Wine sampling is a must! When visiting total wine you must check if you can sample wine. My latest…read morevisit I was thrilled to sample a brunch selection of wines. It was my birthday, so I had to pick up a penny wine. The past two years knowing you can pick out a bottle of wine for a penny during your birthday week is fabulous. There is not much in life these days you can get for a penny.

Lots of great craft beer selections, even with the build your own 6 pack you are not limited on…read morechoices

We arrived just after 4pm, only dinners in, had our choice of seating in the elegantly modern,…read morenautical atmosphere. It was very clean and inviting. The music playlist was from my mid 1980's HS years...loved that Our server was pleasant and knowledgeable of the menu, checked on items that she wasn't sure of, regarding our spice/allergy levels. The Brussel sprouts appetizer was phenomenal! We opted to have the feta on the side, due to one of our preferences, they were totally accommodating. I had a tasting of the white wines, wonderful broad spectrum of palate pleasing flavors and textures. There is a large private room for reserving. The gift shop has an array of gifts from, of course, their wines, but also candles, wine accessories, and canned/bottled sangrias and much more. Great monthly events are scheduled at the Waters Edge, too!!

This place is really nice!…read more My neighbors and I made a spontaneous visit after work on a Friday in the Fall thinking there was going to be live music. AMBIANCE: It was pretty dead on a Friday in October, I think there was 5 tables. I guess it was nice that I could hear my friends talk. SERVICE: Server was okay, not especially friendly but did her job well. FOOD/DRINKS: I had the california cab. We wanted to have the slushy but I think that was only a Summer thing. I ordered the crab cakes and although they were yummy, they were a bit overpriced for the quantity and size. Will I return? I think only for drinks and appetizers but not for dinner.

All the fall flavors of whisky, moonshine and vodka are out in stores. To my surprise they moved…read moreall the top shelf liquor is kept behind the counter. It's always busy every time I am in there.

In my quest to review, update and add ABC stores in the 757 I came across one in Norfolk that had a…read morespecial bottle. The store is located in the Neon District aka as the Arts District of Norfolk. The building was nothing special to look at and debris was in the parking lot. A bonus is that they do have curbside pickup by the door and a spacious lot. The staff was friendly and opened the door promptly at noon, by this time there was a line of around 14. Most were there for truck day and bourbon. This is not unusual whatsoever in Virginia which is a controlled liquor state. Once inside the store was not anymore impressive inside. Old dated and small. But the shelves were packed and the bourbon area in the back large. The employees had the allocated booze by the register. I asked for the Michters Rye Barrel Strength. They only had three at $90 a pop and limit one. Checkout by card easy. Staff never smiled, but hey they were nuts by now with a line out the door. Only 20 are permitted inside and they do count. I would skip the ABC location if you had a choice. If there is something special by all means shop away. Otherwise there are much better options.

Fantastic beer and a tremendous burger and even better to be able to enjoy both at Happy Hour…read morepricing and with great company. I selected The Veil as the spot for my UYE and enjoyed an evening of talking shop with the great J David H. while we drank those great beers. The Veil is a comfortable spot in the Railroad District and we were sitting in their dining area on the ground floor. Big tables and plenty of room this afternoon. Which we needed because that burger and fries needed elbow room to enjoy. I'd only suggest a pump-based ketchup dispenser as the packet thing is tedious. They opened here in 2019 - well after I was done with my projects in Virginia Beach and Chesapeake - transforming this three-story space into a family-friendly taproom and restaurant. The full kitchen specializes in indulgent smashburgers and Neapolitan-style pizzas that pair perfectly with the brewery's bold stouts, hazy IPAs, and seasonal sours. We didn't have the opportunity to enjoy the Only You Bar & Lounge upstairs. Maybe that's the next visit to Hampton Roads. [Round number review 1500 in Virginia - 911 of 2025 - 24467 overall]

First time and so freaking overdue! The Richmond based Veil is a beer juggernaut that opened up a…read moresecond location in Norfolk's Ghent hood pre pandemic in 2019. I only experienced the downstairs on my visit with Yelp friend Bruce K. The Happy Hour pricing was a draw as well as stellar reviews. Parking in their own smallish lot on a weekday was no problem. They also have free off street parking too! No debris in sight on my walk up. The signage is the building itself which is darn cool. They also offer outdoor seating. I started off with a Blend which is a Pale and Pilsner if I recall and it was tasty. The counter service was excellent. You can cash tip or card. Customers can also leave a tab open. The seating is wood bench type that comfortably seats six. The aesthetics of the first floor is high ceilings, concrete floors and walls. The kitchen has a garage door over the front. The space was previously a restaurant, but before may have been a factory, or warehouse. Only negative was music was a bit elevated for talking. Prior to Happy Hour concluding I ordered a $6 on special smash burger that comes with fries. No other dudes are available. The regular price is $12, so this is a deal friends. In about 20 minutes burgers and fries were delivered to the table. The look was downright amazing, so pretty much knew this bad boy was gonna be a hitter. The burger comes with double patty, cheese, Dukes mayo, lettuce a pickle. If something else I'm sorry I forgot. The first bite was phenomenal! Fresh bread, perfectly cooked 80/20 beef which was not greasy. The construction was a masterpiece. The thin fries were cooked crispy and seasoned well, yum! Honestly I could eat that burger everyday. The whole experience was exceptional and worthy of a full 5. Totally recommend checking The Veil Brewing out.

Elation Brewing has a fantastic atmosphere. The space is large and open with an airy indoor layout…read moreand plenty of outdoor seating. It's the kind of place that works for almost any occasion, whether you're hanging out with a big group, grabbing a drink solo, or meeting up for a casual date. There are lots of different seating options, which makes the space feel flexible and comfortable. They also host live music and trivia on certain nights, which adds to the overall vibe. I went on a Sunday around 6:30pm. It wasn't crowded, but there was still a good crowd if that makes sense. It felt lively without being packed. Their drink selection is great. They have plenty of beer options, but also serve wine, seltzers, cider, and non alcoholic drinks, which I really appreciate since I'm not much of a beer person. I ordered the frozen rosé slushie in wild raspberry and it was strong. I also had the black cherry fruited cider, which was delicious. For food, I ordered The Hive pizza and it was excellent. The crust was thin-ish and tasted homemade, and the ingredients were clearly high quality. No complaints at all. Service was friendly and efficient, and the bathrooms were very clean. Random detail, but the toilet paper was noticeably better quality than what you usually find in bars. It was not plush, but strong and not paper thin. Overall, I loved the atmosphere, the food, the drinks, and the service. I will definitely be back.

One of my favorite things to do when it's nice out is go to a brewery, restaurant, or park and sit…read moreoutside! Tonight my sister took me to Elation Brewing, and I will absolutely be back! Elation Brewing has a huge indoor and outdoor area with plenty of different styles of seating! It is family and pet friendly, and they have fire pits for cooler days/nights. I love that the inside still has huge open windows to allow that fresh cross breeze in. They are known for their pizza, but they also have a variety of other things to eat on their menu. There is also a number of different beers, seltzers, IPAs, and wines to try. Tonight I had the White Cranberry Sangria from Water's Edge Winery (also in Norfolk) and the Downeast Black Cherry! While both were really good, I prefer the Downeast because it was sparkling and just more refreshing. We also had the bacon Gouda pizza and the Hive pizza with hot honey. Both were great! I had never had a hot honey pizza but would definitely get it again! Tonight was trivia night and they had a good size crowd come out. I like that you could actually hear the questions despite so many people. A lot of times I can barely hear! Also inside the same place is Voyager Coffee. They're only open 7-4. I would love to give them a try. Oh and Elation does offer military discount but only on their to-go beers! The ONLY reason I did not give Elation five star is because I wish they had actual servers. You have to go up to the counter to order each time, and the lines get pretty long. Being able to order from the table, even if from a QR code where you could order and pay online would be a plus. Lastly, for such a large space, the parking lot is tiny. You'd either have to find street parking or there is additional parking at the CEO building on Colley.

I had the pleasure of visiting Grain two times within the past week, and both times were great…read more First of all, this is a spectacular venue. It is on the 5th Floor of the Hilton Norfolk Main, and it is a massive venue with lots of indoor and outdoor space, with a beautiful fire pit in the outdoor area for chilly nights. I first went for lunch on 04/27/2026, and it was open seating. Our service was pleasant, quick and very courteous. I had the buffalo chicken spring rolls, which were so yummy and I also had some of the Philly steak grain fries. I also attended a private company event/dinner on that same evening. For that, the food was catered and was equally delicious -- but had some things you will not find on the regular menu. Again, an overall great visit x2, and I would definitely return again. A great place to go with friends.

Atmospherically speaking, Grain is top notch. Both the indoor and outdoor seating areas are chic,…read morecomfortable, and offer excellent views. The bar is located right in the center of it all and there are so many beers on tap plus fun cocktails! I visit the area on business and whenever I do, I always make a stop at Grain due to its convenient location in our usual Hilton, plus we really do have such fun here! The service is friendly and relaxed. I never feel rushed despite how busy they get. In terms of food, I have to admit it's pretty average. I recommend it for drinks and appetizers or a late bite. Every dinner I've had has been a bit lackluster. Not bad, but not great or memorable either. I tried the blackened chicken tacos this week which were a bit dry and I found the cucumber salad a strange side dish for tacos. Also had a smash burger which was overcooked. That said, the bar bites and apps were good! Mozzarella sticks, wings, fries, and dips are satisfying. All in all, I call it a 3.5/5. It's a fun spot that I continue to enjoy with my colleagues!

I had a taste for some seafood and decided to go to this restaraunt since it was walking distance…read morefrom my college campus. As soon as I entered, I was greeted and was told to make myself right at home and to sit down at any table that I wanted to. The inside of the restaraunt was small but cozy and gave a "at home" comfort feel vibe. There is a nice size bar and a few tables scattered around for seating. I ordered the sunset punch which was there signature drink, it was really delicious! I believe the server told me it had a mixture of 3 alcohols in it. It did not taste strong at all but I definitely felt it. It was a really good mixture. For my entree I ordered the fried scallops, fries, and coleslow. My scallops were fried exactly to my liking and were nice shape sizes. I personally do not like coleslaw - but i really enjoyed the taste of their coleslaw. The server informed me that she doesn't make her coleslaw mayonaise based. It was soo good! She also gave me a side of soysauce for my scallops which was my first time trying that combination. It was really good, definitely gave the scallops an extra flavorful kick to it. If you are near ODU college campus, I would suggest this spot if you have a taste for some seafood!

Very cute, intimate place serving excellent seafood! We stopped by for lunch and were greeted…read morecheerily. Menu was not huge, but plenty of options. Unfortunately, no soft shell crab available currently, so we "settled" for starting with a dozen oysters. Their version of a dozen was 14...New Math but not complaining! Fresh and briney from Eastern Shore; we devoured them. I has fish tacos, fresh fish with blackened seasoning, wife had fish & chips. The fish was fresh, local rockfish, and didn't need vinegar or sauce of any sort. Owner/cook was pleasant to talk with, and we truly enjoyed ourselves. Apparently some evenings they have music, open mike nights and other fun, which we will have to come back and try.

Ahh Birch.... still killing it like usual. The draft selection nice with the awesome GM that was…read moresuper friendly and informative. We enjoy coming out here for our rare date night. Even though we've been dabbling in more liquors, this place continues to step it up in exclusive meads and beers that are just practically impossible to find anywhere else. They've kicked it up a bunch of notches with their continued amazing grilled cheese sandwich menu. I wish I could elaborate more than just 'grilled cheese' but if you wanted to elevate a grilled cheese to fine dining, this is about what you'd expect. I appreciate this place as it's hard to believe I was there on day 1 when it opened. A lot has happened since then but it has definitely kept the core of it's intent - serve high quality beer. Food Taste: 5 Overall Service: 5 Value of food to cost: 5 Facility: 5 Ambiance: Small bar area that is nice in ambiance as I'm a big fan of the low-key vibe. Repeat customer: yes Dog Friendly: patio

Great selection on drafts. All the snacks were good. Especially liked the pickled okra & pickled…read morecauliflower & hummus. 10 out of 10. I did a cider/mead flight. And hubs got a sours & stout. Staff was super friendly and I loved the vibe in their. Such a cool spot.

Our favorite bar in Ghent, Norfolk. The drinks are good, food is excellent and affordable and the…read morestaff is always friendly and attentive. We don't even live in Virginia but make it a point to go here every time we visit. It has the feel of a friendly neighborhood bar and just has a great vibe. Multiple tv screens make it ideal for watching sports.

Wings were okay. Steven said that this was his favorite restraint to get chicken wings, but I was…read morenot super duper impressed. I liked that the staff made sure to address any questions and concerns with the menu before we ordered, but they would disrupt us with too many check-ins at our table, even when it was clear that we were deep in conversation and did not need anything. Would interrupt and take over our conversations at the table. I liked that there are different flavors available to try with the wings, but they only limit you to two of them. Very dim lighting that it is hard to read the menu, but I guess that it creates a more intimate atmosphere. Hard to take any nice photos. Mostly high tables and stools, which I do not prefer, but at least there is enough seating. Cool that there is even a pool table nearby if you want to do something else besides sit around and talk. Crazy good pricing here, though; could not believe my eyes!

We held our command social at The Ghent in Norfolk on January 29, 2026 -- about 80 of us showed up…read morehungry, picky, and wearing name tags. Raina and her husband were absolute legends throughout the whole planning circus. They were patient, flexible, and somehow managed to make our half-formed ideas sound like genius event plans. If event-planning were a sport, they'd have a trophy case. The food? Delicious. The variety? Phenomenal. They accommodated every dietary restriction thrown at them (gluten-free, vegan, keto, "I only eat food that looks like it was prepared by a wizard") -- seriously impressive. No one went home hangry or disappointed. The Ghent itself is gorgeous -- cozy enough for a date night but spacious enough for 80 Perfect for date night, nights out with friends, or casual command socials where you want great food and zero drama. Final verdict: five stars across the board. Highly recommended

Great Place to host an event for any occasion!!!!!…read more We hosted our Command "After the Holiday" Party. We have remote workers throughout the US and Norfolk is where we call home. We decided to host it at this beautiful event and thet did not dissapoint. Everything was done so well from the food to the staff. They made us feel so comfortable and we were even able to have familes with there little ones join. They made sure everyone that was there was able to enjoy and have a great time. The Managers Mr and Mrs. Mayhung made us feel welcomed and taken care of. The staff was tryly remarkable and we are looking forward to many more events with them. Lisa Debouse