4. Restaurants

Big Easy

111 Tazewell St, Norfolk, VA, 23501
  • (757) 227-6222
  • Store is closed

Big Easy Menu

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.

Visit below restaurant in Norfolk for healthy meals suggestion.

Chili’s ( MacArthur Center,300 Monticello Ave, #309 )

Visit below restaurant in Norfolk for healthy meals suggestion.

Chili’s ( MacArthur Center,300 Monticello Ave, #309 )

Visit below restaurant in Norfolk for healthy meals suggestion.

Chili’s ( MacArthur Center,300 Monticello Ave, #309 )

  • Jeff G.

    Walked in while visiting Norfolk on Thursday, August 27. It was quiet as we ate around 5PM. We came in for drinks and some small plates. We were unaware of the downstairs bar area and thought it could have been pointed out to us upon entering. Still we looked at the menu and felt that given the ambience of the upstairs area we would sit for a relaxed dinner. Our waitress was very good. She was attentive and friendly without being intrusive. We were going to have appetizers and drinks. She inquired once about our order and when we explained what we were doing and ordered appetizers she remained available as we needed. When we decided that the menu became too intriguing not to order she was there and only at that time did she become a "dinner waitress". We felt that she treated us as we always expect to be treated when dining out. We ordered a seafood crockpot with grits and okra along with a shrimp dinner. We finished the dinner off with a shared piece of key lime pie. Our meal from start to finish was excellent. We felt the waitress did an excellent job. We love to walk around cities we visit and search for new dining experiences. Sometimes it ends well, sometimes not This time it ended excellently. When we returned to our vacation home we couldn't help but recommend this restaurants to all the other members of our traveling party and now to the rest of the Yelp community.

    (5)

  • Mike H.

    Had such high hopes but were sorely disappointed. Awkward seating and a saxophone player that made conversation near impossible without yelling so loudly that everyone could hear. The service was a little slow but not terrible. Seafood bouillabaisse was a special of the night and was overdone and chewy. A lobster/shrimp "crock" was simply fish with no sauce. Butter cost an extra $2.00 and was disgusting. I didn't think I could hate butter but the amount of lemon in it was horrible. At 8:00 pm on a Saturday night, they had run out of beignets. A New Orleans themed place?! Key lime pie actually had no lime flavor whatsoever. I just wanted to cry. The $3.00 side of cheese grits was the best thing about the entire night. We would not go back and not recommend.

    (2)

  • Tyler S.

    Although they still offer a GREAT happy hour and they've added great items to the menu, they've done themselves a grave disservice by eliminating "Burger night" on Wednesdays. Additionally preventing individuals from enjoying the happy hour menu and dining at a table also alienates diners from coming. Are your Happy Hours THAT popular that you rather have NO tables filled rather than SOME between 4 and 7? Some people and money beats none of both.

    (3)

  • Julissa C.

    I ordered a big easy burger it was very delicious, also i ordered a fried calamari & grouper OMG amazing! And i'm not a fan of fish, But this grouper was so good!

    (5)

  • Katrina C.

    I'm breaking my rule of visiting at least twice before making a review but I felt like I really needed to for this one. I don't understand why there are so many 1 star reviews for this place because the Big Easy is such a fantastic restaurant/bar. Yes, it's a little classier than your average t-shirt and jeans joint. But for what it's meant to be, it's really, really great! We were greeted with a friendly face right at the door and were asked if we wanted to be seated downstairs (a basement bar area) or upstairs (a brighter, classier area). Since we weren't too extremely dressed, we opt for the basement bar. The bartender was prompt with the menu and explained that they were a participating restaurant for restaurant week. We ordered the orange crush, and to be quite honest, its far superior to Watermans. We also tried their oyster shooters, our first try, which was good with the liquid but definitely different once that oyster swam down our throats. It's not something you would typically get to get the party started. Just a try was enough. My gf and best friend both had the she crab soup. Which were pretty good. Then our main course of Surf n' Turf, Seafood Jambalaya, and the Big Easy chicken. All of them came hot and fresh. The flavors were all there and my Seafood Jambalaya had just the right amount of spice. Perhaps the most memorable dish of the night, was the Bread Pudding for dessert! It came topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and caramel syrup drizzle. It was our fave of the three options offered. My only thing weird that I would have to say was the fact that the cook (or who looked like a kitchen staff) kept coming behind the bar right in front of us just wondering around. He was out of place and was not at all friendly. He literally just loitered in front of the oysters for a good 10-15 mins at a time. We had such a great dinning experience, we will definitely come back for more! Maybe to try their happy hour, as someone suggested in the reviews below that it's pretty good.

    (5)

  • Devon C.

    The Big Easy has amazing food and an incredible beer selection! I'm going to keep this review fairly short. I was in Norfolk for business, trying lots of different restaurants. I saw The Big Easy on Yelp and gave it a try. It was the best restaurant experience in Norfolk. They had live jazz playing, but it wasn't overbearing. I could still hold a conversation. The waitress was very helpful, directing me towards entrees and beers that she thought I would like. Which, by the way, she did admirably. Try the Aventeenis (sp?) beer and the jambalaya. The atmosphere is at the same time elegant and casual; so the ambiance fits all occasions. So, if you didn't catch all of that. Every aspect of my experience was EXCELLENT! I highly recommend the Big Easy.

    (5)

  • Lynette E.

    Restaurant Week 1/26---This was the absolute worst dining experience that I, and the rest of my party, had ever had. We arrived EARLY for the 7:15 reservation for our party of four, and upon check in, we were told it was given to a party of 6 with the same last name. We waited an hour at the bar to be seated downstairs at one of the two four-tops that sat empty and had not been bussed for nearly 45 minutes. After ordering our meals, we waited ANOTHER hour just to receive our dinner salads. We asked a couple of times for additional items with our appetizers and never received them. Our drinks stayed empty, even after ordering new ones several times. One of the members of my party even went up to the bar to order our drinks and he was ignored. The bartender looked right at him and continued to stock her glasses. We were finally able to get the attention of another waitress when our waitress was nowhere to be found (really, we rarely saw her). By this time, the restaurant downstairs was nearly empty and all the bar stools were open. The front of the house manager that evening, who took my reservations days prior, and was the one who told me our reservation was given to someone else, actually had the nerve to tell the couple dining next to us, after they complained about the service, that if they couldn't handle restaurant week, they should not have come. Yet, our waitress told us they were understaffed, so really, it wasn't the customers who couldn't handle restaurant week. The unpreparedness and rude approach that this staff had that evening was disgusting. I'm not writing this just for the sake of complaining, but upper management should be aware of how the restaurant is being handled, especially during high volume situations. After spending 3.5 hours and spending close to $400, we didn't get an apology or any type of acknowledgement to make sure that we return. I could never recommend this restaurant under the existing management to anyone. We will not be returning.

    (1)

  • Ronalyn T.

    I had the pleasure of eating at the Big Easy over a week ago for a work Christmas party. Everything was at our disposal because my boss was paying for everything, so I was able to try their Fresh Blackened Scallops (it's served with orange marmalade, which I ordinary don't like, but the scallops were a bit spicy, so the combination was perfect), Pan Seared Harris Ranch Beef Tips (cooked perfectly!), & Warm Peach Cobbler + Vanilla Bean Ice Cream AND Classic New Orleans Style Beignets (MMM, desserts are my weakness). I also had 2 shots of Lemon Drops (I usually hate Lemon Drops, but they made 'em well) and 2 or 3 Bellinitinis (perfect girly drink, haha). My boyfriend said it was just okay, but I think I'd eat here again! Flavors were on point! And the servers were awesome to put up with such an intoxicated group of people. PAULY'S THE BEST! :)

    (4)

  • Janelle G.

    Thanks to Norfolk Restaurant Week, Big Easy has 4 new fans! I went here with my parents & sister and we all thoroughly enjoyed it. The good: First impressions really do count. We were seated right away even though we were 20 minutes early for our reservation. I loved the modern decor, exposed brick walls, & recessed lighting -- it was chic but definitely not snooty. Our server was attentive & polite. My personal favorite dishes of the night were the Crispy Louisiana Oysters with Lemon-Caper Remoulade, Blackened Tuna with creamy grits, and the Crispy Beignets. But everything we ordered that night tasted delicious (I snuck a taste of everything!). I feel like they captured the essence of Cajun food. The bad: Honestly can't remember anything about the night I didn't like. I would definitely come back here to try more of the menu. It also looks like a fun place to have drinks with friends. Good job, Big Easy!

    (4)

  • Kate S.

    Out of all the places on Granby, Big Easy is probably one of my favorite places to go. I love the bar downstairs and the whole ambiance. Upstairs I've enjoyed dinner several times and by far the shrimp and grits appetizer is amazing! I'm a So. Cal girl who never had grits before I tried this. Let's just say grits from Big Easy is on my top 10 list of yumminess. My husband and I have been several times for dinner and each entree we try is always great. My parents enjoyed their oysters and fish dishes as well. Really, anything on their menu is awesome! Whether you're looking for a place to grab apps and drinks at happy hour or a semi fancy place for dinner...check out Big Easy. The service is fabulous and the food won't disappoint!

    (5)

  • Valerie M.

    Went to Big Easy Grill and Oyster Bar for our Valentine's Dinner. We were not disappointed! Enjoyed the étouffée and jambalaya. The andouille sausage appetizer was delicious too!!! Prices were nice on the wallet for the atmosphere, quality an service. Servers were very attentive and checked on us frequently including the manager and head chef!! Would definitely recommend and return to this fine Norfolk establishment!'n

    (4)

  • D G.

    This restaurant is the Applebee's version of cajun food; the food isn't really fresh and the taste is below average....the worst part is the prices are not below average. We got the red beans and rice. It was boil in bag rice with canned red kidney beans on top with tabasco sauce. It was so horrible we sent it back; a first for me to send something back. The beignets were fried biscuits coated with LOTS of powdered sugar. We asked about the boiled crawfish on the menu; again not fresh but previously frozen.

    (1)

  • Gene Z.

    My wife, a friend and I decided to try The Big Easy on a friend's recommendation. He said they had the best calamari in town. He was right! The calamari was tender, hot and served with a tasty remoulade sauce. Both my friend and I had the scallop, shrimp and crab crock, and my wife had the $11.99 pound of steamed shrimp special. All were delicious. The shrimp were shell on but deveined and she couldn't finish them all. I recommend the crock baked in the garlic,lemon and butter sauce. Other ways of preparation would leave the seafood dry. It was delicious and nicely complimented by the red beans and rice side. The only so-so part of the meal was the salad which was an uninteresting mix of lettuce, and the corn muffins which were room temperature and rather tasteless. Despite other reviews on indifferent service, our waitress was pleasant, helpful and attentive. We'll definitely be back.

    (4)

  • Gregory H.

    This place is misnamed. Don't go here if you're expecting food that in any remote way resembles New Orleans. The place is very dark and the food is bland. I sat at the bar and was treated to a running commentary between the old cook and the young co-ed waitress about all the ways her various body parts excited him and what he would do with them if she'd let him. You'd have to drag me back.

    (1)

  • Richard M.

    A good experience. The food is well prepared and the service is friendly and attentive. They ran out of Pecan pie, which was the only detraction to the experience.

    (4)

  • Charlie L.

    Holy crap... this was a surprise find. AMAZING food that left me saying "WOW" non-stop for about 10 minutes afterward - lout loud. May be I got insanely lucky, but I had the gumbo (spicy, hot and exactly the right balance of creole spices like I remembered from my southern upbringing), and the most amazing Amazing AMAZING scallops special with beurre blanc complemented with grilled asparagus and mashed potato seasoned with pepper. And to finish this already perfect meal, I was craving ice cream with strawberry (not on the menu) and our server and chef made it happen for me. This meal would have easily earned The Big Easy 5 stars, but we were so taken that we went back the next day since the manager promised he would be able to make us the scallops special even when it's not the special. I just couldn't shake the amazing meal and even before we left, I had convinced the sweetie to go back the next day. As we approached the hostess stand, the manager disappears off into the kitchen. The hostess sits us and tells us that the manager is already checking with the chef to make sure the ingredients are available, and he took the liberty to send down the same server (Paul) we had the night before, who remembered all the details of our meal (the wine, the fact I like my water with no ice). Another amazing meal later, I wish I can give them 10 stars. HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. It's going on my list of the best restaurant in the world.

    (5)

  • George N.

    Nice place, good goat cheese salad, soft shell crabs were over breaded and too chewy, crab cakes were mushy. Maybe I ordered the wrong items? Great beer selection, but beer could have been colder.

    (3)

  • Ryan K.

    I've been here twice. It's a shame both experiences weren't great because I live a block away. Let me start with the positive - the atmosphere is great. It's downhill from there. The first time we were there I felt like I had to beg the bartender to get me a drink. The second time was not much different. They were either understaffed or undertrained because even with a bar area that was not full they were slow and not particularly friendly. We had to wait to order food until a table of 10 who had apparently waited an hour to be seated could order theirs. Seemed bizarre to me that only one group can order at a time. Also, a significant number of things on the menu they had discontinued. Rather than wait, we left. Maybe I'm not explaining it well but the whole experience was somewhat surreal. Bottom line is that there are better dining experiences in the Hampton Roads area. I'd go to Snapper or Empire first next time.

    (1)

  • Ramona B.

    Overall, I did not have a good experience here. The host was very unfriendly to my dinner companions and me for no reason. Our waitress was great, but it was difficult to overcome the host's unfriendly demeanor. I had the shrimp & lobster tail bowl. It was okay, but flavorless. I had to dip each bite in lots of butter in order to get some flavor. For the price, I would have expected a better meal.

    (2)

  • Jojo P.

    Last night was my second visit and I have to admit I was disappointed, on our first visit in Sept our waitress was amazing she really knew the menu and she was even able to convince my husband to have dessert (that is not an easy task). Last night was a different story we had been to the movies and then went to the Big Easy for dinner afterwards, yes it was late 9:30 but we had made a reservation so they knew we were coming. The waitress wasn't really altogether there, the calamarie wasn't what we expected, the frogs leg were good, my husbands Salmon was overcooked although he did like the collards and my seafood platter was tough. No we didn't stay for dessert and a night cap like last time because the atmosphere just wasn't there, I am disappointed because it was our anniversary as well!

    (1)

  • George S.

    The best thing about our visit was the valet parking. Service was inattentive. And when we did have it, it was borderline friendly. The wine came with a few fruit flies. The stuffed shrimp was presented fairly. And the taste of shrimp wasn't fresh. The stuffing had no flavor. My associate had the scallops and lump crab and blackened shrimp 'crock'. The scallops were pretty good. In summary, we did not find enough good to warrant a return trip with so many other nearby restaurants to try whom have yet to screw up our dining experience. There is no anger or grudges here; simply facts regarding our visit.

    (2)

  • Burgess N.

    Great Oyster selection. Good drinks, just way over priced. The wait staff is great. The ambiance is awesome. You have a choice of upstairs with a little more of an upscale feel then the downstairs with more of a higher energy nice bar feel. My ONLY issue with this place is the fact that they overcharge, and I walk out of there feeling like I had a good time, but definitely feeling like I paid for it. Give it a shot and let me know if you think I am off...I want to be proved wrong.

    (3)

  • Mike B.

    I've travel the world eating at fine restaurants. This is the only time I felt compelled to write a review. My wife and I ate at the Big Easy a few weeks ago the service and food were good. But last night the service was terrible and embarrassing. I arranged a dinner party for six family members at six o'clock. Before the evening rush. The dinner service was horrible It took 20 minutes to receive glasses of water and drinks. I asked to speak to the manager and informed him his waitress may need a little help because the service is slow. He blew me off. From the time we received our appetizers to the time we received our dinner it took close to an hour. Mind you we were one of the first groups to be seated for dinner. We spend over 220 dollars for a dinner with slow service. The food was OK but not worth the wait for my money the Big Easy is The Big Never Again!

    (1)

  • Luke M.

    Excellent stuffed shrimp! Great restaurant great atmosphere!

    (5)

  • Toni T.

    I discovered this place a few years ago during Norfolk Resaurant Week. Every food dish I've tried since then has been delectable. The romantic ambiance makes The Big Easy conducive to date night. Occasionally you can catch a live band playing jazz music. Parking around the restaurant can be tricky, especially on weekends, though (free?) valet is offered. What keeps me coming back to this place, besides seafood, which I could live off of? The pecan pie...it is truly orgasmic!

    (4)

  • Chris S.

    I was hugely let down by this place. I should have listened to Monica G instead of all the 4 star reviews. I've been really wanting some Cajun food for awhile and I heard that this was the place. I probably give 4 stars too often but this one definitely deserved a fat 2. My wife and I walked in at about 730pm and the host said that the upstairs was reserved and the downstairs was full but we could eat at the bar. I'm not a big fan of this but I really wanted to eat here. We ordered up a couple of orange crushes which for me tasted alright. I ordered a cup of gumbo and the Étouffée and the wife ordered a house ceasar to share and the chicken alfredo (she only eats chicken, I know its nuts). The ceasar and my salad came out, not bad. The entrees took awhile but I always say "Good food takes time". My dish looked nice but was pretty boring tasting. My wife's plate looked real good but it was very sub par. I don't think they even seasoned the chicken. I never got my gumbo for some reason so I ordered a side order of red beans and rice to hopefully save my dining experience. I wish I had that 6.50 back. Needless to say that I am heart broken that I couldn't rely on Yelp for this place. I figured 4 stars is always good but not in this case. I guess if I want decent cajun its back to Popeye's chicken for me.

    (2)

  • Samantha P.

    Blackened Tuna was more like Saltened Tuna, took 3 or 4 glasses of water to get it down. I imagine the grits would of tasted alright if my mouth wasn't so salty after the first bite of fish. The grilled tuna was just bland. Two people at my table had tuna and by the consistency in size and shape of the filets I imagine they came frozen or packaged. Not impressive for a "Seafood Company". Beer prices are all over the place. $10.50 for an Aventinus and $9.50 for a Dogfish 90 IPA yet the O'Connors on tap is probably the cheapest on Granby. By comparison Total Wine sells Aventinus for around $4 a bottle and you can get a 4 pack of 90min for $9. I think whoever made the menu made the prices up as they went. 456 Fish (which is owned by the same people I believe) kills this place. Honestly though I think I'd rather go to A.W. Shucks in Ghent sans the Tilapia.

    (2)

  • Cory S.

    My wife and I checked this place out, based on the reviews we saw on Yelp. When we first walked in, we were impressed by the atmosphere and jazz playing. We went upstairs for dinner and we continued to be impressed. The waiter was very prompt and attentive the entire night, and the food was AMAZING. I had crawfish bisque and crawfish etouffe, and my wife had the gumbo and jambalaya. Both were INCREDIBLE! I won't even mention how amazing the beer list was, which is tough to imagine that I WOULDN'T, because I'm a beer geek. I highly recommend it to anyone!

    (5)

  • Jane M.

    I had the crawfish etouffee and a friend got the andouille pasta so we could try both. I recommend the pasta. There was something off about the etouffee and was not as delicious as I remember past etouffee experiences to be. There were lots of big pieces of crawfish though. I think I got my money's worth. The drinks were pretty good too. I had the ginger margarita and a couple people had the Abita strawberry beer. We were seated downstairs, which seems to be more casual than upstairs. It seems like upstairs is for the more formally dressed. I think the downstairs area is under construction. The ceiling was oddly see-through so you can see people walking across upstairs and chairs move. My seat was incredibly drafty because the a/c vent was directed right at me. (visited Mar 23, 2011)

    (3)

  • Melissa I.

    We stopped by for some oysters and drinks. I had never been in before and I was pleasantly surprised by the cute bar downstairs. The oysters were yummy, drinks good, and the bartender was super friendly. We'll be back...

    (4)

  • Sasha B.

    We came here on a Saturday night and were told that there were no tables available but we could sit at the bar - only one problem - NO SEATS AT THE BAR. Thankfully the hostess phoned a party that had reservations and they cancelled, so we got their table. Woohoo! Right off the bat I loved the atmosphere. Having moved here from a huge city I have been missing the dim lit, sexy cool lounge-y type of restaurants. This place is great - a guy was playing the saxophone, the ceilings were low, and there is exposed brick. atmosphere - 5 stars Our waitress was nice but I think a bit lost because our drinks took forever, someone else ended up bringing them out, and then the waitress comes over with our rounds of drinks 10 minutes later only to look surprised that we already had a round. No biggie - we were relaxing so no rush. For appetizers we ordered the bucket of shrimp (pretty good and a great portion but too messy to eat at a nice restaurant), fritters (great sauce), gumbo (it was ok - nothing extraordinary), and goat cheese salad (really good but the combo of all the ingredients made the salad a little too sweet for my liking). For our entrees we ordered the meatloaf (fairly good), the etouffee (probably the best dish that night), and the jambalaya. Total bill was roughly $110 for 1 round of drinks, all the apps, and 3 entrees - not too shabby! Although everything was fairly good nothing stood out. We were all in consensus - more flavor please! I don't know if it was the lack of spice or ingredients or what but nothing hit the mark. Good food but not great and that was kind of disappointing. Food - 3 stars. Overall experience 4 stars and I will give this place another shot for sure.

    (4)

  • Amber K.

    I ate here with a group of friends (I think there were 7 of us) after the Art | Everywhere opening night event. It was excellent! I love cajun food, so I was really looking forward to it. The service was great, we were seated quickly, the vibe is sexy/cool but not out of your league, live saxophone player guy was talented. And the food. WOOOO! I ordered crawfish etoufee (the bomb!). I sampled pretty much everything on the table. Also good: shrimp & grits, oysters rockefeller, fish taco, fried oysters... Eat here!

    (4)

  • Beth M.

    If you want a great, cajun/creole meal in Hampton Roads, The Big Easy is definitely the place to go. This new spot, located where Club Soda used to be on Tazewell Street in downtown Norfolk, has great ambiance with a laid back feel. Upstairs is a bit more formal while the downstairs has a really great mahogany bar with a private room for 10-12 people. It would definitely be a great place to visit when you want to go out to a nice bar without the loud thumping music that tends to rule on Granby Street. For the menu, the options could be expanded and talking to the manager it sounds like it will be once the kitchen gets a few more cool toys. That doesn't change that what they did offer was excellent and definitely left me a few pounds heavier:) For seafood, they have plenty of oysters, clams, shrimp, mussels, and crawfish. We had 1 lb. of littleneck clams ($15) and they were delicious (especially the fresh cocktail sauce with lots of horseradish). They also have several hot appetizers which we didn't try but looked delicious (including shrimp and grits, crab and crawfish fritters, red beans and rice to name a few). Salads and soups/gumbo are also an option. I had the fresh greens salad ($6) and the chevre and candied pecans on top made the salad. For entrees there were about 8 options including pecan crusted catfish, flank steak, jambalaya, and chicken creole pasta ranging from $14-$19. I had the shrimp and grits entree which was excellent and consisted of 7 oz. of gulf shrimp plus andouille sausage over stone ground grits with a deliciously spicy barbecue sauce topped with fried okra. Amazing. The sauce was a tad spicy on the back end, but the large grained grits really brought it al together. My husband had the pork belly special that came with red beans and rice and sweet potato mash. Also amazing. The pork was so tender and just melted in your mouth. In case all we had eaten wasn't enough, we had to finish with the beignets. These weren't your normal Cafe du Monde beignets but were about twice the size and served with caramel sauce, honey and vanilla ice cream. I would happily stuff myself silly for these things any day! For drinks they have a full bar and a few specialty drinks (the ginger margarita, $8, was good but a bit small) plus a decent enough wine list (considering wine and cajun don't really seem like the standard). They say a bloody mary bar to go with Sunday brunch is coming in the future and I will happily return for that! Overall, The Big Easy is a great new place in downtown Norfolk, which is desperately in need of better reasonably-priced fine dining options. Overall I would give the ambiance 2 thumbs, the food 4.5 forks (out of 5), and the service a 4. Go tonight!

    (5)

  • David T.

    Good food. The service was a little slow, but it was understandable since we came in as a big group pretty late. But there cheese grits were great!

    (4)

  • Kevin Y.

    4 people entered, only 1 was acceptable. The chefs special was over cooked, little flavor, and soggy, 2 different seafood dishes were overcooked and tough and once again little flavor. Waitress did not know the menu providing poor guidance and wrong information. Margarita once again NO flavor. VERY disappointing. Waitress asked our thoughts we shared no compensation and seemingly no concern. For the prices DO NOT bother going to this place.

    (1)

  • Roopal C.

    Yum yum yum are the three words that first come to mind when I think about the awesome dinner 3-4 nights ago. The choice was between this one and A.W. SHUCKS, we went to this one because it was within a walkable distance from our hotel. Between the four of us, we had the following items: Appetizers: Fish taco...eh, not really worth the $5. Gumbo..yummy, dozen oysters...wow(my first time, totally impressed), shrimp and grits...(grits are weird in general, shrimp was totally good) Entrees: Crawfish Etouffee...wow, it was wholesome and awesome Catfish something...I don't eat fish but my non fish eating brother fell in love. Jambalaya..to die for. Crab cake special: made out of CRAWFISH and crabs, it was soooooo goood. The tab including two very strong Hurricanes and a beer came to $170. Service was exceptional, our waiter was attentive and explained things several times to our slightly inebriated fellow diners. Overall, if I find myself in the Norfolk area again(highly doubtful), will def eat here again!

    (4)

  • Scott O.

    Great happy hour with cheap oysters, beer, seafood pizza, and wings. Skip the wings though. For dinner go for the crawfish étouffée.

    (5)

  • Adam H.

    My wife had just gotten home from New Orleans and kept talking about cajun food when I found out about this place. Needless to say, my hopes were way up when we walked in. The services was good, the waiter seemed enthusiastic. The was absolutely fantastic and the ambiance left nothing to be desired. Our dinner was a little later in the evening and the bar crowd had started to materialize but seemed low key and friendly. Overall the Big Easy is a very nice place to eat dinner, either entertaining out of town guests or a quiet evening for two!

    (4)

  • Traci T.

    Atmosphere and decor- A+ Presentation of food- excellent Drinks- they definitely won't skimp on the liquor Taste of food- meh Service- could use some help That's the short and dirty. I came here with some friends from work for a going away party and was really impressed and into the vibe of this place. Our waitress was totally on the spacey side, and I can't help but wonder if she messed up a couple of our orders simply b/c she wanted to take the food home with her. The first appetizer of soup she brought out for one of the girls at our table was wrong, and she straight up told us she boxed it up to take home with her. She then proceeded to bring out the full version of a meal when my friend had ordered the appetizer. Rather than just saying "Keep it and we'll charge you for the appetizer", she actually took it and my friend had to wait awhile to get the smaller version of her order. Really? Was it worth the trouble? I ordered some in house special version of a mixed drink and HOLY SHIT that thing slapped me in the face with the first drink. Maybe it'd been awhile since I've had any good ol' southern bourbon, but that was definitely a sipper. Normally ordering the girly drinks, the restaurant will give me something quite pink because of the amount of fruit juice in it or whatever- this one was definitely diluted in favor of the alcohol. Count me in. It was an $11 drink, but I only needed one. The overall taste of the food I found to be so-so. I was born in New Orleans and grew up with my dad bringing home shrimp and crawfish on a regular basis and both of my parents cooking food that would classify as bad-day-tomorrow hot, but hotness aside, the overall flavor of the food was lacking. I could definitely tell they skimped on the quality of some of the ingredients, such as the cheese and barbeque sauce, among others. If you skimp on quality cheese, you have to learn how to flavor it up so the difference is less noticable. Really at the price you're paying for the amount you're getting, they should not be skimping on quality.

    (3)

  • Cassie C.

    Live jazz, delicious oysters, and impeccable service makes for a fabulous evening. The experience at the Big Easy was overall fantastic! We started out with cocktails and the bartender was highly knowledgeable from all things beer, wine, and oysters. The bar was so great we decided to stay there and eat. We got a half dozen oysters and they were exquisite! I am typically not a fan of raw oysters, but they literally melted in your mouth. Next, we ordered a crock of scallops, lobster and shrimp blackened style and crawfish étouffée. The food was great, but the only issue was the undercooked rice in the étouffée. Everything was fresh and tasty. To finish off the menu, we had beignets and coffee. So good especially when you can cover a donut with melted chocolate sauce. Overall, we had a wonderful time at the Big Easy. It made our Norfolk experience a memorable one. We will definitely return and will recommend this restaurant to anyone that comes through there.

    (4)

  • johnny l.

    Thank you for not allowing us to dine at your pretentious restaurant

    (1)

  • J M.

    This place came highly reviewed, both on yelp and from word-of-mouth. My husband and I hail from Houston, which has some of the best Cajun food outside of Louisiana. We have family in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Lafayette. We've had a lot of exposure to amazing, authentic Cajun food. That being said, I commence the review. I think my husband said it best: this is the what someone not familiar with real Louisiana cuisine thinks Cajun food should taste like. We shared a crawfish bisque, both had the seafood jambalaya, and had bread pudding for dessert. The crawfish bisque had some good flavor to it, but relied too heavily on spice, (as in peppers, not other seasonings) for flavor. We were extremely disappointed in the jambalaya. Yes, it was chocked full of scallops, small pieces of slightly dry chicken, had a couple of shrimp with their tails on (pet peeve when shrimp are served with tails in a dish with a sauce), and had a few small bits of andouille sausage peppered throughout the dish. I did like the shrimp. The scallops weren't too bad either, but not my favorite. There should have been way more sausage. The sausage is used to help flavor the dish. Lack of sausage means lack of flavor, which is our general opinion of the dish. What sausage was there tasted like it had been in plastic shrink wrap for a while. The bread pudding had some good flavor going on, but I feel a bread pudding doesn't need ice cream or caramel. It needs a delicious booze-laced sauce, and yup, it was missing that too. I feel bad my husband had to drop $75 on lame drinks and completely unauthentic and unremarkable food. Just an overall disappointing experience. Oh and the hurricane was weak. Lame. They have two hurricanes: the 'level 1' and the 'level 5'... don't you mean category 1 and category 5? Double lame. We're not going back.

    (2)

  • Gwen D.

    We arrived 30 minutes early on NYE night and were promptly seated. Our margaritas were made to perfection, and everything served was delicious. Their crock style flounder fish was one of the best fish I've had at any restaurants, and for the price it was a steal. My date's tuna was cooked a little more well than expected, but it still turned out pretty well. Thanks Big Easy for a fabulous meal!

    (5)

  • Vanessa J.

    Phenomenal food, great service. We went here during restaurant week and luckily we got there early. It's the kind of place where I would seriously recommend having a reservation. The servers were all very friendly and the food left us wanting more.

    (5)

  • Stephanie D.

    So I had never been to Norfolk before and relied on fellow Yelpers to find a tasty place to eat and boy did I! I was fortunate to have come during Restaurant Week- I got a three course meal for $20 (their prices otherwise though are still good for what you get) I started my meal with 1/2 raw oysters- the server picked the variety for me as I'm not an aficionado- and they were sooo delicioius. Then I got crawfish bisque- which was perfectly seasoned and not too thick (some places make the mistake of doing that) For my entree I had blackened tuna steak, fried okra, and grits. Again, everything was perfectly seasoned and they cooked my tuna to order. For dessert I got a brownie sundae, which was also delicious. If I'm ever in Norfolk again I will absolutely visit this place again. The atmosphere was lovely and the service was both knowledgable and attentive. What are you waiting for? Go now!

    (5)

  • Emily R.

    The Big Easy was easily the most enjoyable meal we've had in downtown Norfolk. We started off an Abita and an Abita Purple Haze. Very decent prices ($4.75) for what some places consider "specialty" beers. Then, it was off to the appitizers. Being the overly ambitious and "eyes larger than the stomach" type of eaters that we are, we each ordered one. He had red beans and rice, and I ordered the shrimp and grits. Both portions were large. The red beans and rice were OK with good flavor, but a little thin for my tastes. The shrimp and grits however were OUTSTANDING! Although leery of the barbeque sauce at first, it was a great complement to the plump shrimp, spicy andouille and creamy grits. We were probably already full at this point, but we forged on... For entrees, I had the Pecan Breaded Catfish and The Man had jambalaya. What can I say...he likes rice. Both were delicious. The catfish was very moist although the breading did get a little soggy on the bottom. The jambalaya was chock full of sausage, chicken and shrimp, and had a nice heat to it. Although we put a serious dent into the entrees, and had to box up the rest, dessert was beckoning. Ah, who could resist dessert? Having lived in New Orleans for a couple of years, I LOVE BEIGNETS...having said that, these were not the beignets of my memories. As another poster stated, these came topped with powdered sugar and caramel sauce, kinda like a beignet sundae. Luckily we only got one order. They were huge, they were good, they were gone in 60 seconds. Service was great and not pretentious like some other establishments downtown. Parking was a breeze in the garage across the street, and 9 times out of 10, they just leave the gate open, so no charge to exit. The food, location, and affordable prices make this a must visit.

    (4)

  • Gray G.

    Big Easy was just fine. Not memorable either way. The raw oysters were good(we ate downstairs in the bar area). I think I would have enjoyed them even more if I had gone there during happy hour(mon-fri 4:00-7:00) because they have 59 cent oysters at that time. I had the fish of he day and it was good and a good deal (13.99) for fish, salad, a side, and muffin. Not memorable, but fine. Our server was slow and the ambience was ehh. I would go back during HH or if someone suggested it, but I would never pick it as a place I really want to go.

    (3)

  • Sean T.

    Located where Club Soda was, Big Easy just opened this past Wednesday. I went with friends on Friday and you could tell there were some things to iron out. The service was a bit slow - but I'm sure that will improve as time goes on. The food was good and the atmosphere was nice and inviting - it's a modern decor with low lighting. There is a downstairs that has a couple of nice initmate dining areas as well. This is a nice place for a group or it would go over well for a romantic dinner. There is currently a dress code for guys that requires a collared shirt. I had the Gumbo Du Jour and it was on par with K-Paul's in New Orleans. My main course was the Blackened Tuna and it could have been a bit more spicy, but it was cooked to my specs and overall quite good. Everyone at the table seemed to enjoy their selections as well. I think once the service picks up and they add a few more dishes to the menu this place will be a local favorite. I'll definitely return.

    (4)

  • Keysha S.

    Great place! I had the fish taco appetizer and gumbo...both were very good. I'd definitely go back for the beer selection, ambience, delectable southern cuisine, and decent drink specials. 5 star.

    (5)

  • Chuck B.

    Last night was my third visit to The Big Easy and while the previous two experiences were good, last night was fantastic. We were there to celebrate a special occassion and it was a perfect night. We made reservations so we were seated immediately after arriving. Our server, Nicole, I believe was her name, was awesome. She was friendly, checked back in with us with just the right frequency, and made sure we had a great night. Even after bringing the check, she made sure to tell us to relax and stay as long as we'd like as we finished our bottle of wine. The crispy oyster appetizer was delicious. So often, fried oysters can be disappointing, but these were breaded and fried perfectly. Entrees included the Free Range Chicken and Andouille Sausage pasta dish and the Jambalaya. Both were excellent. The beignets with caramel dipping sauce were so good for dessert. Love this place and we'll definitely be back.

    (5)

  • Romneka G.

    This is an excellent date night restaurant. The food...sooooo good. I love the chef's take on classic cajun dishes!! My all time favorite was the pecan pie a la mode. O.M.G! Soooo good. The beignets were delicious and served warm just the way they're meant to be!! The atmosphere is lovely. I heard on the weekends they have live bands, so my next goal is to be there on a friday night.

    (4)

  • Ashley P.

    I've been to Big Easy several times for either drinks or food. All times I have been impressed. If you're curious, stop in for a few beers. If you're hungry, stop in for dinner. This place is the perfect date spot because the downstairs offers a more casual feel with tables in the bar area, and the upstairs is more romantic but still has a more quiet bar. Big Easy has really good food that is appropriately priced, as it is on the gourmet side. The staff is extremely friendly, the atmosphere is warm, welcoming, and classy but casual. This place is worth the trip. My experience has been memorable, and I will return.

    (5)

  • Scott B.

    I was just passing through Norfolk and I stopped here for dinner one night after checking a few reviews. My server Lindsey was extra helpful and very friendly, which I think is key to a excellent restaurant experience. I had the crab cake appetizer and dozen oysters, which where both delicious and fairly priced. Decent beer selection. Atmosphere-wise, it was dimly lit, spacious, contemporary, and I believe there was a live jazz band downstairs. I'd go definitely go back if I ever find myself in Norfolk again.

    (5)

  • James L.

    This place is a terrific find. My colleagues and I were looking for a seafood place for dinner and stumbled on this gem on a side street off of the main drag (Granby St). After perusing the menu from outside, we decided to give it a try. We were a bit surprised to see the restaurant practically empty but it was a Tuesday night after all. They have a good selection of beer and wine as well as a fully stocked bar. The menu contained a good selection of sandwiches for very reasonable prices. But given the fact that it was dinnertime, I decided to have a full entree and I wasn't disappointed. I had grilled grouper (fish of the day) and it came with one side and a salad. The fish can be cooked in a multitude of ways, including broiled, grilled and blackened. The corn muffins were warm and crumbly. Service was good but the waitress forgot a request that I made and given the fact that we were the only table upstairs, I knocked my rating down one star to 4 stars. All in all, a great find for good value.

    (4)

  • Creagan B.

    Half off regular burgers and different burgers just for wednesdays. Also 49$¢ oysters wednesdays! They will trick you if you are not paying attention to what oysters you are ordering. Make sure to ask for the cheaper oysters. They are definitely not as tasty as the more expensive ones. They have specialty burgers on wednesdays. Their regular burgers are half off on wednesdays. The O'rock burger is amazing. It is a fried oyster sandwich with the makings of a oyster rockefeller. I also had the fried green tomato and burger which was really good also. I would definitely suggest coming here!! The regular menu is a little pricey so bring your big boy wallet. They also have a good selection of beers available.

    (4)

  • Carol V.

    The food is good - try the gumbo - they have Abita beer, which is always a plus a- and the service is just the right amount of attentive.

    (5)

  • Maria G.

    I remember this place when it was another restaurant awhile back. So when this restaurant was more a New Orleans style I had to try it since we do not have to many of those around here. Same decor including the bottom level seatings. But this time you can order and eat at the bar for quicker service. I settled on the shrimp and crab étouffée. It's almost like a gumbo....Please forgive me New Orleans, I know it's 2 totally different dishes but not knowing what an étouffée was that's the best way I can describe it....anywho, it was delicious nonetheless! Spicy, great flavor...

    (4)

  • Rahdika B.

    This was one of the worst dining experiences I have ever had. My server Justin was not straight forward with multiple up charges on my bill and we were unjustly charged a mandatory gratuity. When I expressed concern to the manager Mr. Luigi Capello he was rude, disrespectful and did absolutely nothing to help reconcile the problems presented. He was very unprofessional and argumentative. I am a frequent traveler and truly enjoy trying out local favorites. I have no problem with paying any price for good food or service but this was sincerely the worst $132 I've spent on dinner. I would definitely not recommend this restaurant to fellow travelers looking to support a local establishment.

    (1)

  • George R.

    Awesome dinner, she crab soup is amazing. Had a crawfish covered filet and wife had fruit of the sea. Service and atmosphere were both great. Don't miss out....

    (4)

  • Travis H.

    Downstairs near the bar was really nice, comfortable vibe and yet we still felt a general sense of class. There was live music and a fun bartender who was really attentive- I've had friends sit upstairs and they said the service wasn't that great though so beware.

    (3)

  • Samantha S.

    Went for restaurant week. Food was good but nothing that wowed us. Raw bar is meager for being a called an oyster bar. Only 3 kinds of oysters, but 1 was sold out and took over 20mins to get them. Would try again, but not anytime soon.

    (2)

  • Lucy H.

    This was the worst downtown Norfolk dining experience of my recent memory. A "problem with the reservation" left our party downstairs at the bar for almost 2 hours. When we were finally seated the service only deteriorated; the drinks, waters and food came out at a snail's pace. When the fish tacos (finally) arrived they tasted off and were left unfinished on the table. I ordered a greek salad with shrimp - and paid almost $10 for 8 sad, tasteless, droopy crustaceans to be slopped on top of a mediocre bed of lettuce. My boyfriend's sashimi was left unfinished as was his she-crab soup. The final straw? When my water arrived half-way through the meal with a rim covered in lipstick marks. Truly disappointing service, food and atmosphere. I've heard good things about shrimp night and the $5 burger deal - maybe the mistake was ordering "fancier" items? In any case: I wouldn't recommend it when downtown has so many other, quality options.

    (1)

  • Craig J.

    Please do not let Wednesday night half price burger night go away!!!!! We look forward to it every week. We rave about it to all we meet. We have brought several large groups here and they are always wowed. We have more than made up for the loss on the burger with oyster and alcohol purchases. I strongly urge the management to reconsider.

    (4)

  • Darius M.

    This place was pretty cool. It was packed so the food took a little bit longer than normal to come out. As far as the food of give it a 3 out of 5. I'd prefer my Cajun food to be more flavorful. I had the jambalaya and it was OK. The service was good though. They were prompt and friendly. I'd give this place another shot.

    (3)

  • Denise R.

    Ended up here on Memorial Day weekend--phone was dead and couldn't use yelp to find a place. Must haves: crab and avocado salad, seafood crocks, and desserts!

    (5)

  • Bucky A.

    My wife and I had dinner here last night. I had "Fish Ponchartrain" and my wife had "Teriyaki Glazed Salmon". We both enjoyed our meals as well as the service. We plan on returning soon!

    (5)

  • Ryan B.

    As always Christiana and Mike were great but they changed the Wednesday Burger special :( no longer a deal and the main reason I would come to Big Easy. I guess I'll stop coming as often its a shame it was the best deal in downtown Norfolk. Hope they bring it back several customers voiced the same opinion and it definitely wasnt as busy as it used to be.

    (3)

  • Wendy L.

    Yum! I got the crab soup my friends got the gumbo... soo good! We opened up w calamari for appetizer and then I got the jambalaya over rice yum! Great happy hour deals!!! On weds, we got burgers for under $5!!

    (4)

  • Xavier C.

    Went here tonight with nine friends. I arrived first and when I walked in there was no one at the host station. I decided to walk around to check the place out a bit. First impression is that this place is awesome. It has two levels with both levels having seating and a bar. The downstairs bar has the taps behind it. Both bars are fully stocked. Beer selection from draft is ok and didn't really stand out (about five taps total). The bottle selection was very decent and had some favorable choices. The decor and environment is very well done. I liked the classy feel and even the live sax player downstairs. Unfortunately, this is about the extent of the beauty of this place. After walking around I noticed that the place was rather empty. There were two couples downstairs and only one upstairs. After everyone arrived, we sat down and proceeded to move on with our dinner. Upon sitting down we all ordered drinks. We all had a mix of waters and beers. It took 20 minutes from time of order before we actually received anything. As soon as we received our drinks we ordered our appetizers and food. The food experience was rather mixed. Our main courses took a very long time to arrive. The appetizers were moderate in quality but nothing worth waiting the time we waited. Granted, we had a larger party, the facility was virtually empty. There was no reason it should've taken slightly over an hour before we received our main courses. I ordered the steak house burger (I'm allergic to shell fish) medium but unfortunately received it well done. I would've mentioned something but was honestly fearful on how long it might take for a re-fire. Talking with everyone asking on how their meals went, the general consensus was yes it was good, but they've all had better. The menu for vegetarians is beyond abysmal. I would recommend avoiding this place entirely if your significant other is vegetarian. Literally the only option for them on the menu is a salad. If you take into consideration how competitive the area is for places to eat, there are definitely other options that would be more suited for your date. Overall, I would've given this place two stars for the quality of the food, and the inflexible menu but the saving grace was honestly the employees. They were very, helpful and friendly. Even though it was a very slow night, their hospitality and desire to accommodate us was very pleasing to experience. Overall, a decent place with nice decor and decent seafood choices, but for what I'm looking for with service time and menu selection, I wouldn't come back.

    (3)

  • Steve P.

    Good food, and nice locals. Kind of a out of the way down a alley feel to it. But the food has always been good here. 4-7pm is happy hour and the oysters are .49 each. Not the biggest but thats a decent price outside of New Orleans. Very much a cool place to give a try. I'd recommend this place to anyone looking for some new seafood place to try.

    (5)

  • Ray G.

    Stumbled on this place right across from our hotel, so glad we did. Incredibly fresh oysters, great craft beer selection, and some of the friendliest staff we encountered in Norfolk. Christiana our bartender was as cheerful as she was knowledgeable. Every oyster lover should visit this place.

    (5)

  • Kate J.

    Wed half price burger night must remain as a fixture. It's a huge draw and equals profits for the restaurant. Please keep this Norfolk institution in place.

    (5)

  • Jillarae R.

    My second time here and I really thought I wrote a review about this place especially because of how awesome my first experience was here! My first time here was a Wednesday. They have 2 deals here which is why I decided to stop by ---thanks to my fellow yelpers! Burgers are half price and select oysters are $0.49. The cornbread is FREE! Experience is unforgettable! Both times, I've sat downstairs in the "bar area." Not having cell service is not a bad deal, either. The best thing about this place is consistency. I can't say it enough but hate going back to places and it NOT being how I remember it being the first time I was there. This time it may of even been BETTER We sat at the bar this time and Ryan made a lot of great recommendations. I went with what he suggested, Salmon BLT. It was as good as he said it would be! My friend ordered the Chicken and Waffles. now THAT looked good. My friend couldn't stop smiling throughout his meal. I know I'll be getting that next time! His cheese grits on the side tasted like mac and cheese!! and I'm not even a grits fan... After looking through their website, a few good things to remember is that they also have complimentary valet service. Also, our bartender Ryan was nice enough to tell us about their other company, Byrd and Baldwin. They have a Sunday $30 and$40 meal worth checking out. He described it as their "restaurant week every week" type deal. I know I'll be going there, soon! Next time I'm at Big Easy, I may opt to sit upstairs.

    (4)

  • Demetria M.

    I originally ordered a dozen oysters Rockefeller as my appetizer and the seafood platter as my entree. My friend had the crab cakes. The oysters Rockefeller had a terrible flavor and a soupy consistency...when I asked our waiter if we could exchange them for fried oysters he said, "No". I asked for the manager and he said "No problem"...the fried oysters arrived and were the same price for 8 fried oysters as opposed to the dozen oysters Rockefeller. It was considered a dinner and not an appetizer. The fried oysters were delicious, juicy and flavorful. A few were actually large as well. The seafood platter was very small and flavorless. The little piece of shriveled up flounder was flavorless, as well as the 2 little shrimp and 2 scallops...all flavorless and unattractive. The bar tender also made an excellent Margarita on the rocks! Loved the fried oysters and Margarita but hated the seafood platter. The crab cakes were small, round balls but flavorful.

    (3)

  • Shanna A.

    Love the ambiance. My Wife and I walked in for a drink and Seafood appetizers. We were lucky enough to be seated right away. Our waitress was very friendly and brought our drinks out right away. The Orange Crush was delicious. We ordered Fried Calamari, Oysters Rockafeller, and the Crab Dip. The Calamari was cooked perfectly but ALL of the food was extremely rich and over the top in salt.

    (3)

  • Katrina M.

    My experience here on a Wednesday night deserves four stars, and here's why: - Great corn muffins/corn bread - Awesome service. Our waitress was really friendly and attentive. She even fulfilled all of our requests for corn muffin refills. I think we had 12 muffins as a group. - $0.49 James River oysters, raw or steamed. They tasted fresh but not ocean-y - Burger deals on a Wednesday night too. Juicy and meaty! - Wood cutting boards as plates and skinny tall glasses were too cute. I wanted to steal them. - Downstairs part of the restaurant feels really cozy I will definitely return to Big Easy, especially to try their signature New Orleans dishes and beignets.

    (4)

  • The Y.

    Delicious. I'm no expert on cuisine from the New Orleans area, but I know what I ate while I was down there, and this was right on target. Had a shrimp polenta with andouille sausage that was delicious. Étouffée was delicious as well. Interesting atmosphere with downstairs and upstairs seating. Nice night out type of place to eat some good food and have nice scenery to match. **For my big appetite folks** I wouldn't come here starving because your next stop will be a bowl of cereal. But it's a great place to reserve a table for a delicious meal before or after another event downtown. Parking garage is nearby so parking isn't a problem if you don't mind an elevator ride or hitting some stairs before your meal.

    (4)

  • Dennis C.

    This is my first Yelp review and it is not a happy one. I ate here last night as a member of a dining party of approximately 20 people. Our group reservation was slated for the Norfolk Seafood Company section located upstairs. While waiting for other members of the dining party to arrive, a few of us ordered a drink from the bar downstairs. Mine was a Hendricks cucumber gin martini. Unfortunately, the bartender botched its preparation by allowing a sea of cucumber seeds to be left floating on top. It was also extremely weak. After finishing our drinks, we went upstairs to be seated with the other members of our dining party. The service was extremely slow throughout the entire evening. The wait staff was courteous and pleasant enough, and I cannot fault their effort. But they appeared to be very inexperienced and flustered, completely unaccustomed to handling such a large dining party. I ordered their "fresh catch", which was tile fish, prepared blackened. I was getting my hopes up, as I had enjoyed a thoroughly delicious tile fish special at another restaurant a few weeks earlier. Unfortunately, the piece of tile fish I received here was extremely small in size and failed to deliver the flavor I remembered. It did not taste completely fresh and its blackened preparation was merely a routine coating of black pepper. My side dish, which was a baked potato, was a complete disaster. I found it to be completely inedible after tasting only a couple of bites. It was brown on the inside and tasted like it might had been microwaved right out of a refrigerator. If last night's performance was indicative of their usual standard, then downtown Norfolk certainly deserves better than this.

    (1)

  • Bee J.

    Wow!! First time... Last time. We went there after hearing good things..ok Went there my first course meal was a gumbo omg it was gross.. It was cold and it seemed old . Second course my veggies were freezing(collard greens) :( my mother meal was wrong and undercook:( By the time my third course came I was so turned off I ask for the check and didn't finish my meal I will never go back again and I will tell everyone I know don't go!!!!! On a lighter note I did like our server

    (1)

  • Karen L.

    The food was good, better than the service. Credit is due to the chefs, and only the chefs. Food was overpriced Like the previous review, upstairs is more formal than downstairs but it's a nice industrial ambience with live music for you to enjoy while eating. Although this was our first time eating here and with no expectations, I was very disappointed with the service. Our main server, Derek was only prompt with serving us was our first round of drinks. The appetizers and entrees took forever. The entree salad for a guest in our party came out after everyone else was finishing their entree. I was very unhappy with our service and it would be unlikely I would eat there again.

    (2)

  • Jennyfer N.

    F*** this noise. I don't often give 1 stars but this place was awful, awful, awful and came so well recommended by a lot of people. The food screamed of mediocrity. 1 it's expensive, 2 it's crap, 3 it's crap. I had an oyster po-boy for a meal of about $10.00 And I had 4 fried oysters in my sandwich. And watery coleslaw. And crap fries. Whoopty. Other people at the table had spent exorbitant amounts of money on seafood, probably previously frozen, tossed with cream. So depressing. I have been to so many cheaper places that gave me such better deals than this place. I can't believe that this place is in business. I have had sandwiches stuffed to the GILLS with seafood at comparable prices. And my drink was empty multiple times through the evening. Boo, all thumbs down.

    (1)

  • Peter P.

    Absolutely phenomenal food and ambience. Whether you're coming for the live jazz or the soft shelled crabs, you're going to be satisfied. This is by far the best seafood restaurant in Norfolk. It's pricey, but well worth it. the food is fresh and perfectly cooked, the service is fantastic, and the atmosphere is super fun. Everything about this place is just great. I can't say enough good things!!!

    (5)

  • Nikko M.

    I'm in disbelief that I didn't know this place was as cool as it was. I've always seen it as a fancy suit and tie restaurant. My friends were informed last night that Big Easy had an oyster special. I'm not the biggest fan of oysters, but my girlfriend and our friend were stoked to hear that there was a special all night on Wednesdays. We strolled on over to check it out. We were pleasantly surprised that there was a top and bottom floor. The top floor looked really modern and very nice. The bottom floor was cozy with brick walls and a tavern like feel. While the girls were there for oysters, the guys were there for the burger night. I had a solid, cooked as I expected it, cheddar, bacon, mushroom melt on sour dough bread with a baked potato as a side. They brought out the tiniest baked potato, which was nice because I could finish it. The corn muffins though... The corn muffins will probably be what brings me back. They were perfectly crispy on the outside, and soft and semi-moist on the inside. As my friend CJ says, "Next stop... My thighs!! WOOT WOOOT!!!"

    (4)

  • Brian S.

    I was in Norfolk from out of town and was looking for a bar with decent beer. I wasn't sure whether The Big Easy would fit the bill, but fortunately the valet greeted me outside and enthusiastically ushered me in, directing me to the bar downstairs where Kat would take good care of me. I had an excellent night. There's not a lot of beer on tap, but the Fat Tire and Sweet Josie brown from Lonerider hit the spot. My food selections focused on their crab offerings, and those did not disappoint either - the crab dip and the crab cake sandwich. Both with rich, fresh crab flavor and prepared as advertised. Kat always had a smile and kept the water glass full too, which is important to me. I'll definitely stop by during my next trip to Norfolk to delve deeper into their other seafood offerings.

    (4)

  • Meghan F.

    Best Happy Hour in Norfolk. 59 cent raw oysters and steamed clams. $2 beers, $4 well drinks and $5 frozen daiquiris. Plus the happy hour food was great. They sell 3 sliders for $5, we tried one of each, shrimp po boy, oysters Rockefeller on a burger and a regular cheese burger. They also have gourmet mini pizzas for $5. We loved the seafood white pizza. We liked everything so much we went back the following week.

    (5)

  • Darshel A.

    I really wanted to like this restaurant when I went there for my first time during Restaurant Week in Downtown Norfolk. I had my mouth fixed to enjoy some good seafood and atmosphere. The waiter was very nice and attentive and...apologetic! I can't eat cheese or excessive butter (more than a 1/2 teaspoon) so I regretfully order my dishes fried if they don't make it fresh. What I got was a cold seafood platter that was broiled. The main dish was slow but the appetizer came out within a reasonable amount of time. The coffee was great though and the atmosphere was rustic and warm - even though we were sat in the basement. The upper level seemed very classy and cozy but I guess I'll never know. Sorry but there too much competition out there to patronize a restaurant that can't get even the basics right. Sorry Big Easy.

    (2)

  • Jacqueline P.

    I started writing this review while at the table since I was a little irritated. We made a reservation on Open Table for 5:30 p.m. on New Year's Eve, and upon arrival the restaurant was pretty empty. The hostess decided to seat us at a table near the front door which was somewhat cool and extremely close to another party, so we asked to be moved. Our request was denied and the reason given was that every other table in the restaurant was reserved. Huh? There were three parties in the upper-level of the restaurant and one of those parties included mine. Nevertheless, it was New Year's Eve and we refused to let small things annoy us. Our waiter was friendly, prompt, and provided excellent service. As appetizers my husband ordered the fish tacos and my daughter ordered the shrimp cocktail. My husband did not eat his second taco so it suffices to say that he was underwhelmed. As entrees we ordered the seafood jambalaya (very good & flavorful per. my husband), lobster, lump crab and Shrimp crock-blackened (good but not memorable), and the seafood risotto (my daughter thoroughly enjoyed it, but we always tease her about her undeveloped pallet). Overall, our experience decent and we will visit again. But instead of dinning upstairs, we will to try the oyster-bar on the lower level. There was a lot of foot traffic downstairs which lead us to ask our waiter "what was so popular"? Apparently, they have an attractive happy hour menu and a Raw or Steamed oyster bar available at select times.

    (3)

  • Kent W.

    Good service but I will say it is a "upper class" bar. Had the calamari was perfectly cooked. My only complaint was there was too much parmesan cheese on top of it. Nice live jazz but their tap selection was lacking severely. I would have felt better being there in my three piece suit than shorts and sandals.

    (4)

  • Samir C.

    Food was good, not great. Wednesday oyster night is good if you like oysters. Biggest problem was service, very slow even though there are several people working.

    (3)

  • Candace K.

    The food was really good. Came out quick. The service was decent. It wasn't busy but we made reservations just in case since we had 7 people. Also, since parking can be sparse they do have valet available. The only downside was that all of our food was brought out at different times, so 3 people had their food then 2 more got their dinner and about 4 minutes or so later the last 2 got their dinner; just was unusual so we waiting until everyone had their dinner before we dug in. The crab cakes were great, as well as the garlic oysters!

    (4)

  • TAYLOR P.

    Big Easy for a long time was a place I wanted to take all my friends and out of town family to because it used to be a great place to eat and have drinks. Unfortunately it just isn't so for me anymore. A year or two ago is when it went down hill and after a hiatus I returned last night to treat an out of town guest to dinner. I was disappointed once again in the food and the service. We got two appetizers, the blackened tuna and the calamari. I thought both of them were average. I ordered jambalaya and the rice came out under cooked. The dish was full of sausage, shrimp, chicken and scallops which was nice. The overall taste was really just bland. The other people with me ordered the Fruit of the Sea and my wife said that the noodles were under cooked and was just "ok". Our service was not that great either. The waiter was friendly but just not very attentive. We were one of two table downstairs so I don't think he was stretched thin. It's been very disappointing to me to see what used to be a very busy great restaurant in downtown go downhill. I hope they can get back to the quality food and service that used to be.

    (2)

  • Meredith V.

    I should've updated this awhile ago. While my first visit here was amazing, I've since returned a few times (after 2011) and it has fallen short. I believe there is a new head chef. Without slighting the fried oysters, our dishes that we ordered every subsequent time did not have the same oomph and love in them then when we initially visited in 2009. I know these aren't exact details but I don't know how else to explain it except average and lacking heart. Very sad to report this because Big Easy was a top restaurant in Hampton Roads for awhile. Sadly no more...

    (3)

  • Angie K.

    Bummer I have to lower my stars for this place. Why did they change a good thing? No more flank steak with oysters and crawfish! No more buckets of crawfish. I am in foodie heartbreak! This place used to be my favorite, but they changed things up so much I can no longer say that. This was my choice for my B-day dinner, had a large party over 20. The tables were not even put together for a party that large... maybe 12, so myself the birthday girl had to manually put them together. Easy fix though. So when I put in a reservation I asked if it would be downstairs because I like it best down there. They confirmed it would be down stairs, come to find when I walked in it was upstairs. Apparently for a party that big they couldn't accommodate down there. Ok fine. A little bummed though. Service was pretty lame, people had to ask as much as 4 times to get a drink. I don't know how many people were helping out the table but it might as well been 1. Hot sauce please... 20 min wait. Note: If a large party is coming to your restaurant make sure they are attended to. I didn't like that people were getting frustrated at a party I invited them to. Although most people really liked the food, and complimented it, the service just put a damper on things. So yes the food is pretty good and the pricing is pretty reasonable. They even let us bring in our own cake. Which is cool. But this place seriously needs some menu re-vamp and better servers. It was completely dead except for my party... Hmmm may I suggest Groupon? Anyways, I had a good night but The Big Easy turned out to be The Big Let down.....

    (3)

  • Milo R.

    It was ok. The oyster rockefeller was the best thing of the meal.

    (2)

  • Pete A.

    Walking into the place You think wow this is going to be Nice.. The young lady at the door was very cold and stand offish, The Atmosphere was very nice, when you first glance at the menu you might think it's a little pricey but then it seems like such a nice place. When the bulk of the food came out Boy was I shocked ! The Oysters had to be sent back they were so old and stunk like a broken down ship. My Partner ordered the Crab Cake and Ship combo $26.95 The Crab cake was " TINY" almost all filler and almost burnt, and 6 small shrimp. The Blackened Tuna I ordered had "0" Flavor or seasoning, This is supposed to be a New Orleans style place. NOT EVEN CLOSE. All the food was Bland ! ! I mean NO Flavor. and service... Santa Claus comes around faster than the staff here !! I WOULD NEVER GO BACK !! Nor would I recommend it to ANYONE ..

    (1)

  • Elizabeth O.

    It's been years since I left a waiter/waitress a 10% tip but haven't been this disappointed with service in a long time. While our appetizer & first cocktails were prompt, we never saw our waiter again after he delivered our dinner. We ordered a top shelf martini & additional beer to be served with our meal & after we finished I had to walk to the bar, cancel our drinks, and ask for the check. This is not a small operation newly in business so can see no reason for the unacceptable level of service. Will add there was no one in the restaurant when we arrived. Will not return.

    (1)

  • Laine A.

    I will never eat here again. Interesting to see that another diner had a not so great experience on the same evening. I too had reservations on 1/26 during restaurant week. We did not order off the Restaurant week menu but ventured to the main menu....meaning, our bill was not $20 each. Not even close with appetizers,entrees, beverages and dessert. After having a great meal, we were asked to leave so they could seat another reservation. This was not 5 minutes after our server had just told us to relax and enjoy the rest of our wine. Big Easy is short on southern hospitality.

    (1)

  • Mike C.

    Cajun creole bar and restaurant in downtown Norfolk near the MacArthur Center on Tazewell St near Granby St. Good luck with finding street parking. Meter parking ends at 6pm but that doesn't necessarily mean more will open up. Recommend parking at the MacArthur Center. It's $1 per hour before 6pm and a fixed $2 total after 6pm. I came in at about 530pm so there were not a lot of patrons out there yet. I elected to stay in the bar area which is located downstairs. Note: sitting downstairs will probably give you a lack of cell phone reception. I have AT&T and had the "No Service" message. Management knows about this issue, but there is nothing no one can do about it unless you randomly go upstairs near the window to check on your messages. I started off with the Yuengling - it's like water to me...it's that good. I'm not in the east coast all the time, so if you drink beer, you should take advantage of this gem. Yum!! Happy hour = $2 on most domestic bottles Half dozen hot wings - it was happy hour so it was half off. Pretty fricken good, garlic and hot sauce combined. They threw in an extra wing too. Fish taco - one taco for $4.75. Kinda pricey but I'm in a creole/seafood bar so I felt the need to get one. Sorry but not a fan. The shell reminded me of the same taco shells they used in the cafeteria in elementary school. Big Easy fried the tortilla and made it crispy, something Im not really used to except in elementary school or in Del Taco. For $4.75, just keep the tortilla simple with the insides the way it was originally served; chopped tomatoes, lettuce, celery, fish and sauce. Also wanted to try a local beer, called Golden Ale Beer - brewed in Hampton, VA; nice but slightly bitter; but not included in the $2 happy hour bottle selections. Customer service was very nice. Again, it's a southern thing. The bartender asked me if I wanted the wings first or the fish taco. I told her the wings, but there was some miscommunication between her and the cooks and they sent out the taco immediately. She was about to start arguing with the cooks in the back (that's a no no in front of the customer) but I told her, don't worry about it, just serve it as is, not really a big deal on my end. Wine pours - although I didn't have any wine, she was very generous on the wine pours. Better than the local wine pours such as Press 626. Very nice establishment, friendly service, a definite must eat/drink.

    (4)

  • Agustin G.

    So first time here was expecting something totally different. This is a classy restraunt. We came in on a Saturday and it was packed so we had to wait. Wich I completely understand. But when we were seated we waited over an hour for our food. My date had a cup of gumbo and it was the blandest cup ever. Fortunately this place saved itself with the jumbalaya. Wish the environment was more backwoods bayou. But like I said. Good food

    (3)

  • Gus C.

    Food was good. Beer selection is so-so. Service was not good tonight. Server didn't know anything about what was on tap. She just repeated what she had been told. And she was very slow. Also forgot to bring a drink until she was reminded again several minutes later.

    (3)

  • Daniel D.

    My family really wanted to enjoy this place, and made sure to ask the waitress very specific questions on how the food was prepared so we knew what we were getting into. We started off with steamed clams, which were insanely overcooked. Dipped in butter they were somewhat edible. Our salads were acceptable. The jambalaya was bland and the serving was too small for a dish of that nature. The etouffée was equally bland, my mother wouldn't even finish it. On both dishes hot sauce had to be added. The one shining star was the blackened tuna with creole sauce and red beans. This is where their chef really shined. The tuna was perfectly cooked and the sauce added a nice flavor. The red beans were too soft, but their flavoring was adequate. Don't go in anticipating a knockout meal, and just stick with the fish.

    (2)

  • Ebony C.

    I was very skeptical about this place b/c I'm not from the area. There is something to be said about the way a place looks that can sell you on going. I'm very happy this was the place chosen for a birthday dinner b/c it was DELICIOUS!!! I'm not a seafood person but their non seafood entrees are yummy. I had the pan seared rib tips w/ garlic mash & my companion had the spicy creole chicken pasta. Service was great!! The ambiance was on point as well w/ live jazz. It's definitely a great place to take a date!

    (5)

  • Janet E.

    I really had a great food experience at the Big Easy. I wasn't in the mood for crazy spicy cajun food, but wanted some delicious seafood. I grabbed a seat at the bar and ordered the fish taco, the fried Louisiana oysters, and the goat cheese salad. The fish taco had outstanding flavors. It came with just one taco in a hard shell. It had blacked fish, creole sauce and sour cream. All of the flavors together were mouth watering delicious! The Louisiana oysters were fried perfectly. Not overwhelmed in batter, which I like. They were also placed on a bed of shredded fried cabbage and were covered in a thin layer of lemon caper remoulade. So YUMMIE! The goat cheese salad was not like any other goat cheese salad I have had. The dressing was sweet because it was made with maple syrup, but it also had some creole mustard. The candied pecans were a nice touch and the goat cheese was extremely fresh. My waitress was extremely sweet. Service was great. After I had finished one plate, another was placed in front of me with the next dish I ordered. The other patrons sitting with me were also very nice and we had some great conversations. While I was walking out, another waitress worked hard to make sure she was at the door to open it for me and thanked me for visiting. I LOVE THIS PLACE!

    (5)

  • Bekah W.

    I am writing this review as I am seated still at my table, waiting for my entree, which I ordered an hour ago.... We arrived for our required reservation at 6:30 and were seated immediately. Unfortunately, that was the only thing that was timely. It took ten minutes for us to be greeted, and I even had to go to the host stand to inquire if we had a server at all. The maitre'd didn't even apologize but said he would find our server. Our server Kevin finally came over and took our drink and food order and said he had ice waters on the way. We ordered bar drinks which arrived before our waters did. As he brought our bar drinks, he set the tray on the table - I don't know where that tray has been; please don't set it on my table. As he distributed our drinks, he said they were experiencing their busiest night of the year due to Norfolk Restaurant Week. It took half an hour for our first course to arrive and my she crab bisque took longer because the crab was still being cooked. No one returned to clear our plates, ask us if we wanted more bar drinks, or refill our waters. We had to go up to the bar to order more drinks. While at the bar, it was explained that several employees had not shown up for their shift this evening. As a server, I can understand how difficult that is, but I don't know why Kevin couldn't come over and keep us happy with refills in the meantime. Our food finally arrived (mine last again). At least the food was good. I may return, but definitely not for restaurant week. Bottom line: if you can't handle Restaurant Week, don't participate. Update: I had to leave before the other members in my party. After I left, Kevin had brought a cheesecake to go and apologized again for everything. So that was nice.

    (2)

  • Glennese T.

    One word...AMAZEBALLS!!! I love this place, there to celebrate a birthday and I was in love. The hostess was a doll and the waitress was attentive and humorous. The food was excellent, and the house margarita was even better!! The manager made sure everything we discussed when I made the reservation, went over without a hitch. Nice atmosphere, really nice upscale with a relaxed vibe. P.S. They're french fries are the ABSOLUTE BEST I ever had!

    (4)

  • Monica G.

    You let me down, Yelp. 36+ reviews and 4 stars? For this place? The #1 place rated in Norfolk? Meh, I say. Meh. First, when I got there at 6pm (on a Wednesday) the place was EMPTY. I should have taken that as a sign and left, but no, I was sure Yelp would steer me right. Nope. Oysters Rockefeller -- I think there were oysters in there... The Rockfish -- pretty good but not out of the world. The beer -- pretty spiff. I got the Kona Fire Ale, so that was not a loss. I am wondering if there's some Yelp shenanigans going on, really, as I have no idea why this place was so highly rated.

    (2)

  • Rahdika B.

    This was one of the worst dining experiences I have ever had. My server Justin was not straight forward with multiple up charges on my bill and we were unjustly charged a mandatory gratuity. When I expressed concern to the manager Mr. Luigi Capello he was rude, disrespectful and did absolutely nothing to help reconcile the problems presented. He was very unprofessional and argumentative. I am a frequent traveler and truly enjoy trying out local favorites. I have no problem with paying any price for good food or service but this was sincerely the worst $132 I've spent on dinner. I would definitely not recommend this restaurant to fellow travelers looking to support a local establishment.

    (1)

  • George R.

    Awesome dinner, she crab soup is amazing. Had a crawfish covered filet and wife had fruit of the sea. Service and atmosphere were both great. Don't miss out....

    (4)

  • Jeff G.

    Walked in while visiting Norfolk on Thursday, August 27. It was quiet as we ate around 5PM. We came in for drinks and some small plates. We were unaware of the downstairs bar area and thought it could have been pointed out to us upon entering. Still we looked at the menu and felt that given the ambience of the upstairs area we would sit for a relaxed dinner. Our waitress was very good. She was attentive and friendly without being intrusive. We were going to have appetizers and drinks. She inquired once about our order and when we explained what we were doing and ordered appetizers she remained available as we needed. When we decided that the menu became too intriguing not to order she was there and only at that time did she become a "dinner waitress". We felt that she treated us as we always expect to be treated when dining out. We ordered a seafood crockpot with grits and okra along with a shrimp dinner. We finished the dinner off with a shared piece of key lime pie. Our meal from start to finish was excellent. We felt the waitress did an excellent job. We love to walk around cities we visit and search for new dining experiences. Sometimes it ends well, sometimes not This time it ended excellently. When we returned to our vacation home we couldn't help but recommend this restaurants to all the other members of our traveling party and now to the rest of the Yelp community.

    (5)

  • Mike H.

    Had such high hopes but were sorely disappointed. Awkward seating and a saxophone player that made conversation near impossible without yelling so loudly that everyone could hear. The service was a little slow but not terrible. Seafood bouillabaisse was a special of the night and was overdone and chewy. A lobster/shrimp "crock" was simply fish with no sauce. Butter cost an extra $2.00 and was disgusting. I didn't think I could hate butter but the amount of lemon in it was horrible. At 8:00 pm on a Saturday night, they had run out of beignets. A New Orleans themed place?! Key lime pie actually had no lime flavor whatsoever. I just wanted to cry. The $3.00 side of cheese grits was the best thing about the entire night. We would not go back and not recommend.

    (2)

  • Tyler S.

    Although they still offer a GREAT happy hour and they've added great items to the menu, they've done themselves a grave disservice by eliminating "Burger night" on Wednesdays. Additionally preventing individuals from enjoying the happy hour menu and dining at a table also alienates diners from coming. Are your Happy Hours THAT popular that you rather have NO tables filled rather than SOME between 4 and 7? Some people and money beats none of both.

    (3)

  • Julissa C.

    I ordered a big easy burger it was very delicious, also i ordered a fried calamari & grouper OMG amazing! And i'm not a fan of fish, But this grouper was so good!

    (5)

  • Travis H.

    Downstairs near the bar was really nice, comfortable vibe and yet we still felt a general sense of class. There was live music and a fun bartender who was really attentive- I've had friends sit upstairs and they said the service wasn't that great though so beware.

    (3)

  • Samantha S.

    Went for restaurant week. Food was good but nothing that wowed us. Raw bar is meager for being a called an oyster bar. Only 3 kinds of oysters, but 1 was sold out and took over 20mins to get them. Would try again, but not anytime soon.

    (2)

  • Katrina C.

    I'm breaking my rule of visiting at least twice before making a review but I felt like I really needed to for this one. I don't understand why there are so many 1 star reviews for this place because the Big Easy is such a fantastic restaurant/bar. Yes, it's a little classier than your average t-shirt and jeans joint. But for what it's meant to be, it's really, really great! We were greeted with a friendly face right at the door and were asked if we wanted to be seated downstairs (a basement bar area) or upstairs (a brighter, classier area). Since we weren't too extremely dressed, we opt for the basement bar. The bartender was prompt with the menu and explained that they were a participating restaurant for restaurant week. We ordered the orange crush, and to be quite honest, its far superior to Watermans. We also tried their oyster shooters, our first try, which was good with the liquid but definitely different once that oyster swam down our throats. It's not something you would typically get to get the party started. Just a try was enough. My gf and best friend both had the she crab soup. Which were pretty good. Then our main course of Surf n' Turf, Seafood Jambalaya, and the Big Easy chicken. All of them came hot and fresh. The flavors were all there and my Seafood Jambalaya had just the right amount of spice. Perhaps the most memorable dish of the night, was the Bread Pudding for dessert! It came topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and caramel syrup drizzle. It was our fave of the three options offered. My only thing weird that I would have to say was the fact that the cook (or who looked like a kitchen staff) kept coming behind the bar right in front of us just wondering around. He was out of place and was not at all friendly. He literally just loitered in front of the oysters for a good 10-15 mins at a time. We had such a great dinning experience, we will definitely come back for more! Maybe to try their happy hour, as someone suggested in the reviews below that it's pretty good.

    (5)

  • Creagan B.

    Half off regular burgers and different burgers just for wednesdays. Also 49$¢ oysters wednesdays! They will trick you if you are not paying attention to what oysters you are ordering. Make sure to ask for the cheaper oysters. They are definitely not as tasty as the more expensive ones. They have specialty burgers on wednesdays. Their regular burgers are half off on wednesdays. The O'rock burger is amazing. It is a fried oyster sandwich with the makings of a oyster rockefeller. I also had the fried green tomato and burger which was really good also. I would definitely suggest coming here!! The regular menu is a little pricey so bring your big boy wallet. They also have a good selection of beers available.

    (4)

  • Carol V.

    The food is good - try the gumbo - they have Abita beer, which is always a plus a- and the service is just the right amount of attentive.

    (5)

  • Maria G.

    I remember this place when it was another restaurant awhile back. So when this restaurant was more a New Orleans style I had to try it since we do not have to many of those around here. Same decor including the bottom level seatings. But this time you can order and eat at the bar for quicker service. I settled on the shrimp and crab étouffée. It's almost like a gumbo....Please forgive me New Orleans, I know it's 2 totally different dishes but not knowing what an étouffée was that's the best way I can describe it....anywho, it was delicious nonetheless! Spicy, great flavor...

    (4)

  • Lucy H.

    This was the worst downtown Norfolk dining experience of my recent memory. A "problem with the reservation" left our party downstairs at the bar for almost 2 hours. When we were finally seated the service only deteriorated; the drinks, waters and food came out at a snail's pace. When the fish tacos (finally) arrived they tasted off and were left unfinished on the table. I ordered a greek salad with shrimp - and paid almost $10 for 8 sad, tasteless, droopy crustaceans to be slopped on top of a mediocre bed of lettuce. My boyfriend's sashimi was left unfinished as was his she-crab soup. The final straw? When my water arrived half-way through the meal with a rim covered in lipstick marks. Truly disappointing service, food and atmosphere. I've heard good things about shrimp night and the $5 burger deal - maybe the mistake was ordering "fancier" items? In any case: I wouldn't recommend it when downtown has so many other, quality options.

    (1)

  • Craig J.

    Please do not let Wednesday night half price burger night go away!!!!! We look forward to it every week. We rave about it to all we meet. We have brought several large groups here and they are always wowed. We have more than made up for the loss on the burger with oyster and alcohol purchases. I strongly urge the management to reconsider.

    (4)

  • Darius M.

    This place was pretty cool. It was packed so the food took a little bit longer than normal to come out. As far as the food of give it a 3 out of 5. I'd prefer my Cajun food to be more flavorful. I had the jambalaya and it was OK. The service was good though. They were prompt and friendly. I'd give this place another shot.

    (3)

  • Denise R.

    Ended up here on Memorial Day weekend--phone was dead and couldn't use yelp to find a place. Must haves: crab and avocado salad, seafood crocks, and desserts!

    (5)

  • Bucky A.

    My wife and I had dinner here last night. I had "Fish Ponchartrain" and my wife had "Teriyaki Glazed Salmon". We both enjoyed our meals as well as the service. We plan on returning soon!

    (5)

  • Ryan B.

    As always Christiana and Mike were great but they changed the Wednesday Burger special :( no longer a deal and the main reason I would come to Big Easy. I guess I'll stop coming as often its a shame it was the best deal in downtown Norfolk. Hope they bring it back several customers voiced the same opinion and it definitely wasnt as busy as it used to be.

    (3)

  • Wendy L.

    Yum! I got the crab soup my friends got the gumbo... soo good! We opened up w calamari for appetizer and then I got the jambalaya over rice yum! Great happy hour deals!!! On weds, we got burgers for under $5!!

    (4)

  • Xavier C.

    Went here tonight with nine friends. I arrived first and when I walked in there was no one at the host station. I decided to walk around to check the place out a bit. First impression is that this place is awesome. It has two levels with both levels having seating and a bar. The downstairs bar has the taps behind it. Both bars are fully stocked. Beer selection from draft is ok and didn't really stand out (about five taps total). The bottle selection was very decent and had some favorable choices. The decor and environment is very well done. I liked the classy feel and even the live sax player downstairs. Unfortunately, this is about the extent of the beauty of this place. After walking around I noticed that the place was rather empty. There were two couples downstairs and only one upstairs. After everyone arrived, we sat down and proceeded to move on with our dinner. Upon sitting down we all ordered drinks. We all had a mix of waters and beers. It took 20 minutes from time of order before we actually received anything. As soon as we received our drinks we ordered our appetizers and food. The food experience was rather mixed. Our main courses took a very long time to arrive. The appetizers were moderate in quality but nothing worth waiting the time we waited. Granted, we had a larger party, the facility was virtually empty. There was no reason it should've taken slightly over an hour before we received our main courses. I ordered the steak house burger (I'm allergic to shell fish) medium but unfortunately received it well done. I would've mentioned something but was honestly fearful on how long it might take for a re-fire. Talking with everyone asking on how their meals went, the general consensus was yes it was good, but they've all had better. The menu for vegetarians is beyond abysmal. I would recommend avoiding this place entirely if your significant other is vegetarian. Literally the only option for them on the menu is a salad. If you take into consideration how competitive the area is for places to eat, there are definitely other options that would be more suited for your date. Overall, I would've given this place two stars for the quality of the food, and the inflexible menu but the saving grace was honestly the employees. They were very, helpful and friendly. Even though it was a very slow night, their hospitality and desire to accommodate us was very pleasing to experience. Overall, a decent place with nice decor and decent seafood choices, but for what I'm looking for with service time and menu selection, I wouldn't come back.

    (3)

  • Steve P.

    Good food, and nice locals. Kind of a out of the way down a alley feel to it. But the food has always been good here. 4-7pm is happy hour and the oysters are .49 each. Not the biggest but thats a decent price outside of New Orleans. Very much a cool place to give a try. I'd recommend this place to anyone looking for some new seafood place to try.

    (5)

  • Ray G.

    Stumbled on this place right across from our hotel, so glad we did. Incredibly fresh oysters, great craft beer selection, and some of the friendliest staff we encountered in Norfolk. Christiana our bartender was as cheerful as she was knowledgeable. Every oyster lover should visit this place.

    (5)

  • Kate J.

    Wed half price burger night must remain as a fixture. It's a huge draw and equals profits for the restaurant. Please keep this Norfolk institution in place.

    (5)

  • Jillarae R.

    My second time here and I really thought I wrote a review about this place especially because of how awesome my first experience was here! My first time here was a Wednesday. They have 2 deals here which is why I decided to stop by ---thanks to my fellow yelpers! Burgers are half price and select oysters are $0.49. The cornbread is FREE! Experience is unforgettable! Both times, I've sat downstairs in the "bar area." Not having cell service is not a bad deal, either. The best thing about this place is consistency. I can't say it enough but hate going back to places and it NOT being how I remember it being the first time I was there. This time it may of even been BETTER We sat at the bar this time and Ryan made a lot of great recommendations. I went with what he suggested, Salmon BLT. It was as good as he said it would be! My friend ordered the Chicken and Waffles. now THAT looked good. My friend couldn't stop smiling throughout his meal. I know I'll be getting that next time! His cheese grits on the side tasted like mac and cheese!! and I'm not even a grits fan... After looking through their website, a few good things to remember is that they also have complimentary valet service. Also, our bartender Ryan was nice enough to tell us about their other company, Byrd and Baldwin. They have a Sunday $30 and$40 meal worth checking out. He described it as their "restaurant week every week" type deal. I know I'll be going there, soon! Next time I'm at Big Easy, I may opt to sit upstairs.

    (4)

  • Demetria M.

    I originally ordered a dozen oysters Rockefeller as my appetizer and the seafood platter as my entree. My friend had the crab cakes. The oysters Rockefeller had a terrible flavor and a soupy consistency...when I asked our waiter if we could exchange them for fried oysters he said, "No". I asked for the manager and he said "No problem"...the fried oysters arrived and were the same price for 8 fried oysters as opposed to the dozen oysters Rockefeller. It was considered a dinner and not an appetizer. The fried oysters were delicious, juicy and flavorful. A few were actually large as well. The seafood platter was very small and flavorless. The little piece of shriveled up flounder was flavorless, as well as the 2 little shrimp and 2 scallops...all flavorless and unattractive. The bar tender also made an excellent Margarita on the rocks! Loved the fried oysters and Margarita but hated the seafood platter. The crab cakes were small, round balls but flavorful.

    (3)

  • Shanna A.

    Love the ambiance. My Wife and I walked in for a drink and Seafood appetizers. We were lucky enough to be seated right away. Our waitress was very friendly and brought our drinks out right away. The Orange Crush was delicious. We ordered Fried Calamari, Oysters Rockafeller, and the Crab Dip. The Calamari was cooked perfectly but ALL of the food was extremely rich and over the top in salt.

    (3)

  • Katrina M.

    My experience here on a Wednesday night deserves four stars, and here's why: - Great corn muffins/corn bread - Awesome service. Our waitress was really friendly and attentive. She even fulfilled all of our requests for corn muffin refills. I think we had 12 muffins as a group. - $0.49 James River oysters, raw or steamed. They tasted fresh but not ocean-y - Burger deals on a Wednesday night too. Juicy and meaty! - Wood cutting boards as plates and skinny tall glasses were too cute. I wanted to steal them. - Downstairs part of the restaurant feels really cozy I will definitely return to Big Easy, especially to try their signature New Orleans dishes and beignets.

    (4)

  • The Y.

    Delicious. I'm no expert on cuisine from the New Orleans area, but I know what I ate while I was down there, and this was right on target. Had a shrimp polenta with andouille sausage that was delicious. Étouffée was delicious as well. Interesting atmosphere with downstairs and upstairs seating. Nice night out type of place to eat some good food and have nice scenery to match. **For my big appetite folks** I wouldn't come here starving because your next stop will be a bowl of cereal. But it's a great place to reserve a table for a delicious meal before or after another event downtown. Parking garage is nearby so parking isn't a problem if you don't mind an elevator ride or hitting some stairs before your meal.

    (4)

  • Dennis C.

    This is my first Yelp review and it is not a happy one. I ate here last night as a member of a dining party of approximately 20 people. Our group reservation was slated for the Norfolk Seafood Company section located upstairs. While waiting for other members of the dining party to arrive, a few of us ordered a drink from the bar downstairs. Mine was a Hendricks cucumber gin martini. Unfortunately, the bartender botched its preparation by allowing a sea of cucumber seeds to be left floating on top. It was also extremely weak. After finishing our drinks, we went upstairs to be seated with the other members of our dining party. The service was extremely slow throughout the entire evening. The wait staff was courteous and pleasant enough, and I cannot fault their effort. But they appeared to be very inexperienced and flustered, completely unaccustomed to handling such a large dining party. I ordered their "fresh catch", which was tile fish, prepared blackened. I was getting my hopes up, as I had enjoyed a thoroughly delicious tile fish special at another restaurant a few weeks earlier. Unfortunately, the piece of tile fish I received here was extremely small in size and failed to deliver the flavor I remembered. It did not taste completely fresh and its blackened preparation was merely a routine coating of black pepper. My side dish, which was a baked potato, was a complete disaster. I found it to be completely inedible after tasting only a couple of bites. It was brown on the inside and tasted like it might had been microwaved right out of a refrigerator. If last night's performance was indicative of their usual standard, then downtown Norfolk certainly deserves better than this.

    (1)

  • Bee J.

    Wow!! First time... Last time. We went there after hearing good things..ok Went there my first course meal was a gumbo omg it was gross.. It was cold and it seemed old . Second course my veggies were freezing(collard greens) :( my mother meal was wrong and undercook:( By the time my third course came I was so turned off I ask for the check and didn't finish my meal I will never go back again and I will tell everyone I know don't go!!!!! On a lighter note I did like our server

    (1)

  • Karen L.

    The food was good, better than the service. Credit is due to the chefs, and only the chefs. Food was overpriced Like the previous review, upstairs is more formal than downstairs but it's a nice industrial ambience with live music for you to enjoy while eating. Although this was our first time eating here and with no expectations, I was very disappointed with the service. Our main server, Derek was only prompt with serving us was our first round of drinks. The appetizers and entrees took forever. The entree salad for a guest in our party came out after everyone else was finishing their entree. I was very unhappy with our service and it would be unlikely I would eat there again.

    (2)

  • Jennyfer N.

    F*** this noise. I don't often give 1 stars but this place was awful, awful, awful and came so well recommended by a lot of people. The food screamed of mediocrity. 1 it's expensive, 2 it's crap, 3 it's crap. I had an oyster po-boy for a meal of about $10.00 And I had 4 fried oysters in my sandwich. And watery coleslaw. And crap fries. Whoopty. Other people at the table had spent exorbitant amounts of money on seafood, probably previously frozen, tossed with cream. So depressing. I have been to so many cheaper places that gave me such better deals than this place. I can't believe that this place is in business. I have had sandwiches stuffed to the GILLS with seafood at comparable prices. And my drink was empty multiple times through the evening. Boo, all thumbs down.

    (1)

  • Peter P.

    Absolutely phenomenal food and ambience. Whether you're coming for the live jazz or the soft shelled crabs, you're going to be satisfied. This is by far the best seafood restaurant in Norfolk. It's pricey, but well worth it. the food is fresh and perfectly cooked, the service is fantastic, and the atmosphere is super fun. Everything about this place is just great. I can't say enough good things!!!

    (5)

  • Nikko M.

    I'm in disbelief that I didn't know this place was as cool as it was. I've always seen it as a fancy suit and tie restaurant. My friends were informed last night that Big Easy had an oyster special. I'm not the biggest fan of oysters, but my girlfriend and our friend were stoked to hear that there was a special all night on Wednesdays. We strolled on over to check it out. We were pleasantly surprised that there was a top and bottom floor. The top floor looked really modern and very nice. The bottom floor was cozy with brick walls and a tavern like feel. While the girls were there for oysters, the guys were there for the burger night. I had a solid, cooked as I expected it, cheddar, bacon, mushroom melt on sour dough bread with a baked potato as a side. They brought out the tiniest baked potato, which was nice because I could finish it. The corn muffins though... The corn muffins will probably be what brings me back. They were perfectly crispy on the outside, and soft and semi-moist on the inside. As my friend CJ says, "Next stop... My thighs!! WOOT WOOOT!!!"

    (4)

  • Brian S.

    I was in Norfolk from out of town and was looking for a bar with decent beer. I wasn't sure whether The Big Easy would fit the bill, but fortunately the valet greeted me outside and enthusiastically ushered me in, directing me to the bar downstairs where Kat would take good care of me. I had an excellent night. There's not a lot of beer on tap, but the Fat Tire and Sweet Josie brown from Lonerider hit the spot. My food selections focused on their crab offerings, and those did not disappoint either - the crab dip and the crab cake sandwich. Both with rich, fresh crab flavor and prepared as advertised. Kat always had a smile and kept the water glass full too, which is important to me. I'll definitely stop by during my next trip to Norfolk to delve deeper into their other seafood offerings.

    (4)

  • Meghan F.

    Best Happy Hour in Norfolk. 59 cent raw oysters and steamed clams. $2 beers, $4 well drinks and $5 frozen daiquiris. Plus the happy hour food was great. They sell 3 sliders for $5, we tried one of each, shrimp po boy, oysters Rockefeller on a burger and a regular cheese burger. They also have gourmet mini pizzas for $5. We loved the seafood white pizza. We liked everything so much we went back the following week.

    (5)

  • Darshel A.

    I really wanted to like this restaurant when I went there for my first time during Restaurant Week in Downtown Norfolk. I had my mouth fixed to enjoy some good seafood and atmosphere. The waiter was very nice and attentive and...apologetic! I can't eat cheese or excessive butter (more than a 1/2 teaspoon) so I regretfully order my dishes fried if they don't make it fresh. What I got was a cold seafood platter that was broiled. The main dish was slow but the appetizer came out within a reasonable amount of time. The coffee was great though and the atmosphere was rustic and warm - even though we were sat in the basement. The upper level seemed very classy and cozy but I guess I'll never know. Sorry but there too much competition out there to patronize a restaurant that can't get even the basics right. Sorry Big Easy.

    (2)

  • Jacqueline P.

    I started writing this review while at the table since I was a little irritated. We made a reservation on Open Table for 5:30 p.m. on New Year's Eve, and upon arrival the restaurant was pretty empty. The hostess decided to seat us at a table near the front door which was somewhat cool and extremely close to another party, so we asked to be moved. Our request was denied and the reason given was that every other table in the restaurant was reserved. Huh? There were three parties in the upper-level of the restaurant and one of those parties included mine. Nevertheless, it was New Year's Eve and we refused to let small things annoy us. Our waiter was friendly, prompt, and provided excellent service. As appetizers my husband ordered the fish tacos and my daughter ordered the shrimp cocktail. My husband did not eat his second taco so it suffices to say that he was underwhelmed. As entrees we ordered the seafood jambalaya (very good & flavorful per. my husband), lobster, lump crab and Shrimp crock-blackened (good but not memorable), and the seafood risotto (my daughter thoroughly enjoyed it, but we always tease her about her undeveloped pallet). Overall, our experience decent and we will visit again. But instead of dinning upstairs, we will to try the oyster-bar on the lower level. There was a lot of foot traffic downstairs which lead us to ask our waiter "what was so popular"? Apparently, they have an attractive happy hour menu and a Raw or Steamed oyster bar available at select times.

    (3)

  • Kent W.

    Good service but I will say it is a "upper class" bar. Had the calamari was perfectly cooked. My only complaint was there was too much parmesan cheese on top of it. Nice live jazz but their tap selection was lacking severely. I would have felt better being there in my three piece suit than shorts and sandals.

    (4)

  • Samir C.

    Food was good, not great. Wednesday oyster night is good if you like oysters. Biggest problem was service, very slow even though there are several people working.

    (3)

  • Candace K.

    The food was really good. Came out quick. The service was decent. It wasn't busy but we made reservations just in case since we had 7 people. Also, since parking can be sparse they do have valet available. The only downside was that all of our food was brought out at different times, so 3 people had their food then 2 more got their dinner and about 4 minutes or so later the last 2 got their dinner; just was unusual so we waiting until everyone had their dinner before we dug in. The crab cakes were great, as well as the garlic oysters!

    (4)

  • TAYLOR P.

    Big Easy for a long time was a place I wanted to take all my friends and out of town family to because it used to be a great place to eat and have drinks. Unfortunately it just isn't so for me anymore. A year or two ago is when it went down hill and after a hiatus I returned last night to treat an out of town guest to dinner. I was disappointed once again in the food and the service. We got two appetizers, the blackened tuna and the calamari. I thought both of them were average. I ordered jambalaya and the rice came out under cooked. The dish was full of sausage, shrimp, chicken and scallops which was nice. The overall taste was really just bland. The other people with me ordered the Fruit of the Sea and my wife said that the noodles were under cooked and was just "ok". Our service was not that great either. The waiter was friendly but just not very attentive. We were one of two table downstairs so I don't think he was stretched thin. It's been very disappointing to me to see what used to be a very busy great restaurant in downtown go downhill. I hope they can get back to the quality food and service that used to be.

    (2)

  • Meredith V.

    I should've updated this awhile ago. While my first visit here was amazing, I've since returned a few times (after 2011) and it has fallen short. I believe there is a new head chef. Without slighting the fried oysters, our dishes that we ordered every subsequent time did not have the same oomph and love in them then when we initially visited in 2009. I know these aren't exact details but I don't know how else to explain it except average and lacking heart. Very sad to report this because Big Easy was a top restaurant in Hampton Roads for awhile. Sadly no more...

    (3)

  • Angie K.

    Bummer I have to lower my stars for this place. Why did they change a good thing? No more flank steak with oysters and crawfish! No more buckets of crawfish. I am in foodie heartbreak! This place used to be my favorite, but they changed things up so much I can no longer say that. This was my choice for my B-day dinner, had a large party over 20. The tables were not even put together for a party that large... maybe 12, so myself the birthday girl had to manually put them together. Easy fix though. So when I put in a reservation I asked if it would be downstairs because I like it best down there. They confirmed it would be down stairs, come to find when I walked in it was upstairs. Apparently for a party that big they couldn't accommodate down there. Ok fine. A little bummed though. Service was pretty lame, people had to ask as much as 4 times to get a drink. I don't know how many people were helping out the table but it might as well been 1. Hot sauce please... 20 min wait. Note: If a large party is coming to your restaurant make sure they are attended to. I didn't like that people were getting frustrated at a party I invited them to. Although most people really liked the food, and complimented it, the service just put a damper on things. So yes the food is pretty good and the pricing is pretty reasonable. They even let us bring in our own cake. Which is cool. But this place seriously needs some menu re-vamp and better servers. It was completely dead except for my party... Hmmm may I suggest Groupon? Anyways, I had a good night but The Big Easy turned out to be The Big Let down.....

    (3)

  • Milo R.

    It was ok. The oyster rockefeller was the best thing of the meal.

    (2)

  • Pete A.

    Walking into the place You think wow this is going to be Nice.. The young lady at the door was very cold and stand offish, The Atmosphere was very nice, when you first glance at the menu you might think it's a little pricey but then it seems like such a nice place. When the bulk of the food came out Boy was I shocked ! The Oysters had to be sent back they were so old and stunk like a broken down ship. My Partner ordered the Crab Cake and Ship combo $26.95 The Crab cake was " TINY" almost all filler and almost burnt, and 6 small shrimp. The Blackened Tuna I ordered had "0" Flavor or seasoning, This is supposed to be a New Orleans style place. NOT EVEN CLOSE. All the food was Bland ! ! I mean NO Flavor. and service... Santa Claus comes around faster than the staff here !! I WOULD NEVER GO BACK !! Nor would I recommend it to ANYONE ..

    (1)

  • Elizabeth O.

    It's been years since I left a waiter/waitress a 10% tip but haven't been this disappointed with service in a long time. While our appetizer & first cocktails were prompt, we never saw our waiter again after he delivered our dinner. We ordered a top shelf martini & additional beer to be served with our meal & after we finished I had to walk to the bar, cancel our drinks, and ask for the check. This is not a small operation newly in business so can see no reason for the unacceptable level of service. Will add there was no one in the restaurant when we arrived. Will not return.

    (1)

  • Laine A.

    I will never eat here again. Interesting to see that another diner had a not so great experience on the same evening. I too had reservations on 1/26 during restaurant week. We did not order off the Restaurant week menu but ventured to the main menu....meaning, our bill was not $20 each. Not even close with appetizers,entrees, beverages and dessert. After having a great meal, we were asked to leave so they could seat another reservation. This was not 5 minutes after our server had just told us to relax and enjoy the rest of our wine. Big Easy is short on southern hospitality.

    (1)

  • Mike C.

    Cajun creole bar and restaurant in downtown Norfolk near the MacArthur Center on Tazewell St near Granby St. Good luck with finding street parking. Meter parking ends at 6pm but that doesn't necessarily mean more will open up. Recommend parking at the MacArthur Center. It's $1 per hour before 6pm and a fixed $2 total after 6pm. I came in at about 530pm so there were not a lot of patrons out there yet. I elected to stay in the bar area which is located downstairs. Note: sitting downstairs will probably give you a lack of cell phone reception. I have AT&T and had the "No Service" message. Management knows about this issue, but there is nothing no one can do about it unless you randomly go upstairs near the window to check on your messages. I started off with the Yuengling - it's like water to me...it's that good. I'm not in the east coast all the time, so if you drink beer, you should take advantage of this gem. Yum!! Happy hour = $2 on most domestic bottles Half dozen hot wings - it was happy hour so it was half off. Pretty fricken good, garlic and hot sauce combined. They threw in an extra wing too. Fish taco - one taco for $4.75. Kinda pricey but I'm in a creole/seafood bar so I felt the need to get one. Sorry but not a fan. The shell reminded me of the same taco shells they used in the cafeteria in elementary school. Big Easy fried the tortilla and made it crispy, something Im not really used to except in elementary school or in Del Taco. For $4.75, just keep the tortilla simple with the insides the way it was originally served; chopped tomatoes, lettuce, celery, fish and sauce. Also wanted to try a local beer, called Golden Ale Beer - brewed in Hampton, VA; nice but slightly bitter; but not included in the $2 happy hour bottle selections. Customer service was very nice. Again, it's a southern thing. The bartender asked me if I wanted the wings first or the fish taco. I told her the wings, but there was some miscommunication between her and the cooks and they sent out the taco immediately. She was about to start arguing with the cooks in the back (that's a no no in front of the customer) but I told her, don't worry about it, just serve it as is, not really a big deal on my end. Wine pours - although I didn't have any wine, she was very generous on the wine pours. Better than the local wine pours such as Press 626. Very nice establishment, friendly service, a definite must eat/drink.

    (4)

  • Agustin G.

    So first time here was expecting something totally different. This is a classy restraunt. We came in on a Saturday and it was packed so we had to wait. Wich I completely understand. But when we were seated we waited over an hour for our food. My date had a cup of gumbo and it was the blandest cup ever. Fortunately this place saved itself with the jumbalaya. Wish the environment was more backwoods bayou. But like I said. Good food

    (3)

  • Gus C.

    Food was good. Beer selection is so-so. Service was not good tonight. Server didn't know anything about what was on tap. She just repeated what she had been told. And she was very slow. Also forgot to bring a drink until she was reminded again several minutes later.

    (3)

  • Daniel D.

    My family really wanted to enjoy this place, and made sure to ask the waitress very specific questions on how the food was prepared so we knew what we were getting into. We started off with steamed clams, which were insanely overcooked. Dipped in butter they were somewhat edible. Our salads were acceptable. The jambalaya was bland and the serving was too small for a dish of that nature. The etouffée was equally bland, my mother wouldn't even finish it. On both dishes hot sauce had to be added. The one shining star was the blackened tuna with creole sauce and red beans. This is where their chef really shined. The tuna was perfectly cooked and the sauce added a nice flavor. The red beans were too soft, but their flavoring was adequate. Don't go in anticipating a knockout meal, and just stick with the fish.

    (2)

  • Ebony C.

    I was very skeptical about this place b/c I'm not from the area. There is something to be said about the way a place looks that can sell you on going. I'm very happy this was the place chosen for a birthday dinner b/c it was DELICIOUS!!! I'm not a seafood person but their non seafood entrees are yummy. I had the pan seared rib tips w/ garlic mash & my companion had the spicy creole chicken pasta. Service was great!! The ambiance was on point as well w/ live jazz. It's definitely a great place to take a date!

    (5)

  • Janet E.

    I really had a great food experience at the Big Easy. I wasn't in the mood for crazy spicy cajun food, but wanted some delicious seafood. I grabbed a seat at the bar and ordered the fish taco, the fried Louisiana oysters, and the goat cheese salad. The fish taco had outstanding flavors. It came with just one taco in a hard shell. It had blacked fish, creole sauce and sour cream. All of the flavors together were mouth watering delicious! The Louisiana oysters were fried perfectly. Not overwhelmed in batter, which I like. They were also placed on a bed of shredded fried cabbage and were covered in a thin layer of lemon caper remoulade. So YUMMIE! The goat cheese salad was not like any other goat cheese salad I have had. The dressing was sweet because it was made with maple syrup, but it also had some creole mustard. The candied pecans were a nice touch and the goat cheese was extremely fresh. My waitress was extremely sweet. Service was great. After I had finished one plate, another was placed in front of me with the next dish I ordered. The other patrons sitting with me were also very nice and we had some great conversations. While I was walking out, another waitress worked hard to make sure she was at the door to open it for me and thanked me for visiting. I LOVE THIS PLACE!

    (5)

  • Gwen D.

    We arrived 30 minutes early on NYE night and were promptly seated. Our margaritas were made to perfection, and everything served was delicious. Their crock style flounder fish was one of the best fish I've had at any restaurants, and for the price it was a steal. My date's tuna was cooked a little more well than expected, but it still turned out pretty well. Thanks Big Easy for a fabulous meal!

    (5)

  • Vanessa J.

    Phenomenal food, great service. We went here during restaurant week and luckily we got there early. It's the kind of place where I would seriously recommend having a reservation. The servers were all very friendly and the food left us wanting more.

    (5)

  • Bekah W.

    I am writing this review as I am seated still at my table, waiting for my entree, which I ordered an hour ago.... We arrived for our required reservation at 6:30 and were seated immediately. Unfortunately, that was the only thing that was timely. It took ten minutes for us to be greeted, and I even had to go to the host stand to inquire if we had a server at all. The maitre'd didn't even apologize but said he would find our server. Our server Kevin finally came over and took our drink and food order and said he had ice waters on the way. We ordered bar drinks which arrived before our waters did. As he brought our bar drinks, he set the tray on the table - I don't know where that tray has been; please don't set it on my table. As he distributed our drinks, he said they were experiencing their busiest night of the year due to Norfolk Restaurant Week. It took half an hour for our first course to arrive and my she crab bisque took longer because the crab was still being cooked. No one returned to clear our plates, ask us if we wanted more bar drinks, or refill our waters. We had to go up to the bar to order more drinks. While at the bar, it was explained that several employees had not shown up for their shift this evening. As a server, I can understand how difficult that is, but I don't know why Kevin couldn't come over and keep us happy with refills in the meantime. Our food finally arrived (mine last again). At least the food was good. I may return, but definitely not for restaurant week. Bottom line: if you can't handle Restaurant Week, don't participate. Update: I had to leave before the other members in my party. After I left, Kevin had brought a cheesecake to go and apologized again for everything. So that was nice.

    (2)

  • Glennese T.

    One word...AMAZEBALLS!!! I love this place, there to celebrate a birthday and I was in love. The hostess was a doll and the waitress was attentive and humorous. The food was excellent, and the house margarita was even better!! The manager made sure everything we discussed when I made the reservation, went over without a hitch. Nice atmosphere, really nice upscale with a relaxed vibe. P.S. They're french fries are the ABSOLUTE BEST I ever had!

    (4)

  • Monica G.

    You let me down, Yelp. 36+ reviews and 4 stars? For this place? The #1 place rated in Norfolk? Meh, I say. Meh. First, when I got there at 6pm (on a Wednesday) the place was EMPTY. I should have taken that as a sign and left, but no, I was sure Yelp would steer me right. Nope. Oysters Rockefeller -- I think there were oysters in there... The Rockfish -- pretty good but not out of the world. The beer -- pretty spiff. I got the Kona Fire Ale, so that was not a loss. I am wondering if there's some Yelp shenanigans going on, really, as I have no idea why this place was so highly rated.

    (2)

  • Gene Z.

    My wife, a friend and I decided to try The Big Easy on a friend's recommendation. He said they had the best calamari in town. He was right! The calamari was tender, hot and served with a tasty remoulade sauce. Both my friend and I had the scallop, shrimp and crab crock, and my wife had the $11.99 pound of steamed shrimp special. All were delicious. The shrimp were shell on but deveined and she couldn't finish them all. I recommend the crock baked in the garlic,lemon and butter sauce. Other ways of preparation would leave the seafood dry. It was delicious and nicely complimented by the red beans and rice side. The only so-so part of the meal was the salad which was an uninteresting mix of lettuce, and the corn muffins which were room temperature and rather tasteless. Despite other reviews on indifferent service, our waitress was pleasant, helpful and attentive. We'll definitely be back.

    (4)

  • Gregory H.

    This place is misnamed. Don't go here if you're expecting food that in any remote way resembles New Orleans. The place is very dark and the food is bland. I sat at the bar and was treated to a running commentary between the old cook and the young co-ed waitress about all the ways her various body parts excited him and what he would do with them if she'd let him. You'd have to drag me back.

    (1)

  • Richard M.

    A good experience. The food is well prepared and the service is friendly and attentive. They ran out of Pecan pie, which was the only detraction to the experience.

    (4)

  • Charlie L.

    Holy crap... this was a surprise find. AMAZING food that left me saying "WOW" non-stop for about 10 minutes afterward - lout loud. May be I got insanely lucky, but I had the gumbo (spicy, hot and exactly the right balance of creole spices like I remembered from my southern upbringing), and the most amazing Amazing AMAZING scallops special with beurre blanc complemented with grilled asparagus and mashed potato seasoned with pepper. And to finish this already perfect meal, I was craving ice cream with strawberry (not on the menu) and our server and chef made it happen for me. This meal would have easily earned The Big Easy 5 stars, but we were so taken that we went back the next day since the manager promised he would be able to make us the scallops special even when it's not the special. I just couldn't shake the amazing meal and even before we left, I had convinced the sweetie to go back the next day. As we approached the hostess stand, the manager disappears off into the kitchen. The hostess sits us and tells us that the manager is already checking with the chef to make sure the ingredients are available, and he took the liberty to send down the same server (Paul) we had the night before, who remembered all the details of our meal (the wine, the fact I like my water with no ice). Another amazing meal later, I wish I can give them 10 stars. HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. It's going on my list of the best restaurant in the world.

    (5)

  • George N.

    Nice place, good goat cheese salad, soft shell crabs were over breaded and too chewy, crab cakes were mushy. Maybe I ordered the wrong items? Great beer selection, but beer could have been colder.

    (3)

  • Ryan K.

    I've been here twice. It's a shame both experiences weren't great because I live a block away. Let me start with the positive - the atmosphere is great. It's downhill from there. The first time we were there I felt like I had to beg the bartender to get me a drink. The second time was not much different. They were either understaffed or undertrained because even with a bar area that was not full they were slow and not particularly friendly. We had to wait to order food until a table of 10 who had apparently waited an hour to be seated could order theirs. Seemed bizarre to me that only one group can order at a time. Also, a significant number of things on the menu they had discontinued. Rather than wait, we left. Maybe I'm not explaining it well but the whole experience was somewhat surreal. Bottom line is that there are better dining experiences in the Hampton Roads area. I'd go to Snapper or Empire first next time.

    (1)

  • Ramona B.

    Overall, I did not have a good experience here. The host was very unfriendly to my dinner companions and me for no reason. Our waitress was great, but it was difficult to overcome the host's unfriendly demeanor. I had the shrimp & lobster tail bowl. It was okay, but flavorless. I had to dip each bite in lots of butter in order to get some flavor. For the price, I would have expected a better meal.

    (2)

  • Jojo P.

    Last night was my second visit and I have to admit I was disappointed, on our first visit in Sept our waitress was amazing she really knew the menu and she was even able to convince my husband to have dessert (that is not an easy task). Last night was a different story we had been to the movies and then went to the Big Easy for dinner afterwards, yes it was late 9:30 but we had made a reservation so they knew we were coming. The waitress wasn't really altogether there, the calamarie wasn't what we expected, the frogs leg were good, my husbands Salmon was overcooked although he did like the collards and my seafood platter was tough. No we didn't stay for dessert and a night cap like last time because the atmosphere just wasn't there, I am disappointed because it was our anniversary as well!

    (1)

  • George S.

    The best thing about our visit was the valet parking. Service was inattentive. And when we did have it, it was borderline friendly. The wine came with a few fruit flies. The stuffed shrimp was presented fairly. And the taste of shrimp wasn't fresh. The stuffing had no flavor. My associate had the scallops and lump crab and blackened shrimp 'crock'. The scallops were pretty good. In summary, we did not find enough good to warrant a return trip with so many other nearby restaurants to try whom have yet to screw up our dining experience. There is no anger or grudges here; simply facts regarding our visit.

    (2)

  • Burgess N.

    Great Oyster selection. Good drinks, just way over priced. The wait staff is great. The ambiance is awesome. You have a choice of upstairs with a little more of an upscale feel then the downstairs with more of a higher energy nice bar feel. My ONLY issue with this place is the fact that they overcharge, and I walk out of there feeling like I had a good time, but definitely feeling like I paid for it. Give it a shot and let me know if you think I am off...I want to be proved wrong.

    (3)

  • Mike B.

    I've travel the world eating at fine restaurants. This is the only time I felt compelled to write a review. My wife and I ate at the Big Easy a few weeks ago the service and food were good. But last night the service was terrible and embarrassing. I arranged a dinner party for six family members at six o'clock. Before the evening rush. The dinner service was horrible It took 20 minutes to receive glasses of water and drinks. I asked to speak to the manager and informed him his waitress may need a little help because the service is slow. He blew me off. From the time we received our appetizers to the time we received our dinner it took close to an hour. Mind you we were one of the first groups to be seated for dinner. We spend over 220 dollars for a dinner with slow service. The food was OK but not worth the wait for my money the Big Easy is The Big Never Again!

    (1)

  • Luke M.

    Excellent stuffed shrimp! Great restaurant great atmosphere!

    (5)

  • Toni T.

    I discovered this place a few years ago during Norfolk Resaurant Week. Every food dish I've tried since then has been delectable. The romantic ambiance makes The Big Easy conducive to date night. Occasionally you can catch a live band playing jazz music. Parking around the restaurant can be tricky, especially on weekends, though (free?) valet is offered. What keeps me coming back to this place, besides seafood, which I could live off of? The pecan pie...it is truly orgasmic!

    (4)

  • Chris S.

    I was hugely let down by this place. I should have listened to Monica G instead of all the 4 star reviews. I've been really wanting some Cajun food for awhile and I heard that this was the place. I probably give 4 stars too often but this one definitely deserved a fat 2. My wife and I walked in at about 730pm and the host said that the upstairs was reserved and the downstairs was full but we could eat at the bar. I'm not a big fan of this but I really wanted to eat here. We ordered up a couple of orange crushes which for me tasted alright. I ordered a cup of gumbo and the Étouffée and the wife ordered a house ceasar to share and the chicken alfredo (she only eats chicken, I know its nuts). The ceasar and my salad came out, not bad. The entrees took awhile but I always say "Good food takes time". My dish looked nice but was pretty boring tasting. My wife's plate looked real good but it was very sub par. I don't think they even seasoned the chicken. I never got my gumbo for some reason so I ordered a side order of red beans and rice to hopefully save my dining experience. I wish I had that 6.50 back. Needless to say that I am heart broken that I couldn't rely on Yelp for this place. I figured 4 stars is always good but not in this case. I guess if I want decent cajun its back to Popeye's chicken for me.

    (2)

  • Samantha P.

    Blackened Tuna was more like Saltened Tuna, took 3 or 4 glasses of water to get it down. I imagine the grits would of tasted alright if my mouth wasn't so salty after the first bite of fish. The grilled tuna was just bland. Two people at my table had tuna and by the consistency in size and shape of the filets I imagine they came frozen or packaged. Not impressive for a "Seafood Company". Beer prices are all over the place. $10.50 for an Aventinus and $9.50 for a Dogfish 90 IPA yet the O'Connors on tap is probably the cheapest on Granby. By comparison Total Wine sells Aventinus for around $4 a bottle and you can get a 4 pack of 90min for $9. I think whoever made the menu made the prices up as they went. 456 Fish (which is owned by the same people I believe) kills this place. Honestly though I think I'd rather go to A.W. Shucks in Ghent sans the Tilapia.

    (2)

  • Cory S.

    My wife and I checked this place out, based on the reviews we saw on Yelp. When we first walked in, we were impressed by the atmosphere and jazz playing. We went upstairs for dinner and we continued to be impressed. The waiter was very prompt and attentive the entire night, and the food was AMAZING. I had crawfish bisque and crawfish etouffe, and my wife had the gumbo and jambalaya. Both were INCREDIBLE! I won't even mention how amazing the beer list was, which is tough to imagine that I WOULDN'T, because I'm a beer geek. I highly recommend it to anyone!

    (5)

  • Jane M.

    I had the crawfish etouffee and a friend got the andouille pasta so we could try both. I recommend the pasta. There was something off about the etouffee and was not as delicious as I remember past etouffee experiences to be. There were lots of big pieces of crawfish though. I think I got my money's worth. The drinks were pretty good too. I had the ginger margarita and a couple people had the Abita strawberry beer. We were seated downstairs, which seems to be more casual than upstairs. It seems like upstairs is for the more formally dressed. I think the downstairs area is under construction. The ceiling was oddly see-through so you can see people walking across upstairs and chairs move. My seat was incredibly drafty because the a/c vent was directed right at me. (visited Mar 23, 2011)

    (3)

  • Melissa I.

    We stopped by for some oysters and drinks. I had never been in before and I was pleasantly surprised by the cute bar downstairs. The oysters were yummy, drinks good, and the bartender was super friendly. We'll be back...

    (4)

  • Sasha B.

    We came here on a Saturday night and were told that there were no tables available but we could sit at the bar - only one problem - NO SEATS AT THE BAR. Thankfully the hostess phoned a party that had reservations and they cancelled, so we got their table. Woohoo! Right off the bat I loved the atmosphere. Having moved here from a huge city I have been missing the dim lit, sexy cool lounge-y type of restaurants. This place is great - a guy was playing the saxophone, the ceilings were low, and there is exposed brick. atmosphere - 5 stars Our waitress was nice but I think a bit lost because our drinks took forever, someone else ended up bringing them out, and then the waitress comes over with our rounds of drinks 10 minutes later only to look surprised that we already had a round. No biggie - we were relaxing so no rush. For appetizers we ordered the bucket of shrimp (pretty good and a great portion but too messy to eat at a nice restaurant), fritters (great sauce), gumbo (it was ok - nothing extraordinary), and goat cheese salad (really good but the combo of all the ingredients made the salad a little too sweet for my liking). For our entrees we ordered the meatloaf (fairly good), the etouffee (probably the best dish that night), and the jambalaya. Total bill was roughly $110 for 1 round of drinks, all the apps, and 3 entrees - not too shabby! Although everything was fairly good nothing stood out. We were all in consensus - more flavor please! I don't know if it was the lack of spice or ingredients or what but nothing hit the mark. Good food but not great and that was kind of disappointing. Food - 3 stars. Overall experience 4 stars and I will give this place another shot for sure.

    (4)

  • Amber K.

    I ate here with a group of friends (I think there were 7 of us) after the Art | Everywhere opening night event. It was excellent! I love cajun food, so I was really looking forward to it. The service was great, we were seated quickly, the vibe is sexy/cool but not out of your league, live saxophone player guy was talented. And the food. WOOOO! I ordered crawfish etoufee (the bomb!). I sampled pretty much everything on the table. Also good: shrimp & grits, oysters rockefeller, fish taco, fried oysters... Eat here!

    (4)

  • Beth M.

    If you want a great, cajun/creole meal in Hampton Roads, The Big Easy is definitely the place to go. This new spot, located where Club Soda used to be on Tazewell Street in downtown Norfolk, has great ambiance with a laid back feel. Upstairs is a bit more formal while the downstairs has a really great mahogany bar with a private room for 10-12 people. It would definitely be a great place to visit when you want to go out to a nice bar without the loud thumping music that tends to rule on Granby Street. For the menu, the options could be expanded and talking to the manager it sounds like it will be once the kitchen gets a few more cool toys. That doesn't change that what they did offer was excellent and definitely left me a few pounds heavier:) For seafood, they have plenty of oysters, clams, shrimp, mussels, and crawfish. We had 1 lb. of littleneck clams ($15) and they were delicious (especially the fresh cocktail sauce with lots of horseradish). They also have several hot appetizers which we didn't try but looked delicious (including shrimp and grits, crab and crawfish fritters, red beans and rice to name a few). Salads and soups/gumbo are also an option. I had the fresh greens salad ($6) and the chevre and candied pecans on top made the salad. For entrees there were about 8 options including pecan crusted catfish, flank steak, jambalaya, and chicken creole pasta ranging from $14-$19. I had the shrimp and grits entree which was excellent and consisted of 7 oz. of gulf shrimp plus andouille sausage over stone ground grits with a deliciously spicy barbecue sauce topped with fried okra. Amazing. The sauce was a tad spicy on the back end, but the large grained grits really brought it al together. My husband had the pork belly special that came with red beans and rice and sweet potato mash. Also amazing. The pork was so tender and just melted in your mouth. In case all we had eaten wasn't enough, we had to finish with the beignets. These weren't your normal Cafe du Monde beignets but were about twice the size and served with caramel sauce, honey and vanilla ice cream. I would happily stuff myself silly for these things any day! For drinks they have a full bar and a few specialty drinks (the ginger margarita, $8, was good but a bit small) plus a decent enough wine list (considering wine and cajun don't really seem like the standard). They say a bloody mary bar to go with Sunday brunch is coming in the future and I will happily return for that! Overall, The Big Easy is a great new place in downtown Norfolk, which is desperately in need of better reasonably-priced fine dining options. Overall I would give the ambiance 2 thumbs, the food 4.5 forks (out of 5), and the service a 4. Go tonight!

    (5)

  • David T.

    Good food. The service was a little slow, but it was understandable since we came in as a big group pretty late. But there cheese grits were great!

    (4)

  • Kevin Y.

    4 people entered, only 1 was acceptable. The chefs special was over cooked, little flavor, and soggy, 2 different seafood dishes were overcooked and tough and once again little flavor. Waitress did not know the menu providing poor guidance and wrong information. Margarita once again NO flavor. VERY disappointing. Waitress asked our thoughts we shared no compensation and seemingly no concern. For the prices DO NOT bother going to this place.

    (1)

  • Roopal C.

    Yum yum yum are the three words that first come to mind when I think about the awesome dinner 3-4 nights ago. The choice was between this one and A.W. SHUCKS, we went to this one because it was within a walkable distance from our hotel. Between the four of us, we had the following items: Appetizers: Fish taco...eh, not really worth the $5. Gumbo..yummy, dozen oysters...wow(my first time, totally impressed), shrimp and grits...(grits are weird in general, shrimp was totally good) Entrees: Crawfish Etouffee...wow, it was wholesome and awesome Catfish something...I don't eat fish but my non fish eating brother fell in love. Jambalaya..to die for. Crab cake special: made out of CRAWFISH and crabs, it was soooooo goood. The tab including two very strong Hurricanes and a beer came to $170. Service was exceptional, our waiter was attentive and explained things several times to our slightly inebriated fellow diners. Overall, if I find myself in the Norfolk area again(highly doubtful), will def eat here again!

    (4)

  • Scott O.

    Great happy hour with cheap oysters, beer, seafood pizza, and wings. Skip the wings though. For dinner go for the crawfish étouffée.

    (5)

  • Adam H.

    My wife had just gotten home from New Orleans and kept talking about cajun food when I found out about this place. Needless to say, my hopes were way up when we walked in. The services was good, the waiter seemed enthusiastic. The was absolutely fantastic and the ambiance left nothing to be desired. Our dinner was a little later in the evening and the bar crowd had started to materialize but seemed low key and friendly. Overall the Big Easy is a very nice place to eat dinner, either entertaining out of town guests or a quiet evening for two!

    (4)

  • J M.

    This place came highly reviewed, both on yelp and from word-of-mouth. My husband and I hail from Houston, which has some of the best Cajun food outside of Louisiana. We have family in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Lafayette. We've had a lot of exposure to amazing, authentic Cajun food. That being said, I commence the review. I think my husband said it best: this is the what someone not familiar with real Louisiana cuisine thinks Cajun food should taste like. We shared a crawfish bisque, both had the seafood jambalaya, and had bread pudding for dessert. The crawfish bisque had some good flavor to it, but relied too heavily on spice, (as in peppers, not other seasonings) for flavor. We were extremely disappointed in the jambalaya. Yes, it was chocked full of scallops, small pieces of slightly dry chicken, had a couple of shrimp with their tails on (pet peeve when shrimp are served with tails in a dish with a sauce), and had a few small bits of andouille sausage peppered throughout the dish. I did like the shrimp. The scallops weren't too bad either, but not my favorite. There should have been way more sausage. The sausage is used to help flavor the dish. Lack of sausage means lack of flavor, which is our general opinion of the dish. What sausage was there tasted like it had been in plastic shrink wrap for a while. The bread pudding had some good flavor going on, but I feel a bread pudding doesn't need ice cream or caramel. It needs a delicious booze-laced sauce, and yup, it was missing that too. I feel bad my husband had to drop $75 on lame drinks and completely unauthentic and unremarkable food. Just an overall disappointing experience. Oh and the hurricane was weak. Lame. They have two hurricanes: the 'level 1' and the 'level 5'... don't you mean category 1 and category 5? Double lame. We're not going back.

    (2)

  • Traci T.

    Atmosphere and decor- A+ Presentation of food- excellent Drinks- they definitely won't skimp on the liquor Taste of food- meh Service- could use some help That's the short and dirty. I came here with some friends from work for a going away party and was really impressed and into the vibe of this place. Our waitress was totally on the spacey side, and I can't help but wonder if she messed up a couple of our orders simply b/c she wanted to take the food home with her. The first appetizer of soup she brought out for one of the girls at our table was wrong, and she straight up told us she boxed it up to take home with her. She then proceeded to bring out the full version of a meal when my friend had ordered the appetizer. Rather than just saying "Keep it and we'll charge you for the appetizer", she actually took it and my friend had to wait awhile to get the smaller version of her order. Really? Was it worth the trouble? I ordered some in house special version of a mixed drink and HOLY SHIT that thing slapped me in the face with the first drink. Maybe it'd been awhile since I've had any good ol' southern bourbon, but that was definitely a sipper. Normally ordering the girly drinks, the restaurant will give me something quite pink because of the amount of fruit juice in it or whatever- this one was definitely diluted in favor of the alcohol. Count me in. It was an $11 drink, but I only needed one. The overall taste of the food I found to be so-so. I was born in New Orleans and grew up with my dad bringing home shrimp and crawfish on a regular basis and both of my parents cooking food that would classify as bad-day-tomorrow hot, but hotness aside, the overall flavor of the food was lacking. I could definitely tell they skimped on the quality of some of the ingredients, such as the cheese and barbeque sauce, among others. If you skimp on quality cheese, you have to learn how to flavor it up so the difference is less noticable. Really at the price you're paying for the amount you're getting, they should not be skimping on quality.

    (3)

  • Cassie C.

    Live jazz, delicious oysters, and impeccable service makes for a fabulous evening. The experience at the Big Easy was overall fantastic! We started out with cocktails and the bartender was highly knowledgeable from all things beer, wine, and oysters. The bar was so great we decided to stay there and eat. We got a half dozen oysters and they were exquisite! I am typically not a fan of raw oysters, but they literally melted in your mouth. Next, we ordered a crock of scallops, lobster and shrimp blackened style and crawfish étouffée. The food was great, but the only issue was the undercooked rice in the étouffée. Everything was fresh and tasty. To finish off the menu, we had beignets and coffee. So good especially when you can cover a donut with melted chocolate sauce. Overall, we had a wonderful time at the Big Easy. It made our Norfolk experience a memorable one. We will definitely return and will recommend this restaurant to anyone that comes through there.

    (4)

  • johnny l.

    Thank you for not allowing us to dine at your pretentious restaurant

    (1)

  • Stephanie D.

    So I had never been to Norfolk before and relied on fellow Yelpers to find a tasty place to eat and boy did I! I was fortunate to have come during Restaurant Week- I got a three course meal for $20 (their prices otherwise though are still good for what you get) I started my meal with 1/2 raw oysters- the server picked the variety for me as I'm not an aficionado- and they were sooo delicioius. Then I got crawfish bisque- which was perfectly seasoned and not too thick (some places make the mistake of doing that) For my entree I had blackened tuna steak, fried okra, and grits. Again, everything was perfectly seasoned and they cooked my tuna to order. For dessert I got a brownie sundae, which was also delicious. If I'm ever in Norfolk again I will absolutely visit this place again. The atmosphere was lovely and the service was both knowledgable and attentive. What are you waiting for? Go now!

    (5)

  • Devon C.

    The Big Easy has amazing food and an incredible beer selection! I'm going to keep this review fairly short. I was in Norfolk for business, trying lots of different restaurants. I saw The Big Easy on Yelp and gave it a try. It was the best restaurant experience in Norfolk. They had live jazz playing, but it wasn't overbearing. I could still hold a conversation. The waitress was very helpful, directing me towards entrees and beers that she thought I would like. Which, by the way, she did admirably. Try the Aventeenis (sp?) beer and the jambalaya. The atmosphere is at the same time elegant and casual; so the ambiance fits all occasions. So, if you didn't catch all of that. Every aspect of my experience was EXCELLENT! I highly recommend the Big Easy.

    (5)

  • Lynette E.

    Restaurant Week 1/26---This was the absolute worst dining experience that I, and the rest of my party, had ever had. We arrived EARLY for the 7:15 reservation for our party of four, and upon check in, we were told it was given to a party of 6 with the same last name. We waited an hour at the bar to be seated downstairs at one of the two four-tops that sat empty and had not been bussed for nearly 45 minutes. After ordering our meals, we waited ANOTHER hour just to receive our dinner salads. We asked a couple of times for additional items with our appetizers and never received them. Our drinks stayed empty, even after ordering new ones several times. One of the members of my party even went up to the bar to order our drinks and he was ignored. The bartender looked right at him and continued to stock her glasses. We were finally able to get the attention of another waitress when our waitress was nowhere to be found (really, we rarely saw her). By this time, the restaurant downstairs was nearly empty and all the bar stools were open. The front of the house manager that evening, who took my reservations days prior, and was the one who told me our reservation was given to someone else, actually had the nerve to tell the couple dining next to us, after they complained about the service, that if they couldn't handle restaurant week, they should not have come. Yet, our waitress told us they were understaffed, so really, it wasn't the customers who couldn't handle restaurant week. The unpreparedness and rude approach that this staff had that evening was disgusting. I'm not writing this just for the sake of complaining, but upper management should be aware of how the restaurant is being handled, especially during high volume situations. After spending 3.5 hours and spending close to $400, we didn't get an apology or any type of acknowledgement to make sure that we return. I could never recommend this restaurant under the existing management to anyone. We will not be returning.

    (1)

  • Ronalyn T.

    I had the pleasure of eating at the Big Easy over a week ago for a work Christmas party. Everything was at our disposal because my boss was paying for everything, so I was able to try their Fresh Blackened Scallops (it's served with orange marmalade, which I ordinary don't like, but the scallops were a bit spicy, so the combination was perfect), Pan Seared Harris Ranch Beef Tips (cooked perfectly!), & Warm Peach Cobbler + Vanilla Bean Ice Cream AND Classic New Orleans Style Beignets (MMM, desserts are my weakness). I also had 2 shots of Lemon Drops (I usually hate Lemon Drops, but they made 'em well) and 2 or 3 Bellinitinis (perfect girly drink, haha). My boyfriend said it was just okay, but I think I'd eat here again! Flavors were on point! And the servers were awesome to put up with such an intoxicated group of people. PAULY'S THE BEST! :)

    (4)

  • Janelle G.

    Thanks to Norfolk Restaurant Week, Big Easy has 4 new fans! I went here with my parents & sister and we all thoroughly enjoyed it. The good: First impressions really do count. We were seated right away even though we were 20 minutes early for our reservation. I loved the modern decor, exposed brick walls, & recessed lighting -- it was chic but definitely not snooty. Our server was attentive & polite. My personal favorite dishes of the night were the Crispy Louisiana Oysters with Lemon-Caper Remoulade, Blackened Tuna with creamy grits, and the Crispy Beignets. But everything we ordered that night tasted delicious (I snuck a taste of everything!). I feel like they captured the essence of Cajun food. The bad: Honestly can't remember anything about the night I didn't like. I would definitely come back here to try more of the menu. It also looks like a fun place to have drinks with friends. Good job, Big Easy!

    (4)

  • Kate S.

    Out of all the places on Granby, Big Easy is probably one of my favorite places to go. I love the bar downstairs and the whole ambiance. Upstairs I've enjoyed dinner several times and by far the shrimp and grits appetizer is amazing! I'm a So. Cal girl who never had grits before I tried this. Let's just say grits from Big Easy is on my top 10 list of yumminess. My husband and I have been several times for dinner and each entree we try is always great. My parents enjoyed their oysters and fish dishes as well. Really, anything on their menu is awesome! Whether you're looking for a place to grab apps and drinks at happy hour or a semi fancy place for dinner...check out Big Easy. The service is fabulous and the food won't disappoint!

    (5)

  • Valerie M.

    Went to Big Easy Grill and Oyster Bar for our Valentine's Dinner. We were not disappointed! Enjoyed the étouffée and jambalaya. The andouille sausage appetizer was delicious too!!! Prices were nice on the wallet for the atmosphere, quality an service. Servers were very attentive and checked on us frequently including the manager and head chef!! Would definitely recommend and return to this fine Norfolk establishment!'n

    (4)

  • D G.

    This restaurant is the Applebee's version of cajun food; the food isn't really fresh and the taste is below average....the worst part is the prices are not below average. We got the red beans and rice. It was boil in bag rice with canned red kidney beans on top with tabasco sauce. It was so horrible we sent it back; a first for me to send something back. The beignets were fried biscuits coated with LOTS of powdered sugar. We asked about the boiled crawfish on the menu; again not fresh but previously frozen.

    (1)

  • Emily R.

    The Big Easy was easily the most enjoyable meal we've had in downtown Norfolk. We started off an Abita and an Abita Purple Haze. Very decent prices ($4.75) for what some places consider "specialty" beers. Then, it was off to the appitizers. Being the overly ambitious and "eyes larger than the stomach" type of eaters that we are, we each ordered one. He had red beans and rice, and I ordered the shrimp and grits. Both portions were large. The red beans and rice were OK with good flavor, but a little thin for my tastes. The shrimp and grits however were OUTSTANDING! Although leery of the barbeque sauce at first, it was a great complement to the plump shrimp, spicy andouille and creamy grits. We were probably already full at this point, but we forged on... For entrees, I had the Pecan Breaded Catfish and The Man had jambalaya. What can I say...he likes rice. Both were delicious. The catfish was very moist although the breading did get a little soggy on the bottom. The jambalaya was chock full of sausage, chicken and shrimp, and had a nice heat to it. Although we put a serious dent into the entrees, and had to box up the rest, dessert was beckoning. Ah, who could resist dessert? Having lived in New Orleans for a couple of years, I LOVE BEIGNETS...having said that, these were not the beignets of my memories. As another poster stated, these came topped with powdered sugar and caramel sauce, kinda like a beignet sundae. Luckily we only got one order. They were huge, they were good, they were gone in 60 seconds. Service was great and not pretentious like some other establishments downtown. Parking was a breeze in the garage across the street, and 9 times out of 10, they just leave the gate open, so no charge to exit. The food, location, and affordable prices make this a must visit.

    (4)

  • Gray G.

    Big Easy was just fine. Not memorable either way. The raw oysters were good(we ate downstairs in the bar area). I think I would have enjoyed them even more if I had gone there during happy hour(mon-fri 4:00-7:00) because they have 59 cent oysters at that time. I had the fish of he day and it was good and a good deal (13.99) for fish, salad, a side, and muffin. Not memorable, but fine. Our server was slow and the ambience was ehh. I would go back during HH or if someone suggested it, but I would never pick it as a place I really want to go.

    (3)

  • Sean T.

    Located where Club Soda was, Big Easy just opened this past Wednesday. I went with friends on Friday and you could tell there were some things to iron out. The service was a bit slow - but I'm sure that will improve as time goes on. The food was good and the atmosphere was nice and inviting - it's a modern decor with low lighting. There is a downstairs that has a couple of nice initmate dining areas as well. This is a nice place for a group or it would go over well for a romantic dinner. There is currently a dress code for guys that requires a collared shirt. I had the Gumbo Du Jour and it was on par with K-Paul's in New Orleans. My main course was the Blackened Tuna and it could have been a bit more spicy, but it was cooked to my specs and overall quite good. Everyone at the table seemed to enjoy their selections as well. I think once the service picks up and they add a few more dishes to the menu this place will be a local favorite. I'll definitely return.

    (4)

  • Keysha S.

    Great place! I had the fish taco appetizer and gumbo...both were very good. I'd definitely go back for the beer selection, ambience, delectable southern cuisine, and decent drink specials. 5 star.

    (5)

  • Chuck B.

    Last night was my third visit to The Big Easy and while the previous two experiences were good, last night was fantastic. We were there to celebrate a special occassion and it was a perfect night. We made reservations so we were seated immediately after arriving. Our server, Nicole, I believe was her name, was awesome. She was friendly, checked back in with us with just the right frequency, and made sure we had a great night. Even after bringing the check, she made sure to tell us to relax and stay as long as we'd like as we finished our bottle of wine. The crispy oyster appetizer was delicious. So often, fried oysters can be disappointing, but these were breaded and fried perfectly. Entrees included the Free Range Chicken and Andouille Sausage pasta dish and the Jambalaya. Both were excellent. The beignets with caramel dipping sauce were so good for dessert. Love this place and we'll definitely be back.

    (5)

  • Romneka G.

    This is an excellent date night restaurant. The food...sooooo good. I love the chef's take on classic cajun dishes!! My all time favorite was the pecan pie a la mode. O.M.G! Soooo good. The beignets were delicious and served warm just the way they're meant to be!! The atmosphere is lovely. I heard on the weekends they have live bands, so my next goal is to be there on a friday night.

    (4)

  • Ashley P.

    I've been to Big Easy several times for either drinks or food. All times I have been impressed. If you're curious, stop in for a few beers. If you're hungry, stop in for dinner. This place is the perfect date spot because the downstairs offers a more casual feel with tables in the bar area, and the upstairs is more romantic but still has a more quiet bar. Big Easy has really good food that is appropriately priced, as it is on the gourmet side. The staff is extremely friendly, the atmosphere is warm, welcoming, and classy but casual. This place is worth the trip. My experience has been memorable, and I will return.

    (5)

  • Scott B.

    I was just passing through Norfolk and I stopped here for dinner one night after checking a few reviews. My server Lindsey was extra helpful and very friendly, which I think is key to a excellent restaurant experience. I had the crab cake appetizer and dozen oysters, which where both delicious and fairly priced. Decent beer selection. Atmosphere-wise, it was dimly lit, spacious, contemporary, and I believe there was a live jazz band downstairs. I'd go definitely go back if I ever find myself in Norfolk again.

    (5)

  • James L.

    This place is a terrific find. My colleagues and I were looking for a seafood place for dinner and stumbled on this gem on a side street off of the main drag (Granby St). After perusing the menu from outside, we decided to give it a try. We were a bit surprised to see the restaurant practically empty but it was a Tuesday night after all. They have a good selection of beer and wine as well as a fully stocked bar. The menu contained a good selection of sandwiches for very reasonable prices. But given the fact that it was dinnertime, I decided to have a full entree and I wasn't disappointed. I had grilled grouper (fish of the day) and it came with one side and a salad. The fish can be cooked in a multitude of ways, including broiled, grilled and blackened. The corn muffins were warm and crumbly. Service was good but the waitress forgot a request that I made and given the fact that we were the only table upstairs, I knocked my rating down one star to 4 stars. All in all, a great find for good value.

    (4)

Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.

Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.

Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :Closed
  • Mon : Closed
    Tue

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Valet, Garage, Street
    Bike Parking : No
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Hipster, Casual, Classy
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : Yes
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : Yes

Big Easy

Share with your social network

WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES

Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online

Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.

© 2024 Restaurant Listings. All rights reserved.