Hampton’s unique restaurants create a delicious culinary scene for all visitors and residents to enjoy. We’re taking you behind the scenes to learn more about the owners and chefs of our favorite places to dine. Come join the fun and follow along on this new series, The Magic Behind the Menu, as we discover all the best places to eat in Hampton.

Welcome to The Baker’s Wife + Bistro

Dine in style as you travel to The Baker’s Wife Bistro + Bar for your next date night, girls’ night, or celebration. Opened in January, Baker’s Wife is the newest restaurant to join a growing Phoebus. A French-inspired Bistro, their handcrafted menu features crowd favorites Duck L’Orange and Coquille St. Jacques, better known as seared scallops. Pair your meal with a variety of wine selections, and satisfy your sweet tooth with one of their delectable desserts. This new experience in Hampton will keep you coming back to try all of the chef’s new creations. 

Read on to learn more about The Baker’s Wife and the chef behind the menu: 

Meet Chef Dana Clark Epstein

The Baker’s Wife, Dana Epstein, is married to Phillip Epstein, the well known baker at The Grey Goose in Downtown Hampton. Together, the couple co-own The Grey Goose in Downtown Hampton and now The Baker’s Wife, a French-inspired restaurant. We sat down with Dana to learn more about her and her vision for the future of The Baker’s Wife. 

A graduate of Johnson & Wales University, with a degree in culinary arts, Dana has always had a passion for being in the kitchen. When creating a vision for Baker’s Wife, she wanted to introduce Hampton to French cuisine, which is found in many of our favorite meals. As The Baker’s Wife continues to grow and become recognized for its culinary talent, Dana hopes to see Baker’s Wife become an internship site for culinary students. 

When Dana is not at The Baker’s Wife or The Grey Goose she is soaking up the summer sun at Fort Monroe, and supporting local restaurants. We can’t wait to watch Baker’s Wife grow and see what the Epstein’s have planned next! 

Meet Chef Michael Koch

Creator of The Baker’s Wife menu, Chef Michael Koch took Dana’s vision for showcasing French cuisine to Hampton Roads. With this in mind, he crafted a menu with the French classics and The Baker’s Wife flair. With weekly specials, a changing menu, and upcoming brunch menus in the spring, Chef Michael will always have something unique and exciting for your dining experience. 

At a young age, Michael Koch found his love for cooking. He began working at Coastal Grill in Virginia Beach as a dishwasher, and soon moved his way up to sous chef. While at Coastal Grill he learned great techniques and how to run a restaurant successfully. As he began cooking for VIP visitors, a spark was lit inside and he never looked back. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of Virginia, he continues to hone his craft daily. 

In his free time, Michael loves to hang out with his wife, golf, surf, and play around in the kitchen. When asked his favorite dish to cook, he said a seafood omelet with crab or fresh seafood. We’re hoping to find this delicious dish on their Brunch menu this spring! Right now, his most popular dish is either the duck or scallops, but we think everything on the menu is delicious.

During our visit we enjoyed the Coq Au Vin, Salmon & Sorrel, Mussels, and the Pot de Chocolate, that melts in your mouth. We highly recommend each of these menu items when you dine at The Baker’s Wife Bistro + Bar.

As for the future, the sky’s the limit and Baker’s Wife is excited to share French Cuisine with Hampton. Make your reservation today for a delicious culinary experience!