So good! I brought my 92 year old mother here for dinner on a Sunday afternoon. It's small with a…read morefew 4 low tops, a few 2 high tops and a 4 high top. The kitchen is open. It looks like they do quite a bit of take out. We were sat immediately and our waitress was very helpful. We got the small basilico salad and spaghetti with meat sauce. Everything was delicious. The sizes were recommended and they were huge and more than enough!! I love the build your own pasta so you literally pick your pasta, sauce, protein and veggies. It's like a family style and I would love to go with a group and we all share. They also have a happy hour. I will definitely be back. Now....my 92 year old mothers complaints. 1. It was too cold. We were going to move but they had a big fan blowing and they turned it away from her. Now take that with a grain of salt because the heat in her room is set to 76 and it's April. 2. It was too loud. Since the kitchen is open you can hear the cooks doing cook things. She was irritated by the noises coming from the kitchen but once again....grain of salt. The volume on her TV is at 80 and she can't hear it but can hear the kitchen noises. 3. The seat was too hard. Once again....grain of salt. She is skin and bones but I will bring her something to sit on next time. She actually did enjoy the food but I got the leftovers. :) We will be back.

Was at a coffee shop nearby and decided last minute to try this Italian spot a few doors down--so…read moreglad I did. The salad was amazing, with fresh greens and perfectly seasoned steak. The happy hour apps were a really nice surprise, and the staff were attentive and welcoming the whole time. Definitely a great spontaneous find

Had a wonderful dinner here. Modern yet casual atmosphere…read more Evan s service was attentive and courteous. Delicious pasta, tasty pizza especially liked the homemade pizza sauce, that shellfish chowder was the best I ever had. Good wine selection. The cocktails they had was on the sweeter side, which is I'm not a big fan of, but I'm sure many others will enjoy. Reasonably priced with good portions size. Street parking available. Definitely recommend!

Looking for an Italian restaurant and came across Sorella's on Virginia Beach. They were very busy…read morewith over an hour wait. Luckily they had a few open seats at the pizza bar and jumped on it. The restaurant was bright, modern and clean. Service was spot on. To start off we order an eggplant dish which was crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside. I ordered the chicken Parmigiana super flavorful and delicious. My husband ordered fried flounder with orzo. Fish was flaky and creamy orzo and cooked to perfection. Truly enjoyed our meal.

Absolutely amazing! The food was fantastic! I mean really fantastic! Cannot say enough great things…read moreabout the food! Just mind blowingly good! Great vibe too! everybody laughing and enjoying themselves. There's a beautiful old school wine rack above the bar, outstanding wine selection! They have an Atrium with a big Ficus tree growing in the foyer! Extremely considerate wait staff with impeccable timing! Just a really great atmosphere. We live in Chesapeake and I have to say, it's definitely worth the trip! The Executive Chef Jaime Young was super nice! To find time to greet some customers and just to say thank you for coming speaks VOLUMES to there character! Please go and have the best dinner of your lives! Thank you IL Giardino!! We WILL be back!!!!

Stopped into Il Giardino and ended up having one of those nights that just feels cozy and fun from…read morestart to finish. We sat in the bar area, which I'd definitely recommend if you're going for a more laid back vibe and want to take advantage of happy hour. First of all, happy hour is legit! They have half off select appetizers and drinks in the bar, which is always a win. We ordered the pizza of the day (supreme) and it did not disappoint. Crispy crust, generous toppings, and that classic Italian comfort flavor you're hoping for. We also grabbed the bolognese, which was half off for happy hour, and it was rich, hearty, and perfect for sharing (or not). And yes... martinis were half off, so obviously I had to get an espresso martini. Smooth, not too sweet, and exactly what I needed to balance out all the carbs. Our waiter was incredibly friendly and gave great suggestions without being pushy, which always makes a difference. On top of that, there was a man playing the piano, violin, and singing ... fully setting the mood. He absolutely got me when he started playing the Titanic song. Instant nostalgia. The whole place has an old-school Italian feel. Warm, welcoming, and the kind of spot you could linger in for hours. I also love that they do specials throughout the week, so it feels like a place you can keep coming back to and try something new. Great food, great drinks, great atmosphere. Il Giardino is officially on my repeat list.

great Italian food!!! motzarella salad is fantastic. All food is freshly prepared and comes out…read moresteaming.

This spot is hidden behind the closed up Hooters restaurant and isn't seen from the main road. We…read moreheard about it from our neighbors. The place has about ten tables inside and was pretty busy when we dined there for a late lunch on a Saturday. My only complaint would be to have more than one waitress on duty. That poor woman was running all over the place, causing service to be slower than if she had a helping hand. I do love a good mom and pop spot, though. I ordered their twelve inch Bianca pizza and added spinach. The crust stood out for me. It was the perfect blend of crunchy and chewy! The small size I ordered had about six slices. I ended up taking leftovers home and they reheated nicely. My boyfriend ordered their lasagna, which our waitress said was her favorite item on the menu. He agreed that it was tasty. We were served bread and butter before our meals came too. The place has a seatable bar and a full dessert menu as well. We'll be back!

our go to place for good italian food. pasta always cooked just right. sauces whether red or white…read moreare excellent. fresh bread always served. good wine selection. ambiance good but can get a little loud/noisy on busy nights. but worth it.

Still the best food, service and local atmosphere! It's the best kept secret in VB. It's not just…read morethe food, it's also the custom cocktails that make the place.

All the sauces & dishes we had were richly flavorful. The caprese with huge mozzarella slices and…read morefresh basil was an amazing salad. Service was great and accommodated our family and this spot was a perfect pre-race spot before the Shamrock half/full marathon! Highly recommend.

2/21/26 I was craving an indulgence of carbs this evening and my go to choices (Sorella, Mangia…read moreQui, Hearth, Cooper's Hawk) all had a 2+hour wait for a table. It's not even tourist season yet. Found La Bella Italia on Yelp showing available immediate reservations and decided to give it a try. Arrived at 6:30pm and it was busy but not packed. Husband and I were greeted and seated promptly but had about a 10 minute wait before a waiter came to bring water and inform us our waitress would be with us shortly. Another 5-7 min and the waitress came out. The waitress seemed nice but distracted or maybe very introverted. We started with the bread and butter and Insalata Di Cavalo (baby kale, apples, red onions, candied pecans, vinaigrette). The salad way yummy! The bread was decent (my husband would have wanted it warmer) not sure if the butter was just unsalted or if it was margarine but we didn't care for it. It was served with a bottle of oil and vinegar... A small oil dipping dish would have helped. We tried the bruschetta appetizer which was tasty but wish the basil would have been cut instead of one large leaf per toast. We realized at that point, the waitress never asked if we wanted drinks. I was only planning on drinking the water so it was no big deal to me. My husband caught the waitress at some point to request a drink. The big disappointment for the night was the Margherita pizza. I'm including a pic...but it was just cheese pizza, soggy bottomed at that. No fresh mozzarella, maybe there's some basil under the regular mozzarella, who knows. The cheese pizza flavor was average at best. Debated sending it back but my husband had been fasting all day and didn't want to wait for a new order. He ate 2 pieces, the rest was a waste. I ordered the salmon served over mushroom lemon risotto. We asked if there was any way to order a side of risotto for my vegetarian husband, but were told the chef was not willing to do it. Not really complaining about that since the risotto is not listed as an ala carte side. Salmon was cooked nicely. Crisp sear but not overdone on the inside. Risotto was only okay after all so it worked out they couldn't serve it as a side. I had to ask multiple times to see a dessert menu, waitress kept forgetting. I got a slice of the carrot cake. This was delicious but at $14 a slice it needed to be! Apparently it's made by their sister restaurant Steinhilbers (I haven't been there in years). Final note, the bathroom situation... There are 2 single room bathrooms for a restaurant holding up to 100 people. There is NO reason to label a single person bathroom as male or female. It just creates unnecessary waiting outside the "ladies room" Overall rating is probably a 3.5 but the service was lackluster, the bathroom thing annoyed me, and I'm still mad about the pizza... So I have to round it down to a 3.

Each dish was outstanding.Presentation as well as taste. I had the Shrimp Scampi and while the…read moresauce and shrimp were delightful,the homemade pasta was the star of the dish.This was our first visit but not our last!

Absolutely amazing! Outstanding everything!…read moreHighly recommend! Clean, knowledgeable, service, food,

It's rare to have a meal where every bite is a total win and this was one of those meals. From the…read moreaward-winning She Crab Soup to the perfectly prepared stuffed chicken, we enjoyed everything. This has been on my bookmark list for years and finally got a chance to check it out. The She Crab Soup was at the top of my must-try list and I absolutely see why it gets rave reviews. Packed full of tender meat, nicely creamy without being thick and a very unique marsala flavor. I can't imagine ever visiting again without ordering this. For my entree, I got the Pollo Portofino, which was recommended by our server and fantastic. Stuffed breast with prosciutto, fresh mozz, spinach and topped with an amazing marsala sauce and lots of mushrooms. I will order it again for sure. We also learned that they hand-pull their mozzarella and it was fantastic on the chicken parm, which my dad got. Atmosphere is cozy and casual, service was great. My ONLY hint of disappointment was that they don't make any of their own pastas, but their sauces are perfection! Can't wait to come back!

This Italian restaurant is so freaking amazing ! The crab martini was phenomenal, bread and whipped…read morebutter was superb, calamari with the spicy aioli and the lemon drop was the best! The server Cole was such a good server. The ambience is old town Italy. It gives warm and welcoming vibes. The crab soup was extremely delicious!

Mother's Day dinner at Gaston's Italian Steakhouse reminded us exactly why this has become one of…read moreour go-to spots for group celebrations. This was our third large-party dinner here, and without question, the best experience we've had to date. We had a reservation for 7 during one of the busiest dining weekends of the year, yet we were seated immediately upon arrival with zero wait. The restaurant was absolutely packed, but everything seemed extremely well managed, and it never became overly loud. We were even lucky enough to be seated in a quieter back dining room with only a handful of surrounding tables, which made conversation easy and the overall atmosphere feel much more intimate. Service truly elevated the evening. Our server struck the perfect balance of attentive without hovering, and every recommendation she made was spot-on. She was knowledgeable, honest, personable, and handled our large table effortlessly, which I can't imagine is easy on a holiday weekend like that. Cocktails were excellent across the board. My espresso martini was smooth, balanced, and exactly what I was hoping for. Another member of our party, who is known to be particular about his Manhattans, gave his enthusiastic approval as well. At our server's suggestion, we started with the surf-and-turf sampler appetizer for the table. I have a shellfish allergy, and the kitchen thoughtfully plated the seafood and meat separately to avoid cross-contact concerns. This was greatly appreciated! The focaccia deserves its own mention...warm bread paired with a fresh garlic and tomato bruschetta topping that was simple but somehow vibrant, and admittedly difficult to stop eating. For my entrée, I ordered the Chicken Parmigiana with the roasted potatoes (side recommendation from our server). The portion size was enormous, genuinely one of the largest chicken parm dishes I've ever seen, covered in an almost humorous amount of cheese. It was indulgent, but completely worth it, the flavor justified every excessive, cheesy bite. The chicken remained tender beneath the generous layers, and the sauce had a rich, comforting depth while somehow still being light. The roasted potatoes were unexpectedly memorable by being presented thinly sliced, layered and buttery crisp at the edges. My house salad beforehand was equally fresh and thoughtfully prepared, with crisp greens, cherry tomatoes, onions, and a zesty lemon vinaigrette that balanced the richness of the meal nicely. Additional favorites from our group included a seafood linguine special loaded with clams, mussels, scallops, and shrimp, a bone-in cowboy ribeye prepared perfectly medium-rare, Chicken Scallopini with lighter, fresh flavors and a "child's portion" Alfredo with peas (she requested the pancetta be served on the side) that could easily rival many adult portions in size. We ended the night by sharing several desserts across the table with chocolate mousse, carrot cake, spumoni tartufo, tiramisu, and zabaglione with berries all making their rounds. Noone had any complaints and the spumoni tartufo was noted as the table favorite. By the end of the evening, we were stuffed, happy, and already talking about coming back again. For a crowded holiday dinner to feel this relaxed, attentive, and this good from start to finish says a lot about both the back-of-house and front-of-house team. Gaston's continues to impress us more with every visit.

While in the area finishing up a wine event, my friend and I decided to stop by Gaston's for…read moredinner. With it being a Thursday evening, we were able to be seated right away because it was practically empty. Gaston's is absolutely beautiful. The entrance displays a beautiful, vibrant picture of Italy. There's also a stand that displays the Dining Area Dress Code, which is Business Casual Attire. Our server stopped by our table and was very pleasant. She was able to answer all of our questions and gave us some time to look over the menu. The complimentary Focaccia Bread with the fresh tomatoes were simple yet delicious. We had olive oil and balsamic vinegar on the table as well that could be used as a dipping oil for the bread. I decided on the Onion Soup to start, which was very savory and delicious. For my entree, I ordered the Wagyu Bolognese and my friend ordered the Fettuccine Alfredo. Unfortunately, the pasta in our dishes were a bit hard and chewy, it should've been cooked a tad bit longer. Also, my friend asked if the pasta was homemade and the server let us know that it wasn't...we could tell! You would think for an Italian restaurant like this, they would've had homemade pasta, it definitely would've helped the dish. The Bolognese was okay but lacked a lot of flavor. I barely ate it. The restaurant was beautiful and the service was great but I've had better pasta elsewhere. If I were to return, it would probably be for the soup and appetizers.

First of all I have to say; ceaser salad was signature!!!…read moreThe calamari was good. Veal was good. Tiramisu and chocolate torte was delicious... But ceaser was a pretty impressing show and very tasty salad!!! They prepare it fresh right in front of you. Service was pretty good. Especially the busboy really kind with full of smiling face! View was perfect!

Thanksgiving. This year my wife and I tried the Thanksgiving buffet at Isle of Capri. The…read moreexperience was wonderful, but you are paying for the ambiance. We arrived at Noontime to a magnificent view of the beach, boardwalk, and the Atlantic from six floors up. Great atmosphere. The Isle was also accommodating larger family seatings for groups. Our waiter and the entire staff made you feel welcomed. Service was outstanding. The carving table had thinly sliced ham, turkey breast and small prime rib steaks. Plus, a buffet food container next to the turkey breast filled with dark meat and big turkey drumsticks. And of course, the gravy. Wonderful. All you could eat shrimp bar with cold cocktail shrimp, butterflied fried shrimp and hush puppies. Another joy. Salad bar of either romaine or iceberg lettuce with a great selection of toppings and salad dressings to fit any taste. For the sides: half ears of corn, a really good sweet potato casserole with a hint of sweetness, green beans that still had some snap, mash potatoes, a moist dressing, cranberry sauce, plus French fries and chicken nuggets for the kids. The dessert bar choices were two types of cheesecake, bread pudding, pecan and pumpkin pies. Great coffee to finish our banquet. Quite an elegant buffet for the Holiday.