We are only a few weeks away from the notorious “Black Friday.” Although you might think that we would have learned by now to shop early, the fact remains that the Friday after Thanksgiving is the shopping day for the Christmas season.
Although, I’m one of those people who shop year ’round, I sometimes go out on Black Friday just to watch people hustle and bustle in a mad shopping flurry. However, there is one thing about Black Friday that never changes. All that shopping tends to make one hungry. Therefore, it’s good to know where to stop for a rest a delicious meal in Hampton, Virginia.
With Macys and J.C. Penney still open in the area undergoing renovation for the Hampton Town Center, it is a safe bet that a few hundred shoppers will be roaming the Coliseum corridor looking for food. Here are the five places I can highly recommend in the Hampton shopping area.
Steak & Ale is a great place to go whether you just want a salad or are hungry enough for prime rib. It is located in the construction area for Hampton Town Center, just off Coliseum Drive in Hampton.
The atmosphere is relaxing and comfortable in a sort of old English pub décor. The service is generally pretty good and the food, on the whole, is outstanding.
The luncheon menu is reasonably priced, ranging from $6.99 and up. The salad bar is always fresh and their bread is absolutely amazing!
Kelly’s Tavern is also located on Coliseum Drive near its intersection with Mercury. This relatively new restaurant is also very comfortable in a stunning Irish pub theme with deep, rich woods, tin tiles, and cozy booths.
The service at Kelly’s is good; sometimes outstanding, but the food here is the major focus and it deserves to be. I personally love their soup and salad. Their French onion soup is scrumptious and their salads are always fresh and crisp. My husband, on the other hand, is a fan of their sandwiches, which are also quite good.
I would venture a guess, however, that you can’t go wrong with virtually anything on Kelly’s menu, which includes fajitas, steak, chicken and more. Prices range from $3.49 to and up.
Panera Bread is located across from Coliseum Crossing on Coliseum Drive in Hampton. It is a highly popular restaurant for those who prefer some lighter food fare or who need to consume some sugar and/or coffee to make it through the shopping day.
Although Panera can get crowded around noon, those who stop in between 11:00 a.m. and noon or after 2:00 p.m. will likely find a good seat. And, let’s face it, it is worth standing in line and waiting for a table just to have the opportunity to eat one of Panera’s wonderfully fresh sandwiches or delicious hot soups.
Even if all you want is a cup of coffee and a tasty dessert treat, Panera is the place to go. And it isn’t expensive with prices ranging from $3.99 and up.
Johnny Carinos Italian Restaurant & Grill is a delightful place to eat any time of the year. It is located in the shopping center with Lowes, B.J. Discount Store, and Bass Pro Shop and just across the street from Burlington Coat Factory, on Power Plant Drive, just off Mercury Boulevard in Hampton.
With a diverse menu that includes both Italian and American food, Carinos is the perfect place to take a Black Friday respite. The open, warm and friendly atmosphere is delightful and the staff is both friendly and helpful.
The food at Carinos is literally “to die for.” My favorite dish, the cedar planked salmon, is melt-in-your-mouth delicious. My husband loves anything pasta and particularly any type of Carinos’ pasta. The prices are also reasonable at $6.99 and up.
Last, but my no means least, is Lonestar Steakhouse. This restaurant sits on the opposite end of the same shopping center where Carinos is located.
As steakhouses go, Lonestar is definitely one of the best. The atmosphere is relaxing and fun and the staff are generally quite good. But it is the food that deserves attention here as well. It is always served piping hot and delicious.
Lonestar’s menu offers a little bit of everything, from salads to steak and lobster. Their luncheon menu is outstanding and offers a great cross section of the overall menu. Prices range from $5.99 and up.
Shopping in Hampton may be a bit limited while the new town center is under construction. However, those that choose to stick close to home definitely have some of the Peninsula’s best restaurants to select from. None of these five can be beat. So shop till you drop and then relax and have some delicious food. You will most definitely deserve it!
