Gateaux Bakery & Café
Located along Pleasure House Road, Gateaux Bakery & Café is a French-influenced gourmet bakery that crafts one of a kind pastries that you won’t find anywhere else in Virginia. With a menu that has all kinds of sweet indulgences, you can choose from a flavorful selection of French pastries, pies, macarons, cakes, cookies and even sandwiches. JoAnne, Gateaux’s lovable owner, is often called ‘Gateaux’s mad scientist baker’ thanks to her tireless yet tasty experimentation with unique flavors and interesting techniques.
Address and telephone number: 1642 Pleasure House Rd., Virginia Beach, VA 23455 +1 (757) 271-9220
La Herradura
If you’re craving the satisfying crunch of tortilla chips, the aroma of spicy queso, or the tang of fresh salsa, you owe it to yourself to visit La Herradura. Served in the authentic Mexican style of small plates with big flavor, La Herradura has been family-owned and operated since it opened a few years ago. The wait staff make a genuine effort to get to know you, so they can recommend the best dishes to suit your palate. Whether you want to sit outdoors and chow down on quesadillas filled with grilled veggies, or you want to sit inside and watch the chef prepare your chicken fajitas, La Herradura promises to deliver.
Address and telephone number: 4801 Shore Dr., Virginia Beach, VA 23455 +1 (757) 318-7693
Jenna’s Café
A small mom and pop venue focused on serving Mediterranean cuisine with a twist, Jenna’s Café is not to be missed. It’s one of Bayside’s staples: a tiny, friendly restaurant where you can get your Greek fix with the Gyro platter and stuffed grape leaves that are made with fresh, local ingredients from nearby farms. Though they aren’t vocal about their farm to fork beliefs, you can taste it in their food, which is spicy, aromatic, and reasonably priced.
Address and telephone number: 2104 Pleasure House Rd # 1 Virginia Beach, VA 23455 +1 (757) 460-0973
Waffletown USA
If you’re the kind of person who can eat breakfast food for any meal, Waffletown USA was made for you. It’s no surprise that the menu here is filled with the classic breakfast treats, but what you may not know is that you can get some more unusual breakfast items here as well. Try the pecan waffle, made with toasted pecans and whipped butter, or the fruited French toast, made with hot spiced apples and topped with whipped cream. The indulgent menu is available as early as six in the morning, so you can get a head start on your day.
Address and telephone number: 2113 Pleasure House Rd., Virginia Beach, VA 23455 +1 (757) 460-2460
The Leaping Lizard Café
The Leaping Lizard Café is situated along the busy Shore Drive, Bayside’s entryway to the rest of Virginia Beach. Despite this, The Leaping Lizard manages to maintain a secluded, peaceful and relatively quiet atmosphere. It doubles as a gift shop, where you can get unique souvenirs of the tourist hotspot that are a cut above your average key chains and magnets. Come here for the gourmet sandwiches and soups, the casual atmosphere, and the amazing brunch deals on Saturdays and Sundays.
Address and telephone number: 4408 Shore Dr., Virginia Beach, VA 23455 +1 (757) 460-5327
Asahi
Asahi is a family-style restaurant focused on serving authentic Korean cuisine that marries the sweet with the savory. Reviewers from all corners of the country have named it the best Korean food in Virginia, so you know it’s good. From the moment you walk in you’re greeted with warm, genuine smiles and seated at a table of your choosing, after which you order a hot tea to begin the meal. Try the Barley Tea, which is popular in Korean cuisine for its cooling and digestive properties. From there on out, it’s a flavor-filled roller coaster of alternating sweetness and spice.
Address and telephone number: 1628 Independence Blvd, 1528 Virginia Beach, VA 23455 +1 (757) 318-4111
Brass Bell Steakhouse
Brass Bell Steakhouse is a haven for lovers of steak and all things meat, but you may not know that it’s also a popular place to get strong-bodied brews and even stronger cocktails. Challenge your friends to a game of pool or a round of karaoke while chowing down on tender sirloin and sipping some frosty beers. It’s the perfect place to hang out with a huge crowd, which is why it’s the preferred gathering spot of Virginia’s young adults looking for somewhere to cool down after a sweltering day at Virginia Beach.
Address and telephone number: 1628 Independence Blvd 1512, Virginia Beach, VA 23455 +1 (757) 464-2720
Lubo Wine Tasting Room
If wine flights are your thing, then head over to the Lubo Wine Tasting Room on Pleasure House Road. It looks like a sleek wine cellar on the inside, and its menu is geared toward amateur enthusiasts and budding connoisseurs. Emphasizing casual dining, sample the global wine and food market in a single meal at Lubo. With a spacious yet intimate atmosphere to try the best red, white and sparkling wines from around the world, you can pair it with gourmet cheeses, seafood, pasta, and more. Dine on the patio, lounge around the fireplace, or retreat to the upstairs loft while Lubo’s talented and trained staff attend to your every need.
Address and telephone number: 1658 Pleasure House Rd 101, Virginia Beach, VA 23455 +1 (757) 216-2900
Mariam’s Fil-Am Cuisine
Mariam’s Fil-Am Cuisine promises to bring ‘the finest Filipino and American food to Hampton roads.’ A native Filipina named Mariam Lee, the namesake Mariam, is the only cook in the kitchen and she has proven time and again that that’s all it takes. She offers her customers the ‘turo-turo’ experience, a traditional style in the Philippines wherein customers at a café can point to what they want and are served a spoonful of the dish on their plate. In addition to the impeccable food and the service, the atmosphere is charmingly intimate and familiar.
Address and telephone number: 4801 Shore Dr., Virginia Beach, VA 23455 +1 (757) 460-2601
Restaurante Ole
If you’ve ever been curious about the vibe of Mexican street food, check out Restaurante Ole. The vibe is equal parts eclectic and electric, the portions are family-sized and generous, the food is authentic and fiery hot, and the staff are kooky and fun. Because the family that owns and runs Restaurante Ole has been in the restaurant-service industry for over 11 years, you can trust that they know exactly what they’re doing. They even won The Pilot Reader’s Choice Award for Best Mexican Restaurant in Virginia Beach.
Address and telephone number: 5191 Shore Dr., Virginia Beach, VA 23455 +1 (757) 460-0555
