Virginia Beach Family Restaurants
Virginia Beach Family Friendly Restaurants
Beach Bully 601 19th Street•Virginia Beach, VA •757-422-4222 Seasoned travelers know: at the start of any trip suss out where the locals eat and haunt the place. Why go early in the trip? Because often these places are so good you'll want to return again and again before you head home. Beach Bully is one such place: brimming with locals. Simply put: if you love BBQ, you will love Beach Bully. Regulars rave about the best fresh cut fries ever, pulled pork, chicken, brisket and, of course, ribs. Expect super casual surroundings and free drink refills. |
Big Sam's Inlet Cafe and Raw Bar 300 Winston Salem Avenue•Virginia Beach, VA •727-428-4858 Big Sam's is considered one of two places to get an amazing breakfast. But whether you're tucking into their outstanding pancakes for breakfast, wandering in for crab cakes at lunch or throwing back a beer with the generous array of seafood offerings at dinner, you'll find this spot is the ticket for everyone -- kids, grandma or starving dad looking for a "real" meal -- who want great food. Oh, but don't say we didn't warn you about the ambiance. There isn't one. What you will find is a totally kickback, flip-flops required type of joint where the snooty need not apply. Expect fabulous service and to-go coffee handed to you at the end of every breakfast. |
Doc Taylor's 207 23rd Street•Virginia Beach, VA •757-425-1960 Doc Taylor's is the second "must eat" spot for breakfast in Virginia Beach, but they're also excellent for lunch. In this converted beach cottage, you'll find an outstanding meal: inexpensive and filling. Don't miss the Sweet Potato Pecan pancakes, the Cobb Omelet or the Heart Attack with a Chop (three eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns & toast with a New York Strip). We didn't try it, but the Bloody Mary is said to be world famous and we saw several guests ordering a second. The filling lunches include sandwiches, burgers, veggie wraps, salads and, of course, fries. Kids are offered five items to choose from on their menu (mac 'n cheese, PB&J) with nothing costing more than $3.25. Open 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. |
Il Giardino 910 Atlantic Avenue•Virginia Beach, VA •757-422-6464 Considered by locals to be the best authentic Italian on the beach strip, Il Giardino has a menu brimming with outstanding pasta dishes including fettuccine Alfredo, tortellini with prosciutto, mushrooms, and peas and angel hair pasta with fresh vegetables, herbs and butter. Breads include foccacia and flat bread paired with outrageously delicious dipping oils. Your kids will love the wood-flamed baked pizzas while the adults in your family will be thrilled with the chicken, steak and seafood dishes. Children are welcome at this casual, yet elegant restaurant (think: Snow White table napkins). High chairs and a children's menu are on hand. Here's what we loved: Il Giardino offers a 2-for-1 special every Sunday night from October through April on a first come, first served basis. Also look for early bird specials from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. on the off-season. Il Giardino has a bit of the cacophony to it (thanks to a happy crowd and the brilliant playing and singing emanating from the piano bar), but parents tend to appreciate a bit of din leaving us free to enjoy a dining experience vs. spending the entire meal silently mouthing, "Shhhh! Keep it down, honey." Reservations are recommended September through June, but are not taken during July and August. |
One Fish-Two Fish 2109 West Great Neck Road•Virginia Beach, VA •757-496-4350 Love the slogan: "upscale without the uppity." Considered to be one of the very best restaurants in Virginia Beach, One Fish-Two Fish delivers a sublime panoramic view of the Atlantic in a somewhat rustic, but beautiful setting. One Fish-Two Fish is ideal for romantic time a deux, but bring the whole family and sit on the patio if you're concerned that the indoor dining area is too quiet for your little chatterboxes. The menu includes fillet of beef tenderloin, "line caught" seafood, an extensive wine list and an array of desserts including creme brulee and dessert wine by the glass. Open from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Reservations encouraged year-round. |
Pocahontas Pancake House Atlantic Avenue and 35th Street•Virginia Beach, VA If you love -- or even just really like -- pancakes, put this Virginia Beach gem on your list. The superb: down right awesome pancakes, unbelievably delicious French toast, gigantic portions (sharing a plate isn't a bad idea), ample parking in the back, a wait that's often much shorter than it first appears and opens at 7 a.m., seven days a week. The not-so-much: closes at 1:00 p.m. And you may be unnerved when you first set eyes on a long line out the door. Also you won't be the first to complain about the unreasonably small juice cup sizes (might want to forgo). The bottom line: you'll love it. Don't miss this spot. |
Sugar Plum Bakery 1353 Laskin Road•Virginia Beach, VA •757-422-3913 Virginia Beach is all about the casual 'tude where nobody blinks if ye old bathing suit is a tad snug. The Sugar Plum Bakery, while a dieter's nightmare, is a great spot to find the tastiest sandwiches, desserts and pastries. And, if you're packing for the beach, check out Sugar Plum's box lunches that include chips, soda and two cookies. From the beach strip, expect a 10-minute (at most) drive depending on traffic. |
Tad's Deli 600 Norfolk Avenue•Virginia Beach, VA •757-422-3577 The four walls surrounding the delicious food inside are nothing to write home about, but the sandwiches rock. You don't want to miss this stop for happily filling everyone in the family. Tad's is best known for their signature sandwich: a smokehouse combo with roast beef and smoked turkey on an artistically beautiful marble rye. But your grumpiest eater will break into a smile when he or she glimpses the kids' menu offering peanut butter and jelly, mac 'n cheese and any number of meats on, what else? plain white bread of course. A great pre-beach stop for picnicking on the beach or a hearty, inexpensive early dinner. Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. |
Zoe's 713 19th Street•Virginia Beach, VA •757-437-3636 When Zoe's isn't racking up awards for it's cuisine, it's providing a high-end dining experience in a cozy, gorgeously-lit romantic setting. Not particularly set up for kids; Zoe's is an ideal Virginia Beach spot for an impressive date night. Zoe's regular menu offers a variety of steaks: "cowboy cut" rib eye, center cut filet mignon, New York strip all enhanced with your choice of an array of very popular "toppers" including Maytag blue cheese or sauteed mushrooms. The weekly menu changes depending on what's fresh and in season. Zoe's showcases a chef's menu tasting paired with wines, beautiful desserts and both small and large plates. Reservations are a smart idea. |
Read more about Virginia Beach Planning and Tips Read more about Virginia Beach Family Vacations
© Copyright 2012. The Independent Traveler, Inc.
All rights reserved. This file may be downloaded for personal
use only. Other copying or reproduction is expressly prohibited.
All rights reserved. This file may be downloaded for personal
use only. Other copying or reproduction is expressly prohibited.
- Independent Traveler independenttraveler.com
- Cruise Critic cruisecritic.com
-
FREE Family Travel Newsletter -
Family Travel Tips (10 New)
– Family Planning and Tips
Sure, free drinks and complimentary Wi-Fi rank high on the lists of most desirable hotel perks among travelers in general, but when it comes to visiting with kids in tow, which hotel amenities are most revered by families? From onsite airline check-in to in-room babysitting and kid concierges, con...
Favorite family biking locales in North America combine stunning scenery with a relatively easy grid of bike trails and uncongested backcountry roads. All of these locales offer exhilarating rides, guaranteed to inspire all ages to travel on two wheels. Many of the cities on the list, like San Anton...
1. Celebrate a Historic Anniversary. Boston's historic Fenway Park celebrates its 100th anniversary this year -- the perfect time to take in a ballgame while enjoying the history of America throughout the city. Give your school-aged children an up-close and personal history lesson by visiting some ...
The unofficial start to summer is nearly here, and this May 25 to 28 weekend is filled with enticing deals for families. Get out there and start your summer!
Broadmoor Resort, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Escape to the Colorado mountains for a two-night Memorial Day Family Escape at the Broadmoor. ...
There are few rites of passage as exciting as taking a child on his or her first camping trip. Families bond while roasting hot dogs and marshmallows, making shadow animals on the tent wall, chasing after fireflies and inhaling fragrant whiffs of pine. Whether you are an experienced camper from pre-...
1. The National Mall
There's no question that the National Mall, the two-mile strip of wide-open green stretching between the Lincoln Memorial and the U.S. Capitol and surrounded by Smithsonian museums and national monuments, is a must-see destination for kids. "The Mall," chock full of our nation'...
1. gogo Kidz Travelmate
If you're traveling with a child weighing less than 50 pounds, you won't want to leave home without this ingenious contraption that in seconds lets parents convert most car seats into a stroller. With the gogo Kidz Travelmate, there's no more lugging both a heavy car seat ...
On a recent ski vacation, my family of five traveled with five cellphones, three laptops, three iPads, two iPods and just for good measure, a GPS! Given the prevalence of electronic devices in our daily lives and our somewhat compulsive reliance upon them, taking a true vacation feels almost imposs...
The 1969 film, "If It's Tuesday, This Must be Belgium," depicted a funny, but sometimes all too true, look at a tour group of Americans traveling through Europe so quickly they barely knew where they were and what they were seeing.
Today, tour groups are quickly becoming an attractive option for ...
When you think of an all-inclusive vacation, your mind goes straight to the Caribbean, doesn't it? But you don't need to leave the country to get an all-in-one vacation -- resorts in the U.S. also provide all-inclusive getaways with accommodations, meals, and activities all packaged in one easy pric...