VIRGINIA | THE SOUTH
The Best Restaurants in Newport News: From Seafood Shacks to Chef-Driven Kitchens
By Maria Rodriguez | Sept. 12, 2025
Circa 1918 Kitchen and Bar
AUTHOR BIO: With a day job that requires constant travel, Maria Rodriguez is likely a frequenter of your favorite restaurant. She’s reviewed restaurants since 2007 in publications from Barcelona to Bakersfield.
Shipyards and the water define Newport News, but so do the restaurants—spots where barbecue is smoked slow enough to perfume a whole block, where seafood feels connected to the bay, and where young chefs are giving familiar dishes a sharper edge.
As someone who travels to Newport News often for work, I’ve found that what makes eating here memorable is the mix: a plate of fried oysters served beside a pint of local beer, ramen bowls in a strip mall that taste like someone’s lifelong project, or an upscale dinner that could stand up anywhere. Newport News isn’t loud about its dining scene, but that quiet confidence is exactly what makes it worth exploring.
So here are the best restaurants in Newport News right now.
Aux Délices
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The Michel family’s Aux Délices is a small French café and bakery now with two Newport News locations, serving sweet and savory crêpes, panini, and gelato made in-house. Aux Délices turns out classics like Nutella crêpes or ham-and-Swiss, alongside scoops of gelato that have earned it a loyal local following. It feels casual and welcoming, the kind of place that works just as well for a quick coffee as for an afternoon with dessert on the table.
Best for: Crêpes and gelato with a French café feel
Circa 1918 Kitchen and Bar
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In Hilton Village, Circa 1918 is where you go when you want a little sophistication with your duck confit. The menu shifts with the seasons, but there’s always something that makes you feel like you’re cheating on every other restaurant in town. It’s cozy without being claustrophobic, with lighting that makes you look better than you probably deserve.
Fin Seafood
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Port Warwick might not scream “luxury,” but Fin Seafood makes up for it with its elegantly plated dishes and obsessive attention to detail. The scallops are well seared, the kind of thing you’d serve if you were trying to impress someone without admitting you used DoorDash.
Harpoon Larry’s
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Harpoon Larry’s Fish House & Oyster Bar looks like it was built by someone who actually likes boats, which is appropriate because the seafood is as fresh as it gets. The oysters are plump and briny, the crab cakes are golden and packed with actual crab (not just breadcrumbs), and the vibe is equal parts nautical charm and “let’s get another round.”
Hot Pot 757 & Korean BBQ
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Interactive dining is the name of the game here, and it’s perfect for people who think dinner should come with instructions. At Hot Pot 757, you cook your own food in bubbling broths, or grill it right at the table if you go for the Korean BBQ. It’s fun, it’s fresh, and it’s a sneaky way to get everyone at the table to actually pay attention to the meal instead of their phones.
Indulge Bakery and Bistro
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This little spot is what happens when someone decides breakfast shouldn’t be boring. The pastries at Indulge are flaky, the coffee is strong, and the breakfast sandwiches are the kind of thing that makes you late for work and totally okay with it. It’s a recent addition to Newport News, but it already feels like it’s been here forever.
Saté
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At Saté, Chef Kyle Fowlkes takes the kind of creative risks that make you wonder why other places don’t. The pork belly bao buns are sweet and sticky with a smack of spice, and the Caribbean jerk salmon might actually make you like salmon again. It’s chic and modern without being fussy—think first-date worthy but also good for ordering solo and eavesdropping on other first dates.
Second Street American Bistro
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Second Street has been serving customers for more than forty years, long enough to become a fixture in both Newport News and Williamsburg. The menu blends steakhouse staples and lighter fare—filets, crab cakes, flatbreads, and sandwiches—that make it as reliable for a weeknight dinner as for a celebratory meal. It feels polished without being fussy, the kind of restaurant that stays busy because it delivers exactly what people expect every time.
Best for: A polished but approachable dinner, whether you’re in Newport News or Williamsburg
Smoke BBQ
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Smoke serves old-school barbecue that leans into Southern tradition without over-promising. Menu highlights include St. Louis ribs, pulled pork, and beef spareribs, with sides like deviled eggs and loaded tots that aren’t just padding—they matter. Owner stories, smoked meats, community praise: it's the kind of place that smells like it belongs to Newport News.
Best for: Authentic smoked meats and hearty Southern sides
Thaijindesu Thai & Sushi Bar
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Some places do one thing well; Thaijindesu is out here juggling two. The sushi is fresh and beautifully presented, while the Thai dishes bring the heat in the best way. It’s fancy enough for a birthday dinner but still welcoming enough to justify a Tuesday night splurge.
Vintner’s Cellar
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Part winery, part restaurant, and all charm, Vintner’s Cellar Winery & Restaurant in nearby Yorktown is where you go when you want to pretend you’re fancier than you are. The house-made wines are fun to pair with their small plates, and the vibe is upscale without being stuffy. Bonus points for making you feel like a wine connoisseur, even if you’ve never graduated beyond “red or white.”
These Are the Richmond Restaurants That Deserve Michelin Recognition
The Michelin Guide doesn’t cover Richmond yet—but it should. These 12 restaurants are worthy of stars, Bibs, or recommendations.