Diners' Choice: Best Food restaurants in Virginia

OpenTable

Updated October 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best overall cuisine in Virginia? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

The Atlantic

4.9

4.9 (147)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Virginia Beach

About the restaurant

The Atlantic is an oyster/craft cocktail bar nestled in the heart of the Virginia Beach oceanfront. Our menu celebrates seafoods from the east coast, west coast and beyond, and we strive to support local and regional fishermen, crabbers, oystermen, farmers and producers. Don't eat seafood? No problem. We've got plenty of options for everyone on the menu.

Top review

Ryan

Dined on Sep 15, 2024

Great food and attentive staff. Will definitely be back the next time I’m in town.

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Popular dish

Raw Oysters

Mizuno Japanese Restaurant

4.9

4.9 (658)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Virginia Beach

About the restaurant

Mizuno Japanese Restaurant is a family-run business that first opened in 1996. Located in Virginia Beach, Mizuno is embedded in a seafood hotspot, only 25 miles south of the Eastern Shore of Virginia and the Chesapeake Bay, and 158 miles south of Hatteras, North Carolina. Chef-owner Wataru Mizuno feels blessed to be a sushi chef in a culinary trifecta like Virginia Beach. Mizuno and his team take advantage of the restaurant's access to local sources by artfully composing daily specials that feature fresh shrimp, yellowfin tuna, bluefin tuna, flounder, blue crabs and oysters, to name a few. The hook's simple. Mizuno resists complicated sauces and excessive ingredients. Instead, he flavors scallops from the world famous Chesapeake Bay, adding nothing more, at times, than a dash of citrus and a pinch of sea salt. Wataru Mizuno: Chef/Owner Born in Japan, Wataru Mizuno received his formal training in Tokyo, as an apprentice under master Teruo Sato.

Top review

Stephen

Dined on Sep 25, 2024

As usual, a great night out to dinner. Service by Megan was outstanding, food was fantastic, especially the Lobster Special. It just doesn't get any better!

Al Fresco Italian Restaurant

5.0

5 (1035)

$30 and under

Italian

Newport News

About the restaurant

Al Fresco Restaurant lets you feast on a bountiful array of Italian specialties. The outstanding menu, featuring pasta, chicken, veal and seafood, highlights a spectrum of lavish Italian specialties that are sure to please discriminating palates. Al Fresco Restaurant was planned with the summer in mind. An outdoor patio with a warm breeze and cold drinks are a perfect combination.

Top review

Amanda

Dined 1 day ago

The food and atmosphere was amazing! I highly recommend this place! The service was awesome also!

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4.9

4.9 (1081)

$50 and over

Contemporary French / American

Harrisonburg

About the restaurant

Located in an elegantly restored Victorian home in historic downtown Harrisonburg, the Joshua Wilton House is a bed & breakfast and fine dining destination. Executive Chef Tom French uses high quality ingredients sourced from the Shenandoah Valley to create a seasonal menu highlighting our local products . The full service bar includes signature cocktails, craft beers and an award-winning wine list. During the warmer months, seating is available on the outdoor brick patio. In the winter time, warm up in our lounge next to one of the original wood burning fireplaces and enjoy a cocktail before your meal. The Joshua Wilton House is also a private event and wedding venue, so please visit our website or call us for any special occasion you are celebrating!

Top review

Amy

Dined 4 days ago

Excellent dining experience. Staff are knowledgeable and very attentive. Food is outstanding and so are the cocktails. Highly recommend and will definitely be back

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Experience

Halloween Cocktail Class!

Alexander's - Roanoke

4.9

4.9 (1455)

$31 to $50

American

Roanoke

About the restaurant

Alexander's is an oasis for award winning cuisine, wine, and craft cocktails. Over the years we've twice been awarded the Open Table Top 100 in the US restaurant designation and in 2018, Southern Living Magazine named us one of the Ten Most Romantic Restaurants in the South. Focusing on superb ingredients; fish, seafood, prime quality Virginia aged meats, and locally sourced organic produce, our cuisine showcases years of collaboration among some of the most talented chefs of our region. You'll be served in an atmosphere filled with romance, sophistication, modern & vintage jazz. It's old world charm with new world flavors!
Built in the 1880s as Roanoke's first office supply company, our vintage building has been transformed into a retro chic rendition of the classic urban restaurants of our great culinary cities. The art, furnishings, lighting, and mirrors are all found pieces of Roanoke's rich architectural history. So relax and let's start making your memories at Alexanders!

Top review

David

Dined 2 days ago

Bjorn was superb 👏👏👏👍.We will be coming back and recommending this place to everyone as well.

The Wine Whisperer

5.0

5 (179)

$31 to $50

Wine Bar

Henrico

About the restaurant

The Wine Whisperer is a boutique wine shop and wine bar located in Richmond's Short Pump neighborhood. We speak wine and are passionate about sharing your new favorite bottle or glass with you!

Our wine bar is designed to offer a more immersive experience to our guests. Let our knowledgeable staff help you learn about your palate and curate a flight of wine just for you! Look for rotating by the glass and by the bottle lists, a selection of craft beers, and an expansive food menu that changes weekly and is designed to enhance the bottle of wine you're enjoying. For questions or to make a reservation for a larger party, please message us, and we'll get back to you as soon as possible!

Top review

Cherivip

Dined 5 days ago

Exceptional food and service as always. Love this place.

The Veranda

4.9

4.9 (68)

$31 to $50

Italian

Virginia Beach

About the restaurant

Welcome to The Veranda Trattoria, where the warm embrace of traditional Italian hospitality meets the sun-kissed shores of Virginia Beach. Nestled in the heart of this vibrant coastal city, our trattoria invites you on a culinary journey that combines the richness of Italian flavors with the laid-back charm of beachside living
The atmosphere is a perfect blend of rustic elegance and coastal comfort, creating a welcoming space for both intimate dinners and lively gatherings.
The Veranda Trattoria is not just a restaurant; it's a place where friends and family come together to savor exceptional food, share stories, and create lasting memories. Whether you're seeking a romantic date, a family celebration, or a casual dinner with friends, our trattoria is the perfect setting for every occasion

Top review

Karen

Dined 7 days ago

Pasta freshly made. Salmon is always cooked as requested. Great dining experience.

Carytown Indian Cuisine

4.8

4.8 (36)

$30 and under

Indian

Richmond

About the restaurant

Carytown Indian Cuisine is conveniently located in the vibrant neighborhood of Carytown in Richmond. We invite you to join us for a memorable dining experience. Discover the incredible flavors, warmth, and hospitality of India right here in Virginia.

Top review

Katherine

Dined on Sep 23, 2024

Great experience! We went for lunch and happily discovered there are a few off street parking spots. Yaten, our waiter, was knowledgeable and very attentive with his service. Meal was visually beautiful and delicious. Look forward to returning!

Lucky

4.9

4.9 (1330)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Roanoke

About the restaurant

Farm to Table Comfort Food with a commitment to using local sustainable products, paired with innovative cocktails, eclectic wine selections, and a massive spirits list.

Top review

Rodney

Dined on Sep 28, 2024

Very lively atmosphere (in a good way), great food and cocktails, very good service. Lucky is a great place to eat. My favorite was the fried green tomato starter. My wife has the New z York strip and it was perfect. We love Lucky.

Stella's - Richmond

4.9

4.9 (2943)

$30 and under

Greek

Richmond

About the restaurant

Stella’s honors rustic & modern Greek cuisine, bringing the freshest ingredients & Mediterranean fare table side.

Top review

MaryBeth

Dined 3 days ago

Our first time dining here and it was stellar! Food was delicious and service impeccable. We (4 of us) had appetizers (just the right amount to satisfy but not ruin our main course), 2 seafood dishes (specials of the night), a pasta dish, and chicken. All were yummy!! We saved room to share 3 desserts and couldn’t decide which we liked the best as they were all perfect in their own way. The noise level made hearing a bit challenging at times but it was a Friday night and everyone was having fun! Will definitely return!!

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