Jimmy G's Chop House & Bistro Bar — Restaurant in Virginia Beach

BLUF: Excellent food prepared in-house served with superb customer service.

Away from tourists, and positioned at a price point below fine dining but above chain restaurant sit downs, Jimmy G's offers chef prepared menu items that have foodie flair. Sure, there is a ribeye and a filet, but you could entice your taste buds with a Cuban skirt steak or lamb chops instead. Lobster finds its way to the menu via bisque, ravioli, and mac-n-cheese. Spicy honey chicken sandwich - they have it. Salads with unique veggies - spiral radishes, avocado, whole Kalamata olives, sliced peppers - topped with any protein they have in the kitchen.

We dined on a Friday evening with no reservations and were lucky a booth was open. Not a complaint, but know going in that the large bar occupies half of the dining section and every seat was filled with groups eating and drinking, and the din is a bit loud. The cocktail, wine, and beer list has a wide variety and there is happy hour.

The appetizers were phenomenal and we've talked with others who've dined here and they insisted we try a few as they are so well done. The spinach cheese dip was the best my wife and I have ever had.

Desserts...only a few, but they are equally as impressive as the rest of the menu. Death by Chocolate Cake was ginormous (we took it home for later and were surprised at the size).

Perhaps most importantly, a note about the service. I choose to believe you can get a true feel for a place based on how well the staff interacts. Hosts, Waiters, Servers/bus folk, bartenders, prep folks, etc....when they all work as a cohesive unit and are willfully aiding one another its a sign of quality management and a place in which camaraderie is the status quo. Jimmy G's staff, all that we encountered, were polite, professional, and exuded positivism.

Just go. But hurry, because this little secret gem will soon not be so secret anymore and you (and my wife and I) may have to wait to get a...

This place is amazing not only for lunch, dinner or happy hour but for an event. I was looking for a place to do my niece’s bridal shower. We had a large amount of girls coming. I was planning this from LA when it’s in Virginia Beach. This was ‘it’ the second we saw it. We went in for lunch to “survey” the food. Delicious. The manager was so accommodating to show us what we could do with the back-room space and ideas. It has a great ambiance. They sat with us to go over everything we wanted in advance and gave us a proposal so we had expectations on cost. Their communications were exceptional, even with a conference call with me and all of their staff in advance from afar, I was happy with everything. They were so accommodating and helpful in our vision.

Day of: one of the staff/managers came outside to help us unload our car which was so sweet, they re-arranged things to accommodate our decor/games, they helped with music when we played games/made speeches, the food was fantastic and set up so creatively. The chef came out to make sure we were all happy with everything offered. The staff was exceptional especially because it was 53 women with an open bar! They were super patient with all of us ladies. I can’t say enough great things about you guys. Oh yeah, order cheesecake for dessert, homemade by the mom. It’s superb! Will- you rock for all you did to make this happen and your communications. Tone, the chef (not spelled wrong!) your calmness and wanting to do anything to please us day-of was a joy to work with, your food is incredible and your manners are impeccable. Thank you to all of Jimmy G's staff that worked that day and can’t wait to come back in April so I can come in and enjoy a steak dinner! FYI- pictures don't it do it justice. It's a classy joint that...

I’d been eager to try Jimmy G’s since they opened and finally got the chance on Valentine’s Day. Parking was a challenge due to the busy Valentine’s crowd, but a well-dressed gentleman greeted us at the door and welcomed us in. Inside, two energetic and friendly hostesses were waiting behind the counter. One of them confirmed our reservation, chatted with us as she led us toward our table, and then handed us off to another young lady who was to seat us.

We were initially placed in a back area behind a wall divider at a small, round, high table. It quickly became clear that this setup wasn’t what we had in mind for our evening—the table was wobbly, cramped, and uncomfortable. My husband asked if we could be reseated, and after a brief wait, the young lady kindly escorted us to a more comfortable table.

Once settled with nice music in the background, our night went as planned. Our waitress was professional, kind, and accommodating, and the drinks, appetizers, and food were enjoyable. The coconut shrimp were tasty, though I felt they could have had a stronger coconut flavor, and the peach mango chutney was a bit under-seasoned. I would have preferred the fruit flavors to be more pronounced—slightly sweeter with a bit of a kick.

I rated the Lobster Ravioli between 8.5 and 9, while my husband’s Fra Diavolo—with chicken and shrimp - didn’t quite live up to his initial excitement. The white peach Pinot sangria was outstanding—a perfect 10—while the classic mojitos were good, and the citrus white wine cocktail my waitress made was both delightful and refreshing. One of the owners even stopped by our table twice to check on us and chat, which we really appreciated.

Overall, the visit did not disappoint, and I plan to return soon for Monday...