Big Sams Inlet Cafe & Raw Bar
| Address: | 300 Winston Salem Ave, Virginia Beach, VA 23451, USA |
| Phone: | +1 757-428-4858 |
| Site: | bigsamsrawbar.com |
| Rating: | 4.4 |
| Working: | 7AM–2AM 7AM–2AM 7AM–2AM 7AM–2AM 7AM–2AM 7AM–2AM 7AM–2AM |
Location
Photos 100
Reviews 8
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Emily Steele
This is a tiny, old, nothing special restaurant on a pier. Has a weathered feeling inside and out. Parking is cramped and difficult. Seated immediately, but there usually is a wait. The tables are beside the exterior wall of windows and you can see either the pier or inlet from your seat. Nice view. The bathrooms are extremely uncomfortable and in the worst place possible. Mens says "stand" and womens says "squat" on the door. A single person room. Each one is located right beside a table. You make eye contact with other customers as you open the door to walk out. Would hate to be the table seated next to the restrooms. The drinks are served in cheap, small, plastic cups. I had Sprite, even though I asked for Mr. Pibb. Had the tuna sandwich with lemon pepper flavoring and fries. The sandwich is served on a cheap, thin bun. I ate half as a sandwich and then ate the rest with a fork, no bread. The tuna is thin, seasoned nicely, and not dry! Cooked perfectly. The fries have a nice crunch and seasoned with old bay. Our waitress could have been more attentive, considering how small this place is. A couple times we had to look for her. Quite noisy inside, had to speak up to have a conversation. Expensive lunch, but I understand seafood usually is. Nice to try, but likely will not go back.
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Ryan Hennesy
I went to Big Sams for dinner (on 06.01.2012) with my in-laws two nights before my wedding. The food was really delicious. Im not too much of a seafood fan (the rest of them are all from VA Beach; Im not), but theres a lot more than just food that goes into a dining experience. I had the clam strip basket, which I loved. The Old Bay Fries are fantastic. Thin and crispy. If you get something fried, order a little side of the spicy garlic aioli (its the sauce that comes with the crab cakes). You wont regret it, even if it costs you an extra 25 cents. My wife got the crab cake balls appetizer, and thought they were super delicious, a little bit spicy. The portions were definitely generous, as we both had food to take home. The only knock I had was that the place was really loud. Granted, it was a Friday night, and it was the weekend of some giant patriotic festival, but I thought they could have turned the volume down on both the music and the television, and the giant steamer going off every five minutes only added to the cacophony. The staff was knowledgeable and friendly. Id definitely go back, just maybe not on such a busy night.
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Katara P
The moment we walked in, the wait staff and other customers looked at us as if we didnt belong. We waited at our table for 10 minutes before someone even came over and took our drink order. But another Caucasian couple comes in and the waitress approaches them within minutes. The waitress barely came to speak to us and seemed as if she was nervous talking to us. Which in turned bothered me. The food was not worth mentioning and overpriced. The place was dirty and the chairs were sticky. We leave and realize that we left our card there. We called up the restaurant and asked them to check under the table and the lady rudely says on the "We looked and its not there, you can come up if you want". We go back, and the manager rolls her eyes and says we already looked , we go back there n its literally under the table. I will never give them my money again. For the prices they charge they should vacuum, sweep , have better A/C, and not over cook their shrimp. Oh and not be a prejudice establishment. I wish there was 0 stars to give!!!!
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A Private User
Folks, Big Sams is a hidden treasure. I am a local who lives two blocks from the beach and everyone I know loves Big Sams. Im trying to understand how others could possibly give Sams a bad review. Ive eaten there more than two dozen times and its always been AMAZING! Let me tell you about the food: The first thing you do is check out the specials board. There are almost always three diverse and delicious choices. I say almost always because the best specials sell out pretty fast. The regular menu has something for everyone and everything is delicious. Any of the seafood pasta specials will knock your socks off. Also, be sure to order some of the fresh baked desserts. PIE! Heres something even some locals dont know. Big Sams has the best pancakes youll ever taste. In fact theyve got breakfasts for appetites both big and small. GO TO BIG SAMS! Im a local and Ill be glad to wait. The food is worth it. By the way, did I mention the view? The marina at Rudee Inlet is beautiful any time of day.
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Melissa Brockman
We ordered enough food for an army (or navy). The chorizo and Surry sausage and gravy biscuits, country fried steak, grandmas pancakes W/bacon. I also had a Pungo Mimosa. All the food was amazingly delicious. My friend likes a slightly chewier bacon and I like it crispy. It came out as the perfect median. Crispy enough for me to be delighted and with enough chew to make him happy. Perfect. The pancakes dont even need syrup to taste amazing. And the gravy for the sausage and gravy? Wonderful and seasoned just right. We will definitely be back ! Weve been back a couple times since this review and the food is always delicious. I found I have a thing for their BLTS (for breakfast!) and their hash browns. Honestly, you cant go wrong with Big Sams! I also love the fact they use solo like cups for drinks, you never have to ask for a tea to go. ^.^
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mellobeck
Service was disorganized. I think the waitress put our ticket (2 meals) in after 2 larger tables that arrived after us. I only ordered a side of asparagus and a water and did not get my food until the other 2 tables had all of their food. Finally, when the waitress brought my dinner partners chicken fajita to the table, she said it wouldnt be long until I got my side order... which came out a few minutes later and was kind of tossed on the table (glass plate) by someone, not our waitress, as she was attending to other people. They definitely favored the larger tables, I expect she was more interested in the tip than gaining a repeat customer or a good review online.
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M Philip
Do you like lots of mustard in your crab cakes? If you do, get them. I however, dont. And when I brought it up, they were shocked. So shocked that anything is wrong with their food!The server did get my some broiled shrimp to replace my mustard cakes, but later came to find that I was charged extra for them. So...after a $105 tab for two, not so impressed. Overall, I can see the greatness this place may have. The first time I ate there, it was really good. That said, the chef with the Budweiser hat on backwards in the plain to see kitchen needs to find a better way to add flavor to the $25 plate of crab cakes.
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Daniel Ducharme
Big Sams has a long wait and no reservation system. That wasnt really a strike, since I prefer to go places that are in high demand and the no-reservations rule seemed a standard for Virginia Beach. My wife and both had the Crab Soup and Crab Cakes. They were delicious and were much more than we expected. The service was create, although a little hectic since they were very busy. That seemed to be the theme pretty much everywhere that was any good, so it wasnt a turn-off. We were there during their busy season.
