Seth G.
Yelp
We had heard locals rave about Steinhilber's since we moved to Virginia Beach in 2003, and we finally got around to trying it 22 years later for my wife's birthday. The location is truly amazing, tucked away on the water in the Thalia neighborhood. It's a very quiet and peaceful setting.
The interior, however, is quite dated. I know part of the appeal is the restaurant has been around since 1939, but there are better ways to honor nostalgic roots without just feeling old. The tables themselves were a bit uncomfortable; the legs were so close together that I nearly knocked the table over just trying to sit down.
The wait staff was spectacular, with one glaring exception. If you're going to take up valuable real estate on my small table with a bottle of water for me to refill my own glass, then I don't need you hovering over me, refilling it after literally every sip. It prevented us from having a private conversation. If I'm not expected to pour my own water, remove the bottle from the table.
Great location and exquisite service, but now for the downside: the kitchen. I ordered my steak medium rare. When it was delivered, I didn't even get a chance to cut into it before the waiter asked how everything was. As soon as he walked away, I cut into the end of my steak and saw absolutely no pink. I then cut it in half, right down the middle, and again, nothing--my medium rare steak had been cooked to well done. Previously, we had two staff members constantly hovering over our table, but now, when I actually needed one, they were gone. I waited several minutes before I was able to flag one down and explain my steak was overcooked. By this time, my wife was already halfway through her crab cake. They took the steak back and said they would get it fixed "right away."
The manager came by and offered me a salad on the house so I would have something to eat while I waited. I finished my salad, my wife finished her entire meal, and then I was told my steak would be right out. I waited several more minutes before it finally arrived, now cooked black & blue. While I love a black & blue steak, that wasn't the medium rare I ordered. It was clear the kitchen had forgotten my order and then tried to rush it. Despite the misfire, the flavor was fantastic even if it wasn't what I had ordered.
To their credit, the manager took the steak off our check and gave us a free dessert because of the kitchen's delays. All that in consideration, I still don't think the evening would have been worth the fine dining prices even if there had been no problems. It's a decent steakhouse that has grown a reputation beyond its actual ability due to local, nostalgic lore. It's a nice, old-fashioned steakhouse, but I do not anticipate returning.