Diners' Choice: Best Overall restaurants in Virginia

OpenTable

Updated October 05, 2026

Looking for the best overall restaurants in Virginia? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

The Veranda

4.9

4.9 (217)

$31 to $50

Italian

Virginia Beach

About the restaurant

Welcome to The Veranda Trattoria, where the warm embrace of traditional Italian hospitality meets the sun-kissed shores of Virginia Beach. Nestled in the heart of this vibrant coastal city, our trattoria invites you on a culinary journey that combines the richness of Italian flavors with the laid-back charm of beachside living
The atmosphere is a perfect blend of rustic elegance and coastal comfort, creating a welcoming space for both intimate dinners and lively gatherings.
The Veranda Trattoria is not just a restaurant; it's a place where friends and family come together to savor exceptional food, share stories, and create lasting memories. Whether you're seeking a romantic date, a family celebration, or a casual dinner with friends, our trattoria is the perfect setting for every occasion

Top review

JenniferGold

Dined 4 days ago

First time here and we can see why everyone loves it. Great service, authentic food, and fair prices.

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5.0

5 (357)

$31 to $50

Wine Bar

Henrico

About the restaurant

The Wine Whisperer is a wine shop and bistro in Richmond’s Short Pump neighborhood, built for people who love wine—and those who are still figuring out what they love.

Our intimate wine bar offers a more personal way to drink, dine, and discover. Settle in with a glass, explore our rotating wine list, or let one of The Whisperers curate a flight around your palate. You’ll also find craft beer, more whiskey than you might expect, and an expansive food menu designed with wine pairing in mind.

Whether you’re stopping in for a casual glass with friends, planning a memorable date night, or celebrating something special, we can’t wait to host you. We offer weekly tastings, wine classes, and private dining as well. Come see why we're consistently ranked as a Diner's Choice restaurant.

Don’t see a reservation? Give us a call or stop by—we save several tables each evening for walk-in guests. For larger parties or private events, please call or send us a message.

Top review

DeborahGold

Dined 6 days ago

How can this place just keep getting better! Great libations, great food, great service and the best people ever!

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Experience

Winesday Tastings at Whisperer

C&O

4.9

4.9 (1130)

$50 and over

American

Charlottesville

About the restaurant

Dinner is served in our mezzanine, bistro and upstairs dining rooms, Tuesday through Saturday.
Reservations are for dinner only, please. Bar seats operate on a first come, first serve basis, and cannot be reserved.
We cannot accommodate parties larger than 10. Due to the layout of our restaurant, we are unable to accommodate pets on our patio.

Top review

Rita

Dined 3 days ago

Fabulous! So cute & welcoming! Food and bread were 5stars! BUT. Bathroom is ridiculous. Smaller than an airplane, then why can’t they at least make it cute. Raw walls & pipes & icky sink. Missing tile on gross floor. I wished I didn’t use it. Kinda ruined the vibe. Wouldn’t cost anything to at least give it nice finishes

The Farmhouse at Veritas

4.9

4.9 (1184)

$50 and over

Farm-to-table

Charlottesville

About the restaurant

Please inform us of any allergies or dietary restrictions at least 48 hours prior to reservation time.
No children or pets allowed for any reservations

DINNER: Plan to arrive at 6:15 pm for a glass of bubbly and be seated for dinner at 6:30 pm. Dinner is four courses, each one paired with wine. The cost is $140 (plus taxes and fees) per person prix fixe.

Top review

CarlaGold

Dined 6 days ago

The whole evening was just perfect! The food was sublime and all of the servers worked as a perfection orchestrated team. Would totally do this again!

Le Yaca - Williamsburg

4.9

4.9 (10042)

$31 to $50

French

Williamsburg

About the restaurant

Le Yaca began in 1964 in Courchevel, a tiny, country village in the French Alps. Daniele Bourderau & Gerard decided it would be fun to open a small restaurant. When friends learned of their plans, they told the hopeful restaurateurs they were crazy to think people would drive eight kilometers on a winding, icy road for dinner. Daniele and Gerard hesitated for three months and then decided, “yaca le faire,” a contraction of the French phrase “il n’y a qu’a le faire,” which basically means, “let’s do it.” They called the restaurant Le Yaca as a gag, but the name caught on with customers who were amused by the pun and contributed to the restaurant’s lore by inventing “yaca-isms” of their own: yaca y aller (let’s go). Daniele came to the United States and opened Le Yaca in Williamsburg. Daniel Abid bought Le Yaca in 2001. Daniel worked and trained in such prestigious places as “Le Pre Catelan” and “Lenotre” in Paris; “L’Amandier” and “Roger Verge," and to top it all off, “Alain Ducass

Top review

AllynGold

Dined 7 days ago

From the moment we checked in at the front desk, we were very well treated including a quiet table and placed with our preferred server. We have been to La Yaca many times over the past 15 years and will continue to return. First rate restaurant.

Fat Canary

4.9

4.9 (5093)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Williamsburg

About the restaurant

This high-energy bistro took over as Williamsburg's best restaurant as soon as it opened in 2003. The sophisticated but relaxed dining room has an open kitchen, which uses fresh, local ingredients for its creative American fare. Reservations for the dining room and the bar are recommended and may be made up to 61 days in advance. Open daily for dinner, a reservationist is available during the day to take reservations by phone.

All reservations are for Fat Canary. Downstairs at Fat Canary is no reservations and is a same day, in-person check-in for our waitlist.

Top review

FredericGold

Dined 4 days ago

First, the Fat Canary is my most favorite restaurant of all times! I live in Richmond so I don't get to eat there but several times a year but each visit is remarkable. This time we got to meet Vicilli (not sure if this is the correct spelling) and he was incredible. It is always nice to say hello to David, the best bartender a restaurant could have. Not much more to say than this. Hope I can make the trip to Williamsburg soon so we can visit the Fat Canary.

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Popular dish

Lobster

Popular dish

Grilled Beef Tenderloin

Popular dish

Seared Foie Gras

L'Opossum

4.9

4.9 (3765)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Richmond

About the restaurant

L'Opossum offers dinner Tuesday-Saturday for parties of one to a maximum of six guests. Multiple reservations booked on the same night to form a group larger than six guests are not permitted and will be canceled. Reservations for parties of one to four guests are allotted 2 hours. Parties of five to six guests are allotted 2.5 hours. Please be courteous to your fellow diners by arriving and leaving on time. To view a sample menu, visit www.lopossum.com - Thank you!

Top review

Rachel

Dined 3 days ago

I highly recommend L'Opposum. It is by far my favorite restaurant in Richmond. The service is great and the food is fantastic. I love how creative they are with all their dishes and their seasonal menu always makes me curiously excited to see what they have come up with. You have to try their soup it never misses!

Press 626 Wine Bar

4.9

4.9 (129)

$30 and under

Comfort Food

Norfolk

About the restaurant

Press 626 Wine Bar is a hidden gem in Norfolk, located in a charming 1906 Victorian home. Experience a unique blend of old-world charm and modern elegance, perfect for romantic evenings, friendly gatherings, or solo escapes with a good book and a glass of wine. Our extensive wine list, curated by experts, ensures you'll find the ideal pairing for your meal. Whether you're a wine connoisseur or a novice, our knowledgeable staff is here to help. Enjoy elevated comfort food and small plates made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients, including Chef Leeroi Fonterela's delicious charcuterie board and grilled cheese. Don't forget to try our expertly crafted cocktails, which complement any dish. At Press 626, we pride ourselves on creating a welcoming atmosphere where you can relax and enjoy friendly service alongside delicious food and wine. Come as you are and make lasting memories with us.

Top review

MarthaGold

Dined 6 days ago

The wait staff was wonderful and the food was delicious.

Leaping Lizard Cafe

4.9

4.9 (1468)

$30 and under

American

Virginia Beach

About the restaurant

Situated under a canopy of old growth trees on Lake Joyce, this natural gem serves seasonal fare from tidal Virginia. The menu reflects freshness with a distinct emphasis on showcasing the inherent colors and flavors of the ingredients. The cafe's bakery provides all its breads and deserts and is open for retail on the weekends. This fresh approach to food done in a natural and unpretentious setting has been a local favorite for twelve years. If you don't see your desired time slot available give us a call.

Top review

Terence

Dined 1 day ago

Good is always fresh and healthy and they give you a good portion of food

Mizuno Japanese Restaurant

4.9

4.9 (759)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Virginia Beach

About the restaurant

Mizuno Japanese Restaurant is a family-run business that first opened in 1996. Located in Virginia Beach, Mizuno is embedded in a seafood hotspot, only 25 miles south of the Eastern Shore of Virginia and the Chesapeake Bay, and 158 miles south of Hatteras, North Carolina. Chef-owner Wataru Mizuno feels blessed to be a sushi chef in a culinary trifecta like Virginia Beach. Mizuno and his team take advantage of the restaurant's access to local sources by artfully composing daily specials that feature fresh shrimp, yellowfin tuna, bluefin tuna, flounder, blue crabs and oysters, to name a few. The hook's simple. Mizuno resists complicated sauces and excessive ingredients. Instead, he flavors scallops from the world famous Chesapeake Bay, adding nothing more, at times, than a dash of citrus and a pinch of sea salt. Wataru Mizuno: Chef/Owner Born in Japan, Wataru Mizuno received his formal training in Tokyo, as an apprentice under master Teruo Sato.

Top review

KennethGold

Dined on Oct 10, 2026

Without a doubt best sushi in VB. Always the best. Our favorite. Highly recommend.

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