My friend invited me out to Crystal Palate for a wine tasting on a Wednesday and I couldn't wait to…read morestop in. As a wine lover, I love trying new places where I can indulge in a variety of different wines. I was pleasantly greeted as soon as I walked in and I couldn't help but notice how beautiful this place was. They not only offer an assortment of wine, but also a variety of crackers, cheeses, olives, honey and other treats as well. We were offered a sample of the Sage Derby Cheese and it was so good, I bought two lol. Once everyone arrived, we went into the Wine Tasting Room to learn about the wines of the Pacific Northwest and to sample wines from that region. The class was very educational and I learned quite a few things. For example, Cabernet Franc is the parent of Cabernet Sauvignon, which is my favorite wine. Once the tasting wrapped up, we were able to socialize with the group and the staff. We inquired about the membership and they even shared that they offer opportunities to wine school as well. Overall, I had the best time at Crystal Palate! The staff were extremely personable and the wines were great! Wine Wednesday EDUtastings are a great way to learn about different wines from specific regions so definitely stop in if you are a wine lover like myself! You will not be disappointed!!!

Okay... I officially have a new favorite spot, and it's Crystal Palate…read more At this point, my Wednesdays might as well be reserved because their wine tastings are THAT good. Each week they feature a different region and really take you on a full deep dive -- this week was the Pacific Northwest, and between the four wine samples and the education behind each one, I left feeling like I actually learned something (while still having a great time, of course). I brought a friend with me this time -- the same one who originally introduced me to Cooper's Hawk -- so it felt a little full circle being able to put her onto a place for once. And let me just say... she was impressed. Like, immediately texting people about it impressed. Now let's talk about that in-house herb cheddar. I don't even remember exactly what herbs were in it, but I DO know it was so good I had to buy some to take home... and my friend liked it so much she bought two. That should tell you everything you need to know. What really sets Crystal Palate apart though is that it's not just a tasting -- it's an experience. They offer classes, events, and even certification programs if you want to really get into wine and learn how to educate others. You can tell they genuinely love what they do, and it shows in every part of the experience. Honestly, I loved it so much I even asked if they were hiring -- that's how you know it's real. Great wine, great atmosphere, great energy... this place is a whole vibe. So if you're wondering where I'll be on Wednesday nights... you can find me and Lexi right here at Crystal Palate

First time here and it was a great atmosphere. Cute small wine spot. Wine tasting was great. $25…read morefor 8 tastings yesterday. My friends said they are usually $5 for 4 tastings but I guess since it was spring break they raised the price. One of the lady pouring upstairs was rude. But that was my only concern about this place. And just a heads up this is a small place so if there is a crowd there's not much space to walk

Mia's class, six shades of Grenache, was phenomenal -- a perfect 10 out of 10! She was incredibly…read morerelatable, which made the entire experience so enjoyable and engaging. Definitely make sure you check her out!

I found this tour on groupon and I called Deanna to get tickets for me and my friend. She was super…read morenice and I was super excited to go on this tour. The tour comes with complimentary breakfast and lunch. We got picked up at the little station behind Freedom Car Wash and Wawa. The bus was brand new and very comfortable. They had a selection of apple cinnamon muffins, sweet potato pastries, grapes, and strawberries with blueberries for breakfast. The muffins and sweet potato pastries made by a contestant on Master Chef Junior and the muffins were great. I didn't have the pastries because I don't like sweet potatoes. We were offered a bag with water and a granola bar with brochures for wineries and some for the ones we were going to. The was also a scent bag with soy candle samples from Pink Zebra. They smelled great. Next on the list was gathering the rest of the group for the trip from Norfolk. Once we got everyone, we were offered mimosas; candor l cranberry or orange. We chose orange. Deanna introduced herself, daughter, and granddaughter. She also introduced those who she knew who were on the trip. She provided some great historic facts like the origin of witchduck. She discussed the history of Virginia wine and information about Virginia Born presidents. Our first stop was New Kent Winery and our host was great and very polite. The tasting was very informative and fun. Their wines were fantastic and the Vineyard was amazing. It wasn't on the itinerary, but Deanna put it on there. Next was Michie Tavern. We had lunch there and the buffet was great. The wine tasting, not so much. Third stop was Baubersville and the wine was ok. We weren't really a fan of the environment because I felt out of place even though I was dressed pretty nicely. Last stop was Horton and our host was amazing! We had so much fun! We will definitely do this tour again in the fall because it was great and it was so much fun! Happy to have been part of the inaugural trip!

I've been on two wine tours, as well as a wine tasting at a friend's house. I had so much fun that…read moreI recently hosted a wine tasting of my own. My friends raved! The Virginia wines were excellent, and everyone loved the history lesson. Now I have another group of friends who are jealous and want me to host a wine tasting for them. I also love the fact that it's a local business. Deanna's (the owner's) friends and family love to help with her tours, and they are the nicest people. I plan on continuing to support Fruits and Roots Wine Tours, and I'd recommend them to EVERYONE!

It's been a long time since my last visit to Cooper's Hawk. I went with my Niece and Great Niece…read morefor a tasting yesterday (Saturday) and we also had dinner reservations. All 3 of us chose sweet for our wine tasting. Our server was a lot of fun and very knowledgeable about the wine. You get to taste one wine on each category listed on your menu. The samples of each wine are a generous pour. Some Wineries I've visited, do not provide big enough samples to determine if you like them enough to buy a bottle or not. Sweet Red was my favorite. Sweet Red is currently known as Romance Red. It changes names Seasonally. Dinner was outstanding. I had Gnocchi with Roasted Butternut Squash, Wild mushrooms, Sweet onion cream, Spinach, Feta and Crispy onions. It was a very tasty meal. My Great Niece chose the Pork chop and said it was the best she had ever had. My Niece had a Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad which she said was delicious. I had a very enjoyable afternoon with my Nieces. We will definitely return to Cooper's Hawk soon.

Great for Wine, Not for Dinner (Unfortunately) I don't know…read morewhy my Bestie and I keep doing this to ourselves -- we love Cooper's Hawk for the wine tastings, but every time we try to give dinner another chance... it ends the same way. After our tasting, we decided to sit down and order one of our longtime favorites: the short rib with mashed potatoes and vegetables. We hadn't had it in a few months because the last time was an epic fail, but we figured we'd give it another shot. As always, the pretzel bread and butter were a highlight -- that part never misses. The entrée, however, was another disappointment. The vegetables were noticeably undercooked -- still hard and crunchy -- and the dish came out with barely any sauce, even though I specifically asked for extra. For a short rib dish, you expect that rich, flavorful gravy to tie everything together... and it just wasn't there. A manager did come over after I pointed it out, and she genuinely tried to make it right, which I appreciated. We were offered another meal to take home, but at that point we were honestly just over it. To end on a positive note, I tried the Banoffee Pie for the first time (recommended by the manager), and it was actually really good -- rich, sweet, and worth trying. I also ordered their chocolate cake to go (which I usually love), but when I got home, it wasn't in the bag. I had to call for a refund, which they did handle -- but it just added to the overall frustration. At this point, it's become a pattern. When I first started coming here over a year ago, everything was consistently great. Lately, though, the dinner experience has been more miss than hit. We'll absolutely continue coming back for the wine tastings -- those are still top-tier. But for dinner? We're done trying.

We came for paella night to the Chesapeake location. What a cute spot! The team was very helpful in…read moregetting our reservation confirmed, and settling us in for the experience. They have a wide variety of wines available, and feature different regions throughout the month. They also plan international trips to explore the various regions from which their wines originate! Love their passion for wine education. Looking forward to a return visit.

Let me preface the review with this- This review is limited to their paella night. We've been twice…read moreand both were wonderful. The wine pairings were unique and enjoyable. (On at least one occasion we left with several bottles). The atmosphere is cozy and very family like. The service was excellent both times. Really need to go back for a "regular " evening.

I stopped by Mermaid Winery on a beautiful sunny afternoon and decided to try their Sweet Wine…read moreFlight. In the summer I tend to gravitate toward lighter, sweeter wines, so the flight felt like the perfect choice for the day. Not surprisingly, my taste buds traveled straight to Italy. The Italian wines on the flight ended up being my favorites, with the standout being La Doria Moscato D'Asti. It was light, slightly bubbly, and perfectly balanced -- sweet but still refreshing. If you enjoy Moscato-style wines, this one was definitely the highlight of the tasting for me. The winery itself has a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere that makes it easy to settle in and enjoy a glass (or a flight). They also offer a selection of light bites if you want something to snack on while you're tasting. I ordered the house biscuits with jam and butter, which are made in-house, along with an order of fries. Both worked well as simple bites alongside the wine. If I had been with a group, I probably would have ordered the charcuterie board -- the one at the table next to me looked very generous and easily shareable. Service was friendly and welcoming, and since it wasn't overly crowded when I visited, it made for a relaxed afternoon tasting experience. We actually stopped in after spending the day out enjoying the sunshine with my Boston Terrier, Lexi, and it ended up being a nice, laid-back way to wind down the afternoon

Patrons beware: Restaurant may impose a restricted special-event menu without prior notice, even…read morefor reservations made weeks in advance. I booked a Valentine's Day reservation four weeks ago. Three days before the date, I received a text notifying me of a special Valentine's Day menu. I reviewed it and found it consists mostly of seafood or red meat items, with very few options other options. I immediately called to confirm whether this special menu is the only one available that evening. The restaurant confirmed that it is. This information was not disclosed at the time of booking or in the weeks following. Had I been informed upfront that only this limited menu would be offered, I would not have made the reservation. I consider this very poor customer service.

Service was great. Over priced on tasting. Wine flights weren't all that. Don't try the tapas they…read morehad to offer. Nice selection of wine though.

I went here for my 1st time. I am glad that we made a reservation. The place is tiny....it is a…read morewine shop, not a restaurant. Very cute inside and the wine is all nicely displayed by price. Great for a 1st stop before dinner, 1st date or just something different especially if you like wine. The owners are very nice. I also met an employee Carolyn that was so sweet. We enjoyed a HH wine from 3 to 5. And then stayed for the grilled cheese Wednesday night special. Grilled cheese and a glass of wine for $20. Even though the sandwich was delicious, it was not a grilled cheese so we were a bit disappointed. I was expecting a true grilled cheese with melty cheese and warm and crusty. This was a warmish sandwich with cheese and meat. We did see other menu items that looked delicious and I definitely want to go back and try. If you love wine...especially from Portugal then you have to try this place.

Last year, friends of ours got married on our anniversary and we thought it would be nice to have a…read moredouble date on their first (and our 18th) anniversary. We have had two great experiences with Chef in My Kitchen, so had them to our home again. One of our group doesn't eat meat, so they created a fish centered meal that was delicious, inventive, and looked beautiful on the table Everything was perfect. Chef Emily was skilled and very friendly. We had good conversations with her and an amazing meal. When we realized you could see the aurora borealis from our house that evening, she joined us outside for pictures. It was a lot of fun.

Chef Mary is an absolute pleasure to work with! She made it easy to create our menu, showed up…read moreright on time and ready for our big bunch of 23, created a delicious 4 courses (appetizers, salad, main and dessert) and cleaned the kitchen better than when we had arrived! Definitely get the bourbon salmon and sweet potatoes...

Went out here to support the VHS band and it was a great reminder to why we enjoy this place. First…read moreoff, the band - always amazing :) Second, what a venue. Coming out here and I loved the fact that they were sooo supportive of our daughter coming with us. It was a full house and they were still able to be accommodating. With our daughter, it gets tough b/c they couldn't sit us at the bar. They talked with a couple at the sofa area and they were super cool with us being close by. Between the super awesome old fashioned and wine they gave us, I loved how creative and unique they are with their menu. Overall, this place is such a win. We look forward to our next visit! Food Taste: 5 Overall Service: 5 Value of food to cost: 4 Facility: 5 Ambiance: Small facility that is simple, yet tasteful. Repeat customer: yes Dog Friendly: no

Great experience here - I happened to be in town visiting and this was across the street from my…read morehotel - from the time I walked in I felt very welcomed - I was handed a menu and given the low down on how the tastings work - I decided to go with a glass of wine - I ended up meeting some folks and the bar and just hung out - it's really a cute set up - huge bar - plenty of tables a sitting area with couches - it's also really clean - they also offer a small food menu but I didn't eat anything this visit

We were on a Filipino food crawl and needed a break and decided to stop in at the Winery. We love…read morewineries and look for opportunities to visit new ones. We were the only patrons for much of our visit. My birthday daughter and I ordered wine sample flights and chatted up the owner. Wife shopped the gift area and picked out a nice bauble. The good: the owner was very engaging and told us about the wines (and wine slushies) they offer. We asked where the grapes came from and she explained that some came from Chile, some from California (I believe) and other places, and that she blends them here. (This would be expected with no attached vineyard.) The place was very clean, and the restrooms were easily accessible and spacious. The price of the flights was a mere $5 for six communion cup sized samples -- you choose 6 of I guess 12 - 15. Mulled wine is a welcome option on a winter day. The disappointing: While there is a good assortment of wines, and many were on the good side of okay, none stood out and said BUY A BOTTLE OF ME. The fruity sweet wines were VERY sweet, not really good for dessert wine or sipping. (Sorry.) But again, the reds especially were drinkable and pleasant. Verdict: a good stop if you need a break and a glass or two to go with your conversation. Just don't set expectations too high and you'll be fine.

Virginia Beach Winery is not my typical winery as I'm use to visiting but definitely worth the…read morevisit. The winery had a vintage style. Maria the owner was such a doll. Wine is made on site in the distillery and she has been in business for 8 years. We visited on a Saturday and there was a couple of vendors on site selling merchandise. 5 bucks for 6 samples is definitely reasonable. We indulged in the fruit infused wines, draft wines and slushies. I must say the draft wines were delicious and I wished those were bottled so I could have brought them home. All in all great places and would definitely stop in again.