Diners' Choice: Best Service restaurants in Virginia

OpenTable

Updated November 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best service in Virginia? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

The Wine Whisperer

5.0

5 (195)

$31 to $50

Wine Bar

Henrico

About the restaurant

The Wine Whisperer is a wine shop and bistro located in Richmond's Short Pump neighborhood. We speak wine and are passionate about sharing your new favorite bottle or glass with you!

Our wine bar is designed to offer an immersive experience to our guests. Let our knowledgeable staff help you learn about your palate and curate a flight of wine just for you! Look for a rotating by the glass list, craft beers, more whiskey than you imagined, and an expansive food menu built for wine pairing. The intimate dining room is a perfect spot for a casual glass with friends or that special occasion date. Look for weekly wine tastings, monthly classes, and other special events that are uniquely Whisperer!

No reservations available? Give us a call or stop by; we save a number of tables each night for walk-in guests. For questions or to make a reservation for a larger party, please call or send a message.

Top review

Laneé

Dined 2 days ago

Overall wonderful experience! Owners and staff are kind and attentive. Great place to enjoy celebrating loved ones or a nice date.

Zoes Steak & Seafood

5.0

5 (1605)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

Virginia Beach

About the restaurant

AAA Four Diamond restaurant located at the Virginia Beach oceanfront, Zoës originally opened in 2003, and re-opened under new ownership on March 16, 2009. Renowned sommelier Marc Sauter, as well as devoted restaurant goers Bill and Joni Greene, to continue the Zoës legacy with the same great location, friendly staff, soothing ambience, and award-winning food and spirits.

Together, their hope is to offer their guests a wonderful dining experience that has a comfortable, familiar atmosphere, yet that special touch of class that makes Zoës “the place to go when you absolutely must impress your guests.”

Reservations are recommended but walk-ins are always welcome.

Zoës is a completely non-smoking establishment.

Top review

Carmina

Dined on Nov 27, 2024

I had never been to this restaurant before and had planned a surprise, special dinner for my husband on our anniversary. Zoes Steak and Seafood blew it out of the park for us with their service, food, and overall experience. I’m not one to write reviews, but they were too outstanding to not. Planning something for your loved one? They got you covered and highly recommend them.

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Chez Max - Richmond VA

4.9

4.9 (1366)

$31 to $50

French

Richmond

About the restaurant

Bienvenue Chez Max!

Savory aromas drift from the kitchen as one enters the front door, giving a hint of culinary delights to come. The casual and comfortable, yet elegant interior of the restaurant is warm and inviting. A large stone fireplace adorns a corner in the main dining room, casting a soft glow around the room.

We are Richmond’s premier French dining experience. Our menu is a collection of dishes cultivated by a Master French chef. We offer an array of fine wines from around the world, 23 are poured by the glass. Our mixologist boasts an impressive range of signature crafted cocktails and guest favorites.

As we are often fully seated on Fridays and Saturdays, we can only hold a reservation for 15 minutes without advanced notice. We allocate 2 hours for parties of 2 to 5, 2 ½ hours for parties of 6 or more.

Top review

Mikevip

Dined 5 days ago

I love French food, sauces, and wines - Chez Max is Richmond s top restaurant for French cuisine. It was my birthday and this was my first choice. Chez Max and their excellent staff delivered a memorable evening.

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Popular dish

molten chocolate cake

Alexander's - Roanoke

4.9

4.9 (1485)

$31 to $50

American

Roanoke

About the restaurant

Alexander's is an oasis for award winning cuisine, wine, and craft cocktails. Over the years we've twice been awarded the Open Table Top 100 in the US restaurant designation and in 2018, Southern Living Magazine named us one of the Ten Most Romantic Restaurants in the South. Focusing on superb ingredients; fish, seafood, prime quality Virginia aged meats, and locally sourced organic produce, our cuisine showcases years of collaboration among some of the most talented chefs of our region. You'll be served in an atmosphere filled with romance, sophistication, modern & vintage jazz. It's old world charm with new world flavors!
Built in the 1880s as Roanoke's first office supply company, our vintage building has been transformed into a retro chic rendition of the classic urban restaurants of our great culinary cities. The art, furnishings, lighting, and mirrors are all found pieces of Roanoke's rich architectural history. So relax and let's start making your memories at Alexanders!

Top review

Cathyvip

Dined 6 days ago

Always fantastic! Prices are up, wanting this restaurant to succeed! We were there for 2 and a half hours. Busy Friday, good to see!

Al Fresco Italian Restaurant

4.9

4.9 (1045)

$30 and under

Italian

Newport News

About the restaurant

Al Fresco Restaurant lets you feast on a bountiful array of Italian specialties. The outstanding menu, featuring pasta, chicken, veal and seafood, highlights a spectrum of lavish Italian specialties that are sure to please discriminating palates. Al Fresco Restaurant was planned with the summer in mind. An outdoor patio with a warm breeze and cold drinks are a perfect combination.

Top review

Randolph

Dined on Nov 27, 2024

The service was good and we were seated on time for our reservation. The table we were seated at was right next to the reception stand. On retrospect I should have asked for a different table as the people who were picking up orders would stand there at the desk while we were eating. A little uncomfortable. That particular table is not in a good place. The restaurant was semi busy but the wait staff was quick with the drink order and taking our appetizer order. The 4 star rating is for the time it took to get the appetizers and entrees. The shrimp and sausage was delicious but the calamari, although tender, had an almost bread like coating instead of a flakey crust. The bread sticks did not come out until the salads were brought out, not something I am used to but every restaurant does things different. The entrees also took a while to come out and were warm as if they had been ready for a while. The food was delicious. We ordered the Pollo Principessa, which instead of artichoke hearts had peas and asparagus. It was delicious but not what was stated in the menu. Also ordered was the Rustico which my son was also delicious. The third entree ordered was Pollo Parmigiana which my fiancée found lacking in the quality of the chicken. We felt as if being first time customers we did not receive the same level of attention as the regular customers who came in with and after us. Overall we had enjoyable time and with a few changes it would be a 5 star experience.

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4.9

4.9 (2965)

$30 and under

Greek

Richmond

About the restaurant

Stella’s honors rustic & modern Greek cuisine, bringing the freshest ingredients & Mediterranean fare table side.

Top review

Loree

Dined on Nov 25, 2024

Outstanding service and delicious food! One of our favorite places to eat in Richmond

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4.9

4.9 (1283)

$30 and under

American

Virginia Beach

About the restaurant

Situated under a canopy of old growth trees on Lake Joyce, this natural gem serves seasonal fare from tidal Virginia. The menu reflects freshness with a distinct emphasis on showcasing the inherent colors and flavors of the ingredients. The cafe's bakery provides all its breads and deserts and is open for retail on the weekends. This fresh approach to food done in a natural and unpretentious setting has been a local favorite for twelve years. If you don't see your desired time slot available give us a call.

Top review

Mel

Dined 3 days ago

Consistently delicious over the years. Updated fare that is fresh, delicious, and worth the parking hassle.

Lucky

4.9

4.9 (1348)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Roanoke

About the restaurant

Farm to Table Comfort Food with a commitment to using local sustainable products, paired with innovative cocktails, eclectic wine selections, and a massive spirits list.

Top review

Stevenvip

Dined 5 days ago

Lucky is our favorite spot in Roanoke for a cozy, comforting dinner or craft cocktail at the lovely bar. The service is warm and homey but also efficient and attentive. There are so many wonderful dishes to choose from, but we love the insanely great fried chicken, low-country shrimp and grits, African peanut stew, sweet potatoes bathed in a kimchi-miso glaze and Brussels sprouts--you see? It's impossible to pick a single favorite. The one dish that didn't wow us was the smoked meatloaf, which had the taste and texture of something like kielbasa. Not bad, but not what I was expecting. The bar can make almost anything you want but it's worth trying the specials. One of my faves, occasionally on the special cocktail menu, is their pitch-perfect Vieux Carré. One other tip: the wine-by-the-glass selections are a little sparse, so we like going with a group that is open to sharing food and ordering a bottle of wine or two.

CHANNEL BASS INN

4.6

4.6 (276)

$50 and over

French American

Chincoteague

About the restaurant

Distinctive Culinary Cuisine on Chincoteague Island!

Freshly sourced seasonal ingredients are the core of our culinary creations, where classic techniques meet modern influences in our French American cooking style. Chincoteague Island’s only all-inclusive inn and
restaurant features fresh caught seafood, prime cuts of meat, and weekly chef’s specials served in an intimate ambience found nowhere else on the island.

We invite you to indulge, relax and experience the magic of our prix fixe menus designed for our guests who love great food as much as we do.

Breakfasts are open daily by reservation only from 9am to 10am.

Afternoon Teas are available 2pm to 330pm, Thursday and Saturday.

Dinners are available featuring the most elegant dining on the island available 5pm to 7pm, Sunday to Wednesday.

We are a proud recipient of the Opentable 2022 and 2023 Diner's Choice Award, chosen by our guests!

Top review

Burneyvip

Dined 7 days ago

A perfect Thanksgiving Dinner.! The most moist turkey I have ever eaten, with 4 other delicious courses accompanying it. Festive and relaxing. Wonderful!

Gaston's Italian Steakhouse

4.8

4.8 (260)

$31 to $50

Italian

Virginia Beach

About the restaurant

Modern Italian Cuisine
Gaston’s Italian Steak House, the American Dream for Gaston, is where passion for food, comfort, and enjoyment are combined. Our neighborhood restaurant is casual- elegant and cozy, the perfect backdrop for a first date, anniversary dinner or warm family gathering with a beautiful private room available. Benvenuto!!

Top review

Steven

Dined 7 days ago

Food was very good. Will return in the future. Will recommended it to family and friends.

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