Cibus Chophouse — Restaurant in Hampton

So, I have been to this establishment four times now (12/16/23, 12/20/23, 2/10/24, 02/15/24), and I would like this place to succeed, but there are some improvements that I think would be beneficial. When I first came here, I thought it was so good, that I was telling everyone about it, but now I am not so sure that I would go out of my way to recommend this place.

First I would like to say, the service is amazing. Every time I have come here, the servers are very friendly and they are happy to suggest things, which we were always happy to try.

My main issue with this place is their inconsistency. My partner and I went when they first opened, and they had this white cheddar type mac and cheese, and the fries seemed like they were double fried, and both of those items were so delicious I had to tell everyone I knew to go, because they have the best fries & mac and cheese in Hampton. Now, not so much. They already changed their recipes, and it doesn’t hit the same way, and honestly not as tasty, and it is always different. For example, I came on 2/10/24, got the mac and cheese, kinda dry in some spots, not a lot of cheese, and it was a different cheese blend, then when I came on 02/15/24, mac and cheese was good, but they added potato chips to the top, it wasn’t bad, just not consistent, and definitely not as good as the first few times we went. Same with the fries, even though the consistency was pretty good, but now they have changed them, which I was highly disappointed. They went from a crispy nice standard cut, where it was evenly crisp, and switched to steak fries. Every burger place around here has steak fries, so their evenly crisp fries was a diamond in the ruff around here, but not anymore.

Another inconsistency is from the kitchen I believe. One time I had the perfect Cherry Limeade with tequila (as suggested by a server), it was so good I got another. Last time I went I got the same drink, but it was way too sweet, and then I tried the Brazilian Limeade which was way too tart. I ended up telling the server, and she said it has sweetened condensed milk in it, but they might have not added enough, and she went to go check, but I think she got distracted, so we never found out if they didn’t add enough milk or not.

Same with our main order, I have ordered the Burger three out of the four times I have gone, and asked for Medium well with some pink in the middle, and last time I went it was so well done that it wasn’t that enjoyable. Other times they have forgotten items on the burger, and we told them, and they fixed it, but for a small local joint, this shouldn’t keep happening.

I feel like I can’t put my reputation on the line and promote this place by word of mouth with so many inconsistencies in such a short time frame. I might wait a few months and try this place again and update my review. As a local, I really want this place to stick around for years to come and I would still recommend this place if someone asks, but I will be truthful about...

I’m leaving this review based on my second patronage to this restaurant. My husband, our daughter and myself visited first, sometime in October, we had a lovely experience. I had lamb, my husband had 8oz filet mignon, together we ordered macaroni and cheese and Brussels Sprouts. All offerings were delicious! They were so good that we decided to return for a second time

Upon returning, we left confused and annoyed. This time around we got six wings with mild sauce as an appetizer, they were a joke. If you’ve ever had the wings that Pizza Hut offers, you’ve had the wings at Cibus — very tiny. We persisted on because maybe it was a fluke?

For main, I order the same filet mignon that my husband had our first visit and my husband ordered the “special” being “salmon bites tossed in honey over pasta”. When the food arrived to our table, we were so confused. My husband’s salmon over pasta dish was a filet of baked salmon and asparagus over rice — the manager came by to tell us there was some kind of miscommunication, still we persisted on. My plate had four poorly cooked baby Bella mushrooms, three pieces of sliced onion and a cut of steak that was not filet mignon.

We ushered over the server to address the steak issue, she took our plate and said she’d be back. When she return, she informed me that, “it was absolutely filet mignon, but there was a different chef than usual and they cut it wrong”. I replied to say that filet mignon has minimal fat and is served in a medallion — I’m thinking this was a sirloin or another flat fatty cut of steak. They gave us our money back for the steak.

We left feeling like we should have sent everything back. None of the offerings were delicious. I left feeling completely insulted. To be looked at in my face and for someone to not only lie and say that this was a filet mignon but also to try and tell me that there is a chef in house cutting steaks and they happen to cut this one wrong is hilarious in hindsight.

If I could impart any knowledge to Cibus, it would be to not lie about basic food knowledge to anyone because you don’t know their food knowledge background. My family owns a restaurant and I was a chef for around eight years before being a SAHM. Be blessed and do better 🖤

EDIT: I’m still confused on you’re cutting steaks in the kitchen, do you all buy a full cow and cut prior to service? If that’s the case, how would you be able to serve a filet mignon—if it is being “pre cut” . ADDITIONALLY, it wasn’t like I had an above normal amount of fat on filet mignon, I had a completely different cut. This dished pasted two hands before it got to my table. I did say that I was not satisfied and did not want a remake as you all tried to sell a sirloin as...

The experience wasn’t horrible, but definitely not 5 star. Our server was good and took care of us the best she could with the help she got. There was one guy who had helped bring out the food who was nice, and took care of anything condiments we need when our meals came out. He even came back and checked on us.

I think this place is better suited for small parties, which if I would have looked at the size of the place prior to making our reservation, then I would have picked another place to go.

Experience started off great and slowly went from great to ok, to mediocre.

As someone who worked in the food industry, for years, as a waitress and a bartender here are my Pros and Cons.

Pros: inside atmosphere looked nice (didn’t experience it) Food was good, I had the truffle fries and smash burger. Meatballs were excellent. The Make your own lemonade a great concept and loved the options.

Cons:

Don’t bring cake for a celebration, they charge you a $7/plate cutting fee. Was never told in advance.

If you have a reservation and are seating them outside, then you should let them know prior to arrival. You already know the heat is stifling in VA in August not majority of people prefer the inside.

Drinks were short on liquor, if you order an Old Fashioned you should be able to taste the liquor. That’s the point of an Old Fashioned.

As a chophouse, your steaks should always come out to temp no matter how busy it is. That’s your brand. A medium NY strip shouldn’t come out looking like a sirloin, that has been pressed down and unevenly cooked. My daughter ordered a chicken sandwich. Was told she couldn’t replace regular onions with grilled onions. Her burger came out with regular onions, to pick off herself, and grilled onions. Also, your sandwich burger combos that come with fries and a fountain drink I’m not sure what chophouse serves Coke in a can and a plastic cup.

2 out of 4 appetizers came out, our waitress asked the person to bring us appetizer plates, 10-15 mins still no plates, asked again and asked for our other 2 appetizers that were missing. 10-15 minutes, no plates or other appetizers. 10 minutes later asked again and finally was brought the butter board and plates. Still never got the wings.

Was told the manager would come and talk about the drinks, never came. The only time she showed up was to charge us for the cutting/platting fee for the cake.

Again decent food and outside is probably great in the fall/winter/spring. Don’t take big parties and better...