Dining at Bobbywood is a warm and pleasant experience. I felt like I was being taken care of at every step of the process. Even the finest establishments are not usually able to give their customers that “warm fuzzy feeling”, but at this Bobbywood excels.
Although the dining area is small by todays standards, that doesn’t mean that you will feel cramped. The noise level is managed in part with the diffusing of sounds by the various wall decor and window treatments, which are visually appealing as well. The restaurant is seperated into two halves, one being the main dining area and the other a bar with casual dining. Each has a modern feel that doesn’t come across as pretentious. Seating is comfortable and spaced properly.
The excellent service begins and ends at the door where you are greeted warmly and seated. I would recommend making reservations due to the small size and growing popularity of the restaraunt. Once seated you are led through the various options at a casual yet professional pace, with a seperate waitress for bread and water and the hostess even lending a hand at times. You get the feeling that you are part of a family here. Bobby Huber, the owner, must be a great boss because everyone here seemed in high spirits and eager to please. It’s unfortunate but true that this isn’t always the case in the high stress environment of fine dining, and the warmth found inside makes Bobbywood even more enjoyable.
So how about the food? Overall it was above average. Presentation is better than most in the area, with plates arriving both attractively and in a timely manner. My appetizer and desert were both excellent, however my main course – in this case a pork chop – was dry and a bit too salty for my taste. The accompanying sides were very tasty, but the entree should always be the star of the show and not the most forgettable course. Deserts at Bobbywood are another pleasant surprise, being varied and of high quality. It’s unfortunate that the entree didn’t live up to the rest of the meal, because if it had the combination of great service and affordable pricing would have landed Bobbywood a chance at a perfect score.
Bobbywood is a sleek, cool, and fun place to dine. The decor is modern and simple. The owner definitely made the most of a small space with the wise use of seating placement and lighting. When we walked in we were greeted by a pleasant face. The restaurant was busy, but not packed. As I made my way to the restroom to wash my hands, I was impressed with how clean and comfortable the lady’s room was.
A full selection of alcoholic beverages are served at Bobbywood. I took advantage of their nice wine list as well as their “cork and carry” policy. After our drinks arrived, a lady with a very large basket of bread came to our table to ask which type of bread we would like—garlic, French, or raisin-pecan. We had a choice of 3 different spreads for our bread as well. It was a nice surprise to have so many choices.
I sampled a couple of appetizers, all of which were delicious, well seasoned, and beautifully displayed.
The main course did not live up to the expectations set forth by the appetizers. The sides were tasty, but the meat was dry. That left room for desert, which was amazing—a palm sized circular chocolate cake filled with warm melting chocolate, served with a side of lavender ice cream. I sampled some other deserts at the table as well, and they were equally as satisfying to my sweet tooth.
Since the desert and appetizers hit the A-list on my taste buds, I’m forced to believe that maybe the not so tasty meat was just a one time thing. I shall return!
Contact Information for Bobbywood:
Bobbywood
435 Monticello Ave.
Norfolk, Virginia 23510
757-961-5417
http://www.eatbobbywood.com/
