The Market

Just tried this place for the first time , sat down at the main bar … couldn’t get a drink for 20 minutes. Whoever this is wouldn’t stop talking to this guy long enough to get us a drink…. We tried m, not coming back.

Super cool place! The market is a part of this huge building referred to as the water side. In the water side there is a multitude of different stores and shops. There’s ice cream, cupcakes, sports bars , ex. The market has live music playing most nights. The market is kind of in the center of everything so if you want to grab a drink while the family gets ice cream it’s perfect. Plus there is a giant tv that plays sport programs. Five emojis that describe my experience are… 😁🍻🌊📺👍

This was a very nice experience , I will note on the music was a tad bit to loud for my liking. The musician was amazing and very good with his guitar and his singing. The kiddy cocktail I had was different, I did like it. It tasted as if a pineapple and a cherry had a baby it would be this drink. The bar tender was very kind and had a nice story to associate with the drink she was making for me. Now she has a sense of humor that will make you laugh so hard you could fall right out of your seat. Another thing to note is the decor, it was all modern, rustic even. The ocean view was one of my favorite things about this establishment. You can see the navy ships being worked on. You can see many boats passing. I will come back soon because they have a vip club you can join. Free appetizers offered and half off beer on Friday’s. This is a nice place to cool down from the hot weather outside. Also outside of The Market is a nice arcade that I passed by that could make a nice family experience. This arcade is connected to The Market so no worries about the humidity getting in the way of some quality family time.

The place has a lot going on. It can and is confusing if you want to eat and drink but you are not in the correct place to get table service. We still had a good time.

Disappointing Policy That Hurts Local Business My wife and I had dinner at Waterside last night and were surprised—and frustrated—to learn that the restaurant we chose couldn’t serve alcohol. We were told we had to walk over to the central bar area to order drinks separately. It’s disappointing to see that Waterside doesn’t allow individual restaurants to serve alcohol, especially when they’re small local businesses paying rent to be there. Throughout our meal, we watched several people come in, ask for a margarita, and leave when they found out they couldn’t get one. This policy isn’t just inconvenient for guests—it clearly costs the restaurant business, not just in drink sales but likely food sales as well. It feels like Waterside is prioritizing its own bar profits over supporting the success of its tenants. I hope this changes in the future so diners can have a better experience—and so these small businesses have a fair shot.

Would have loved a cold beer, but no staff to be found other than the center bar, and the bartender was not interested in serving me. Weird vibes. Took the ferry over and going straight back.

Monique was a vibe! Helped me place my orders and answered all my questions that I had

I went to this middle-of-the-road place for lunch on a Friday by myself. The place was quiet and listless before noon, as most of the other places nearby weren't open yet. I had heard good things about those other places, but I was already there and didn't feel like waiting. The food is provided by the Blue Moon Taphouse. I had a Star Hill Tripel (great), an avocado club, and a side Caesar salad. The sandwich was good, but the salad was disappointing. It was a side salad, and side salads are usually not great. However, this one looked better than it tasted. The bartender was friendly, helpful, and quick. Overall, it's a decent place to go if you're looking for a casual meal with friends or colleagues. But don't expect anything too special. If you're willing to wait a little longer, there are some other more interesting options nearby.

I love a good taco Tuesday so I decided to try out the Taco special that the market offers !! The beef tacos were good full of flavor the only downside was they don't offer sour cream !!! My waitress/ bartender was amazing she provided great service. I really liked all the tvs and the bar area is setup nicely they play pretty good music definitely a vibe !!! I can't wait to go back and try more food options for sure

This whole set up, the Waterside District is really a bad set up. There are half dozen or so restaurants in this food court style setup, and on a Saturday afternoon only 1 restaurant is open, a bar (that doesn't serve food - that thought by VA law if you server alcohol you have to food too), and The Market Market Kiosk. The Market Kiosk has a limited menu, take out style setup (order at the counter, sit, wait, listen for your number to be called) with limited ingredients to adjust or modify your order. Service was acceptable, but nothing more than that. They did not have any drink that were cold (issue with their refrigerator the firl said), and the burger & fries was a said excuse for a burger, especially for $17. While we didn't order the nachos, we did see a few pass by us. They were a huge portion. Since we didn't order them I can say ananything about the taste, but it certainly appearappeared to be a better value. See attached photos

Every Wednesday they have a $2 burger special - with the purchase of a beverage. It was totally worth it and a good deal! The bar was kinda crowded and it was only one bartender, she did a good job holding it down. Very attentive to everyone. The burger was delicious! The patty was small like - about half the size of a regular hamburger patty. On the burger it comes with lettuce, onions, pickles, and tomatoes. And if you'd like cheese on it its an add on for 50cent.

Service was terrible for Cinco de Mayo's event here at Waterside over the weekend. I came here last year pre Covid for their tequila and taco fest outside and it was amazing and this time it was so unorganized and lame. The service was really bad. I can't express how long I was waiting for a drink and to mention service for me to order food. In the end I ordered a small appetizer and left.

The market is located in the waterside district of Norfolk. It houses a variety of restaurants and a tap house. I really enjoy the atmosphere as a whole every time we visit. The first few visits we made this location was jammed packed. Now that it has settled in, the flow of traffic is very steady but not as overwhelming as it once was. We usually head to the fudgery and Carolina cupcake. We love our sweets. My husband also works in the waterside district and makes visits to chipotle found inside the market for his lunch. This is a two story establishment with stairs and elevator access. Recently we tried Cogan's pizza and that was a hit. They have an arcade and games set up inside the market which helps the time pass as you wait for your food or drinks. I love the bar area located smack dab in the middle of it all. Definitely worth a stop in if you are in the area. When a festival is going on near by at the town point park, the market is a great spot to stop in to rest and relax.

Stopped in for their $2 burger deal on Wednesday. Was disappointed the bartender had to go to the back to finally cook my burger. The cook went on break and never came back. I know staffing is tough.

I love the "food hall" concept, but the execution needs some work. I know it's new, so maybe the will iron out the glitches. It seemed kinda disorganized and maybe the operation just needs more time. The one problem that probably will be tough to fix: the acoustics. There was a band playing, and the sound was not clear. Just loud and muffled. Add that to loud conversations, and the noise level became rather unpleasant. I tried two of "The Market" venues: Rappahanock and Carolina Cupcake. Rappahanock struggled a little. The employee couldn't get the cash register to open (I think I came at a shift change) and although there were very few people there, it took awhile to prepare my order (just a half dozen oysters). They were good, but they also couldn't distinguish which oysters were which (I tried two of each variety offered). I never did find the utensils. I don't mind the slurping technique, but I did need something to use for the condiments. Stick with the original brick and mortar restaurant in Richmond. That place was better. Carolina Cupcake seemed disorganized too. Everyone was huddled in a cluster, and no one seemed to be able to figure out the queue. I didn't wait tooo long, but it just seemed like they could use a stantion or some sort of rope. The cupcakes were large and tasted good enough, but were a little on the pricey side. I had the "french toast" and a strawberry cupcake with a lemon zest icing. I ate one right away, and one on the plane the next day, but I couldn't finish either one. A little sweet goes a long way :) Maybe shave off 1/4 of the cupcake and $1 of the cost to customers. Not a deal-breaker though. Waterfront location is great. Just work on smoothing things out here.

The idea of having all these restaurants at your finger tips and an open concept bar is great, but where are all the employees? Visited after a workout at the promenade where we received a $10 off discount on anything inside...except chipotle, the coffee spot, and the fudgery unfortunately. I wonder why they're excluded. Honestly thought all the restaurants were closed at 8pm on a weekday because there was no one around. Very off-putting! After an employee watched us look for someone behind the counter, she finally offered to get someone for Cogan's. Maybe they're understaffed? Just weird to have no one around but being "open". Love all the seating inside though.

I put in an order through Grubhub. The order was accepted, but then it was cancelled after 30 mins. All of a sudden, it was listed as closed on Grubhub. I checked its hour on Google and it was open. I called them and left a message, never received a response. I was disappointed with the way they operated.

First and foremost my buddy and I work at one of the restaurants located inside the waterside district. We closed for the evening and wanted to have a couple of drinks. PBR had a line wrapping around towards the front entrance so we decided to go inside the main area to get a few drinks after pulling a double. We originally was gonna have the lady with the sliver and black hair be our bartender. But she straight up ignored us and avoided eye contact with me. I'm telling y'all right now if you're not white she will not be engaging with you. She didn't even greet us. Just asked us what we wanted like we were a bother to her. My friend asked for watermelon flavored vodka, she says "we ain't got it" and then pointed to the bar and walked away from us and ignored us for 2 songs. Gave the bar one last chance with a different older gentleman on the other side of the circle. We were promptly greeted with a smile and most of all we felt welcomed. He made the drinks perfectly!!! He was engaging, it didn't feel forced. Honestly I would hire the guy at my job no lie! If it wasn't for this older gentleman this review would've been zero stars if I could help it. I don't know what you guys are teaching your younger bartenders but you should tell them to not judge based off of skin tone. So little miss African American with the two tone hair style. You missed out a $20 tip on a $35 tab. I know what it's like working in the industry, I've been in it for 16 years now. You don't treat customers this way that's how you miss out on money and more likely to get a bad review. So thank you Sliver Fox(older gentleman bartender) you made our night great and you were able to remember which drink was what when you got side track by another customer. Keep up the great work, I hope I made your night worth it! Sliver Fox gets 5 stars in my book...and ONLY him!

Fun place to hang out with friends either in the food court type area or outside on the numerous sitting options. Definitely an upgrade for waterside/ downtown.

I wasn't really sure what exactly this place was. I wish someone who worked there would've explained to us how it worked. Apparently you go and get your food from where ever you'd like inside the water side and bring it back to your table in the Market. They have oysters and I think that's it. Maybe like a shrimp cocktail or something. Not much. It's pretty much just a sitting area with a small bar you can buy beer at. It's neat I guess. I just wish the staff would've been more helpful and explain to us what exactly it was. They were all sitting in the dinning room coke'n & joke'n so they weren't much help at all. I guess if you're waiting for someone this would be the place to just sit and wait for them.

Great food, great beer, great service! Everyone was really helpful. I ordered the tuna taheti salad from the Luk Fu place. It was delicious! Great serving size. There's also pizza, sandwiches, wings, sushi bowls, paninis, and chipotle available. Plus cup cakes and fudge for dessert. There's also a little arcade available to play games after you eat!

Ok took from May 28!till today when I walked in to get the gift cards I was promised. Wow. Long wait. Just went to the bathroom down stairs near Guy Feris resturant part. 14 toilets. And one 2 where clean. What the hell. Is 5:18pm No Reason for them to be so nasty.

I truly love the fact that downtown Norfolk has a place such as this. The concept of the cafeteria/atrium is pretty cool. This I the right place for hanging out and to enjoy time with your family. However some of these restaurants still need some work in areas such as customer service. There are many food joints to choose from but they can get pricey!

Variety!!! Thats what its all about! Lots to choose from, clean facilities, and they even have live acoustic entertainment! Tons of tv's and one big gigantic screen on the wall! They still have The Fudgery!!! It looks like more to come!

More lake a food court in a mall. Fast food trying to be upscale. Don't come as a family or for good food. The place is dirty the help doesn't help. Extremely loud. No napkins on tables. No plates so food was raw other stuff burnt all cold. This place is the worst

I was going to order a meal, but judging by how long it took for me to get a beer, I decided against it. Tough spot to be a bartender I'm sure, however I was easily there for 10 mins before being served...after the person next to me was finally placing an order.

Been there many times before and it was a mad house. To my surprise this trip wasn't busy at all for a Friday night. We took a friend who came in for the weekend and we enjoyed our time. Started out at Bluemoon for dinner and a couple of drinks. Service there was great, food was okay didn't have many food items on the menu but everything we ate we liked. Staff was friendly. Then our friend noticed how you could drink through out, so we went to the many part of waterside. The band (The rockets) was playing music that you could jam out too, music we knew the crowd seemed to enjoyed them as well due to people dancing and singing. The drinks wasn't over price, bartenders was quick and knowledgeable of their bar. Only negative I saw that night was the restrooms, one of the stalls was coming off the wall, floors was sticky. Also it started raining outside and there wasn't a place to stand outside the door for you and your group to wait on you Uber to arrive and try and stay dry. The valet person was soaked and cold. Maybe a heater to keep everyone warm and expand banner over the sidewalks so the guests don't get soaking wet.

Terrible service!!! I'm watching a bartender with half a dozen customers actively ignore everyone. You've got some work to do Norfolk

Not Impressed with The LocAL at ALL. It is a sandwich/deli shop around the corner from the main entrance/Carolina Cupcakes. My co-workers and I stopped by during our lunch break. We decided to try The LocAL. I ordered the $12 meatball sub. There were 3 smaller-than-ping-pong meatballs on my sub, that had a "dash" of Parmesan cheese and a smothering of sauce. It came with a pickle spear. I cut into the meatballs, and 2 of the 3 meatballs were undercooked (completely pink inside). When I informed the line cook, they said to pick another sandwich because it would take about 30 minutes for them to bake new meatballs. I choose the French dip instead. The sandwich was again smothered with cheese, but had no flavor. The meat has an "iridescent" sheen on it, which was not what I wanted to see. At this point I was so hungry, I didn't care. I took three bites, and threw the rest away. I ordered fries as a side ($4), and they were undercooked/fried and very oily. I also ordered a bottle of water ($3). My entire lunch was $21. The prices for the drinks were NOT listed. My friend ordered a Coke, and it was in a can (like the one you get from a vending machine), and it was $3. Not only was the food horrible, but the service was slow and unorganized. It also doesn't help with the employees make negative comments about the prices and the food as well. I should have taken their comments as a warning.

I went here on May 2nd with my wife. We were given tickets to eat at the various places to eat. We walked in and couldn't hear a thing that was being said as the tickets were given to us. We asked another waitress/hostess ( couldn't really tell ) how the tickets were supposed to work. We were told a number would be given to us and a light up number board would show the same number and that would be our way to know that our food was ready. So we decided to sit down at one of the restaurants after being told we could order food and be able to sit with our child. We went towards the back of the restaurant to get away from the loud music. We noticed they had outside seating and asked if that was available, we were told it was available but no food could be ordered at all whether we sat inside or outside because it was a training event only. We turned back to the waitress and asked if she could explain why we were told we could order food and now we were being told that no food was available at the establishment. We were again told it was a training event and no food was available. With that we walked out into the main bar area and looked around but decided to leave instead. The Market seems to be extremely unorganized and not at all thought out. Even the mall food court is more organized than this is as of May 2nd.