The Story
At Dredge, we love to pair fresh food from the land and sea with bright cocktails, refreshing beers, and unique wines in a comfortable, but vibrant atmosphere. Our passion for food has earned us the title, "Best Restaurant of Virginia," and "Best Chef of Virginia," from Chesapeake Bay Magazine in 2020, as well as many other awards. We opened Dredge in 2019 and prior to that, we operated Byrd's Seafood truck which earned the title, "Best Food Truck of Virginia," from 2017-2020.
We are a small, family-owned business. Owners and operators, Bryan and Nichole Byrd, are hands-on in their approach to running the restaurant and are always present. The pair live in Irvington with their young son and two dogs. They truly love the beauty of the area and the people. Running Dredge is a labor of love and they try their best to ensure guests have a wonderful experience.
Dredge is an homage to Bryan's late stepfather, Ray Reynolds, who worked as a waterman and greatly influenced Bryan's passion for cooking and his love for the local watermen's way of life. Chef Bryan has 25+ years of experience in the restaurant industry. He started working in the restaurant industry as a teen and fell in love with cooking and the fast pace of the restaurant life. His five years spent working in Key West, Florida have made a huge influence on his style of cooking and menu. Bryan says, "Food is my passion - my art is creating a delicious and surprising menu that will overwhelm your every sense."