Second Street American Bistro — Restaurant in Poquoson

I had been eyeing this restaurant for months! I workout beside it, and it looked nice from the outside. I decided to take my son for Valentines Day and was not disappointed. The ambiance was great. We did the heated patio, and it was nice! Our waitress was nice and patient. Their menu has a wide arrange of dishes from steak to pasta to salad to burgers and flatbread pizzas. It's not cheap but not expensive either, it just depends on what you order. I had the lemon grilled salmon with wild grain rice and kale. It could've used a little seasoning. My son had the American burger with fries. The fries were delicious and so crispy! The burger was good, I assume. He ate it up! I had one of their specialty drinks made with whipped vodka and rice milk. It was delicious. I will definitely return.

Update: Visited again and had the Chicken Tortellini. I liked that dish better than the entree I had on my 1st visit!

Update: Visited on Mother's Day 2024. I was disappointed they were out of the specials (flounder stuffed with crab meat and some specialty drinks). I had the Bistro Steak with mashed potatoes and broccoli. I also had their Strawberry Shortcake drink ($7 yay). The only downside to the drink was that they put bits of strawberries in it, so its hard to drink because the bits get stuck in the straw. My food was flavorful, and the drink was good. We ordered the chocolate chip cookie and brownie with ice cream for dessert. I was not happy with that because the cookie and brownie were cold! I thought it was going to be warm under the ice cream so I didn't eat it. Staff is always nice...

I have so much respect and admiration for Second Street American Bistro in Newport News, Virginia. This restaurant has always been one of my absolute favorites, and I knew it would be the perfect choice for hosting my birthday brunch in their private dining room. Everything about this place is exceptional—from the warm and professional welcome the moment you walk in, to the stunning atmosphere that shows how much the owners care about their business. The food and drinks are consistently amazing, with seasonal options that showcase true creativity and culinary care. Whether it’s brunch, dinner, or dessert, I’ve never left without being impressed. And beyond the flavors, the customer service is always impeccable. I’m incredibly grateful for their team’s kindness and flexibility during my event—letting me arrive early for setup, answering every question with patience, and accommodating my timing with such grace. The personal touch of the staff coming to meet me, complimenting the room, and making me feel valued really stood out. I had a wonderful time, and the effort and dedication of the entire team didn’t go unnoticed. Second Street isn’t just a restaurant to me; it’s a place where thoughtful hospitality and unforgettable experiences come together. I’ll forever be a loyal customer, deeply appreciative of the hard work they put into making every visit special. Special thanks to Shannon, Scott,...

Just over two years ago, we held a major family life-cycle event here and it was fantastic. Based on that experience, we decided to plan another family event here. At the start of November, we approached them about a May function. They told us that they weren't ready to write a contract that far out, but that they would reserve the date for us and to come back after the holidays. We went back after the holidays, and they still said that they weren't ready, but assured us that we had a reservation for the date. Then, just last week, when we went in to work out the contract, the new manager told us that we no longer had a reservation there, and that they had booked someone else that night. She was curt and unapologetic. When we asked the asst manager that we had been dealing with, he was sheepish, and told us that some things had changed. No response either from the owner. So we were left holding the bag with only three months to go. To say that we were disappointed is an understatement. I guess the silver lining is that at least we didn't get to the event itself before finding out how badly things had changed there. We won't ever be going back.

Be very wary about booking events here. The old management was customer centric and fantastic. The new management is not. And the smell of bleach that permeates the entry way doesn't do a lot for...