VIRGINIA BEACH – Let’s be honest: There can never be too many food choices, nor can there be too many seafood restaurants in an oceanside resort city.
That said, David Edelen and Jerry Flowers, the duo that brought the Eurasia Cafe to Virginia Beach 11 years ago, recently opened another restaurant with the catchy name of The Atlantic on Pacific.
As might be surmised from a name that includes two oceans, the restaurant primarily focuses on being a raw bar and seafood establishment. Plus it is located on Pacific Avenue not far from the Atlantic Ocean.
Edelen said he and Flowers had been looking for a location for a couple of years, and when the spot at 3004 Pacific came open, they knew it was perfect.
“We wanted the name to semi-describe what we were, and we wanted it to be applicable to a second location if possible,” Edelen said. “Our chef, David Brue, actually came up with the name when we were having a staff-wide brainstorming session.”
He describes the raw bar and eatery as a contemporary oyster and seafood hall with a vibrant atmosphere and an ambitious wine and cocktail list.
The prices themselves are intended to be affordable.
“Most of our dishes are small plates. We designed the menu so that guests can sample a variety of different items while not breaking their bank, or their belt,” Edelen said.
Edelen said The Atlantic on Pacific serves local product whenever possible.
“We get clams and oysters from Tim Gorman on the Eastern Shore and Lynnhaven Oysters from the Lynnhaven River Oyster Company,” he said.
But they also serve product that is not unique to this area, such as snow crab and also Canadian oysters.
For those who are not fans of seafood there’s also hamburger and steak, as well as a pasta choice.
The cocktail menu features typical favorites including martinis and a Bloody Mary, but there’s also the Southside, a homage to Edelen’s Baltimore upbringing, and a Paloma, made using a Togarashi spiced rum.
“We feel that this restaurant fills a nice void in the Oceanfront scene and we can’t wait to fill the bellies of everyone in the area,” Edelen said.
The Atlantic on Pacific is open every day, 11 a.m. to Midnight.
