I stopped into Bold Mariner on Wednesday night while I was out walking Lexi. The weather was…read moreabsolutely gorgeous, around 70 degrees, and we walk past there all the time, so it felt like the perfect night to finally stop in. Our Yelp Elite manager works there and had told me to come by, so I decided that was the night. I grabbed a glass of Moscato while we chatted, and she convinced me to order their hot honey pepperoni pizza to take home. I had literally just had pizza the night before at another event, so I wasn't planning on getting more, but she insisted I try it. I'm so glad I did. I'm not usually someone who goes for hot honey or anything spicy, but this pizza was incredible. The crust was perfectly cooked, the dough had great texture, and the balance between the sweetness of the honey and the pepperoni was surprisingly addictive. It was cheesy, flavorful, and honestly hard to stop eating. I had planned to take it straight home, but I had to sneak a bite while it was still hot. The atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming, and it's such a great neighborhood spot. It made for the perfect stop during a beautiful evening walk. I ended up taking the rest of the pizza home, and it was the perfect dinner while relaxing and winding down for the night. I'll definitely be back, especially now that I know how good their pizza is. Bold Mariner is a great local place with good energy and seriously good food.

Good beer, good food, great service. Came for trivia night and had a great time. They have guest…read moretaps as well. Indie is typical brewery vibes.

Fantastic beer and a tremendous burger and even better to be able to enjoy both at Happy Hour…read morepricing and with great company. I selected The Veil as the spot for my UYE and enjoyed an evening of talking shop with the great J David H. while we drank those great beers. The Veil is a comfortable spot in the Railroad District and we were sitting in their dining area on the ground floor. Big tables and plenty of room this afternoon. Which we needed because that burger and fries needed elbow room to enjoy. I'd only suggest a pump-based ketchup dispenser as the packet thing is tedious. They opened here in 2019 - well after I was done with my projects in Virginia Beach and Chesapeake - transforming this three-story space into a family-friendly taproom and restaurant. The full kitchen specializes in indulgent smashburgers and Neapolitan-style pizzas that pair perfectly with the brewery's bold stouts, hazy IPAs, and seasonal sours. We didn't have the opportunity to enjoy the Only You Bar & Lounge upstairs. Maybe that's the next visit to Hampton Roads. [Round number review 1500 in Virginia - 911 of 2025 - 24467 overall]

First time and so freaking overdue! The Richmond based Veil is a beer juggernaut that opened up a…read moresecond location in Norfolk's Ghent hood pre pandemic in 2019. I only experienced the downstairs on my visit with Yelp friend Bruce K. The Happy Hour pricing was a draw as well as stellar reviews. Parking in their own smallish lot on a weekday was no problem. They also have free off street parking too! No debris in sight on my walk up. The signage is the building itself which is darn cool. They also offer outdoor seating. I started off with a Blend which is a Pale and Pilsner if I recall and it was tasty. The counter service was excellent. You can cash tip or card. Customers can also leave a tab open. The seating is wood bench type that comfortably seats six. The aesthetics of the first floor is high ceilings, concrete floors and walls. The kitchen has a garage door over the front. The space was previously a restaurant, but before may have been a factory, or warehouse. Only negative was music was a bit elevated for talking. Prior to Happy Hour concluding I ordered a $6 on special smash burger that comes with fries. No other dudes are available. The regular price is $12, so this is a deal friends. In about 20 minutes burgers and fries were delivered to the table. The look was downright amazing, so pretty much knew this bad boy was gonna be a hitter. The burger comes with double patty, cheese, Dukes mayo, lettuce a pickle. If something else I'm sorry I forgot. The first bite was phenomenal! Fresh bread, perfectly cooked 80/20 beef which was not greasy. The construction was a masterpiece. The thin fries were cooked crispy and seasoned well, yum! Honestly I could eat that burger everyday. The whole experience was exceptional and worthy of a full 5. Totally recommend checking The Veil Brewing out.

Maker's Craft is a cool spot to hang out. There's a lot of seating both indoors and outdoors, so it…read morefeels like the kind of place you can settle in for a while without feeling cramped. One unique thing about this place is that it's connected to Emerson's cigar lounge, so if you're into cigars you can smoke either inside or outside in the designated areas. Not something you see at many breweries. Another thing I appreciated was that there are outdoor areas where kids aren't allowed. A lot of breweries turn into unofficial playgrounds with kids running around everywhere, which can definitely kill the vibe. There were still kids here, but they weren't everywhere, so it struck a nice balance. They also have a good selection of seltzers for people who aren't big beer drinkers, which is a nice option to have. The bartenders were cool and easygoing too. The bathroom was clean, which is always appreciated. The only downside was there were no paper towels, so I had to open the door with freshly washed hands like some kind of hand-hygiene gamble. Not ideal. Overall, a solid place to grab a drink and hang out.

Maker's Craft Brewery has a wonder variety of beers that one or a group of people can enjoy in its…read morehuge garden area. This is the epitome of a splendid beer garden. The brewery is very family- and dog-friendly because I saw folks (and dogs) of all ages from kids to senior citizens. Also, there's actually a couple of areas where folks can openly smoke without having to hide in the shadows. Generally speaking, I thought the prices of the beers were pretty comparable to other similar places in the area. Also, the staff was pretty friendly and helpful. Note to dog owners: The outdoor area has a 3-bark rule in that it's highly recommended that if your dog is constantly barking, then you should leave. However, I do not know if that rule is enforced because during our visit, a customer's dog was barking a lot, and no one seemed to care or say anyting.

Great food! Servers were really nice and it was family friendly! Trivia host was phenomenal keep…read morehim . Went for a work outing and thoroughly enjoyed myself!

Always a great selection of beers and friendly people operating the taps. The tap room is large…read morewith highboys and benches. The attached warehouse is huge and usually packed on weekends. We stopped in at an early Wednesday and had the place virtually to ourselves until later on. Enjoyable.

Wow! COVA Brewing it's been so long and finally! I frequent the area and feel bad I've neglected…read morethis awesome Norfolk establishment for so long. This review actually has two great businesses because I visited Klassic Doughnut's food truck too! Ok first things first. Every Wednesday through this Summer Klassic Doughnuts food stand will be available at COVA 8-11 AM. They are in my opinion the best cake doughnuts in our area. They are a major draw for COVA. I purchased a few to go. With COVA I specifically wanted to try their coffee. I was blown away upon arrival to see their outdoor space. It's huge and beautiful. On a weekday at 11 AM without school even out was busy! The counter service was helpful and friendly. I told the staff I wanted a black coffee and was directed to what beans were being offered. I opted for an Ethiopian pour over. The coffee comes in a large and priced competitive. It took a bit with being busy and a pour over, but boy was the wait worth it. Probably the best coffee I've had in any recent memory and I drink a lot of coffee. The space inside is compact, but they offer a side patio that's covered too! COVA is late to offering coffee, maybe 5 years or so. However, they are established with brewing award winning beer. I chatted with a female brewer a minute who was so sweet and invited me back for a glass. They also have a bakery case with offerings that looked good. So I need to return. So exciting to share such a gem in East Beach. Parking may be an issue, but off street neighborhood streets are available.

I wanted a place I could go and have coffee but also just enjoy outside, and Cova is exactly that!…read moreWhile they are a brewing company, during the day, they sell coffee and lattes. I like that while it is in Norfolk technically, it is super close to where I live in Virginia Beach. We tried their seasonal blueberry crumble latte and also had their Irish coffee. Both were very good ! I will say, they do not have a liquor license, so the Irish coffee does not come with Whiskey. Perfectly fine with me but wanted to set the expectation! I also tried their seasonal blueberry sweet cream and ohhh my goodness I wish I could buy a some to take home. So fresh, so good! The staff was super nice, and the outside area is a huge space with a variety of seating arrangements. It was a chillier morning and I do wish the fire pits were going but otherwise, super great, relaxing place to be! I really enjoyed my morning with my sister thanks to Cova!

If "Hole in the Wall Brewery" was a thing, Rip Rap would be at the top of this category. Hidden…read moregem is an understatement. Hidden Gem, for real. Sometimes great things come in small packages. This is literally a garage door Brewery. From what I can tell, everything is small batch ( see photos of Brewing area). I almost want to stop here, because from the sampling I have had the beer is AWESOME SAUCE. So far, this is the best beer I have had in the area, and I have already visited about 10 breweries between Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Chesapeake. I literally could waste my days here. But, it wouldn't be any where near a waste. I think I'm in love. The BEER: Break Water Cream Ale 4% ABV... Smooth and delicious, all day crushable. New Moon Schwarzbier 4.9% ABV... this is closer to a Stout with some smoke, it is very good. I was hoping for the Rausch bier flavor. Still quite delicious. Kaiyo Rice Lager 5.5% ABV... Oh Wow!!! Creamy and delicious. Reminds me of coconut water. This would pair well with just about anything. The BEST. Teak Beach tropical IPA 7.7% ABV... Party in my mouth... thus is AMAZING!!! pineapple, guava or mango, and coconut. Brian says, pineapple and Coconut, but my mind is going tropic crazy. This IPA is low in IBUs and high in full robust flavor. If you love craft beer and you are in the area. If you miss Rip Rap Brewing in Norfolk, Virginia, you have truly missed something special. PS... Brian is a font of knowledge and an overall great beertender.

My phone is low battery, so I did not get any pictures…read more But this place is super cool we stopped in while we were waiting to sit down at another restaurant They have board games to play and so many beers to try I will be back to try more soon the atmosphere was absolutely terrific and so welcoming

Bench Top Craft Brewing is off the beaten path, but in a cool area with plenty of other things to…read moredo. There is inside seating in the tap room and also outside seating. I sat inside as it was November, but a warm November for Virginia. When I came in they were playing old school hip hop which I love, but about 30 minutes in they changed to that west coast alternative music that breweries are known for. So head phones in a vibe to my music. The BEER: Secret Stash... Sticke Altbier (pronounced "Shtick-uh ullt") 6% ABV... so very smooth, with malt and slightly hoppy. I love this. Jam Pact fruited Gose 7% ABV... It is a perfume gose. The combination is plum, strawberry and blackberry, but I got like raspberry which is Mt least favorite beer taste. It was okay. Proven Theory Citra IPA 7% ABV... It is a one note IPA, but that one note us quite perfect Brochachosaurus NEIPA 7.5% ABV... so very delicious, balanced and totally crushable Soft Kush Hazy IPA 7% ABV... higher in IBUs for a hazy, a tad bit dry, east coast or west coast flavor, quite good Brown Bear Honey Pot 6-7% ABV... I only tasted this and it was a sour. It was the first thing I tasted. Description said Oud Bruim w/ cherries, but I didn't catch the cherries. I liked this spot. I would return.

I came for the Vuture Vegan Food Pop up shop. Not being a beer drinker, I didn't think there would…read morebe anything for me to drink while I waited. Boy was I wrong! The Lemonade spritzer/cider/I don't know what it's called/ I just know this cocktail was the cat's meow!!

Commonwealth brewing is one of the best breweries I have been to in a long time. The beer is in…read moremany different styles, and most places have just IPA's. This place has a nice selection. (Sours, stouts etc.) I had the kookaburra beer and it quickly has become one of my favorites. The Grape Gatsby was served only in a can, but was also delicious. I am a big fan of sour beers and this brewery hits the mark. The brewery itself is definitely a more open brewery. There's a quick line on busy days, but the bartenders are quick and efficient and make the line move. The bar itself has picnic table like seating and a huge open area outside, with each table having a QR code for food/beer etc. This last time, I had the pimento grilled cheese, with tomato soup and it's the perfect snack for a winter day. When heading towards the bathroom, there was a huge chalkboard of posted events coming up as well as another section for events. I really do like a brewery that has events in the area to make people come and visit and it gives people a chance to experience cool events in the area while having a familiar place to go afterwards or before. I Came here for coffee one morning, and the coffee as well was excellent. I enjoyed the 007 which is a shaken espresso, Highly recommend! They also have pastries, we got the blueberry scone, chocolate chip scone and the cheese danish. All were great and tasted fresh. Not what you would expect from a brewery in the morning, but it was well worth the trip. The brewery itself was at a low volume and had great sunlight peeking through for a great coffee in the morning. Parking was a bit rough when it was busy on a Saturday afternoon, but there was a separate lot if you can't find parking in the main one. We only waited about 10 minutes for a spot and it ended up not being too tight.

This is a great spot to drink and hangout with a date, friends, or even family. There's tons of…read moreboth indoor and outdoor seating available. A great way to socialize and enjoy the warm weather. The drink options look great, from beer, to mixed drinks, to even coffee. However, we didn't have a chance to try them this time around. We came in for a late lunch, the menu has some great options. Unfortunately, my food came out about 15 minutes before my husband's, so we couldn't really enjoy our meal together. 2 meals, no drinks (not even a soda), and 2 sauces came out to around $40. Honestly, I wouldn't pay that again for the portion of food you're getting. For food at this price point, I think there's better places. However, the vibes are great and this is an awesome spot for drinks. Definitely recommend for drinks & hanging out!

Wasserhund is becoming my go-to restaurant when I'm in Chesapeake. Both its casual vibe and…read moreefficient service invite me to return. They have something like 20 of their own beers on tap. I lean toward IPAs and those I've tried are all good. Their menu leans toward finger foods like sandwiches, pizza (including their cauliflower pizza, a must try), tacos and pretzels. The presence of bratwurst in their sandwiches and pizzas reflects their German inspiration. BTW, tonight is Trivia Night...

Wow! This is some of the best pizza ever!! We did not know their pizza was so good. Wish we started…read morecoming here a long time ago :)