Cobalt Grille — Restaurant in Virginia Beach

I was very disappointed in my grilled cheese and tomato soup that I had for lunch with my daughter last week. The cheese was very minimal for such thick bread (I mean like the individually wrapped cheese you buy at the grocery store in packs of 12 or 24, it seemed like they used only one thin slice - not sure since I always use cheddar cheese and the restaurants I normally patron uses thicker cheese) I mean, I literally was eating a toasted bread sandwich that had a small flavor or amount of cheese on it - so very disappointing. The tomato soup tasted like marinara sauce not tomato soup and was the consistency of a thick marinara sauce. The bartender who was our waitress (we were sitting at one of the tables in the bar area) was very nice but she definitely dropped the ball when it came to waiting on us. She got our drinks quickly but then a group of men came in for their to-go order but they decided to sit and eat inside so she waited on them first of which my daughter told her it was okay for her to get their order out to them and we will order in a few minutes. Well 20 minutes went by and I had to ask the hostess to get someone to take our order and she even said with a question "you still have not ordered"? By the time she was walking away to get someone the bartender came over to take our order and then apologized for it taking so long but said that we wanted to take a few minutes so she thought we were just chatting for a while before ordering. Well, if she hadn't spent so much time chatting with the men at the bar after taking care of the guys who by the way came in after us, she would have known we were ready to order or at least PLEASE come by and ask if we are ready instead of assuming we are not and then show up when we are complaining to the hostess that we haven't been able to order and are hungry. I have eaten at Cobalt Grille a couple of times before and didn't have any issues but this time was very disappointing for me and...

A Disheartening Experience on a Milestone Celebration at Cobalt Grille

We reserved a private room at Cobalt Grille to celebrate our daughter's remarkable achievement—earning her doctorate degree, a first in our family. This occasion was meant to be a joyous and memorable milestone. Regrettably, the experience fell far short of our expectations and marred what should have been a celebratory evening.

Upon arrival, the media package we had paid for was incomplete; we had to request the remote multiple times before receiving it. This initial oversight set a concerning tone for the evening.

The service provided by our waitress was notably subpar. She moved at an unhurried pace, lacked basic courtesy, and failed to inquire if we desired refills or additional drinks. Our table remained cluttered with dishes from both appetizers and main courses, which we began to stack ourselves in hopes they would be cleared—yet they remained untouched.

When we addressed our concerns with the on-site manager, his offer of a champagne toast felt like a superficial gesture rather than a meaningful resolution to the issues we faced.

The waitress's demeanor was unprofessional; she interacted with us as though our presence was an inconvenience, speaking in a manner that suggested we were a burden. The culmination of these issues was a prolonged wait of over an hour to receive our checks—a delay that is, unfortunately, not an exaggeration. Ultimately, we left the private room and waited by the register to settle our bill.

Our daughter was visibly upset, and the cold food only compounded our disappointment. The negative energy and lackluster service overshadowed the entire evening, turning a significant family celebration into a distressing experience.

We hope that Cobalt Grille takes this feedback seriously and implements necessary improvements to ensure that future patrons do not endure similar disappointments, especially during moments meant for...

Good food, great service. The decor at Cobalt Grille is a little dated; curvy bench seating along the curve interior walls; dropped ceiling sections that matched the curves of the benches below, and recessed lighting that was popular 15 years ago. Our waiter, Alex H, was very attentive and checked on us frequently throughout our meal. For starters, we each ordered soup. Tomato-basil and she-crab were both very good, with plenty of basil and chunky tomato bits. My bowl of she-crab was among the best I've tasted. Flavorful bits of crab meat and the right amount of sherry in the creamy soup. We followed with fried green tomatoes; another good choice. Nicely breaded tomato slices retained their firmness after a trip to the deep-fryer, and were served with a nice drizzle of balsamic glaze. For entrees, my wife ordered the shrimp and scallop risotto from the regular menu, while I chose the Catch of the Day special. On the night we dined, it was a yellow fin tuna steak grilled with Carribbean jerk seasoning. Sides were fried plantains (like a starchy cousin of the banana) and beans & rice. The risotto dish was very enjoyable; plump shrimp and scallops were tender and cooked perfectly while the risotto was creamy with great texture. It was a large serving, and leftovers made a nice lunch the next day. I asked for my jerked tuna steak to be medium rare; it came out with a nice sear outside and moist pink interior. Perfecto! The two sides didn't fare quite as well; the plantains were acceptable but not memorable, with a sweet glaze that made them taste more like a dessert dish... think Bananas Foster without the rum sauce. I'm usually a big fan of rice and beans, but the offering at Cobalt Grille had a slightly sour or vinegary taste that didn't go over well. All in all, it was a good evening out and a very good meal....