A last minute dinner with friends and a last minute location choice couldn't have worked out better. Blanca was inviting inside and out. Our server was attentive and able to answer all of our questions. Every bite of every dish was delightful. It's been a long time since I've had such flavorful chicken. I was hesitant to try the fish, but my friend was insistent. I regret nothing. The broth for the fish was insanely flavorful. I'd highly recommend checking it out. I'll be back. It's kinda odd that such a divine dining experience is nestled in a parking lot between McDonald's and a seamstress, but I didn't hate it and didn't find that it detracted from the experience at all. read more

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Amazing place. Very nice for date night or just to get good food. The intimate setting along with the efficient service makes it a true dining experience. Asking "what do you recommend" is somewhat a loaded question because it is all the best meal you would have had all week. Highly recommend for having a good experience with those whose company you enjoy (and to impress those who you don't). read more

Went here for my birthday dinner, our waitresses name was vada I believe. The service was absolutely amazing, very attentive and she really went out of her way to make it a good experience for us. The restaurant itself is very cozy, and nicely put together. The food was absolutely amazing, I got swordfish while my boyfriend got shrimp risotto, both dishes were incredible. The cheesecake and bread and butter was definitely the highlight of the night though. read more

We went the Blanca for the first time on a Saturday night. We made our reservation through Yelp for a party of two. We arrived only to hear that our reservation was lost and that it was a "known issue" for them. They agreed to seat us in the dining room anyways but told us we had to leave by a certain time due to a party of six arriving. This was a little off-putting considering it wasn't at all our fault. The service was okay. There were only two servers who looked to be constantly busy and that party of six they mentioned decided to show up early. Once they arrived they took up most of the dining room as well as our servers attention. Not a jab at all, it was just a busy time. Their menu apparently changes all the time so I didn't snag a photo of it. I would recommend checking out their Instagram or calling. Their website showed a menu that caught our eye. We assumed those items would be available but it had changed pretty much entirely and one of the items we hoped to try was not listed on the current one. The menu is very small and selective which I don't mind- as long as I know what is on it before making a reservation. My wife and I ordered cocktails and the meat board to start. Once I finished my champagne it sat empty until our server noticed it at the end of the meal. I declined a second one at that point due to being full. I had to ask him for bread, I believe he thought he brought it to us but it was lost in the mix of the large party. We shared the larger portion of spaghetti al limone as our entree. It was absolutely stunning. Their house made pasta made me and my Italian wife so happy. It seems like this entree is a staple item that stays on the menu which makes me very happy to know. We ate every bite and were so stuffed we couldn't have dessert. This place is really quaint with an old world vibe. Don't let the tented dining room throw you. It was as cool as a cucumber in the 90 degree summer heat. I would definitely return. This time maybe confirming our reservation with a phone call. read more

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We had an amazing dinner at Blanca; we made a reservation and I can see it getting really busy but since we eat dinner early (5pm haha) it wasn't super crowded. Our waiter was very attentive and gave great recommendations on the menu. My pasta was some of the best I've had in Norfolk, and the savory tart with caramelized onions was incredible. Small interior but a decent sized outdoor eating section and a great place for a date night. We will definitely return! read more

Blanca - Wine Bars Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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Delicious entrees made to order. Professional staff. Nice date night spot. Drinks were special made. Food was prepared in an open kitchen with various chefs doing their thing. read more

Delicious food and ambience. Great service too. Really enjoyed eating here in the patio and owner is very nice.

Absolutely incredible little gem. I got the spaghetti al limone and I have craved it every single day since (was only in town for a few days for work and stumbled on this place on Yelp). The chocolate mousse with crème fraiche is also a must. Service was great, nice vibe, and prices overall fairly reasonable. My only complaint is that I can't go here regularly due to not living in the Norfolk area, but I will absolutely visit again should I ever find myself back in this area (fingers crossed). read more

Blanca - Spaghetti Al Limone - Wine Bars Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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Great experience sitting indoors by their bar. I love the cozy, intimate atmosphere of their indoors area. I don't normally eat the bread but couldn't resist their homemade bread. We tried the gnocchi and the lemon pasta. Both dishes were delicious but the lemon pasta was definitely the fave. They also have an excellent drink menu. I had an espresso martini for dessert and it was perfectly made. Will definitely go back. read more

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Absolutely love this hidden gem of a restaurant! Been there twice and tried several things on the menu, but I dream about the Spaghetti Limone. Servers are all very friendly and give excellent wine recommendations. We sat at the bar both times and the kitchen staff were fantastic! Eat here, just do it. read more

Excellent customer service at this place. We had a party of 11 with 3 kids and the waitress was very kind and accommodating. She kept checking in with us but not in an overwhelming way. The food was delicious and they allowed us to bring in a birthday cake. A lovely hole in the wall restaurant that is worth checking out! read more

Blanca - The sign to the restaurant you may miss but it's right next to McDonald's. - Wine Bars Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Love this place. I've been several times, and each time is better than the last. I do love that their menus changes almost, if not daily, but I also don't like that, because my favorites aren't always available. Ambiance, really cute; bathrooms are done extremely well. Food, excellent. As stated, everything I've had, has been exceptional. The fact that their kitchen is wide open for all to see, doesn't hurt. My most favorite dish, is the Lemon Pasta; delicious!! read more

Love the food and service at Blanca. Always a great dinner. The owner/chief is excellent and really does a great job! read more

My friend and I went to Blanca for Valentine's day dinner. We ordered the braised short rib polenta with red wine and the duck ragu. For desert we had the olive oil cake. The ambiance was wonderful, our waiter was extremely attentive, and the food was the best food I've had in Norfolk so far. I will be back! read more

Lovely food and atmosphere..will return soon with friends Thank you for a nice evening read more

Very nice date night spot. Has its own parking lot . Great atmosphere where you can watch the chefs cook everything . Amazing service start to finish. They explained each dish and food came out promptly. Every dish from appetizer to dessert tasted amazing with such good pairing and each element of the dishes were spot on. The menus can change throughout the week so we will definitely come back! Highly recommend read more

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Stunning food. Wonderful service. Rustic and relaxing atmosphere. An absolute amazing date night experience. Can't wait to go back and enjoy more of this hidden gem. read more

Blanca - Risotto - Wine Bars Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

The food was great. The staff was great. The drinks were strong and fulfilling. The vibe was also great. Loved it.

Had dinner last night. we had a party of six and we made a mistake on the reservation and booked for 4. The hostess was VERY accommodating even though they were packed with 3 large groups. She never stopped smiling. The service throughout was attentive and friendly. The only negative was the back tented room was a little loud. We ordered the cauliflower and the octopus appetizers. Both delish. Surprisingly, the olives were the highlight. We should have ordered a giant bowl of those. Who knew? Don't miss these if you go. Entrees on the table were the lamb risotto, the chicken, the duck pasta and the flounder. Everything was incredible. All the dishes were unique. You won't find a single one of these on another menu. everything that landed on our table was perfectly cooked and just lip smackingly tasty. We also enjoyed both desserts. The pancetta and the chocolate mousse. The Panna cotta had a wonderful syrupy concoction on top. The mousse was light, fluffy and rich chocolate. yum. The menu is definitely one of a kind. And thank you for that! It was really lovely to see creative interesting dishes with seasonal ingredients. We will definitely be back. read more

It was my first date night in a while. The place was super cute. Very small and cozy. Our server Bryan was great as soon as we walked in the door. Bryan and the bartender Alan recommended a few drinks and apps that we got, and everything was amazing. We started with the prosciutto and hot sopressatta. Then we split the potato pie and pappardelle with duck ragu. Both were seasoned perfectly and great for a rainy night. We couldn't decide on dessert so we got both. Olive oil cake and chocolate mousse with creme fraiche. The cake was moist and had a light citrus flavor. The chocolate mousse was sweet, but topped with sea salt so it was well balanced. I can't wait to come back. read more

Fine dining without the frills. Some of the best food in Norfolk but without the pretentiousness. Great vibes and everything we tried was well done. We had the duck ragu and spaghetti limón. Both divine. Can't wait to come back again and try the rest of the menu. read more

Blanca - Wine Bars Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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Blanca is still cranking out amazing food, even during the COVID-19 crisis. I've been following their tempting daily menus on Instagram, and (thankfully) finally ordered. I had a wonderful beef bourginon, served over buttered noodles. It was accompanied with a delighful salad, with house made dressing (garlicy citrus vinaigrette?). It also included some slices of baguette, and mini eclairs for dessert. This was a wonderful meal from start to finish. It was also an amazing value at $40, much less than dinner for two at Blanca would usually go for. I was very pleased and will do this again soon! read more

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The food is always top quality, prepared to perfection, and the menu is seasonal and offers inspiring flavors and choices. We are there every six months to see what they will bring. Oh, and did I mention the cocktails? Also seasonal and inspired! Since I am participating in a dry January, the bartender made me two off-the-cuff Mocktails that could definitely stay in my drinking repertoire. I cannot say enough good things about our dinners at Blanca. We mourned the loss of the hot dog stand that previously occupied the tiny space, but we have been thankful to have Blanca on the Mid-Granby corridor. read more

Blanca - The bar area, where the cook books are kept- always of interest! - Wine Bars Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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As always great food , great service and very cool eating inside an old church. The chicken picatta was spectacular, as was the brandy bread pudding!! read more

My wife made reservations for my birthday. Despite a quiet night with many open tables we were parked on top of an exceptionally loud party of ten. No offer was made to move us and my teenage daughter was very keen not to be embarrassed by such a request. The next day the owner's message via email was anything but apologetic. Food was average at best read more

Blanca is a go-to for inspired cuisine in Nfk. We've been a few times and repeatedly had great experiences. Once we ate the whole menu with another couple. Easily top 5 Nfk restaurant. read more

What a little gem tucked away in Riverview. I had never been and called ahead to ask if I could eat at the bar. When I arrived a place had been so thoughtfully set for me by the bartender. I loved the tiny open kitchen and being able to watch the chefs as they worked. I had a delightful fennel salad, crunchy and fresh, and rich, delicious mussels with a bracing cocktail and a glass of almost-fizzy rose. They were playing 80s Madonna, cookbooks are piled helter skelter, and the place was bumping by the time I left around 8 on a Thursday evening. I adore this place and will be making it a habit! read more

Limited choices for food, but a huge wine list. There's a Dornfelder, which I never ordinarily find, so, very pleased with that. The spaghetti al limone was great, the second time around. Honestly, it was lukewarm so they remade it and served it pipping hot. The presentation was beautiful, both times. I also had the steak, which could've been hotter, but the steak's temp (medium) was perfect. I enjoyed the entire dish, although the bone marrow was a little rich [for my taste]. For dessert, I had the rice pudding which was unlike any I've ever had... It wasn't very warm, on purpose. And while I can appreciate homemade caramel, the flavor hinted at being burnt. I could've eaten the rice pudding without the caramel, though. That's how uniquely delicious and weirdly refreshing it was. So, I like this restaurant, and I plan to return when the menu changes again. read more

Blanca - Steak with sweet potatoes topped with bone marrow - Wine Bars Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Small but really good food and great drinks. Love eating at the bar. Service is always great.

We just moved to Chesapeake area from Florida. There was an Italian place my wife and I loved in FL. So glad that for my wife's bday, we came to Blanca. The staffs were great and the chefs were awesome too. Their Duck breast dish was great with wine grapes. It paired nicely with my drink, sailor's grogg! Definitely will be returning and it may be my wife and I's favorite Italian place! read more

My friend and I decided to dress up for dinner and a night out. We picked the perfect place to go too. As we walked into Blanca, we were greeted with warm, smiling faces. The inside has a bar with the kitchen right in front of you. You get to see the chef and cooks do their thing! There's a couple high tops as well. They have a heated patio area where most people sat. It was crowded so we decided to eat inside, and I'm happy we did. Everyone there is super friendly, attentive, and had such upbeat energy! Now to the food- The menu is small, but that's because they take care in the food they put out. It also changes often, I'm not too sure how often though. As for prices, it is on the pricier side, but I expect no less from a kitchen that cares this much about food! And you'll soon see why- I got the steak in a Spanish adobo sauce served with potatoes and green beans. The sauce was amazing and as a person who doesn't care much for sauce I found myself dipping every bite into it! My friend got the spaghetti a Limon and it was perfect. We tried the trout as well- it was the most tender, juiciest fish I've ever had! I've never had fish that amazing before. This coming from a person who LOVES fish! Every bite melted in your mouth. For dessert, and I don't remember the names, but I do remember what was in it- We had ricotta with crushed up cookies on top. The ricotta was so smooth. Reminded me of eating ice cream. It was my friend's dessert, but I couldn't help going back for seconds, thirds, fourths... Haha. I chose the cream puffs with a chocolate glaze and cinnamon filling. My friend found himself doing the same- going for seconds, thirds, fourths! Since the menu changes, I'll definitely be back to try more! read more

Blanca - Wine Bars Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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Quaint and wonderful I think sums up Blanca perfectly. Our party elected for 'the works' starting with their lovely Oysters dish that had just the right amount of everything. We moved on to the seared duck dish, which was my favorite of the evening. A hint of sweetness in the sauce on the edge of the dish really brought it all together! The mousse was thick, hardy, but could've used some good ole fashioned whipped cream! Tiramisu was, well, exactly what you would expect from a tiramisu! Overall, a quaint experience and some exceptional food. Oh!! I forgot they had some custom drinks that were divine. The Tom & Ginger I could've drank a pitcher of and their mulled wine was on point. read more

This is one of the best restaurants in all of Hampton Roads. If you are looking for a special night out or just some great dinner, this is an amazing spot. Let me talk a little about the chicken dish. The crispy skin on the dish is amazing. And if you want dessert with your meal, this restaurant is a must. The cheesecake is the best anywhere south of Philly or New York. Give it a go; book now! read more

This place was so quaint and cozy! We had an amazing server and the food was absolutely delicious - the focaccia was to die for! We will definitely be returning. read more

Great Service! Wonderful menu! Delicious Cocktails! Great date spot in Riverview neighborhood.

Honestly, this place was absolutely fantastic - and if you're in the market for a special occasion kind of spot with charm and flair, this is it. First, I was easily able to make reservations online through Yelp, which is always a plus. Second, when we were wandering around somewhat lost trying to find the restaurant, our server called us to check on our arrival time and make sure we could find the place. Once we did, she immediately ushered us to our table. The best way to describe the place is eclectic -- it looks like it used to be a gas station or something. Basically, someone took a lot of care and effort to turn an old not-quite-functional space into something lovely. But let me rave on about the food and wine selections. Their wine list is fantastic for the size of their venture -- lots of high end choices and mid-range choices that don't break the bank but still boast high quality. We started with the meat and cheese boards. The selections on both were excellent and perfectly paired with the wine we selected. I opted for two smaller courses instead of one of the larger main courses. Because the weather was nice, I was feeling like something light - so I went with the melon salad. The cantaloupe was fresh, paired quite well with the ham, greens and tangy dressing. I then got the wild mushroom risotto with blueberries because I was intrigued. I love risotto. I would never in a million years think of putting blueberries in it. But oh my, was it delicious! The balance between the earthy mushrooms and the slight sweet burst of berry was delightful. For dessert, we went with the cherry cake and paired it with a nice light glass of pinot. All around, the food was excellent. Our server was fantastic. And the ambiance was perfect for a date night. It is on the more expensive side - with wine and our food purchases, it was easily $100 per person. So depending on how much you order/what your wine budget is like, just be prepared for that. The only downside (and this didn't impact us because the weather was lovely) is that the bathrooms are located outside of the main restaurant. So if it were raining or something, you'd have to go outside and cross the courtyard to use them. That's a structure thing you can't quite account for though. Just a note to be prepared for it. I highly recommend trying this place out if you haven't yet local Yelpers! read more

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Great intimate experience. Food was lovely, some innovative dishes. The duck pasta was very good and portions were generous!

Well this place is magical. I have some experience working in restaurants and this is a really good one. Both the (open) kitchen and front staff know what they're doing, and they communicate really well. It all works splendidly. But what I'd really like to mention is the location. I'm not sure what the place used to be, but it's clear as could be that someone put a lot of love and care into turning something that had been neglected into something unique and beautiful. There's something very special about that. I had a wonderful experience and I'll definitely make a point of coming back and supporting them again. read more

Blanca - Wine Bars Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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Best restaurant in Hampton Roads. I'm always impressed by the ever changing menu. I always find something new, whether the food, cocktails or wine. This charming restaurant, makes the most of what otherwise might be an overlooked space. You can tell that from reading the low ratings for Blanca that those people are disgruntled employees or people who you would never want to actually go out to eat with. Long live Blanca Food and Wine. read more

Food was super good but the service wasn't great. We were a group of 7 for a birthday dinner. From the start the waitress seemed to not be friendly, felt very rushed and didn't check up on us for more drinks. We were finishing up at 9. They made us feel like we needed to get out, it wasn't convenient to order dessert when they close at 10pm. read more