Perched on the shores of Chesapeake Bay just across the way from Chesapeake, you’ll find the charming and historical city of Norfolk, VA. This lovely water-town is known for its vibrant downtown, beautiful botanical gardens, and most notably, Naval Station Norfolk – the largest naval base in the world. The city has a lot to offer including a thriving arts scene as well as excellent maritime museums and memorials. Being so close to the water, seafood is always on the menu and seafood restaurants are abundant!
1. Hook & Reel Cajun Seafood
For a raucous good time, head down to the Hook & Reel, where they serve up Cajun-inspired seafood dishes in a lively and welcoming atmosphere. The food here is delicious and the portion sizes will make you wish you had worn sweatpants! It’s a great place for a seafood boil where you choose your spice level as well as your own sauce. The service is amazing, and this is a wonderful place to come with a group.
2. Boil Bay Seafood City
Boil Bay leaves little to be desired when it comes to getting your seafood fix! The restaurant has great décor to set the stage for a fantastic meal. The food does not disappoint with its succulent snow crab, delicious crawfish, tasty shrimp, and savory black mussels. The trip wouldn’t be complete without sampling their outstanding hush puppies so be sure to put it on your list. Their servers are friendly and attentive and make you feel at home.
3. Sunset Grill
The Sunset Grill serves up some lip-smacking delights that include their signature fish n’ chips, perfectly fried oysters, scrumptious coconut shrimp, and to-die-for softshell crab. All of the seafood is excellent here, but this place has another trick up its sleeve: the amazing desserts! The white chocolate ganache pie comes highly recommended but there’s a nice variety to sample, which should provide motivation to come back again and again. This place is a true jewel of Norfolk.
4. A W Shucks Raw Bar & Grill
Everything at Shucks Raw Bar screams fresh. They source all of their ingredients locally, including the ocean-fresh oysters from their incredible raw bar. They take ingredients seriously here and the flavor shines through brightly in every dish. You can count on every item on the menu being made by hand, including the fresh-cut fries and the hearty burgers. There’s also a great selection of craft beer on tap. Just remember not to drink and drive.
5. Shaking Crab
No trip to the Norfolk area would be complete without a stop at the Shaking Crab. The snow king crab legs are the star of the show here and people drive from near and far for a taste of the rich, butter-soaked goodness. The spicy seafood boil is another winner and great to enjoy with a group of people! The staff here is friendly and knowledgeable so there’s no need to be intimidated if you’re a land lover.
Now that you’ve got a list to work with, start making your plans today to visit each one. Who knows – you might just find a new favorite spot!
Image via pixabay.com | Licensed under Pixabay License
Connect with us
