finally arrived after the appetizer was finished, and right before the main atrocity was served. The server was nice enough however I feel bad for him that he has to work serving food like that and under inept, inexperienced management to boot. Speaking of their new hardly post pubescent manager, who after we tried in vain to complain about our steak and long wait for food and drinks left us only with a strand of her long tangled hair in my previously otherwise only redeemable part of our experience my dinner plate. However after pulling her hair out of the bite in my (almost puked in mouth again) mouth, needless to say I was done. The manager Bianca offered no condolences, had an heir of superiority about her, and was in general extremely inappropriate with her attitude and responses to our valid complaints. we were treated with so much denial and indifference we were left doubtful that she's ever handled any customer concerns adequately with her pathetically cleached terminally millineal personna!!!! Honestly the only upside if the entire evening and next two days rather, was that my husband and I have had quite a laugh impersonating Ms Bianca with her almost unbelievable "I don't care" attitude. Honestly it has caused a lot of laughs so far! So maybe I take it back maybe 1 star for at least giving us the most laughs on worst manager/ young female human ever jokes read more

We went to Vintage Tavern for a special occasion. It was difficult to get a reservation for 5 at a reasonable hour. I was surprised to see a number of 5 and 6 tops available and unoccupied during the time we attempted to get a reservation. The food was excellent and the service was very attentive. The prices were a little lower than I expected and quite reasonable for the quality of food and atmosphere. I went with the prime rib eye steak and was not disappointed. The taste and temperature were perfect. The mashed potatoes were shockingly good. They were sweet and creamy and unlike anything I have had before. The Vintage Tavern is on the short list for future special occasions. read more

Went here for Valentines Day. They had computer problems which they informed us of up front. Not a issue for us. I ordered the four course meal. My steak came out before my appetizer. They took the steak back and brought out the scallops that were advertised as crab stuffed.... mine had broccoli.... wish it was a better experience considering how much we paid. read more

Dinner last night was exceptional. An overall incredible experience from start to finish. We were sat at the most romantic table where we could be side by side, and we were so lucky to have the most knowledgeable, energetic, and engaged server we've ever had. He was amazing!! I am notoriously terrible with names, and wish I could remember his, but he truly made our night an overall dining experience - bringing out our choices in a multiple course fashion, recommending pairings with wine, everything was spot on. Not to mention, my boyfriend's lamb was perfect! This was my first time trying Elk, and I was not disappointed. Looking forward to getting out there for Pork and Pinot in April - I was traveling over Valentine's Day - overrated if you ask me anyways, BUT this was our night to celebrate the holiday together. Thank you for making our special night more than what we could have asked for! read more

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I've seen enough of Richmond & Newport News. A local friend suggested we check out Norfolk, but I refused. After learning Vintage Tavern made Open Table's national 50 best, We came to Suffolk for the ultimate dining test. The atmosphere here is too elegant for us, but we didn't see the harm. The warm and inviting ambience gives this place a cozy colonial charm. There is a bit of a hunting lodge feel, We chose this place mainly because of the locavore appeal. Cuisine is very southern and the ingredients are seasonal. For fine dining quality, the prices here are pretty reasonable. Décor is mostly wood and stone with a huge fireplace. On display are over a thousand bottles of wine stored in large glass case. Service is warm, hospitable, and refined. The in-house sommelier knows a great deal about wine. Getting us a good bottle was his mission, The moment he sensed we couldn't make up our wine decision. For a starter, we shared the "Taste of Southern Goodness" sampler platter. The portions were so huge I felt myself getting fatter. It contains lemon ricotta, beans, deviled eggs, sausage, & country ham. I'm not crazy about the lemon ricotta, but I'm still a fan of Sam McGann. For an entrée, my friend had the Chesapeake Bay crab sauté. This crab dish is amazing, but I felt the sweet corn pudding is OK. I'm happy to report my entrée of classic southern jambalaya is so good! It put my taste buds into a New Orleans Mardi Gras type of mood. It contains sausage, shrimp, crawfish, smoked pork, & vegetables over plantation rice. The generous meat portions and spicy flavors are so nice. Didn't have any room in us for desserts, but we ordered it anyway. We wanted to stay longer and chat the night away. We chose "Brian's Favorite"- Guinness & Bailey's ice cream with chocolate wafers. The sharp sweet taste & intense flavors are too much for our spoiled taste buds to savor. Not sure if Vintage belong on the list of 50 best restaurants in the nation, But our amazing experience overall exceeded my expectations. read more

I've always loved Vintage Tavern. This is our favorite place to celebrate anything and everything. My husband prefers sitting at the bar while I prefer the dining area. Last night, hubby asked me to dinner just because but he said we will be sitting at the bar. I said okay since I loved the lady bartender. She always knew the specials by heart. Recommended good dishes and drinks. And she always remembered our drinks. So last night was kind of a disaster. We arrived a little after 5. The front door was locked. We waited on the patio for 10 minutes and checked the door again, still locked. Someone came out to the patio to say there were open. We checked the front door again, yes it was LOCKED. So we passed through the patio door to get in and told them that the front door was locked. they apologized and we went to the bar. There was a new girl, she asked for our drinks. She asked if we wanted to eat, gave us the menus. Didn't say anything about the specials, not a word. I used to order specials because the lady bartender always made it sound like it was so good. We just ordered from the menu. I don't eat pork so I wanted the seafood muddle but it had sausage and she said "we can make it without the sausage". Hubby ordered the burger with pork belly. Our food came and the first thing I see? Sausage. My food had sausage. My hubby's food was already there as well so I said he can eat and not wait for me since they had to make my food again. Food came and I ate.hubby was done at that point. A couple of issues; 1. The bartender was very impersonal. No recommendation about what's good. 2. The whole time we were there, she must have checked her phone 8 times. 3. She kept reading her bartender book in plain view. The people beside us asked her about a drink and she pulled out the book and read from the book. Again in plain view. 4. She kept taking our plates away even when there were still food in them and my hubby was clearly still eating 5. Just handed us the dessert menu. Didn't even ask if we wanted desert. We ended up getting the special based on what was written on the board. 6. A lady (I assume the manager) walked around and talked to all the customers, wait not all. She walked pass us. The male manager spoke to EVERYONE. 7. Hubby was still drinking his whiskey and I my coffee and the bartender handed us our bill. We didn't ask for it since hubby was getting another drink and I was also getting a drink. Well we ended up just leaving. That was extremely rude and offensive. We've always gone there was great food and wonderful service but last night was a bust. I hope last night's experience was just a fluk and not the norm. read more

This still remains our favorite place for drinks. The bar area is very ski lodge, very chill. The bartender is always fantastic and makes up very creative and fun martinis for us as well as being extremely welcoming and accommodating. This place is a true class act. read more

Went for a family occasion. 90% good. Good service, great attitude, great food. But one serving of chicken was under done. Other than that vintage tavern is a great place. read more

Went to this for first time 2/14/17. I know it was a busy night and I will accept the slow bar service because of that but being seated an hour after reservation time is not acceptable. Also the wait service was very slow and hurried you through food selection with little input as to what some dishes were. My wife's duck was very under cooked and while my steak was excellent the mashed potatoes were cold. They finally explained they had a computer failure and that was slowing everything down. If a manager had come out and stated that while we were waiting we would have taken that into account on how we felt. As it was coming from wait staff it seem like a poor excuse to cover poor service and planning. Not going back. read more

If you are anywhere near this area, you NEED to go here. It is a must have for those who love great quality local food. Not only was all of the ingredient choices made with a very critical eye but the way they were all skillfully put together was outstanding. This was the BEST food I had in all of Virginia. I was worried it would be out of the way but it took no time at all to get across the river to Suffolk. If I ever find myself out that way again, this will be on the top of my to do list. I couldn't pick what to eat because everything looked so darn good. I was ordering things I was allergic to and hoping my epi pen would do the trick because it all was so fantastic. Also, get a hot buttered rum there if it is cold out. One of the best I have had this year. Can I give it 6 stars? Also for those of you wanting to have an event in the area, the table next to us was a bunch of business men talking about a work function held upstairs in their 'conference room'. He said it was the best food he had ever had at a work event and it was reasonably priced. Why spend a lot on junk when for a bit more you can have the best the area has to offer? Our dinner I also thought was reasonably priced. I was actually amazed at how affordable it was since it was such top notch food. read more