Chef's Market Food Hall & Entertainment Venue — Restaurant in Poquoson

The place is loud. Like a nicer Dave and Busters. The lighting is harsh and mellow at the same time. Hard to explain but it felt like spotlights but not blaring. I believe they used daylight bulbs which didn’t feel inviting.

Didn’t eat but the menu looked good. We thought about ordering until we looked at the meat/charcuterie display cases then changed our minds. The food was uncovered and looked like it had been sitting out all day. The dishes were all dried out on top. The second case had random food in it—not appetizing.

We ended up getting a couple beers each. The Line Lager was good. However our bartender was not friendly AT ALL. She seemed very annoyed at the customers. Maybe because they were interrupting her vaping behind the bar. We flagged down a second bartender who we noticed overheard us talking about the vaping behind the bar. Apparently bartenders and customers are allowed to vape just not smoke cigarettes. She told the vaping bartender that people could she her doing that and not to be obvious. The Vaping bartender threw her vape down and looked more annoyed than she did before.

The music was good but it was so loud from the people playing games it was hard to really enjoy.

What would make it better? Warmer lighting to make it more inviting, hiding from view the dried out food in the cases, the butcher shop looked like a storage room so hide that too. Keep the nice young lady (shorter of the two bartenders and not vaping) with dark hair behind the bar. She was very personable and looked like she enjoyed her job smiling and engaging with the customers.

We may give it another chance but based on first visit, not at the top...

Updated after eating food

I ordered the focaccia bread cheese pizza, pork belly tacos, and brisket taco. The presentation was decent, but I had to box up my food myself, even though I asked for it to go. Overall, the food was ok, but the pork belly taco was a disappointment—just didn’t taste right, and the slivered almonds were overwhelming. The focaccia pizza had a nice thick, tasty crust, but the sauce reminded me of Ragu jar sauce, which made it underwhelming. On the bright side, the salad was good. The food is definitely overpriced, though that seems to be the norm these days. Will return for the atmosphere and free events - not for the food.

::Original review::

First impression: Whoa—there’s a lot going on here! Walking in, I expected a big bar, dance floor, and brewery, but this place is so much more. From the mini bowling alley, dart bars, skee ball, and pinball machines to the wine wall, charcuterie case, fresh scooped ice cream, and unique knick-knacks for purchase, Chef’s Market has something for everyone. The multiple seating areas, two bars, and nostalgic bar tops covered in old photos and concert stubs give it a cool vibe.

Not everything is captured in photos or videos—you really have to come in and experience it for yourself.

The service was friendly, but it took me a minute to realize I had to go deeper inside to find it. That small confusion, along with the just-okay food for the price, knocks it down a star.

That said, it’s still a neat hangout spot, and I’m excited to check out their recurring events, like wine tastings. This spot has huge potential to be a real community staple. Definitely worth a...

Chef’s Life Brewery has the kind of atmosphere that draws you in right away, stylish, upbeat, and full of promise. It’s a spot that looks and feels like it should deliver a great experience, with a fun vibe and a solid beer selection. Unfortunately, the service and food execution didn’t live up to the setting.

From the start, there was no greeting or acknowledgment when we arrived. We had to approach the staff ourselves just to get started. Once seated, things didn’t improve much. Nearly half of our order came out incorrect, and no condiments or utensils were brought out without multiple requests. It wasn’t just us either. Other patrons around us were also getting up to ask for corrections or missing items. The lack of attention to detail really stood out.

On top of that, there was zero upselling. We weren’t even asked if we wanted drinks or refills, which seems like a big missed opportunity in a brewery setting. We had to inquire ourselves just to get beverages. Not to mention even the coke fountain was out of syrup.

The menu, while creative, also feels overly ambitious. It’s large and a bit overwhelming, which makes mistakes and unavailable items almost inevitable. Streamlining the offerings and focusing on a few well-executed dishes, maybe rotating some specialties during peak hours, could go a long way in improving both quality and consistency.

Chef’s Life Brewery absolutely nails the vibe and atmosphere, but the experience doesn’t match the presentation. With stronger service training, a more focused menu, and attention to detail, it could easily go from “nice spot with potential” to a standout...