1608 Crafthouse — Restaurant in Virginia Beach

There are two things I considered when writing this review: the food, and the service. I did not include the location because I have nothing brilliant to say about it.

The food was above average. We ordered the pretzel for and appetizer, and I shared a cheeseburger (w/o bacon) and the lamb burger with a friend. The pretzel was delicious! It was huge. All 7 of us shared it and it filled us. It came with two dipping sauces and both of them were excellent. The burgers were the reason we decided on this restaurant. Unfortunately, they didn’t live to my expectations. They weren’t bad, but they extremely overrated. The bread was crunchy, which I thought was good. The patties, however, were 2/3 the bread. Overall, they didn’t stand out. Even now while writing the review a few hours after leaving the restaurant, I don’t remember what they tasted. The burgers came with a side of fries. The fries were phenomenal! I kept stealing fries from the people next to me. I ate and ate and ate until my mouth got tired of chewing. They were my perfect fries. They are probably FedExed from heaven. I also ordered the Arnold Palmer (half lemonade, half iced tea) and I enjoyed it as well. I gave the restaurant 4 stars because the food wasn’t worth the 20 minutes drive from where we were.

The other criteria was the service, which was absolutely extraordinary. Our waiter, though busy, was always there when we needed her. We were a party of 7, and we all loved her. She’s a very hard worker. She was like a bee, buzzing between tables, talking to people and making sure they have everything they need. I never saw her standing still for more than two seconds. She also did not mind that we were foreigners, and gave us perfect menu recommendations that match our dietary restrictions (we don’t drink alcohol and don’t eat pork). She honestly left a lasting impression on me.

I can gladly say that I’ll go back to NoVA thinking I had a great time in 1608 Crafthouse, not because of the food or the place, but because...

Finally had a chance to come here.. was closed a couple times for the superbowl and an Employee Appreciation Day.. for a place to close down to appreciate their employees tells me a lot of great things without having to experience anything yet..

I ordered the ribeye.. medium rare and it was cooked to perfection!! Perfectly juicy and every area of the ribeye was evenly red.. the seasoning was just right and the saltiness from the fries paired excellently well.. the fries were just the right crisp as well!! I could honestly use more fries with my steak but that's because I love food.. wifey ordered the Kalua pork.. so tender and flavored very well.. her one thing for the dish is that it could've had a slightly bigger portion of the rice.. but otherwise no complaint about.. (yes.. we love our carbs!!).. our kiddo got the Mac and Cheese with fries and she said it was one if the best Mac and cheeses she had.. didn't even want to share a bite!! Our close friend had ordered one of their burgers and it's definitely in their top 10.. I had the beer flight and the Purple Drank.. Best mead I've had!! Also brought a Growler home.. but will come back for the bigger Growler (they were out.. and I collect Growlers).. and try other dishes.. seems their menu rotates every so often since their menus have a date on the top..

We also ate outside.. was a bit chilly and there was an issue with the heat lamp.. also would advise getting another one for full coverage of the outside seating area.. but otherwise the hit food kept us warm.. hopefully next time there is room inside just to get a proper...

I like 1608 and appreciate the experience they offer patrons.

I ordered the pork belly wrapped ribeye and fiancee got the shrimp and grits. Jesus--I have never been more envious of someone else's plate.

The shrimp and grits were delicious. Well done and all the flavors that I expect were present. My only complaint would be that it was not commiserate to the price, $25. In this area, I've had ones equally exception and they've never broken the $20 barrier. This place isn't also in the "classiest" of areas either despite having a menu and quality that would rival any bistro.

My plate was a bit off but I appreciate what the chef was going for. The amount of pork in comparison to the ribeye was deceptive. I had thought or been led to believe that the ribeye was the star of the show; instead it was quite reversed. The dish was also topped with a feta and diced tomatoes pairing. Nowhere in this dish was starch or enough acid present to make this balanced or really enjoyable. I ended up repurposing the generous amount of pork elsewhere in other dishes at home. Worth the price however despite it being a poorly executed dish.

Other patrons had rightly ordered the burgers which I should have too looking back in hindsight.

The menu is also seasonal and local. They have many local brews on tap.

The atmosphere is nice too. It's definitely a grown up hangout spot.

Definitely an experience and worth 4 stars despite me ordering a one off. The prices could be a bit lower for the amount of food you get but all in all, still worth coming...