Diners' Choice: Seafood restaurants in Virginia

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Seafood cuisine in Virginia? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Coastal Grill

4.8

4.8 (4018)

$30 and under

Seafood

Virginia Beach

About the restaurant

Classic, consistent, upscale cuisine is offered in a well-appointed, unpretentious setting in this top-notch nosherie. The beautiful bar invites easy conversation and casual dining. Located on the affluent Great Neck corridor in Virginia Beach, just three miles from the Oceanfront, Coastal Grill is as famous for what isn't on the menu as for what actually is. Owner Jerry Bryan with Executive Chef Maureen Cucchiaro and Chef de Cusine Brad Bates at the stove, offer an extensive list of "blackboard specials," always with a nice assortment of freshly caught regional seafood. This locals favorite has received critical acclaim since its inception over 25 years ago, culminating in being voted the Number 1 Restaurant by Hampton Roads Magazine. With amazing food and exemplary service, Coastal Grill is a sure bet for business dinners, special occasions, or simply unwinding after a hard day. Come celebrate with us!

Top review

LillieVIP

Dined 5 days ago

I’ve been eating at Coastal Grill since 1989 and it’s been consistently fabulous! If I owned a restaurant, this one would make me so proud. So good! Such a wonderful escape into gastronomy.

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4.8

4.8 (2760)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Charlottesville

About the restaurant

Public Fish and Oyster serves only the freshest and responsibly sourced seafood. We believe in the complete dining experience and our knowledgeable staff is eager to provide you with the best dining experience Charlottesville has to offer.

Top review

ValerieVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Food was outstanding - raw oysters, flounder, mussels all wonderful. Excellent wine and beer offerings.

OTH Chophouse & Oyster Bar

4.7

4.7 (365)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Roanoke

About the restaurant

Chophouse & Raw Bar with a beautiful sunset view on the hill!

Top review

Frank

Dined 3 days ago

4 stars on a Sunday 6pm. Server was green, expect attention to detail when you spend 200 on dinner for two.

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Popular dish

Scallops

Hot Tuna

4.8

4.8 (1571)

$30 and under

Seafood

Virginia Beach

About the restaurant

Here at Hot Tuna, our food is 5-star, but our dress code is surfer chic. Hot Tuna is a member of the Farm-to-Fork Movement; our menu features what is fresh, in-season and local. Eastern Shore seafood and produce from our local farms are staples, and our menu runs the gamut, from the freshest Ahi tuna to gourmet gouda burgers. Our bartenders are as adventurous as our chefs, providing you with hand-muddled mojitos, homemade sangria and organic margaritas. We hope you enjoy your dining experience with us!

**Thank you for your reservation. We attempt to honor all specific table requests such as a booth or outdoor seating. We are able to honor those requests 90% of the time. However, there are some occasions where a specific request may not be available at the time of your reservation. We do have a 2 1/2 hour time limit on parties of 6 or more.

Top review

Eric

Dined 5 days ago

Food quality and service was great. Breydon did an exceptional job checking on our table and keeping drinks filled throughout the evening.

Merroir

4.6

4.6 (201)

$30 and under

Seafood

Topping

About the restaurant

This is where it all started – on the banks of the Rappahannock River overlooking where we grow our oysters. We like to call Merroir a “tasting room,” just so people know to expect something different. Everything is either served raw or cooked on an outdoor grill, small-plate-style, and beautifully paired with craft brews and world-famous wines. Each menu item is singularly-focused, seasonal, and ever-changing, so there’s always a surprise in store.

Top review

KathleenVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Love this place! Amazing view, food and service. I love the seafood roll as well as the stuffing muffin. Food is consistently great as is the service.

Fin Seafood Restaurant

4.6

4.6 (1885)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Newport News

About the restaurant

Ever have one of those nights where you can’t decide what you want to eat? No need to look any further. Welcome to Fin Seafood Restaurant-the ultimate destination for Surf as well as Turf. Whether you are having a romantic evening for two or a business dinner for 20, Fin Seafood Restaurant is sure to surpass your highest expectations. Why not join us tonight?

Top review

HarryVIP

Dined 6 days ago

We have been regulars here since it opened. The food then was truly special. During Covid things went back, but came back for awhile afterwards. Many examples such as the corn chowder with blue crab - used to use lump crab meat with great flavor, now small pieces of flavorless claw meat. Similar with the salad with it’s crab meat and barely any visible veggies. The wine list has shrunk as well. This remains a good place to bring friends and visitors, but not where we go for a special night.

Rappahannock - Richmond

4.8

4.8 (2570)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Richmond

About the restaurant

Upscale, yet casual industrial-chic seafood outfit - offering an enormous raw bar featuring its own farm-raised oysters - seasonal dishes, plus artisan cocktails, craft beers, and an incredible wine selection in airy digs. Located in the Theatre District of Richmond, VA's City Center.

Top review

Todd

Dined on Jun 15, 2025

First time eating at Rappahannock, and we’ll definitely be back for the baked oysters!

Norfolk Seafood Co & Oyster Bar

4.6

4.6 (825)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Norfolk

About the restaurant

Norfolk Seafood Company and Oyster bar features fresh local seafood with a variety of oysters and is centrally located in downtown Norfolk. The mission of the Norfolk Seafood Company is to bring tasty seafood to locals and tourists, minus the trip to the Oceanfront. The menu features everything a good seafood restaurant should offer, plus all the sides. A cold beer, wine or a specialty drink from the bar rounds off any meal.

Top review

Roger

Dined on Jun 23, 2025

Wonderful food and professional polite staff One dinner was late coming out but overall our experience with the staff and the restaurant was very positive.

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The Island House Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (215)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Wachapreague

About the restaurant

The Island House Restaurant overlooks the seaside waterfront of Virginia's Eastern Shore. Enjoy one of America's most beautiful wildlife estuaries while sipping local wines, fresh local seafood, steaks and burgers in the quaint seaside village of Wachapreague. If you've never ventured off of Hwy 13, you don't want to miss it!

Top review

LindaVIP

Dined 6 days ago

Crab Cake entree and flounder were both excellent. Great service.

The Hard Shell - Downtown

4.7

4.7 (1835)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Richmond

About the restaurant

Located in downtown Richmond's historic Shockoe Slip, The Hard Shell Restaurant is known to locals as one of the best seafood restaurants in town. With a new fresh look; The Hard Shell features sleek booths, lots of light and a vibrant city feel. The Hard Shell has Richmond's widest variety of fresh and local seafood. Menu items include signatures such as filet and lobster, shrimp and scallops, lump crab cakes. Patio requests honored when possible but tables are first come, first served. Happy hour is available at the bar and on the patio and is first come, first served. Private dining & reservations are available. Dress is casual.

Top review

BrianVIP

Dined on Jun 19, 2025

Aubrey was our excellent server. Very attentive. Always great service!

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