Cancel

Open app

Search

The General Public

4.5 (153 reviews)
InexpensiveSalad, Burgers, Sandwiches
Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Updated 1 month ago

Order The General Public Takeout or Delivery

The General Public Photos

Business Info

THE GENERAL PUBLIC ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Trendy
Moderate noise
Dogs allowed

You might also consider

More like The General Public

Recommended Reviews - The General Public

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Plain Jane Burger/ Coleslaw
Nick G.

I was interested in trying this place out, it was a bit busy and I think the server was a little bit overwhelmed but he still handled it phenomenally well. It was a clean restaurant and the bathroom was clean the only thing I noticed in the bathroom there was an odor I'm not sure if it's the water,sewer or something. Anyways we didn't have to wait long for the food everything came out well cooked I had the Caribbean Bowl and my pops had a burger with slaw. They definitely created a welcoming experience and one I won't forget about. I will be visiting again sometime soon!

Salmon Bowl
Dom Z.

Gas, some good eats good portions took awhile tho when it didn't seem that busy but worth the wait for sure

Coconut Curry Shrimp Bowl
Stephanie S.

The food is always good! I've never dined in, but always get takeout. The staff is always personable and friendly. I appreciate how they give you an approximate time for when your food will be ready. I noticed they now have a bar area setup, which is cool. They also have several tables and some high top tables. The coconut curry bowl is one of my faves. They give a decent amount of shrimp, and it's mixed with sautéed green beans, yellow squash, and jasmine rice. The sauce is light and not overpowering. They were out of wings so I got fries. There one of few restaurants who sell waffle fries (well, other than Chick Fil A). The fries are crisp; they have seasoning options you can try. I've had the wings in the past and they're delicious smoked wings. I also got a house salad with balsamic vinaigrette. I've also had the salmon public bowl, which comes with a lemon butter sauce. They even add a lemon wheel for garnish. The food is always good - you can't go wrong with whatever you try!

Fried Shrimp Basket
Falecia P.

I ordered food from here through Uber eats. I ordered the plain burger and the fried shrimp basket. For ten bucks, I thought the burger would come with fries but it did not. However, the burger was larger than expected. It was good, I just ended up having to add my own ketchup and mustard since there didn't seem to have any on it. Also, there was a lot of pickles and onions layered onto the sandwich, which was just not my preference. The shrimp basket was great. Even though the breading was a lot, the shrimp were rather large so it made up for it. The fries were great too, my 7 year old ate most of them. The seasoning on the fries reminded me of Arby's curly fries, they had a little kick to them. I have never eaten at the restaurant but the food seemed like it was made fresh and quickly after I ordered. I would like to check out the inside with my family at some point.

Me for Solo Lunch
Zay M.

I visited here around 3:05pm on a Tuesday afternoon. This is located in downtown Suffolk. They have street parking. Inside on the left wall, there is art work going down the wall, which is very unique. At the table, there is salt, pepper, sugar, and a container of hand sanitizer. After choosing my own seat, my waitress came over promptly. I got sweet tea to drink and it was delicious... the perfect sweetness. It came in a plastic cup with the small cubed ice, which is the best type of ice IYKYK. I had already looked at the menu and other reviews online before coming, so I knew I wanted wings. I ordered around 3:13pm. I got the 12 wings and split them up by getting 6 lemon pepper and 6 Thai. I got waffle fries as a side, which was $4 extra. The fries come plain but for $0.25, you can add a seasoning. They are 8 choices, including old bay, ranch, salt & vinegar, Cancun, bbq, sea salt, white cheddar, and garlic parm. The waitress (T) was extremely friendly! She told me she was helping her brother with the restaurant. "T" stated that her brothers best friend owns the restaurant, which has been in business for a year. There are 4 TVs, each playing something different. I noticed that there is a bar area but no liquor. "T" told me that they just got their license to sell liquor, so they will be stocking up within the next few days. As I'm waiting for my food, I felt myself not being very hungry, even though I hadn't eaten all day long. My food was ready at 3:35pm. My fries came out first. I could feel the heat, which told me they were fresh. I could smell the aroma of the bbq seasoning, which made my mouth water. The fries were cooked perfectly! The wings came at 3:38pm. The wings are brine smoked and grilled. I enjoy a lot of seasoning on my foods that "require" seasoning. The lemon pepper wings did not disappoint as they were scrumptious!! The Thai wings were also delicious but I liked the lemon pepper wings more. I was able to eat half the wings and the fries before throwing in the towel. Overall, I highly recommend this restaurant and I would most definitely return again! "T" said the bowls are good, so I would probably try that next. Teamwork was highly demonstrated throughout my visit. The other waitress present, Ciera, checked on me and attended to things I may have needed.

Catfish nuggets
Maria C.

I am more than a fan! The fact that this establishment cooks food to order and you can see the cooks... this is definitely a win win restaurant! The portions are rewarding and the service on point! I first visited this location with my husbae when they reopened once outside opened up on a Saturday. We were able to dine in. At the time the restaurant was full, as in no other seating was available. All the social d seating was filled with other patrons. Being able to see the busy Washington Street gives a pub feel to me... who wouldn't want to dine and see their surroundings... I love to be safe and sound while dining. The waitress... she was amazing. I believe she was handling all the tables present and was also the cashier... from time to time another lady would assist, but overall, those ladies had a system and it was working to serve about 30 people - all smiles! At the time, no bar drinks were available. We were told the restaurant is still waiting on licensing. Cool... water was fine for us and the soft drinks. We had the catfish nuggets to start. While they were not best compared to others, we still ate them along with waffle fries. These were just OK too, but once again, we ate them :) My husbae opted for a bowl and myself a juicy burger for our main meal. Both were A++ A few weeks later, I was in the area and wanted to try a bowl. I believe I had the salmon bowl... I took it home... so within 10 minutes I was seated with fork in hand ready to eat... Even the ride home did not diminish the goodness of my bowl... I loved it! I highly recommend you give this locally owned small business a try if you are in the area. Parking was not an issue for us, but I believe only street parking is available. Not sure if this restaurant offers vegan options... but vegans, you should be able to find something here to tickle your fancy... you may just fall in love. Service from entering to leaving was 5 stars... I love the chill vibe here... rather dining in or on the go. Well worth your hard earned money and your time. Shops and other eateries are within walking distance. You may just want to take a stroll to find out a bit more about the area before heading to your next destination. Check out his hidden gem :) and make you belly happy! Have fun and enjoy life :)

Wings-thai/honey siracha flavor  chimichuri fries
Maya W.

absolutely DELICIOUS!!! i got the wings half thai half honey siracha. but the lemon prepper wings i had a bite of and they were so good too! i recommend the thai sauce!! CHIMICHURI WAS SO GOOD!! especially when they put it on your fries!! 10/10. the staff was wonderful as well

BBQ Stout Burger Public Loaded Waffle Fries
Kevin R.

The place is located in the downtown area of Suffolk. Parking is somewhat of an issue but if your a local of the area you're use to it. The atmosphere of the place is lively yet chill. Definitely a nice place to grab something to eat from on a nice sunny day or even a rainy one with the open storefront window for outside viewing. The food was top tier, I got the BBQ stout burger and loaded public fries just because it was something I would normally order and I wasn't disappointed. Everything was amazing! I can't stress that enough, I will definitely be coming back to try more of the menu which is simple but plentiful at the same time. The staff was welcoming as well. I was greeted with with a smile and even an embracing hug. If you haven't already, try them out.

Steak Bowl
Katie M.

Locals and visitors seem to love this spot! Their takeout and delivery business was busy when I arrived to place a takeout order. The waitress was super kind and helpful. Lots of options for pub grub like wings/burgers/fries. I was wanting something a little lighter so I ordered a steak bowl. It took about 15 minutes for my order to be prepared. Super quick and impressive considering how busy they were and how fresh everything was. The steak was cooked to perfection! My favorite part was the mushrooms and potatoes in with the bowl - I wish I would've had more in the bowl. The sauce on everything was pretty tasty but also super oily. I'll definitely be back next time I'm in town

Coconut Curry Shrimp Bowl (sauce on the side)
Maria G.

Thanks to Yelp, I found a restaurant that had high ratings and I was ready to check this place out! Surprisingly when we walked in my husband recognized the owner who also have a spot at the Newport News city building. He confirmed the food is going to be good. The menu is easy and had something for everyone. I settled on the Coconut curry shrimp bowl with the sauce on the side. The sauce was made with coconut milk and heavy cream. It had a nice flavor and it wasn't spicy. The shrimp was grilled and it came with stir fry vegetables and rice. It was so good. My husband ordered the jerk chicken bowl and it was equally good but spicy! It comes with a carrot, raisin, pineapple slaw that cools it all down. The bowl also comes with rice and stir fried cabbage. So the fried cheesecake ball...it is covered in graham crackers and then fried! Yes fried!! As a cheesecake connoisseur, I knew this was a big No-No but no... I had to try it. And it wasn't t for me. I will stick to the traditional and eat the way it was supposed to be. The place is good for large parties with plenty of seatings and the decor is rustic with a country feel.

Chicken Cali Club Sandwich w/ Fiesta Fries
Jordan B.

After hanging with my homegirls going horseback riding at Kay's Acres, we got hungry and decided to stop at The General Public for a bite to eat before heading home, because we saw that they were fairly new to the area and had great reviews. The Chicken Cali Club was bomb! The fried chicken was tender and juicy, and it came on a buttered brioche bun (Chile ya'll know I love me some buttered brioche!); furthermore, the loaded fiesta waffle fries paired so well it. Kudos to the chef, because he really threw down back in that kitchen. Shoutout to Errika for being an excellent server and make sure we were properly accommodated throughout our meal. With good service, and great food, I sincerely hope The General Public continues to keep up the good work and I wish them much success in the future. I can't wait to go back for lunch the next time I'm in the area.

Salmon Burger and Waffle Fries
ashlin j.

Food is always great. The staff and General are welcoming and kind. Glad they now have two locations!!

Turkey sandwich and garlic green beans.
Debs J.

Delicious!! Found it on YELP of course!! Charming cafe nicely restored in an old time building. On street parking and next to a brewery. We ordered the turkey sandwiches made from house roasted turkey meat and Chef mayo. Flavorful from top to bottom with a generous portion of turkey and bacon. Sandwich was big enough to eat half and save the rest for later!! Delicious cole slaw and garlic green beans! I ordered the zesty waffle fries sprinkled with Old Bay seasoning. Friendly and professional service with 2 great chefs teaming up in the kitchen. I highly recommend you pass through town for this gem! Thanks!

UDO (unidentifiable dining object)

See all

3 months ago

Helpful 5
Thanks 0
Love this 6
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Arthur R.
44
322
1081

8 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Dom Z.
0
75
31

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 0
Love this 3
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Zay M.
522
817
17886

4 years ago

Helpful 6
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0
Photo of Ken V.
0
12
0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Pat S.
40
14
2

1 year ago

The wings are the best I've ever eaten. Staff was nice and attentive. Clean place.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 7
Thanks 0
Love this 5
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 15
Thanks 0
Love this 13
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 5
Thanks 0
Love this 5
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 1

5 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

I've only ordered from DoorDash from GP. My food is always fresh and hot. The salmon bowl is AMAZING!

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 4
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 0
Love this 4
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Great food and a uniquely eclectic menu with novel burgers and rice bowls with a variety of proteins.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 1
Photo of Ty M.
145
348
533

4 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

Page 1 of 4

Ask the Community - The General Public

You might also consider

Crust & Cork

Crust & Cork

4.3
(39 reviews)
0.8 mi
$$

If you're in the Suffolk area and haven't been to Crust and Cork, you're truly missing out…read more From the moment we walked in, the experience was top-tier. The level of service from the manager, Claire, was nothing short of exceptional. She was attentive, welcoming, and clearly takes pride in ensuring every guest has a great experience. That kind of leadership sets the tone--and it absolutely showed. The food matched the service perfectly. The fresh salad bar was crisp, well-stocked, and full of quality options. The pizza was outstanding--perfectly cooked with a flavorful crust and generous toppings. And the Philly cheesesteak sandwich? Incredible. Tender, well-seasoned meat, melted cheese, and served hot and fresh. Every bite delivered. It's rare to find a place where both the service and the food hit a 10, but Crust and Cork absolutely delivered. This was a 10 out of 10 experience, and we will definitely be returning--and recommending it to everyone we know.

My husband and I were in the area and were looking for somewhere to have lunch. We stumbled across…read morethis spot on google map and was surprised to find it was inside the Hilton. What a pleasant little hidden gem! Wow! It has a wonderful salad bar and they make personal pizzas made to order. They are wonderful. I only wish we had learned of this place sooner. They have been around for a year now. We will definitely be back. Their prices are great for what you get. Staff was very pleasant as well!

Photos
Crust & Cork
- Carbonara Pizza - 
 Chicken, Bacon, Creamy Alfredo, Grande Mozzarella, Chives
- Carbonara Pizza - Chicken, Bacon, Creamy Alfredo, Grande Mozzarella, Chives
Scallop Caprese

See all

Scallop Caprese
Amici's

Amici's

4.1
(248 reviews)
0.1 mi
$$

Tbh I almost never come to Downtown Suffolk to eat but whenever I do I'm always pleasantly…read moresurprised and Amici's was no exception. Some friends and I ended up here after realizing the Gourmet Burger Bistro closes early on New Years Day (oops), but honestly it worked out in our favor. I've been seeing Amici's floating around online for YEARS and just never got around to visiting ... but better late than never because babyyyy the food was hittin'. Y'all do NOT judge a book by its cover. From the outside it definitely gives a little "divey neighborhood spot," but the food? FYE. Way better than you'd ever expect walking in! Now I gotta talk about this Caesar salad. When it hit the table, I made a face at my homegirl because why did I see tomatoes in my Caesar salad!? In all of my almost 34 years of life I've never seen that before. But listen, I took one bite and had to humble myself because it was honestly one of the best Caesars I've ever had. Got me right together. We also got the hot caprese queso appetizer with foccacia bread and it was absolutely delicious. My chicken parmesan pasta was also amazing. I put the leftover caprese queso on top of the pasta and it was a wrap from there! Me and all my friends agreed that the food was really good despite our first impressions. I'm officially adding Amici's to my list of places to visit whenever I'm in Hampton Roads.

First time here at the pizza is amazing! We had three different pizzas:…read more Meat lovers- 8/10 Pepperoni- 9/10 Cheese- 9 Greek salad 8 We ordered to go but they nice over the phone. You can tell they were busy but they were really professional and let us know about their special

Photos
Beer/liquor.
Beer/liquor.
Mozzarellla Mozzarella Sticks
Mozzarellla Mozzarella Sticks
National Pinot Noir day

See all

National Pinot Noir day
Danny’s Downtown Dogs

Danny’s Downtown Dogs

4.6
(17 reviews)
0.2 mi

I had a really good dining experience here. The service was great! The staff answered my questions…read moreabout specific menu items, and even recommended one item over another. The grilled chicken salad was delicious. The veggies were super fresh and crisp. The fries are shoestring fries, and seasoned. I also had a side of baked beans. I also liked how they have a variety of places to sit: at the bar, in the window, at a table or a booth. They even bring the food to you!! You should check them out today!

We were happy to find that this place is open a little later on Fridays, till 6 pm. Since they…read moreusually close at 3 pm. My whole family enjoyed the hot dogs that were prepared. I had the Mandi dog, with Cole slaw and thousand island dressing. I also had the small portion of pasta salad which was pretty good also. It was a little on the salty side but I did not mind it. The customer service was great, even though you order first and then sit down, someone came to our table to see how we were doing after we got our food. They had a good amount of seating with bar seating where you could watch them cook, and by the window. As well as community seating with a large table and several booths near the back of the restaurant. The only thing that bothered me was that they did not have a changing table in the women's bathroom which made it hard to change my daughter's diaper. Otherwise everything was pretty good.

Photos
Todays special : 2 chili cheese dogs $7
Todays special : 2 chili cheese dogs $7
Omelette the size of my head! With fresh biscuit and home fries
Omelette the size of my head! With fresh biscuit and home fries
Omelette with home fries and biscuit

See all

Omelette with home fries and biscuit
Gourmet Burger Bistro

Gourmet Burger Bistro

4.7
(54 reviews)
0.0 mi
$$

4.5 Stopped in for…read morelunch around 12:00 PM on a Friday. Street parking only. I didn't notice any meters, but I could imagine parking being tougher during a big event. Not local, so just something to be aware of. First impression is strong. Specials, awards, and a "Top 25 Burger in the U.S. (2021)" recognition are clearly displayed when you walk in. Prices are surprisingly reasonable for the quality and ambition of the food. The interior is well thought out. Heavy gold-and-black design with light brown accent chairs gives it a polished, upscale feel without being flashy. Leather seating is in great shape, and the tall ceilings paired with black vertical boards make the space feel larger than it is. Lighting is excellent, especially considering there are very few windows. Music is smooth and casual, though to some it could be turned down just a notch. The kitchen is semi-open behind a half wall, which adds to the experience early on as cooking smells build anticipation. Toward the end of my visit, the space did get slightly smoky. I arrived to an empty restaurant, but by the time I left there were around 20-25 people dining. Service was a highlight. Randy showed exceptional hospitality and checked in consistently without hovering. Food hit the table in about six minutes, which is impressive, even considering I was the only guest at first. I ordered the Major Way burger with sautéed onions, bacon, and their house drip sauce. The patty came out piping hot with a great exterior sear, though the interior flavor relies heavily on the sauce. The onions were almost cold, which stood out against the hot patty. The sauce is excellent, creamy with a light spice, and it absolutely carries the burger. Without it, the burger would feel underwhelming by comparison. The bun could benefit from toasting, as the bun struggled to hold everything together. Lettuce and tomato were fresh and crisp. If ordering to go, I'd recommend getting the buns on the side. Traditional wings were done right. Crispy outside, moist inside, and good-sized whole wings. They're essentially well-executed fried chicken wings. While very good, I feel like some seasoning may be burning off in the fryer. I'd love to compare these to their sticky or "everything" wings. Colossal shrimp was excellent. Great batter, excellent house sauce, and perfectly cooked with real texture. The seasoning shines here without tasting burnt. The fries were standout. Easily some of the best I've had in a while. Skinny, twice-fried, fresh-cut potatoes with a (I think) honey BBQ dusting. I intentionally ordered a smaller portion so the photo isn't portioned to size. House-made fruit punch was fantastic. Sweet, clean, and refreshing without that artificial coating you get from bottled drinks. I also appreciate their use of paper bowls and plates instead of styrofoam. The restaurant was clean top to bottom, including the bathrooms, which is always a strong indicator of good management. Overall, this place punches well above its weight. In a larger city, food at this level would easily cost 2.5-5x more. If you're spending lunch money at major fast-food chains nearby, redirect it here. You'll leave full and without that post-fast-food regret.

Taking advantage of the $10 brewery deal - $5 pint and $10 special. Burger is delicious as always…read moreand two places to eat it so pick your ambiance :) Service is always quick and friendly highly recommend this downtown staple

Photos
Gourmet Burger Bistro
CRABCAKE SANDWICH SWEET POTATO FRIES
CRABCAKE SANDWICH SWEET POTATO FRIES
CRABCAKE SANDWICH

See all

CRABCAKE SANDWICH

The General Public - salad - Updated June 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...