Location: Newport News
Top Restaurants in Newport News
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Best American food near Newport News, Virginia, United States
Find out what American restaurants to try in Newport News. Jutting into the water on the Virginia Peninsula, the city of Newport News has played an important part in the maritime history of the United States. A leader in shipbuilding since 1886, the booming shipyard is still producing nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers. Learn about naval history and the Golden Age Exploration at The Mariners' Museum, with 60,000 square feet of rare maps, nautical instruments and the USS Monitor Center, preserving the remains of the first ironclad warship.
Things to do in Newport News
10. Craft 60 Ale House
Overall Ratings
4 based on 93 reviews
Reviewed By wiggum77
We stopped here on the way back from Yorktown. It is a smhomemadepitaall place hidden in the rear. When we walked in, there was only a bartender/server/hostess/etc. She was very nice and very friendly. She seated us promptly and took our drink order. If you love appetizers, you will love this place. The crab dip is very good. My daughter loved the homemade pita chips. The pretzel mozzarella sticks are amazing. They are so tasty and the homemade beer mustard sauce is the perfect compliment. The burgers are hand made and very thick. I ordered mine medium, but the thick center was medium and the thinner outside was well done. This is a nice place but a little dim and looks like it caters better to a night life. The cigar/vape chest in the entrance is a little off putting. The staff is very nice, the appetizers are amazing, and the burgers are good.
9. First Watch
Overall Ratings
4 based on 150 reviews
Reviewed By Margo M
Found this one on TripAdvisor. We were seated promptly, and given excellent service. Place is open, airy but a bit noisy. We both ordered the two for you lunch special. I had the vegetable soup which was amazing and a ham and gruyere melt. Lots of healthy options on the menu. Good breakfast selections as well. Great spot for a hungry traveler to get a good meal!
8. Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen
Overall Ratings
4 based on 401 reviews
Reviewed By Z3797ZKdavidg
To Cheddar's to have some quality time and to enjoy a hearty meal. Cheddar's never let me down regarding that hearty meals good customer service and excellent drinks. Cheddar's is a good restaurant to spend time with family and friends. However the carpeting and Decor has become dated. Many restaurants are updating their decor in addition to Cheddar's having good food hopefully they'll focus on having a good look here in the near future.
7. Circa 1918 Kitchen & Bar
Overall Ratings
4 based on 193 reviews
Circa 1918 Kitchen & Bar, serving the best in Creative American cuisine in Hampton Roads.
Reviewed By Terrance M
Having just moved to the WIlliamsburg, VA area weâve tried most of the places in Williamsburg area. We went to Newport News 25 minutes away and at Circa 1918. A small bistro with a unique and creative menu with personal service. We had a Ahi Tuna lettuce wrap for an appetizer, the soup of the day. One of the regular items was duck breast that simply phenomenal. One of the special was fried whole crab - again fantastic. We normally donât eat desert so we split a pumpkin donut with macadamia nuts. We asked each other why this restaurant was a cut above so many other places. Unique spices and flavors? Probably yet thereâs a specialness hard to put our finger on. Make reservations as itâs a small place but it is in our opinion THE BEST RESTAURANT in the area.
6. Harpoon Larry's Oyster Bar
Overall Ratings
4 based on 829 reviews
Reviewed By Ashley D
I really enjoyed my visit and this was actually my first time ever visiting here. While some of my friends felt it was a great restaurant, it was a little pricey but to me, I disagree. You pay for great food and experience! Will definitely be back.
5. Schlesinger's Steakhouse
Overall Ratings
4 based on 274 reviews
Serving dinner nightly, signature entrées include the kind of Prime Steaks found only in the finest steak and chophouses in the country. Other popular entrées include the Steak Schlesinger (our version of Steak Oscar), Lump Crab Cakes, a Tuna Mignon and S
Reviewed By eddieswain4
OK . . . We can't afford to eat dinner here, though would love to try it sometime. So, brunch was an "affordable" way for us to experience Schlesinger's. Found a website that offered $25 coupons for $12.50 and got two (2) of them, which is max allowed per table. So, we knew we had $50.00 to spend (paid $25.00), and brunch was $30 per person plus tax and tip. It was a bargain for such a great restaurant, and we might do that deal again, but, after going once now, would never pay full price for that brunch.So . . . the food was good, but, as advertised, it is a buffet, so one can only expect so much, I suppose. Service was excellent, especially considering the buffet set-up. Coffee was great (and included in the $30 price). We also sprung for two half price cocktails at $6.00 a pop (poinsettia mimosa and a bloody Mary), and they were to die for! (Must get the bloody Mary, even at full price if necessary. Very spicy, but not overwhelmingly so. If we go again, I may just have three (3) of 'em and call that brunch!)As far as the food is concerned, there was a nice variety, and a "made to order" omlette station. The chef making the omlettes was very friendly and personable, but we weren't in an omlette mood that morning, so don't know how they tasted. They looked fluffy and nice though.The rest of the food was fine, but I can't say "outstanding." The bacon was seriously undercooked, so I didn't touch it. My wife did, and she likes her bacon chewy (ick!), and she said it was way too undercooked even for her. The sausages tasted fine, but were not clearly labeled, so one couldn't be certain which sausage one would get. Plus, they were cold (buffet hazard). The egg casserole was ok, but nothing special. The "lunch" items (especially the fish in ginger sauce) were really good -- even the veggies.The worst part is the set-up, which is cramped and awkward. One can't tell which way to approach the buffet, so if more than four (4) or five (5) people are serving themselves at a time, traffic jams ensue with guests headed in both directions at once.The desert station is attractive and offered several choices, but most everything we tried tasted store-bought. (The bread pudding looked homemade, but we're not big fans of bread pudding, so didn't try it. For bread pudding, it looked good though.)The atmosphere in the restaurant is very nice, and they had a live acoustic guitarist, which added to the ambiance. Anyway, including tax and tip, our bill was $90, which clearly wasn't worth that cost (well, maybe the bloody Mary!). With our coupons, we saved $25, so we ended up paying $65.00 total -- $40.00 on-site and $25.00 for the coupons (or $32.50 pp total). That is a still a bit of a splurge for us, and still not a good value for what we got, IMHO, but it's a high-end restaurant and we got to experience it basically within our budget.Clearly, we (of the coupon crowd) are not Schlesinger's target market, so perhaps I expected too much for the price as we don't normally dine like this. This place isn't designed to cater to the budget concious crowd, and there is nothing wrong with that. I'm betting the steak dinners are fabulous, and we appreciate that we got to experience the place, but doubt we will do it again . . . even with the bargain coupons . . . at least not more than once per year or two (2) anyway.They have some good lunch specials (especially during restaurant month -- when they won't let you use coupons), so we may try that next time.Thank you for taking the time to post your comments here on Trip Advisor. We rely on the constructive comments of our guests to seek opportunities to improve our business whenever possible. If ever anything is not just as it should be, we hope our guests will let us know when they dine so we might take immediate action to give them the best meal possible. We hope every guest feels their experience with us is worthy of a return visit, regardless of budget and money spent. We hope you will join us again so we might have another chance to show why we are among Tidewater's best.Sincerely,Jessica SmithDirector of Sales & Marketing
4. Smoke BBQ Restaurant and Bar
Overall Ratings
4 based on 425 reviews
Reviewed By Muffarah M
Friendly servers, good bartender, good food, great place to hang out. The place is clean and easy to navigate inside, with ample parking outside. Big menu of assorted barbeque meats, which can be bought in huge sizes for parties. The bartender does the artwork on the chalkboard, which was cute.
3. County Grill
Overall Ratings
4 based on 426 reviews
Reviewed By 766scottj
We came at lunch at 11:15 and it was empty. There were about 5 to 10 servers and staff standing in the open kitchen area all talking including our waitress. One of the staff was using really bad language over and over again openly . If I were a manager I would have fired her right on the spot. I asked for no coleslaw and well done on the bbq. Sandwich came with slaw on the plate and bread where they scraped it off before serving it to me. The bbq was chewy and fatty. We sent a large plate back with nothing but fat. They brought us a better selection of pulled pork. In summary the service was ok, food poor. The management needs to make the staff more attentive instead of all hanging out talking. For number one on TripAdvisor I will try other choices prior to returning. On a positive note they did compensate my meal but I never did meet or talk to a manager at all or even see one. The waitress was the only person we talked to. We have been here about 10 times so far this year and have always recommended it to friends. What a bummer.
2. Fin Seafood
Overall Ratings
4 based on 314 reviews
Fin features the finest local ingredients while utilizing organic and sustainable produce and proteins whenever possible. Chef Kenny Sloane has perfected the use of these seasonal ingredients to complement his refined yet robust menu.
Reviewed By Saundra P
My husband and I stopped by Fin for a quick glass of wine during their Happy Hour and ended up staying through dinner! Appetizers were fresh and delivered promptly. Our barkeep explained the wine choices and gave us room to decide. We will be regulars!
What to do and see in Newport News, United States: The Best Places and Tips
1. Craft 60 Ale House
Overall Ratings
4 based on 93 reviews
Reviewed By wiggum77
We stopped here on the way back from Yorktown. It is a smhomemadepitaall place hidden in the rear. When we walked in, there was only a bartender/server/hostess/etc. She was very nice and very friendly. She seated us promptly and took our drink order. If you love appetizers, you will love this place. The crab dip is very good. My daughter loved the homemade pita chips. The pretzel mozzarella sticks are amazing. They are so tasty and the homemade beer mustard sauce is the perfect compliment. The burgers are hand made and very thick. I ordered mine medium, but the thick center was medium and the thinner outside was well done. This is a nice place but a little dim and looks like it caters better to a night life. The cigar/vape chest in the entrance is a little off putting. The staff is very nice, the appetizers are amazing, and the burgers are good.
Newport News Food Guide: 10 Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in Newport News
