Outer Banks Seafood Company

Outer Banks Seafood Company

1080 Nimmo Parkway (Red Mills Common area)

Virginia Beach, Va 23454

TEL: 757-427-6272
Fri-Sat 4-10PM, Sun-Thurs 4-9PM

11400 W Huguenot Rd.
Midlothian, VA 23113
TEL: 804-464-1835
Fri-Sat 4-10PM, Sun-Thurs 4-9PM

www.outerbanksseafoodcompany.com

Food: 8 out of 10 Mikes

Service: 7.5 out of 10 Mikes

Outer Banks Seafood Company was highly recommended by a colleague of mine. He was right on the money with this one.  We visited the Virginia Beach location. You walk in an the first thing you notice is the atmosphere, quiet and welcoming (great spot for a couple on a date night). We settled in at our table and were greeted by a smiling waitress, she was very informative and helped us with questions we had about the menu.  We ordered an appetizer of "Cut Bait" (their term for fried calamari) and a cup of the "Crab and Corn Bisque".  The calamari was cooked to perfection with a nice zesty marinara dipping sauce.  The bisque was packed full of flavor and a ton of crab meat in every spoonful (will defiantly order the larger bowl next time).  On to the entrees,  Mike Sr. chose the "Nags Header", a combination of shrimp, scallops, a crab cake and a flounder fillet.  It was way more than enough for one person.  He really enjoyed the platter.  I went for the "Seafood Mixed Grill", which was a generous portion of Mahi Mahi, deep sea scallops and shrimp.  It comes flatiron grilled with a honey citrus butter.  I had a special order for no shrimp (I'm allergic to them) and they were happy to take care of it for me.  My dish was very enjoyable, fish was juicy and delectable, as were the scallops.  Both dishes were accompanied by fresh vegetables and "Redneck Risotto" (it was more of a polenta then a risotto). All in all the food was magnificent, I look forward to going back and exploring the menu some more.  They have a wide range of choices from seafood to steaks (for the ocean impaired).  I am sure you will be pleased and want to come back again and again.

Mike Jr.

The restaurant is kid friendly providing high chairs and a kids menu. 
Entree prices range between $15 - $25  

Virginia Diner

Virginia Diner
408 County Drive North
Wakefield, VA 23888
TEL: 757-899-3106

http://vadinerrestaurant.com

Food: 7 out of 10 Mikes
Service: 7 out of 10 Mikes

This is a place that my parents introduced me to in my teen years. We usually stopped during trips to and from my Alma Mater - Hargrave Military Academy.  It is located off 460 in Wakefield and is a great place to visit while on a Sunday drive. Directions are available on the above web site. Their menu is good country cooking with fried chicken (some of the best I have ever tasted), country fried steak, Country Cured Virginia ham, sandwiches and many more items. All of their side items are country fresh. On Saturdays and Sundays they have a buffet which includes country favorites. They also serve breakfast (6 am to 11 am) and have catering available. Be sure to save room for dessert, like their World Famous Peanut Pie, Diner's Favorite Apple Pie, Chocolate Chess Pie, Peanut Butter Silk Pie, Banana pudding and Peach Cobbler. I am sure you can find what you want for a very tasty meal just like Grandma used to make.  They are very family oriented and kid friendly.  Enjoy.....

Mike Sr.

The diner is open 364 days a year from 6:00 am to 9:00 pm in the summer and until 8:00 pm in the winter.
Friday offers a Seafood Buffet  - 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Saturday and Sunday offers Diner's Favorites Country Buffet - 11:00 am to 7:00 pm.

Their lunch and dinner prices range from $3.50 to $15.00 and include choice of two vegetables and either fresh baked biscuits or Virginia style spoon bread.    

No Frill Bar and Grill

Hilltop Location
1620 Laskin Rd
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
(757)425-2900 

Ghent Location
806 Spotswood Ave
Norfolk, VA 23517
(757)627-4262

http://www.nofrillgrill.com/

Food:    8 out of 10 Mikes
Service: 8 out of 10 Mikes


We recently had the joy of visiting "No Frill Bar and Grill" at the Hilltop location in Virginia Beach.  We had a larger party so we called ahead and had no problem getting a table.  The wait staff was very accommodating and helpful.  I chose to have the Caesar Salad with Tuna bites and Mike Sr. had the Fish and Chips (made with flounder).  Others in the party had the Nachos (very healthy portion), the French Dip (flavorful) and the Spotswood Salad (a signature salad).  All in all, everyone was pleased with the meal, and raved about their choices (which is usually the story with this local spot). They always have a great selection of daily specials and the menu has a broad span of choices.  The desserts will always make you think twice tempt you at the end of your meal.  This evening they had a Pumpkin Cheesecake (which was calling my name). Everyone at the table had a taste and agreed it was exquisite.  I have been to both locations and they are both great (two different crowds though). The Ghent location is a little harder to get into on the weekend but it’s well worth any wait.  Looking forward to more good times at "No Frill" in the future.


Hours:  Sun - Thurs 11am-10 pm
            Fri & Sat 11am-11pm
            Sunday Brunch 11am-3pm

Prices:  Moderate Prices averaging $10-15 per entree

Mike Jr.

Great Bridge BBQ

Great Bridge BBQ Restaurant
8oo Battlefield Blvd. South  (Millwood Plaza Shopping Center)
Chesapeake, VA

Food:    3 out of 10 Mikes
Service: 2 out of 10 Mikes


My son and I were asked to try Great Bridge BBQ, so off we went last Saturday. What we found was a clean little place at the end of the shopping center. They also have a catering service. Once we sat down the waitress approached us and it was downhill from there. She constantly hovered around us pressuring us for our orders, we asked for a minute to look over the menu and that is what we got - back she came to hover. We nearly left, but decided to try the food. What we found was mediocre at best. I was hopeful with the smoked beef brisket and Texas chili, I was told they did not have the chili ready yet (It was 12:30 on a Saturday). The brisket was sliced and steamed with a heavy sauce which masked the meat so much all you tasted was sauce. I suspect the sauce was "Bull's Eye". My son tried the pulled pork sandwich which tasted like any other we have tried, nothing to rave about. He also had the baked beans, which were not baked (more like a can of campbell's pork and beans with some pulled pork mixed in).  We did try the fried "Mac and Cheese" appetizer which we agreed was the highlight of our visit. When we asked for a refill on our drinks, the waitress placed her hand on the hand I was eating with and said she we take care of it (being friendly with a hand on your shoulder is one thing, but never touch a customers hand).  All in all we would not return, but you can make your own decision. It is a little neighborhood place, but is a little out of the way in Chesapeake.


Hours:  Mon - Sat 11 am - 8 pm
            Sun 11 am - 6 pm

Mike Sr.

Jade Villa

Jade Villa
353 Independence Blvd
Virginia Beach, VA 23462
(757)473-2228

Food:    6 out of 10 Mikes
Service: 6 out of 10 Mikes

Jade Villa is a nice little spot to get some good Chinese food.  The store front is misleading, it looks like a typical take-out/delivery place, but when you give it a chance and go in, you find a nice sit down Chinese restaurant (which is had to find nowadays).  They offer you two menus, a red cover and a white cover.  The white menu is geared to more of an Americanized Chinese taste (General Tao's, Pepper Steak, Sweet and Sour Chicken, ect..).  The red menu is for a Cantonese experience,  a lot of the menu is interesting and you might have to ask the waitress about most of the items.  We have had various items there and have been pleased with our choices.  We went on a Saturday evening with some friends of ours and had no problem finding a table (plenty of tables and a large back room for parties).  The appetizers are just enough to leave your mouth watering for you entree.   They offer plenty of choices and you should have no problem finding a dish to suit your taste.  I recommend the Orange Beef or the Peking Duck (little bit of a wait for the duck but its worth it).  Look forward to trying the "Hotpot" on a future visit.  It is the only "Dim Sum" place in the area.  They offer a limited Dim Sum menu through out the week but they have a full Dim Sum menu on Sundays (11am-3pm), friends have raved about it.  Jade Villa is open late on the weekends and it great for those late night craving.  So if your looking for a little bit of China Town, this is the place for you.

Poppy's Top Dog

Poppy's Top Dog
4027 Bainbridge Blvd
Chesapeake, VA 23324
(757) 545-1995

   

Food:    5 out of 10 Mikes
Service: 5 out of 10 Mikes

We are all about good hot dogs, they are one of the reasons we started this blog. We came across this place about a week ago and it is really a great little place if you are in the area. It is located in the south Norfolk section of Chesapeake. They serve Boar's Head products (which you can't go wrong with). I enjoyed the Spicy hot smoked sausage (also available in mild) all the way with onion rings. The rings were cooked just right so the onion does not pull out when you take a bite. Mike Jr. had a burger which he said was okay and a Bratwurst which he said was very good (served on a great soft gourmet bun) along with crispy french fries. He also ordered the fried pickles and they were outstanding. The menu is very diverse and typical of a local hot dog joint, a breakfast menu is also available. We heard that the Chicken Salad was worth trying, maybe on our next visit. Service was very good and it is a family friendly place. The Saturday crowd was typical working class and it seemed like a local gathering place. Counter service was packed when we got there, we settled for a table. The service was very good and waitress was very accommodating and friendly. The cook behind the counter always wore gloves whenever he handle the food. This is a place we will return to when in the area and want a good lunch.Mon- Fri: 6:30AM - 7:00PM, Saturday: 6:30AM - 3:00PM. Enjoy.



Mike Sr.  

Taqueria San Jose Mexican

1186 Lynnhaven Pkwy
Virginia Beach, VA 23452

(757) 427-6895

Food:     7 out of 10 Mikes

Service: 6 out of 10 Mikes

One word....Authentic!!!  Coming from a guy who was raised in Texas. that says a lot.  Taqueria is a little hole-in-the-wall Mexican food joint.  It is in an old Pizza Hut building near the corner of Lynnhaven Pkwy and Holland Rd.  It's not much to look at, but give it a try and you will be pleased.  Like any Mexican restaurant, they start you with their chips and salsa (and the salsa is great, the spice won't kill you, but it's got great flavor).  Their menu offers a large selection of good eats.  Your typical burritos, tacos, enchiladas and chimichangas are found, but then it gets fun.  The "Cancun Burrito" is my choice (large burrito stuffed with chicken, rice, beans and mushrooms topped with a white cheese sauce).  Mike Sr likes to get a soup called "7 Mares"; it's a seafood soup with every edible sea life you can thing of and then some.  They offer fajitas and various "verde" dishes (their verde sauce is one of the best around).  What I really like is that they have menu items for you if you are in that adventurous mood. Their "San Jose Specials" are four tacos of different types of meat not normally found (beef tongue, goat, beef cheek, etc..).  I was really impressed when one night we found "Menudo" on the daily specials.  So if you're in the mood for some REAL Mexican food, hit up Taqueria San Jose. You will most definitely make it a regular favorite.

Mike Jr,

Primo Pizza

Primo Pizza

Lynnhaven:
4540 Princess Anne Rd
Virginia Beach, VA 23462
757-499-0049

Dam Neck Corner / Pungo:
2277 Upton Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23454
757-340-7777 

Food:      6.5 out of 10 Mikes
Service:  6.5 out of 10 Mikes


A little gem we have just found is Primo Pizza, a place serving Sandwiches/Subs, Pizza and Italian food. They have two locations which are equally good. We have enjoyed both pizza and entrees. The chef is very creative with his offerings to the public and tries to offer new dishes daily. They have the usual fare of Italian dishes of which I have enjoyed the Veal Parmigiana on several occasions and it is always a delight. They are also accommodating with the needs of the customers, on one occasion my wife wasn't very hungry so they offered the child's portion which  suited her fine. Seafood is one of their crowning presentations always fresh and hot, it is really hard to decide what to have. They have one of the best Caesars salads in the area, the dressing is wonderful. The pizza is always hot and well proportioned, you can even observe them tossing the crust back in the kitchen which the kids love to see. Good family atmosphere, always clean and the waitstaff is very helpful. Ask about the nightly specials. Both locations get busy around dinner time, if you want to relax and enjoy the company of others try to hit it around 7:30PM or before 4:30PM. Enjoy.

Mike Sr.  

Smoked From Above BBQ

Smoked From Above BBQ
3376 Princess Anne Rd. Suite 201
Virginia Beach, VA 23453
757-499-4959

www.smokedfromabovebbq.com


Food:       6 out of 10 Mikes
Service:  4.5 out of 10 Mikes (table service is not offered)


Smoked From Above is located at Landstown Commons Shopping Center in Virginia Beach and is family owned and operated. The BBQ choices here are beef, chicken or Carolina pork - all with a pleasant smokey flavor. Both sandwiches (large and regular) and plates are offered alone or as a combo with beverage. Of the sides offered one of my favorites is the Porky Beans which is a blend of BBQ beans with pulled pork. The cole slaw is particularly tasty, course cut and creamy. Several other sides are offer including french fries. Bar B Q chicken, baby back ribs and fried Flounder are also available. Another interesting item is the BBQ Slop Trough -  BBQ layered in a cup with slaw and Porky Beans. There is a pick-up window for your food and drinks are self serve. My family and I frequent this place on a regular basis and we enjoy it immensely. It is a family friendly and very pleasant. Everyone in your family should be able to find something on their menu. BBQ by the pound is also offered to take home. The staff on hand are friendly and helpful. Interior has always been clean. Open Monday - Saturday 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM and Sunday 11:30 AM to 6:00 PM. Enjoy.

Mike Sr.    

Captain Chuck-a-Mucks

21088 MARINA RD.
RESCUE, VA 23424
(Carrollton, VA 23314 - for your GPS)
(757) 356-1005
(Call for the Captains table parties of 8 or more.)

http://www.captainchuck-a-mucks.com/

Food:     9 out of 10 Mikes
Service: 9 out of 10 Mikes

What more can I say except WOW! Guy Fieri (Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives) had it right. This was our second visit to Chuck-a-Muck's (1st was my birthday, thanks Mike Jr.) and it was as good as the first. My family joined us on this visit and we tried almost everything on the menu and it was all good. We started with cups of the famous unisex crab soup, which I highly recommend and calamari - very crisp and cooked just right. My brother, daughter and son in law and I had the Captain’s Fried Seafood Feast which included: a Crab cake, deviled crab, shrimp, scallops, oysters, and Mahi-Mahi all fried with a very light breading and cooked to perfection accompanied with two sides - I choose cole slaw and succotash. It was an ample portion for two people (My brother and I  took home doggy bags for lunch the next day). Mike Jr had soft-shelled crabs and scallops which were large and very tasty. My wife and my mother had lump crab cakes which had just enough filler to hold them together, I would say about 95% lump crab meat. Even my 6 year-old grandson had shrimp and oysters which he really enjoyed. Most items are available as a meal with two sides and hush puppies or a boat - a lunch portion served as a sandwich with cole slaw and fries. The boat will satisfy the average appetite. We ended out meal with peach cobblers and ice cream and my daughter had Real Key-lime pie (very good) and Mike Jr had the peanut butter pie which was very rich. All of the food was very fresh (mostly caught locally) and well prepared.  We all went away very satisfied and looking forward to our next visit. The seating is benches at tables covered with white paper, seating is also available on the deck overlooking the marina. Waitstaff was very helpful and friendly, and the owner generally makes the rounds checking on everyone and takes time to visit with his guest.  Gratuity is added to parties of 8 or more. It is about an 45 minutes to an hour away from Tidewater, but it is well worth the drive. Directions are on the web site. Enjoy.

Mike Sr,

Loretta's Place Hot Dogs and More

Loretta's Place Hot Dogs and More
237 Battlefield Blvd S
Chesapeake, VA 23322-5231
phone: (757) 482-7447

http://www.lorettasplace.com/

Food:      7 out of 10 Mikes
Service:  6 out of 10 Mikes

Well this was our first request to try out, and I can say well done.  Loretta's is a little place out in Great Bridge on south battlefield that has a hot dog and a chili sauce that is a great pairing.  You walk in and get the feeling that they have been at this a while, nice and clean dinning area with a counter and tables.  Staff was friendly and attentive.  I chose the foot long hot dog with chili, a cheese burger and chili fries.  Mike Sr also had a foot long with chili, onion rings and a chocolate milkshake.  They were grill-top dogs with nice flavor (and a foot long was a nice surprise in this area), the chili was filled with flavor (was more of a drier sauce as opposed to the messy runny type that usually masked the flavor of the hot dog, which I really enjoyed).  Now the Cheese Burger.........wow!!  It is fresh ground and cooked just right.......juicy, fresh and leaves you wanting another.  The onion rings were sweet and nicely cooked and the fries were cooked the same.  The milkshake was hand scooped and thick, as they should be.  They also offer Boar's Head Deli meat sandwiches.  All in all this was a pleasant experience, we will be going back and getting another cheese burger (maybe with some chili on it), and sample other items from the menu.  Go by and check it out and tell them "Mike & Mike" sent you....

Mike Jr.

Iggles: a Cheesesteak and Burger Joint

Iggles: a Cheesesteak and Burger Joint
2676 Virginia Beach Blvd
Virginia Beach, VA
Call Ahead:   340-0317

http://www.igglescheesesteaks.com/


Food:      6 out of 10 Mikes
Service:  5 out of 10 Mikes


For years I longed for a place in Virginia Beach that served a good authentic cheesesteak. Well it is here across from RK Chevrolet on Virginia Beach Blvd. The menu is extensive and caters to all taste in Phillys and burgers, also served as a salad upon request. You must try the Peanut Butter Cheeseburger, a truly unique experience (Mike Jr. loves them). My favorite is the mushroom cheesesteak hoagie with grilled onions, mayo, hot peppers and white American cheese. My son Mike Jr. usually orders the Chicken mushroom cheesesteak with grilled onions, extra white cheese and mayo. They are served with yellow american, white american, provolone or swiss cheese upon request. They opened a section to enjoy your meal on site or you can call in and pick-up to go. Either way I do believe that it is one of the best cheesesteak places in Tidewater. The staff is very pleasant and there to fix it anyway you like. They take credit and cash. Open Monday - Saturday 11AM to 9PM.

As a footnote these are also the owners of Philly Style Cheese Steaks and Subs on Tidewater Drive, serving Norfolk, VA. since 1983.

Mike Sr. 

Route 58 Delicatessen

Route 58 Delicatessen    

4000 Virginia Beach Boulevard, Suite 156
Virginia Beach, VA 23452

phone: (757) 227-5868

http://www.route58deli.com/

Food :          9 out of 10 MIKES

Service:    8.5 out of 10 MIKES

Ok so with this one I may be a little biased, this is one of my favorite spots in the area.  From the first visit, this place was a 10 plus.  From the "Super Reuben" to "Oscars Garbage Bowl" (Hot Roast Beef and grilled onions on a mound of crinkle cut fries, smothered in brown gravy), the Chicken Cordon Blue Sandwich to the "Dumbrowski" (two hot dogs, fries and a drink), everything is top notch. True New York sized sandwiches, 58 says "If you finish -We may a mistake!"  The sandwiches are huge and may seem pricey but trust me your getting at least two meals out of them, its worth it.  They have your classic deli fair, Knishes, Matzo ball soup, Egg Creams, etc....  But they have their own special creations too, "The Triple D" (roast beef, turkey, corned beef, cole slaw and Russian dressing on rye) and the "Mighty Reuben Burger" (basically a Reuben sandwich on a Jumbo Burger).  The waitstaff is always helpful and the owner Jeff makes his rounds checking on you too.  They even serve Breakfast and the portions or just as big.  Their desserts are a stellar too, cheesecakes from the actual "Carnegie Deli" in New York.  And they have their own homemade desserts too.  (Here is a tip, order your dessert to go and its a dollar cheaper and since you will have no more room in your belly, its a win win.)  When you become a regular customer, you become like family (you might even get your picture on the back wall, see if you can find me and my dad.....).  I have taken many people there and it is always a home run.  They also have a large private room in the back that you can reserve called "The Kibitz Room". Its great for a Family get together.  So if you can't tell, I love this place and look forward to "Noshing" there again soon.

Mike Jr.

I just had to add: One of my favorites is their bowl of chili, loads of chunky meat and beans swimming in a delicious tomato based broth. Try it with a couple of dogs and a creamy red birch beer. You will not leave hungry. I agree with everything my son has said, it is one of our favorite places. They also have a great char grilled skirt steak, either as a sandwich or a platter.

Mike Sr.

Doug's Hot Dogs

Doug's Hot Dogs
9643 Granby St
Norfolk, VA 23503

phone: (757) 587-0370

Food :        5 out of 10 MIKES
Service:    5 out of 10 MIKES


For some time I had heard about this little hot dog joint in Ocean View, just never was in the area to try and find it.

Stumbled upon it while surfing the web and said "Why not?"  My Dad and I jumped in the car and went on a mission to locate it.  Tucked away at the end of Granby Street (down across from  where Ocean View amusement park was located, my Dad happily pointed out), we found what we were looking for.  As you walk in, you automatically get the feeling this is a local favorite.  They have a general hot dog shop menu (chili dogs, italian sausage, BBQ and soups). We both had chili dogs, Dad got a bowl of Chili and I had the bean soup.  Dogs were good (Chili sauce had good flavor), Dads bowl of Chili was decent and so was my bean soup (be great on a winter day).  Prices were very reasonable.  All in all the experience was good, will go back if I'm in the area.  Now I can say "I've been to Dougs."  Don't pass this place up if you happen to be down that way.

Mike Jr.

The German Pantry

The German Pantry
5329 E Virginia Beach Blvd
Norfolk, VA 23502
phone: (757)461-5100

http://www.thegermanpantry.com/
Food :       6.5 out of 10 MIKES
Service:    7 out of 10 MIKES


Saturday night (09/18/10) we visited the German Pantry in Norfolk, Virginia. It is a little place that serves a nice assortment of German food (sandwiches and entrees) and a long list of International beers, both bottled and draft. Very friendly interior decorated in a realistic German fashion with adequate seating and it is family friendly.

We started with the Sausage Bites as an appetizer, an assortment of sausages cut into bite sized pieces and served with mustard and some pretzel rolls, which gives you a sample of the diverse taste choice of the fair available. For our entrée's we decided to both try the Jaegerschnitzel, a choice of a boneless pork or veal cutlet; breaded and fried and served with mushroom gravy. I chose the veal along with German mashed potatoes and red cabbage, Mike Jr chose the sauerkraut and the spaetzle egg noodles as his two sides, it also came with a house salad with oil and vinegar. The veal was very tasty (except for the fact that mine was a little fatty, but Mike Jr's was not) and was prepared very well. The sides were prepared very well and had great flavor. Dinner was followed up with Black Forest Cake which crowned the meal with unbelievable flavor, dark chocolate cake with marinated dark cherries and a whipped crème frosting with chocolate shavings. The portion was plenty for two people, so it was shared with my son. The dessert menu had two other choices including a daily featured item (ask your waitress).  Our waitress was new, so she had to ask for answers to our questions, but otherwise was very pleasant. Others in the restaurant were very helpful and friendly. The owner introduced himself and was very willing to offer assistance and suggestions. The food was very good and I will be back with friends.

Mike Sr. 

Intro to "Two Mikes and a Menu" Blog

My love of food started with a foot long hot dog from Anne Lee's on Granby and 32 street in Norfolk, Virginia. Through the years I have shared an cultivated this love of good food with my son. Now join me, Mike Sr and my son, Mike Jr on our food adventure in Tidewater. We will visit different eating establishments of all kinds and flavors and share our thoughts and favorites. If you want to share your neighborhood favorites with us and Tidewater, please send it to us and we will try it out and rate it from 1 to 10 on our “Mike” scale and place it out there on our blog. So stay tuned and join us on our gastronomic adventure in all of Tidewater Virginia as we start “Two Mikes and a Menu”. 

Mike Sr 

Send recommendations to: twomikesandamenu@gmail.com