I recently had the pleasure of visiting The Elephant & Octopus during a day trip to Cape Charles,…read moreand what a cute find! From the moment we stepped in, the atmosphere was inviting! From the moment you walk in, you're greeted by a whimsical, nautical meets industrial interior. Think exposed brick, quirky elephant and octopus artwork, and cozy seating that feels both inviting and upscale. It's the kind of place where you'll want to linger over your meal and soak in the unique ambiance. As for the food, it did not disappoint. I started with the Ale & Onion Soup, and wow. This was comfort in a bowl! The robust flavor of Guinness melded perfectly with the caramelized onions, and the bubbling gruyère on the toasted bread points just took it over the top. It was savory, rich, and perfect for the chilly day. My friend went for the She Crab Soup, and couldn't stop raving about it. Creamy and absolutely packed with local crab meat. The puffed oyster crackers and a sprinkle of Old Bay were the ultimate finishing touch. I managed to sneak a bite, and it was heavenly! We also asked the bartender for a fun cocktail, and they whipped up a bright, lemony drink that was as refreshing as it was beautiful. It was perfectly balanced and not too sweet, served with a citrus twist. Service was great. Friendly, attentive without hovering, and happy to make recommendations. If you're in Cape Charles and looking for a spot that nails both food and atmosphere, you can't go wrong here. Already planning my next visit!

I came here for lunch with friends. We sat outside because we had a dog with us, but the flies were…read morehorrible. & The tap water tasted very funky. Now that the negatives are out of the way.. the food came out in a reasonable period and was hot and fresh, at least mine was. My friend's fries were cold. I got the shepherds pie which was decent but not worth the price.

Golf club tavern & restaurant. Service friendly & food was good. Popular place that gets busy as…read morethe season gets going so reservations good idea.

The reservation phone says it is for Bay Creek members and guests ONLY. The food has improved with…read morethe arrival of new chef. Beautiful golf course view, fair prices but excessive NOISE, especially when people come in from golf course. Seems to be a work in progress!

So this was interesting. From the outside, you are probably not stopping here unless you are in a…read morepinch. When you get inside, it is quaint and a 50/50 split between bar and restaurant. This place has a Cheers vibe. The people we saw at the bar have probably been coming here for 30 years. All walks of life and backgrounds. The vibe was good. The bartender was also the waitress. She was running around doing the best she could. I have traveled extensively. i was a little skeptical on the food, but what we ordered was cooked perfectly. Would I go again? Probably. A couple pool tables and a juke box really add to the ambience.

Headed back north from Virginia Beach and stopped in, having had a VB biz owner with a second home…read morein Eastville give it a good recommendation. Ordered drinks and a large pizza, half plain; half peppers and pepperoni, extra thin crust. Look, we are from NY so, yeah, we are a little pizza snobby. But, tbh, this pizza was really tasty! Was it brick oven neapolitan worthy? No, but this isn't a brick oven joint and doesn't claim to be. Full disclosure: we drove by the Deadrise in Cape Charles and had no patience for an hour wait. And that, too, was understandable. It was Friday night, Memorial Day weekend! The staff here was warm and welcoming, crowd was friendly, we liked watching the pool players and left happy and full. Recommend!

Ventured into this place about 9:15 PM on a Thursday only because they are the only option that…read morestill serves food this late in Cape Charles on a Thursday... man, I am glad I did! The bartender was very friendly and the food was fantastic... definitely not what you expect walking into a pub. Most notably, a special they were offering, which I know is seasonal, softshell crab bites-- OMG, absolutely amazing, and in my opinion, far more tasty than my typical softshell crab sandwich, which can sometimes be a little bit too crabby with every bite. Also had another special; blackened shrimp tacos with a side house salad. Also amazing. Definitely looking forward to coming back!

Another fantastic meal at AJ's! When we camp (which is most weekends), we always reserve one night…read moreto go check out local restaurants. Our favorite park is Kipptopeake State Park on the Eastern Shore of VA. We go there 5-6 times a year and have tried a couple of places in Cape Charles (an amazingly beautiful town with some fantastic places to eat). And then we found AJ's 2 years ago. WOW! I keep thinking we should maybe try the others on our list, but AJ's keeps drawing us back. Don't let the "bar and grill" name fool you. Yes, the bar is amazing! Great drinks, every time. I have tried several cocktails, but that Marshmudtini has become my "go to." But when one hears "bar & grill," it's natural to think the usual bar food. That's where AJ's stands out! This is NOT your typical bar food friends. There is a big time chef standing back there in the kitchen! For example, I give you our experience last Saturday night. We were greeted like family at the door. This has happened every single time we have been there (even though I am sure they don't know us - they treat everyone like local regulars). We were seated fast and greeted by our server. We ordered the Everything Pretzel Braid, because it is so yummy! They have specials all the time (the servers are always well versed - I mention this because the app special was the pretzel with crab meat last weekend). Hubby ordered the sirloin, rare as is norm) I ordered the wedge salad and French onion soup. This time I got the wedge "AJ Style" for the first time (candied bacon and pickled red onions). As usual, our meals were amazing! Here's why - that "AJ Style" wedge was outstanding! It was their usual fresh wedge with fantastic dressing, lots of blue cheese, etc. But those pickled onions and candied bacon pushed it over the top! And the French onion soup - let me tell you about that! I love French onion soup, but I am hesitant to order it in a restaurant. So many places serve it overly salty probably because it sits there all night overly reducing, (and as a salt fanatic, for me to say that is saying something), so I rarely order it anymore and just make it at home. But this??! AJ's FOS was amazing. Not salty at all, in fact it had such a deep beefy flavor! Just unreal!!! Hubby's steak was cooked perfectly (which so many restaurants struggle with when it is ordered rare). But the star of the night for me? His green bean side. These were not cut green beans from a can. No, these were whole FRESH green beans. And they were seasoned SO well! I don't know honestly with what, because I was eating them off his plate pretty fast (as he watched football on one of the many well placed TVs around the restaurant- haha). Imagine! Well seasoned fresh green beans at a "bar & grill!" That's all you need to know. PS - roll those through that melted steak butter they use on the sirloin. You're welcome! So yes, friendly atmosphere, great knowledgeable servers, spot on bartenders and AMAZING food will keep us coming back here again and again.

Cute place! Both the marinara sauce and chicken parm subs were fine. The waitress was also very…read morenice!! Some issues, though: 1. The fried calamari was sorta...flavorless? It was mostly just texture more than anything. 2. When we ordered sandwiches, the waitress asked us whether we wanted chips or fries for the sides, so we assumed that they were included. Only the *chips* were, though, and the fries were an un-mentioned up-charge. We ended up getting charged an extra $4 per meal for fries that we didn't even ask for :") They managed to take off $2 after we bugged them about it, but still.... 3. Half of the menu was Mexican food, which I usually love, but is a bit odd for an Italian restaurant? My main problem with that is just that *only* the Mexican dishes were included in the lunch special.... Sorry for such a harsh review :( I really don't think the waitress meant to, like, swindle us or anything! I hope she doesn't get in trouble..... (Also, Ms. Waitress, if you're seeing this, then I just wanted to say that loved your makeup So cool!)

The food here is just ok. The reason they are getting one star is because we ordered subs at…read morelunchtime. When the waitress took the order she asked "Do you want fries, or chips" in a tone that suggested it was included. It apparently wasn't. When the bill came and the were $8 extra in charges on the bill for fries, my husband asked the woman taking payment to take it off the bill because the waitress inferred it was included. She refused to remove it. She gave us $2 off which was "the best she could do." Lesson learned for me.

Very good, but I'd probably go without dressing next time. It's just a personal preference. The…read morecreamy sesame sauce was good

Was wandering in eastern shore this place looked good. Again late for lunch. Probably near 3 pm…read more Large portions for The bowls. Delightful array of fresh n flavorful ingredients. Nice n refreshing on a warm day.

This is the most friendly spot in Cape Charles. Warm and friendly and unique foods and great wines…read more On Friday night they have a free wine tasting. A lovely family owns this place and makes it feel like home.

Such a hospitable wine market! Gull Hummock is always a top shop on our list to visit and buy a…read morebottle or two of wine for the weekend. Of course, one of the most favorite things is to be there for a wine tasting. We always have great conversation with other shoppers while sipping. This past visit, the owner struck up conversation with us. Such a nice gentleman who we really enjoyed chatting with for a few minutes. The shop itself has a nice variety of wine and other goods such as cheese, crackers, oils, etc. It is laid out well to allow for the flow of customers if it gets busy. Aesthetically pleasing as you linger and browse the selections. It is businesses like this that give Cape Charles the small town charm.

Took my mother to Don's for lunch and we both loved it. The…read morefood was fresh and served hot. The servers were polite and hospitable. Recommending you give Don's a try.

Don Vs food truck came directly to our home for our annual reunion dinner 25+ people. Arrived…read moreright on time. Service was excellent as was the food. Got the highest marks from all our critics....young and old. Cape Charles loves Don Vs. we will very likely do this again and again. Many thanks from all of us.