Norfolk, Virginia, and the surrounding cities of Portsmouth, Virginia Beach and Newport News are a great vacation spot for golfers, with an abundance of courses like Lambert's Point, Oceanview or Sewell's Point. If you're in town on a golfing trip or a family vacation and are craving some spicy Cajun food, you'll have several restaurants in the area to choose from.
Big Easy Grill & Oyster Bar
Located in a historic building in downtown Norfolk, the Big Easy Grill & Oyster Bar is a favorite with locals looking for Cajun cooking, fresh seafood and a relaxed atmosphere. The dim lighting and long bar make the Big Easy Grill a popular place for cocktails or a date, and their extensive Creole menu brings in a crowd for dinner. Start off your meal with fried Louisiana oysters or the crawfish bisque, and then move on to entrée choices like etoufee, jambalaya, pecan breaded catfish and pork tenderloin with tomato marmalade. The Big Easy Grill & Oyster Bar is open Tuesday through Saturday for dinner from 5 p.m. The bar opens at 4 p.m., and they have free live jazz each Friday and Saturday night.
Big Easy Grill & Oyster Bar
111 W. Tazewell St.
Norfolk, VA 23510
(757) 227-6222
bigeasygrillandoysterbar.com/
Mary Helen's Restaurant
Located just north of Norfolk in downtown Hampton, Mary Helen's Restaurant serves up an extensive menu of Cajun food as well as live jazz every Thursday and Friday night. Start off a meal here with the homemade chicken and sausage gumbo or a lighter choice like the salmon steak salad. For entrées, the options range from traditional jambalaya and red beans and rice to Southern staples like liver and onions and meatloaf. Mary Helen's restaurant is open for lunch Tuesday through Sunday and for dinner Thursday through Sunday evenings.
Mary Helen's Restaurant
87 Lincoln St.
Hampton, VA 23668
(757) 728-9050
maryhelens.com
Thumper's Olde Towne Cajun Grill
The friendly, relaxed atmosphere of Thumper's Olde Towne Cajun Grill makes it a great spot for lunch or dinner, and in warm weather, you can choose a seat on their outdoor deck. Thumper's is located in Olde Towne in Portsmouth, just a few blocks from the river. The fare here is casual and Cajun, with a lot of typical bar food thrown in the mix. Try their fried gator bites, blue crab stuffed mushrooms, or crawfish or shrimp etoufee. Thumper's is open for lunch Monday through Saturday, and every evening for dinner or cocktails.
Thumper's Olde Towne Cajun Grill
600 Court St.
Portsmouth, VA 23704
(757) 399-1001
About The Author
Ashley Talley has been a professional writer for more than 10 years, specializing in travel and health. Her work has been published in "Coastal Living" magazine, "Wrightsville Beach Magazine" and "Choice," an anthology praised by "Vanity Fair" and the "LA Times." She graduated from Brown University with honors and holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing from the University of North Carolina.
