VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Nothing beats the cold weather like a hot plate of food and a cozy space.
The first Virginia Beach Restaurant Week since the COVID-19 pandemic began offers dozens of options.
Esoteric sits on Virginia Beach Blvd. in the city's ViBe District. Staff members there tell News 3 they've seen a lot of support over the last 11 months, but Restaurant Week offers an opportunity to bring in some new faces.
"It gives us a lot of opportunity to show them what we're all about, which is service first," said Tory Siebels, General Manager for Esoteric.
The restaurant is named for a word that means 'understood or known by few,' but over the last few years, it's become known for its elevated food and unique drinks with an extensive craft beer menu.
"You got your bar style snacks but also your elegant entrees and stuff like that," said Executive Chef Brett McDaniel.
The Restaurant Week menu offers a $15, two-course lunch and a $35, three-course dinner featuring house-made items like tacos with duck or octopus, a pork chop, 24-hour brined half chicken and a sweet potato donut.
A $5 specialty cocktail, the Commonwealth, rounds it out.
Many of the ingredients come from the garden behind the restaurant or from other places in the ViBe District neighborhood.
Even the furniture was made nearby.
"Our tables are made by Benevolent Design (on 21st Street), so they did that. We use Three Ships Coffee (19th Street) here," said Siebels, to name just a couple of Esoteric's partnerships.
It's a great example of how supporting a local restaurant can also help support other local businesses.
2021 Virginia Beach Restaurant Week runs through Saturday, February 6. Click HERE for a full list of participating restaurants.
