We went to Salty Dog Restaurant on Shore Drive in Virginia Beach the other night to try things out as they’d just opened for business.
WOW!
Usually when you order a steak medium-rare to medium you get medium to well. Not at Salty Dog. I got exactly what I ordered, one huge ribeye cooked about medium-rare. It was fantastic! He must have read my method before cooking it. That’s a joke, ok?
Oh, I guess you want to know about the rest of the meal, huh? Sorry, the steak was so good I didn’t eat anything else.
Just kidding.
When you’re seated they serve you homemade hush puppies with their own spun butter that’s so soft and creamy you won’t believe it unless you try it.
As an appetizer we had Garlic Clams. There were about a dozen in the bowl with a garlic and clam juice broth. I chowed them down, and fast, too. Best clams I’ve had in some time. Food can be so good when it’s not overcooked.
My wife had the homemade crab cake dinner. I’m not sure what was in those huge cakes, but there sure wasn’t much in the way of filler. Honestly, there must have been at least 3/4 lb of crab in those things. I don’t know how they stuck together, but it didn’t matter, they were in a belly mighty fast.
My ginormous steak came with two sides. I got the potato cakes and sauteed spinach. The cakes were fine, but I would have preferred a more traditional baked potato or mashed potatoes. I think mashed potatoes were on the menu, but I’m not 100% on that. The spinach was great sauteed with butter and maybe some garlic and onion. I’m not a chef, so I don’t know all that stuff.
The wife’s sides were the potato cakes and broccoli steamed to perfection. No complaints from our table, that’s for sure.
We didn’t have desert because the baby was making his presence known and the dining room was filled to capacity by 7pm. Time to head out and get that boy in bed.
The waitstaff and everyone we came in contact with were great. The hostess was wonderful, even the busboy was cool.
On the way out we noticed the bar was jammed full of people. I took a look through the glass door that separates the bar from the dining room and noticed a well stocked bar and a bunch of flat screens on football. Those people were having a good time.
Can you tell we liked the place? And get this, my over a pound ribeye was only $19.99! I’d have paid $24.99 for the same thing anywhere else.
If I were you, I’d get down there right away before they realize they’re undercharging!
No, seriously we had a great time and the food was great. I’m sure it’ll only get better as they grow in experience.
They open at 11am for lunch and you can show up for dinner as late as 10pm. On the weekends they open earlier so you can even get breakfast.
Filed under: Virginia Beach | Tagged: Family, Food, hospitality, restaurant, service, steak
mmmm good. I was at the Salty Dog in Maine and got the same great food and service.
ahrcanum, they’re not the same. But thanks for the info.
I went to the salty dog and it takes forever to be greeted in the dining room. The food was cold and in the bar, they only have 1 bartender at all times…
The Salty Dog experience: (The one on Shore Drive Virginia Beach near Lesner Bridge) I went with family and friends tonight (Jan 2, 2009) for the first time. It has been open about a month or month and a half. It was outstanding!! The food was out of this world! The Seafood Salad is incredible! The Garlic Clams were the best I’ve had and I’ll be going back for more soon! The meals were all very good and I can’t wait to try more. They have a lot of items on the menu and all look good and are reasonably priced. The waitress was cute and helpful and patient. I’d ride a hundred miles for some more of those garlic clams!!! Luckily I work down the street – so I’ll be stopping in regualrly.
Great place and highly recommended.
We read about this place in the newspaper and decided to check it out last night. It was out of this world! First, the service was perfect. We have a 14 month old and the waitress was helping entertain her while we ate! She was polite and attentive, but not overly. The food was just wonderful. The broiled seafood platter I ordered was a generous portion of tilapia, shrimp, scallops, and a lump crabcake for $18.99. There was NO filler in the crab cake. It came with hushpuppies (also delicious) and a side (I got the brocolli, despite the fried macaroni and cheese temptation). My husband got wings, a salad that was much larger then he expected, and a Philly Steak Sandwich & fries that were all yummy. Go check this place outI!!