Zoes

Wow. Amazing food. I had the oysters and figs as appetizers and the salmon special as an entrée. All prepared incredibly well, flavors were well layered, service was exceptional.

I was asked to partake in a going away party here for a friend and I couldn’t say no-he’s going to Spain for goodness sakes. And… FOOD!
We started by ordering a round of beverages and some bread was brought out. The Rosemary breadsticks look more like quills rather than something edible-​but they are delicious. I didn’t get the chance to sample the ciabatta but it was non existent before the plates disappear so I presume it was good.
We ordered figs and pulled pork appetizers. Oh and the adult beverages were served in their shakers… Like they actually make them and walk the shakers to your table, mix, and pour them for you. Interesting concept.
The figs were filled with cheese and crusted-​just so flavorful. The pork was perfectly crisp and just bursting with every sort of flavor to be desired.
I ordered the fish and chips mostly out of curiosity-​black «ketchup», watermelon tarter sauce and fresh caught fried flounder all got my attention. And booooy did it deliver. The portions were perfect-​like, everything is so flavorful and touches every spectrum of the palate that you really feel full.
Strange sensation.
After dinner I ordered coffee while a chocolate lava cake was ordered as a communal dessert. I was expecting a sugar bombshell, but surprisingly the bitter of the chocolate paired with the cake itself left a pleasant taste and didn’t overwhelm or overpower.
Very impressive-​the executive chef gets my two thumbs up in between bites.

Amazing. Walked in and was immediately greeted with a warm welcome. We were running a little late for our reservation but they were kind and told us to take our time. The food was spectacular. In all honesty it was THE best steak I have ever had. A lot of people might say that but it’s true. The chocolate soufflé was also great and to top it all off it has amazing customer service. I have never felt more welcome. This restaurant truly deserves 5 stars, and I don’t take that lightly. If your in VA Beach you HAVE to go there.

My wife and I spent our date night at Zoe’s and we would highly recommend the experience to anyone!!!

We went here for an early anniversary dinner. The steaks were amazing! We also go the lobster dish on the menu… it was great too, but I feel that it was very overpriced for that lobster (reason why it’s a 4 instead of a 5) The staff was awesome! The crab Mac and cheese was also amazing! I would come back again, but wouldn’t order the lobster!

My wife and I went to Zoe’s for our tenth anniversary and we could not have picked a better place. The waitress was excellent and the food was over the top good.

This place is an absolutely gem. Me and my gf went there to celebrate getting engaged and the service was top notch. The filet mignon melted in my mouth and her fresh spring rolls and sauce was nothing she had anywhere ever before. The crème Brule was the desert we shared and this was one of the best crème brulees I have ever had.
Found was warm, new silverware given every time, food and drinks explained in extensive detail. Truly remarkable experience. The prices are justified. It is a very upscale restaurant and rightly so. The food is incredible words don’t do justice. And the signature martinis, we ordered the ginger peach snap and another martini, both were equally good.
I would recommend this place to anyone celebrating any occasion or just planning to go for a formal dinner in VA beach.

The best filet mignon ever in my life, which is meaningful coming from Nebraska! Love, love, love this restaurant and the service is fantastic!

It had been nearly ten years since I’d dined at Zoës, so I was afraid the food wasn’t as awesome as I remembered. It is, though. It really truly is.
Nothing else was on my mind like the blue crab mac and cheese. Got it, loved it, wish I had it right now. The crab isn’t chunky. It’s shredded, so it’s perfectly rationed throughout the mac and cheese. Don’t order the small. And don’t order the large to share. This mac and cheese should only hold exclusive rights to you.
You can order the potstickers steamed or fried. Fried was my preference and they didn’t disappoint.
And for dessert I had their version of a strawberry shortcake. It was kinda fancy, and I’m not easily impressed. Well, maybe by desserts… cause of my gnarly sweet tooth. But anyway, the server poured a strawberry milk nectar on top and around the tiny cake. And foreal, I wish I had a spoon for that stuff.
So I think it’s safe to say that Zoës remains my favorite restaurant at the Oceanfront. Great menu, with lots of different small plates and a variety of entrees. A huge wine list (but a small cocktail one). It’s cozy inside. There’s complimentary (read: mandatory) valet. And everyone is super nice.

This place is incredible. The food is prepared with ingredients that come together really nicely. Pansies in their ahi poke wrap?!? Who thought of that? The flowers gave a really nice floral aroma and taste to the dish.
The salmon with poke was delicious and the drinks are incredible. Their blueberry martini is a must try and their wine list is very impressive.
The chef, Jesse, came out to greet us and was very nice and welcomed suggestions and you can tell he really cares about the food he makes. I’m definitely coming back here, hopefully for their next Screaming Eagle dinner!!!

Can’t wait to go back. What a super fine dining experience we had overlooking the kitchen. From start to finish perfect.

An update for Zoe’s is definitely in order!
Tonight we were able to finally go to Zoës Steak & Seafood Restaurant.
We had wanted to go there for New Year’s celebration but had a mix-​up in the reservations. The sommelier, Marc Sauter, cleared this up and helped to to make our experience there tonight absolutely wonderful. For our 10^th anniversary celebration we chose to have the wine pairings with the meal, and Marc chose the perfect «out of the box» wines for each course. The quality of the food, attention to detail in the service, timing of the service, and even to the personal attention from the valet parking staff was impeccable. Pricey? Yes, but in this case you definitely get what you pay for.
We have found our new favorite restaurant in Tidewater.

The only thing I found spectacular about this restaurant was the valet. He was a kind man. The rest of the staff seemed uncomfortable or nervous. The menu is limited since they change it often. I personally thought the food was bland. Me and my guest couldn’t go 5 minutes without someone reaching and grabbing plates, but they apparently have something against refilling beverages unless you ask. The decorations were very outdated as well. I’m all for expensive food, but not when it’s this undeserving. It’s the kind of place you should take your wife to for your 20^th anniversary if you don’t really frequent restaurants often. And if you like spending lots of money on low quality, but brand name items.

Always excellent. Marc the sommelier makes the do experience here especially enjoyable. Highly recommend everything about this place for high-​end dining — the food, ambiance, wine, and staff are all impeccable.

Valentines Day dinner was a ripoff.
Mt fiancé reserved the 5 course dinner at a price fix of 99 per person. Ok. Pricey, but I’m sure it would be worth it, right?
WRONG
The «courses» were not courses. More like tastings!
For our first course, we had a puff pastry like thing that was smaller than a AA Duracell battery. It has truffle stuff on it, I think, and caviar. Less than a bite and 4 chews later, it was gone.
Second course: this one we could choose. I chose a sashimi type taster and she got the scallops. It tasted awesome. It was so good I forgave the previous course.
Third course: ok. Do you know the Asian soup spoons you get when you order Phở or hot and sour soup? Yea. We each got a spoon with a small dollop of mango sorbet. What. The. #$%!. Once quit swallow, and course 3 was history! Let’s drink more wine! Except our wine was giving us a headache. Hmmm $ 44 bottle of pinot noir. Let’s Google it’s taste score: wait. What?! Pennywise pinot. 14.99 at 7−11…
4^th course. Main entrée. I got the fried chicken and mac and she got the prime rib. My fried chicken was good. It wasn’t what I expected though. I expected a thigh or leg or, idk, since it’s 99 freaken dollars maybe a ¼ chicken?! Nope i got 2 chicken strips. Yes. 2 chicken strips, albiet pretty good ones. My fiancé steak was tasty but it was very small. Edges charred and center too pink. She ordered it med well but ended up charred med raw.
5^th course was desert. I got ice cream and pastry thing with orange on it and she got a chocolate thing that looked like poop (like actual poop) but tasted good. A on taste, F on presentation!
All in all, it wasn’t worth the 300 we spent. I’ll probably never come here again, which is a shame. I always wanted to try their full menu but I’m afraid I’ll get ripped off again.

Honestly I’m torn. I chose this restaurant because of the reviews. Our waiter was awesome and so kind.
There was a pre-​determined menu for valentines day. For my appetizer I had the salmon in the raw. It was delicious. I could eat it all day. Main course I had grouper over oyster chowder if I remember correctly. The grouper was over cooked, but the oysters were good, the white sauce and whatever the spoonful of seasoning that was placed on top of the grouper, was good. The grouper itself was a over cooked. I tried to eat as much as I could. I didn’t want to complain on valentines day. My husband bacon foie gras he loved it. His main course was steak. Though he asked for medium he was giving rare. Not wanting to complain. He just simply ate around the rare part. We didn’t want the waiter apologizing for things that were wrong, that he had no control over. My husband loved his crème Brule. The drinks were great. Even the valet gentleman was nice.

Just left $ 300 meal, not including tip. $ 99 pp Valentines fixed menu plus $ 70 bottle of wine. One bite portions for the 4 course meal. Not kidding. We left hungry! Service was good, not excellent. Prime example of a restaurant taking advantage of a holiday and price gauging! The food was okay but not worth the cost. Our first time there, but our last. On our way to a fast food place… Seriously… Bc we’re still hungry!!! Sad.

Don’t knw what ppl are smoking this place was not worth the bill food was under seasoned and I’ve just had better… but don’t believe me try it for yourself

I recently came here with my boyfriend for a celebratory dinner. Since there is a a Zoe’s Kitchen franchise in the area, please make sure to double-​check what you type into Waze or Google Maps– we ended up going to Zoe’s Kitchen and walked into a casual eatery wearing our Sunday’s best! Luckily, the staff at the intended Zoe’s did not mind our delayed arrival.
My boyfriend had originally made 5:30PM dinner reservations since it was a Friday night. But when we arrived 45 minutes later at 6:15PM, we were surprised to see that the restaurant was generally empty, and reservations weren’t necessary. Even by the time we left the restaurant close to 8PM, the restaurant was only half full. So I assume that you will not have any problems walking in for dinner on a non-Valentine’s day type event.
When you arrive at the place, there’s a valet who immediately greets you. So please make sure to have some cash on hand to tip! There isn’t any street parking or self parking available to you in a decent-​sized radius, so you’re better off just valeting and not trying to walk in your nice clothes down a random sidewalk to get to the place.
In short, Zoes is the perfect restaurant for an intimate, upscale special occasion dinner. Imagine a setting like that, and I’m sure that’s exactly what you’d imagine it to look. We were quickly seated and greeted by our server. They have a combination of booths and tables to fit diners’ needs. Our server also happened to be the bartender, and she adeptly gave all her parties exceptional service between the bar and table. We ended up ordering a bottle of Shiraz on the menu. However, in addition to their HH wine special, they also offer discounted wines with ripped labels or discontinued ones for about 50% off.
We were served complimentary biscotti sticks and bread with rosemary butter. It was a very delicate presentation, but be warned that if you come into the restaurant already hungry, this will barely scratch your itch. The butter was VERY strong and had an overabundance of flavors. The bread was also drenched in a variety of flavors, and adding the butter to that ended up being overkill. I opted to eat both carbohydrates plain.
We ordered the Smokey Chesapeake Bay Crab Bisque ($ 12), and it was phenomenal. My boyfriend is from the Northeast, and he said it was probably the best crab bisque he’s ever eaten. If we were at home and no one was watching, I probably would have licked the bowl.
For entrees, we ordered the 24 Hour Kobe Short Rib Confit ($ 24) and seafood lasagna (I forget the price, but it was in the $ 20s). The short rib was spectacular, melt-​in-​your-​mouth goodness with a dash of sweetness with the french toast like bread it was atop of. Their portion size was perfect in the sense that by the time you finished it, your stomach was satisfyingly full from the heaviness of the short rib, but you didn’t feel overly bloated. The seafood lasagna was served piping hot in a skillet. The ratio of cheese and lasagna to seafood was great as well. I preferred the short rib; my boyfriend, the lasagna.
For sides, we had the Blue Crab Mac-​n-​Cheese ($ 8 for small), Cider Honey Brussels ($ 8), and the bok choy ($ 8). The blue crab mac-​n-​cheese was good, but I still prefer eating this particular side at Byrd & Baldwin in Norfolk. The cider honey brussels are wonderful if you have a sweet tooth. The bok choy wasn’t anything special.
We ended our meal with a small Chocolate Molten Soufflé ($ 5). This is the perfect size for 2 – 3 people, and you could probably even swing it to up to 4 people if you’re in a party where everyone only wants to have a bite or two just to sample it. The small size is a perfect portion where you will be able to eat it all and not leave anything behind, but you it also won’t put you over the top in terms of having to loosen your belt buckle.
My boyfriend and I had a wonderful time here. This is probably my favorite upscale restaurant in Virginia Beach. You won’t be disappointed.

So, allow me to set the stage.
In town for a wedding, my small group was searching for a legitimate oyster spot. We stumbled upon Zoe’s because we’re clearly to impatient to read what a restaurant is all about, and arrived somewhat dismayed at how upscale it was. We had suit coats, so we got to skip the embarrassment of being fitted for an oversized loaner, but we were really looking for a specific meal. We reluctantly took our seats anyway… and boy, are we fortunate.
I could not believe how exceptional the food at Zoe’s was.
Mostly sticking to small plates, we rotated through oysters, mussels, salads, lobster noodles; we tried about 6 – 7 of the small plates that the staff recommended to us. The foot was exceptional; broth rich and savory for the mussels, nice ginger bite to the lobster noodles with big chunks of meat, and one of the best roasted romaine heart salads of all time, but the service was impeccable as well. If this review could feature me actually waving my hands with delight, rest assured I would include that as well.
Cocktails were expertly crafted.
Didn’t try the steaks, but I have it on the best authority that they are also top notch.
The server insisted on us all trying the Bacon Snickers for dessert, and I won’t attempt to ruin the delight of that experience by describing it. Use your imagination: Bacon. Snickers.
Classy establishment, fantastic food, wonderfully elegant restaurant. Will certainly be back if i’m in the area.

EDIT/​UPDATE–
The restaurant has contacted me and offered a gift certificate in the amount that was charged to my card. We look forward to dinning at this establishment that seems to take customer input as a valuable resource for their business.
Happy New Year! I made reservations at this restaurant for NYE. I made the reservation through Open Table, a credit card was requested for this special evening. No problem, I understand the need to «put butts in the seats» and the card was a way for them to recoup costs of no shows. I received a voice message confirming my reservation the following day. The message included a blurb about their Prix Fixe menu ($ 149.99 per person) for this occasion. It was also stated on this voice message that there has been «some confusion with other customers that have made their reservations on Open Table» At no time was it stated that the regular menu was not being served. It appears that I missed the Open Table statement that the Prix Fixe menu was all that they would be serving. On their web site it states «we will not be serving our full menu» I thought ok, we’ll just have a smaller selection. Not the case. When I confirmed that the Prix Fixe menu was all they were serving I called to cancel the reservation. I was advised by Chelsea that we will be charged $ 50 per person for the cancellation. I was very much looking forward to experiencing this establishment however, not only have they lost my business, I will gladly offer my perspective when asked for restaurant recommendations.

Extremely upset!
We love eating out and were looking forward to our first time at Zoes, only to find out that they on the day we had reservations, New Year’s Eve, the only menu offered was their prix fixe. When making the reservation, we saw that prix fixe was offered, but it was not clear that it was the ONLY thing offered that day. The voicemail call we got confirming the reservation was also not clear on this point.
So, now we are out $ 100, have a bad taste in our mouth, and will definitely never eat there.
…
Late breaking news…
As a result of the miscommunication, Zoes has offered a $ 100 gift certificate which will offset the cancellation fee. We have told them that we appreciate this, and look forward to dining there soon. They definitely get points for customer service. Communication works!

Fabulous dinner! We got the beef tenderloin med rare. It was cooked to perfection and the mashed potatoes were awesome. I suggest the house sauce on the side. We had the chocolate soufflé and it did not disappoint! I suggest the coffee with dessert. Very good coffee!
Makes your tongue slap your brains out!

For Zoe’s to be so expensive, I expected a near perfect meal. My biggest qualm was the food was lukewarm and the portion sizes are small. We had a table of 6 adults and for the appetizer they served us pencil sized biscotti (5 – 8 pieces) and bread (2 pieces about 2 – 3 inches in length and diameter). Also, I understand the quality of food is better, but thank God I wasn’t starving. I’m not going to complain about the length of time we waited for the food because I understand that each dish is made to order.
As for the positives, the ambiance and service were great! The food was delicious. I ordered the Lobster Jambalaya, and I was very happy with my choice. I really liked that there was valet parking because the day we went it was raining. It was door to door service! Overall, it’s a classy restaurant best saved for a special occasion.

First I would like to thank Executive Chef Jesse and the staff at Zoes for making my post engagement dinner an absolutely memorable evening. The card placed on our table congratulating us was a nice personal touch that sets you guys apart.
First, the overall atmosphere at Zoes is personal and intimate. The perfect lighting, dark furniture, and an immaculately decorated indoor space. The staff were extremely friendly and attention to detail was the norm for the customer service. Our waitress knew everything about the menu items to guide us on our culinary tour that evening. The sommelier made an excellent recommendation for the best Bordeaux to pursue at the given price point (I was wanting a 2009 due to it being a good year but he convinced an older wine would be much better selection).
We began with a sushi special they were serving and I can honestly say it was the best sushi I have ever eaten. Tempura fried lobster claw with a sweet drizzle, sea urchin (uni), Kobe beef and crab tartar, his take on a Philly roll with avocado cream, salmon from Ireland, and bacon, and beluga caviar over shittake mushrooms in a sweet acidic sauce. The flavors and taste were to such an extent that whenever I eat sushi from now on I am going to think back to this night. The Executive Chef Jesse stopped by our table during this course and congratulated us and asked us about the sushi dish. This is the sort of personal service that will bring you coming back to Zoes time and time again.
For entrees, she had 8oz cold water lobster tail and I had a bone in cowboy ribeye with au jus and stallion sauce. Both exceeded our expectations and were delectable. The mashed potatoes were top notch and made my all time favorite list.
For dessert we were not disappointed. She had an apple tart and I had chocolate bread pudding with bourbon sauce. Again, the were perfect with nothing to be asked for. The apple dish was particularly delicious and I had a hard time allowing my fiancé to have the last bite.
If this review doesn’t make you a believer, prove me wrong and go try them out. You will not find a better place in Virginia Beach.

Omg… they exceeded our expectations on every level; service, food, drinks and atmosphere. The Kobe aged ribs are a must have (they should be called the panty dropper) and the wine list is extraordinary. By far in my top three choices our server was Brian and he knows his stuff… top costumer service. Thank Brian!

There’s no finer place to dine when visiting the Virginia Beach area! I ate here last year and there was doubt that I would be returning for a second time. From the busboys to the Sous Chef, Zoës is «Top Notch!» The Chefs Board is a must for your appetizer, be prepared for a no kidding «orgasmic food experience! If you’re a fan of bourbon or even if you’re not, get the Bourbon Rumble… We at least 7 between the 2 of us. Too many compliments about this place to put in one post! Don’t miss out on an opportunity to be wowed!

By far the best food I’ve had, not only in Virginia Beach, but ever. The steaks are exceptional, cooked perfectly, sides are interesting and delicious, blue crab mac and cheese is out of this world!
I made a reservation for a special night out for my boyfriend, who had just returned home from Afghanistan after a year. The sommelier, Marc, made a special visit to our table and recommended an amazing dessert ice-​wine.
Amazing service, as well.
Be prepared to spend a pretty penny, but it is MORE than worth it!

This was the most amazing restaurant I have had the pleasure of eating at in a very long time! The wait staff was wonderful and very attentive. The food that was delivered from the kitchen was extraordinary! Their chef definitely knows what he is found and leads his kitchen staff wonderfully! I definitely recommend this restaurant and will come back when I visit Virginia beach again!

Highly recommend the 4 course with wine pairing. Love that the sommelier comes out and explains each wine that she chose.
I had the Vanilla Butter Poached Lobster Risotto, Prince Edwards Island Mussels, Burgundy Braised Lamb Shank and Red Velvet S’mores.
My hubs had the Sweet Potato Bisque, Grilled Shrimp Chorizo, Char Grilled New Zealand Rack of Lamb and GooGooCluster (Layers of Chocolate Pâté, Toasted Hubbs Peanuts Salted Caramel, Crushed Malted Milk, Nougat).
All were AMAZING!

If you want to be treated like a king or queen and have one of the best meals of your life then you definitely should come here.
My wife and I have been here twice and both times have been nothing short of superb.
First thing you’ll notice is the impeccable service. You are greeted by valet who will open the doors for you and park your car. You don’t even need a ticket because they will remember you and what car you came in with.
The hostess will offer to take your coats and you’ll be seated and given a dark or light napkin depending on your attire.
The waiters are very knowledgeable about their food and you can tell they are proud of their chef.
The have wine sommeliers who know the perfect wines to go with your food and they even give you a description and brief history about the wines they choose for you.
This is a fine dining experience so expect high prices but the food will not disappoint you.
I’ve had the cheese platter, raw oysters, and lob pops for appetizers.
The cheese platter was awesome and when paired with the recommended wines I was given it was a very cool experience.
The lob pops are bacon wrapped lobster bites sprinkled with cherry pop rocks. It definitely was a nice combination of the salty and sweet as well as the crunch the pop rocks added.
The oysters are probably the freshest you’ll find. Picked just a couple hours before reaching our plate they had a very pleasant taste with no salt or brine which you sometimes get with fresh oysters. They clean them up real good.
I have had the filet both times and each time the steak was cooked perfectly and seasoned perfectly. It honestly tasted better without the sauce or any additional flavors.
The blue crab Mac and cheese is absolutely delicious as well as their truffle fries. As side dishes these things could probably stand on their own because they are that good!
For dessert we have tried the goo goo chocolate cluster which is basically layers of a candy bar put into a small glass. You scoop it out with a spoon grabbing a bit of each layer on the way up and take a bite. It’s just like a really fun and delicious way of eating a candy bar. It was a perfect way to cap off the meal.
Our leftovers were boxed and they even offered to give it to the valet so they could put it our car for us. It was a great touch to their service.
I can’t say enough good things about this place as it is definitely a favorite place for us to celebrate special occasions.

Judy = BEST Bartender!
Marc Sauder = BEST WINE Sommelier
Jessie = Chef that ROCKS!!!
Must go if ever in Virginia Beach!!!
You will not be disappointed!
Wine week Oct 2014 Best Menu!

I went there during restaurant week maybe last year.
The staff are pretty nice.
Valet parking in front of the restaurant.
The iceberg salad was fresh and tasty. Bread and butter were yummy. Some free special to fresh up my mouth before entrée. How sweet! Stake was good portion and mouthwatering.
A little bit dark place. Not for family with kids but date nights.
I wanna go back there again to write more interesting stuff:)