The service was great! Our server Katie was amazing and always making sure our water was full and our table was clean. The food on the other hand was somewhat of an experience. The octopus tasted like barbecue, as well as the side sourdough. The beef carpaccio was good just a little too salty. Our drinks were delicious!!! I'd definitely visit for the drinks and if you're really really hungry eat the food. read more

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Are you looking for a nice bar and/or restaurant setting? Then Glass Light is for you! A quaint hotel in downtown Norfolk, this place has an awesome bar if you love quality drinks and charming bartenders. I went here looking for a personalized drink based on my favorite music genres and even though it wasn't on the menu, the bartender humored me and made me my own drink - pop with a touch of rock. So good!! Yes, I didn't miswrite that - I had my OWN drink! My hubby and I also ordered desserts and we got the peach Cobbler and s'mores - fancy style of course to fit the hotel theme. Both were absolutely delicious! They went well with my personalized cocktail. We didn't order any entrees but you can see the chefs making the food and all the customers looked happy! But the bar gave this place 5 stars for me! The bartenders were putting a lot of TLC in the drinks and they were both so friendly! Highly recommend! read more

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This place was amazing! I've always seen this place when I'm walking around downtown and wanted to try it out. I'm glad I did. The service was great and our waitress was quick and polite. The food was amazing. I ordered the duck breast and even though it came with two pieces, it still filled me up. I was not a huge fan of the sweet potato dumplings. I think that's what they were called. It just felt too mushy and I didn't feel that it went well with the dish. The salmon was good, my partner had no complaints about it. The banana tart was amazing! I would order this again for sure. Overall, I would come back to try their other dishes! read more

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Great restaurant. Decided to visit this place with my son while in town. The food and drinks were very delicious. I'd definitely return. read more

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This 5-star review really goes out to Hunter. Hunter was my mixologist (bartender, in case you're not up to speed on the terminology) and he was quite the craftsman. I'm a pretty high-strung customer as it relates to cocktails. I used to bartend and was also on the distillery side. Basically, my standards are sur-par other folks as it relates to cocktails. Hunter killed it. My first drink was from the menu-- let's be real, we all have to test the waters. But once I felt confidence in his ability to deliver, I went all in and asked for a cocktail that was whatever he felt (aka pick your poison in some other places). Hunter delivers the most well-balanced, surprisingly delicious cocktail of the entire time I've been in Norfolk. Find Hunter. Go to Glasslight. You will NOT be disappointed. read more

Amazing food with an upscale atmosphere! The servers are also amazing! The octopus is a must!!! read more

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My friend scheduled her birthday dinner here. I had never been but I'm so glad she did! The atmosphere was a dream. We ordered roasted duck and shrimp and were both blown away with the presentation and flavors. read more

Glass Light - Roasted duck - New American Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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The food is delicious, and the servers are courteous. Also, my reservation was for 1800, but we got there a half hour early and were sat. This was a great thing because it got busy quickly. The kitchen, sadly, was slow tonight. I could see the serves lined up waiting for their tables but no food. Other than that it was a nice experience. read more

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This was a wonderful experience. The service, food and ambience were beyond exceptional. I'm looking forward to returning.

A gallery, hotel, and restaurant all in one package! Absolutely delightful experience! I cannot believe I have lived in Hampton Roads for all of these years and never knew about this little, but mighty, restaurant. I ran across it because one of my goals for 2024 is to eat through the alphabet at restaurants I've never visited. First, and most importantly, the crafted drinks were top tier! Next time I go to an event downtown I will be visiting Glass Light for drinks. The food was delicious, well presented, and at the perfect temperature. This bundle of food love will now be on rotation! HOT TIP: Make reservations on Open Table unless you want to show up right at 5. Glass Light filled up quickly, by 6 all the tables, high tops, and bar seating was full. ONE MORE TIP: Show up early for dinner to grab a delicious drink from the bartender and then visit the gallery. You can take your drink with you through the museum. read more

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We stopped here for a pre-dinner cocktail and had such a great time! I had seen the glass pink bunny statue from the street, and had been curious to step inside regardless of what the food was like. The menu exceeded our expectations! Creative cocktails that are just as delicious as they are presented. The bartender was so friendly and when we teased that we "Came for the pink bunny, stayed for the cocktails" he even made one of the cocktails look like a giant carrot! Needless to say, we can't wait to come back read more

Glass Light - Pink bunny in repose with a "carrot cocktail" to match - New American Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Had the duck and salmon entrees. Both were good but the duck was the star. Perfectly crispy skin and cooked perfectly. Seasoning was great and so was the presentation. Had one cocktail and a beer with the meal. I found the drink selection to be a good selection but definitely pricey. Would like to have had a few lower prices drink options. Service was very good and the atmosphere is fun. read more

Glass Light - Duck breast - New American Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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Amazing food and service. You can tell the thought and care that goes into the food, amazing gallery and open kitchen. read more

Glass Light - Crispy octopus, fingerling potato, pickled Fresno, chorizo - New American Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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Hands down best restaurant in Norfolk. We came for the chef's tasting menu. Absolutely incredible. Zack Close masterfully combines flavors that come plated as works of art. Our favorite dish was the crispy octopus...which we will definitely return for. If you're looking for a unique experience, eclectic feel, and exquisite French inspired food - look no further. read more

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We went to just view a room at The Glass Light hotel on granby street as we wanted to surprise our spouses with a weekend staycation at what my friend thought would be the perfect spot. We asked just to view a room and was told that they had customers coming in. We sat in the restaurant that is in the lobby of the hotel. No one checked in the 40 min that we were there. Mind you we only wanted to view a room, which would have taken 2 minutes. Needless to say we won't be staying there. Was it because of the color of our skin? It would have taken less time to check than us viewing a room. Unacceptable. read more

Had an event there Breakfast was awesome, but the boxed lunch was the worst. I suggested the venue for our meeting, but I am so embarrassed about how horrible the lunch was. I expected so much better - wile I will continue to support the restaurant at dinner I would never recommend this place for a meeting ever again. read more

I am giving them 2 Stars for the decor/glass art and the table service we received. There were several things I didn't like with this restaurant. I don't like being forced to hold a dinner reservation with a credit card. I don't like that we would have been charged a $20.00 plate charge for each person fewer than the number on the reservation. I don't like that there was a mix-up on the reservation - and it took 4 phone calls to straighten it out. I don't like that in the last call I was told they would not give our table separate checks and they would only generate 4 checks per table which turned out to not be true. We didn't request separate checks but at the end of the meal there they were. (I spent a lot time notifying everyone in our party of 8 to be sure to bring cash and I had to search for a local ATM that has reciprocity with my military credit union located in another state. Not to mention taking the time to drive to that ATM and get the cash when I had a perfectly good debit card in my wallet.) I don't like that the restaurant bar is actually part of the dining room and appears to be a hangout for young workers and residents in that area; resulting in the volume of conversation to be pumped up sooo high we had to actually yell at the person seated across the table and even then not be heard. So much for a relaxing dinner. I don't like the menu and I should have looked at it more closely before arranging the dinner. The strong tastes on the menu are not for me. I have never thought of myself as a picky eater. However, my palate prefers more subtle, sophisticated flavors. When I combine all of this with the difficult parking situation I have made the decision to not return. read more

The restaurant in the new Glass Light Hotel in downtown Norfolk opened quietly in December of last year. It is located at the intersection of Granby Street and City Hall Avenue in the historic 13-story Royster building. Its reopening was a multi-million dollar project that took six years of construction and renovation. The hotel is member of Marriott's Autograph Collection, a group of more than 100 independently owned properties worldwide. Its closest member is the Cavalier Hotel in Virginia Beach. Free parking is available for hotel guests and diners alike on the first two levels of the Boush Street Parking Garage behind the building. The staff will gladly validate your ticket. Their executive chef is Serge Gouloumes, who earned a Michelin star in 2005. The sous chef is Zack Close, who hails from Norfolk and has returned with impressive culinary experience in New York. He was recently sous chef at Cafe Boulud, a Michelin rated French restaurant. The exterior of the hotel may not be recognized at first. Look for the number 201 on the front of the building and a door person out in front to greet you. The restaurant is located on the first floor with a dining capacity of 40. I counted 14 seats at the bar in the center of the restaurant. Three seats face the open kitchen where you can watch the chefs in action. The interior dazzles the eyes with wall art and glass sculptures. The pink bunny at the bar is especially eye catching. The vibe oozes with elegance without being pretentious. I received a friendly greeting with each visit without feeling scrutinized for wearing my athletic shoes. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served with a separate seasonal menu for each. Their current serving hours are as follows: Breakfast: 6:30 am to 10:30 am. Lunch: 11:30 am to 2:00 pm. Dinner: 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Bar Hours: 11:00 am to 11:00 pm. I have tried the following lunch time dishes to date: BEEF CARPACCIO: Pepper Crusted Beef with Black Garlic Aioli, Cauliflower Pine Nuts, Capers and Pecorino. The beef exhibited a delicious and delicate taste and texture, and the supporting ingredients combined beautifully together for an exquisite taste experience. This is honestly the best Beef Carpaccio I have ever tasted. My Rating: 5 Stars. BUTTERNUT SQUASH VELOUTE: Charred Onion, Edward's Virginia Ham, and Gruyere with Sourdough Croutons. The word "veloute" is the French word for "velvety" and describes a sauce that is made from a roux and a light stock. It was regarded as one of the most important sauces by Auguste Escoffier in the 19th century. This dish was light, filling, and delicious. The tastes and textures of the ingredients came through beautifully. I only wish there was just a little more ham. My Rating: 4.5 Stars. CHICKEN ROULADE: With Spinach, Pomme Rosti, and Brandy Sauce. The chicken consists of three sections of boneless and skinless breast and thigh meat that are rolled up and stuffed with a mixture that included ground egg and celery. The Pomme Rosti resembles a large potato latke and has been described as the Swiss version of the potato pancake. It came with two sections, and both delivered a delicately crispy surface and tender center. The spinach and brandy delivered additional flavors to the composition that set off an explosion of blissful flavors in my mouth. My Rating: 5 Stars. ICELANDIC COD: With Chestnuts, Mixed Carrots, and a Thai Vinaigrette. Icelandic Cod is a wild caught fish, using the hook and line method, from the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean surrounding Iceland. Icelandic cod fishery has earned a recommendation from the Marine Stewardship Council. The flesh of my filet displayed a beautiful pearl white color. It's texture was firm with an unusually clean and delicate interior flavor and texture that I savored with each bite. The dish was artfully and beautifully presented with its patterns of carrots and vinaigrette. The chestnuts provided a nice crunchy contrast of flavor and texture. I felt that the Thai vinaigrette could have used a little more flavor on the spicier side. My Rating: 4.5 Stars. I have tried the following desserts: CHOCOLATE TART LOVERS: A huge chocolate tart is topped with a soft and creamy chocolate sorbet for a nice contrast of textures, resulting in a delicious composition. The tart was a bit hard for my tastes, leaving a lumpy feeling in my stomach afterwards. I probably ate it too quickly. My Rating: 4.5 Stars. ILE FLOTTANTE: The translation is "Floating Islands." This is a dessert of French origin, and the version served here consists of three soft meringue "islands" afloat upon a layer of vanilla custard known as Creme Anglaise. This one was light, airy, delicious, and beautifully presented. My Rating: 5 Stars. The restaurant in the Glass Light Hotel has become my new favorite dining spot in downtown Norfolk. The service I have received has been exemplary, and I look forward to my future visits. read more

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Glass Light quietly opened recently and it's already generated quite a buzz in Downtown Norfolk. Working nearby, I've been watching the progress of the new hotel which seemed like it took a long while. It was converted from an office building once occupied by a public housing agency on Granby Street. We were lucky enough to get dinner reservations Saturday evening but we also walked around the hotel which was beautifully decorated with paintings and glass art. There's also plenty of meeting space available for private parties and events. The French restaurant, ran by a Michelin-starred chef is a small but swanky looking spot on the first floor of the hotel. We were greeted by our server Candida, who was prompt and friendly all throughout dinner. They have a large selection of wine and a few cocktails. The dinner menu is short and sweet listed on just one page. I started with a Pistachio Mule and a salad, and I enjoyed both. My dinner entrée was the butter poached halibut. The halibut was beautifully prepared and melted as I took each bite. Pricy at $32, but the dish was not too much of a generous size. So no leftovers this time! Regardless, it's an impressive restaurant perfect for ladies night or a romantic dinner. They also serve breakfast and lunch which I hope to review soon! read more

Glass Light - Butter poached halibut - New American Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

This is a restaurant that you can't miss while you're in Norfolk. The food here is sublime and the ambiance is perfect for fancy date night. Here's what we got: Cocktails: excellent, tastefully crafted Oysters: some of our favorite oysters in VB! We ended up ordering two plates, one at the end of the meal because they were so good! The oysters were fresh, plump, lovely flavor Apple tatin: good, but not one of the more memorable dishes of the night Pasta: the noodles were perfectly cooked, sauce was on point Scallops: perfectly cooked, naturally sweet Duck breast: again meat was perfectly cooked, I have never tasted such tender duck breast before Chocolate souffle: get it! Chocolage ganache: also good, but souffle was better Service was impeccable. Attentive and helpful in terms of selecting dishes. Truly a gem in the VB/Norfolk area! read more

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My husband and I dined at Glass Light for our anniversary last night. I was blown away by the food and service. Complimentary champagne was immediately brought to the table. Our appetizers were so flavorful and perfectly balanced. Our waitress was outstanding. My drinks were delicious. Top to bottom, an incredible meal. read more

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This bar is inside a hotel and right next to a really beautiful glass art museum. You can order your drink and then walk around the art installation. The bartenders were so nice and they were clearly talented. Our drinks were delicious and unique. We went back the next night! read more

Glass Light - New American Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Fantastic experience in Downtown Norfolk. Went for dinner with open expectations and I was blown away. Started with a cheese plate which was very savory. Second was the octopus which was beyond amazing. I decided on the duck breast and was not disappointed. Will definitely return to try their spring menu. Chef Zack Close made the experience period. His skills and expertise really showed with every dish that came out of the kitchen. Cheers to a fine dining in Norfolk. read more

Glass Light - Hotel and Gallery - New American Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Everyone was very welcoming! A friend and I were walking by and it was security who encouraged us to check out the spot. The hostesses and bartenders were very friendly. We sat at the bar before dinner time. The bartenders were very knowledgeable about the menu. The interior is beautiful. It is spacious; it is not too cozy and crowded. There is art hanging on all walls and giant sculptures on display. It is like having great food in an art gallery. This is a great hangout spot!!! read more

Glass Light - New American Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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The Glass Light Hotel/Restaurant is a beautiful place to both stay and eat in a modern but cozy atmosphere. We celebrated our 40th anniversary with them. The Executive Chef, Chef Zack and his kitchen staff will provide you with French inspired fusion dishes to delight your tastebuds. I have CELIAC (Gluten Problem) and Chef Zack is very personable and we were able talk and he assured me the dishes I would be eating were gluten-free. I don't normally like octopus but I rolled the dice and tried the "Crispy Octopus" as a starter, sweet, sour, savory and a very light bitter note, very reminiscent of Vietnamese Cuisine, loved it! My main dish, Steak Frittes, what a delicious cut of meat. I wasn't given a steak knife, waiting staff were busy, grabbed the butter knife. WOW, didn't need a steak knife and actually, I could have just used my folk. This steak y'all, ohhh, savored every "Damn" bite. Thanks Chef Zack for our "Outstanding" 40th dinner Sir! See your kitchen soon. read more

Glass Light - My wife & I celebrating our 40th Anniversary at the Restaurant/Bar before & after dinner. Great Mixologists - Chris, Amanda & Christian! - New American Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Drinks and food were phenomenal. The service was top notch and the ambiance was delightful. Highly recommend the octopus and the ribeye.

Menus is very odd and limited. If you are a picky eater in any way, this place is NOT for you. Cute place, but the only decent thing I had was the Cottontail cocktail. The duck was so tough and fatty. I think there was much more fat than meat actually. The two salads we chose were disappointing . They looked pretty but that was about it. We tried the ribeye steak someone else in our party had and it was also very tough (and pretty tasteless). Service was also kind of mixed up. We had our meals and salads all brought out at the same time while we were waiting for our bottle of wine to be brought to the table. It came after we had started to eat. Just not the way it should be. The dessert (a chocolate mousse) was very strange and the ice cream was barely a tablespoon of very melted vanilla. This was not like any mousse we've ever had before. Honestly, everything pretty much tasted like it was from Cisco and not actually made in the restaurant. We would not recommend it to friends nor will we ever be back. Oddly, we ate here right after covid and it was 10 times better than now. read more

This might just be my favorite restaurant in town. The food and service is excellent. You cut through a hotel. There are a few other options inside with Varia and the beer rooftop garden and Saltine. This feels like a special occasion meal where can you have a chef's table. You will spend money here but in my opinion it's worth it. The menu online isn't up to date but they are always seasonal. read more

We've been to GL for dinner twice now. I've tasted most of the menu and I think it's the best restaurant in Nfk. Easily. Everything I've tasted has been delicious, but here are my standouts: Start- Burratta + Persimmon (or whatever they're pairing, seasonal menu) Entree- Flounder Dessert- Pear Panacotta Now we need to come back for brunch! read more

Every inch of this place is absolutely gorgeous from the ambiance to the cocktails! The service is top notch providing the most amazing experience. read more

Food and ambiance are both outstanding! Have been before, will go again. That said, for $100 a head, having the waitress disappear for *45 minutes* is outright unsatisfactory. When a different server needs to bring the check AND process it, there's an inefficiency that needs to be addressed. Otherwise, 5 stars. read more

Stayed at the hotel for a business trip. Great hotel, drinks, and food. Service was on point!

New to the area and have been twice for breakfast. Highly recommend the Croque Madame. Kitchen and serving staff have been outstanding during both visits. Looking forward to coming back for dinner. read more

A hotel lobby restaurant, this location has a very open and fun ambiance with. The artwork is beautiful. Great bar. Excellent service. Food was fine for the price point. Overall, a very nice evening out. read more

Went for my anniversary dinner. Totally get why the chef has a Michelin Star. The duck was incredible. The service was amazing. And the art and ambiance were luxurious. read more

This was the best meal I've had in years. Perfect place for a celebratory meal. Your tastebuds will thank you for the delicious flavors. The crispy octopus was the unreal awesome. If you are in Norfolk, this place is a MUST! read more

Chose this restaurant to celebrate my anniversary based on the reviews, and definitely did not have a great experience. I'm hoping my experience was a one-off. The website boasts a 'Michelin star inspired experience,' but this just wasn't the case for us at all. I wasn't that impressed by the cocktail list, so ordered a French 75, which was good. My partner got a glass of wine, which was spoiled. When we sent it back the waitress said she tasted it and it was very spoiled, which is just something we didn't expect. He got a cocktail which was basically a take on a penicillin instead, which was pretty good. Later we both ordered a Tanqueray martini, they were made with Tanqueray ten (which is way better but not what I asked for haha), and the vermouth used didn't match the gin at all, and the olives tasted so bad. So none of our drinks were very good, which was a big bummer. Our dinners followed suit. I ordered the puppy drum, which was cooked perfectly, but just way too salty, as were the sides. The grain side didn't seem to match the dish. I couldn't finish the dish because of the salt. My partner got the chicken dish, which was also over salted. The flavor was good otherwise, though the plating was really kitschy. I will say the meats and the veggies were all cooked really well! Our server was very busy and not very present, which I can totally understand if maybe they are understaffed. There were several times we wanted water and couldn't get anyone's attention to get any. Overall this was a really disappointing experience, and an expensive one. Hopefully we'll find another time to celebrate our anniversary! read more

The food is wonderful. We had a really large birthday party and staff was a bit impatient and at some times unprofessional. The ambiance is unique and artistic. Drinks a great too. read more

The food, the ambience and everything was amazing The service was great. I would definitely go back there again.

Awesome drinks and awesome vibe and front desk Sonya, was super accommodating. Will be back