Russell Lay
I am rating this based on what it is—a beach themed bar and restaurant with a local, neighborhood appeal. The place reminds me of old school bars that used to line Atlantic Avenue in Va. Beach and the ‘Beach Road’ on the OBX. Lots of OBX decor, mounted game fish, surfer themes. You can tell regulars know each other. Staff is friendly. Full bar.
Food is very good, a step above most small bar offerings. Families come in for dinner. The oysters are a major plus—raw, steamed, fried, Chesapeake Bay sourced and huge. Fried shrimp has excellent breading and are jumbo sized. Salads are fresh and generous.
My wife had a Cuban and it was also excellent.
This will be a definite stop lunch and dinner and if I want a beer. As a beach kid growing up and an oyster fanatic, this was a find! And only 1.5 miles from the house.
… moreRebecca Z Fox
This would definitely be my little neighborhood bar if I lived closer. Just stopped in for the first time for lunch and everything was perfect. Loved the atmosphere, decor, and music. You could tell that many of the other customers were regulars. The staff was friendly and offered great service. And the food was great! We’ll definitely be trying more of their seafood next time.
Today I had the Poboy with fried oysters and the hush puppies, and my partner had the Cubano and fries. The fries could have been a Lil crispier, but were still tasty. He said the Cuban was one of the best he’s had in the area, and the addition of bacon on it was great. My sandwich was great, I loved the red pepper aioli on it! And the hush puppies were so good too
We will definitely be back when we’re in the area again!
… moreDominic Pendolf
”Grabbed some takeout from here with a couple of friends the other night and it was exactly what we needed. We ordered a few rounds of wings and they were honestly great—crispy, good size, and the sauce was on point. We checked out the rest of the menu while we were waiting and they seem to have a good variety of stuff. Definitely a solid spot if you’re in the plaza and looking for good food. We’ll be back to try more of the menu next time.”
… moreReginald Lewis
This is an establishment where the locals frequent. Everyone knew everyone, with it being my first time here the regulars made me feel at home. The staff was awesome and attentive. I ordered the Wasabi Teriyaki wings there were on point some of the best wings in the 757. The shrimp was good as well and the drinks here are . I high recommend this spot if you want relax and enjoya good meal, drinks, etc. If I’m ever back in the area I’m definitely coming back!!! Thank you Bad Habits!!!
… moreMatt Henry
Been several times and food has always been good and service is also good. When we went they had a full house with 2 servers and I felt like we still got good service.
Food is always good. Mile high is awesome and my favorite. Crab cakes are great get them grilled with tartar sauce. French fries are nice too.
Happy hour 11-7 everyday. Good selection of drinks and cocktails. They have crushes!
Overall a great local spot without the tourists! Love Chesapeake!
… moreJerri P
My husband is still on the hunt for the best fried oysters, and he thought he’d already found them— until he tried the appetizer serving at Bad Habits. These were hands-down the best: lightly breaded, fried to perfection, briny, and full of flavor.
We visited Bad Habits for the first time today for lunch after researching the best fried oysters in Tidewater. It’s a bit of a drive for us from Norfolk, but it was well worth the trip. We arrived around 1 pm to find a lively bar full of locals, yet plenty of tables were still available. Nicole, the bartender, greeted us warmly and told us to sit anywhere. She was running the entire show—bartending, waiting tables, answering the phone, and handling takeout orders—yet she managed it all with impressive efficiency and a friendly attitude.
She took our drink orders—a beer for him and a Paloma for me—which arrived quickly. We had time to look over the menu while she juggled the busy lunchtime crowd with ease.
I ordered the drunken clams as an appetizer and a lobster roll (with onion rings instead of fries) for my entrée. He chose the jalapeño oyster bake and the fried oysters from the appetizer menu, knowing he’d help me with mine. The clams were tender and flavorful, served with toasted garlic bread perfect for soaking up the delicious sauce. I’d definitely order them again. The lobster roll had plenty of tender lobster—mild on its own, but complemented nicely by a creamy mayo-based sauce. The onion rings were excellent. He absolutely loved both oyster dishes, especially the fried oysters.
This local hangout has great food, great service, and a fun, friendly vibe. Watching the good-natured banter among the regulars added to the experience. I only wish we lived closer—but we’ll definitely be back!
… moreAG TV
Service was great, raw oysters were shucked by a pro. Nachos were good, and the seared ahi tuna was cooked to absolute perfection
… moreBrittany J
Our seafood platter , fried calamari & oyster Rockefeller was sooooo delicious !! Our waitress was amazing and the atmosphere was perfect!! We will definitely be going back!!!
… moreM S
This was my second visit to Bad Habits and I was equally as pleased as the first time I visited. Comfortable atmosphere, kid friendly if you need it, friendly and knowledgeable staff. Kristin and Kendall have amazing customer service skills. So friendly and nice! The food is freshly prepared and delish. My first visit was on a Saturday evening and I had friends join me, they were also impressed with their food. I had wings and crab cake sandwich with fries. The crabcake was mostly all crab and hardly any filler. Second visit is NFL game day…TVs all around and great specials on Sunday. If you want icy cold draft, this is the place!! Boneless or bone-in wings, steamed shrimp, little neck clams, beer pretzels and cheese curds. The fries are fresh cut potatoes. The price could change so i didn’t include. Worth giving a try.
… moreLarry Brown III
Was out this way and my dad and I decided to stop by for lunch. Service was great and the food was even better. Definitely stopping again. Sorry for the 2 bites out of the burger in pic. It looked so good I couldn’t hold back.
… more