VB Restaurant Week celebrates 20 years with great deals, chef-inspired dishes and spirits
It’s that most wonderful time of the year for lovers of local food and great deals. That’s right, restaurants weeks are here—and the region’s longest running restaurant week is marking the occasion of its 20th anniversary with some truly tasty opportunities for diners and visitors.
Virginia Beach Restaurant Week, presented by the Virginia Beach Restaurant Association (VBRA), is celebrating two decades. Of course, there will be the pre fixe meal deals we know and love, which typically include set prices for lunch and/or dinner and feature two or three courses and a curated selection of dishes. But look out for some extra special twists and treats.
From January 20-26, the city’s top chefs will showcase their culinary talents, and participating restaurants will offer not only specially designed menus but signature dishes from the past and present and even treasured family recipes that help tell a story every bite.
“That’s what restaurants are really all about,” explains Martha Davenport, executive director of the VBRA, “the people behind the meals. It’s also a great opportunity for our chefs to introduce new or creative menu items.”
Last year Virginia Beach Restaurant Week introduced a “drink as a course” option (for those who might prefer an espresso martini to an espresso cheesecake), but this year they are spicing things up even more by partnering with local and Virginia distilleries. Participating restaurants may offer handcrafted cocktails showcasing those spirits and designed specifically for Restaurant Week.
Many of Virginia Beach’s most beloved eateries are long-time participants in Restaurant Week and are on board for 2025. Some of those include Rockafellar’s Restaurant, Eurasia Café, FIREBREW Bar & Grill, Icehouse Restaurant, The Melting Pot and Zoës Steak & Seafood. There are plenty of new restaurants in the mix too.
Also new this year are discounted rates on hotel stays during Restaurant Week in partnership with the Virginia Beach Hotel Association and supported by a grant from the Virginia Tourism Corporation. If you’re looking for a relaxing and delicious post-holidays staycation, make those reservations ASAP.
Finally, keep an eye out for “Mr. Pineapple,” the official VB Restaurant Week mascot.
Learn more at dineinvb.com.
2025 Local Restaurant Weeks
Mark your calendars for these delicious days of deals.
Newport News: January 12-26
Downtown Norfolk: January 13-19
Virginia Beach: January 20-26
Portsmouth: January 24-February 1
Smithfield: January 31-February 8
York County: February 24-March 2
Hampton: March 2-16
Downtown Norfolk: July 21-27
Chesapeake: Tentative for October
Suffolk: November 9-16
More Great Restaurant Deals
CoVa Deals program offers diners 50% off gift vouchers for great local restaurants like Waypoint Seafood and 1608 Crafthouse!
What’s better than digging into your favorite dish at your favorite local restaurant? Or maybe a new dish at a restaurant you’ve never tried before? Doing it for half the price, of course. Coastal Virginia Magazine’s CoVa Deals program offers diners discount on vouchers with set values that can be used towards the cost of a meal at participating restaurant partners in the region.
Spend $37.50 and receive a $75 voucher for 1608 Crafthouse on Pleasure House Road in Virginia Beach, where Chef-owner Kevin Sharkey and his talented crew aren’t afraid of big, bold flavors and way-beyond-basic brews to match. Savor seasonal, elevated bar snacks, small and large plates—from Raw Oysters with lemon and basil mignonette to Lamb Meatballs, the Sage Dusted Rockfish to the succulent 14-ounce Ribeye with house-cut truffle fries and roasted bone marrow topped with an heirloom tomato and blue cheese salad.
If you’re craving upscale seafood in Williamsburg, head over to the CoVa Deals website for a $50 voucher that costs just $25, good towards your meal at the elegant Waypoint Seafood in Williamsburg, located at Quarterpath Crossing. Celebrating the beauty of the freshest catches and ingredients from our local Chesapeake waters and farms, Waypoint blends culinary classics with Mediterranean cuisine. Choose a Whole Grilled Fish or Filet Mignon from their wood-fired grill or indulge in a Chesapeake Crab Cake or savory Cioppino or Gnocchi sauteed in brown butter with roasted veggies.
Check the CoVa Deals website for the latest list of restaurant and retail deals available.
Learn more at covadeals.com.
Leona Baker
Leona Baker is the former Editor-in-Chief of Coastal Virginia Magazine. She is a writer, creative, communications professional, food freak, news junkie, nature and travel lover and mom. She holds a degree in English from James Madison University and a degree in Dance & Choreography from Virginia Commonwealth University. She previously served as Senior Copywriter for Spark 451, Director of Marketing & Communications at Virginia Wesleyan University, and Senior Editor of Port Folio Weekly.
