Ocean Grill Buffet — Restaurant in Virginia Beach

Ocean Grill & Seafood Buffet is located in the Holland Windsor Shopping Center on Holland Rd. It is pretty close to the Kroger Marketplace. There are several shops around the place, so parking can be limited at times if you need to try and park close to the business. My most recent visit here was on December 25, 2024.

The most recent visit here was my third overall visit. I came in the first time during the lunch hours. It's at a lower cost, but not as many options, but that made sense given the cost. There was still plenty of items to choose from. The other two visits, including the most recent one, was during the dinner time or holiday special. The cost does vary based on the time of day and the day of the week you come in. There is a 10% discount for seniors. Cash is king here. If you pay with a credit or debit card, an additional 3% merchant fee is added.

The place is very open inside. There are several areas for seating. Take out is also an option if you are so inclined to go that route. You can see the buffet area as you come in. If you drink sodas, I believe they have Pepsi products. I just stick with water with lemon. Once greeted by the server, you can head up to the buffet to start. If you happen to be coming in with someone who is not doing the buffet, make sure to let the server know up front.

Plates, utensils, and hand sanitizer are available at the buffet. You will use a new plate for each visit. There is an area for desserts, salads, and fruits in general at the first serving area. The other two serving areas feature the hot food items, which can vary based on an individual visit. In general, you can find an array of seafood items from fish, shrimp, crab, and more. There are some traditional Chinese foods too, such as Salt and Pepper Shrimp, General Tso Chicken, and more. There is another hot serving area next to the area where the sushi is. That has things like ribs, grilled salmon, and other things of that sort. Finally, they have a hibachi grill. You can choose what foods and sauces you want to have in it, and then it will be cooked for you there as you watch.

They were very good about keeping the food areas stocked. The servers I have had on the visits have been good about collecting old plates at the table. The food was really good on each of the visits. I may not make it in too often after the holidays since many of the foods are so good that they spike my blood sugar. For those that don't know, I have been in type 2 diabetic remission for over 18 months as of the time this review was written.

Overall, I have had great experiences here with the food and service. There is so much to choose from, so be sure to come hungry. There really is something for everyone. If you're looking for a great seafood buffet place to check out, this place...

Disappointing and Misleading Experience

I visited Ocean Grill Buffet after seeing their advertisements for “all-you-can-eat snow crab legs” and expecting a seafood extravaganza: scallops, shrimp varieties, crab legs, oysters, clams, fried clams, and fish. Unfortunately, the experience was far from what was promised.

There were no crab legs whatsoever. Instead, the buffet featured a dozen types of Chinese food, more banana-based dishes than shrimp options. Not to mention more chicken wings types as well. It felt more like an average Chinese buffet than the seafood haven they advertise and the name suggests.

If they marketed themselves honestly as a Chinese buffet, that would be fine, but even then, my local Chinese takeout spot (just five minutes away) vs. driving 30min offers better food at a fraction of the cost. Price and experience felt like a complete waste, especially when the selection didn’t justify the price tag.

The photos and advertisements are highly misleading. If you’re going here expecting the seafood selection they show, be prepared to leave disappointed. This was not the seafood experience I...

I was not overly impressed with this place. Many dishes were just hit or miss. One concerning thing is both of my boys, 9 & 5, broke out in a rash after eating here. This was the only place we ate out at. My youngest doesn’t really have any concerning food allergies but my older one has many intolerances. So for my younger one to break out the way he did and my older one was on the verge of a severe reaction, I have no idea what could have caused this. I’m not deducting stars for this but I think it is a concern. Neither of them have seafood, sesame, soy, or egg allergies. Wheat nor dairy do this to them. My youngest has no peanut or tree nut allergies. My youngest one has never had a reaction like this nor my oldest for that matter since he was an infant anyway. The doctor said he was on the verge of a severe allergic reaction and prescribed an oral steroid. I’m thinking it was a preservative or a frozen dessert. Or a preservative in a frozen dessert since they didn’t eat the same things except the frozen desserts. I have no idea but just be careful if you have sensitivities. Bring your inhaler, epipen, and...