Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Norfolk area by diners
Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Norfolk area by diners
Fine dining in the United States isn't what it used to be. Many customers are no longer interested in classic white tablecloths and 16-ounce New York strips; these days, it's all about cutting-edge culinary experiences.
Although steakhouses have defined fine dining in America since the 19th century, that started to change in the mid-1990s. Elite chefs like Thomas Keller and his three-Michelin-starred restaurant, French Laundry, unearthed a whole different kind of tasting experience (with 40 courses), and a new age of fine dining was born. Soon, prix fixe meals—a French style of serving with a set menu—became the norm for fine dining in the U.S.
Between the rise of chefs' tasting menus and consumers' continued desire to have diverse culinary experiences, the restaurants that grace the pages of top-tier restaurant reviewers like Zagat or the Michelin Guide look very different today than they did 30 years ago. Restaurant goers aren't just looking for high-quality food. They want the type of menu that will tell a story. They want creative ingredients they've never tried before. They want to be transported into a whole new world.
With so many innovative menus and restaurant experiences popping up across America, it can be challenging to choose where to go for a special evening. Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Norfolk area using data from Yelp. Businesses were selected using Yelp's ranking system, which calculates an adjusted rating value that takes into account the number of ratings as well as the rating score itself.
Only businesses with at least five reviews and at least level 2 pricing (i.e., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of June 25, 2025.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#30. Byrd & Baldwin Bros Steakhouse
- Rating: 4.1/5 (422 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 116 Brooke Ave. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Steakhouses, Seafood, Venues & Event Spaces
- Read more on Yelp
#29. The Dirty Buffalo
- Rating: 4.1/5 (849 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4012 Colley Ave. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Chicken Wings, Sandwiches, Hot Dogs
- Read more on Yelp
#28. Neat Bird
- Rating: 4.1/5 (234 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 565 Belaire Ave. Chesapeake, Virginia
- Categories: Chicken Shop, Cocktail Bars, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#27. Steinhilber's Restaurant
- Rating: 4.1/5 (902 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 653 Thalia Road Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Categories: Seafood, Steakhouses, American
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Mannino's Italian Bistro
- Rating: 4.2/5 (384 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4402 Princess Anne Road Ste 107 Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Monastery Restaurant
- Rating: 4.2/5 (179 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 443 Granby St. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Modern European
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Omar's Carriage House
- Rating: 4.2/5 (230 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 313 West Bute St. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Shaking Crab
- Rating: 4.2/5 (871 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1255 Fordham Drive Ste 120 Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Categories: Cajun/Creole, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Brick House Diner
- Rating: 4.3/5 (178 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 941 Providence Square Shopping Center Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Categories: Seafood, Breakfast & Brunch, American
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Jack Brown's Beer & Burger Joint - Norfolk
- Rating: 4.3/5 (716 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 131 Granby St. Ste 1 Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Burgers, American, Beer Bar
- Read more on Yelp
#20. New River Taphouse
- Rating: 4.3/5 (570 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1716 Pleasure House Road Ste 101 Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Categories: Pizza, American, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Cutlass Grille
- Rating: 4.3/5 (808 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 725 Eden Way North Chesapeake, Virginia
- Categories: Caribbean, Barbecue, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Press 626 wine bar
- Rating: 4.4/5 (513 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 626 West Olney Road Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Wine Bars, New American, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Mangia Qui Italian Bistro
- Rating: 4.4/5 (185 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 550 Independence Blvd. Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#16. The Grilled Cheese Bistro
- Rating: 4.4/5 (1378 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 345 Granby St. Ste B Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Sandwiches, American, Sports Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Five Boroughs Restaurant
- Rating: 4.4/5 (340 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 814 High St. Portsmouth, Virginia
- Categories: Pizza, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Luce Secondo
- Rating: 4.4/5 (278 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1500 Belaire Ave. Chesapeake, Virginia
- Categories: Italian, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#13. 1608 Crafthouse
- Rating: 4.4/5 (732 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1608 Pleasure House Road Ste 103 Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Categories: Gastropubs, Breakfast & Brunch, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Mr. Shawarma
- Rating: 4.5/5 (714 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 725 West 21st St. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Middle Eastern, Falafel, Vegan
- Read more on Yelp
#11. My Mama's Kitchen
- Rating: 4.5/5 (515 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1872 East Little Creek Road Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Barbecue, Chicken Wings, American
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Tamarind
- Rating: 4.5/5 (306 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 415 North Military Hwy Ste 27 Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Indian
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Luce
- Rating: 4.5/5 (554 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 245 Granby St. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Coach House Bar & Grill
- Rating: 4.6/5 (101 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5103 Colley Ave. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp
#7. High Street Pizza & Pour House
- Rating: 4.6/5 (209 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 501 High St. Portsmouth, Virginia
- Categories: Pizza, Wine Bars, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#6. LeGrand Kitchen
- Rating: 4.6/5 (298 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4226 Granby St. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: New American, Diners, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Gourmet Burger Bistro
- Rating: 4.6/5 (479 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1915 Victory Blvd. Portsmouth, Virginia
- Categories: New American, Burgers, Diners
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Nice Thai Cuisine
- Rating: 4.7/5 (108 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1937 South Military Hwy Ste 4422 Chesapeake, Virginia
- Categories: Thai, Salad, Noodles
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Blanca
- Rating: 4.7/5 (203 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 4117 Granby St. Ste A Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Wine Bars, Modern European, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Mazari Kebab and More
- Rating: 4.7/5 (723 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 676 North Witchduck Road Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Categories: Afghan, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Maymar Poke & Grill
- Rating: 4.8/5 (177 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 130 Maple Ave. Ste A Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Poke, Filipino
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 319 metros.
