I messaged to confirm they are open and received a reply saying "We are no longer an operating business". Rest in peace Saint Germain!
Anne F.
Ughhh- I'm so very sad that as soon as I write this review, I'll be marking this business as "permanently closed." This was always the spot I saved towards the top of my list for a date night in Norfolk. Unfortunately, I was lacking the "date" part of that plan for the last few years, so I didn't go until December 2019. That's when I took myself on my own date to get drinks and fries at Saint Germain before seeing Hamilton. Best date I've ever taken myself on! I planned to come back for full service (hopefully with a date) in 2020, so I could save my review for the complete experience. Well, we know how 2020 has been going so far so that obviously hasn't happened. Last night they announced on their social media channels that Saint Germain will not be reopening. Their whole vibe is, um was, that hole in the wall speakeasy bar feel. Elbow to elbow with people, laughing, enjoying drinks. During my two hours at the bar, I ended up having conversations with multiple people around me. I loved watching the bartender create a variety of intricate cocktails. Both of my drinks were fantastic, although I don't remember the names of them. I paired them with some fries, which may not sound like a good idea to most people, but I was loving it! I hope whatever the Saint Germain team does next, I'll be able to experience it. From the talented bartenders to the masterminds in the kitchen. Saint Germain was a dining experience and a one of a kind spot in Norfolk that will undoubtedly be missed.
Karina Nigro ..
Saint Germaine is my FAVORITE restaurant in Virginia. The food is on another level. Some people are too basic and lacking culture to appreciate it. If you order chicken fingers or plain burgers, this place isn't for you! The menu is very eclectic and unique. You probably won't even know what some of the stuff on it is but that's the point! Try something new and experiment! It's an art form what they do with the flavors and even the way they plate food. I like to order multiple things that everyone shares to keep it fun. That way everyone gets to try everything. We just treat it like tapas style. Also the burger will change your life. They only have one burger and that's all they need. It's AMAZING. Not to mention they have the best cocktails ever. Beez in the Trap is my fav and the vibe of the place is super trendy. It's like gothic, hipster, fine dining, but also super casual. It's hard to explain but they have chandeliers inside of bird cages so that'll explain it some lol. My favorite place by far. Best food, drinks, and atmosphere.
Carly Wampler
Delicious food and cool atmosphere! The burgers we had were so good!
Sam S.
Welcome to funky Halloween, y'all! I cannot sing high enough praises for this restaurant. My husband and I had a reservation for Valentine's Day, and it was everything we had hoped for and so much more! So first appearance-wise, it's got this cool, dark, gothic-chic kinda look going on. There's taxidermy heads on the wall, including a huge boar head. It's very cool. Also the music that they've got playing in the background contains what I can only describe as this indiscernible funky 90s bass. I loved it. If I had to wrap up the entire atmosphere in one phrase it would be "funky Halloween." This is THE highest compliment I could give to anyone or anything. Anyway, moving on: the wait staff is very down-to-earth despite the fanciness of the dishes they're bringing out and ingredients they recite. We loved our waiter; he looked like a very nice surfer man. The food...wow! Exquisite! I want to go again so badly, but we've gotta save up--maybe next Valentine's Day if I'm lucky! But anyway, it was a ten-course pre-chosen meal with the theme of "A Night With The Count" at the top of the menu. We thought the theme was a very fun touch, and also when our cool surfer guy brought us our macarons at the very end, he laid down a rose saying, "From the count..." with a mysterious smile. Wow! What showmanship hahaha; my husband and I both loved that! Sorry, I keep getting distracted, but yes the food was so creative and good! I'm not gonna go into a whole lot of detail cuz it was a ten course meal after all, but I'll give you the highlights: we had what was essentially a fois gras cream puff with apricot jam on top, and we frigging loved it. The two of us have only ever had fois gras one time before in a sort of nasty plain cylindrical form and so we thought fois gras was an iredeemable ingredient that only fancysons can appreciate, but now we are all aboard the fois gras train! The venison steak was amazing as was the squab. All of the dishes had such amazingly compex flavors and garnishes and produce. Just wow.
Star Mac
Whimsical and romantic atmosphere. Upscale service. Creative and delicious cocktails. Everything is house-made! Lots of variety in the meals, great execution.
James V.
My wife recently took me here for my birthday, I've had a couple friends mention this spot recently to me. But I was unsure going on what the food and fair were actually like. But boy was I in for an awesome surprise. To start me and my wife came in time for happy hour, there drinks are pricey but there happy hour is half of there signature cocktails. I had a few and they were all excellent but by far the Filipino Milky boy was an exquisite drink. The flavors were reminiscent of everything I love about typical Filipino drinks from the homemade calamansi soda and condensed milk. If you like creamy drinks this is a must. Being my first time I wasn't sure what to get, so I went with the 6 course tasting menu. Now this option changes frequently but each course was to die for. It was a lot of different items with names I've never heard before. Being that I'm not sure to this type of dining I had a hard time Remembering each name so I'm a bit of a loss of words for describing each item. The one dish I can describe the best was the main course. It was made with plantains and duck, which was based of a Puerto Rican dish. It's flavors with the duck were amazing, but well muted by the plantains. The atmosphere and setting for the restaurant were dark with Victorian goth themes. It felt very cool sitting in this restaurant, definitely somewhere I would take a date I'm trying to impress to, may even have to comeback for my next birthday. But to help us threw all the new experiences me and my wife had was our wonderful waitress. She went to great lengths to make us feel welcome, but also well versed on the menu. Bonus points to my waitress, while we were paying for dinner I briefly mention how great of a birthday dinner it was for me, she asks me to hold on for a second and brings me back a small glass of champagne wishing me a happy birthday. If your looking for fine dinning in Hampton roads is is hands down your place to go. Also next time I'm definitely trying the Beef Wellington.
Leslie Pancho
Last night was my first time at St. Germain. I came in with a party of seven to celebrate my son's birthday. We had a reservation, but somehow it disappeared. Not a problem. The restaurant was very apologetic, and able to get us a nice table anyway. Loved the atmosphere and the menu; very unique. We each ordered different cocktails, and it was fun to watch the show put on when they were made. Our waitress explained everything while we watched the production. She truel
Gabriel V.
I always appreciate waitstaff who are trying their best, however a lot of the issues I'll describe were both service and kitchen related. 1. Ordered water upon being seated-Never brought out. 2. Ordered an appetizer...Entrees appeared-appetizer forgotten 3. Appetizer arrives (arugula with burrata,)-terribly over-salted 4. Lamb chop entree arrives. Potato and beet accompaniments-undercooked. 5. Ordered 2 Negroni cocktails-second one comes missing orange slice (that's like ordering a cheeseburger, and having it come without cheese for those missing the point.) Consider the prices charged here, their self-appointed "cocktail specialists" title, and it comes out terribly terribly underwhelming.
Candice D.
Well... A friend turned me onto this place. She said it had an eclectic feel, amazing food and even better customer service. I decided to finally cave in and give it a try. Particularly in this instance I went for restaurant week. The food was remarkably plated with a taste to match. Lemme break it down for ya... I started off with the curry mussels and the Peruvian peppers appetizer. The Peruvian peppers had such a complexity of flavors that it came together in the most perfect of ways. Omg it was amazing, & truly the star of this entire meal! The curry mussels were equally delicious & very fresh. I then ordered the salmon dish, accompanied by root veggies. Again, perfectly seasoned and perfectly plated. My date had a Puerto Rican Piñon, which of course I had the pleasure of trying. It was so good, hearty and filling. The desserts were simple, light, yet exactly what I was seeking. Now I can say their menu is forever changing, they update their website often which will give you the ability to see what they always have. Enjoy it while you can. Lastly the customer service was phenomenal. I was made to feel like a queen on her throne. Just take all my money why don't you!!!!!
Delicious food and talented waitstaff (there is an upstairs seating area that requires stairs). Timing between the appetizer and main could have been spaced better, but this was also a blessing in disguise because we didn’t get too full from eating the rest of our charcuterie and the waiter kindly and carefully boxed what we couldn’t get to. Amuse bouche was given as a delicious and adventurous unexpected treat! It’s a splurge but is great for a special occasion; can’t wait for an excuse to go back!
Winters Larca
I love the ambiance of this quaint, downtown restaurant. The music that was playing was a lovely mix and at the perfect volume to enjoy, but not overwhelming.
Owen B
High end dining with reasonable prices. I had the beef wellington and it was really good and a large portion. The chef has real talent.
Kevin McKelvey
Trendy atmosphere, excellent service and interesting menu make this place a win. it was a very cold night and we sat by the front window which was a little bit drafty, that was our only complaint. The cocktail menu was superb. I am personally not a fan of gin or mezcal, which took off about half of their cocktail list, but they're still was plenty to choose from. My wife had their Mai Thai which was phenomenal. We had the chef's cheese charcuterie which was also excellent, with generous portions of cheeses and more accoutrements than other places we have been. The dessert was very fancy as well, probably the best pistachio ice cream I've ever had. We did not eat dinner as we were just out for a late night drink, dessert and snacks. Things add up fast, so make sure you understand that you'll be paying for the ambiance and creativity of their menu. Drinks are between $11 and $15 each on average.
Bonita Mita
The ambiance of this place is unique. Their cocktails are perfectly and meticulously concocted and the food is an experience to the senses. It is a great place to grab drinks or to have a special occasion dinner as well.
I messaged to confirm they are open and received a reply saying "We are no longer an operating business". Rest in peace Saint Germain!
Ughhh- I'm so very sad that as soon as I write this review, I'll be marking this business as "permanently closed." This was always the spot I saved towards the top of my list for a date night in Norfolk. Unfortunately, I was lacking the "date" part of that plan for the last few years, so I didn't go until December 2019. That's when I took myself on my own date to get drinks and fries at Saint Germain before seeing Hamilton. Best date I've ever taken myself on! I planned to come back for full service (hopefully with a date) in 2020, so I could save my review for the complete experience. Well, we know how 2020 has been going so far so that obviously hasn't happened. Last night they announced on their social media channels that Saint Germain will not be reopening. Their whole vibe is, um was, that hole in the wall speakeasy bar feel. Elbow to elbow with people, laughing, enjoying drinks. During my two hours at the bar, I ended up having conversations with multiple people around me. I loved watching the bartender create a variety of intricate cocktails. Both of my drinks were fantastic, although I don't remember the names of them. I paired them with some fries, which may not sound like a good idea to most people, but I was loving it! I hope whatever the Saint Germain team does next, I'll be able to experience it. From the talented bartenders to the masterminds in the kitchen. Saint Germain was a dining experience and a one of a kind spot in Norfolk that will undoubtedly be missed.
Saint Germaine is my FAVORITE restaurant in Virginia. The food is on another level. Some people are too basic and lacking culture to appreciate it. If you order chicken fingers or plain burgers, this place isn't for you! The menu is very eclectic and unique. You probably won't even know what some of the stuff on it is but that's the point! Try something new and experiment! It's an art form what they do with the flavors and even the way they plate food. I like to order multiple things that everyone shares to keep it fun. That way everyone gets to try everything. We just treat it like tapas style. Also the burger will change your life. They only have one burger and that's all they need. It's AMAZING. Not to mention they have the best cocktails ever. Beez in the Trap is my fav and the vibe of the place is super trendy. It's like gothic, hipster, fine dining, but also super casual. It's hard to explain but they have chandeliers inside of bird cages so that'll explain it some lol. My favorite place by far. Best food, drinks, and atmosphere.
Delicious food and cool atmosphere! The burgers we had were so good!
Welcome to funky Halloween, y'all! I cannot sing high enough praises for this restaurant. My husband and I had a reservation for Valentine's Day, and it was everything we had hoped for and so much more! So first appearance-wise, it's got this cool, dark, gothic-chic kinda look going on. There's taxidermy heads on the wall, including a huge boar head. It's very cool. Also the music that they've got playing in the background contains what I can only describe as this indiscernible funky 90s bass. I loved it. If I had to wrap up the entire atmosphere in one phrase it would be "funky Halloween." This is THE highest compliment I could give to anyone or anything. Anyway, moving on: the wait staff is very down-to-earth despite the fanciness of the dishes they're bringing out and ingredients they recite. We loved our waiter; he looked like a very nice surfer man. The food...wow! Exquisite! I want to go again so badly, but we've gotta save up--maybe next Valentine's Day if I'm lucky! But anyway, it was a ten-course pre-chosen meal with the theme of "A Night With The Count" at the top of the menu. We thought the theme was a very fun touch, and also when our cool surfer guy brought us our macarons at the very end, he laid down a rose saying, "From the count..." with a mysterious smile. Wow! What showmanship hahaha; my husband and I both loved that! Sorry, I keep getting distracted, but yes the food was so creative and good! I'm not gonna go into a whole lot of detail cuz it was a ten course meal after all, but I'll give you the highlights: we had what was essentially a fois gras cream puff with apricot jam on top, and we frigging loved it. The two of us have only ever had fois gras one time before in a sort of nasty plain cylindrical form and so we thought fois gras was an iredeemable ingredient that only fancysons can appreciate, but now we are all aboard the fois gras train! The venison steak was amazing as was the squab. All of the dishes had such amazingly compex flavors and garnishes and produce. Just wow.
Whimsical and romantic atmosphere. Upscale service. Creative and delicious cocktails. Everything is house-made! Lots of variety in the meals, great execution.
My wife recently took me here for my birthday, I've had a couple friends mention this spot recently to me. But I was unsure going on what the food and fair were actually like. But boy was I in for an awesome surprise. To start me and my wife came in time for happy hour, there drinks are pricey but there happy hour is half of there signature cocktails. I had a few and they were all excellent but by far the Filipino Milky boy was an exquisite drink. The flavors were reminiscent of everything I love about typical Filipino drinks from the homemade calamansi soda and condensed milk. If you like creamy drinks this is a must. Being my first time I wasn't sure what to get, so I went with the 6 course tasting menu. Now this option changes frequently but each course was to die for. It was a lot of different items with names I've never heard before. Being that I'm not sure to this type of dining I had a hard time Remembering each name so I'm a bit of a loss of words for describing each item. The one dish I can describe the best was the main course. It was made with plantains and duck, which was based of a Puerto Rican dish. It's flavors with the duck were amazing, but well muted by the plantains. The atmosphere and setting for the restaurant were dark with Victorian goth themes. It felt very cool sitting in this restaurant, definitely somewhere I would take a date I'm trying to impress to, may even have to comeback for my next birthday. But to help us threw all the new experiences me and my wife had was our wonderful waitress. She went to great lengths to make us feel welcome, but also well versed on the menu. Bonus points to my waitress, while we were paying for dinner I briefly mention how great of a birthday dinner it was for me, she asks me to hold on for a second and brings me back a small glass of champagne wishing me a happy birthday. If your looking for fine dinning in Hampton roads is is hands down your place to go. Also next time I'm definitely trying the Beef Wellington.
Last night was my first time at St. Germain. I came in with a party of seven to celebrate my son's birthday. We had a reservation, but somehow it disappeared. Not a problem. The restaurant was very apologetic, and able to get us a nice table anyway. Loved the atmosphere and the menu; very unique. We each ordered different cocktails, and it was fun to watch the show put on when they were made. Our waitress explained everything while we watched the production. She truel
I always appreciate waitstaff who are trying their best, however a lot of the issues I'll describe were both service and kitchen related. 1. Ordered water upon being seated-Never brought out. 2. Ordered an appetizer...Entrees appeared-appetizer forgotten 3. Appetizer arrives (arugula with burrata,)-terribly over-salted 4. Lamb chop entree arrives. Potato and beet accompaniments-undercooked. 5. Ordered 2 Negroni cocktails-second one comes missing orange slice (that's like ordering a cheeseburger, and having it come without cheese for those missing the point.) Consider the prices charged here, their self-appointed "cocktail specialists" title, and it comes out terribly terribly underwhelming.
Well... A friend turned me onto this place. She said it had an eclectic feel, amazing food and even better customer service. I decided to finally cave in and give it a try. Particularly in this instance I went for restaurant week. The food was remarkably plated with a taste to match. Lemme break it down for ya... I started off with the curry mussels and the Peruvian peppers appetizer. The Peruvian peppers had such a complexity of flavors that it came together in the most perfect of ways. Omg it was amazing, & truly the star of this entire meal! The curry mussels were equally delicious & very fresh. I then ordered the salmon dish, accompanied by root veggies. Again, perfectly seasoned and perfectly plated. My date had a Puerto Rican Piñon, which of course I had the pleasure of trying. It was so good, hearty and filling. The desserts were simple, light, yet exactly what I was seeking. Now I can say their menu is forever changing, they update their website often which will give you the ability to see what they always have. Enjoy it while you can. Lastly the customer service was phenomenal. I was made to feel like a queen on her throne. Just take all my money why don't you!!!!!
Restaurantji Recommends
Delicious food and talented waitstaff (there is an upstairs seating area that requires stairs). Timing between the appetizer and main could have been spaced better, but this was also a blessing in disguise because we didn’t get too full from eating the rest of our charcuterie and the waiter kindly and carefully boxed what we couldn’t get to. Amuse bouche was given as a delicious and adventurous unexpected treat! It’s a splurge but is great for a special occasion; can’t wait for an excuse to go back!
I love the ambiance of this quaint, downtown restaurant. The music that was playing was a lovely mix and at the perfect volume to enjoy, but not overwhelming.
High end dining with reasonable prices. I had the beef wellington and it was really good and a large portion. The chef has real talent.
Trendy atmosphere, excellent service and interesting menu make this place a win. it was a very cold night and we sat by the front window which was a little bit drafty, that was our only complaint. The cocktail menu was superb. I am personally not a fan of gin or mezcal, which took off about half of their cocktail list, but they're still was plenty to choose from. My wife had their Mai Thai which was phenomenal. We had the chef's cheese charcuterie which was also excellent, with generous portions of cheeses and more accoutrements than other places we have been. The dessert was very fancy as well, probably the best pistachio ice cream I've ever had. We did not eat dinner as we were just out for a late night drink, dessert and snacks. Things add up fast, so make sure you understand that you'll be paying for the ambiance and creativity of their menu. Drinks are between $11 and $15 each on average.
The ambiance of this place is unique. Their cocktails are perfectly and meticulously concocted and the food is an experience to the senses. It is a great place to grab drinks or to have a special occasion dinner as well.