FARM TO TABLE! I just love it when I hear local restaurants support local farmers to give you the…read morefresh and healthy dishes! It was my first time, it doesn't look like much on the outside, but definitely when you step you feel transported. Reminds you of cute small bistro you would find in Europe, but we're lucky we have one here! The furniture is modern and the decore is cute with a coastal feeling. I couldn't wait to try the breakfast platter, and I am so happy I did! Look how healthy and beautiful my platter is (see pics). I had the balsamic vinegar on the side. Also, just a tip.. if you do not want salt preadded to your eggs or anything else just let them know. The pic I took is the owner and local farmer that supplies the fresh eggs! So folks you know it's fresh and delicious! If you want to support both your local restaurant and farmer this is the place! You will love it! I can't wait to go back and try their other dishes.

I came in recently to order a half tray of penne alla vodka for a party, and I'm so glad I chose…read morethis spot. From the moment I walked in, the owner was incredibly kind, welcoming, and genuinely helpful. You can tell right away that this is a place run with heart and pride. While placing my order, I had time to browse, and wow! this place is a little Italian dream. They offer a variety of handmade biscotti and classic pastries like napoleons, tiramisu, berry tarts, and rich chocolate cakes that all looked straight out of a bakery in Italy. Everything felt authentic and thoughtfully curated, not mass produced. They also carry Italian imported olive oil and a beautiful selection of deli meats, including capocollo, mortadella with pistachio, prosciutto crudo, ham, salami, and sopressata, plus cheeses like mozzarella di bufala and stracchino. It's the kind of place where you can build the most incredible antipasto board or grab specialty items you can't easily find elsewhere. If you have time to linger, they also offer a variety of Italian wines by the glass or bottle, representing different regions of Italy. It makes the space feel even more like a neighborhood market meets cafe, perfect for picking up catering, desserts, or just treating yourself. The penne alla vodka was a hit at the party! It was creamy, flavorful, and clearly made with quality ingredients. Everyone kept asking where it was from. I can't wait to have it again Between the warm service, authentic offerings, and standout food, this place is a gem. I'll absolutely be back, whether it's for catering, pastries, or just to browse and grab a glass of wine!

Great food and friendly people. We have been there often and will definitely continue to visit.read more

Food was just okay. The $10 meatballs were absolutely not worth it. They tasted frozen, lacked any…read morereal flavor, and were basically oversized Chef Boyardee meatballs--which is honestly an insult to Chef Boyardee. The restaurant itself also had some issues. The ceiling tile above our table was literally falling out and looked like it was one bump away from landing on someone. On top of that, it was uncomfortably hot inside. Considering how hot it was outside, it seemed like the air conditioning either wasn't working or wasn't turned on. The biggest disappointment was the service and how the restaurant handled multiple mistakes. We had a party of eight, and our checks were completely messed up--including one check that somehow had a 42% gratuity added. That's the kind of error that should have been easy to correct. Things only got worse from there. One person's leftovers were taken to be boxed up and never came back. When we asked about them, they returned with a steaming hot container of broth and tomatoes... except the original meal was seafood with shrimp, mussels, and fish. It was obvious the food had been lost and hastily replaced. Another friend had his leftover pizza dropped in the kitchen. To make up for it, they offered him a complimentary dessert... then actually charged him for it. The final straw was the interaction with the "manager." When one of our friends politely questioned her bill, he immediately became aggressive and said, "How can I fix this problem? I'm not a mind reader." Instead of listening, he became defensive from the start. He first offered about $80 worth of desserts, then agreed to remove part of the bill instead. A short time later, he returned and claimed he couldn't do anything because "the manager wasn't in yet"--despite presenting himself as the manager moments earlier. The entire interaction was rude, unprofessional, and completely unnecessary. The only bright spot of the evening was our waitress. She was kind, attentive, and clearly doing her best despite everything going wrong around her. Mistakes happen, but she handled herself with professionalism and kindness all night. Unfortunately, between the mediocre food, the multiple service failures, and the way management treated our group, this was not an experience I'd want to repeat.

This is our number one favorite place in Virginia Beach…read more It's actually one of the main reasons we go Virginia Beach, so we ended up going twice over Memorial Day weekend. The lasagna and meatballs are absolutely fantastic

GOOD: The Pizza! BAD: Nothing to say with this delivery…read moreorder I can't tell you how blown away I was by this Virginia Beach pizza. 19 Italian Bistro put out some of the best pizza I've had in a good while, and I own that I am a total snob with pizza (highly partial to NY and the NJ boards). This pizza was great - flavorful, the cheese had a good saltiness to it, the sauce popped, and where 80% of the others get it wrong, the crust was a solid, crispy diving board - no limp noodle, no doughy chewy crust. This Virginia Beach pizzeria has game.

We have been here on many occasions. In most cases we were…read morefully satisfied with the service and meals. It's a go back to restaurant for us. It's a cute place with Italian overtones.

After running around to different stores we decided to get something to eat. When we saw lightning…read moreand stormy clouds in the sky we went to a place nearby. We stepped into Reginella's to wait out the storm. We were greeted by Jackie our waitress and given ample time to choose our items. Jackie was wonderful! It's always funny to run into someone with the same name. I got fried ravioli, pizza, and spaghetti with meatballs, and gelato. The atmosphere was very quiet and calm. Once we finished our meal we thanked Jackie and packed up our leftovers. Everything was delicious and when the storm settled we made our way back home. We would definitely visit here again.

I was really excited to try Gaston's Italian Steakhouse because I'd been looking forward to having…read morea great steak. Our first impression was very good. We were greeted immediately, seated right away, and our waitress was attentive and friendly throughout the evening. Before ordering, I actually spoke with the owner, Gaston, because I wanted his recommendation for the best steak on the menu. He confidently recommended the Cowboy Ribeye, assuring me that it was one of their signature steaks. I ordered it medium rare with a little char, exactly the way I enjoy it. I also asked if I could substitute the mashed potatoes and broccoli for another side since I don't eat either of those. I was told substitutions were not allowed. For a $60 steak, I found that disappointing. I wasn't asking for anything extravagant--just a different vegetable or a simple side salad. When my steak arrived, it was much smaller than I expected for the price and didn't resemble the Cowboy Ribeye I was anticipating. It was cooked slightly over medium rare, and while it wasn't terrible, the flavor was only average and had a slightly off taste, almost as if the broiler hadn't been cleaned recently. To make matters worse, the mashed potatoes and broccoli I had specifically asked to leave off the plate were served anyway. To be fair, the service was excellent. Our waitress handled everything professionally and even apologized for the sides, explaining the kitchen had plated them before she could stop it. The chicken scallopini ordered by someone else in our party was very good, and the other chicken entrées were also enjoyed. Unfortunately, I came for the steak, and that's where the experience fell well short of expectations. At this price point, I expected a high-quality cut of beef, some flexibility with side dishes, and an overall experience that matched the cost. Instead, it felt like every effort was made to minimize portions and avoid accommodating a simple request. I always try to support local restaurants, and I don't enjoy leaving negative reviews. But when you're paying premium prices, the food should reflect it. Based on my experience, I can't recommend the steaks here.

While in the area finishing up a wine event, my friend and I decided to stop by Gaston's for…read moredinner. With it being a Thursday evening, we were able to be seated right away because it was practically empty. Gaston's is absolutely beautiful. The entrance displays a beautiful, vibrant picture of Italy. There's also a stand that displays the Dining Area Dress Code, which is Business Casual Attire. Our server stopped by our table and was very pleasant. She was able to answer all of our questions and gave us some time to look over the menu. The complimentary Focaccia Bread with the fresh tomatoes were simple yet delicious. We had olive oil and balsamic vinegar on the table as well that could be used as a dipping oil for the bread. I decided on the Onion Soup to start, which was very savory and delicious. For my entree, I ordered the Wagyu Bolognese and my friend ordered the Fettuccine Alfredo. Unfortunately, the pasta in our dishes were a bit hard and chewy, it should've been cooked a tad bit longer. Also, my friend asked if the pasta was homemade and the server let us know that it wasn't...we could tell! You would think for an Italian restaurant like this, they would've had homemade pasta, it definitely would've helped the dish. The Bolognese was okay but lacked a lot of flavor. I barely ate it. The restaurant was beautiful and the service was great but I've had better pasta elsewhere. If I were to return, it would probably be for the soup and appetizers.

Sirena Serious Eat Italian - Overhyped & Disappointing Experience…read moreThis restaurant was recommended during a wine tasting by someone who is very knowledgeable and well-traveled when it comes to food and wine, so I went in expecting a really elevated Italian experience. I made a reservation right away because we were told it was necessary -- but when we arrived there were plenty of open tables. It didn't feel like reservations were needed at all, which was confusing. The host even seemed surprised that we had one. We were seated at a very small two-person table tucked into a corner by the window, despite there being more open space available. It felt cramped and not very thoughtful in terms of seating. Service was another challenge. Our server was polite, but there was a clear language barrier that made it difficult to understand menu explanations or get recommendations. With a smaller, more curated menu, that guidance really matters -- and we didn't get it. We ordered the Tagliatelle Bolognese, which was decent but not memorable. For a place that's described as "top-notch" and made-from-scratch, I expected more depth and wow factor. The best part of the meal was honestly the bread, which was excellent -- we even bought a loaf to take home. Dessert was the Tartufo al Caffè and while it wasn't what I initially expected, it was enjoyable and a nice finish to the meal. Overall, this experience didn't live up to the hype. Between the unnecessary reservation requirement, cramped seating, communication issues, and food that didn't stand out, it just wasn't worth it for us. We both agreed we wouldn't return.

Sirena was highly recommended so my friend and I were very excited to stop in and try it out. As…read moresoon as we walked in, we stood at the counter for a while, waiting to be greeted. The restaurant was small but absolutely beautiful, I loved the decor. After a few minutes, the owner walked over and asked my friend, "Can I help you?". Can I help you lol?!? I thought that was such an odd question to ask! He didn't look at me at all when he asked the question. She mentioned to him that we had a 6:30pm reservation, which he then proceeded to look around the restaurant to find us a table. Mind you, the restaurant was practically empty. He found us a table tucked in the corner of the restaurant. There were a plenty of other open tables that we could have been seated at but he sat us at a very tight, 2-person table literally tucked in a corner. Our server brought us the menu and explained that we needed to order everything all at once. Unfortunately, she was a tad bit hard to understand so we had to ask a few follow up questions for clarity! I ordered the Calamari Fritti as my starter. The owner brought it out and practically tossed the plate in front of me. Since my friend mentioned that she can't eat seafood, he snatched the small plates from our table and told us we didn't need it. It was just very odd. The calamari was very fresh and tasted great though! Our entrees were brought out shortly after. I decided on the Tagliatelle Bolognese. It was pretty good but nothing to write home about; however, it paired well with my Cabernet Sauvignon. We ended the evening with some dessert. I ordered the Cannolis "to go" and my friend tried the Tartufo al Caffé, which was a chocolate truffle paired with a shot of espresso. It was actually very tasty. Overall, I wish I can say I had a better experience. The service made me feel slightly unwelcome and the food was good but I don't plan on returning.

I've lived in CoVa nearly my entire life, but I've never dined at Aldo's. At the same time, the…read morelast time my mom dined there was with my dad (R.I.P.). So I figured it would be nice to take her there for Mother's Day. She can reminisce about dinners with dad while I could finally get to experience Aldo's for myself. Aldo's isn't normally open for lunch, but for Mother's Day they were (for obvious reasons). I made a reservation about a month in advance and we arrived about 10-15 minutes early. Aldo's happened to have our table ready, so we were seated in no time. We were seated at a two-top near the piano, and were greeted quickly by our server, John. He was kind, pleasant, helpful and especially courteous towards my mom (I really appreciated that). Personally, John could've ignored me, as long as he made my mom feel at home. He did that with ease and his service was a clear highlight during our visit. We went ahead and ordered some appetizers - mom got a cup of the she crab soup, and we split an order of calamari. At other establishments, the calamari tends to be salty, but Aldo's calamari is spot-on since it was perfectly salted. I would order calamari each time I visit Aldo's - theirs is the best I've had locally. Since John brought us some bread, I used that to try mom's she crab and it was delicious. I would've ordered one myself, but I was content with the calamari. We didn't do strictly noodles for our entrees - mom had the Lamb Rosmarino (6 grilled lambchop lollipops, honey rosemary dijon marinade, parmesan polenta cake, sauteed zucchini, roasted red pepper, fig balsamic), which she described as fantastic. I had the Costoletta di Vitella Ripiena (12 oz. butterflied veal chop stuffed with sauteed spinach and mozzarella, served with linguine aglio olio) - this was perfection. I finished my entire plate, while mom had leftovers after having all her soup and a good amount of calamari. We shared a dessert, a Ferrero Roche cheesecake that was decadent without being overly sweet. It was the perfect closer to our meal. In addition, Aldo's was clean and organized. Its decor reflected an Italian influence, but it was still homely. The tables looked/felt to be very close together (their bar is small), though, especially since they were at near-capacity. But that's not a big issue, unless people start bumping into each other. This was a 5-star experience. Aldo's is perfect for special occasions and any time you want to be pampered a little for dinner. Since it was Mother's Day, I'm happy that my mom was happy. Thank you, Aldo's! JV

Why does this get such good reviews?…read more Service was mediocre. Food was overall subpar. My drink was called a Bellini but it was more like a watered down mimosa. This was our first time there and will be our last. Usually when you go to an Italian restaurant there's a certain level of joy in it. The host was rude. Wasn't nice when we walked in, did not thank us when we left after spending almost $200 for 2 people. The server was bothered. We ordered an app, a salad, 2 entrees and dessert. The calamari was good so I was excited for the rest, but as others said, it went downhill from there. The pasta entrees were missing something. My husband ordered bolognese and it was bland. I ordered linguini with clam sauce and it too was bland. I wasn't even unhappy that we didn't have any bread to dip in the clam sauce because it was not good enough to want it. It was finished in butter which gave it a strange heaviness that masked the lack of garlic/parsley/salt/other ingredients. This was not good. On a Saturday night - with presumably their executive chef and A team working dinner - at a restaurant that's been here for 38 years, I expected way more. Underwhelmed.

So good! I brought my 92 year old mother here for dinner on a Sunday afternoon. It's small with a…read morefew 4 low tops, a few 2 high tops and a 4 high top. The kitchen is open. It looks like they do quite a bit of take out. We were sat immediately and our waitress was very helpful. We got the small basilico salad and spaghetti with meat sauce. Everything was delicious. The sizes were recommended and they were huge and more than enough!! I love the build your own pasta so you literally pick your pasta, sauce, protein and veggies. It's like a family style and I would love to go with a group and we all share. They also have a happy hour. I will definitely be back. Now....my 92 year old mothers complaints. 1. It was too cold. We were going to move but they had a big fan blowing and they turned it away from her. Now take that with a grain of salt because the heat in her room is set to 76 and it's April. 2. It was too loud. Since the kitchen is open you can hear the cooks doing cook things. She was irritated by the noises coming from the kitchen but once again....grain of salt. The volume on her TV is at 80 and she can't hear it but can hear the kitchen noises. 3. The seat was too hard. Once again....grain of salt. She is skin and bones but I will bring her something to sit on next time. She actually did enjoy the food but I got the leftovers. :) We will be back.

Was at a coffee shop nearby and decided last minute to try this Italian spot a few doors down--so…read moreglad I did. The salad was amazing, with fresh greens and perfectly seasoned steak. The happy hour apps were a really nice surprise, and the staff were attentive and welcoming the whole time. Definitely a great spontaneous find