Restaurants in Newport News

Mediterranean Cuisine’s Lebanese owners craft a battalion of freshly prepared, authentic fare from scratch. Taste expeditions commence with appetizers that sample grape leaves stuffed with spiced rice and hummus blended with chickpeas whipped with tahini, garlic, and lemon. After a light and lemony fattoush salad, guests can tuck into full platters of succulent meats, such as chicken tawook and beef kebab, complemented by fuchsia pickled turnips and soft pita disks, used to scoop up bites or act as edible frisbees.

For the past 18 years, the chefs at India Palace have been making their northern Indian food burst with flavor rather than an overly spicy kick. To do so, they harness traditional spices such as anise seed, cardamom, and turmeric to concoct their aromatic curries, vegetarian entrees, and gluten-free dishes from scratch. They can customize each of their biryani and masala entrees to individuals' preferred levels of heat and sentience, and they diligently bake naan in a clay oven to sop up every last drop of vindaloo sauce. India Palace also offers an expansive lunch buffet that brims with traditional Indian morsels.

Perhaps it’s the dining room’s glittering chandeliers that make diners feel as though they’ve stepped back in time, or maybe it’s the silver tea sets displayed atop baroque-style tables that bring to mind a bygone era. Though it’s difficult to single out the one element of First Ladies Tea Parlor that transports diners to the past, it’s evident that owner KJ Jordan has realized her vision. KJ’s passion for all things old-timey manifests itself in the parlor’s varied schedule of events, from historic fashion shows and presentations by authors and historical interpreters to speakeasy dinners that keep the spirit of the 1920s alive via live jazz and free admission for ghosts. Away from the sun-dappled dining room, chef Gabby Bauman and her culinary crew bustle about the kitchen whipping up light lunches featuring entrees named after first ladies, including the Lady Dolley sandwich filled with roasted turkey and avocado and the Lady Betty salad dappled with salmon fillet and apricot-ginger dressing.

A pair of stock cars sits beneath the checkered-flag designs of NASCAR Sports Grille's exterior, which contains a chorus of cheering fans basking in the glow of three 16-foot televisions that beam live races and sports. Tables and a long, wooden bar sit beneath the towering displays, and cozy booths—each with a built-in TV—form an intimate setting where fans can attempt to feed nachos to the images of their favorite athletes. Outside, NFL banners hang from the ceiling of a covered patio, where groups share appetizers of homemade crab dip. Each of these eating arenas sets a competitive stage for grill fare all-stars, including six juicy burgers coated in eclectic toppings such as bourbon chili.

A mechanical bull flares its nostrils at passersby outside of Tapps by PBR Hampton Roads. Whether or not they tame this bucking beast, diners wrangle stories worth telling at this cowboy-themed cantina, where craft beers brim from taps and bottles at six full-service bars. Live music spills from the stage as the sweet, smoky notes of Jack Daniels barbecued ribs serenade taste buds. Feasters can earn a T-shirt, a photo on the wall of fame, and contend for their mother's memoirs by taking part in the restaurant's PBR Hampton Challenge and devouring four jumbo burritos.

As the golden sheen of sunset drapes the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, the flickering flames of a fireplace and candlelit tables illuminate the dining room of Alexander's on the Bay. Every table in the restaurant is within sight of windows overlooking the bay, and the outdoor deck basks in the fresh ocean air wafting from the beach. The scenery complements Alexander's on the Bay’s extensive selection of appetizers, soups, build-your-own sand castles, and entrees, many of which include catches culled from the Chesapeake Bay. For palates craving seafood alternatives, owner and chef Denice Shafiee and her culinary crew prepare a handful of succulent eats such as sautéed chicken breast encrusted with crushed cashews and certified Angus beef steaks. Along with serving diners nightly for more than 25 years, Alexander's on the Bay frequently hosts wedding receptions and catered events.