The first bite felt like that moment when I found out that Santa, the Easter Bunny and Kim Kardashians marriage to Kris Humphries wasn’t real.
It was disappointing, the skin was peeling off, and it was missing pickles. The meat was soft, so I did not get the crunch that I was prepared for after watching reviews online. What saved it was the flavor of the bun, the seasoning and texture of the chicken.
I have a secret for you, and whether you want to believe it or not is on you. Spoiler Alert: Chesapeake has great food.
Conveniently located in front of Lynnhaven Mall in Virginia Beach, Coopers Hawk consists of a restaurant, artisan market, bar, and Napa style tasting area. Prior to them opening to the public, I was invited to partake in a meal that could best be described as a culinary mouth party orchestrated by Master Sommelier Emily Wines and Executive Kitchen Manager Edmund Vogel.
If you're looking for a home-style, no frills but all the flavors breakfast (and don't want to wait in a long line for it), try out Stacked Eatery.
Located in Greenbrier, they are in a central location only 15 minutes from Downtown Norfolk and Virginia Beach Town Center, and most recently won The Virginian Pilots Taste Test for best Pancakes.
I had the pleasure of meeting someone who got me out of my food shell and exploring other cuisines. She recently moved to Japan, but before her departure we tried a few places that she recommended and that are highly rated in the area. The first was Norfolk Garden, a Korean Restaurant in the Military Circle area of Norfolk.
The last time I had a cheesesteak was in Philadelphia when an area native took me to her favorite spot and she said it was one of the best. An edible masterpiece came out on toasted bread filled with tender meat, peppers, onions, and provolone cheese. I have been searching to find a place in Hampton Roads that was serving anything that halfway resembled what I had in Philly. But the day came when I was scrolling through Instagram and saw The Grill at Great Bridge
I love hangover burgers. Often called a breakfast burger, its comes with bacon, cheese, and an egg. I judge a restaurant based on their ability to make a good one, because the quality and preparation of the ingredients make a big difference in the overall taste. So with recommendations from the inter-webs, I went on a search to find the best in Hampton Roads and share them with you.
To be fair and consistent I order them the same way: the burger cooked medium, lettuce tomato and onion (LTO), and a side of fries. I'm calling this, the Battle of the Best Hangover Burger.
After years of vacancy, another few years of waiting for construction to finish, and the increased anticipation of what businesses would occupy the space, Norfolk's Waterside District is officially open. Growing up in this area, I remember the "old waterside", a place filled with specialty shops, restaurants, and activities for people of all ages. I was hoping that the new Waterside would offer a little taste of the past, some local favorites, and bring in things that the area hadn't seen before.
