Category: Norfolk Reviews

If you’re in the mood for steak and want to dine in class, Byrd & Baldwin Brothers Steakhouse in Downtown Norfolk is for you!

Dark woods, original paintings and other quality furnishings abound at Byrd & Baldwin Bros., who have obviously invested some money into the decor. Clearly the restaurant is aimed squarly at the Daddy Warbucks’ of the world though the price of the food isn’t excessive, considering what you’ll receive.

Certainly a great steak can be had here, but there are also seafood and vegetarian options as well as a number of poultry dishes. I was impressed with the selection and the quality of the non-steak items. So many steakhouses focus to much energy on their steaks and not enough on everything else.

Service here is excellent, if a bit autocratic and conceited. I got the distinct feeling that I was being talked down to once or twice, but it wasn’t that serious and as the evening went on the waiters mood changed and some much needed levity was brought to the service.

The only serious complaints I have about Byrd & Baldwin are relatively minor. The table we had was closet to the door, which meant that anytime anyone came or left the was a serious draft. It also meant that the we were near the extremely loud waterfall which made hearing our conversation difficult. The noise level in the relatively confined restaurant is high even without the waterfall. There were several occasions when we simply couldn’t hear the waiter at all. The tables are also just a touch to small for all of the items they are set with.

Other than those small issues dining at Byrd & Baldwin is a wonderful experience. Make sure to call for resevations and give them a try next time you’re in the mood for a steak!

I never even knew Byrd & Baldwin Bros. Steakhouse existed. I was sure missing out these past few years. Located in downtown Norfolk in a stone building with columns guarding the entranceway, you can’t help but feel somewhat grand as you make your way up the stairs. A waterfall sliding down glass is positioned in the front center of the steakhouse.

Reservations are a must as they stayed quite busy throughout the evening. Unfortunately even with reservations, we some how managed to get the worst seat in the house for winter. Every time the main door opened I felt a chilling wave of air. Aside from that, the restaurant was classy with nice wood floors and beautiful artwork hung throughout. The restrooms were modern and had all the extras.

Even though our table location wasn’t top notch, the food was. The flavors were clean, simple and elegant. My prosciutto and mozzarella appetizer was plated nicely and tasted delightful. For the main course I ordered the largest steak on the menu. A steak at Byrd & Baldwin Bros. is steak at its finest—an excellent cut, juicy and lightly seasoned. A perfect meal was complimented by prompt, cordial service. It was a memorable evening and I can’t wait to return.

Arguably the finest restaurant in Norfolk (or Hampton Roads for that matter), Todd Jurich’s Bistro never fails to deliver all of the key ingredients.

There are many different classes of eatery in our region, but few on the level of Todd Jurich’s. Over the years I have visited the restaurant perhaps a dozen times and I can’t think of a single time that I’ve been disappointed. The food is always well prepared and presented and the service is well above average. You can count on each course to be unique and flavorful while never forgetting the basics. Jurich’s menu is diverse yet simple. There are no dishes that you’ve never heard of before. They simply take something routine and do it perfectly, or add a little something extra to make it special.

Service is top-notch here as well. The staff is well trained and really seem to enjoy their work. Questions are almost always answered table side without the need to consult a higher power. They know the menus and have personally tasted almost everything.

An establishment on the level of Todd Jurich’s Bistro is difficult to review. I find myself thinking that it is unfair to compare it to previous locations because most of them simply aren’t in the same league, and so I have to nit-pick. The minor quibbles I have are just that, minor. The restrooms, while clean and modern could you use some updating. The glass plates used for some of the dishes could be replaced as well – they just look dated. It would also be nice to have the crumbs swept from the table between courses, which I only expect when dining at places like Jurich’s.

Those issues aside, Todd Jurich’s Bistro is easily one of the best restaurants in the area. You won’t find a better combination or food, service and atmosphere anywhere else.

Todd Jurich’s Bistro is a fine restaurant on many levels. The service is timely, friendly and professional, and I got the sense that the employees really enjoy working there. There was also a nice menu selection. We received a taste from the chef at the beginning of our evening, which was a nice start. The menu had one downfall. It was not specified that my shrimp appetizer was fried, and I don’t particularly care for fried shrimp.

I was impressed with my main course; it was beautifully presented. I love veal when it is prepared correctly. Often times it is over cooked, but that was not the case at Todd Jurich’s. It was moist and tender. The two tender pieces of veal were coiled around asparagus that had just a tiny crunch to it. The asparagus and veal were lightly placed on top of mashed sweet potatoes. It was a perfect main course. I also really liked the fact that the veal, asparagus and sweet potatoes could easily be separated for a diner such as myself, who prefers to eat each piece separately. Moving onto desert, I had the cheese sampler, and it was delicious. The cheese was complimented by a taste of preserves and dried fruit.

The atmosphere at Todd Jurich’s is classy, cozy, and modern. It made us want to stick around for a little while longer after desert and sip tea. The atmosphere for the most mart is consistent throughout the restaurant. The bathrooms could be a tad bit cozier, but the earth toned sinks help balance it out.

Over all my dining experience was exceptional, and I would definitely recommend Todd Jurich’s Bistro for business or pleasure.

Anyone who has been dining in Hampton Roads for more than a few years has heard of Vintage Kitchen. It has long been a favorite of the foodie elite and is seen by many as one of the premier resturaunts in the region. I think some attention needs to be paid to the details before I’ll be paying it another visit.

This is a hard review to write because I really want to rave about Vintage Kitchen. It’s a very well decorated and furnished establishment that feels both warm and sophisticated. Fresh flowers adorn each table and the architecture is sharp and modern. The pricing blew us away, but in a good way – we never expected such a place to be so affordable.

Everything is great until you get to what should be the primary focus of any resturant – service and food. While the service is excellent in terms of attention paid to the customer, it is very slow. Food comes out at a snails pace, as do drinks and bread. Though this could be attributed to an “off night”, we think you should go to Vintage Kitchen expecting to be there for at least two hours. We were there for over two hours and didn’t even get to dessert. But the real let down was the food. Accross the board things were pretty ho-hum. Surprisingly, one of the best parts of the meal was the bread which consisted of small rolls lightly sprinkled with salt and the glazed carrots that were served with the entree. Nothing served was inedible, but other than the aforementioned highlights the meal garnered a resounding “meh”. I guess I expected more.

Vintage Kitchen was so close to being great. I really want to give them another try in the future. Though I didn’t feel like I was there on a “bad day”, I do feel like they could’ve done better. Even at their best, I don’t think Vintage Kitchen can compete with some of the other more well rounded restaurants in the region.

 

This is a spot Charlie and I have attempted to dine at several times. Due to their peculiar hours, it’s taken us about 4 tries before we finally dropped in on an evening they were open. Once we set foot inside “Vintage Kitchen”, I immediately fell in love with the design of the place. There are large windows across the back of the restaurant that overlook a beautiful view of the water. With such a beautiful view, the atmosphere was appropriately kept simple, clean, and modern.

We were seated in the front section of the restaurant, which was quiet and not nearly as busy as the back section. Unfortunately, from the start, we could tell they were very much understaffed. The owner waited on us. He may have had more success waiting on the tables in a timely manner if he would have refrained from explaining every single item on the menu in great detail. It was quite annoying. Even when our group was clearly having a conversation, he proceeded to explain in depth the history and technique behind the dish just brought to the table.

Not even the chatterly owner could keep me from enjoying the bread brought before the meal—warm, soft in the center, and slightly salty on top. What an amazing combination! It also went extremely well with my homemade tomato soup, made with yellow tomatoes. After having such an excellent appetizer, I looked forward to the rest of my meal.

I was dissatisfied with my main course for the most part. My fish was dry and there wasn’t enough sauce on the fish. However, the macadamian nuts sprinkled over the fish added a nice touch. The potatoes were well seasoned; the vegetables had flavor and crunch to my liking. I feel that the dish could have been very successful, had it been properly prepared.

We didn’t stay for desert because the service was so incredibly slow. We’ll probably give “Vintage Kitchen” another try once they’ve had time to work out all the quirks.

Contact Information for Vintage Kitchen:
Vintage Kitchen
999 Waterside Dr.
Norfolk, Virginia 23510
757-625-3370
http://www.vintage-kitchen.com

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/

456 Fish is surrounded by competition, but it sets itself apart by offering diners a combination of good service and classy decor, not to mention an interesting assortment of items on the menu. If you’re in the mood for seafood 456 Fish is worth checking out.

Seafood restaurants are a dime a dozen in Hampton Roads, so one requires more than just good food to set itself apart. The interior of 456 Fish is comprised of many post World War II era black and white photos mounted on their warmth creating dark wooden walls. The ceiling is high and the bar separated by large glass panes with water flowing down them. This combination results in a quite and aesthetically pleasing dining environment for pretty much every seat in the house. The artificial plants could use a cleaning however, or better yet to be replaced by real plants.

Service is always above average, from the greeting on the way in to the hostess asking how your meal was on your way out. It’s nice when people care about their customers. The wait staff is knowledgeable and friendly.

Though most of the food I’ve had at 456 Fish has been excellent, there have been a few instances of items being overcooked. This hasn’t happened often, but 456 Fish will not wow the most educated palettes. It should also be noted that if you or a friend isn’t in the mood for seafood your options will be fairly limited.

My expectations of 456 Fish were very high thanks to Charlie. He had raved about how great this place was. Unfortunately, 456 Fish did not quite meet my high expectations. The atmosphere was very pleasant—A very clean classic type of atmosphere with a dark wood furniture and black accents. There was also a piece of glass with a waterfall running down the side dividing the bar area from the dining area.

The bathrooms were clean. There were cloth towels to dry your hands, scope for fresh breath, and lotion for dry hands.

I started the evening off with a martini, and it was excellent. I chose one off of their specialty list. The appetizer was equally excellent and presented beautifully. It had the perfect combination of flavors and textures. The main course, however, was tasty but not excellent. The flavors didn’t make me want to finish it all. We decided to pass on desert.

The service was great, and the timing between drinks, appetizers, and the final course was great as well. I’d go back for martinis and appetizers, but not for a full course meal.

Contact Information for 456 Fish:
456 Fish
456 Granby Street
Norfolk, Virginia 23510
757-625-4444
http://www.456fish.com/