+1 757-689-5395
+1 757-689-5395
+1 757-689-5395
If you are on the hunt for an exceptional seafood dining experience, look no further than Blue Seafood & Spirits, located in the heart of Virginia Beach. Nestled at 2181 Upton Dr #420, this hidden gem has quickly earned a reputation as one of the premier seafood restaurants in America. With their commitment to freshness and culinary excellence, it's no wonder that patrons rave about their experiences here.
What sets Blue Seafood & Spirits apart is not just the food but the genuine hospitality that greets you upon arrival. Customer reviews echo with praise of exceptional service. One guest, Matthew Jackson, noted that his server, Jenny, elevated the meal by providing a warm and attentive touch. The head chef can often be seen engaging with diners, a personal touch that speaks volumes about their dedication to customer satisfaction. This atmosphere fosters a familial bond among both employees and guests, creating more than just a meal—it's an experience.
The menu at Blue Seafood & Spirits is a masterful array of dishes that cater to seafood lovers at all levels. From the tempura fried shrimp recommended by Marc L. to the perfectly grilled salmon topped with lump crab meat and hollandaise sauce, each dish is crafted with precision. The crab cakes, admired for their purity of flavor, boast minimal fillers, allowing the taste of fresh crab to truly shine. And if you're there for the laughs, don’t miss out on the whimsically named "birthday chicken"—a delightful surprise that adds a playful element to the dining experience.
Beyond the entrées, the supportive and friendly staff enhances the dining atmosphere, making first-time visitors feel like regulars. Customer Jesse Shelton described their blackened seafood as some of the best in the area, while others emphasize the importance of arriving early to avoid the wait—an indicator of how coveted this spot has become.
In summary, Blue Seafood & Spirits redefines the seafood dining experience with fresh, expertly prepared dishes and a customer-first philosophy that leaves a lasting impression. With each visit, you'll find more than just a meal; you’ll discover a piece of culinary heaven right in Virginia Beach. For those looking for a memorable evening filled with savory seafood and warm hospitality, this restaurant undoubtedly deserves a place on your to-visit list.
For reservations or inquiries, reach them at (+1) 757-689-5395. Make your next dining experience one for the books at Blue Seafood & Spirits.
Tossed with jalapeno crisps and a side of basil aioli
Perfectly breaded and flash fried with barrier island sauce
Jumbo chilled shrimp, marinated english cucumbers, cocktail sauce, barrier island sauce
Dried berries, spicy pecans, saga blue cheese, balsamic vinaigrette, mixed greens
Crispy tempura battered asparagus spears with dipping sauce
Blue is genuinely one the best seafood restaurants we have ever been to. Jenny was an exceptional server and made the experience that much better. The food is excellent. Everything was fresh, hot, and well seasoned. Truly delicious! We also thought it was great to see the head chef greet each and every table. But, also hold a small conversation with any guest that asked a question or gave a compliment. This is a lost art that did not go unnoticed. The drinks tasted great as well. My family thought the birthday chicken was really funny and nice touch. Honestly, there is not enough good things to be said about our experience. 10/10 will definitely return.
Best seafood in America. No seriously. I think it may have won an actual, well deserved, award of some sort. Idk look it up. Best seafood I’ve eaten in 45 years living on the east coast. World traveler. None better than Blue Seafood in Red Mill.
When we discovered this hole-in-the -wall place a year ago, and were blown away by the fact that EVERYTHING here was amazing. I asked the owner why they aren't promoting this place more or why they don't move into a bigger building? (For our first visit, we had to wait in line for about an hour to get in. Make sure you get there early, and DON'T LEAVE! The wait is totally worth it - read on...) His response (paraphrased): "Because a bigger place also brings with it a lot more work. I want time with my family, our employees work hard and need time off, and it's not all about the money." - WOW! That explains why it seems that all people who work there are like family, and seemingly enjoy working there. That makes the whole visit so much more enjoyable. We had the same waitress this year we had last year. That should tell you something. But now, to the food. In short: It's incredible! Whenever we dine at a seafood restaurant, we pretty much order the same things: fried shrimp, some version of grilled salmon, and crab cakes. This restaurant has tempura fried shrimp, which is NOT on the menu. Do yourself a favor, and ask for it! The batter is thin yet crip and crunchy, and the accompanying horseradish dip is delicious. And, YES, horseradish does go amazingly well with fried shrimp My wife is very picky about crab cakes. Many restaurants use "fillers" like bell peppers, leek, and other stuff to use as little actual crab meat as possible (and those ingredients seem to take away the actual crab meat flavor, or are aimply overpowering). Not here! Their crab cakes are FULL of delicious crab meat, spiced and flavored just right to complement the taste of the crab meat. We ordered extra crab cakes to take home with us to be able to enjoy them for a few more days. I ordered the grilled salmon with lump crab meat and sauce hollandaise. The salmon was cooked to perfection, not too dry, and not too soft or soggy, which is extremely difficult to get right. Yet the folks hete at Blue Seafood and Spirits get this right every time. How they do this is beyond me. We only come to Virginia Beach once a year, but you guys make our trip SO much more enjoyable. Thank you all so much for offering a little peace of seafood heaven away from the touristy hot spots in VB. We are looking forward to returning next year, but hopefully sooner.
Probably some of the best blackened seafood I could get in this area. I absolutely recommend this location for dinner and dessert. The staff was extremely nice as well.
It was a very good place to eat on that cold evening. Service was fast and great; the food was delicious. Come early, people are willing to wait in the cold for good food.
Everything was delicious! Each dish was prepared with such intention and that showed through with each bite! From the moment I stepped inside, I was warmly greeted by the Hostess and promptly greeted by my server, Kenzie. The entire experience was so lovely, and to top it off, the chef himself came out and personally greeted and interacted with every, single guest! He even knew his repeat guests and shared a quiet moment to appreciate them. It's not often anymore that you get to experience true hospitality, but you can definitely find that at Blue Seafood and Spirits. Highly recommend!
This was our first time at Blue — and our visit coincided with our 21st wedding anniversary. We had heard that there is often a wait to get in, and we were very pleasantly surprised that we showed up a few minutes before 5 PM and were seated promptly. (Score!) The restaurant was packed, which is always a good sign. Our server, Jenny, was extraordinarily friendly, but not overly so, and we witnessed an amazing camaraderie and affection among the staff and patrons, including a series of hugs for a regular as she left. We talked with the chef and learned a lot about his team’s work ethic and his goals as a restaurateur. The food is worthy of all of the accolades received online as well as in the general media. Nothing is overdone, and each dish is prepared to maximize its freshness & flavor. As plated, each dish is as aesthetically pleasing as it is ultimately tasty.
I finally got around to trying “the #1 seafood restaurant in the country.” The food was excellent, but I do not think that is what garnered all the yelp reviews. From the minute I walked into the restaurant, I felt like the most important person in the room (it’s a very small restaurant in size). I opted to sit at the bar, and I had Pauline as my server. Pauline was fantastic, and she truly made my experience memorable. There were also two couples at the bar, regulars, who went out of their way to speak to me and get to know me. They told me what menu items are noteworthy, and they shared their favorites. There was no shortage of food or smiles. The owner even took it upon himself to greet me. For my first time, no notes. Excellent service and delicious food. As a Cancerian, the blue crab at the entrance and ocean theme really spoke to me. Definitely order the bread pudding for dessert!