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    Amber Lantern Restaurant

    3.9 (313 reviews)
    Closed 2:00 pm - 9:00 PM

    Amber Lantern Restaurant Photos

    AMBER LANTERN RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Intimate
    Romantic
    Classy

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    Recommended Reviews - Amber Lantern Restaurant

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    Crissie H.

    I've lived in Chesapeake for a very long time, and I'm almost ashamed to say this was my first time going! My husband and I had a delicious meal, and then stayed at a bar a bit to finish watching the World Cup match. The staff was fantastic, and the food delicious. Great little waterside gem!

    Sign in elevator - do not bring clowns? lol oddly specific
    Ruby S.

    The good: waitress was super kind! It wasn't busy so we were seated quickly. The she crab soup, gnocchi carbonara & Brussel sprouts were all delicious! Where it falls flat: the calamari was over cooked and pretty greasy. The filet was flavorless. I felt like the Demi-glacé was overpowering and gave the supposed to be elevated dish -- pot roast vibes. To finish the night we shared the chocolate cake. The menu states a 'double chocolate gnash cake'. I assumed they meant ganache but this cake was anything from rich. It was like eating pudding cake. The espresso martini was all martini and no espresso. We came for our anniversary dinner and were disappointed, especially for the cost of it all.

    French Baked Brie
    Sara C.

    My husband and I went to Amber Lantern for our wedding anniversary and it did not disappoint! We'd heard so many good things about this place and were so excited to finally try it for our special night. We started with the baked brie and wow! The puff pastry was so light and flaky, the cheese was perfectly melted, and the fig sauce on top gave it the perfect touch of sweetness. For our entrées, my husband had the rack of lamb with mashed potatoes and asparagus, and I went with the scallops over mushroom risotto and spinach. I LOVE scallops and these were cooked and seasoned absolutely perfectly. My husband was just as satisfied with his lamb. We wrapped up our dinner with the lava cake and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Another total hit. All in all, we couldn't have asked for a better anniversary dinner. Highly recommend!

    Jess L.

    First time coming here and babe and i decided to for the Valentine's Day!! The food was simple amazing. Like if you come here you have to try the jumbo fried shrimp and the fried oysters soo yummy. Our service was good we kept getting checked on frequently. The ambience of the place was set up soo cute and all for the love day!! Will be our new go to spot for sure. Omg how could i forget the mussels, they were absolutely amazing!!!!

    lobster tortellini
    Matt J.

    This place is definitely tucked back off the road but it's worth it. Excellent food and great service we can't wait to go back! Update to 2/14/26 on their website on 2/13/26 it clearly stated they were not accepting reservations for the 14th. When I show up on the 14th they ask if we had reservations... WTF? Guess we will find another place for dinner...

    Mahi Mahi
    Brittany B.

    Please beware! If you go to this restaurant and do not like a meal, you will be charged 50% of the price for returning it and ordering a new meal per the owners policy. I am not a picky eater by any means and love trying new meals at new restaurants. However, I took one bite of the mahi mahi entree, spit it out in a napkin and sent it back as I refuse to spend $30+ on a meal I cannot enjoy. I am unsure if it was the risotto or mango sauce that tasted sour. I'm unsure if it is supposed to taste like that or not as this was my first time eating there. This is an absurd policy. They lost out on money as we had no problem paying for an entire new meal that I could enjoy and we would have both gotten dessert as we were celebrating a special occasion. Of course, a tip would have been included too. Thank you for ruining our anniversary. I will not be returning and will not be recommending this restaurant to anyone.

    Pork belly
    Lorina S.

    First let me say the staff were nice, the drinks were strong and the food was good. The place needs a little sprucing up,it has a good view of the water and the sunset was nice but the interior lacked any character it was very plain.

    Spinach & Artichoke Dip with crabmeat. Pita bread.
    Megan Y.

    The customer service is great. Staff is very friendly and professional. The food is amazing here. The food was played well and the temperature of the food was amazing. I would definitely come back here again. Me and my boyfriend came here for anniversary dinner. This place did not disappoint.

    Kristen C.

    The Amber Lantern is a cozy restaurant on the water in the Chesapeake area. It was the perfect spot to celebrate with friends and family for a special occasion. While it's definitely in the most unassuming spot: off the highway and by what appears is a lot of construction. Once you get there, you'll find a peaceful, refined restaurant that's nice but not overly pretentious or fussy. The menu is a mix of seafood, American, and pasta dishes. So there's a good mix for pretty much everyone! Don't sleep on the warm bread. It's excellent. They also have delicious drinks and cocktails if you're looking for a fun libation. I really enjoyed my pasta. It was rich and tasty. The serving size was generous, so I definitely didn't leave hungry. The service was so friendly and accommodating. While this place is not an everyday staple. It's definitely a nice once in a while treat if you're looking for something nicer.

    Rack of lamb; scallops/mashed potatoes.
    Minda T.

    The food was delicious! I had scallops with mashed potatoes and my husband had the rack of lamb. The waitress was absolutely phenomenal and accommodated our anniversary dinner with care. The ambiance is always great and we enjoyed the South dining side of the restaurant with a nice view of the bar areas and games. Great experience as always!

    Key Lime Pie
    Fina K.

    Definitely a " hidden" gem! I thought I was lost for a moment, but just around the corner you see a 3 story building and at the top is the restaurant. Thank goodness they had an elevator! As we entered it was nice intimate setting. We were seated at a booth which was nice. I wanted to try everything, but opt for the sea scallop appetizer, fried oysters and crab bisque. Omg...let me tell you all of the appetizers were sipped, dipped and plate clean! Lol! Also they did provide "Bread & Butter" for free.. Most places now do not offer or charge you for it. Okay, so for the main course I ordered the Filet Mignon with garlic mash and steamed mix veggies. The steak just melted in my mouth juicy and tender. The steamed veggies and mash just complimented the dish even more. If that all wasn't enough. I couldn't resist and ordered the key lime pie. Delicious! I'm telling you this restaurant is a definite place to experience! Will definitely come back.

    Rack of Lamb, Filet Mignon and wine!
    Peter M.

    The view, ambiance, service and food, everything was spot on. Making reservations for our 10th anniversary!

    Rack of Lamb

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    17 days ago

    Great location overlooking the intracoastal waterway. Fine dining. Little hard to find but one of our go to's when we want a nice dinner

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    Everything was amazing. Celebrated my friend birthday. The ambiance, service and food was outstanding!

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    11 months ago

    Awesome food, awesome wait staff awesome decor. Been there three times now and each time has been Awesome.

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    1 year ago

    Y'all better go to 757 foodie and get the REAL reviews on this place, seems like a huge waste of money and terrible service

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    Page 1 of 8

    Ask the Community - Amber Lantern Restaurant

    What is the dress code?

    "business casual"

    Are they open for dine in?

    Yes they are

    I read good bad and ugly comments Special birthday for me wife to include family whom we are visiting. Prefer quality over quantity. So can someone local give current experience(s) at ALR?

    Amber lantern would be a good choice for a birthday with family. They have a good selection of food and drinks. I recommend making reservations, they usually aren't packed but depending on the party size you may want a reservation. The food is… 

    View All 4 Questions

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    La Oficina

    La Oficina

    4.5
    (68 reviews)
    2.9 mi

    This place surprised me! The pictures on Yelp did not do it justice…read more We got there 10 minutes before happy hour ended so we were able to squeeze in $7 strawberry mojito and $9 ceviche Mahi Mahi. The mojito was great. Not too sweet and you can taste the mint. My husband got the Oaxaca old fashion which he said was good. The ceviche's presentation looked disappointing but the flavors made up for it. The sauce was very flavorful and complimented the mahi mahi very well. My husband said it was the best ceviche he's ever had For entrees I got the 10 oz picanha. They actually give you two pieces of steak and I took the other one home. It was cooked perfectly to a medium rare with great smokiness. The green beans were a little salty. The yuca was good. My husband liked the filet but I think the picanha was better. Out of all the sauces we chose the chimichurri sauce which complimented the steaks very well. Service was really quick and attentive.

    They take reservations! Yay!…read more This place has plenty of parking which is nice. We had never tried this place before so I didn't know what to expect. I ordered the picanha tacos with rice. It was delicious! I wish the tacos had some kind of sauce on top, maybe like a chimichurri sauce? The service was pretty good. The inside set up is a bit wonky and sometimes the sun comes in through the windows blinding you. We had to move tables. I'd go back!

    Photos
    Bar
    Bar
    Picanha steak
    Picanha steak
    Steak Bites

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    Steak Bites
    The Atlantic

    The Atlantic

    4.5
    (1.3k reviews)
    19.3 mi
    $$

    This evening, I decided to visit Atlantic for their Happy Hour, and the experience was nothing…read moreshort of extraordinary. The exterior of the venue is undeniably striking, accented by marvelous murals and artistic decor that set an elevated, sophisticated tone before you even step through the doors. Inside, the establishment is impeccably pristine, wonderfully vibrant, and beautifully maintained. Their bar program is remarkable, boasting a serious wine collection and a selection of top-shelf spirits. For my beverage, I opted for the Smoke and Mirrors cocktail, which was expertly crafted, perfectly balanced, and thoroughly impressive. For my main dish, I selected the Fried Oysters a first for me at this particular establishment and though they were outside of the standard Happy Hour menu, they were an absolute culinary triumph! Crisp, extraordinarily fresh, and seasoned to perfection. The highlight of the evening, however, was the impeccable service. My server, Sarah, was an absolute delight gracious, attentive, and without a doubt the finest at the establishment. From the stunning aesthetics and pristine atmosphere to the divine cuisine and Sarah's top-tier hospitality, Atlantic receives absolute full marks from me. A flawless evening I shall most certainly be returning!

    We did return! And The Atlantic is still among our favorite spots on the beach!…read moreWe hit the Happy Hour and the place was packed. We had a 45 minute wait but that was no big deal. Our group ordered some IPA's - Orange Starfish to be exact, and a couple of well drinks. We had the famous Smash Burgers and a a tuna slider. For an appetizer we had ceviche. We love ceviche but this version had really really soft, almost mushy scallops! No one was a fan of mushy scallops so we ate around them! We're not sure if this is how their scallops always are served, of if we just got a mushy order. Overall the food and service was great and we will be back!

    Photos
    Fun staff!!!
    Fun staff!!!
    Fried happy hour oysters
    Fried happy hour oysters
    NARRAGANSETT

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    NARRAGANSETT
    Wicker's Crab Pot

    Wicker's Crab Pot

    3.6
    (593 reviews)
    6.7 mi
    $$

    If you are looking for legit seafood, you have found the right place. They have crabs, crab boils,…read moreoysters, scallops, shrimp, you name it they have it! The service was exceptional, which always makes for a great experience. We most recently had family visit who wanted crabs so of course we came here! Prices are about average for seafood, not overly priced, in my opinion. Please make a reservation before you go, the restaurant used to be a home so it's not very large. I have nothing negative to say, everything was so good! Thank me later when you go!

    My husband and I had dinner last nite. My girlfriend recommended Wickers to us because of the good…read moreseafood. It's our go to place when we visit VA Beach 1-2 times a year. Not fancy. Very clean. Good service. We ordered their delish hush puppies to start us off. They're still delish. They were greasier than last year's so we wrapped them in a napkin to remove some of it. Still delish! My husband had his usual, the crab boil-crab legs, steamed shrimp, red roasted potatoes and an ear of corn (halved). He went to work as soon as it hit the table! There was enough food for 2 people to share. I decided to try a crab cake. I ordered the crab cake dinner with green beans and red potatoes. A large helping of well seasoned green beans and roasted potatoes and 1 crab cake. (You can also order the dinner with 2 crab cakes). My sides were very good. The crab cake was decent. It wasn't as moist or seasoned as i hoped it'd be. I won't order it again. Last year, I tried the salmon which was delish. When you're in the area, you must go to Wicker's! Small parking lot but they provide overflow parking in a nearby church's parking lot. They also have a window outside for carryout orders.

    Photos
    Downstairs Bar area
    Downstairs Bar area
    #1 jimmies
    #1 jimmies
    Outside signage

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    Outside signage
    Waterman's Surfside Grille

    Waterman's Surfside Grille

    4.2
    (3.2k reviews)
    19.1 mi
    $$

    While seeking an exceptional dining destination along the beach this evening, I happened upon…read moreWaterman's Surfside Grille and it proved to be a thoroughly marvelous discovery! The pristine beach views alone are worth the visit, providing a serene and picturesque backdrop. The aesthetic of the establishment is exquisitely curated. The color palette and decor choices are vibrant yet tasteful, immediately setting an elevated coastal atmosphere. The venue features an inviting bar area alongside comfortable, well-appointed private seating that allows for a truly relaxing evening. I was seated in a delightful spot and taken care of by Nikki, who provided stellar hospitality. She was extraordinarily gracious, patient, and warm, taking the time to thoroughly guide me through their menu offerings. To begin, I ordered their Monday special, the Orange Crush, which was delightfully refreshing, beautifully mixed, and utterly divine. For my main course, I selected the Rainbow Trout. The dish arrived with impressive speed, cooked to absolute perfection, and rich with exquisite flavor. From the stunning oceanfront view and stylish decor to the divine cuisine and Nikki's top-tier service, Waterman's Surfside Grille earns full marks from me. A flawless evening I shall most certainly be returning

    The food was just as delicious as I had the last time I visited VA Beach! My hushpuppies were soooo…read moregood! Upgrading the side of fries to crabby fries is definitely the move of all moves! Their Key Lime Pie is out of this world! A number of flies in the bar area, otherwise it's easily 5 stars! Chris was a great bartender too.

    Photos
    The welcoming bar with busy attentive bartenders
    The welcoming bar with busy attentive bartenders
    This is their Baby Back Ribs entrée Local's special.  Photo taken November 30, 2023.
    This is their Baby Back Ribs entrée Local's special. Photo taken November 30, 2023.
    Draaanks

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    Draaanks

    Amber Lantern Restaurant - seafood - Updated August 2026

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