A dinner at Court House Cafe in the Great Bridge section of Chesapeake is a reminder of why certain local institutions endure. Consistency--both in the kitchen and in the dining room--has made this longtime favorite a reliable choice for those who value substance over flash. The service reflects that same steadiness. The staff is welcoming, attentive, and knowledgeable without being overbearing--always ready with thoughtful suggestions for anyone navigating the menu. I began with the garden salad, a straightforward but well-executed mix of fresh greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, and sweet Vidalia onions, finished with housemade croutons and a balanced balsamic vinaigrette. It's a simple dish done right, which sets the tone for what follows. The she-crab soup--an award-winning staple--delivers exactly what you hope for in a classic rendition. Rich, velvety, and deeply satisfying, it's best enjoyed in a cup unless you plan on making it the centerpiece of your meal. For the entrée, the French Dip stands out as a clear highlight. Built on a soft roll and filled with thinly sliced prime rib--slow-roasted to achieve both tenderness and depth of flavor--it's served with a properly seasoned au jus that brings the entire sandwich together. It's a dish that leans on quality ingredients and careful execution rather than unnecessary embellishment, and it succeeds because of it. Court House Café continues to earn its reputation the right way: consistent food, thoughtful service, and an atmosphere that feels rooted in the community it serves. In a dining landscape often chasing trends, this is a place that understands the value of doing the fundamentals exceptionally well--and doing them every time. read more

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I may sound bias because I'm from Great Bridge but I consider myself a connoisseur of sandwiches and one of my favorite sandwiches is a pastrami reuben. Court House Cafe's reuben is THE best reuben sandwich I've ever had. The pastrami is tender and doesn't get caught up in between your teeth like other places and just enough sauerkraut to not be overbearing. The steak fries are always hot and crisp. My only gripe is that I prefer Heinz ketchup with my fries which they do not have. The service is always top notch and the girls there are always friendly. My drink was never empty. Now, wait times may vary but it is worth the wait. read more

This is my second time visiting and I had a great experience both times. Friendly greeting. Great service. Delicious food. Comfy seating. Everyone around you talking lije they're at their kitchen table. That's a pretty cool vibe imo. I had the Fried Shrimp meal both times cause it's delicious I definitely plan on visiting again! read more

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My first time visiting was for a quaint weekend lunch with family, and it did not disappoint! If you're looking for decently priced Southern food of good quality, this would be a good choice. I had the crab cake sandwich, which was very filling; the steakhouse fries were a bit bland and not crispy, but you can substitute the side. The apple cobbler à la mode was delicious, but little can go wrong with cinnamon apples and ice cream. The service was amazing as well. read more

Court House Cafe - Apple Cobbler - American Near Me - Chesapeake, Virginia

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My favorite place to have a delicious meal! Always fresh and on point. Their prices are great for the amount of food you get. It's a family restaurant, small but quaint. The service is always friendly and on point. read more

I don't wanna get all gushy here, but wow, I had the best time at the Courthouse last week or so. Our table of two was seated immediately and our server right there to ask about drinks. I had a perfect half/half iced tea and the mix was just right. We sat at a table, but the bar had room too- it's a nice friendly vibe at the bar - I'm sure a lot of folks are 'regulars' but there's none of that 'this is our turf' bs you can walk into sometimes. I had the special- open faced roast beef w/ fries. It must have been decades since I had an open-face sammy and dang that bad boy was full of tender beef, swimming in rich dark gravy. The portion took up the whole plate - a lesser man may not have finished- I persevered. A great visit all the way around. read more

Food was spectacular and service was great. Collard greens were perfectly seasoned and prepared. Ambiance was lovely. Will go again.

Wow. I'd not been here in 20 years but I took my mom for lunch and it was fantastic. My mom loves their she crab soup and she said it was still just as good as it ever was. I had the fried shrimp, a favorite of mine. The breading was light and flavorful, the shrimp was fresh tasting and the service was fantastic. It's not what I'd call fancy in there but the food is a real star of the show. If you like seafood you're likely to find something to please you. read more

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Food is great and the atmosphere is good , the servers are very friendly and they don't hesitate to make you feel like you're special

We have lived here for 9 years and in those 9 years I have worked for the city for 5 and have ordered from almost every restaurant that offers delivery or take out but Court House Cafe. One Saturday hubby and I were out early and looking to try a new spot. The reviews led us here at their 11am opening. Initially, I had my doubts. We were the 2nd table in and despite there being more servers than diners it took almost 10 minutes just to get a server to our table to get our drink orders. I don't know why it took so long but after that, our service was prompt and lovely. Hubby settled on what had to be the largest slice of meatloaf I'd ever seen with potato salad, green beans and Texas toast. He doesn't exactly have a discerning palate as usually food for him only settles on his taste buds for 30 seconds or less. However, that meatloaf elicited a "oh, this is good and the potato salad 1 of the 2 best I've had" comment from him. He's a man of few words so ya gotta take those compliments as they come. The western burger screamed my name so loudly I wondered if the other diners heard it. I don't normally order western burgers while dining out because they're so messy but we were heading straight home from here so I figured if I wore some BBQ sauce home it would be me and the man's secret. I don't care for a pink burger or a well done one so when my requested done burger arrived I was so excited that I almost ate the entire thing in house! I had delectable steak fries and an appetizer of fried mushrooms. Granted, the shrooms are bar food but they were perfectly fried and the ranch was tasty and fresh. I only found flaw in their cobbler, both peach and apple with ice cream. We took it to go & because we live so close it was still in a solid state when we got home. The dough seemed undone and smelled metallic (like how unbaked dough or crust smells). I won't let that deter us from returning. The cobblers were so disappointing I didn't even take pictures of them. I'm a cobbler fanatic so I know just what to look and taste for. It just couldn't be found here. I hope it doesn't take us another 9 years to get back. read more

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Good solid food, great service, decently priced. It's not fancy but it's really quite good. I had the prime rib and while it was a little more done than I asked, the flavor was great and a good portion for a queen cut. My husband fried fish was perfectly cooked and delish, though could have used a little seasoning. My son's burger looked fantastic. Great place for family to go and enjoy a meal. It was pretty popular for a weeknight, so get there early. We will definitely be going back. read more

Crab dip was yummy. We had burgers. The beef was good, but overall was not the best burger we ever had. Choice of buns and flavor was bland. We did have the she crab soup also which was tasty. We enjoyed our lunch. Waitresses were friendly and the ambiance was nice as well. read more

Took my wife here for her b day dinner. I had a queen cut prime rib, my sister had king cut prime rib, my wife had the Delmonico steak and my brother had the meat loaf. The food was delicious and our server was awesome. The cherry cobbler was very good. read more

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We have been eating here for years. Food and service are great. The prime rib is top notch. Prices are reasonable.

Absolutely the best service and food is consistently enjoyable...our favorite dining spot to meet friends and relax.

Three of us had lunch, we chose it for the second time because we enjoyed the food last November. I had grilled salmon which came with two sides. I chose steamed broccoli and baked potato. Each item was cooked perfectly. My companions has a seafood medley and the other the days special of rockfish. The service was friendly and responsive. The ambiance is clean and comfirtable cafe and bar style. Everyone was warm and friendly. Will keep on my list for future visits. read more

OMG BEST PLACE for casual dining, Excellent food, wonderful atmosphere. It's a MUST TRY PLACE. Leave room for deserts, they are amazing. read more

Great neighborhood spot. The food is always on point and the staff is friendly! Love the prime rib!

This is the perfect spot for a lunch meeting! Packed with local history- I encourage you to ask your server for some trivia about the place. Ours was extremely knowledgable and happy to share! This took my overall impression from a three-star one to a four-star one. There is plenty of seating and parking. The restaurant had a bit of an older feel to it even though. It was renovated in 2008 after a fire, but it definitely felt a little older, in a charming way. Everything was very clean, but also very dark. I got the french dip sandwich. The fries were just okay- I was thankful for salt and ketchup. The sandwich was delicious as french dips tend to be. I was so full after finishing my fries that I even took half the sandwich home. It passed the reheating test as well. My friend got the tuna, she said it is her go-to. It was served with hush puppies, fries, coleslaw. It looked very good. Overall I'd say this place is a-ok. Not a place I would drive out of my way to visit, but a great option if you are looking for a good meal in the immediate area. Our service was fast and friendly, the local history made everything that much better! read more

I really wish I could give this place zero stars. The food is even worse now than before the fire. And the prices!!! $8.95 for a cup of she crab soup. First of all there are eight ounces in a cup. I received a star reform condiment container, That if it is filled to the rim is six ounces at best. But it wasn't even full. Not to mention, it seems as though they just threw a crab in a blender and left the shells. Never going back! NOPE. read more

Court House Cafe - Take out she crab soup. - American Near Me - Chesapeake, Virginia

We just moved out to Chesapeake and are trying various places that a friend has recommended. This restaurant was next on our list. She told us it's very interesting inside, decorated like a courtroom. We went on an early Saturday evening and sat at the bar, there was a 25 minute wait for a table at 5pm. Upon entering its smaller than we imagined and besides a small library we didn't really get the courthouse feel. We were served promptly at the bar and given menus, no mention of daily specials but they do have them. My husband chose the rockfish and I chose the fried shrimp/oyster dinner. We were both pleased with our meal. The rockfish portion was huge and we enjoyed the leftovers the following day. Take note the restaurant is closed on Sunday and Monday. The prices are competitive, the service was exceptional, so we will definitely go back again. read more

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Food and service is awesome! We are never disappointed. Seafood is very good . Glad they reopened after fire.

Cute neighborhood deli/grill place that is definitely a favorite of the locals as two different people told me that I needed to have lunch here. So I did get to stop in and sat at the bar area. Decent lunch menu with salads and sandwiches and burgers. I chose what they call the "Chicken and Greens" with chicken salad instead of fried chicken and blue cheese dressing. It's a decent sized meal that was full of protein and goodies. Tasty and filling and I feel like I had something reasonably healthy. Nothing special, consistent and friendly. It's A-OK. [Review 10833 overall, 603 of 2019.] read more

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Great food. Had the tuna and shrimp. Kids had a burger and fried shrimp both I sampled due to dad tax. There is an abundance of blue hairs there, not a bad thing but my table was the only one with average age younger than a 100. read more

This place is a classic. The service is always friendly, the menu is full of good comfort food and the drinks are always well made. Lunch specials are great deals. They've survived a lot of setback from multiple fires and facility issues and they're still kicking which says a lot. The newest rebuilt is so close to the original vibe it's almost unbelievable. The prime rib special is awesome! read more

Food is good, nice atmosphere, service is excellent. Service is very good. Food is great. Especially the prime rib. Been eating there since 1980. read more

This place is excellent! They have nice fresh food and present it nicely. Highly recommend. read more

I keep coming back. Everything is absolutely wonderful!!! I especially love the fried mushrooms, the tuna bites and the she crab soup. The pork ribeye is truly enjoyable also. I will keep coming back at least once a week. Jeanette read more

I was pleasantly surprised. The food was outstanding. Went for lunch. Nice size portions & the food had such good flavor.

We live in great bridge and hadn't been to CHC for some time. We went last night for dinner and where delighted we went back. The place has been remodeled, and the food was excellent. Will definitely make more trips to dine. read more

Celebrated my MILs birthday tonight at Court House Cafe. Prime rib, shrimp and oysters, crab cakes, tuna bites. Every entree was delicious even the kids grilled chicken. Service was excellent. Thanks for a lovely evening. read more

Is Tha best food , I come this place 4 year , lo recomiendo calidad , limpieza y Savor

Been awhile since I visited The Court House, forgot how small and loud it was inside. Booths and tables fit four people. As expected had a 15 minute wait at 5:00 on a Friday, still had a wait line when we left. Food came out very quickly, waitstaff extremely attentive. Food was very good! Recommend the fried shrimp. Delmonico and fried Rockfish were very good. Will be back soon. Come prepared to have a short wait, it's worth it. read more

Great place to eat. The meatloaf is really good. Attentive service and very clean dining area.

This may be our favorite place to eat! We are always greeted with a warm smile and excellent customer service! They experienced a fire recently and had to reopen after a several month wait. Nothing has changed except the decor, same excellent food and service, highly recommend! read more

This is an updated review during the coronavirus pandemic shelter in place. I had called in for a to go order to be picked up around 5:15pm on a Wednesday evening. I had placed the order about 2 hours ahead of time. When I arrived there at about 5:15 they had the majority of the order ready. They were nice enough to put everything in a large box that fit perfectly in my trunk including 3 beverages. I did ask the server if they had put in condiments such as dressings, ketchup and cocktail sauce and she said yes. Unfortunately, I had some salad dressing missing. Court House cafe is offering a limited menu instead of their full menu but we were very appreciative that they were open at all. We had about 9 dinners and this was approximately $142. We were very satisfied. My meal was pretty good. I had the fried shrimp. I know my last review was about 2 years ago and I was not very happy with the service but I give them 2 thumbs up for the service they gave me yesterday!! read more

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The rockfish sandwich was a large filet and tasty. Their she-crab soup was fine. The service was prompt and friendly. The atmosphere was much nicer before their renovation. read more

Court House Cafe - Rockfish sandwich - American Near Me - Chesapeake, Virginia

I really wanted to have a great experience, but I honestly would not go out of my way to return. A friend in town from NoVa frequents Court House Cafe whenever she comes to visit and they are fans of the place. I haven't been in at least 15 years and have no recollection of it except the dark, heavily-wooded interior, which hasn't changed. The service was good and you can tell that everyone takes care of each others tables. The staff was all polite, courteous and responsive. Our drinks were kept full, plates were frequently bussed and errors addressed. One young man brought our entrees out without the sides, thinking they were appetizers, and came back by to apologize, which was nice but not necessary. My disappointment lies solely in the food. They have quite an extensive seafood menu, so I chose that instead of chicken. My sweet friend also loves the steamed shrimp, so we both ordered that. I wish I had gone with my gut and ordered tuna. Her dinner was accompanied by a side salad and baked potato. I selected the side salad and veggie of the day, collards. I appreciate that they do not charge extra for salad, as some restaurants do. The side salad was good - fresh ingredients, tasty dressing. The shrimp left a lot to be desired. Most of mine were overcooked - very rubbery or very mushy on the other end of the spectrum. Though seasoned well, it was hard to get past the texture. They came with a side of melted butter and cocktail. The collards were cooked well, but there was far too much salt. We didn't receive wet naps for our shrimp until long after we had finished our plates. I would recommend to the staff to bring them with the shrimp. I was happy with the service. I would be happy with the price if the food were better. I likely wouldn't return without another request from a friend who loves the place. I certainly would not get the shrimp again. read more

Court House Cafe - Steamed shrimp and collards - American Near Me - Chesapeake, Virginia

The meatloaf mmmm it is soooo good! The food here is so flavorful and the service and staff are amazing!!

So glad to have them back. Great service and food. A mainstay in Great Bridge. Thanks Sarah for the service. Come help them celebrate their comeback after the fire! read more