Top 10 Restaurants In Newport News Virginia (2024)

Opening its doors in 2010, Circa 1918 has become a firm favourite in Newport News. Located in the historic Hilton Village neighborhood of the city, the atmosphere in this quaint restaurant is inviting and warm. The food is delicious, with a wide variety of plates available. Highlights from the menu include four-hour cured tuna niçoise, fried green tomatoes with goats’ cheese and crispy pancetta, pan-roasted jumbo lump crabcake and roast Peking duck breast. These are all created with care and beautifully arranged on your plate. For those with a sweet tooth, try tempting desserts of red velvet cake or apple and berry candied ginger crumble.

Bringing a French twist to the Hampton Roads is Pearl 703. With simple yet elegant décor, visitors are also greeted by the manager and are served by friendly staff. The menu is infused with the flair and flavors of France; look out for excellent dishes such as vegetable Napoleon, quiche Lorraine, and shrimp and lobster bisque. There are also daily specials that include foie gras over caramelized apples in a Calvados butter sauce, and crawfish étouffée. For a particularly special evening, the bistro also hosts a wine dinner which includes champagne and a starter of caviar.

Influenced by the British tradition of the gastropub, but putting their own spin on it is the Neo Kitchen and Bar. An eclectic and casual affair, the Neo Kitchen and Bar is located at the Paragon Theater in the city, meaning you can dine in the restaurant, or bring your food with you to the cinema. The menu takes classic dishes and gives them a contemporary and creative uplift, with favourites such as berry trio salad, truffle fries, beer-battered fish and chips, blackened mahi mahi and shrimp and their chicken tender platter. These comfort eats are complimented by a selective list of wine and craft beers.

Situated in the heart of Oyster Point is Brickhouse Tavern. A family run establishment, the Brickhouse Tavern also has a sister restaurant in Colonial Williamsburg. The Brickhouse Tavern serves up the very best of Italian-American cuisine, with a menu of pasta, pizzas, subs, seafood and burgers. The ambience is casual and inviting, and the tavern continues to attract regular and new diners. Community values are at the core of the Brickhouse Tavern’s ethos and they work in conjunction with a number of local businesses and organizations in order to give back to the community as much as they can.

Fin Seafood head chef and owner Kenny Sloane uses only the finest and highest quality local and organic ingredients to create his tantalizing seafood dishes, which change depending on the season. Amplifying the flavours of the menu, the wines on the restaurant’s impressive wine list represent a range of international and US vintages. Meals can be enjoyed indoors or outdoors on the pretty patio.

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A recent addition to Newport News’ culinary circuit is Smoke BBQ, whose meats are hardwood smoked, bursting with flavour and melt-in-the-mouth tender. Highlights include appetizers of smoke wings, and loaded baked potatoes that are filled with brisket, sandwiches such as the oyster po’boy, pulled pork and Kansas City style ribs and steaks. Open for lunch and dinner, with plans to serve breakfast too, there is plenty of opportunity for food lovers to get their smoked barbeque fix.

Full of charm and character in Newport News is Midtown Eats. A new face in the city, the restaurant specialises in homemade all-American food with innovative twists, and served with a homely feel. Regular items on the menu include sandwiches, soups, salads and grilled eats. However, it is the creative specials that attract attention and praise from diners. These can include their juicy burger with lettuce, onion, tomato and pickle on a toasted Kaiser bun, spicy samurai wrap with shrimp, red onions and Asian slaw and the cinnamon and pear glazed balsamic pork chops.

The large and independently owned 99 Main Restaurant is the brainchild is Jimmy and Christine Ferguson, and was the first fine dining eatery in the city. Using French techniques, Jimmy cooks up a menu to suit every palette and appetite. Curing their meats and fish in-house, these have a distinctive flavour. Favourites from their menu include their chef specialities of swordfish with saffron and almonds over cucumber quinoa and ratatouille tian; short ribs braised in red peppers and chorizo with risotto and green bean succotash and seared chicken breast with lemon, shallots, sherry and thyme served with basil fried rice and green bean succotash. With weekly food and drink events, it is no surprise that this restaurant’s popularity keeps growing.

If steak is your dish of choice, then look no further than Schlesingers Steakhouse. Known for their tender ribs, steaks and tangy BBQ sauce, Schlesingers serves hearty food with style and flair. There is also a wide range of appetizers available, as well as soups, salads and seafood, chicken and pasta dishes. For a more intimate dining experience, there are two private rooms, each with a cozy fireplace to add to your special occasion. © Taste Unlimited

Taste Unlimited now has a number of locations in Virginia, but the quality of the food and friendly service remains the same throughout. The restaurants are particularly renowned for their house sandwich, made with meat or cheese, their tangy house dressing and served on freshly made French bread. Everything is made to order and freshness is guaranteed, with ingredients locally sourced and from organic farms. You can also buy a range of foods from local artisanal producers here to take away with you. © Taste Unlimited

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