1. Great Bridge Bbq
City: Chesapeake, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (757) 546-2270
Address: 800 South Battlefield Blvd.
Description: This neighborhood restaurant in the Millwood Plaza shopping strip has been serving barbecue and ribs since 2004. Now they even have a service that will bring the smoker out to your event, from corporate and civic affairs to backyard cookouts.
2. Johnson’S Barbecue
City: Chesapeake, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (757) 545-6957
Address: 1903 South Military Hwy.
Description: The smoker they use in competitions sits out in the parking lot beside this strip mall restaurant and when it’s working you can follow your nose. You want local? It doesn’t get much more local than this. Who goes to a barbecue restaurant for the ambiance? This is about the meat and here the meat is done right: tender pork with plenty of slaw on top of the sandwich. Folks even rave about their beans, and the hot sauce is actually hot here.
City: Chesapeake, VA
Category: Restaurants
Address: 1025 North Battlefield Blvd.
4. City Deli
City: Chesapeake, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (757) 482-5554
Address: 450 South Battlefield Blvd.
Description: Open since 1990, this restaurant in Great Bridge dishes up hot pastrami and corned beef with the best of them. You can order the normal sandwich or pay extra for one that’s overstuffed. They also offer wraps, soups, daily specials, burgers, and desserts.
5. Pasha Mezze
City: Chesapeake, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (757) 361-5221
Address: 1757 Parkview Dr.
Description: This small restaurant in a strip mall serves the tastes of Turkey, a delicate Middle Eastern fare rich with tradition. They recently opened a larger Pasha Mezze in Norfolk’s Ghent (340 West 22nd St., 757-627-1317), which is open for dinner, so this Chesapeake location is mainly a sandwich and pastry shop now, and strictly lunch.
6. Famous Uncle Al’S Hot Dogs
City: Chesapeake, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (757) 424-5705
Address: 1412 Greenbrier Parkway
Description: See the Virginia Beach location’s review on page 63.
7. Five Guys Burgers And Fries
City: Chesapeake, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (757) 382-0070
Address: 1217 Battlefield Blvd.
Description: See the Virginia Beach location’s review on page 63.
8. The Grill At Great Bridge
City: Chesapeake, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (757) 482-5362
Address: 388 South Battlefield Blvd.
Description: The winner in the Philly cheesesteak cook-off held by The Virginian-Pilot’s food section was The Grill at Great Bridge. This very tiny restaurant run by a husband and wife team from Philly scored the upset over Philly Style in the judge’s opinion. It shouldn’t be a surprise that Gary, who mans the griddle, grew up in the Philly area and takes his cheesesteaks very seriously. Really, everything he and wife Ann cook up at this breakfast and lunch outpost is outstanding. There are a few stools at the counter and a couple tables in this place right up against Battlefield Boulevard. The restroom is clean, but you have to go around back outside to get to it—that’s how small this former barber shop is (but here small just means cozy and welcoming).
9. Kelly’S Tavern
City: Chesapeake, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (757) 488-0500
Address: 2400 Ring Rd.
Description: See the Virginia Beach location’s review on page 64. Two other Chesapeake locations can be found at Lock’s Point, 136 North Battlefield Blvd., (757) 819-6567, and Greenbrier Mall, 1412 Greenbrier Parkway, (757) 523-1781.
10. Franks Ii Italian Restaurant
City: Chesapeake, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (757) 548-4243
Address: 200 North Battlefield Blvd.
Description: This is blue collar Italian, an authentic corner eatery where you can grab a couple slices of pizza or an eggplant Parmigiana.
11. Domo Japanese Restaurant And Sushi Bar
City: Chesapeake, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (757) 549-7977
Address: 109 East Gainsborough Square
Description: See Norfolk location’s review on page 76.
12. El Loro
City: Chesapeake, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (757) 436-3415
Address: 801 Volvo Parkway
Description: This little family restaurant next to a supermarket has a strong local following for its authentic Mexican food. It’s not so much what’s on the menu here that sets it apart, it’s how it’s executed.
13. El Toro Loco
City: Chesapeake, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (757) 482-0623
Address: 146 South Battlefield Blvd.
Description: Another local favorite in Chesapeake, it’s casual, quick, and super authentic. The portions are large, but be forewarned. If you order the Burrito Jalisco, a menu favorite, don’t be tempted by the tortilla chips and dip. You’ll never finish the foot-long entrée if you do.
14. Plaza Azteca Restaurantes Mexicanos
City: Chesapeake, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (757) 549-8008
Address: 1249 Cedar Rd.
Description: See the Virginia Beach location’s review on page 67. A second location in Chesapeake can be found at 2416 Dock Landing Rd., (757) 488-1525.
15. 3 Amigos
City: Chesapeake, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (757) 548-4105
Address: 200 North Battlefield Blvd.
Description: See the Virginia Beach location’s review on page 67.