Best Virginia Beach Businesses

I love a good hot dog.

HOWEVER!  I hate a bad hot dog.

I really like the kind of hot dog that has that little crunch when biting into the skin instead of the slimy steamed things you get at a lot of places.

Okay, I used to go to this place that was about 10 miles from my home just to get a good hot dog in Virginia Beach.  That is a long drive through terrible traffic just to get a bite to eat.

Thankfully there is a new place near my home called Pappy’s Hot Dogs and it is awesome!!!

They are located at 1253 Nimmo Parkway and have been open for just a couple of months but they are already getting a regular crowd coming in which says a lot about the quality of the food and the great service.

Pappy seems to like his young women so the scenery from the servers ain’t bad either!

But I digress.  I go there for the hot dogs.  They have other things as well and they are all very good but I usually stick with my fav… The HOT DOG!

And, another big favorite of mine is the crushed ice they use in the drinks.  I love me some crushed ice!!!

So, if you have the hankering for a good hot dog and want it fast, fresh, and with a pretty smile, Pappys is the place to go.

Hopefully I’ll be adding a printable coupon here soon once I speak with the owner so check back often.

 What could be better than a little skinny dip on a hot summer day?

 A large Skinny Dip with chocolate sauce and whipped cream!

C’mon, you know chocolate puts everything over the edge, and there’s plenty of it at 1725 Laskin Road’s Skinny Dip frozen yogurt, along with dozens of other incredible toppings. . This place is awesome. I have to warn you though, if you end up going, you won’t be able to resist many more trips to this place.

I find myself coming up with excuses to go out of my way to do business in this part of Virginia Beach so I can stop in and sample some new flavors.

If you were around in the late 80’s you’ll remember all the frozen yogurt shops that popped up all over the place and then seemed to disappear with the shoulder pads and parachute pants. But now they’re popping up again and they’re better than ever because they’re self serve.

Skinny Dip’s got the best flavors and the most toppings.  The variety is amazing. There are usually about eight flavors a day. You can sample as many flavors as you’d like. Just grab a mini cup and pull the lever.

If you’re like me, you’ll have a hard time deciding, but that’s okay. Put as many different flavors in your cup as you want. That’s the beauty of the self-serve concept. And I have to admit, I kind of like trying to get that perfect swirly twist in my cup.

At Skinny Dip there’s a bar filled with a large variety of fruits, cakes, nuts and candies. Sauces and syrups too. I’m always drawn to the long row of topping dispensers mounted on the wall filled with cereals, chips, granola, candy… everything you can imagine.

The kids always come up with the craziest concoctions.  Birthday Cake Batter yogurt topped with gummy bears, sprinkles, M & M’s and Hershey’s syrup. Okay, I’m not recommending it, but they have a ball. I’m a bit more conservative with my favorites. I usually go for the chocolate flavors or mint varieties. The tangy and tart flavors like pina colada or mango are favorites too. I like mini chocolate chips, nuts or granola on those. 

Another great thing that sets Skinny Dip apart from some of the other froyo places is their stores are bigger and provide plenty of seating, which is nice when you’re walking in with a family, group of friends or a team. And I don’t know about you, but standing or walking with my dessert is just not acceptable. I’ve got to sit and savor the experience. I’m that much of a frozen yogurt foodie. So you can trust me when I say Skinny Dip is the best.

I guarantee everyone will find something they like here. There is always a sugar free option, and they’ve got soy yogurt for the vegans. Lactose free yogurt too! Oh, and something that is really appreciated by our family is that the ingredients in all the flavors is readily available. Our youngest daughter has numerous food allergies and we rarely go out to eat. She’s never had ice cream from a parlor for fear of cross contamination.

But at Skinny Dip they have allergen free yogurt options for her. What a treat! One day I saw a sign on a machine that warned customers that the last flavor in it contained nut. I’m glad Skinny Dip is looking out for us. We’ll go back again and again. It’s fun to see what new flavors will be featured that we haven’t tried yet.

Drive down any major street these days and you’re bound to see a Chinese place every block or two, but most of these are counter or buffet service with the same old menu times over and over. If you want real, authentic Chinese food you need to go to Peking Duck Inn at 5204 Fairfield Shopping Center. It’s the best Chinese food in the area.

You can tell they have a lot of regulars (including myself) because the owner is often seen greeting customers by name and having familiar conversations with them at the tables. This is a family run place and it shows in the pride they take with their service and food quality.

Dishes have real flavor, unlike what you find in your run of the mill fast food Chinese. At Peking Duck Inn it’s the real deal; tasty, flavorful, meals with fresh ingredients and interesting combinations.

When I dine with a group we always start with the House Special Soup to share.  It comes to the table in a large pot loaded with vegetables, meats and homemade wontons in a savory broth. It is SO good. I love the variety of dishes offered at Peking Duck Inn, and what is really nice is they will customize them for you if you have a special request. For instance I can ask for it to be extra spicy or without mushroom or no MSG.

I love when the food comes to the table piping hot. In fact, there have been times when all the food doesn’t come at exactly the same time because they don’t want their food sitting under a warmer waiting on other items. They get it out to you as soon as it comes out of the wok.

The portion size is great; always enough to share, which I enjoy at a Chinese restaurant. Everyone can sample a different dish family style. Presentation is nice too, which I find very important. I can’t wait to dig in when I see those bright veggies and quality meat.

And the sauces aren’t thick and gooey like what I’ve seen at other places.  Some of my favorites are the Eggplant in Garlic Sauce, Grandfather Chicken and any of the seafood dishes. Trust me, it’s all good. You can’t go wrong.

And don’t forget their signature dish, the Peking Duck. You can’t get this dish everywhere so take advantage of trying it at a place that gets it right. It’s the best. Crispy skin, juicy meat and delicious sauce. 

If you want to experience and extra special night of dining, make reservations for their annual Chinese New Year Celebration Dinner in January or February. It’s spectacular.  For one price they serve you numerous courses throughout the evening. It’s a wonderful way to sample many different dishes and experience the culture.

Here’s a “little” theater with BIG talent and a whole lot of heart. This local community theater, located in a small residential area at 24^th Street and Barberton Drive, is a gem of a place.

If you haven’t seen a show here, check out their website or give them a call to see what’s playing. They offer shows year round, which include comedies, dramas, classics and usually one musical a season. They’ve been doing this for over 60 years and it’s all community based and run by volunteers.

I think some people might worry that with it not being a “professional” theater you run the risk of amateur productions.

Not true.

Trust me, you’ve got to give it a try. I will admit I was a little nervous about trusting the talents for a musical production on a small community stage, but I was pleasantly surprised when I went to my first musical at LTVB last year. I took my 10 year old to see  “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, “ and we both thoroughly enjoyed it.  The acting was fantastic and the singing and dancing wonderful. Our area has a lot of talent!

The benefit of going to a small theater like LTVB is every seat in the house is good. Chairs are comfortable and you’ve got the legroom you need. It’s super easy to make reservations. I call the box office and tell them what night and how many tickets I need.

I don’t even need to give a credit card or pay in advance. I pay when I show up at the performance. My reservation holds my spot. And the ticket prices are the greatest. You could spend hundreds of dollars on the Broadway shows at Chrysler and go broke.

 At LTVB ticket prices range from $5.00 for a child to $17.00 for adults. They’ve got discounts for matinee shows and for students, seniors and military. It really is a bargain. One reason I love the prices is because I’m a lot more comfortable taking my young children to a show when I’m not sure if they’re going to be able to sit through the whole show or whether they will like it. It’s a great way to expose your kids to live theater without the steep ticket prices.

Live theater is such a treat.  If you haven’t been to LTVB you must go. It’s a fun night out. Great for a date night or a mom’s night out or a family outing -just depends on the show. 

 Another wonderful thing about LTVB is it’s got a family feel. Everyone is friendly and has a real love for the theater. Anybody is welcome to audition for their shows, even if you’ve never been on stage. So whether you’re on the stage, behind the set or in the audience I guarantee you won’t be disappointed with this very special community theater.

What restaurant can we name as the best in Virginia Beach?