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While Virginia Beach’s coastline may offer a stunning backdrop for its top-notch events, the city’s close proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, Chesapeake Bay, rivers and other waterways including numerous inlets means its seafood is of the highest quality. Quite simply, Virginia Beach is paradise for seafood lovers. Around town, restaurants offer extensive menu options including fresh, delicious seafood caught locally.
National Seafood Month may be a reminder to celebrate great seafood, however, locals and visitors in Virginia Beach don’t need a reason to appreciate amazing seafood dishes. Seafood is a way of life for Virginia Beach and the commonwealth. Like its northern neighbor, Maryland, Virginia is known for its impressive blue crab harvests, as well as its sustainable and diverse supply of many other types of seafood including oysters, clams and various kinds of fish. Throughout Virginia Beach, fresh seafood is found in a myriad of entrée options—from traditional preparations like crab cakes, She Crab soup, raw oysters and grilled fish to reimagined presentations with a unique combination of ingredients—being served up in its restaurants.
So what are some ways to celebrate seafood this month? Here are several ideas:
Attend the Virginia Beach Seafood Festival on Saturday, Oct. 21 at State Military Reservation (formerly known as Camp Pendleton)! Grab your tickets now and come enjoy food, drinks, live music, a cornhole tournament, a childrens’ entertainment zone and more.
Eat fresh seafood at a local seafood restaurant, trying a variety of dishes off the menu, particularly specials, which often include seafood freshly caught that same day. Virginia Beach has a number of terrific family-owned seafood restaurants that have been serving guests for decades. Some local favorites include Rudee’s Restaurant and Cabana Bar, Rockafeller’s Restaurant, Waterman’s Surfside Grille, Mahi’s, all offering incredible food in a casual, family-friendly atmosphere.
Dine at a restaurant offering remarkable coastal ambience. Nothing enhances an incredible seafood meal like beautiful water views—whether gazing out at the Atlantic Ocean, the Chesapeake Bay, the Lynnhaven River or just about any dockside location. Dining al fresco and hearing the relaxing sounds of water close by, along with live music with a beach vibe, can really deepen a coastal dining experience.
Enjoy a local beverage, such as a locally brewed craft beer, to complement your tasty seafood entrée. Coastal Virginia is full of wonderful local breweries, so local craft beers are widely available in Virginia Beach’s dining scene and are fantastic to take advantage of while in town. Don’t forget to look for happy hour specials as well!
Order a seafood boil steamer pot from a local seafood restaurant. If you need to feed a group that wants to eat fresh seafood, purchasing a steamer pot as takeout is an excellent way to go. The meal comes already prepared with just some simple instructions for boiling the seafood at your home or rental place.
Get a seafood meal catered: For feeding a larger crowd while in town, consider using a caterer, such as The Shellfish Company, located convenient to the Virginia Oceanfront in the nearby Chic’s Beach/Shore Drive area.
Go on a fishing charter and attempt to reel in a fresh catch yourself. For those seeking this added adventure, head to Rudee Inlet to check out the fishing charter tours available. There are many options for anglers of all ages and fishing levels.
And for those who are not a fan of seafood, no worries because Virginia Beach restaurants offer plenty of other delicious menu options.