Sometimes the most extraordinary culinary experiences come wrapped in the most unassuming packages, and Big Sam’s Inlet Cafe & Raw Bar in Virginia Beach is the living, breathing proof of that timeless truth.
Nestled along the Rudee Inlet where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Chesapeake Bay, this unpretentious waterfront eatery might not scream “destination dining” at first glance, but locals know better—and now, so do you.
The approach to Big Sam’s feels like you’re in on a secret that tourists haven’t quite discovered yet, despite its decades-long presence in Virginia Beach.
As you pull up to the modest building adorned with those distinctive tiki-style wooden carvings standing guard at the entrance, you might wonder if your GPS has led you astray…