Fab Food & Folks:
We heard rave reviews about Coastal Grill at a Gay Pride event in Richmond a couple of years ago. When we got back to the beach we went there and ever since then it has been one of our favorite restaurants. They are very friendly there, not just to gays, but everyone. The atmosphere isn't anything special, but the food and employees certainly are. We'd go so far as to say the food is scrumptious. We have taken all of our LGBT friends there and they all love Coastal as much as we do. We have only met the owner (Jerry) once, and he was very friendly to even the most flamboyant members of our party. Their menu is fab with something wonderful for even the pickiest palette. Seafood, especially soft-shell crabs, is their specialty, but their other non-seafood dishes are also to-die-for. We are in our 40's and are usually the youngest customers in the place by a couple of decades, but, while some of grumpy old-timers at the bar have been creeped-out by some of us, but the cuisine and super staff make Coastal a must!
by CaptainLeeUSN on July 18, 2013
outstanding. service was excellent. bread delicious nice & warm & crispy. best soft shells i ever eaten.
by HamptonRoads User on August 09, 2007
One of our favorite restaurants, we consider it a "sure thing" when we have guests in town...that is, until our visit this weekend. After waiting over an hour to be seated (and beingtold the wait was 30 mins), both the service and the meals were less than fabulous (and after raving about the food beforehand and a $400+ tab for 4 adults, I would have liked things to have been stellar).For starters, simple questions about meal preparations were unanswered by the server--he repeatedly forgot to bring drinks we'd ordered, the appetizer arrived at the same time as our entrees(and only after a third reminder). For years I've loved the scallops so much that I can't seem to resist them--usually they're only ever-so-slightly dusted and pan-fried until just done, leaving them perfectly delicate and tender--tonight they arrived overly fried to a dark brown and were noticeably smaller and tougher than ever before. They were only OK. Creme Brulee had hot/cold spots. In a word, it was disappointing.
by HamptonRoads User on July 07, 2007
My husband and I happend upon the Coastal Grill when it opened in 1989. It has remained the gold standard for fresh and inventive food served in an intimate , unpretentious setting. I dream often of the sauteed chicken livers and that succulent sqash. Money no object, I'd hop a plane right now, fly the 3,000 miles and kick back with a glass of wine and wait for good times to begin...keep up the good work Coastal Grill!!
by HamptonRoads User on May 28, 2007