UPDATE: My first review from nearly 10 years ago left this restaurant wanting! But baby, when I tell you time is a healer, I'm talking about Waterman's. We had a party of 10. I was surprised that we were able to get reservations for the same day, but we were. Everything was lovely! Check-in was great, the service was great, the food was served hot and delicious, the billing (5 couples) was handled well, even the time-delayed order for a couple that arrived late was handled well. Waterman's is more than just hype, it's the real deal! 10 out of 10! read more

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Decided to go on a random weeknight, and they were slammed! Not too long of a wait, and the crushes while we waited at the downstairs bar were good. The food and service were super fast, and it's no wonder Watermans remains a top destination for locals and tourists alike. read more

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The food was just as delicious as I had the last time I visited VA Beach! My hushpuppies were soooo good! Upgrading the side of fries to crabby fries is definitely the move of all moves! Their Key Lime Pie is out of this world! A number of flies in the bar area, otherwise it's easily 5 stars! Chris was a great bartender too. read more

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Food- food is solid every time. Especially for a beachfront restaurant in a touristy area. Seafood so fresh, fried dishes crispy, lots of side options, large variety of options for adults and kids. Good portion sizes and flavorful. Drinks- the orange crush is the star. Barr dwells said they crush 1000 on a busy weekend. Really Fresh and tasty. The rose was also light and fruity. Service- Deanna was super accommodating, friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu. Drinks and food came out quickly and all the staff we interacted with was super helpful. They are busy and know how to handle it. Space- beachy and casual. Inside and outside bar. Two host stations. Covered patio seating, indoor dining room and bar seating. Bar seating is first come first serve. And, they have free valet parking. But make sure you tip these guys. They are super quick and even running around making sure folks get their card quickly. read more

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The location and atmosphere right on the ocean were very nice, the orange crushes are lights out in my opinion. I loved their crab soup, which had some great flavor. My main dish was crab cakes, which had some good flavorful fried meat. I would definitely do a return trip here. read more

My burger was good, but my husband said his yellowfin tuna sandwich was just okay. The she crab soup had quite a bit of shell in it. The biggest issue was that we specifically ordered the orange crush cake to bring home to someone who is a big fan of orange crushes and talked about it with the waitress at length then got home to realize she had given us the chocolate cake instead. So service could definitely have been better in that aspect. Service was great otherwise and it's a super cool location. read more

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If the crabby frys are this amazing after being carried across the beach in a to go container.... The rest of the menu must be bumping ... could have licked the cup clean when the fries were gone... maybe i did ‍.... ? No used a fork... but would have licked it clean if no one was watching .... read more

Waterman's Surfside Grille - Crabby Fries - Bars Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

Orange crush destination! Excellent food and excellent staff! Nice beach ambience! Gift shop has community inspired art and crafts and an excellent eclectic itens. read more

My husband and I were checking out VA Beach and the boardwalk for the first time. We stopped for lunch and both snagged a Caesar salad with blackened chicken. It was good and the portion sizes were reasonable. We sat on the patio and enjoyed the view & people watching. Our service was so fast and price was fair. A great little place on the boardwalk. Oh, and their gift shop inside has super cute stuff! read more

Had a great experience at Waterman's Restaurant. Valet parking was easy, and the attendants were friendly and hustling. We had a short wait for a table, but service was excellent once seated. The best part is the location--right on the beach with a great ocean view during dinner. Kids had the fried shrimp with fries and coleslaw and enjoyed it. I had the Caesar salad with salmon, which was good, but the standout was definitely the crab soup--rich, flavorful, and had a whole lotta chunks of crab. I'm still thinking about it a week later. They really know how to make waves--especially with that crab soup. Check them out, and that crap soup is worth going back for. read more

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Solid crab cake sandwich. Friendly bar service. Casual oceanfront setting on the boardwalk. Perfect if you're at the beach and need a quality bite. read more

Waterman's Surfside Grille - Broiled Crab Cake Sandwich - Bars Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

the fried seafood platter with a blueberry lemonade. The platter came with fried fish, shrimp, scallops, a crab cake, hush puppies, and fries. Everything arrived hot and crispy, and the portion was huge. The crab cake was the standout for me because it had plenty of actual crab and didn't taste overloaded with filler. The blueberry lemonade was also really good and refreshing. I sat inside with a view of the ocean, and the atmosphere was busy but still relaxed. This was exactly the kind of seafood meal I wanted at the beach, and I would definitely come back. read more

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I have been here before. The place is still good. Location is great. The menu is well balanced. The plates are a bit smaller than i recall. We got there at happy hour time which starts at 2 pm. This includes 3 small dishes. We chose the fish tacos which were good. We shared a seafood platter which was hood but expensive $36 for 6 shrimps, 4 scallops and some crab scrambles. It came with coleslaw and some french fries. The taste was good. The service was very good. Draft beer at happy hour was $5. Regular wine runs from $12-16 a glass. The wine selection is limited but they offer a nice selection of cocktails which we did not tried. read more

I was very excited to try Waterman's based on other reviews, but it did not live up to what I expected. The best part about waterman's are the drinks especially the crushes. The mozzarella sticks were nice and crispy and were the best part of our meal. When it comes to crab cakes I am very picky. The sauce that comes with the crab cakes compliments them very well. The mashed potatoes are were very basic and I wished they had more flavor. The coleslaw was awful and tasted like they had been made with dirty dish water. We ate there late and they were still very busy. I would definitely come back, but only for the crushes. The service was great, but the food was lack luster. read more

Waterman's Surfside Grille - Mozzarella sticks - Bars Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

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This was my husband & my first visit to Waterman's. It was recommended to him by a work colleague. We travel to Va Beach quite frequently & I have to admit, I have not been as attentive as I thought I was when it comes to great places to dine because sadly I did not have this restaurant on my radar. However, after this visit, that error on my part will be remedied. We both absolutely enjoyed our dining experience at Waterman's. The service was impeccable. The decor & ambience was very complimentary to the beachfront vibe.The food was absolutely spectacular. The cocktails we ordered were delightful. They were bright, citrusy & perfectly mixed. We ordered the she crab soup & a Caesar salad as our appetizers. The She Crab Soup was rich & velvety. It had a nice mellow yet flavorful taste of crab. The Caesar salad was nice & fresh & not overpowered with dressing. I ordered the Shrimp Platter as my entree and the shrimp were perfectly cooked. The fries that came with the platter were delicious. The platter also came with Cole Slaw. I am not a Cole slaw fan so I did not really eat it. So I cannot really rate the taste of it. My husband ordered the Crab cakes & although I neglected to get a picture, he said they were delicious. Full of ample amounts of actual crab meat. He ordered the key lime pie as dessert & I did get a taste & it was rich, smooth with a beautiful not overly tart key lime taste. Waterman's is now definitely on our go there whenever we are in Va Beach list. I highly recommend giving a try if you are in the area. read more

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Great restaurant for a Family dinner out. She-crab soup was excellent. Apps of calamari were just ok. A little too greasy. Suggest ordering 1/2 rack of ribs for app instead! Rockfish that wife ordered was excellent quality as was my fish tacos. Kids ordered steak and crabcakes as well as blacked tuna. All excellent. Definitely would recommend for a seafood fix. read more

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Waterman's was an excellent brunch experience and we will definitely be returning soon. The food came out hot, fresh, and absolutely delicious. A special shoutout to our waitress, Nikki, who was amazing. We had several substitutions, sides, and food allergies within our group, and what could have easily turned into incorrect orders was handled perfectly. She got everything right, was attentive, professional, and made the entire experience smooth and enjoyable. It was brunch time and not too busy, which made for a relaxed atmosphere. Highly recommend trying the fried chicken, shrimp and crab omelette, and the home fries. Everything was flavorful and prepared perfectly. Great food, outstanding service, and a wonderful overall experience. Highly recommend! read more

Upon arrival the valet was really cool and they work on tips. They were super friendly and I must say they were truly a dream, respectful of my vehicle and I didnt have a long wait time upon pick either. There was quite a few people here on a Monday night and that was actually really refreshing. I was seated on the covered patio outside which wasn't an issue. It was a bit chilly outside but it was fine where I was but I was happy I had on long sleeves. After being seated my server greeted and told what the fish of the day was, which was rock fish but I settled on the Cajun chicken pasta. I didn't wait long for the food at all, at first I thought that was pretty awesome until I received my pasta and it was drier than the Sahara desert. Then to add insult to injury there was a charge to have sauce added but so be it because there was no amount of swishing around my pasta to spread the sauce to even attempt to be satisfied. The sauce creation took longer than it did to get the actual meal and that's what earned the 3 stars because my meal was certainly cold by the time I received the sauce. Ridiculous. My server via it all did check on me and by no means did I hold it against him at all and still tipped him handsomely. Did I mention this was my first time here on a solo date for self...first impressions huh smh I will have to come back again to see if the service is better on a warmer day. Wasnt impressed by yesterday's meal but the customer service was great with the actual people interaction l had. read more

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This was recommended and we were happy. I love seafood and he can't eat it......but this was a happy balance. We sat on the covered yet heated patio with a great view of the beach. Tony the server was great with dish recommendation and attentiveness. The crab cake was fried; trying something out of my norm, I get broiled. That crab cake had no flavor, not even Old Bay. It was as if they forgot. I use the calamari sauce, which was delicious. Mashed potatoes (taste like instant mashed potatoes) and broccoli were bland as well. I just made it work because I was starving. Babe had the Cajun Chicken Pasta yup he loved it, devoured it.....said it was so delicious. Didn't even offer a taste of it. Orange Crush drink was 10/10 he had 2 and sucked them down so fast. Calamari was good no flavor without the sauce Hush puppies were cooked perfectly and good She crab soup was amazing!!! Lump crab filled i love that. -----‐------------------------------------- When we first walked in we are politely greeted, to the left small store and to the right a bar area. Then there was a dog on a leash with no sort of vest but told it was a service dog. Instead of seating at the bar we decided patio, to not eat with dog hair floating around our food. Dog allergies are real and people aren't considerate of others. Food: 3 star Service: 5 star Atmosphere: 3 star It was the service for me........ read more

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Extraordinary. I can barely form the words for how amazing this restaurant is. From the time you walk in the doors, you can tell you are going to have a great experience. The interior is beautiful, and the bathrooms were clean. We ended up having a 45 minute wait that was well worth the wait. Once seated, we were immediately waited upon. Our drinks got to the table in only a minute or two, then our dinners arrived 10-15 minutes after ordering. Our waitress was kind and quick to assist with any needs. I got the endless summer salad, which had such fresh ingredients that melded well together. My mom got the crab imperial, and she said it was divine, melt in your mouth, with a good amount of meat. The mashed potatoes were buttery, and the sauteed veggies were seasoned well. My dad got the full rack of ribs, and they were so good he finished the whole thing. The bbq sauce tasted like no other, and the meat was fall off the bone. My husband got a crab sauce over tuna (cooked medium), and everything was just seasoned to perfection. Every one of us wanted more no matter how full we were. Expect to pay higher prices for this restaurant, but it will be well worth the price (and that's saying something considering how frugal I am). Do not miss dining at Waterman's if you are in Virginia Beach, you will definitely regret it. read more

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This place is amazing! It overlooks the beach so you have an amazing view while you eat. Their seafood were all very fresh and delicious. Their calamari and crab cakes are absolutely amazing and are a must have! read more

Waterman's Surfside Grille - Just Seafood and fried fish tacos - Bars Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

Appetizer: 9/10 (Famous Crab Dip) Cocktail: 7/10 (Orange Crush) Entrée: 7/10 (Crab Cakes & Miso-Salmon) Dessert: 10/10 (Ice-cream sandwich) Service: 8/10 We got seated straight away without a reservation. We were well cared for the entire time. The food came out quickly despite the restaurant being packed. I got lost looking for the restroom and was helped promptly. Ambiance: 10/10 Staff was very willing to meet our requests of having a view of the ocean while we ate. Because of their attentiveness, we were able to have a nice dinner with a view. read more

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Really great seafood, good service, and a picture perfect setting right at the beach. ELITE VA BEACH spot!! read more

Waterman's Surfside Grille - Bars Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

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Waterman's is always a solid choice when I'm in the area. The she-crab soup is incredible, the handmade mozzarella sticks are next level, and they make a really great Old Fashioned. Everything tastes fresh and well executed without feeling over the top. The ambiance really adds to it too. It has that polished, coastal feel that makes it a nicer dining experience, but still feels comfortable and relaxed. It works just as well for a casual night out as it does for a more intentional dinner, and the atmosphere makes it easy to settle in and enjoy your time. What really stands out, though, is the staff. Everyone is genuinely friendly and makes you feel welcome from the minute you walk in. It's one of those places that's just easy to enjoy, whether you're grabbing a drink at the bar or sitting down for a full meal. read more

I was on vacation in VA Beach and Waterman's was recommended to me! It was popping and seems like it is always busy, so I would go early! The good thing is that you can sit at the bar and order food and drinks, so my friend and I went to the outdoor bar and could sit right away, instead of waiting for an hour! We were told we needed to try these specialties-- orange crush cocktail, she crab soup, and crab fries. All of these were so amazing! We also ordered fried shrimp and fried oysters, but felt this was too heavy and not as good as the appetizers. If I were to go back, I would just order several appetizers and share! Sitting at the bar has pros and cons. Pros: no wait, watching the bartenders make the drinks in front of you, and quick service! Cons: bees flying everywhere! They left us alone, but be aware. read more

Waterman's Surfside Grille - Crab fries, she crab soup, orange crush - Bars Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

Waterman's Surfside Grill is a lively friendly tasty 40-year-old bar and seafood restaurant. If you time it right, you can get a terrific view of the ocean in their "stadium-tiered" seating. Their reservations policy says it can change, and this day it was for groups of 6 or more, and we were only two. We got there before 7pm on a Sunday this past 4th of July weekend, and they were hopping! We left our car with the free valet (tips accepted on the way out :-), and asked for ocean-view seating, then waited in the lively bar up front, where friendly busy bartenders were flying, keeping up with a hectic scene. Start with their famous orange crushes, strong and sweet, which Waterman says that their earlier establishment introduced to Virginia Beach about a decade ago, and which are something of a fixture around town. Mighty refreshing! We didn't wait long at all, maybe 15 minutes, and were whisked to a corner window table! Plenty of people-watching on the boardwalk, and the ocean put on a splashy show in advance of an offshore storm, which also brought out some creative kites. The two of us shared some apps and plates, (and several more crushes :-), and kept the price quite reasonable for such delicious fresh seafood. Their lightly flash-fried calamari was tender with just enough bite, with zingy banana pepper rings and a rich orange-chipotle dipping sauce that shows off the smokey-sweet flavor of that pepper. The good-size scallops were delicate and juicy and gently-seared with veggies. A very satisfying generous serving of five scallops. Our shared main dish was the perfectly blackened "coldwater" salmon with fresh-cilantro rice and lightly sauteed veggies, a well-prepared taste sensation. All were delicious offerings! Everyone here was friendly and efficient and busy, and the food and drinks were fabulous. A shoutout (and a well-deserved full-dinner tip) to our wonderful attentive server who never flinched at our small party dining lightly and drinking specials at a window table during a busy dinner hour :-). read more

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2025 July Back 1 year later and the food and service was still very good. It was Friday so no happy menu which is a great deal. read more

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I would like to share some beautiful photos of perfectly plated food, but full disclosure- I started scarfing everything down the second the waiter dropped it on the table. We (a party of 6) arrived mid-afternoon on a holiday weekend (the Sunday after the busy July 4 beach celebration) and were promptly seated. It's worth noting here that Waterman's has great tables for slightly larger parties- nice round tables so you can actually face and speak to everyone in the party. You don't feel boxed in or squished next to your neighbor. Our waiter, whose name I wish I'd written down, was absolutely fantastic. He gave us a quick run down on the specials and handed out the lunch menus. I'd prescanned the menu online and was disappointed to see the lunch menu didn't have the "just scallops" dish I'd been craving and he waved off my disappointment and said that they could make anything off the dinner menu as well. Waterman's claims to be the home of the original orange crush drink. If you follow the crush scene, you likely already know there's some controversy over whether it was actually originated in Ocean City or Virginia Beach. I'm no beverage historian, so I won't hazard a guess as to accuracy of that claim but I will say Waterman's ALWAYS has the best crushes. They use actual hand operated citrus crush machines to squeeze out fresh OJ, add triple sec, their own Waterman's distilled crush vodka, and a splash of sprite. The result is refreshing, tasty, and gives a nice kick! The crush I had this day was no exception. Two of my guests were out-of-towners so after indoctrinating them on the necessity of an orange crush, I explained that the crown jewel here for me is the she-crab soup. It's the best on the oceanfront, and if you skip it then you're missing out. All six of us indulged, and all six of us were moaning with pleasure as we did so. My "just scallops" were just perfect! Huge, drenched in butter and seasoning, served alongside rice and veggies, it was my idea of a perfect meal. Note that you get to select two sides, these are my go-tos but you have other options as well including mashed potatoes, fries, hush puppies, and various other items. My husband decided to get the tuna sandwich and absolutely raved about it. It looked to be cooked perfectly, not overdone and not raw. Funny note, he said, "I don't usually love tuna but this is incredible" and I wondered why he ordered tuna if he doesn't usually love it but that orange crush may have gone to his head. We left with our guests feeling spoiled and fat, the way one should after a REALLY good meal! If you want to experience a truly good meal in a really beautiful setting- hit up Waterman's! read more

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Amazing service. My dad and I came during the off season and although it was quiet, there was a nice ambiance. The food was fresh tasting and delicious! Great spot for a nice family outing read more

Waterman's Surfside Grille - Crab stuffed fish of the day - Bars Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

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Loved the service. We were immediately seated where our waitress was so sweet and lets us know the drinks of the day due to the monster truck on the beach event. She said usually the view is amazing but since there was a monster truck rally getting ready to start we got to see tents and food trucks lol. I loved my meal my cousins and I got the same meal with a few differences but it was very filling. The crab dip was so amazing. I loved how smooth it was and tasty. My meal was the just seafood meal made with lemon, butter white wine and old bay seasoning. Well done! Old bay was not overdone as it can be at some places. I was able to sub items instead of fries I got hush puppies and instead of Cole slaw I got mixed veggies read more

Waterman's Surfside Grille - Just seafood with jumbo shrimp scampi, scallops and crab meat with lemon, butter white wine and old bay seasoning. Hush puppies - Bars Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

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We come here on our annual trip to VA beach. The ambiance is typical for a seafood house - somewhat loud especially on the covered patio, but it has a view of the beach. I had the fried oysters which were excellent! My partner had the first seafood which is always fresh and a good sized portion. Fries are in a dedicated frier so gluten free for those who need. I was not crazy about the crabcake but my family really likes it (I'm from MD so picky). The seafood Mediterranean pasta was also wonderful and flavorful and fresh. Orange crush is a must! Service was great. read more

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I came on a Thursday evening and was told they only accept walk in only, no reservations. I arrived at 6:15 to get a table for 7 and was quoted about 1.5 hr wait. While that wait I went to the backside to have an orange crush drink while the wait. It was such a good cocktail and felt refreshing!After about an hour and half they had the table ready. I got the Crab Stuffed Fish of the day ($33) and take came out in about 30 minutes. The crab and fish were phenomenal! The crab was the star of the meal. The vegetables and rice were lacking a bit, but they were just the sides. Staff and service were ok given on busy it was. Food(50%): 8.3 Staff/service(25%): 6.0 Value(25%): 6.0 Overall: 7.2/10 read more

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We came back!! And loved it just as much as our first visit! Great staff, great food, and great views of the beach! Waterman's is on our 'Must Go To' list when we visit Virginia Beach! The She Crab Soup is among the best we've had here and that is the opinion of a She Crab Soup snob!! Well done Watermans! read more

Throughly enjoy our lunch. Service and staff was friendly. Definitely can't wait to return and try the crab cakes. read more

Waterman's Surfside Grille - Seafood mediterranean - Bars Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

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Very good seafood and drinks with location right on the beach. Good ambiance and service, also.

I'm not often around VA Beach but when I am I have to make a stop at Waterman's. It's been my go-to spot for years now. I love the cajun pastas - both the Waterman's original pasta and the cajun chicken pasta. I've also had a few appetizers (calamari, she crab soup, hushpuppies) and drinks (orange crush, strawberry lemonade, lemon crush) and they have all been great too, though the drinks are a bit smaller than I'd like. The restaurant is usually packed so you may have a wait. They have seating indoors, in their covered patio, and at the bar. read more

Waterman's Surfside Grille - Cajun Chicken Pasta - Bars Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

Our friends suggested we try this place out so we did since it was right on the beach. Very neat & clean establishment, friendly staff and good service. We ordered from the happy hour menu: 1. 1/2 lb shrimp for $8- It was boiled shrimp with seasoning on top, a small side of cocktail sauce and 1 slice of lemon. It was decent. 2. Tacos for $8 -2 fish tacos with mango slaw. It was alright. 3. OG Crush- definitely not for me & wouldn't order it again. The kids ordered: 1. Chicken tenders 2. Pasta w/marinara sauce 3. BBQ burger or sandwich -basically pulled pork sandwich & it was pretty good! We absolutely loved their HOMEMADE KEY LIME PIE!! We would definitely order this every single time!!! So yummy read more

I appreciate that the bar area seating is open which includes booths for up to 5. I ordered the fried flounder, the fish of the day and it was really good. I wish I received more than 1 piece but it was a good amount for a meal. The broccoli and potatoes were good too. The waitress was very nice and made sure we were happy with our meals. read more

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Came here with a party of 10 (6 adults and 4 kids) and we were seated immediately. The place looked busy from the outside and we thought we'd have to wait long for a table. Many patrons opted to eat at their "indoor/outdoor" space to enjoy the chilly April weather and we were seated in a section that was quiet enough where we were disturbing other patrons or vice versa with 4 kids! The menu was extensive and offered the typical foods you'd find along a beach side restaurant (i.e.: burgers, friends, wraps, salads, etc.). I loved that the menu was extensive and offered something for everyone. I ordered the tropical chicken burger which was SO good that I wish I didn't share the other half with my husband. We tend to each other something different and split the dish so we can try different dishes. He ordered the pulled pork sandwich, which was disappointing. Salty and kind of dry and was just meh after shoving that tropical chicken in my mouth. Other dishes that were ordered was a fish tacos, buffalo bites, and a lot of drinks during their happy hour. Our waitress was amazing. With 10 people asking for different things at different times, she was really on top of us and made sure we didn't wait too long for whatever we asked for. She even gave us souvenir plastic cups that our drinks came in which was nice. If I ever came back to VB, this is definitely one place I would come back to! read more

Waterman's Surfside Grille - Tropical chicken sandwich - Bars Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

The 3 stars are for the waiter. He did an amazing job. I wish I got his name. Not much parking available, but the restaurant has valet that was very convenient. The atmosphere was lively and almost every seat had a view of the beach/water. The just seafood dish was just ok... jumbo shrimp wasn't jumbo, scallops were a little under cooked and not much lump to the lump crab meat... it tasted more like butter than anything else. Also, wasn't that impressed with the orange crush... maybe another flavor. This place came highly recommended... so I may have had a unique one-off bad experience. The service and atmosphere (and reputation) would bring me back for a second try if/when I'm back in the area. read more