Continuing with restaurant week, I decided to try Vintage Tavern with my family. I hear the owner is the same as River Stone Chophouse, which I had tried the night before, so I was pretty excited. The location is just outside of a suburban neighborhood, and there is a beautiful garden out in the back. The inside of the restaurant is very nicely decorated with portraits/paintings on stone walls, chandeliers, and a large fire place in the center dining area to give it a cozy feel. Our booth even had pillows. Pics: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/vintage-tavern-suffolk?select=JUHR4jPWWo6WJkDVbeJcBA#OG1B6Fo6VhNMjydOG6Frtg For the appetizer, I got the taste of southern goodness, which consisted of a deviled egg, cured ham, sage sausage, buttermilk biscuit, and smoked bourbon apple jelly. It was my first time trying it, but I was not that impressed. My mom got the pimento cheese plate, which we enjoyed more. Pics: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/vintage-tavern-suffolk?select=JUHR4jPWWo6WJkDVbeJcBA#_pKK_9D2M7LAxWFvYlHQ4A For the entree, I ordered their shrimp and grits. They gave lots of large jumbo shrimps. There were even sausages, which gave it more of a fatty texture and the added tomatoes lend some acidity to cut through. My mom got their fried carolina cat fish. It was a huuuge fish, and neither of us could finish it, but it was really good. For dessert, I got the butter pecan ice cream and my mom got the creme brulee (with a cookie!). Both were good, we also tried the chocolate devils food cake, which I thought was pretty dry and bland. Pics: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/vintage-tavern-suffolk?select=JUHR4jPWWo6WJkDVbeJcBA#_6idgi-sRUV1V-PGjVUTcg Food: 4 Value: 4 Service: 5 Overall: 4.33 read more

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I'm very lucky to work at a place that rewards us with delectable dinners out at fine dining establishment such as this.....with drinks included. SCORE! For the most part I was looking very forward to the Guinness Ice cream.....but also extremely excited about the whole menu having been here for my birthday last year. Our table started with the biscuits, deviled eggs, ham, sausage and preserves. Our server recommended putting the ham and biscuits together into little sandwiches with some preserves......who am I to ignore a food recommendation. It was NOMMERS. Main course for me was steak of course - cooked perfectly. They didn't have bison on the menu this time or I would have tried that on for size. No worries though, the steak was delectable. We also had a variety of sides to share over the table: mac and cheese, slaw and potatoes. Their mac and cheese is pretty amazing. To end this meal, as if the buttons weren't popping off my pants (they actually weren't - I planned ahead and wore spandex LOL) I had Guinness pie! The best damn Guinness anything this side of the Mason-Dixon. Just saying. read more

We ate here for my husband's birthday dinner last night and were blown away. Stefan was our waiter and was so attentive, he was fantastic. We shared a ceasar salad, my husband ordered the ribeye and I had the bison short rib pasta. Both dishes were delicious, perfectly cooked and seasoned. We both agreed the ribeye was the best we've ever had. This place is now our top favorite for special dinner celebrations! read more

I was so disappointed tonight by Vintage Tavern. This has historically been our go-to date night restaurant. My husband and I had our rehearsal dinner upstairs here in 2012 and we regular this amazing establishment. Tonight was the first time I was truly disappointed. We stopped in for my husbands birthday. From the over-salted crab dip, to the over-cooked "medium" pork chop (a former forever favorite), I was so bummed. They were also out of bread, and instead served us some obviously reheated biscuits made a day or 2 ago that were hard, dense, and cold inside. When we got the bill, I noticed we were overcharged for one of our cocktails, and as we left and went to get our leftovers at the hostess stand, we were given the wrong bag of leftovers. I would say my last 20 visits have all been 4-5 star visits, but this was definitely a 1 star, with the exception of our waitress, who was at least friendly and knowledgeable. I am sure we'll come back because I can't imagine not visiting, but I will definitely try to manage and/or lower my expectations before we arrive. read more

Service is pretty good. The food is just okay. Everything is quite expensive as well. I would understand going here and paying the price for a great meal, but it's just not that good. We ordered wine off the list, and they didn't have it. It also took us 30 minutes to get our drinks...overall, it okay. read more

Vintage Tavern - Southern Near Me - Suffolk, Virginia

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My wife and I just returned from our anniversary dinner at this establishment, we enjoyed our dinner thoroughly. The shining star was the level of service we recieved. Our server was adequate however one of his fellow servers must have overheard my wife and I discussing wanting to move tables and summoned the manager who reseated us herself, and let us know she was willing to help us in any way. We noticed her personally handling even the most basic issues all night, she is the diamond of the establishment. The she crab soup was amazing, and I don't really like crab! The tomato-melon salad was outstanding, probably my favorite dish of the night. The bison ribeye was tasty, however the demi-glace was a bit salty, and the entree could have been a tad more warm. The chocolate brownie was a great ending. Oh yeah.. I almost forgot the wine! Who am I fooling of course the wine was awesome, it's wine! Haha. All in all a great place to enjoy a great dinner with your loved ones and the neighborhood high rollers! read more

Vintage Tavern - Bison Ribeye - Southern Near Me - Suffolk, Virginia

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We love this place for special date nights & Friday night was no exception for our anniversary! But it was even a greater experience as we had Kat as our server and she was above & beyond & right on time throughout the entire evening, making our night even more memorable! Thanks so very much Kat! read more

I Never give a resturant 5 stars, But in this case wow, from the Amiance to wine service to waitstaff all i can say is wow, Marlise surpasses all waitstaff i ever knew, worked or watched. Her attitude knowledge of the foods and ingrediants wss incredible, the wine selection superb,. The meals we had fron crusted flounder fried crabs and Elk chops were prepared perfectly, thanks to there making the night special read more

Decided to check this venue out this past weekend and truly enjoyed. First of all, the overall design and layout of the restaurant was unique and inviting. The service was stellar (thank you Kat) and the southern themed fare was awesome. Another home run by the M&M Hospitality Restaurant group. We will absolutely be back! read more

Expensive and food looks good but when I can make it at home it isn't worth the price. The food isn't bad it just doesn't make me want to return. I give it a meh. read more

Since this is one of our favorite restaurants I am surprised I hadn't written a review. We have had great experiences every time we eaten here. Last night was the best yet. The server Andrew was amazing. He was friendly and very knowledgeable about the menu. The pork belly appetizer was perfectly prepared and very tasty. I didn't think the wife would like it because she isn't normally into fatty meat. She loved it. I really enjoyed the contrast between the pepper jelly and the tomatillo salsa. Great flavor and it didn't over power the delicious pork flavor. The Market fish was halibut. The fish was great but it was the take on jumping John and the squash purée that really tied the entire dish together. The wife had the pork plate which was less creative but also extremely tasty. As long as the great experiences continue we will be back many more times. read more

Love everything about this place Great menu, excellent service. We love hanging out by the fire pits.

Excellent dining experience...service and food were both great...this was our first visit and we will return.

Vintage Tavern is a true fine dining experience. I went with three other individuals on a Sunday at 5 PM. Decor is reminiscent of a Park City cabin with mahogany dominating the entire establishment and accentuated by low levels of light. An excellent place for a romantic evening. The service from the time we walked in to the time was left was excellent. Our server was friendly, mostly knowledgeable and food arrived in a timely manner. I had the Oysters Rockafeller for an appetizer and it was good. Our table also shared the restaurant's pimento spread and country ham biscuits, which were both very good, while the other two in our group ordered salads. For an entree I ordered the Elk chops, medium rare. It was cooked perfectly and it came with a twice baked potato and kale. The potato was excellent but the Kale was a bit to salty for me. I also tried my girlfriend's Bison rib eye, which I liked better than my Elk chop. It had a bit more flavor due to there being more fat on her cut than mine. Not a fault of the chef. For dessert we had the caramel apple cheesecake and the homemade ice cream assortment. Both were very good, but the cheesecake was most definitely the star. My only complaint would be the price of salads. Usually at a restaurant that serves $60 entrees, a somewhat basic salad shouldn't cost $10-$12, and some would even argue that a salad should be included with the meal considering the cost. This isn't LA or NY, it's Suffolk. Other than that, it was a pleasant dining experience. The price, however, will prevent most patrons from visiting this establishment with any level of frequency. read more

Beautiful building, the bar has a wonderful ambiance, and the food is outstanding. Pricey, but worth every penny!

Our favorite local date night restaurant. Love the bartenders!!! Food is great and the chefs are always accommodating to dietary restrictions. read more

Food was very good and service was excellent. I had butternut soup and salad. Very tasty. Husband had fish of the day and it was delicious. Risotto was excellent! read more

Great drinks & wonderful dinner. Thoroughly enjoyed. Expensive - but worth it. I'll be there again.

Yes, I'm the guy from Yorktown. Okay, I don't often rate a 4-5 star restaurant poorly, rarely actually, this time I do. Made reservations 3 weeks ago, confirmed them up a day earlier. Seating by the fireplace with a good wine list. An early Valentine Dinner for us. We get here early to enjoy cocktails at the bar with "snacks". Bartender was great, suggested Devil eggs. One dollar each with a total of four plus champagne by the glass. Good choice. Hostess seats us at a booth. But the day before they mentioned seating by the fire place. I let her know this. Her reply, " the other couple just left" that table. How is that my problem? Now it is my problem. The evening begins. Seated at a booth. Keep cool. We order wine from the sommelier, a nice white Bordeaux from France. About 45 a bottle, not bad. She disappears and the server pours it, not the sommelier. Interesting. I mistaken the bottle, all is resolved, drink up. Soup comes as our appetizer, slightly warm. Keep cool I tell myself. Cesar salad comes out, we ask for ground pepper. Server points to the table pepper. Please keep in mind this is a 4-5 star restaurant. Cesar salad always comes out with ground pepper with the server. It's about favor with the wine, taste if you will. Main course comes out, flounder & mashed potatoes. Fish is good, however the mashers are luke warm at best and tasteless . Towards the end I get up and pour my wine because the server is elsewhere. Once again, 40-50 bucks a person to dine here. Not once did the front of the house manager come by nor the manager. Should have been there to ensure of the customers and all is well. Servers were busy elsewhere. Large group was leaving from upstairs. Guess that's where all the attention was. Sooo, I ask for the manager upon leaving while my wife gets the car. No where to be found. I'm outta here. My special night is shot. Three weeks of planning gone and 147 bucks shot, not including the 20 dollar tip. Would've been more, however... If you go here, good luck. Call to ensure of no large group is upstairs. If so, eat at the bar. Left here and went to "Kismet" on Main Street in NN. Dessert at Kismet was awesome! Next time I'll know better. Managers should've been helping out when needed. Servers seemed overwhelmed. Total messed up experience that should not have happened. Wonder how Valentines Day meal will be? Good luck. read more

Delicious, hot food, awesome service and worth the price! The meals were seasoned perfectly. The ambiance was nice and quiet. The she crab soup was awesome as well. We will return! read more

Vintage Tavern - Soft shell crab: very flavorful, rice and veggies were well seasoned and fresh! - Southern Near Me - Suffolk, Virginia

This spot is a must visit for date night or a special event. I took my husband here for his birthday and we were very impresssed. River Stone Chophouse is one of my favorite places to go so I decided to try Vintage Tavern instead this time. The location and the building is besutiful, there wasnt many people in the dining room so it felt very intimate and romantic. We both ordered the special which was a meat platter with a portion of 4 different meats and mac and cheese. The food was amazing and cooked to perfection, i still have dreams about the mac and cheese. The service was outstanding and fast. After dinner we went out back where there is a huge outdoor area with seating, firepits and wslking area. We will definitely come back during the day to enjoy the outdoor area. We went on a thursday night there was a private party upstairs so its great for big gatherings. read more

We went here for our anniversary dinner and my meal was outstanding! The atmosphere was nice, ambiance had a quiet romantic appeal as well. I had the Route 17 pork sampler. Sliced through the pork belly with ease and it nearly melted in my mouth. The ribs were atop a bed of pulled pork cole slaw. Delicious. I forced my entire meal down. Once we told the server it was anniversary, she offered us complimentary champagne and grapes. She was very friendly and offered pairing suggestions along with cocktail suggestions. Would definitely visit again! read more

This place is very nice the atmosphere is good and the cool taxidermy all over Is cool to look at the only down side is the wait was kinda long even with a reservation we were left waiting but from what seemed to be a broken ordering machine caused the back up now the food is pretty yummy and I'd Def return but try for a earlier time lol read more

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My husband and I came here after we got married. We made a reservation and were greeted promptly by our names when we entered. The atmosphere is amazing. Very warm and quaint. You can see the kitchen from the dining room which is always nice in my opinion. Our server came over quickly and was extremely nice and knowledgeable. They had a few specials. I settled on the fried soft shell crabs and my husband got a rack of ribs. We also got a side of macaroni. The waiter told us the portion was large enough to share so we only got one. He was training someone but it wasn't a burden or in the way. The young man was actually extremely helpful. Because we had just been married we got a complimentary appetizer. They gave us the pimento cheese platter and it was AMAZING. The cheese was creamy and sharp. It came with different varieties of crackers and celery. We ordered sangrias. They were fruity and the wine in them was smooth and aromatic. Our food came out promptly and the presentation was beautiful. My husbands rack of ribs were huge! It was tender and the sauce was tangy and sweet. The meat literally fell off the bone. (Even after we got it home and reheat it!) my soft shell crabs were on a bed of potatoes, corn, onions and peppers. They were cooked perfectly and they used male crabs so I didn't have to worry about picking out the "mustard" that a female crab has. And the Mac and cheese was to die for. Creamy, cheesy and plenty to share! In addition to our complimentary appetizer, after our meal we were given complimentary champagne and strawberries in celebration of our big day. All in all the food was delicious the service was excellent and I'll definitely be returning! read more

Great food and a awesome selection of some game meats in their recipes. A bit pricey though.

We decided to come for our seventh anniversary and it did not disappoint! The food was amazing and so was the service. It is worth the price! They put us by the fire, and mentioned our anniversary on the menu. We were impressed! read more

This place is one of the best restaurants in Virginia! The food was outstanding, the staff was excellent! I choose this place for our anniversary and they went above and beyond, they made special menus for us and even made a special desert for us! OUTSTANDING read more

Last night my family and I continued on with my Hampton Roads culinary reintegration tour. The theme for this meal would turn out to be in keeping with Mario Batali's quip that "wretched excess is barely enough!" I would like to say that we chose Vintage Tavern in Suffolk but there is more truth to the fact that the restaurant chose us. Let me explain. We have been fans of Chef Pete Evans since he worked at the now defunct Zinc Brasserie in Virginia Beach. Pete was doing a braised lamb shank dish that got my attention on our first visit. Good chefs know what to do with a lamb shank. Bad chefs always ruin them. We ate there several times and each dining experience was memorable and enjoyable. On one occasion, Pete even agreed to make Blanquette de Veau off menu on my birthday. This is a veal stew which is my all time favorite comfort food. It was great knowing we had such local, homegrown talent in the area who was wiling to personalize his service. Now fast forward to last night. Pete is now part of the brigade at Vintage Tavern. I had kept in touch with him while I was deployed and he had told me that the heart and soul of his cooking actually lies in Southern cuisine, which is what the Vintage Tavern menu is all about. Pete had arranged a tasting menu for us designed to maximize our exposure to as many dishes as possible in one sitting. While it did end up being a lot of food, each course was pared down to a tasting size portion lest you think this night ended up like a scene out of a Monty Python movie (Mr. Creosote anyone?). We sat down to a glass of Champagne and the newly revamped Taste of Southern Goodness sampler. Incredible Surrey Ham with sweet potato biscuits and cranberry relish, Deviled eggs, House-made sausage that practically melted in your mouth, and another version of ham, this time as a salad over toast points. While every item was delicious, the true star of the plate was the Surrey ham. The flavor was not dominated by salt, which I usually assume is a way of compensating for inferior pork. My wife, who is British, said it reminded her of the ham she used to get while growing up in Scotland. We had never found anything similar while here in the states until now. This was a prize discovery. The next course was a sampler of the of the shrimp and tomato bisque. You could actually taste the shrimp and the tomato in a way that both ingredients complimented each other. They were not drowned out by other ingredients such as cream or seasoning, which is where chefs usually go wrong with a bisque. Thumbs up again. After a brief pause and the opening of a half bottle of a good Chardonnay, our waitress, Aimee, brought us our next course, which turned out to be the surprise of the night. It was a salad of goat cheese and roasted golden beets over a bed of arugala dressed in a red wine vinaigrette. I flinched when she told us the ingredients. Ever since I was a kid, I have hated beets. I avoid them like the plague and I am sure I have told Pete this before. Just the smell of them when you open a jar is enough to kick in an autonomic retch or two. But these beets were not those awful red pickled things that I detest so much. These were fresh and roasted to perfection. They retained just the slightest bit of chewiness and the flavor was mild without being overly sweet. The pairing with the goat cheese was perfect. Deceptive in its simplicity but complicated on the palate. I loved it. I never thought I would eat a beet and enjoy it so much. Kudos to the chef for challenging me to cross my culinary line in the sand. Once we were settled again, she brought us a dish of braised rockfish (locally caught of course and as fresh as can be) served over a bed of wild rice and winter vegetable pilaf. The fish was moist, flaky and just chewy enough. The flesh was light and tasted clean. The pilaf offered just the right amount of contrast in flavor and texture. Getting fish just right is tough to do anytime but especially so during a busy service. Our last entree was the Route 17 pork platter which offered a glimpse of how flavorful pork can really be. The plate had another house-made sausage, some pulled pork with an in house BBQ sauce, and fork-tender baby back ribs sauced perfectly. Good, good, and more good. A nice glass of Pinot Noir accompanied this course. The dessert course turned out to be overkill and we could only manage a bite or two before throwing in the napkin. They sampled the key lime chess pie and pecan tart. Both were excellent but we were looking for the wafer-thin mint at this point. Overall, Vintage Tavern is impressive in every sense. Good service, nice decor, an eye-popping wine list, and a kitchen brigade that can stand on its own anywhere. The only down check is that it is located about 40 miles away from us. I asked Pete to drop the hint to the owner to open his next restaurant in my zip code so we can become regulars. read more

First of all I must say, in the past, the VT has been the place I tell everyone about. I have traveled around the world, and i just loved the food at the Tavern. Good local fare. This past Friday night we went and had a sub par meal. The soup had no seasoning, bland not one to have again. The greens were dried to a crisp from the heat lamps. The Chocolate cake was nothing more than a mini cupcake, dry and tasteless. The Shrimp and grit, yes grit as there wasn't more than a 1/8 of a cup under the shrimp. We had to ask for more grits, which were received quickly. I will say the coffee was outstanding! Sorry VT, but I think your level came down a few notches. read more

Cannot say enough good things about this phenomenal place!! Service is impeccable! The atmosphere is warm and inviting, our server Mary was a treasure! She was knowledgeable, friendly and prompt!! She arrange my Birthday meal beautifully!! The manager came by the table three times to insure all was above par and it definitely was!!! We drove two hours to enjoy this meal and I hope to return soon!!! Please don't miss the wonderful Vintage Tavern!!! read more

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A review of the Sunday Brunch: Shrimp & grits with andouille sausage: very tasty 2 bowls mushroom soup: very flavorful, creamy Pimento salad plate: creamy and flavorful came with fruit ,crackers baguettes 4 pieces of bacon Service: finished plates sat for 20 minutes, needed to request refills. Ambiance: lovely The price with tip: $72 You decide. read more

First time visiting Vintage Tavern and decided to sit in the bar area. Bartender was very attentive to patrons despite having to tend to a fairly-full bar. It was obvious she cared about the cocktails she made and if they didn't meet her expectations, she continued to refine until they were acceptable. She was well-versed in cocktails outside of the restaurant's menu, which was refreshing. The food selection in the bar area was quite expansive. The taste of southern is definitely worth trying. The only downside to this establishment is the prices. I would recommend this restaurant and will likely patronize again but not as frequently if the prices were a little lower. read more

Can't wait to return for seconds! I visited family in Newport News, and we chose this restaurant based on Yelp reviews. The reservations via OpenTable is a nice touch, makes it easy to reserve a table. I search out restaurants that source local ingredients, and Vintage Tavern did not disappoint. I was so thrilled that when I asked whether the beef was locally-sourced, the waitress knew exactly what I meant! The rest of my party was intrigued by the online menu, especially the Roasted Pig Plate. One note: the chef changes the menu much more often than is reflected online. I agree with another reviewer - even with the GPS we missed the turn into the restaurant and had to make a U-turn, and we did feel under-dressed for the restaurant. The decor is upscale clubhouse, with lovely exposed beams, lots of hardwood molding and several huge fireplaces. Our waitress provided impeccable service including assistance with a wine selection. We enjoyed many little touches that make dining special and memorable. My mother was particularly impressed that the host brought her a dark-colored napkin so as not to lint her black pants. The menu offers diverse options that appealed to each person in our table of 6. We enjoyed the oyster stew, the famous Roasted Pig Plate, braised short ribs, and the baby back ribs. When one guest at the table did not enjoy her scallops the waitress was quick to provide an alternative dish that could be served immediately, and she did not charge us for this dish. Desserts were heavenly. We sampled key lime sorbet, key lime chess pie, warm brownie with peppermint ice cream, creme brulee, and whiskey bread pudding. All delicious in their own way. All in all a wonderful experience. At the top of the menu, the owners write: "Relax and enjoy yourselves." This is the exact feeling we had during and after our fabulous meal. Thank you, Vintage Tavern! read more

Absolutely loved Vintage Tavern. Hubby and I went to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. We told the hostess when we called to place the reservation. Upon arrival we received a customized menu congratulating us on our anniversary. The service was wonderful. The food was top, top notch. Worth every penny! My only critique was that I did not like the cornbread and cheddar biscuit they give you. But I asked for French bread and they brought me these yummy slices of exactly what I wanted. Problem solved! I will be returning and spreading the word about this hidden gem in Suffolk. read more

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I wanted to like this place. I've really been starved for good food in Virginia so far, but while this was good, it wasn't great. First, I would like to give a nod to the service. My server was great and very personable, and really made my dinner a pleasant one. So I will say that aspect of the restaurant is top notch. Secondly, I'd like to discuss the decor. The outside was very cute, and the tavern part had a plethora of taxidermy which made it feel like a cool old tavern. But the main dining room was just a bit off. It appeared that some of the christmas decor (shiny gold ribbons over the fireplace) were still up at the March. Also, it was if they had a sale at some large vase place and they decided to buy 20 of them and put them all over the place. It just made the place feel surprisingly cluttered and definitely not coherent. So I started off with the Southern sampler. Now it's possible that since I'm not a Southerner that I can't really appreciate some of this. However, I've come to expect that southern food will be more buttery and succulent in a good way. The tiny biscuits seemed to be tasteless. I was expecting more out of the deviled eggs; frankly, my mom's are better. The homemade sausage was the standout item on the dish - they need to incorporate it into more items. The main dish was the gumbo. I'm not sure if they toned down the spice when they heard my Northern accent - but I feel like it could have used a bit more heat. It was good, but I was really hoping for a bit more flavor. Finally I had the blood orange sorbet. It was a really interesting tart flavor - but frankly too much for one person. Anyways, for the price that this all cost, I'm not sure I will be back. I'm all for updated southern food - but this was really the traditional dishes without the flavors. read more

This place is adorable. I love the ambiance here; not too fancy, but fancy enough for a special dinner out. Loved my Arnold Palmer and complimentary cornbread. I got the Route 17 pig plate and although it was delicious (especially the pork loin and mac and cheese!) and generously portioned, I wish I got a dish that was more unique. I had a bite of my partner's bison ribye, a special that night, and it was amazing...so tender with a perfect char. The creme brulee was excellent, although a little more burnt on top than I prefer. Service was great: plenty of drink refills, good timing on the foods brought to the table, happy birthday wishes from three staff members, and a manager who stopped by the table to check in. Would love to come back and sit outdoors in the garden area. read more

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

What a quaint niche restaurant in Suffolk! Came in with friends after walking the Smithfield Christmas Market. It was a later reservation and I'm somewhat (nah!) embarrassed to say we shut the place down while the boys smoked their cigars near the firepit on the patio. (loved it!) Really great menu. We started off with the Taste of Southern Goodness, add pimento cheese and the charcuterie. Fantastic. My entree was the ribs with mac n chese; excellent. Huge rack of ribs cooked to perfection .. honestly, two of us got this and we should have just shared. We will be back! read more

We found this place on open table one weekend when we were driving down to Norfolk to visit a friend before they shipped off on deployment. We wanted some place that none of us had been to before and the menu for Vintage Tavern intrigued us. With our handy dandy GPS we found the place fairly easily, although we did miss the turn and had to go a bit further down the road to make a U-turn. The exterior and interior remind me kind of like the type of restaurant you'd see at a golf course. Based on our quick glance at open table we didn't realize how formal it would be so we showed up in our khaki's and jeans and felt a tad under dressed. Our service for the evening was wonderful although since we were starving we probably could have done without the explanation of the slow food movement philosophy. We ordered the sausage appetizer special of the evening, which was excellent. I ordered the half chicken, while the men ordered the jambalaya and baby back ribs. Everything was perfect except I wasn't a huge fan of the broth they cooked my chicken in. The chicken was fine, but the broth that pooled on the plate kind of soaked into my vegetables and ruined the flavor. For dessert we ordered the guiness ice cream and then a cake that I don't see on their menu anymore (I think it was a key lime cake). The boys loved the desserts but they weren't my cup of tea. Four stars based on my dining companion's meals and the service/ambiance, I'll give it another try and order something different next time. read more

I came here a while ago, and it is now on my "must do" list every time I return to the Norfolk/Suffolk/Virginia Beach areas--it is worth a 30-45 minute drive! The food is the best--expensive, but worth every single penny--and the service and atmosphere are what seal the deal. The wine list is pretty good, and you will be pleased to bring your date or your group. read more