Swell Charcoal Grill and Raw Bar — Restaurant in Norfolk

How often do you find that one pearl among the broken shells? Rare for me, even as grey hair sets in along with a more discerning palate. Here in Willoughby Spit, the Swell Grill spot is some kind of wonderful you didn’t know you needed. 🏝️

It’s glamor sublime, from the bar & barkeep, to the eclectic diners, to the carry-out option. “So fancy, am I expected to make reservations?” Nah. It ain’t that. At all. Walk-ins welcome. Even preferred. Indeed, is there any other way to enjoy a genuinely unassuming surf & turf meal by the quiet shore?

My fave above all seafoods is the ephemeral Chesapeake Bay crab cake. And the chef at Swell makes it with the best! Added on some crisp french fries, and a veggie sauté that deliciously sends you to a nourishing evening reverie.

I tried the key lime pie, and for me desserts are usually a no-go. Amazing it is, perfectly sugared and stiffened, quite like the authentic you know from your A1A drives.

Not sure my next visit here to the Spit. Sure enuff, Swell is a “must dine again” on my list. 💛 — It should be a “must try” on your list, too! 👍👍🏽👍🏿

{Thanks, y’all! A real blessing for me after a long day this side of...

If you’re looking for that perfect blend of incredible food, welcoming service, and beachy charm, this is the spot! Tucked away in a quiet pocket along ocean view, this seafood restaurant is the kind of place you almost want to keep secret…but it’s just too good not to share.

I came here for the seafood and ended up blown away by the steak. Cooked to absolute perfection, exactly how I asked, hand cut and bursting with flavor. You can tell the kitchen takes real pride in what they put on the plate.

The fresh fish? Next-level. You can practically taste the ocean in every bite. Everything is prepared simply and beautifully, letting the freshness of the catch speak for itself.

But what really sets this place apart is the service. From the moment you walk in, the staff makes you feel like a regular, even if it’s your first visit. Friendly, attentive, and genuinely warm, they create an atmosphere that makes you want to linger a little longer.

This place has officially earned a spot on my must-return list. Whether you’re a local or just passing through,...

We had a nice experience initially at this restaurant. On our second visit we had oysters, shrimp, lobster, scallops and two rounds of cocktails. We spent a considerable amount of money—tipped more than 20% on our meal then ordered additional food to go (which we also tipped 20%+ on….because we’re happy to compensate for good food and good service). When we arrived home, we discovered they charged us twice for one item (waitstaff error) and two of the items were incorrect (kitchen error/receipt was correct), so we had two inedible items. When I called upon discovering the error, I very nicely asked if they could refund the two items. Rob who represented himself as the owner, responded they were not responsible for food after it leaves the restaurant. It’s bizarre and really unfortunate that a small business owner who I was trying to give benefit of the doubt, reacted by arguing with me about a refund for food I didn’t order. I won’t be returning or recommending this business to the hundreds of airbnb guests that we...