Our friends have been raving about Still and we decided to make reservations for a date night. It's…read moretime to bring some spotlight to this hidden gem, nestled in Olde Town Portsmouth. The vibe is whatever you want it to be, as some were dressed up & others were casual. We made reservations a few days ahead of time for a Friday night, but walks in were welcome & it's wasn't crowded when we arrived. When it comes to the parking situation, avoid the lot beside Still that's is labeled for the Mustard Seed Place. (We almost were towed but came back in the nick of time). We thought the open spaces without signs were open parking spots since the other spots were clearly labeled for Mustard Seed Place & Bon Secours. We entered the side door and were instantly transported into a basement speakeasy feeling restaurant. The host asked if we had reservations & then we were immediately seated. We enjoyed a small table lit candle and were surrounded by other couples without feeling too close or subtracting from the intimacy. We started with drinks: ~A Pineapple Bourbon Honey Sour - a well balanced drink that was tastefully sweet. ~Lavender 75 - I was initially cautious of gin, but the waitress assured me it was delicious & she was right. ~Old Fashioned - perfect! For Tapas we ordered: ~ Cornbread - cooked to absolute perfection, crispy on the outside, but moist & cake like on the inside. As a lavender girly, the lavender butter was delectable and subtle. I need inquire about buying some of that to go! ~Brussels (my FAV) - this was the largest plate and the Brussels were cooked to perfection and sauced in a tasty concoction. ~Bacon Wrapped Tots - served with 4 on a skewer. We initially were going to skip these because the name sounded like bacon and tater tots, but were pleasantly surprised that the tot was a homemade, cheesy, delicious latke like creation. (Another fav) ~Beef Filet - served with mashed potatoes and mustard seeds. This was also cooked perfectly & tasted delicious but was gone after we both shared a bite. All in all, this restaurant is a must visit, keeping in mind that the portions are intentionally smaller so you can share and try multiple items. The items do not come out in the sequence you order them, so I'm glad we ordered everything at once. The service was great and we look forward to visiting again. One small note, would be to fix the table legs. We ended up stuffing a napkin under a leg to keep it from wobbling. But that didn't finish our experience.

If the food could talk, it'd have a lot to say... mostly about eating its peers. Every dish was…read moremeaningful, elegant, and downright divine. And those duck tacos? Easily getting my vote for president. Cozy, cave-like atmosphere, genuinely personable staff, dreamy drinks, and every bite worth it. Magical, welcoming, and absolutely date-night approved. 11/10. Would eat here again and campaign for those tacos.

Fin and Tonic was great. They had a special dinner that featured tequila. It was delicious and the…read moreservice was great.The dinner was held in the Speakeasy and the ambiance was amazing. I definitely recommend it.

Spent just shy of $400 on 2 people in their "speak easy"…read more They add an 18% gratuity, on every check; and won't serve you until they make this clear. That alone: is a turnoff to me. I tip above 20% 95% of the time. The food was average at best. Temperature was off on both entries. Taste was nothing special. We only had 2 mixed drinks, and 2 glasses of wine. The 1st dirty martini was made with vermouth after I specifically said no vermouth. I was billed for both. Neither martini was topped off. Both were 1-1.5 inches from the top. Wine was fine. The service was ok. Not great. The table settings are bland, and could be found in a Dennys restaurant. After a below average dining experience; I was a bit surprised with a $375 bill. Suppose I should have paid more attention to the prices for side dishes and deserts. Adding insult to injury: I somehow left my Amex behind at the table. First time in my life. Then the fun began. My wife and I called the restaurant and had to leave messages 5 times between us, to confirm they had the card and to arrange a pickup. Not one call back: in 5 calls!!! Finally ordered a new card. I would not recommend this place to anyone. Stay away from these lazy people.

Stopped in downtown Norfolk and decided to try Freemason Abbey Restaurant after hearing about it…read more 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!

Freemason Abbey is the kind of place where you walk in expecting a nice dinner and walk out…read morewondering if you accidentally joined a secret society. The food was , the atmosphere was incredible, and the building has so much character that I half expected a guy in a robe to appear from a hidden hallway and whisper, "The appetizers have arrived." Everything was fantastic. The service was great, the food was delicious, and the atmosphere was so cool I almost forgot I was there to eat and not investigate a 200-year-old murder mystery. Five stars without hesitation. I'd come back again, although I'm still waiting for someone to tell me the password to the dessert menu. 10/10. Would eat here again. Would also investigate suspicious-looking fireplaces.

Before I begin let me start off by saying that this review is based solely upon my personal…read moreexperiences and my personal experiences alone, so without further explanation let's begin!. I have passed by this business on more than one occasion. So today I decided to stop and grab something to eat! I purchased the Philly Cheese Egg Rolls, they were ok. I would probably try something else on my next visit!. It was quiet and plenty of seating and that's probably because of the time and day of my visit. I'm sure it gets a lot busier in the evenings and weekends!. I would definitely recommend and return to this establishment!.

We went on a calm, cool and collected day. The atmosphere was great. Very calming and demure. The…read moreone issue I had here is they were servicing a party in the back of the restaurant and made it very chaotic to receive service in the general areas of the restaurant. Service took forever to get. We waited over an hour just to receive drinks and an appetizer. I'm not saying this happened daily because this was my first time, but honestly just because you're having a private event in back there still should've been enough staff to service your regular customers or just shut the place down to cater unto them only. We ordered teriyaki chicken wings as our appetizer and they were okay. Nothing to call home about!!!! I ordered the shrimp and grits. The cajun sauce was alright. Again, nothing to call home about! The location is off of Airlines blvd making it convenient to my family being that we live within 10 minutes of it. Yes we could've left any time, but wanted to check the food out here. I'm a very patient person, but some places just don't know how to accommodate their customers accordingly. It's really not hard to do! Most definitely try it out for yourself. It's a one and done for us!

Wonderful place to get great cocktails! I highly recommend the ole' fashion. You get what you pay…read morefor. Noah was our server and he went above and beyond to make our social gathering even better. The Red Snapper, trout and the crab cakes were beautiful. Very cool environment! Eclectic and trendy. Definitely going back! BTW: She Crab Soup is extremely good.

Saltine is a restaurant focusing on seafood with a pretty wide range of raw shellfish and fresh…read morefish. Situated in the Hilton it features a large bar area and a quieter dining area as well as some private rooms. I had a the old bay shrimp, tuna poke, she crab soup, and the rockfish (served bronzed which is like Cajun and brown sugar) on top of succotash. I had two mocktails too which were great. Service was friendly and the bread they brought out was delicious and served with herb honey butter. Overall I really liked this place and recommend it if you love seafood.

Found this place after taking the ferry over from Norfolk to Portsmouth. Sadly most places were…read moreclosed on Monday, but the Olde Town Public House was open! Super fun and unique place, with a surprising broad food menu and a large selection of adult beverages. Our group shared a group of appetizers including parmesan truffle fries, beer cheese pretzel, hot honey Deviled eggs with blackened shrimp, and two types of wings (lemon pepper and spicy bourbon BBQ) We all thoroughly enjoyed all the food. For me the standout was the wings, they were crispy, juicy and some of the best flavors I've experienced anywhere. Would absolutely go back if I'm in the area again.

The more I visit the more I like the place. Food is just great.. price is fair...wait staff was…read moreexcellent.

Had a fantastic experience here. We sat at the bar and Kat, the bartender took great care of us…read more The music was lovely. Our drinks were delicious. Every member of staff we interacted with was charming and helpful. Great vibe overall.

WOW! I've been trying to come to this place for a few months…read morenow and I'm So glad I finally tried it! My wife and I went out to get some wine before our 5 year anniversary this year, and it was awesome! The staff were friendly, made great recommendations as to what to order, and were very personable! Thank you Amanda and John for a great experience! Will definitely be back!

We found ourselves in downtown Norfolk and opted for dinner at Gershwin's on Granby Street…read more Gershwin's continues to deliver a polished dining experience, pairing New Orleans-inspired cuisine with attentive, professional service. It's the kind of establishment that understands both execution and consistency--two qualities that are increasingly rare and always appreciated. The shrimp and grits remains a signature highlight. The Creole sauce offers a restrained heat, balanced by a layered depth of flavor that speaks to careful preparation rather than excess. The shrimp are properly cooked, retaining a delicate snap, while the stone-ground grits provide a well-seasoned, creamy foundation. Each component is thoughtfully prepared, and together they form a cohesive dish that feels both composed and satisfying--an authentic nod to Cajun tradition without unnecessary embellishment. Gershwin's stands as a reliable fixture in the downtown dining scene. For those seeking a refined take on Southern and New Orleans classics, it is well worth the visit--and a strong example of the quality found within Norfolk's local restaurant community.

It would be zero stars if possible. And I can honestly say that I've eaten in restaurants across…read morethe world and the US, at many different price points and this was hands down the worst culinary experience of my life. If this restaurant was in an area that was even moderately competitive they would have been put out of business. The bar seems adequate but it was almost like they stopped serving food and forgot to tell anyone. I swear I'm not making this up, this actually happened: 1) it took over 2.5 hours for the entrees to come out. One came out so early that by the time the second set came out they were already done. 2) The only appetizer that was ordered that actually came out, arrived after the entree was done. 3) One person's order had to be changed 5x because the waiter kept coming back to say they're out. When his pork chop finally arrived, it was undercooked and not eatable. 4) Nothing was offered in any way as a comp, nor any real apology If you go, be wary. There is no way they were this thoroughly incompetent in every single aspect of the food services industry without practice.

My hunny surprised me and took me to Byrd & Baldwin for my birthday! I've been wanting to dine here…read morefor quite some time so I couldn't wait to see how great the food was. We had reservations for 7pm and our table was ready as soon as we arrived. The interior was absolutely beautiful and the dimmed lighting made for the perfect ambiance. Our waiter came over right away to greet us and share the specials for the evening. We started with a dozen Raw Oysters (my fav) along with the Jumbo Lump Crab Cake. The Oysters were very fresh and I literally could've ate a dozen more lol. The Jumbo Lump Crab Cake was practically all crab. It could've used a little more seasoning but it was very delicious. For our entrees, we decided on the Filet Mignon with Oscar sauce as well as the Black Diamond Dry Aged Ribeye with Roasted Bone Marrow and Fried Shrimp. We also ordered Garlic Spinach, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Fried Brussels Sprouts and Roasted Corn & Lobster for our sides. I was in foodie heaven! Everything tasted phenomenal!!!! My Filet Mignon was cooked perfectly and the sides were all very delicious! I just might have to come here every year for my birthday lol! The staff were exceptional and the food was fantastic! I can't wait to return!

Kudos to the crew…read more My family loves a good time and a good time was had thank you. Food was great, timely and well prepared. We have a couple of Home chefs (if you will) within our family and we enjoy our meal. Our style of cooking is a little different, but we could appreciate the quality and the time taken to prepare the food. The staff was very accommodating. Alexander did an awesome job navigating our family. We're very grateful for the time and the interest he took in making sure our needs were met. The environment was warm and inviting. Our various food allergies were accommodated for. As by way of we are all still alive today as some of us are allergy to various food items. Thank you! This is my second time coming here - I once lived in the area. So coming home and having such a wonderful meal with my family was EVERYTHING!

Back at the old favorite. They have a a trivia night special, the BBQ Pulled Pork Flatbread, and it…read moreis one of the best things I have ever had at Public House. I would eat this every time if it was a permanent addition to the menu. Tuesdays are always great with Trivia provided by Bar Trivia Live. Nick, Kevin, and Dave make everyone welcome and make sure the game is fun for everyone. Keep up the great work! P.S. RIP Public House Crunch Wrap. Good night, sweet prince, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.

Well we finally made it back here for dinner on a Wednesday night. We started with the pretzel…read moreflight. SO disappointing. The sauces were good, especially the beer cheese (at least they haven't changed that). What was pretty terrible were the pretzels themselves. They take the longer soft pretzel logs and cut them into bite size pieces. And then they are FRIED. Who fries soft pretzels? They were hard and greasy. This is the first time in our history of ordering a soft pretzel appetizer that we just couldn't finish it. They were that bad. For entrees Hubby ordered the crispy chicken Caesar and I got the burger with fries. Hubby's salad was huge, but there was way too much Parmesan cheese. He never did get a good taste of the dressing because of that. The chicken on the other hand was well fried and still juicy inside. I ordered my burger medium, and it came out mid-rare, which is how I eat them anyway. The burger itself was salty - guessing the flattop maybe hasn't been cleaned after lunch? The top bun spent a little too much time on the flat top as well. The pickles they use are sour (some people like that, I don't mind), but if you are not a fan of sour pickles, you'll want to skip them. Service was fantastic and it's a very clean place (restrooms are particularly clean). I am sure it is a great place to go for drinks - the bar is pretty extensive. But since we don't bar hop anymore, I don't think we will be going back. One last word on the pretzel appetizer because I am still shaking my head over that. If you want to serve pretzel bites so there are more ways to try all the dipping sauces, just purchase pretzel bites and bake them.