The Elephant & Octopus — Restaurant in Cape Charles

Bottom line: fine for cocktail or beer and bar-snack but dinner service was so bad, we left before ordering.

This review covers two events.

Upon arrival in Cape Charles for a weekend visit, we stopped in to see E&O, which was still under construction when we visited in January. We sat at the bar and were eventually greeted and served. Bar was 60-70% occupied, so not what I would call busy.

We each had a pint of Guinness and split the prawn appetizer. Guinness was a good pour for the States. Prawns were large but only five of them (not six?) and served with an aioli. Why anyone would serve prawns without cocktail sauce is a mystery but they rustled some up fast.

So overall, that experience would have been a 4. Based on what we saw on other diners' plates, we decided to have dinner there the next evening.

The next evening (a Saturday), we arrived and they were at maybe 75% capacity. The hostess was spaced . . . like seriously no problem believing shevmight have been experiencing a mushroom trip.

She finally snapped-in and seated us in the way-back. There we sat for five minutes, at which point another couple was seated nearby and was immediately served.

Then, we sat another ten minutes without so much as "hello," so we left.

See accompanying review of...

Absolutely stellar! The Elephant and the Octopus is a must-visit. I don't even know where to begin—this place is a gem. The food, the drinks, the atmosphere... everything was top-notch. I came in for dinner and was blown away by the pub steak; it was cooked to perfection and seasoned just right. My wife had the salmon poke, which was incredibly fresh and flavorful. And the drinks? Forget about it. They have a fantastic selection of beers and their cocktails are expertly crafted. The service was also excellent—our server was friendly, attentive, and had some great recommendations. The vibe is cozy and inviting, perfect for a casual dinner or a night out with friends. I'm already planning my next visit and can't wait to try more of their menu. If you're looking for a place with great food, drinks, and a wonderful atmosphere, this is it. Five stars...

Wonderful place to eat with a bigger group of people, they were kind, accommodating and the sweet waitress kept checking up on us making sure we had everything we needed! I'd recommend this place for sure, I'm someone who normally doesn't eat fish because I hate when it doesn't taste fresh but here the fish and chips were fresh and fried to perfection! And my daughter who is the pickiest eater was gobbling down their chicken tenders! This place obviously seems new, so take it from someone who is just on vacation and is a big foodie, give this place a chance and you just may end finding your new favorite...