10 Foodie Finds in Virginia Beach
Oysters
Virginia Beach is home to the legendary Lynnhaven oyster, a staple on many sustainable seafood menus. The Atlantic on Pacific is an oyster and craft cocktail bar outfitted with a raw bar filled with local and regional oysters. Set your alarm for the Happy Hour oyster special at Big Sam’s Raw Bar. Not into raw oysters? Head to Rudee’s on the Inlet Restaurant & Cabana Bar for their Oysters Rockefeller, as seen on Food Network.
Crabs
Crab is served so many ways in Virginia Beach. Enjoy a hot, creamy bowl of She Crab Soup. Lump crab is served in the form of crab cakes or stuffed in the day’s fresh catch. Mark your calendar for soft shell crab season. Of course, nothing says summer like steamed crabs covered in Old Bay. Head to Margie & Rays Crabhouse and Restaurant near Sandbridge for steamed crabs and crab cakes. Waterman’s at the Oceanfront tops French fries with creamy homemade crab dip for an additional crabby craving.
Pizza
While Virginia Beach does have a number of tantalizing culinary options, sometimes you’re simply craving a cheesy slice of pie. With several locations on Atlantic Avenue, Dough Boy’s Pizza has been dishing out classic and creative pies since 1989. For a more upscale pizza experience, head to Hearth Wood Fired Cuisine for a crispy-crust pizza straight out of the wood-fired oven in the ViBe District.
Breakfast and Brunch
Fuel up your beach days with a morning (or midday) feast. Virginia Beach’s breakfast and brunch spots have everything you want, from sweet to savory options with enough brunch cocktails to put a smile on your face. Bay Local Eatery, with locations on Laskin Road and Shore Drive, is a local favorite known for extravagant benedicts, larger-than-life mimosas and a soft shell crab-topped Bloody Mary that you’ll want to take some pictures of. Doc Taylor’s is an Oceanfront classic serving comforting Southern eats. In the ViBe District, Java Surf Café offers fresh, locally sourced grub that’s the perfect way to start your day.
All-You-Can-Eat
Buffets in Virginia Beach serve everything from seafood and classic eats to Chinese, Indian and Japanese. Get your fill of all-you-can-eat seafood at Captain George’s on Laskin Road, along with Fish Bones Restaurant and King of the Sea, both on Atlantic Avenue.
Healthy
It tastes good and it’s good for you. What’s not to love? Virginia Beach is bursting with lean, green and mean options to keep that beach body in shape this season. Try a Mother Earth Smoothie at the Green Cat Juice Bar and Market, graze at Graze Kitchen at Edgar Cayce’s A.R.E., pick “farm-to-beach” fresh eats at Harvest Restaurant, or say “aloha” to the colorful poke bowls at Aloha Snacks or Zeke’s Beans and Bowls.
Burgers and Bites
Burgers are serious business. If you’re serious about sinking your teeth into a burger that’s way beyond basic, head over to Repeal Bourbon and Burgers, Barrel 17 or the Hunt Room at the Cavalier Hotel. Barbecue lovers, try Beach Bully, or grab some savory and saucy wings at Chix on the Beach or Calypso Bar & Grill. Go international with the empanadas and other Latin American bites at locals’ hotspot The Pink Dinghy.
Signature Drinks
Discover the magic of mixology with craft cocktails and other signature drinks at destinations like Orion’s Roof at the new Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront (plus unbelievable panoramic views), Catch 31 Fish House and Bar, The Atlantic on Pacific, or Eurasia. And there is no filter needed for the utterly Instagrammable “Bloody Blue”—a Bloody Mary topped with a local softshell crab with green olives for “eyes”—at Bay Local Eatery.
Fine Dining
If you are looking for an elegant dining experience and elevated fare, our esteemed chefs and sommeliers are here to serve with divine dishes and superior service. Zoës Steak and Seafood, Salacia Prime Seafood & Steaks, Terrapin Restaurant, Il Giardino Ristorante, and Becca Restaurant are just a few options for your special night out. Break out the cloth napkins for everything from seared scallops in foie gras butter to a classic fettuccini Bolognese.
Ice Cream
Is it even a vacation if you don’t go for ice cream? We think not. Lucky for VB vacationers, there are plenty of ice-cold, creamy and decadently delicious ice cream options to enjoy. Lolly’s Creamery in the ViBe District is beloved by locals and visitors for its fresh seasonal flavors using local ingredients. At family-owned Pungo Pizza & Ice Cream you can have a house-made scoop and a slice all in one spot.