Beyond the Boardwalk: A Guide to Virginia Beach’s Best Eats
The quest for the best restaurants in Virginia Beach is a search for authenticity. It’s a mission to navigate a landscape split between the tourist-facing Oceanfront and the “Inland” neighborhoods where the locals eat. While tourism blogs promise “ocean-to-table delights”, savvy diners are hunting for what’s real over what’s “overpriced & underwhelming”.
This report is the answer to that hunt. This is the definitive guide to the top 10 restaurants in Virginia Beach, a list built on historical significance, critical acclaim, and sustained local love. From “fancy” fine dining to the ultimate “casual dinner,” these are the essential Eats in Virginia Beach.
| Restaurant | Neighborhood | Cuisine | Price Guide | Vibe / Perfect For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coastal Grill | Inland (Great Neck) | Seafood / American | $$$ | The Local’s Legacy & Celebration Spot |
| Waterman’s Surfside Grille | Oceanfront | Seafood | $$$ | The Re-Vindicated Icon & Orange Crush Birthplace |
| Aldo’s Ristorante | Inland (Laskin) | Italian | $$$ | The 2025 “Best Fine Dining” Champion |
| Terrapin Restaurant | Oceanfront (Inland) | Fine Dining | $$$$ | The Critical Master & Culinary Originator |
| Steinhilber’s | Inland (Thalia) | Classic American / Seafood | $$$$ | The 85-Year-Old Historic Institution |
| Tautog’s Restaurant | Oceanfront | Seafood | $$ | The Cozy, “Local’s Only” Beach Cottage |
| The Bee & The Biscuit | Pungo (Inland) | Brunch / Southern | $$ | The Ultimate “Destination” Brunch |
| Esoteric | ViBe Creative District | Modern American | $$$ | The Modern “Foodie” Anchor |
| Margie & Ray’s Crabhouse | Sandbridge (Inland) | Seafood / Crab Shack | $$ | The Authentic, No-Frills Crab Shack |
| Rockafeller’s Restaurant | Rudee Inlet | Seafood | $$$ | The Classic Rudee Inlet Waterfront Staple |
1. Coastal Grill
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- 🍴Cuisine:Seafood / American
- 🏙️Neighborhood:Inland (Great Neck)
- 💰Price:$$$
- ✨Vibe:The Local’s Legacy & Celebration Spot
- 📍Location:1427 N Great Neck Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23454
Coastal Grill is the definitive “local’s choice” for an “all-time best” restaurant. Its inland location is proof that its 30-plus-year reputation is built purely on exceptional, consistent food, not tourist traffic. It’s the gold standard for “divinely simple seafood” and a beloved community institution for “birthdays, anniversaries, Mother/Father Days”.
Foodie Quote: “Locals rave about the ‘Dixie shrimp app’ and the ‘fresh mozzarella/tomato app’. The ‘blackboard specials’ are where the freshest, just-caught seafood is found.”Why is it our top choice?
It’s The Gold Standard for Locals. Its 2024 CoVa Top 50 award and 30+ years of passionate local loyalty make it one of the best restaurants in Virginia Beach for a guaranteed great meal.
2. Waterman's Surfside Grille
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- 🍴Cuisine:Seafood
- 🏙️Neighborhood:Oceanfront (Boardwalk)
- 💰Price:$$$
- ✨Vibe:The Re-Vindicated Icon & Orange Crush Birthplace
- 📍Location:415 Atlantic Ave, Virginia Beach, VA 23451
Waterman’s is the quintessential Virginia Beach icon, family-owned since 1981 and nationally famous for inventing the city’s signature cocktail, “VA’s original Orange Crush”. While its high-profile location leads some to dismiss it as a “tourist trap”, recent accolades prove its quality, making it one of the most famous restaurants in Virginia.
Foodie Quote: “You must get the signature Orange Crush. Locals and reviews also consistently praise the She-Crab Soup and the ‘fantastic’ oceanfront patio dining.”Why is it our top choice?
It’s The 2025 Restaurant of the Year. This major, statewide industry award from the VRLTA definitively rebuts any “tourist trap” claims and solidifies its status as a top-tier seafood restaurant in Virginia Beach.
3. Aldo's Ristorante
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- 🍴Cuisine:Italian
- 🏙️Neighborhood:Inland (Laskin)
- 💰Price:$$$
- ✨Vibe:The 2025 “Best Fine Dining” Champion
- 📍Location:1860 Laskin Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23454
Aldo’s Ristorante is a “local’s favorite since 1988” and the reigning champion of local fine dining. It’s one of the “longest standing” institutions, so beloved that locals on forums state, “it would be considered almost sacrilegious” to miss it. It’s the definitive pick for the best Italian restaurants in Virginia Beach.
Foodie Quote: “The restaurant has an award-winning wine list and in-house sommeliers to guide selection. The menu features classics like Veal Piccata and wood-fired pizzas.”Why is it our top choice?
It’s The 2025 Dual-Category Dominator. Winning both “Best Fine Dining” and “Best Italian Restaurant” in the 2025 CoVa Readers’ Choice Awards makes it the undisputed local champion of fancy restaurants in Virginia Beach.
4. Terrapin Restaurant
📹 Video Source: American Travel Life
- 🍴Cuisine:Fine Dining
- 🏙️Neighborhood:Oceanfront (Inland)
- 💰Price:$$$$
- ✨Vibe:The Critical Master & Culinary Originator
- 📍Location:3102 Holly Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23451
Terrapin is the city’s critical culinary standard-bearer. It represents the pinnacle of “chef-driven” fine dining and is the single restaurant credited with “launching the farm-to-table movement in Virginia Beach”. For those seeking culinary mastery over ocean views, Terrapin is one of the best restaurants in Virginia Beach.
Foodie Quote: “Locals and guides recommend starting with the ‘beet salad,’ a signature dish known to staff as a ‘salad of love’ (an homage to the chef’s love story with his wife).”Why is it our top choice?
It’s The Critical Masterpiece. As a James Beard-recognized, AAA Four-Diamond restaurant, its unimpeachable credentials make it the essential reservation for serious diners.
5. Steinhilber's
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- 🍴Cuisine:Classic American / Seafood
- 🏙️Neighborhood:Inland (Thalia)
- 💰Price:$$$$
- ✨Vibe:The 85-Year-Old Historic Institution
- 📍Location:653 Thalia Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23452
As “one of the oldest family owned and operated restaurants in Virginia,” Steinhilber’s is the definition of a “Historic Institution.” Founded in 1939, it’s famously “hidden in the back of a residential neighborhood” on the Lynnhaven River. While some long-time patrons debate recent menu changes, it remains a top-tier “fancy” option praised for its “impeccable service”.
Foodie Quote: “The classic ‘fantail fried shrimp’ and ‘Jumbo lump crab on a scallop shell’ are the must-order legacy dishes.”Why is it our top choice?
Its 85+ Year History makes it a non-negotiable pillar of “all-time” dining in Virginia Beach and one of the most famous restaurants in Virginia.
6. Tautog's Restaurant
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- 🍴Cuisine:Seafood
- 🏙️Neighborhood:Oceanfront
- 💰Price:$$
- ✨Vibe:The Cozy, “Local’s Only” Beach Cottage
- 📍Location:205 23rd St, Virginia Beach, VA 23451
Tautog’s is the “cozy” icon of the Oceanfront and the definitive local’s answer to the boardwalk. It offers a “warm and cozy” experience in a historic 1920s beach cottage, just blocks from the tourist strip. It’s beloved for “unrivaled” service and its mastery of regional seafood classics, making it a top spot for a casual dinner in Virginia Beach.
Foodie Quote: “As my kids would say, Taotogs slaps! Their she crab soup is one of the best soups we have ever had. All our dinners were outstanding.”Why is it our top choice?
It’s The Ultimate “Local’s” Beach Cottage. The passionate, rave reviews from locals for its “beloved she crab soup” and intimate vibe make it the perfect escape from the tourist crowds.
7. The Bee & The Biscuit
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- 🍴Cuisine:Brunch / Southern
- 🏙️Neighborhood:Pungo (Inland)
- 💰Price:$$
- ✨Vibe:The Ultimate “Destination” Brunch
- 📍Location:1785 Princess Anne Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23456
The Bee & The Biscuit is the undisputed “all-time best” breakfast and best lunch in Virginia Beach. It is a true “destination restaurant” in a “charming cottage” in the off-the-beaten-path Pungo neighborhood. It has cultivated a massive following by transforming brunch from a meal into a celebrated, “farm-to-table” event.
Foodie Quote: “The menu is packed with hits like biscuits, Fried Chicken Bennie, and Cinnamon Rolls.”Why is it our top choice?
It’s The Undisputed King of Brunch. Its “destination” status and “Always First Come First Serve” policy generate massive (but worthwhile) waits, making it one of the most famous restaurants in Virginia.
8. Esoteric
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- 🍴Cuisine:Modern American
- 🏙️Neighborhood:ViBe Creative District
- 💰Price:$$$
- ✨Vibe:The Modern “Foodie” Anchor
- 📍Location:501 Virginia Beach Blvd, Virginia Beach, VA 23451
Esoteric is the “Modern Master,” representing the new guard of Virginia Beach dining. It is the culinary anchor of the city’s “ViBe Creative District” and a “must-try” for any “foodie” seeking a “garden-to-table” experience. It’s lauded for its “gorgeous” garden, locally sourced oysters, and seasonal fare, making it one of the top new restaurants in Virginia Beach.
Foodie Quote: “Local forums confirm it’s ‘top notch food… a bit more on the foodie side’, perfect for those seeking a trendy, modern meal.”Why is it our top choice?
It’s The Anchor of the ViBe District. As a 2024 CoVa Top 50 winner and featured on 2025 “Best” lists, it represents the “cool” and “trendy” new face of Virginia Beach dining.
9. Margie & Ray's Crabhouse
📹 Video Source: Visit Virginia Beach
- 🍴Cuisine:Seafood / Crab Shack
- 🏙️Neighborhood:Sandbridge (Inland)
- 💰Price:$$
- ✨Vibe:The Authentic, No-Frills Crab Shack
- 📍Location:1240 Sandbridge Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23456
This is the “all-time best” authentic crab shack. Margie & Ray’s “embodies the no-frills, all-flavor, historic tradition of Virginia Beach dining”. A “Sandbridge classic” since the 1960s, it’s where locals go for the “real deal”: steamed blue crabs, fried seafood platters, and cold beer. It’s a top-tier seafood restaurant in Virginia Beach.
Foodie Quote: “Locals on forums are simple and direct: ‘Margie and Ray’s near pungo. the best’.”Why is it our top choice?
It’s The “No-Frills” Seafood Icon. Listed as one of the city’s top 4 “dining icons” in a 2025 guide, its “no-frills” authenticity is the perfect antidote to overpriced tourist traps.
10. Rockafeller's Restaurant
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- 🍴Cuisine:Seafood
- 🏙️Neighborhood:Rudee Inlet
- 💰Price:$$$
- ✨Vibe:The Classic Rudee Inlet Waterfront Staple
- 📍Location:308 Mediterranean Ave, Virginia Beach, VA 23451
Rockafeller’s is the “all-time” anchor of the Rudee Inlet, a “family-owned Va Beach staple” that has served as a benchmark for local, waterfront seafood for decades. It’s lauded for its “unmatched” freshness by working “with local fishermen, oystermen, and farmers”. It’s a “must-try” on virtually every “Top Waterfront” and “Top Seafood” list for the city.
Foodie Quote: “The ‘Oysters Rockafeller… baked with cheese, spinach, and bacon, is hard to beat’. Also, try the ‘refreshing, homemade blueberry soda’.”Why is it our top choice?
It’s The Rudee Inlet Staple. As an “indie legend” and a “VB staple”, it’s a foundational part of any top 10 restaurants in Virginia Beach list.
People Also Ask (FAQs)
Based on a deep analysis of critical acclaim, history, and local loyalty, the top 10 restaurants in Virginia Beach are: 1. Coastal Grill, 2. Waterman’s Surfside Grille, 3. Aldo’s Ristorante, 4. Terrapin Restaurant, 5. Steinhilber’s, 6. Tautog’s Restaurant, 7. The Bee & The Biscuit, 8. Esoteric, 9. Margie & Ray’s Crabhouse, and 10. Rockafeller’s Restaurant.
The “authentic data” shows that where the locals eat in Virginia Beach is often away from the main oceanfront strip. They frequent “Inland” institutions like Coastal Grill, Aldo’s Ristorante, and Steinhilber’s. For a “local’s” spot near the beach, Tautog’s Restaurant is the top choice.
Within Virginia Beach, Waterman’s Surfside Grille is one of the most famous restaurants in Virginia. It’s a 40-year-old icon that invented the state’s “original Orange Crush” cocktail and was named the 2025 “Restaurant of the Year” by the VRLTA. Steinhilber’s, (est. 1939), is also one of the state’s oldest and most famous institutions.
For a “fancy” fine dining experience, Aldo’s Ristorante was named the 2025 Gold winner for “Best Fine Dining” by local readers. Terrapin Restaurant is a James Beard-recognized, AAA Four-Diamond “critical master”. Steinhilber’s offers an 85-year-old historic fine-dining experience. These are the top fancy restaurants in Virginia Beach.
For the quintessential, no-frills crab shack, Margie & Ray’s Crabhouse is an icon. For a great oyster bar, honorable mention The Atlantic on Pacific is a “foodie”-approved spot with a “crazy selection”. For a classic waterfront meal, Rockafeller’s Restaurant is a staple. These are all top-tier seafood restaurants in Virginia Beach.
Aldo’s Ristorante is the undisputed champion. It has been a “local’s favorite since 1988” and, in 2025, won the Gold award for “Best Italian Restaurant” from Coastal Virginia Magazine, making it the top Italian restaurant in Virginia Beach.
For brunch, The Bee & The Biscuit is the ultimate “destination restaurant”, located in a charming Pungo cottage and famous for its biscuits and cinnamon rolls. For the best lunch in Virginia Beach, honorable mention Commune is a “modern sustainable” choice for “foodies”.
For a casual dinner, Tautog’s Restaurant is a local favorite, offering a cozy beach cottage vibe. Margie & Ray’s Crabhouse provides a classic, no-frills seafood experience.
While this list focuses on “all-time” greats, Esoteric represents the “new guard” of Virginia Beach dining. It’s the anchor of the ViBe Creative District, featured on 2025 “Best” lists, and is a must-try for “foodies” seeking a modern, garden-to-table meal.
While searches for the Tulu Virginia Beach menu and Hilton Garden Inn Virginia Beach restaurant menu are popular, this specific report focuses on the 10 “all-time best” independent and iconic local institutions. Tulu was not included in this definitive “all-time” analysis.
