The food and service were so good. I really think they should maybe change the ambiance a little though. Make it brighter and a little nicer . But we loved it! read more

I haven't visited 1608 Crafthouse much, which is a shame because I've always enjoyed their food and service. The last time I set foot inside their Pleasure House Rd location was at least 10 years ago. I celebrated my birthday there as my friends were kind enough to take me out. It was a Sunday morning and I sought out a place that offered brunch. I noticed 1608 was open and decided to head over, especially since I haven't visited them in ages. When I walked in, I noticed their dining room is dimly lit - much darker than I remember. I was greeted immediately by a kind hostess and she proceeded to sit me at a nearby table and provided me with menus (one food, one alcohol). I took my time looking over the food menu, and in the meantime I ordered a pint of Center of the Universe's Bald Irishman and a bottle of Boylan's Black Cherry soda (they do not have a soda fountain). What made this visit memorable was that 1608's bartender, Hunter, was an old acquaintance from back in my restaurant days. He spotted me and came over to say hi. After my meal, I continued to catch up with him at the bar. His presence made a pleasant experience even more fantastic. I thought I was hungry, so I ordered 2 dishes - Smoked Ham Fried Rice and the Breakfast Burrito. According to Hunter, every item is made fresh in house. After biting into each, you could tell that's true. Both the fried rice and burrito were delicious and boasted lots of flavor. Although I prefer my fried rice a bit simpler (if you give me just garlic fried rice, I am SET), 1608's fried rice (veggies, garlic, soy, basmati rice, 2 runny eggs, smoked ham) had a lot going on, which made for a flavorful dish. I liked the rice and the burrito (Korean style fried chicken breast, scrambled eggs, cilantro lime, cheddar, pico de gallo) a lot. I didn't finish either because it was a lot of food (I really thought I was hungry, haha). But these leftovers turned into a fantastic dinner later on. 1608 looked clean and organized, although I thought it was a little too dark inside, at least for brunch service. That's not a dealbreaker since everything from the food to the service was as excellent as I remember. I hope to return soon with my mom. Regardless, I'll find my way back eventually. Thank you, 1608 Crafthouse! And great seeing you again, Hunter! JV read more

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Today being St. Patrick's Day, we had to come here for Corned Beef and Cabbage. Everything here is fabulous so I know tonights meal will no doubt be wonderful as well. Kevin Sharkey is the best Chef in Hampton Roads. Very festive vibe tonight and great friends. Service as always is top notch. If you have never been here, give 1608 a try, you won't be disappointed. read more

1608 Crafthouse - Martini with Olives - Gastropubs Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

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Yummy!!!! The food and drinks here are great!!! And portions are HUGE! We met some friends here who are regulars and they raved about how accommodating the business is for dietary needs. The place is unassuming and we honestly may have just walked on by if our friends hadn't recommended it. Great find, we will be back when in the area! read more

My husband and I stopped by 1608 Crafthouse for a quick bite to eat before heading to our next venue. I'd love to say the experience was perfect because there was no wait and the hostess was very welcoming. However, things became shaky once service started. There was a large party seated inside Our waitress never introduced herself and seemed extremely overwhelmed, running around nonstop. A few simple requests were missed, like lemon for my water and extra honey for my pizza. When we received the check, we realized one of the alcoholic beverages was not priced as expected because there had been a misunderstanding about what was actually ordered. I took the opportunity to politely mention that some of our requests had been overlooked, but the response felt very nonchalant with no real apology or acknowledgment. I do understand being short-staffed, and honestly, this seemed like poor scheduling and staffing on management's part for a busy Saturday afternoon. Still, better communication and attentiveness would have gone a long way. Despite the service issues, we still tipped appropriately because we could see she was trying to handle a lot on her own. The lack of care and attention, however, was disappointing. Now, with all that being said -- the food and drinks were phenomenal. The kitchen definitely delivered, and that's the reason I would consider giving them another try. read more

I'm glad we decided to stop by and try this place! We were seated at a high top by the bar, and our server/bartender Hunter was awesome. The bar was full and there were two high top tables, but Hunter remained attentive to everyone. For appetizers, we ordered a dozen oysters and a simple salad. We thought it was really nice they split it in half for us without us even asking and made it easier to share. The flavor of the wings were delicious and the burger was good as well. Fries were fresh cut! So good too. Overall, it's a great place to stop by for dinner and drinks. read more

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There is no restaurant that comes even close to 1608 Crafthouse in the culinary masterpieces created by the head chef/owner Kevin, Each Tuesday I look forward to the new menu choices offered. His version of what most other restaurants offer turns them from ordinary to special. A good example is the hot dog entree served around holidays. The Nathan's dogs are apple smoked bacon wrapped offered on a split brioche roll with ox tail chili and a sprinkling of grated cheese atop. They're served with fresh cut fries that have been brined & double fried. I don't feel the slightest bit guilty about the calorie count when they offer this amazing dish. I'll actually call ahead to check and see if it's on the menu. This week, having been sick, I was so afraid I would miss a new menu item I wanted so much to try. Last night I felt good enough to go but called ahead to make sure they still had the new offering. YES!! I hadn't missed it. The dish was chef's version of Spaghetti Alla Narano with local squash, garlic, basil, Romano cheese, butter & pepper flakes. It was the most amazing thing I've ever tasted! Offered on the menu as an appetizer, it was a small plate. So I also ordered another of my favorites, Squash Blossoms very lightly tempura battered & stuffed with house made pimento cheese and a drizzle of white sauce. Oh how I would love for the spaghetti to be served as an entree. I could eat it every night. I hope it's still on the menu when my pescatarian son comes down to visit this month. Although I had been on antibiotics for a week I still have laryngitis, especially when I talk very long. And I love to talk. But bartender Matt's always perfectly made Bourbon Smash soothed my throat. For beer lovers the restaurant always offers a plentiful variety of craft beers. Although not a beer drinker I do love to see the variety and special cans my beer drinking friends order. Always count on a new fresh catch & wing offering each week. What other restaurants offer as an ordinary fish entree, chef makes creative and special. I almost never fail to try each new limited offering fresh catch menu option. Local & quality ingredients are used. It certainly adds to the freshness of the fish and seafood to be so close to the Chesapeake Bay. The restaurant's decor is tailored to its offerings. Televisions are strategically placed. Lining the wall to the bathrooms are framed published articles on the restaurant & banners of awards won. It's very well laid out and to me seems to have 4 distinct areas. There's a large area of table & booths perfect for families and large groups. An ample bar with a television at each side of the bar itself provides good viewing access from all seats at the bar. Several high topped tables complete this area of the restaurant. Then there's the area I consider in between the other two, which is where I prefer to sit. I favor one of the two tables in front on the fireplace, regardless of the time of year. Across from these tables are two high top tables, which the bartender, rather than a server, waits on. So the restaurant obviously considers them part of the bar section. The popular covered outside seating area is also available. After dinner I enjoy moving to the bar to visit with friends & talk baseball or football with the bar crowd. The restaurant is located in a small multiuse center on the east side of Pleasure House Road between its intersection with Independence & Northampton Boulevards. Hours are 7 days a week, closing at 9pm Monday - Thursday, 10pm on Friday & Saturday and 5pm on Sunday. Openings are 3pm Monday - Friday. noon on Saturday and 10am on Sunday, A weekend brunch with new menu items each week is enjoyed by many. They close on major holiday such as Memorial Day and the 4th of July. The Happy Hour Menu ends at 6pm. As you must be able to tell, 1608 Crafthouse is my favorite restaurant. Their creative entrees are a thing of beauty & taste. read more

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Had seen this restaurant featured on the top 100 Yelp list and wanted to give it a try and it was overall a great experience! Food: Giant pretzel: huge and still delicious. Since it was brunch time we were able to get a side of the maple butter and caramel sauce along with the beer cheese and honey mustard that normally comes with the pretzel. I would not get the maple butter again or the caramel sauce. The caramel sauce had too much of a boozy flavor for my taste and the maple butter was blah. Mexican chiiqulies was so good! Loved all the flavors in this dish! Roasted sweet potatoes were absolutely cooked well and I love when something simple is done well! Margarita was prepared well and nice and strong! Service: Excellent and kind all around from the hostess to our server! Ambiance: Nice inside with tables and booths! Not overly large but also has a patio lounge. read more

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We popped into this place on a whim while on a roadtrip. We are generally have a very kosher diet and don't eat pork. After checking the menu and seeing it was filled with pork items I thought we might not have many options to choose from. Our server jumped in and highlighted items that would work with our dietary needs. He also let us know they would make adjustments if needed. We ended up ordering the breakfast burrito (a special item on the brunch menu) , and a soft shell crab sandwich! Everything was delicious and oversized! We had plenty to eat and enough to share and take home! The fries are seasoned very well and the house made honey mustard is delicious!!! 4 stars for great service and delicious food!!! read more

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A very burnt bacon cheese burger. Took over an hour and 20 minutes. Almost broke my tooth. The waitress did not care about service since she was getting auto gratuity. Never ever coming back, whole party was very disappointed. read more

Friendly service for sure. A definite 5. Ambiance could use some help, the lighting is too low that it feels stuffy and dated. There aren't a lot of wall decor. Definitely a 2 for ambiance. We ordered chili with pork rinds. Must have been an off day since the pork rinds were under seasoned and not fresh from fryer temperature hot. It made the rinds tough and not crispy. We also ordered lamb burger. Seems that there is some vinegary taste to it. Not a huge fan. The tangy chicken was the best. Very well seasoned, came with sunny side egg and gravy. Food was a solid 3. read more

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Probably one of the most unassuming places you'll visit but with outstanding food and better service. I've been to many local restaurants in many different states and this place ranks among the top. We opted to order poutine with ox tail for the table and it was excellent. Then, as my main course, I went with the shrimp and grits. Holly cow! Easily one of the best I've ever had. Which includes NO! Every dish ordered did not disappoint. Oh, did I mention the desserts are delicious! Also, just as important, the selection of bourbons, beer and cocktails is fantastic! I can't forget to mention the amazing service we had from Sharon. We visited this place on a whim to celebrate and I'm so glad we did. Do yourself a favor and give the place your patronage! read more

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We loved our service here! The waitress was incredibly helpfulC friendly and patient with our larger party. She was able to recommend items from the brunch menu, she gave us her favorite foods to try and she was great at describing the foods so we could make a good decision. The ambiance is nicely decorated to match the vibe of the menu and its name being a craft house. The art in the bathroom was not just art but an ode to food information as it was packed with facts and beautiful art. We had an about a 30 min wait but it went fast and the food and service did not disappoint. Everyone enjoyed their foods, we tried a lot of items from the brunch menu simply because we know this place will switch the options up. Mimosa flight: favorite was the pineapple, least favorite was the orange juice. The Big A** Pretzel was like a bagel consistency and even had like everything bagel seasoning. The cheese sauce served with it was incredibly delicious. The Bone Marrow was excellent- the toasted bread was perfect and the Rockefeller oysters were cooked perfectly. Some of the other items not pictured were more from the brunch menu and we all agree it was a 5/5 experience and would love to return when in town. read more

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We sat outside Monday night to enjoy the fall weather. We were greeted by our server, who was very knowledgeable about the menu. We ordered 2 bourbon honey cocktails. They were very strong but good. For our appetizer, we had a dozen oysters and luckily the chef accommodated our request of having them steamed. The basil mignonette paired perfectly with them. For our entrées, we both had the 14oz Ribeye with the roasted bone marrow. Let me tell you, this was the best taste experience I've had in my entire life. The ribeye was cooked perfectly. The blu cheese really took it to the next level. I highly recommend you try this establishment. read more

1608 Crafthouse - 14oz Pan Roasted Ribeye - Gastropubs Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

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I have seen this on yelp for a while, and we finally decided to give it a try. After finally trying this place ... we regret not trying it sooner. Everything we had was amazing. The smoked wings with maple BBQ glaze were perfection. I had the fried green tomato BLT on the cranberry bread, it was huge and the small of the flavors just go so well together. Even their kids chicken tenders were perfect, our daughter devoured them. We finished off with the white chocolate cookie skillet with the vanilla bean gelato, I could cry, that was probably the best dessert I have ever had. We will definitely be back again! read more

1608 Crafthouse - Fried Green Tomato BLT - Gastropubs Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

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Best dish I've ordered here although I've been here twice now and both times were amazing. I NEVER clear my plate but me and my fellow book club member ate this dish up (she ordered her own). Everything from the tender and fresh tuna to the crispy yet buttery pilaf was full of flavor and amazing. Food is 10/10! Ok... now for ambiance... What the heck is going on with the music lol! It's such a weird vibe and if you are going to have people sit in wooden chairs then at least have cushions. Very dark in there but not like cute/fancy/dark it's more like pub with no ambience lighting? Idk all 3 things seem like an easy switch! I would love to come back with our book club if these changes were made. Service was amazing that was next to as good as the food! VERY hard to beat the food read more

1608 Crafthouse - Yellowfin Tuna on Vegetable Pilaf - Gastropubs Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

Food was very good, service was excellent, However I have never heard of an additional charge for horsehradish. Order oysters and waitress asked if I wanted horseradish, I said yes. When I received the bill, I was charged $1.00 for a teaspoon full. WOW, can not believe this charge!!!. Also we dined during Happy Hour. HA HA, discounted house wine at $10.00 a glass!!!. There are two very close by restaurants that we frequent that have the same quality food with out the RIP OFF specials! . Even the waitress seemed to understand my concerns by saying I am sorry for this. Why would I want to go back here again??? I do not usually write reviews, however this place does not deserve a good review. read more

if there was a higher rating than 5 stars I would give 1608 a ten! the food is outstanding and never disappoints. Everything is freshly made and very high quality. Kevin is an exceptional chef and the staff is wonderful. We have been loyal patrons since 1608 began and the food is consistent and the weekly specials are always delicious and inventive. 1608 has a casual vibe with culinary expertise typically found in high end restaurants. The atmosphere is friendly with great music. Highly recommend! read more

I've been here more than once. On the last visit as with the first, the service was wonderful. My server was quick and checked on me a few times. The small extra things I asked for were included promptly. The drink was good. This craft house has a lot of IPAs. Not my thing. The burger was good. I would have preferred a different bun or a different presentation. Overall they handle big groups or single people well. They have an open concept with a few televisions. There is parking but on busier nights it might be harder to get a good spot. I'll go back. read more

1608 Crafthouse - Whiskey drink - Gastropubs Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

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The food and the ambiance were great! I inquired ahead of time about the fried fish that were in the photos and it seemed that the staff not only forgot to put the phone on hold but also annoyed by the question. I placed a to go order at the restaurant and the irritableness that was expressed over the phone translated to the restaurant experience. My partner tried being friendly but they wouldn't really budge maybe it was because it was the last hour but I didn't think the order was that big of an inconvenience. We waited around 20 minutes overall but again great food overall! Hoping the next visit would be more welcoming like the other reviews mentioned. read more

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Calling all my friends to come to VA Beach and try 1608! Extensive beer and cocktails lists, unreal happy hour menu, and last-meal level goodness on their menu. I am floored and my friends don't believe Norfolk spawned this gem. Taking the word with me back to SoCal. All the best! I'll be back with more people. read more

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Cute place nestled up in the corner of a strip shopping center. Great food. We've been several times.

Great food, service and value. Long time local establishment with many familiar faces.

I love the poutine, it's my very favorite thing from them. The shrimp n grits are my 2nd favorite thing to order. Saturday evenings are quite busy and sometimes the food isn't as great as during the slow times. They have a military discount which is nice. read more

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Hidden in the corner of a strip mall like area close to the beach, this restaurant/bar may not seem that lively from the outside during the colder months of the year, but once you walk inside it is bustling with life. The servers were all very welcoming and immediately got us to our table and seated with a menu. The menu was very eclectic and had a lot of different varieties to choose from. I was able to try to wings, pretzel, and asiago chicken pasta. Each one was very unique and had amazing flavors! My favorite was definitely the asiago chicken I just wish the portion was more for the price of it. I definitely also enjoyed the pretzel and it lived up to it's name of how big it was as you can see in the picture! I also loved the seasoning that tasted like everything bagel on it! The wings were also really good I just wish they were crispier. I also liked that they had crayons and a drawing sheet to doodle on as we waited for the food! Definitely will be coming back to try more food from their menu! read more

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Amazing food! The bone marrow and charbroiled oysters was chef's kiss. It's hard to find good roasted bone marrow nowadays. I highly recommend it as an appetizer. The Charred Brussel Sprouts & Shishito Peppers were delicious but a smaller portion that I'm use to. The bacon cheese burger was mediocre in my opinion. It didn't come with any sauce and was average tasting. I'm actually surprised that it's top rated. Next time I'd probably order the steak and bone marrow. The shrimp and grits was good and flavorful 10/10. My husband loved the lamb meatballs as well. I ordered the espresso martini and it was exactly that. A little bitter for my taste but my husband loved it. I wish it had a little creamer in it. He also enjoyed his old fashioned drink and said it's one of the best he's had. I highly recommend this restaurant. They put flavors together that you could never imagine but it's delicious! We had great service and the food came out with perfect timing. read more

First time visiting 1608, and I will definitely be back! They have a large menu with something for everyone for both food and drinks! I will say if you're a tequila lover, you may be disappointed since there are no speciality cocktails with tequila! I had the bartender make a blackberry margarita, and it was just ok! They have a huge beer selection and a variety of whiskey and bourbon. Tonight I was in between the grilled cheese and tomato bisque or the bacon cheeseburger since 1608 is voted top 20 burgers in the country on MSN. I went for the burger and added a fried egg on top with truffle fries. 10/10 definitely recommend! My burger was juicy and super tender, and I believe the fries are fresh cut. I had the bread pudding for desert, and that was amazing as well. The ONLY thing I would change is no caramel sauce on the icecream next time. I think they make it in house, and it tastes like maybe it has some kind of bourbon in it that I didnt too much care for. If there is alcohol on it, it wasn't cooked off well. The restaurant itself gives typical crafthouse vibes, but our waitress was super nice and attentive. I will be back to try the braised pork shoulder and grilled cheese! I'm curious about the big ass pretzel app they offer as well. read more

1608 Crafthouse - Bread Pudding - Gastropubs Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

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One of the best craft beer places in the area. I've had happy hour food and it's been great, including $1 raw oysters

They have both indoor and outdoor seating. Outdoor seating is perfect when the weather is warm outside. The smoothie sour was one of my favorites, the drink itself was very thick and since it was peach and apricot flavored, it was perfect for the fall/winter time. There were other smoothie sours too. Highly recommend if you want something fruity to drink. My friends and I shared a lot of appetizers and ordered one main dish. The bone marrow was really good with the toast but, they used a very thin bone, so there wasn't a lot of collagen to spread on the toast. The oysters were very fresh and the cocktail sauce was fairly good too. The fried pork rind was too salty in my opinion and the sweet potato was too bland. There wasn't enough sauce with the sweet potato to make up for it. The scallop dish was very good and felt fresh with all the vegetables in it. If you don't need a big portion of a meal, then I highly recommend the scallops. They have separate parking here and plenty of spots. read more

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It all appeared to be set for a smooth night. In large part it was. However, service was not overall excellent. It was a large party but they the establishment was aware due a reservation was arranged. The evening was cold the large party table was set up dead center at the door which made it uncomfortable every time someone walked in. We asked kindly to rearranged but the establishment refused. The food was ok drink were excellent. The company made the night since the establishment left a bit to be desired. read more

Fish and scallops tomato dish 7/10, Korean style chicken fried sandwhich 5/10, lamb burger 2, 3 / 10, as an average American it was very mid overall. The waitress and waiters were outstanding and very polite, atmosphere was 6/10 ish not bad not great. Would go back to try more dishes, but I don't think the prices match the food taste. Still give it a solid one try before you write it off though. read more

Not sure what happened. I walked in expecting to have a couple different microbrews and the Shrimp and Grits. As I walked in there were two female waitress and a male waiter standing against the wall and they nodded at me as I walked in. I walked to the bar intending to sit there but it was full, so I sat at a table right in front of the 3 servers. The male walked away and greeted a couple who walked in. The two females just stood there. I sat for maybe, definitely over 5 minutes. No one came came to me. The 2 females just standing there. As I got up to leave, no one asked if I was leaving or why. Just stood there watching me walk out. The whole thing was very strange. I went to The Rustic Spoon about half mile away and had an excellent meat loaf, Irish Red Ale and an after dinner Smokey Old Fashioned. read more

Best food in town. Always great, unique menu as well. Friendly staff, you can tell the ingredients are just about as fresh as you can get at a restaurant. Top notch stuff! read more

10/10 5 stars! This restaurant was so amazing! It's in a corner of a shopping center. You wouldn't really pay it much mind if you didn't plan on going there. Shoutout to Emily. The best server I've had in a long time, in any establishment. We decided to come for brunch and it was a great time. I got the shrimp and grits, i didn't take a picture only because I am picky and i got everything separate. However, the grits were amazing! My sisters said their food was great, which are pictured here. The dessert!!! Omg the skillet cookie was so great. They also have other gelato options to include Ube! You really can't even find ube many places. The restaurant wasn't packed at all, which was shocking because the food is so good. It's fairly spacious with a bar area and also a restaurant side. It gives me like a family restaurant vibe. read more

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They have the nasties hot sauces to eat with the Oysters! If you serve oysters in a place near the ocean they should be excellent, instead they were the worst I have ever had! Hocking those gross house hot sauces is a huge mistake! I am not shopping, I want a good meal, and should have to endure that level of pressure to purchase those gross hot sauces!! I mean Jalapano hot sauce FOR OYSTERS!! GROSS!! Service was nice but still can't make up for the extra terrible food. Ambiance is wasted in the place. The dishes had a Chef Boy RD tomato sauce that was terrible! Wish I could give this place negative stars! Be ware this place is just plain gross!! Waste of money for sure! read more

Finally made it back here. It has been a looooong time since the last time I visited 1608 and I am glad I came back. For appetizer we had the "Nashville style chicken thighs" they were two huge chicken thighs that look more like chicken breast, they were huge! I think that would be a meal on its own, maybe add some fries and you are good to go. I had a beer "sip of sunshine" and it was refreshing and I think I could actually taste a little bit of sunshine in there. It was great. My meal was "blackened chicken sandwich" once it arrived it was a double decker sandwich, chicken was juicy and seasoned perfectly. The fires were a little on the the overcooked/crunchy/dry side but they were not bad. I specially dislike when most of the fires are just the crumbs, like they are the last at the bottom of the bag :( For dessert I had the bread pudding... that was disappointing, it was more like a French toast with ice cream on top. And I LOVE bread pudding but this was not bread pudding. It was ok for a French toast but definitely disappointed. Service was adequate and the ambiance was relax and cozy. Definitely a good place to hang out with friends and family. Definitely coming back and would recommend to anyone. read more

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Honestly we went due to the 4.5 yelp rating and were disappointed. The pimento dirty martini was excellent as was the beer selection. The wings weren't very good to us and the bone marrow was grisly. There were 3 oysters and 3 toast points which seemed odd to us.. Both of us left with upset stomachs. I've been to places with amazing bone marrow and honestly would recommend the rustic spoon over this place any day. We were on vacation so won't be able to try this out to see if it was an off night. First ever yelp recommendation that didn't live up to the rating. read more

After strolling around on a Sunday night, we ended up at 1608 Crafthouse. For an appetizer, we got Nashville style chicken thighs. I laughed with my husband because I thought it was an odd appetizer to pick but it was pretty good. It's definitely big enough to be a meal on its own. For my meal, I got the pork burger. Along with the patty, it also had bacon and sausage. Yummy. I thought the patty itself was smaller than I would have wanted but it was good nevertheless. read more

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Service and food are absolutely on point! Our waitress was so kind and friendly. We ordered the pretzel, lamb burger, pork burger, and cookie skillet! Everything was super flavorful! read more

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One of the best plate we've ever had! Incredibly generous plate full of greatness. We got the ribeye medium and it was perfect! It was red and juicy in the middle, while parts on the outer lining is a bit chard. It reminds me of burnt tips. Overall, amazing!!! I've gone to places that are fancier and almost double the price, but this plate beats those hands down. I'm looking forward to visiting this place again. read more

1608 Crafthouse - 14oz ribeye on a bed of truffle fries and bone marrow - Gastropubs Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

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