Willoughby By The Bay
| Address: | 1534 W Ocean View Ave, Norfolk, VA 23503, USA |
| Phone: | +1 757-480-0226 |
| Rating: | 3.6 |
| Working: | 12PM–12AM 12PM–12AM 12PM–12AM 12PM–12AM 12PM–12AM 8AM–12AM 8AM–12AM |
Location
Photos 100
Reviews 23
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sherri stocks
The new owner has destroyed this bar. Some people do not belong a customer service based industry. She is one of those people . This place use to be a lively locals favorite. Overpriced drinks, overpriced mediocre food.and a new boring atmosphere has driven away lifetime loyal customers ... The place just sucks ... The bar manager is literally illiterate and half the bartenders are her children ... Tonight on St Patricks she lost the last of this bars long-time customers .... She ran them out with her uptight lack of business sense .... It ended up being the only empty bar in Norfolk ... As everyone would rather spend their money anywhere but there and that includes me ... Its a boring dive that offers nothing but expensive boredom.
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Mike Lipieko
One of the worse experiences in dining I have had in quite a while. Went there with 4 others, food took over an hour to come out and it didnt all come out at once. We were the ONLY ones eating at the time, 4:30 in afternoon. We sat outside because there was so much cigarette smoke you couldnt breath. When we left I counted 15 people there, ALL 15 were smoking and drinking , NO one was eating . I gave this place a chance because the owner came to civic league and promised it had changed from a " bar" to a restaurant. This is nothing but a hole in the wall bar, what a shame . Do yourself a favor and skip this place unless your looking for a cigarette and a beer .
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Kelly Sarria
Ordered a ribeye medium rare and steamed veggies... has a cheesecake for desert. ribeye was 70% fat, and veggies were microwaved that I couldnt even chew it.. i asked the bartender what the best desert chocolate cake or cheesecake.. "Cheesecake it fresher, the owner bought it 2 days ago" bartenders exact words.. had to call the bartender 2-3 times to get silverware, hes just sitting on the side counting his tips. i worked in many restaurant. High end to low class hole in the walls. I dont think Ive ever had a worst experience... Im saving you time and money.. please dont go there!
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Richard Fess
This place is a slum. They brought out a small plate of hushpuppies, cornbread muffin, and biscuits. It tasted sort of old at first and then I turned the muffin over to find that it was encased in green mold. When I told the waitress / bartender about it she sorta shrugged and took it away and brought me my meal, which also tasted old. Its basically like going to someones living room and eating, I felt like an outsider or like I was just in the way. If you arent invited youre not welcome. Horrible food for an incredibly expensive price. Will not recommend and will not return.
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Kurt Crowell
Amazing staff, tiny intimate place with a good vibe and awesome food...well that was my first opinion. Second opinion. I live in the neighborhood, have quite a few close friends who enjoy stepping out for a quick bite or a cocktail, $100+ tabs are pretty much the standard. The owner of this establishment is a tyrant. This isnt a customer friendly Inn, its a bar ran by a wife/mom...which might work if she was cooler than mine, but she isnt.... Thinking the Thirsty Camel is money better spent!
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Michael Bartley
Ive ordered takeout from this place several times and I was never disappointed. My first visit I tried something different since I had access to the menu. They seem to use lots of prefab food and heavily processed ingredients. Still havent been to a block party. Im still opened minded about this place despite the terrible food choice this time. Ill update the review.
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Tricia Mallett
I live right up the street and I love dive bars so Im biased but Id go here over Applebees any day. It looks like the Blarney Stone but smaller with a deck. Be nice to the staff and theyll be nice to you. Cheapest beer and best bar food on the water in the area. I grew up in VB and I like this place better than my beach bars back home. Perfectly imperfect.
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Norm Goeres
Not the Ritz Carlton nor like a Bonefish Grill franchise BUT its a great little neighborhood clean honky tonk with some rough edges . The new management is working diligently at smoothing them over . Karaoke many nights ! I wont cross the HRBT without stopping for a beer and a fish sandwich !
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A Private User
You will not enjoy it unless you are from OV or The Spit. It is a dive, but so are our beaches. I go there from time to time but Id probably go there more often if they didnt nickel/dime the drinks. The service is super nice, but they are forced to pour out of a jigger. Food is so-so.
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Jay Cee
First time to Willoughby by the Bay was very enjoyable. The soft shell crabs were the best ever. Very clean. Great service. Live band outside every other Sunday through Summer. Dont come if you get sloppy drunk. Its not that kind of place. Ill be back.
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KOMROOK
Horrible food and Phony owner.......I will never return. The food is horrible. prices are a total rip off..snobby New York owner.....pass on this Hell Hole. Try the THIRSTY CAMEL or Sunset Grill.... 100% better than this fecal matter they serve.
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Carolyn Campbell
Bartender was new and so young i think it was her first time ever in a bar our drinks were weak and she kept asking how we were doing every 5 min kinda annoyingly.... like leave me alone im trying to have a conversation here with my crappy drink!
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Bill Gordon
Nothing good to say about this dirty old bar. Dining room is cheesy along with the smoke smelling bar. They are constantly out of food and drink items. If you could give negative stars this hole would definitely deserve a few.
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Katieh Brooks
Place is a great locals bar and restaurant. The food was awesome!!! I ordered the stuffed flounder (with REAL crab meat), homemade hush puppies, and homemade coleslaw. The service was so family oriented. Definitely coming back!
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KristinAT Orzechowski
Really great place, been around forever :-) nice people! Recently changed ownership, they have been spiffing it up some, changed their smoking inside rules to I guess only after 9pm or something.
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Lee Briggs
Food is pretty good but you are going to have to wait a while to get it... That was awhile ago, the last few times here the service has been great and the food even better. Bumping it up a star.
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Blaize Brawndale
A little quaint place where you can go and unwind. Staff was friendly and the food was excellent. Would highly recommend this place. The price for drinks and food was average for the area. A+++
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sam dillon
I make it a point of eating here at least once, anytime Im in Norfolk. Working man atmosphere. Wonderful spiced jumbo shrimp. Out of this world key lime pie.
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Paul Cheek
First impression very favorable. Fried flounder tacos very good. Liked the calamari as well. Does allow smoking at bar after 9. Great fried oysters.
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Philip Swinson
Tuesday tacos pretty good! Great place for an after fishing snack and drink. Looking better and better everytime we come in. This place has potential.
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Demetrius Moore
I just got back to the states and this was one of the first places I went to. Its was definitely a good welcome home place I love it.
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Jimmy Tracey
One of the best local bar around. Not to many tourist, quite and calm atmosphere, good food and drinks, great customer service.
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Edward Loncosky
Worst place to eat i will never recommend any one to come here and way over priced food that was undercooked and flavor less
