Crudo Nudo Makes the Hot List | August 2019

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Source: The Virginian Pilot; August 13, 2019

This is not a list of the best five restaurants in Hampton Roads. Rather, it’s a recurring feature in which we list places we’re most excited about this month — a great new restaurant you should try, a special event at an old favorite, or a hidden gem.

It’s designed to answer a simple question: Where should you go out to eat this week?

1. Only at Renee’s

2181 Upton Dr., Virginia Beach; 757-427-1222; facebook.com/onlyatrenees

In Red Mill, Only at Renee’s is a sit-down Filipino spot with Pampangan regional dishes rarely seen in local restaurants, vibrant fruit drinks and what we believe to be the best lumpia in Hampton Roads: impossibly porky, flavorful and always fresh-made. Try to go during off hours, though: This is a busy restaurant, and the kitchen can back up.

2. Crudo Nudo

Customers patiently wait as food is brought out to their tables during the grand opening of JT's Bar and Grill in downtown Newport News on Saturday.
Customers patiently wait as food is brought out to their tables during the grand opening of JT’s Bar and Grill in downtown Newport News on Saturday. (Daniel Linhart)

727 W. 21st St., Norfolk; 757-351-6080; crudonudo.com

The crudo and pasta spot is taking on a new life, augmenting its menu with classic Spanish tapas and an entree menu with clams, charred Spanish octopus, skewers and seared tuna. Lunch includes bocadillo Spanish sandwiches, pasta and bowls.

3. JT’s Bar and Grill 

3301 Washington Ave., Suite 110, Newport News; 757-223-1051, jtbarandgrill.com

Sande McLaughlin eats sea salt brickle with caramel swirl ice cream in a waffle cone inside Blue Cow Ice Cream Co. on July 16, 2019.
Sande McLaughlin eats sea salt brickle with caramel swirl ice cream in a waffle cone inside Blue Cow Ice Cream Co. on July 16, 2019. (Sarah Holm)
The JV burger at Salmich's is a 50/50 mix of chorizo and fresh-ground beef.
The JV burger at Salmich’s is a 50/50 mix of chorizo and fresh-ground beef. (Matthew Korfhage/staff)

On a tree-lined street in downtown Newport News, JT’s Bar and Grill serves well-seasoned burgers and some seriously good wings. Ask for the JT-style, and receive all six of the restaurant’s wing sauces combined. Those sauces don’t clash, somehow: They add up to a very good thing.

4. Blue Cow Ice Cream 

2817 Shore Dr., Suite 111, Virginia Beach; 757-937-6698, bluecowicecream.com

Amid a new wave of artisan ice cream, our favorite in a blind tasting was the new Virginia Beach location of Roanoke’s Blue Cow. That was on the strength, in part, of a blueberry and goat cheese ice cream flavor that our tasters said made them feel all grown-up while gorging themselves like children.

5. Salmich’s

1371 E. Little Creek Road, Norfolk, 757-587-7205, salmichs.com

Just … eat their burgers. Thank us later. But please don’t send us the medical bills.

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