The Black Pelican has been one of my favorite places to enjoy a great meal for years. While the original location in Nags Head has earned its outstanding reputation, the Greenbrier location certainly stands on its own and has become one of my favorite restaurants in the area. Although they're best known for their seafood, don't overlook the rest of the menu. During today's visit I enjoyed the meatloaf served over mashed potatoes with a side of green beans. The meatloaf arrived piping hot, was perfectly cooked, and topped with a rich, flavorful gravy. The mashed potatoes had just enough texture to remind you they were made from real potatoes, and the green beans were cooked just right. My wife ordered the monkfish served with rice pilaf and breaded eggplant. The fish was moist and flaky, while the balsamic reduction added a wonderful depth of flavor that tied the entire dish together beautifully. One thing that continues to impress me is the bar. The bartenders here aren't simply pouring drinks--they're skilled mixologists who know how to craft an excellent cocktail with consistency and care. Whether you're stopping in for fresh seafood, a hearty comfort meal, or simply a well-made cocktail, The Black Pelican consistently delivers. If you're in the Greenbrier area, there's no need to drive two hours to the Outer Banks for the experience--you'll find an outstanding one right here. read more

Black Pelican - Monk fish lunch entree - Pizza Near Me - Chesapeake, Virginia

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Nicely, I'll put this review at a 2 star. I really want to give it one star but our drinks were fresh and good. Where do I start... when my friend asked if they could add shrimp to their flatbread I don't think they meant boiled or microwaved shrimp straight out of the bag. My dish East Side Sea Scallops $29.95 - "Sesame crusted Atlantic Sea Scallops with ginger beurre blanc sauce, sweet chili crab risotto, seaweed salad, and napa slaw".... NO absolutely no. I thought it sounded really cool and different but the risotto was made weird with imitation crab to be sweet, I guess? On top of the weird fake crab were my scallops. Encrusted in not sesame seeds, but everything bagel seasoning. The large ginger slices with that sauce makes me very confused. It sounds like order it and have an open mind but don't be surprised if it's a major flop. Also, Napa slaw or their take on it was disrespectful. My husband ordered the Groovy Grouper $28.95 - "Coconut lime crusted Grouper, calypso shrimp sauce, tie dyed mashers, and wavy brussels sprouts" he said the grouper was good but he didn't even get the tie dyed mashers... instead they just gave him a sweet potato. He did say the Brussels were fantastic but if I'm honest we aren't ever going back. Service was great and I loved the ambiance but I'd easily give this place a 2 star for food. 4/5 for drink options read more

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We had a graduation dinner here and they were able to accommodate all 19 of us. It did take a while to get the food, but we had enough people to stay entertained. I think there are multiple big parties at the same time so the kitchen probably got backed up all around the same time. When the food finally did come, it was absolutely delicious. I had got chicken Florentine, but the mashed potatoes were the star of the show. There was a lot of pizzas going around and everybody seemed happy with their dishes. It seems like this place is mostly hidden or only the older generation is aware that I'm ready to share this secret with the world. It is a bit pricey, but it would be great for a date night. read more

Loved their crab cakes! Some of the best ever. Service was good also. Petty good selection of beers to wash down dinner with. read more

The food here is awesome, everything my friends and i have had has been cooked perfectly and has been delicious. The staff is welcoming, friendly, helpful, hardworking and attentive. Love the bar area, decor is beachy and chill, it is always clean. Large parking availability and great happy hour. I also LOVE the OBX location. They donit right. Ill always go back to both locations. read more

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Absolutely amazing! Our meal and service were outstanding! my mom and I had the crab and shrimp (lots of lump crab ) sautéed perfectly in the most delicious butter wine sauce! The best we have ever had! the rice pilaf and green beans with it were no secondary veggies. they were cooked and season to perfection! our server Miles, was kind, attentive and did not rush us. This great service and fantastic food was greatly appreciated and unexpectedly phenomenal-, considering they had just closed but were kind enough to stay open as we must have looked so disappointed they had closed, we had been traveling for over 7 hours. The Black Pelican is a must if you are in the Chesapeake VA Greenbriar area! read more

Can't say enough about this place. I've been driving by it for three years and just decided to try it. So glad we did. Service was amazing. From the hostess to the waitress to the bartender. I don't take pics of food (that's my daughter's job), but I highly recommend the fried green tomato caprese and tuna tataki appetizers. My husband had the Mahi, which he said was the best he's had a a very long time. I'm not a huge fish person, so I got the ribeye. Cooked to perfection. The sax player in the bar was a great addition, as we sat there after dinner, having wine and relaxing. Not loud and crazy. We will definitely be back. My husband's already planning his order. read more

This is an updated review based on a private party we booked here. I booked this restaurant for our business's 30th anniversary. From beginning to the end, the process was very easy. The managers promptly communicated with me via email, they worked with me as far as the menu, the number of people, the menu choices, and the room area. Our party area was perfect, the managers Crystal and Vickie were wonderful with explaining the reservation and also making sure we had everything we needed during the dinner. Our waitstaff was perfect! Food was delicious. I will recommend BP for private parties and gatherings. read more

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This place is good. Lots of space, friendly service. I will caveat we had a large party and this place is very nice but had a hard time handling 14 people, a lot of places probably would. I will say I had the Mahi fresh catch and fish was very good. The rice pilaf was bland which I've seen mentioned in other reviews, to be clear it wasn't bad just not tasty. Most of my group liked the place but sorry it didn't reach the level of love. I think you can try this place but see if you can get a side other than rice pilaf. read more

Black Pelican - Mahi with Rice Pilaf and vegetables. - Pizza Near Me - Chesapeake, Virginia

So, I'm writing a review just about the food as I have actually never been in either of their restaurants. HOWEVER, I have tasted their food at an event that is catered by them almost every year for what feels like forever. St. Matthew's Catholic School Auction. I was able to taste both plates (I volunteered as a bartender and my partner and I shared plates) and it was so good. Grilled chicken breast, tuna steak pieces, spicy steak, sweet potato mash, apple coleslaw, shrimp fried rice, cooked asparagus. Everything was so yummy. But the best (IMO) was the tuna. Perfectly rare on the inside and expertly seared on all sides. Also beautifully plated by his staff. I'm excited to try more when I can finally get over to the restaurants either in Chesapeake or OBX! read more

The food and service are both top notch at this location. The happy hour (3-6 daily) is a great deal. $4 wells / beers and $8 shrimp / wings. The sampler is a great deal as well (pictured below) read more

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Another great dinner here. I had East Side Scallops, which is Asian style scallops with a sesame crust, Asian slaw, risotto with sweet chili and ginger, and a small seaweed salad. I also ordered Pelican brown ale. So good! I think the menu should describe specifically that the dish is Asian style, but it was wonderful! read more

Black Pelican - Housemade crab cakes with green beans and rice pilaf - Pizza Near Me - Chesapeake, Virginia

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We went here last night for my fiance's birthday since the last time we went for the first time, with his grandparents visiting from Florida, we absolutely enjoyed every bite and all the flavors. (Ordered the Mixed Grill and the Pecan Crusted Mahi). This time, also did not disappoint. He ordered the Mixed Grill and I tried the Groovy Grouper this time. It was my first time trying grouper and I wasn't sure what to expect. I enjoyed it and would describe it as a "meatier" fish, like swordfish (which I love a good swordfish steak) and not as flaky as salmon. Hope that description helps when choosing your fish :) He loved the sirloin with portabellas, mahi and gouda mashed potatoes. Cleared the plate. The Groovy Grouper was also good, however, although all components tasted great individually, I don't think the dish meshed well. The coconut lime crusted grouper and the Thai chili flavored shaved brussels worked well, but the regular and sweet potato mash combo didn't seem to pair well with the other 2 components. Maybe a coconut cilantro rice would be better with it? This is the only reason I docked 1 point. All in all, I would recommend the Black Pelican as a great seafood place to check out with chill ambiance and great flavors. read more

Black Pelican - Pizza Near Me - Chesapeake, Virginia

I wanted some seafood. The Black Pelican sounded like an awesome place to dine in. The waitress took our order right away. We received our appetizers quickly. I had fried Catfish, sweet potato fries, coleslaw, Brussels sprouts, and mixed veggies. The cat fish was huge and moThe food was hot and delicious. My friend ordered a Cobb salad. The restaurant had several other people dining. Easy listening music was playing. read more

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Outdated ambiance and dimly lit dining area. The food was acceptable, nothing to return to in a hurry. The clientel appeared to be senior citizens. Not many youthful people as customers. Staff was youthful, but customers were aged. Nothing wrong with age, but a more updated appearance and well lit, possibly soft music playing may draw a wider range of customers. The appearance of that restaurant may consider updating to brighten the dining and make the entrance more appealing. My wife's dinner (chicken) was tough and dry. Please consider updating, as the booths seats were old, wrinkled leather and uncomfortable. You need to change everything about that restaurant. read more

Came here for dinner with friends. Their brussel sprouts are my absolute favorite!!! I also tried a new dish they have chicken Florentine that was super yummy & flavorful. The Gouda mashed potatoes were great, the green beans were a little bland but the sauce on the chicken made up for it. This would also be great as a pasta dish! It appeared to only be two servers for the whole dining area so the entrees came out kinda slow. Other than that everything was great. read more

Black Pelican - Down spouts - Pizza Near Me - Chesapeake, Virginia

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Made my LAST visit to Black Pelican this evening. I spent $75 for my wife and I to eat, and the food was definitely NOT worth the money. The portions were small. My wife had the key lime pie for desert and it had a drizzle on it that was SOUR APPLE. I had the creme' brulee' and I could taste the propane used to melt the sugar. Our biggest problem was the service!! Absolutely subpar. First, we waited about 15 minutes for our first set of drinks. The food took forever. Drink orders we not right, And our server spent more time working behind the bar, rather than watching her tables. read more

My wife and I had never been in this restaurant before despite living extremely close to it. What we discovered was "gem" of a place. The food and atmosphere were eclipsed only by the service of the Staff; Chef Jason, partner Crystal and Bartender "Miles" made our afternoon meal a true pleasure. The brick oven pizza was perfectly prepared, and my wife's Poke' was "as she said", the best she's had here on the mainland. Definitely putting The Black Pelican on our short list of "Stammtisch" locations. Highly recommend anyone who appreciates casual dining on specially prepared food items and great service, make time to visit soonest... read more

Went for lunch on a Wednesday. The atmosphere was like a bar with good music. There were a few guests there but started to pick up when we were leaving at dinner time. Was immediately greeted by the hostess and servers. My server was very personable and energetic. Where it fell was the food. I could not taste the crab in the stuffed mushrooms and the mushroom flavor was overpowering. My shrimp and grits were bland and the roux was watery. The worst shrimp and grits I've ever had. My guests coleslaw was bland and thought the rice tasted weird. The highlight was the buffalo shrimp. It was fried properly with the right amount of buffalo sauce. I would not return. read more

Friendly staff, good service. Food for my taste wasn't loving it. It wasn't cooked badly or anything just the combination of flavors was eh ok. Had heard good reviews from a few people, would have to say, give it a shot, maybe for you. read more

Black pelican has a great variety of seafood. While I'm not from the area, seafood on pizza is new to me. I did enjoy the crab meat pizza, the vegetables make it work. Fisherman's risotto has a great flavor with a couple different crustaceans! I do wish that more scallops were provided but I feel like we're always thinking that! Service was quick and above and beyond my first night here. I'd like to thank the gentleman if I knew his name late Monday. My second time there was not as good, the service was slow but food still worth it. Apps are tasty but small, plan to get a couple if you're sharing with more than one person! I would recommend the sampler, I'll be getting it next time. read more

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Decent seafood. Staff is super friendly. Good vibes. Little dark in the dining room. The food is good and I liked it. Just think there are better places in the area. Especially for tuna sandwiches. But still a good spot! read more

Place was filthy outside actually looks abandoned. Crab dip app came with stale tortilla chips, place has really gone down hill. Nothing at all like the Outer Banks location. read more

Service was great, our waiter was waiting on several tables around us and was constantly on the move so I wasn't mad that she didn't ask if we needed refills nor offer a bag with go to boxes. For the most part, she was great. I was impressed with the Brussels sprout appetizers. Compared to the shaved Brussels they had on the menu, it's now as though they are loaded with ham, cheese, peanuts (for extra crunch), and an aioli for kick. My ribs were flavored nicely as well as the mashed potatoes. I also enjoyed the Thanksgiving Delight drink with Malibu and Amaretto and pineapple. Got the carrot cake which wasn't too sweat and icing was great. Will return sooner next time. Love was notably clean and still full of nautical decor. Not much changed but it works. read more

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Food was pleasantly prepared as described. Waitress was pleasant and attentive. Ambiance was pleasant with easy conversational ability and not at all noisy. read more

The grouper was great, however the shrimp was not that great. Definitely frozen and farmed raised. Presentation was nice, and so was the service. The sweet potato was delightful. read more

Black Pelican - Grouper - Pizza Near Me - Chesapeake, Virginia

Second visit here and boy do they get packed on the weekends, but thankfully we were able to make quick reservations and be seated 20 minutes later. Live music on this Saturday night. Since they were busy, it took a waitress a bit of time to come back to us each time. The first time here I had the crab sandwich which was pretty good, but this time I opted for a small Caesar salad and calamari. Huge croutons but the salad was good, not too garlicky. The calamari was good as well with both the marinara and like a red chili sauce. read more

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Pleasantly surprised when we walked in it was late and it was only two other tables being seated so I was unsure, but I will tell you the food was delicious and a very reasonable price that day they got five stars from me read more

We were a group of four yesterday, we each ordered different menu items and each of us were pleased. I had the steak frites. The medium cook was perfect and I loved the sweet potato waffle fries and small salad it came with. Another had a special, someone had shrimp & grits, one crab cakes, I have to say all at our table were pleased. Service was very fast, right on time and kept up with everything we needed. We have been there before and will definately g read more

The Black Pelican is a great place for an evening out and has a good selection of diner options on their menu. My friend and I were looking for diner in Chesapeake and decided to visit Black Pelican on a Thursday evening. The location is very close to Greenbrier mall/ Circle. We decided to go belly up to the bar and have a few beers before diner. My friend ordered the Tuna and I ordered a steak. The food and sides were excellent and cooked just as we asked! I thought some of the prices were a little high but that didn't stop us from enjoying ourselves. The service was amazing at the bar! I would recommend Black Pelican to anyone looking for a higher quality of diner options in Chesapeake, I plan to return to try their happy hour! read more

I had the fried flounder for lunch today. It was fried & seasoned to perfection! I was pleasantly surprised. It came with a heaping side of fries, cole slaw w/bread & butter. Very filling and reasonably priced. Also, the service was great. I will definitely be back! read more

Last time I ate their the food terrible! The management worst. I complained about the food and brushed off. I used to eat their atleast 4 to 5 times a month since it's in my neighborhood but never again. read more

We are off to a great start Christine our server was quick to get our drink orders now we are ready to navigate this diverse menu My wife ordered a Caesar salad with shrimp and Chicken, Mom selected the 5 Cheese Pizza, I had seafood previously so a good ole pepperoni pizza is what me and my grandson ordered. Lastly my daughter chose the Chesapeake Bay Pizza Christine is awesome very upbeat and great accommodating personality. The Pizzas were great with the wood fired scrumptiousness as far as salads go the dressing needed a lil enhancement compared to others tasted previously other than that olives music filled the air with hits of yester year read more

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We had a wonderful dinner here yesterday for my husband's birthday. The restaurant sits close to Greenbrier Mall, adjacent to Olive Garden and Smoky Bones across from the Macy's entrance, and is easy to access from any of the multiple feeder roads. There was plenty of parking available. We stopped in close to 6pm and were seated right away. Our server, Denise, greeted us promptly but came back to take our orders a few minutes later. She kindly honored happy hour draft prices ($4) since we had a waited a couple of minutes - bless her! They had some seasonal options on draft that weren't on the menu which I appreciated. Our drinks were delivered quickly and we ordered entrees - Tsunami Tuna for hubs and the Nuts & Berries salad with chicken for me. Our entrees only took about 15 minutes to arrive. Hubby noted his tuna was perfectly cooked and it was delicious (I may have made him share a bite or two)! The rice was well-seasoned. He mentioned the slaw was pretty spicy, but flavorful. My salad was delicious as well - very fresh greens and strawberries with perfectly cooked chicken and tasty candied nuts. We were offered a complimentary dessert for the birthday and he opted for creme brulee. I'm not much of a sweets fan, but he loved it! Overall, a great experience with excellent service (thank you, Denise!) and delicious food. Prices are comparable to other local seafood establishments. We will definitely be back again soon! read more

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We always enjoy our dinner dates at Black Pelican - good beers, nice touch with the pitas offered before the meal, and tasty chef specials! We try to go at least once a month. All the waitstaff are friendly and accommodating. read more

My most recent dining experience here with friends was fantastic. It should be noted that from what I saw all Covid-19 protocols are being followed here. Proper social distancing is maintained between parties, all staff are wearing masks, and they also offer outdoor seating for those who don't feel comfortable eating inside of a restaurant just yet. Both the crab rangoon and artichoke & crab dip appetizer were a great way to start our meal, paired with a couple of their signature cocktails, my friends and I were sitting right before we even got to the main course, but of course that didn't stop us from ordering a main course. I had my eyes their White Seafood Pizza, and my other friend had her eyes on the Chesapeake Bay Seafood Pizza, so we each got a pizza and split them; both of them were amazing, especially when dipped in ranch (ooh wee)! For dessert, YOU KNOW I had to get some more of that bomb ass coconut cream pie I told ya'll about. Overall it was excellent meal. Shoutout to Kayleigh for providing fabulous service throughout our meal. I will definitely have to pop in again soon for more drinks and pizza. read more

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One of our very favorite lunch spots in Chesapeake! Awesome, nautical atmosphere with very friendly and attentive staff. Fun drinks and the food is amazing! We have been here several times and everything we try is delicious. My all time favorite is the Fisherman's Risotto. So good!! read more

Black Pelican - Pizza Near Me - Chesapeake, Virginia

So let me start with the good. - The service was awesome. The waitress was wonderful and patient with us while our groups tricked in. - The room they put us in was great for our group of 8 and could have easily accommodated 10. Now for the Okay. - The food was okay. It was edible but nothing to write home about. Think fancy Long John Silver. -Prices are a bit high for the food quality. - Sesame encrusted scallops were not it. The risotto was ok but had some kind of spice in it. - The spicy cajun fish bites were not spicy. They were just battered and fried chunks of fish. Although we had a nice time it's not a return trip for us. read more

The chairs are tattered and ripped. Service mediocre. The food was horrible we order a wedge salad to split.. nothing was cold. It was awful. I ordered shrimp on the Barbie it was not grilled and had very watered down BBQ sauce on it.(the shrimp were frozen and mushy) the rice and beans were not even warm. We were not offered bread when other tables were offered free bread. We have eaten here many times in the past always great!! It has been a year or so since we have been here. My husband's food was ok. We will never go back! It actually looks like are closing down! Disappointing experience. read more

This place was a second option after the Olive Garden shut down for some technical reason. And boy am I glad we happened upon it. The ambience was quiet for dinner time and the menu had lots of choices. I got the glass of Sauvignon blanc with the St. Jacques scallops. It was really tasty and rich. The service was okay, our server was nice but quite slow on asking for our orders and for our check. Overall good! read more

Black Pelican - Scallops St. Jacques - Pizza Near Me - Chesapeake, Virginia