Order Up is a recurring feature about a staff member’s visit to a local eatery.
On a recent Friday night, my husband and I stopped by one of our favorite local pubs to grab some pints and a bite.
Named after an old Colonial thoroughfare running through the heart of Virginia, Three Notch’d Brewery and Craft Kitchen began in Charlottesville in 2013. It now has six locations around the commonwealth , including the one we visited in Town Center in Virginia Beach, which opened in 2021 in the former Gordon Biersch brewery.
Spacious and inviting inside, the restaurant features a dining area with booths and tables, a large bar and high-top tables facing two garage doors, which are opened during nice weather; it also has a small patio where well-behaved dogs are invited to chill out. (Sadly, ours aren’t so well-behaved so we are pup-less when we visit.)
We started with pints of Firefly Nights, a light, refreshing summer pale ale served in a mason jar, and Duke of Clouds, a hoppy hazy session IPA with citrus notes — the perfect way to kick off our weekend.
The beer list and the food menu are tailored to each location and change seasonally, though there are staples that anchor each. Lucky for us, one of our favorite appetizers has been on the menu for a while. The spring rolls, or lumpia, are lightly fried and crunchy on the outside, with a mixture of cabbage, celery, water chestnut, carrots, and onions on the inside. They are perfect for dipping into the tangy chili sauce.
For our entrees, I ordered the beef sliders with cheddar cheese and sweet potato fries. My husband ordered the Southwestern Black Bean Burger with regular fries.
Both hit the spot.
The three sliders, served with pickles on toasted potato buns, were the perfect small bites: juicy, well-seasoned and meaty without being overwhelming. The sweet potato fries were crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. Plus, I got all that extra vitamin A!
The hubby’s black bean burger was light but filling, had good char and tasted like a beef burger. It had a little kick, maybe from the chipotle aioli, but the avocado slice was a cool counterpoint.
“That was a satisfying sandwich,” he said, fishing out the last fries from the bottom of the basket.
Three Notch’d also features entrees such as fish and chips, a shrimp plate, and a Buffalo mac and cheese bowl with fried chicken tenders. The Beach Street Nachos and enormous Cobb salad are other family favorites.
Brunch is available on Saturdays and Sundays, though that menu is not extensive.
And if beer is not your thing, they offer a full bar menu, including cocktails made with bourbon and whiskey from Three Notch’d Distilling Co., Virginia-made cider, wine from Williamsburg and beyond, and interesting non-alcoholic drinks.
The wait staff is attentive and friendly, the space is relaxing, while the food and drinks are elevated beyond typical pub fare. Three Notch’d is worth a visit for anyone, other than ill-behaved dogs.
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If you go
Where: 4561 Virginia Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach
Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Prices: Drinks $7-$12; food $10-$24
Details: 757-916-8080; threenotchdbrewing.com/pages/vb
