Tortugas Café & Tiki Bar — Restaurant in Virginia Beach

Stopped here for some beach day drinks but ended up walking out before ordering because we were ignored.

When we arrived, there were some folks at the bar and some tables of folks, but there were also quite a few empty tables so overall it was not that busy for such a nice day.

We stood near the entrance for a minute, but no one acknowledged us. We asked about a table and were told to seat ourselves, so we did.

We waited.

We watched servers tend to other tables. Finally, one server said someone was bringing over menus right now. A minute or so later a server walks right past us and our table to deliver 2 menus to the table of another couple who had just arrived (to be clear: this table arrived well after us - they were still sitting down when the server scurried over to them). I assume there must have been some mistake or miscommunication, so we continue to wait.

Finally, the first server we spoke to apparently realizes we still have no menus, no nothing, so she brings over 2 menus straight from another table that she had just tended to and puts them on our table without saying anything and then walks away.

We look at the menu, make our choices, and then we're waiting again.

And waiting.

And waiting.

All the while, we see the servers going to and taking care of other tables. In fact, I noticed they were busying themselves with all of the other tables - all of them, that is, except our table and one other.

That's when I realized that our table and the other seemingly-neglected table had something in common: we were the only tables/parties that included non-white folks. Isn't that an interesting coincidence?

When a server yet again flew past us to tend to the table that arrived after us, we were convinced that we were not actually going to get service in this establishment and we walked out.

No staff acknowledged us on the way out either, which is just as well.

I won't be going back and will be discouraging others from...

I am an owner of a timeshare at the Oceanaire resort that tortugas makes all their money by offering poolside food and drinks. I come every year and know the drinks I like and that prices go up yearly due to inflation I get that. However. Yesterday I ordered my daiquiri … 12$ with tax is 13.27 or close to that (.20 something). Drink is brought I pay and tip and away she goes - great service. Today however I get some entitled worker with red dread locks in a bun who can’t manage a smile and assumed because I asked a question I don’t know the prices as I didn’t have a menu in hand . Turns around and charges me 4$ more for the exact same Drink as yesterday. When I asked for a receipt she seem flustered and came back with a receipt she added an extra charge too so that the price made sense that she tried to con me out of extra (which isn’t the standard as it didn’t happen YESTERDAY). She must’ve been so flustered she forgot how to do math because there’s still 2$ missing from my change even with her extra charge. So now my 12$ drink that I get daily has cost me 18$ and I could’ve got almost another whole drink. She instead of apologizing and rectifying the issue decided continuing to try and steal from me was the correct way to handle the situation. I wont be paying for anything in my many years to come from here again. Enjoy staying open with my maintaince fees that keep you guys open. Imagine how many people she does this to in a day?!?! Stealing is NEVER ok. Especially on people she assumes are...

An insane amount of potential, but somehow Tortugas continues to completely miss the mark.

My family was here in April and had a terrible experience. Tortugas ruined the pool/beach vibe by playing loud punk rock and emo music all day long. Don't get me wrong, the playlist was actually my taste, but it's what I would want to listen to while sitting in traffic breathing in exhaust fumes while commuting to my job on a Monday. Some rock songs were so loud we had to move to the pool further away. The music was either loud screaming rock or sad and angsty. Come on Tortugas, read the "room." You're a tiki bar in a prime spot. Play some stuff that makes people feel upbeat and happy to be beachside. It was so awful I heard other pool guests complaining.

Additionally, the frozen tropical cocktails were so basic and overpriced by at least $6. You can't charge $17 for a daquari in a clear solo cup with no garnish.

When it's sunny and 80 degrees a bar like this should be overflowing with customers. There's a reason there were only 3 people there....