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I have been wanting to try this place for awhile and my experience was average to say the least. The ambience is very intresting because of its previous usage as a church. There a lot of historical artifacts and decorations that show me what it was like before this place was a restaurant. My service was alright but not bad. My server was all over the place despite the restaurant not being really busy. It took awhile for me to get my food and place in my orders. But my server was very nice and friendly. I do wish when it came to deserts that they had a menu for the items. The food was very decent for me to say. The calamari was pretty good when I put in the marinara sauce. The French dip was pretty bland however despite using the sauce. I found the moose chocolate cake very intresting and it goes well with the whipped cream. Postivies ( plus other thoughts) 1. Some of the food was good 2. Intresting atmosphere. 3. Parking was not a issue. 4. Server was very nice. 5. Decent price for a full meal Negatives 1. Service was slow despite there being less people. 2. French dip was bland. 3. Lack of anything desert menu.
French onion soup-- good Chimmichurri tibs-- these were awesome. The goat cheese and meat paired nicely Filet Mignon-- got a 7/10. Enjoyable but not the best ever Mesculan salad, crab cake-- good She crab soup-- good like a chowder in the cream content. Salmon ( gluten. Free ) -- too salty. Not delicate Scallop risotto-- good but salty Several items were too salty. The salmon and broccolini were too salty. The risotto was a little too salty. The side crab cake took at least 15 min to come AFTER. the main dishes. Crème brûlée and chocolate mousse cake Brûlée could use vanilla. Tasted a tad eggy Chocolate was fine. Could use higher quality chocolate
Came to Freemason abbey for the first time for lunch and absolutely enjoyed. Inside, it looks like an older building, full of history, but still nice. We had a reservation, so we were seated immediately upon arrival. It was fairly empty in there as it was lunch time. Once seated, the waiter took our drink orders and bought out complimentary bread and butter which was so good! I wasn't super hungry so i got the soup and salad combo. I was told they are known for their she crab soup, and now, i see why! It was so good. There was plenty of crab meat in the soup as well. I wasn't a fan of the bread/cracker in the soup, but the soup itself was a 10/10.
Freemason Abbey is located inside an old church. Warm and inviting ambiance. High ceilings with seating downstairs as well as upstairs. A lovely wooden bar to your right when entering. Free parking behind the Resturant was available. They do recommend reservations so I went online and booked it for lunch prior to showing up. They were busy but not filled. Service was good but not great. My husband ordered the soup and salad combo with she crab and house salad. He raved about both. Soup was thick and flavorful and the dressing was very tasty. I ordered the club with turkey and ham with fries. Nothing special about it. Wouldn't order it again.
You get the most bang for your buck here when you go during restaurant week. Food is good but nothing amazing. I would go for their fish dishes. Their pastas are very heavy on the cream. Drinks are always good and refreshing. They're the only restaurant I know that does a whole cocktail flight
We went to dinner to celebrate my promotion. The staff was very welcoming when get there and congratulated me on my promotion. We even got a little paper at our table that said I got promoted. I loved the layout of the restaurant and I loved sitting on the second floor. The food we got was delicious and I would definitely go back for the ratatouille! I was expecting maybe a little dessert since they were communicating the promotion so much to each other but it was just to congratulate. That was a little surprising but overall the experience was great!
Celiac review! I'm gonna start by saying I did not give fewer stars despite a Rocky visit because all of the staff were very polite and accommodating and very apologetic when there was an issue. Parking is street parking but easy on a Saturday. The food was not good unfortunately. This is the primary reason for knocking a star off. My meal was extremely salty. I think it would've been fine if just one element had been salty and the rest weren't, for balance, but with all items being salty there was no relief from the immense salt. It was hard to eat. They also replaced my pilaf with potatoes without asking, telling, or explaining why. They offered to take it back and give me pilaf but it had already taken 45 mins to get th food and I didn't want to wait another 45! THE GLUTEN FREE EXPERIENCE I was excited they had a gluten free menu. Made sure the waitress knew I had celiac and what it was. I asked her about the food items and their contents + the apple cider I ordered. She said checked with the kitchen and the manager and repeatedly reassured me it was all gluten free. She was incorrect and I Was glutened. I think it may have been the apple cider. She claimed to understand celiac but evidently did not. I mentioned this to the waitress and asked to see the cider ingredients. I discovered it had a coloring in it (caramel coloring) which is often gluten and wheat containing as you guys all know. I explained this to the waitress and she told me she would notify her manager. Manager came over and asked some questions to understand the gluten containing ingredients and I also showed him that the mix does not say "gluten free" which means it's not safe to assume. They went to the kitchen again and came back out to try and tell me that google said there's no gluten in the packet. Somebody I was dining with had googled the caramel coloring to see if there's gluten and reported that what the manager had said was word for word the AI summary of sources from the google search. I explained again that just because the ingredients don't say "gluten" doesn't mean it's safe for celiac disease. They were extremely apologetic and discounted our bill. However I kind of walked away feeling like they did not understand the severity of their oversight. They reassured me so many times that it was marked gluten free only for me to find it wasn't. And they came back multiple times to try and tell me they hadn't glutened me. The staff was not well trained and the chefs and manager do not understand celiac disease. Everyone was polite and accommodating + apologetic.however, I wish they would have taken this as a learning experience instead of an opportunity to blame me for eating out with celiac disease. If your staff claims to understand celiac, and your menu has a notification that you understand celiac, I'm not the fool for taking you at your word.
Gorgeous space, extremely friendly and kind staff, not a thing I'd change. We did a brunch on a Sunday at 1130 and had easy parking and a day before reservation for five. Food is quite hearty and well flavored, and I want to try their dinner menu. There were a decent many options for brunch with brekkie and lunch available, so something for everyone. I wish there was a little more variety for brekkie but all in all good especially the she crab soup!
I had to come back for another year of themed Harry Potter dinner. We came dressed up on the last weekend and I'm glad to see the decore and the menus were up. As always the service was very nice and prompt. We had a salmon appetizer which was nice but a bit on the dry side. I had the duck risotto and my husband had the tenderloin and those were 10/10 entrees! Risotto consistency was just right and the meat was cooked perfectly. I also enjoyed the butter beer. The drink menu was small but very vibrant. I went for the sacramental venom- refreshing and very strong! We finished with the pumpkin spice ice cream brownie and it was a perfect touch to wrap the diner. My kiddo had the Triwizard mac and cheese and seemed very happy. I also got their memorabilia goblet just for funzies. Staff was super excited that we wore costumes so we got a ton of coupons with discounts for future visits. I think this spot has a perfect ambience for fall Harry Potter themed events and it became somewhat of a family tradition. Looking forward to the next year!
Food, drinks, and service are fantastic! Ambiance is unique repurposing this former church into a cool restaurant. Great for large groups or romantic and intimate evenings.
Very good! My husbae and friends dined here a few months ago and it was our first time! I must say we're looking forward to returning. Parking wasn't an issue and finding this location wasn't a hassle either. The vibe inside seems dark but it's far from that. The staff, super inviting and our waitress was awesome. We dined upstairs and on a Thursday night I noticed a steady crowd. I believe the restaurant featured different entrees on this night but I opted to try something from the normal menu. Check out the pictures because I do not remember my meal but I ate it all and made room for dessert. It all was delightful. I'm removing one star because the waitress advised the margaritas are not made fresh. Bummer! Oh well. My classic old fashioned was on point. But the blueberry featured old fashioned not so much. I do recommend you dine here. As a group, alone or a date night. Have fun and enjoy life:)
food: the food was fine, i thought the pasta was quite yummy but kinda pricey, didn't get the famous soup service: nice staff but food took awhile to come out ambiance: really interesting interior since it's like a repurposed church, probably what makes this restaurant known
The building was built in the late 1800's, so you are immersed in the ambiance and history. The food here is simply outstanding and this visit, we went for a wider sampling then our normal. We started with their famous She Crab Soup, which is so decadent and rich, you can almost have just a bowl and and call it a meal! We also ordered the Calimari, which were so pillow soft and fresh, we really enjoyed them. For our main course, my wife had the Broiled Seafood Platter with Crab Cakes and without a doubt, the Flounder was the best I've tried...ever. I opted for the Broiled Scallops with Orso. The dish was perfectly balanced with the brininess of the scallops and the buttery orso...outstanding. We are already planning to return to Freemason Abby and also, the parking is in the back of the establishment.
2 months ago
24 days ago
Stopped in downtown Norfolk and decided to try Freemason Abbey Restaurant after hearing about it. The area itself was just okay, but the restaurant is definitely worth checking out because of the building. It's an old church built in 1873 as the Second Presbyterian Church, and it's been home to Freemason Abbey since 1989. The inside is really cool and gives the place a lot of character. You'll see some of that in my photos. I started with their she crab soup, which was excellent. It's one of their specialty soups and had that creamy, rich flavor you'd expect from a good she crab soup. For dinner, I was originally going to try the smoked gouda dish, but they had a chicken parm special for $24, so I went with that instead. Chicken breast, marinara, linguini and provolone cheese. Really glad I did. It was hot, flavorful and presented nicely. My only complaint was that it could have used a little more marinara, but I asked and they brought me some without any problem. Service was great from start to finish. I was there around 5:30, before the dinner rush, so it wasn't very busy, but everything came out promptly and there were no issues at all. Overall, definitely a cool place with a unique atmosphere, good food and great service. I'd absolutely go back again. Sometimes the building is half the meal, and this one definitely has a story to tell! read more
3 months ago
I have been wanting to try this place for awhile and my experience was average to say the least. The ambience is very intresting because of its previous usage as a church. There a lot of historical artifacts and decorations that show me what it was like before this place was a restaurant. My service was alright but not bad. My server was all over the place despite the restaurant not being really busy. It took awhile for me to get my food and place in my orders. But my server was very nice and friendly. I do wish when it came to deserts that they had a menu for the items. The food was very decent for me to say. The calamari was pretty good when I put in the marinara sauce. The French dip was pretty bland however despite using the sauce. I found the moose chocolate cake very intresting and it goes well with the whipped cream. Postivies ( plus other thoughts) 1. Some of the food was good 2. Intresting atmosphere. 3. Parking was not a issue. 4. Server was very nice. 5. Decent price for a full meal Negatives 1. Service was slow despite there being less people. 2. French dip was bland. 3. Lack of anything desert menu. read more
French onion soup-- good Chimmichurri tibs-- these were awesome. The goat cheese and meat paired nicely Filet Mignon-- got a 7/10. Enjoyable but not the best ever Mesculan salad, crab cake-- good She crab soup-- good like a chowder in the cream content. Salmon ( gluten. Free ) -- too salty. Not delicate Scallop risotto-- good but salty Several items were too salty. The salmon and broccolini were too salty. The risotto was a little too salty. The side crab cake took at least 15 min to come AFTER. the main dishes. Crème brûlée and chocolate mousse cake Brûlée could use vanilla. Tasted a tad eggy Chocolate was fine. Could use higher quality chocolate read more
Came to Freemason abbey for the first time for lunch and absolutely enjoyed. Inside, it looks like an older building, full of history, but still nice. We had a reservation, so we were seated immediately upon arrival. It was fairly empty in there as it was lunch time. Once seated, the waiter took our drink orders and bought out complimentary bread and butter which was so good! I wasn't super hungry so i got the soup and salad combo. I was told they are known for their she crab soup, and now, i see why! It was so good. There was plenty of crab meat in the soup as well. I wasn't a fan of the bread/cracker in the soup, but the soup itself was a 10/10. read more
Freemason Abbey is located inside an old church. Warm and inviting ambiance. High ceilings with seating downstairs as well as upstairs. A lovely wooden bar to your right when entering. Free parking behind the Resturant was available. They do recommend reservations so I went online and booked it for lunch prior to showing up. They were busy but not filled. Service was good but not great. My husband ordered the soup and salad combo with she crab and house salad. He raved about both. Soup was thick and flavorful and the dressing was very tasty. I ordered the club with turkey and ham with fries. Nothing special about it. Wouldn't order it again. read more
You get the most bang for your buck here when you go during restaurant week. Food is good but nothing amazing. I would go for their fish dishes. Their pastas are very heavy on the cream. Drinks are always good and refreshing. They're the only restaurant I know that does a whole cocktail flight read more
We went to dinner to celebrate my promotion. The staff was very welcoming when get there and congratulated me on my promotion. We even got a little paper at our table that said I got promoted. I loved the layout of the restaurant and I loved sitting on the second floor. The food we got was delicious and I would definitely go back for the ratatouille! I was expecting maybe a little dessert since they were communicating the promotion so much to each other but it was just to congratulate. That was a little surprising but overall the experience was great! read more
Celiac review! I'm gonna start by saying I did not give fewer stars despite a Rocky visit because all of the staff were very polite and accommodating and very apologetic when there was an issue. Parking is street parking but easy on a Saturday. The food was not good unfortunately. This is the primary reason for knocking a star off. My meal was extremely salty. I think it would've been fine if just one element had been salty and the rest weren't, for balance, but with all items being salty there was no relief from the immense salt. It was hard to eat. They also replaced my pilaf with potatoes without asking, telling, or explaining why. They offered to take it back and give me pilaf but it had already taken 45 mins to get th food and I didn't want to wait another 45! THE GLUTEN FREE EXPERIENCE I was excited they had a gluten free menu. Made sure the waitress knew I had celiac and what it was. I asked her about the food items and their contents + the apple cider I ordered. She said checked with the kitchen and the manager and repeatedly reassured me it was all gluten free. She was incorrect and I Was glutened. I think it may have been the apple cider. She claimed to understand celiac but evidently did not. I mentioned this to the waitress and asked to see the cider ingredients. I discovered it had a coloring in it (caramel coloring) which is often gluten and wheat containing as you guys all know. I explained this to the waitress and she told me she would notify her manager. Manager came over and asked some questions to understand the gluten containing ingredients and I also showed him that the mix does not say "gluten free" which means it's not safe to assume. They went to the kitchen again and came back out to try and tell me that google said there's no gluten in the packet. Somebody I was dining with had googled the caramel coloring to see if there's gluten and reported that what the manager had said was word for word the AI summary of sources from the google search. I explained again that just because the ingredients don't say "gluten" doesn't mean it's safe for celiac disease. They were extremely apologetic and discounted our bill. However I kind of walked away feeling like they did not understand the severity of their oversight. They reassured me so many times that it was marked gluten free only for me to find it wasn't. And they came back multiple times to try and tell me they hadn't glutened me. The staff was not well trained and the chefs and manager do not understand celiac disease. Everyone was polite and accommodating + apologetic.however, I wish they would have taken this as a learning experience instead of an opportunity to blame me for eating out with celiac disease. If your staff claims to understand celiac, and your menu has a notification that you understand celiac, I'm not the fool for taking you at your word. read more
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Freemason A.
Hello Ruth,…
4 days ago
Gorgeous space, extremely friendly and kind staff, not a thing I'd change. We did a brunch on a Sunday at 1130 and had easy parking and a day before reservation for five. Food is quite hearty and well flavored, and I want to try their dinner menu. There were a decent many options for brunch with brekkie and lunch available, so something for everyone. I wish there was a little more variety for brekkie but all in all good especially the she crab soup! read more
10 months ago
I had to come back for another year of themed Harry Potter dinner. We came dressed up on the last weekend and I'm glad to see the decore and the menus were up. As always the service was very nice and prompt. We had a salmon appetizer which was nice but a bit on the dry side. I had the duck risotto and my husband had the tenderloin and those were 10/10 entrees! Risotto consistency was just right and the meat was cooked perfectly. I also enjoyed the butter beer. The drink menu was small but very vibrant. I went for the sacramental venom- refreshing and very strong! We finished with the pumpkin spice ice cream brownie and it was a perfect touch to wrap the diner. My kiddo had the Triwizard mac and cheese and seemed very happy. I also got their memorabilia goblet just for funzies. Staff was super excited that we wore costumes so we got a ton of coupons with discounts for future visits. I think this spot has a perfect ambience for fall Harry Potter themed events and it became somewhat of a family tradition. Looking forward to the next year! read more
Very good! My husbae and friends dined here a few months ago and it was our first time! I must say we're looking forward to returning. Parking wasn't an issue and finding this location wasn't a hassle either. The vibe inside seems dark but it's far from that. The staff, super inviting and our waitress was awesome. We dined upstairs and on a Thursday night I noticed a steady crowd. I believe the restaurant featured different entrees on this night but I opted to try something from the normal menu. Check out the pictures because I do not remember my meal but I ate it all and made room for dessert. It all was delightful. I'm removing one star because the waitress advised the margaritas are not made fresh. Bummer! Oh well. My classic old fashioned was on point. But the blueberry featured old fashioned not so much. I do recommend you dine here. As a group, alone or a date night. Have fun and enjoy life:) read more
food: the food was fine, i thought the pasta was quite yummy but kinda pricey, didn't get the famous soup service: nice staff but food took awhile to come out ambiance: really interesting interior since it's like a repurposed church, probably what makes this restaurant known read more
6 days ago
The building was built in the late 1800's, so you are immersed in the ambiance and history. The food here is simply outstanding and this visit, we went for a wider sampling then our normal. We started with their famous She Crab Soup, which is so decadent and rich, you can almost have just a bowl and and call it a meal! We also ordered the Calimari, which were so pillow soft and fresh, we really enjoyed them. For our main course, my wife had the Broiled Seafood Platter with Crab Cakes and without a doubt, the Flounder was the best I've tried...ever. I opted for the Broiled Scallops with Orso. The dish was perfectly balanced with the brininess of the scallops and the buttery orso...outstanding. We are already planning to return to Freemason Abby and also, the parking is in the back of the establishment. read more
Couldn't get over last before they closed so we wait till the next day and went for a late lunch. Super cool building (old church with lots of history). Server did a super job and was right top of things. We decided to do the 3 course for $36. You get and app, we both went with She Crab Soup and thought it was the best we had anywhere. The we order the Smoked Gouda Tenderloin Penne which was amazing. Then the final was Apricot Brandy Bread Pudding. Wow everything was amazing. We couldn't finish everything so some came back to the hotel for my wife's dinner and get a sub. Highly recommended. Don't miss this if you in Norfo read more
Freemason Abbey was a very unique restaurant, the restaurant is a church building which is super nice. The inside gives off such a cozy feel and the service was great. Our waitress was super friendly and food came out quick. I started off with the She crab soup and it did not disappoint! Real crab meat inside. Me and my boyfriend had two different pastas and they were amazing. Only thing I noticed was the food wasn't super hot. Blue drink in the picture is the liquid luck. read more
11 days ago
Decided to check this place out during restaurant week. The waitress was absolutely attentive and nice. She suggested a couple of her favorite drinks that were really good. The crab dip was amazing! The honey buttered chicken, mashed potatoes, asparagus were amazing! However, I will say the flavor for the asparagus was good but it was super tiny and thin that you could only partially eat it. I was a little bit disappointment because I love asparagus. The ambiance is very old but cute. I feel like I deserve a free crab dip due to the fact I could not fully enjoy my asparagus. Haha. read more
Food was mediocre at best, ultra processed and cheap. We went towards end of brunch nothing was fresh. Service was terrible, none of our requests were correct. I ordered the breakfast burger no bun - came with bun, no big deal but missing the egg, the mayo and cheese was only half a slice barely covering the burger, and it was regular bacon not Canadian - sooo I didn't really get what I ordered. My hubs drink was wrong, his food came with the wrong side and no apology or fix. Cool looking place too bad it wasn't enough to draw me back - this one is no for me. read more
2 months ago
6 months ago
1 month ago
This beautifully renovated historic church building is now the home of a wonderful restaurant. Located in the downtown area of Norfolk, it is easy to locate. After spending the morning aboard the USS Wisconsin, we walked over here for a late lunch. Not familiar with "She Crab Soup ", the waitress informed me that this is a dish they are known for! ..."when in Rome..." It was delicious!! I'm very happy I chose a bowl, rather than a cup My companion chose the Tuesday Special, Bang Bang Tacos which he thoroughly enjoyed. Our server couldn't have been nicer. Food and beverages were delivered promptly. I would highly recommend this place! read more
5 months ago
Came for brunch with my husband, during their Wizard and Wands event. I had made a reservation so we were seated quickly upstairs. It took a while for our server to make their way to us. My husband, avid Harry Potter fan got their butter beer. I got the elixir lemonade. I got a cup of she crab soup and he got the bang bang shrimp. For entree I got the seaside quiche with roasted potatoes. My husband got the smashburger and grits. The service was on the slower side but the food was pretty good. The soup had lumps of crab meat, the shrimp was really good. My husband enjoyed his burger and the quiche was ok. I would try different seafood items if we come back. read more
2 years ago
I dined here during lunch on a weekday while I was in town for a work trip. There weren't too many options nearby, but this one's charming location in an old church and promise of delicious she crab soup made it worth a windy walk. I was seated upstairs and ordered the lunch combo of a cup of she crab soup and half a club sandwich. Both were delicious and combined to make a surprisingly filling meal. I didn't love the texture of the soup (very thick) but the flavor was tasty and there was loads of crab meat in it. The sandwich felt fresh and warm on a blistery day. I ended the meal with the bread pudding, which was slightly disappointing. It wasn't evenly heated, so it had some cold spots, and the flavor was perhaps to cinnamony and could have been a little sweeter. I did appreciate the whipping cream soak, though. And bread pudding is hard to find! I also must comment on my wonderful server, who was friendly and attentive. He provided great recommendations and made sure my soda glass was filled. read more
2 years ago
What a fun experience! The history behind the building itself definitely attracted us. Given we are visitors to the Norfolk area, we were looking for something memorable and unique. We were lucky enough to come during restaurant week! We were warmly welcomed and found the staff to be attentive. Given the special price fixe, we indulged on three courses and had a nice variety around the table. I enjoyed the New York strip but found it more medium as opposed to medium rare as requested. I also found the string beens to be a tad chewy or under cooked. However the meal was overall pleasant. The bread pudding dessert was nice! I will certainly return on my next visit to Norfolk and sample my way around the menu! read more
5 months ago
We visited the Freemason Abbey Restaurant while in Norfolk and absolutely loved the experience. The restaurant itself is stunning -- located inside a beautifully restored historic church building with so much character, warmth, and charm. The ambiance alone makes it worth the visit. We originally came hoping for clam chowder, but instead decided to try the famous She Crab Soup... and WOW. It was one of the best soups I've ever had. Thick, rich, creamy, and loaded with huge lumps of crab. The touch of sherry gave it incredible flavor and depth. Honestly, it was so hearty you almost needed a knife to cut it! They served it with their signature seeded crisp cracker, plus a basket of warm fresh-from-the-oven yeast rolls and butter that were absolutely delicious. The combination of the historic atmosphere, comforting food, and attentive service made this one of our favorite meals of our Virginia trip. If you visit, the She Crab Soup is a must-order. Just don't ask about the calories -- it's worth every single one. read more
6 months ago
Very cool restaurant with great food. Service was excellent. Would be cute for a date night. read more
1 month ago
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More info about Freemason Abbey Restaurant
209 W Freemason St
Norfolk, VA 23510
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(757) 622-3966
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http://www.freemasonabbey.com/
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