1. Beach Pub
City: Virginia Beach, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (757) 422-8817
Address: 1001 Laskin Rd.
Description: This is no fancy-pants place. But it’s where you’ll find blue-collar locals enjoying blue-plate specials. The seafood here is mostly fried, but it’s fried well. And don’t let the name throw you. It’s nowhere near the beach and it’s more diner than pub, unless your pub is known for crab omelets at breakfast. Bottom line: it’s a good place to fill your tank without taking out a mortgage.
2. Mary’S Restaurant
City: Virginia Beach, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (757) 428-1355
Address: 616 Virginia Beach Blvd.
Description: They may officially call it Mary’s Restaurant, but for the past 40 years it’s been known to locals as Mary’s Country Kitchen. It’s six blocks from the Boardwalk on 17th Street (that’s what Virginia Beach Boulevard becomes down at the Oceanfront) so it’s close enough to get the tourist trade. But they have to fight the regulars for seats for the $2.99 breakfast specials served daily from 6 to 9 a.m. This is strictly a breakfast and lunch place. It closes at 3 p.m.
3. No Frill Bar And Grill
City: Virginia Beach, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (757) 425-2900
Address: 1620 Laskin Rd.
Description: See the Norfolk location’s review on page 72.
4. Frankie’S Place For Ribs
City: Virginia Beach, VA
Category: Restaurants
Address: 5200 Fairfield Shopping Center (Kempsvil
Description: Yeah, they do pulled pork, but their name says it all. This is where you go for those baby back ribs. It’s casual and that’s good, because you’ll probably get messy and want to lick your fingers a few times as you attack your rack. You can also get beef ribs and barbecue chicken here, or stop trying to decide and grab a combo. They’ve been going strong for nearly 30 years so they must be doing something very right.
5. Smokehouse & Cooler
City: Virginia Beach, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (757) 481-9737
Address: 2957 Shore Dr.
Description: For more than a decade, this restaurant in Chick’s Beach has been cooking up multicultural barbecue in the Lynnhaven Beach Square Shopping Center. No, I don’t mean it mixes Virginia and North Carolina approaches to pork. Chef Rob Murphy, who once worked at the Ritz-Carlton in Houston, uses international spices in his Asian, Caribbean, Cajun, and Creole inspired cuisine that makes it hard to categorize. The restaurant has been featured on the Food Network for “best of” barbecue bites. It annually gets nods as one of the region’s best restaurants of any type by Hampton Roads Magazine. Here you’ll find crispy beef eggrolls (the Food Network’s winners) as well as dishes made with lamb, chicken, and even salmon.
6. Forbidden City
City: Virginia Beach, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (757) 747-2388
Address: 3333 Virginia Beach Blvd.
Description: This isn’t a corner Chinese takeout, but an upscale eatery that prepares Cantonese, Mandarin, and Szechuan delicacies. There are also vegetarian offerings and a dim sum menu. It’s an annual best-of winner.
7. P.F. Chang’S China Bistro
City: Virginia Beach, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (757) 473-9028
Address: 4551 Virginia Beach Blvd.
Description: Okay, this is an international chain, but I’d be remiss not to include it here, since folks often line up out the door for a chance at a table. This is another upscale Chinese restaurant. You can order from a “for two” menu and get four courses for $40 or go exploring solo for potentially a lot more dough.
8. Warriors Mongolian Grill
City: Virginia Beach, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (757) 498-0323
Address: 401 North Great Neck Rd.
Description: This is an airy restaurant where you pick your components and let the chef stir it over a large, flat, iron plate. It’s done with a long wooden stick as he or she walks in circles like a horse driving a mill stone. But the result is delicious and seasoned just like you want it. Genghis Khan’s troops conquered the world using their shields as woks. It’s one price for unlimited trips to the cookery.
9. 58 Delicatessen
City: Virginia Beach, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (757) 227-5868
Address: 4000 Virginia Beach Blvd.
Description: The sandwiches aren’t cheap here, but they’re stuffed New York style with real deli meats. You can satisfy your lox longing or indulge in some smoked whitefish salad.
10. The Heritage Cafe
City: Virginia Beach, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (757) 428-0500
Address: 314 Laskin Rd.
Description: This little cafe offers vegetarian and natural food items, including sandwiches, salads, fruit smoothies, organic vegetable juices, and daily lunch specials. Grab something then wander the adjacent health food and book stores. There’s a plan to upgrade this block just off Atlantic Avenue so it’s unclear how long this landmark will remain. Enjoy it while you can.
11. The Jewish Mother
City: Virginia Beach, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (757) 422-5430
Address: 3108 Pacific Ave.
Description: Back in 1975, Virginia Beach had no deli, so three partners got together and opened one, with a lot of help from the Jewish mother of one of the guys. Hence the name. The fame came with good food that cured the homesickness of displaced Northeasterners. It’s not for nothing that they call the chicken soup here “penicillin soup.” Soon the Mother was also getting famous for the musical acts that played the tiny venue. It’s still one of the best places in the area to hear blues, up close and personal. And on Sunday afternoons, there’s usually live classical guitar. But this restaurant too is in the crosshairs of that upgrade, so call before you head out.
12. Ammos Greek Restaurant
City: Virginia Beach, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (757) 313-6083
Address: 1401 Atlantic Ave.
Description: This is a Greek experience on the Oceanfront, a restaurant offering a full range of Greek and Mediterranean meals as well as a Greek show, complete with belly dancing on some nights.
13. Athens Pizza Restaurant
City: Virginia Beach, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (757) 479-9873
Address: 1929 Centerville Turnpike
Description: This eatery across from the Woods Corner Shopping Center offers up gyros, subs, Greek salad, and spaghetti as well as pizza.
14. Azar’S Natural Foods
City: Virginia Beach, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (757) 486-7778
Address: 108 Prescott Ave.
Description: At Azar’s two Hampton Roads locations, they don’t limit themselves to any one country. Food and groceries sold here reflect the heritage of many locations, including Greek, Turkish, Lebanese, Moroccan, Spanish, and Italian. It’s often voted the best restaurant for healthy eating by readers of The Virginian-Pilot. And when you leave, be sure to pick up one of their special dips and spreads.
15. Yanni’S Casual Greek
City: Virginia Beach, VA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (757) 689-2533
Address: 2101 McComas Way
Description: A relatively recent entry in the Greek genre, Yanni’s is already winning a loyal base. It’s family owned and operated and offers up a full range of traditional Greek meals and homemade desserts.