Still Worldly Eclectic Tapas - Virginia Vittles

An eatery in Portsmouth with true sex appeal, Still brings more to the table that just good looks…

It’s rare that a restaurant gets so many things right without falling on their face. Still manages to pull off good service, tasty and interesting food served in a contemporary and unique dining room.

Entering Still feels like a time warp back to the 1950s, when people cared about how the bar looked and furniture mattered. There is a cozy fireplace in the middle of the room and plenty of comfortable seating. Everything is well appointed, clean and warm.

Although I’m not a huge fan of the tapas movement – I think serving a bunch of small dishes really breaks up the flow of a traditional meal – I have been pleased with everything I’ve sampled. The food is always fresh, hot (and/or spicy, should you choose) and in some cases refreshingly experimental.

Service is good, though not exceptional. There has never been a host when I’ve been, just a bartender or waitress to help you find a table. At times it seems as though they are either under staffed or perhaps under trained. A bit more personal attention wouldn’t hurt, especially considering the pricing. This is one of those restaurants where the staff knows a lot more about the wine and beer selection than anything else, and even though it’s named “Still”, that doesn’t mean they should focus so heavily on that single aspect of the experience.

My only complaint about the seating is that they usually seat you in the back of the restaurant – I’m not sure why – and that means you look right into the kitchen. As you may know, I’m not a fan of this.

Still is one of the top five places to eat in Portsmouth, easily and one of the top 20 in all of Hampton Roads. Nuff said.