Eat. An American Bistro

4.9

1278 Reviews

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Make a reservation

2 people

Mar 16, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 6 times today

About this restaurant

Charming
Good for special occasions
Neighborhood gem

*ONLINE RESERVATIONS FILL UP FIRST, PLEASE CALL RESTAURANT FOR IN HOUSE AVAILABILITY*

Parking is available, please see one of our team members with assistance on parking instructions.

Deemed "One of the 30 Places to Eat Before You Die" by writer Lorraine Eaton, this local gem converts first-time guests into long-time fans on a daily basis.

The intimate location (great for a date), tucked away at the north end of the Virginia Beach oceanfront, has become a local favorite. The eclectic menu has something for everyone, including creative renditions of steaks, fresh fish and seafood, possibly the best burger you'll ever have, vegetarian and more. Plus, there's a chalkboard of daily specials, and a full list of wines, craft beers and cocktails.

We apply a supplemental fee to credit card transactions*

Additional information

Location
4005 Atlantic Avenue, Virginia Beach, VA 23451
Phone number
(757) 965-2472
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Contemporary American, Seafood, Steak
Hours of operation
Dinner Tue–Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Parking is available, please see one of our team members with assistance on parking instructions.
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Erick Heilig

Featured in

100 Virginia Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day

Mom's White Chocolate-Banana Bread Pudding$13.00
macadamia nut, anglaise, sorguhm caramel, vanilla ice cream
Cappuccino Pot de Creme$10.00
chocolate decadence with a coffee kick, chantilly cream
Dark Chocolate Fudge Brownies$14.00
bing cherries, cherry anglaise, chocolate bark, honeycomb brittle, chantilly cream, vanilla ice cream
Grand Marnier Creme Brulee$10.00
candied custard, fresh fruit

Coffee

Grandma Loves a Spanaird$12.00
grand marnier, kahlua, creme de cacao, coffee & whipped cream
Heart of Darkness$12.00
drambuie, godiva dark, coffee & whipped cream
Irish Mexican$12.00
jose cuervo, baileys, kahlua, coffee, and whipped cream
Ol' Murphy$12.00
jameson, baileys, coffee & whipped cream

Cordials

Drambuie$10.00
Romana Sambuca$10.00
Bailey's Irish Cream$10.00
Kahlua$10.00
Disarrono$10.00
Chambord$14.00
Pallini Lemoncello$10.00
B & B$11.00
Tuaca$11.00
Grand Marnier$14.00
Frangelico$10.00
Courvoisier$14.00
Godiva Dark or White$14.00
Remy Martin Red VSOP$14.00

Dessert Martinis

Espressotini$16.00
espresso, vanilla vodka, kailua coffee liqueur & godiva dark
Chocotini$16.00
3 olives chocolate, godiva dark & godiva white

Port

'NV Aurora Pedro Ximenez Sherry (Spain)$10.00
'NV Kopke Ruby Port (Portugal)$10.00
'17 Royal Tokagi Late Harvest (Hungary)$11.00
'NV Kopke 10 Year Tawny Port (Portugal)$13.00

What 1,278 people are saying

Eat. An American Bistro reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.9

4.9 based on recent ratings

4.9Food
4.9Service
4.7Ambience
4.5Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Virginia
Best Service
Virginia
Contemporary American
Norfolk / Virginia Beach
Best Overall
Norfolk / Virginia Beach
Best Food
Norfolk / Virginia Beach
Best Service
Norfolk / Virginia Beach
Innovative

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Eat. An American Bistro offers a delightful dining experience with "excellent food" and "great service." The "creative chef" and attentive staff are praised for their expertise. Diners enjoy a "cozy atmosphere" and "delicious" dishes, including standout items like the halibut and soft shell crab. Perfect for date nights or special occasions, though parking can be a challenge.

1,278 Reviews

R
Rhea
Richmond1 review
1.0
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 1
2. Food 1
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 1
Hostess was rude and unwelcoming, Server Coral was very gracious and accommodating.
Is this helpful?
C
Charles VIP
Richmond167 reviews
5.0
Dined on March 7, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Exquisite food coupled with excellent service! Fun night!
Is this helpful?
m
mike VIP
Raleigh4 reviews
5.0
Dined on February 22, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
The best French onion soup ever great cook ! If you’re a foodie this is a good place !
1 person found this helpful
Z
Zane
Washington DC1 review
5.0
Dined on February 15, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Extremely personable, friendly staff. The host was super friendly and our server was attentive
Is this helpful?
E
Edward
Richmond2 reviews
5.0
Dined on February 15, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Food and drinks were awesome - meat temperatures were exact. Server on point. Only nit picky thing I would say is that the table next to the restroom was very cold whenever someone opened the door. Would definitely eat there again.
Is this helpful?
K
Kimberly
Washington DC9 reviews
5.0
Dined on February 14, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
To me, it’s a special occasion restaurant because it’s different than others in the area. Enjoyed the freshest pork belly bao buns, paella and steak. Having a palate cleanser on the menu was so nice to try. Quaint and romantic with excellent service. The only thing that felt off was the bathrooms - they appear to be public and you have to step outside to access.
Is this helpful?
P
Paige
Miami2 reviews
4.0
Dined on February 7, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We always have a great meal at Eat! Tyler was our server and she was exceptional as ever! She always makes our experience fabulous.
Is this helpful?
K
Ken
Richmond1 review
5.0
Dined on February 2, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Great staff and the veal was amazing! Complements to the chef.
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D
Dona
Richmond14 reviews
5.0
Dined on January 29, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Eat did not disappoint, have been here several times and it keeps getting better. Absolutely incredible chef!
Is this helpful?
K
Katy VIP
Orlando8 reviews
5.0
Dined on January 26, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Really amazing food. Like, next level good! This is a place for foodies. Would love to see a little upgrade of the tables/seats, decor, and lighting to match the exquisite food and overall experience. Those aspects seemed a little lacking in comparison but honestly, the food is what matters most. Service was also phenomenal!
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FAQs

Eat. An American Bistro offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (757) 965-2472.

Eat. An American Bistro is rated 4.9 stars by 1278 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Mar 16, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 6 times today

4005 Atlantic Avenue, Virginia Beach, VA 23451

Additional information

Phone number
(757) 965-2472
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Contemporary American, Seafood, Steak
Hours of operation
Dinner Tue–Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Parking is available, please see one of our team members with assistance on parking instructions.
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Erick Heilig

Featured in

100 Virginia Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day

Eat. An American Bistro

Make a reservation

About this restaurant

Additional information

100 Virginia Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day

Eat: Sweet

Mom's White Chocolate-Banana Bread Pudding$13.00

Cappuccino Pot de Creme$10.00

Dark Chocolate Fudge Brownies$14.00

Grand Marnier Creme Brulee$10.00

Coffee

Grandma Loves a Spanaird$12.00

Heart of Darkness$12.00

Irish Mexican$12.00

Ol' Murphy$12.00

Cordials

Drambuie$10.00

Romana Sambuca$10.00

Bailey's Irish Cream$10.00

Kahlua$10.00

Disarrono$10.00

Chambord$14.00

Pallini Lemoncello$10.00

B & B$11.00

Tuaca$11.00

Grand Marnier$14.00

Frangelico$10.00

Courvoisier$14.00

Godiva Dark or White$14.00

Remy Martin Red VSOP$14.00

Dessert Martinis

Espressotini$16.00

Chocotini$16.00

Port

'NV Aurora Pedro Ximenez Sherry (Spain)$10.00

'NV Kopke Ruby Port (Portugal)$10.00

'17 Royal Tokagi Late Harvest (Hungary)$11.00

'NV Kopke 10 Year Tawny Port (Portugal)$13.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

Does Eat. An American Bistro offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Eat. An American Bistro restaurant rated?

Is Eat. An American Bistro currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information

Featured in

100 Virginia Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day