Codex should be put on everyone's list of "to go" spots in Downtown Norfolk. Everything is wonderful from the food, the service & the attention to detail. The restaurant, which is located in the heart of Granby Street's restaurant & theater row, has block walls giving the feel of a converted warehouse space. But it imbibes a beautiful combination retro and modern decor. It has the feel of a happy place. Downtown Norfolk Restaurant Week was the perfect time to try a new spot with my son visiting. He picked the restaurant. I'm so happy he chose Codex. Entering while my son drove to a parking garage, I was greeted by a smiling host who was very helpful with the door because of the strong cold winds blowing like a wind tunnel down Granby Street. Seating at a small table in the back near the bar was perfect. We were greeted by our server who was friendly and attentive to our every need. The restaurant week menu she brought looked as awesome as it was. When our drinks arrived my Vodka Martini glass took my breath away. It was served in a glass that was exactly like the stemware I inherited from my Mother & Aunt, the depression & WWII generation. They used that piece as a parfait glass. I mentioned it to my server, who indicated they had gotten them at a thrift store. So it was probably the same stemware. How awesome! My son ordered the Phony Negroni. We began with an addition to our menu choices: Oysters raw with citrus mignonette. We never dine without oysters if they're on the menu's. They were good & perfectly shucked. But I didn't like the taste of Maryland Oysters as much as our briny Virginia Oysters. I'm an Oyster snob. :) There were a number of appetizers that sounded appetizing. I was leaning towards the Roasted Cauliflower with vaduvan, garlic lime yogurt, mint, chilies, honey. After mentioning to the server the three I was considering, she said the Cauliflower was her favorite. It was an amazing combination of tastes. My son ordered the Mussels with tomatoes, chorizo, anaheim peppers, & focaccia. He loved it. The focaccia bread was huge! My entree was Scallops, pan seared with cauliflower puree, braised fennel, apple, sea trout caviar, and potato crisps. It was absolute perfection. A mixture of the ingredients, including the scallops, topped with the potato crisps was so much tastier than scallops presented atop the other items. My son had what they call the Visiting Fish, much more eye catching than Fish of the Day or Fresh Catch. His was Tuna served with kobucha polenta cake, jalapeno cream, burnt saybayon & confit leeks. We both chose the Olive Oil Cake with lemon curd for dessert. It was extremely good & didn't have an overly sweet taste, which was perfect. I'm not a fan of sweet desserts. Codex is an awesome dining choice. It has been added to my list of favorite restaurants. read more

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Came into codex on a very cold January night of restaurant week and was blown away by our experience! The servers do a great job of explaining the restaurant week menu and were very open and knowledgeable about their menu. Codex itself isn't much, very much modern and industrial but still finds a way to feel warm. Our food was next. level. We really enjoyed our appetizers- the pimento cheese dip and the oyster mushrooms. I'm STILL thinking about the oyster mushrooms. Our entrees were good too! Very different in portions- I only had three scallops but my husband had a good sized steak with a PILE of fries. I was happy with my meal but something to note for sure. The sticky toffee pudding. I am speechless. Some of the best dessert I've ever had, but like that doesn't even do it justice. I can't believe we've had Codex in our neighborhood for so long and I've been sleeping on it. Don't make the same mistake as me! read more

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A friend and I came here tonight for dinner. She made the reservation through Resy, had a confirmation and the restaurant said they didn't have her name on the list. The host was able to accommodate us. Weird, but no problem. (Not the first time this has happened with Resy). The place is LOUD. If it's just 3-4 tables of people then it's do-able but with the acoustics of the floor, the scraping of the chairs...yikes. Our server was sweet and refilled waters in a good amount of time. She checked on us a decent amount of time also. We ordered two mocktails to start and both really enjoyed them. On to the food! We shared the cauliflower, which for $14 was shockingly small. Good flavor but for 4 florets, wow. The menu is not extensive, so for the options offered, nothing truly stood out. We also both had the steak frites. The steak just didn't do it for me. I also ordered medium well and it came out well. She ordered medium and it came out medium well. Sigh. The fries though were outstanding. So, 50% of our meal was good and with the mandatory addition of 20% gratuity we walked out of there paying $70 with a rather mediocre taste in our mouths. Nothing inherently wrong about Codex, just not really worth a second visit for me. read more

Codex's Sunday Brunch was a special treat while visiting Norfolk! It only happens the first Sunday of the month. We were told it's first come first served, but now it's reservations only. They were able to accommodate us but we're on it next time! read more

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Farm to table in downtown Norfolk! 4.5/5 stars overall, reservations recommended but bar seating available. Onion tart was DYNAMITE ($13, 6/5 stars) and I dislike onions; it's a must get! Thai salad was excellent ($13, 5/5 stars). Fresh ingredients including carrots, onions, cabbage, peanuts and cilantro. Brussels ($13, 6/5 stars) were top 5 all time; seriously, perfect char yet soft on the inside, with tangy and mildly sweet finish. Burgers with fingerlings were pretty good ($14+$4, 3/5 stars); I'd recommend the burger from Le Grande over theirs but it was a two patty, made to order burger. Perry was a very nice server; our apps dropped before our drinks but the gin cocktail presentation was worth it. FYI, 20% gratuity automatically included on all parties. Gender neutral bathrooms onsite. Classic parking challenges, onstreet id you can find it or pay to park garage. Indoor and hybrid outdoor (counter w 4 chairs next to sidewalk) seating; read more

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Not our first time, and won't be our last! Stopped in for a quick date night meal before seeing a movie at the Naro. Started (after being greeted by the lovely staff!) with a Grizzlet (a gin/vodka and fruit based drink) and a Firing Squad (their take on a margarita) and both were fantastic. We weren't super hungry by the time we rolled in, so we got four apps: a delicious prosciutto and onion tart, oyster mushrooms fried tempura style, a wonderful Thai salad that my partner raved about, and some toothsome focaccia bread. All are staples of the menu and well worth it!! read more

Codex - Oyster mushrooms not pictured, but from left to right there's the bread, the Thai salad, and the tart. - New American Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Once again, Codex never disappoints. We stopped in for some cocktails and small plates before a movie. It's the perfect date night spot, intimate and delicious! Both cocktails were creative and refreshing. The four small plates/apps we shares were all great. The Thai peanut salad was SO good and probably my favorite, the fried oyster mushrooms were perfectly fried and flavorful, and the bread and butter was so well made. Don't miss this downtown Norfolk gem!! read more

Codex - Sticky toffee pudding - New American Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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Codex is a small, casual spot off of Granby that offers Brunch on the 1st Sunday of the month and let me tell you, if you aren't there by 9:30am waiting outside in line, you probably won't get a table when they open at 10am. Thankfully, my friend and I were able to be seated at the last two, available seats at the bar to dine in. Since the place was packed, we were encouraged to order our food and drinks at the same time. The Baklava Focaccia peaked our interest so we decided to have them bring that out first. We also decided on the Corned Beef Hash, Classic French Toast and of course, Espresso Martinis. The Baklava Focaccia was baked perfectly and paired wonderfully with the pistachios and sweet drizzle but there was a particular flavor that I tasted that I wasn't a fan of. The Corned Beef Hash was by far, the best I've ever had!!! I absolutely loved the over easy fried egg on top of the corned beef, potatoes, onions and peppers! It was perfection!!! The Classic French Toast was also just as delicious!!! Unfortunately, we were underwhelmed with the Espresso Martinis along with the size. They were served in what looked to be a miniature cup and wasn't worth $14, in our opinion. Overall, I would highly recommend stopping for brunch at Codex. The food was amazing!!! Sitting at the bar was a bit tight and the service could've been better but with how busy it was, we understood. Codex has Tuesday Pasta Nights and Wednesday Burger Nights so I plan on returning to try their other menu items as well!!! read more

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From start to finish, this was a wonderful experience! The overall ambiance inside is very comfortable, upscale but not stiff! The wait staff were all so friendly and accommodating. The food itself was all hot and incredibly packed with flavors and came out hot. I would definitely come back for the Burger Night and take advantage of a farm to table style menu. My brother also enjoyed the cocktails and their dessert for his birthday! read more

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We tried a few dishes and two cocktails. The cocktails were 10/10, my favorite was the Jubilee. We honestly weren't crazy about the food. The ambience was cool, the dishes were plated beautifully and the staff were friendly. Parking was difficult. read more

Codex - Broccoli Caesar Salad, Potato Fingerlings, Pork Belly - New American Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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The food is outstanding, the service is fun and friendly, and the restaurant is super cute. (only issue is parking!!! yikes!) My husband and i split two appetizers (the pork belly and the onion tart.) Both were so full of flavor and served piping hot. We could have eaten the entire tart! We split the rockfish for our main dish, and our server delightfully had it spilt on two plates for us. It, too, was hot, and it was cooked to perfection. We will definitely be back-it's perfectly located for a meal before a show at Chrysler Hall! read more

Codex - Rockfish entree...split in half - New American Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Once a month, there's a brunch that goes down in Norfolk on the first Sunday of each month at Codex apparently it's very popular. I heard about it while at another brunch a couple weeks prior. I was informed that it is a must go to little did I know how popular it was. They did not tell me that I should get there early to get a spot in line prior to them opening. It was a little intimidating when you arrive. The line was very long. It went down the street probably about four or five businesses. Soon as the door open, they started letting people in. It filled up very quickly. We were very lucky me and my friend that is we got the last two open seats at the bar. We started off as we typically do ordering espresso martinis. They were a little on the pricey side at $14 a glass. The glass was very small. Honestly it probably was the smallest espresso martini I've had while out enjoying espresso martinis, however it is packed with flavor! Our waiter informed us that we should order all our food at one time considering how busy it is we started our meal off with like a breakfast appetizer so we decided to try the baklava focaccia bread. It sounded extremely interesting. It tasted good. There's some sort of spice in there I can't really put my finger on it that I'm not a fan of. I had to try it though cause I am a fan of focaccia bread. I did take the leftover home and ended up turning it into a very good French toast. Moving on, I ordered the French toast typical brunch item for me to order. I also had to order the home fries and bacon. The French toast was very big portion. The bread was very large, but very good. I loved how crispy the outside was had lots of flavor. The bacon was just your average bacon nothing special. The home fries were OK, but they were on the cold side. They had peppers and onions in it which I do like which gives it a lot of flavor. While sitting at the bar, we got to chat with quite a few of the regulars that come quite frequently some of them come for dinner and some come on the weekend for brunch. They really enjoy the vibe there. They also love the food I was told I need to go back and try their burger night and their pasta tonight so they're on my radar to go back so look out for another review when I go back for burger night which is coming very soon. So if you're wondering if I'll go back again to this place, of course I will. I have to try their burger night. . read more

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Codex gives a great culinary experience. The atmosphere is very calm and inviting. I came here with a friend. Our app of choice was the scallion funnel cake which was unique and very tasty. I chose the steak frites as my entree and those were some of the best fries I've ever had. The steak was cooked perfectly and came with a decadent butter on top. Finally we shared the sticky toffee pudding for dessert and all I can say is wow! Definitely up there for dessert in the area. My only request would be more ice cream on top. My friend and I really enjoyed our dinner here. It was a great treat. read more

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This was by far the best experience of my visit to Norfolk. Everything from ambiance & service to food was stellar. I was in with a group of five and we were able to be setup with a last minute reservation. Our server was top notch! I wish I caught her name to give her a proper shout out. On arrival, she brought some wines for our group to taste and quickly had us setup with drinks. Since we were lucky to catch restaurant week, we sampled our way around the price fixe menu. We ordered a house made focaccia for the table and it was well enjoyed. Beyond that we had brussels and the prosciutto onion tart. The tart was excellent! A great touch of savory and sweet. For the main entree, I can't speak highly enough about the spaghetti and clams. The pasta was cooked perfectly and the sauce was light while flavorful. We had all of the three desserts on offer and the table agreed that the olive oil cake was best! But of course, everything was a delight. I highly recommend Codex and I will definitely be returning next time I'm in Norfolk. read more

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Being a regular at Codex for two years, I enjoyed another stellar date night there. Reservations and early arrival are recommended due to parking challenges and busy weekend nights. We started with a Grizzlet with gin and an Old Fashioned, followed by the must-try Thai peanut salad--fresh and flavorful. My medium-rare hanger steak with vinegar sauce was perfectly balanced, while my boyfriend's pork shoulder with corn and pearl couscous was tender and savory. The service was outstanding, making Codex a top choice for a special night out. Highly recommend! read more

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The Fett was absolutely fantastic. I'm usually not the biggest mushroom fan (it's a texture thing) but that pasta was clearly homemade by someone who knows what they were doing! The servers were all very friendly and the restaurant had a good plant and dim lit vibe. read more

Second time visiting Codex, it was far different from my first visit. The service was extremely slow. The water was not refilled. The charcoal chicken was extremely dry and overcooked. The vegetables were skimpy. There is a mandatory 20% on the check which does not reflect the quality of food or service. read more

Codex - Check out - New American Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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Great meals downtown! We walked from our hotel but parking in the area is mostly city garages. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable. The food was all solid, nothing the totally blew us away but still great. The crust on the prosciutto and onion tart was great. The Brussels were nicely prepared. read more

Great service and great food for my sisters birthday! We had 7 in our group and showed up 10 minutes before they opened for brunch. We were second in line on the sidewalk which grew to 15-20 before they even opened the doors at 10am. ***MARK YOUR CALENDARS!*** They only do brunch the 1st Sunday of each month!!! And it is SUPERB! The place has a great buzz with a homie atmosphere!! Food was rustic and delicious, there literally isn't a bad plate! We ordered almost everything on the menu between the 7 of us and the favorites were...EVERYTHING! read more

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Great food. Busy but was able to snag a seat at the front window bar. Enjoyed the food and the wine was great.

Codex serves excellent cocktails and the chef clearly knows their way around the kitchen. Desserts could use a little work, but otherwise the food is noteworthy. Servers are chill and check in often without being annoying. If you're dinning with folks that appreciate quality food that's a touch fancy, Codex is a great option. 4.1 stars. read more

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We had a lovely meal at Codex with excellent service by Laurel. Recommend the Brussels sprouts!

We happen to pass Codex as we were going to another restaurant but they were closed. So we decided to check Codex out. What a great choice. Food was great. We got the pimento and crackers, burger and sausage gravy biscuit with fried egg and a Mimosa for the table. Fantastic choices. Everything was delicious. Our server George was awesome. The music and ambiance was Everything we enjoy. Even got to speak with the Chef briefly. Looking forward to many more great times. read more

Went for brunch on Sunday for their collab with KoBros. Best meal I've had in Norfolk so far! We got the chocolate chip French toast, the brisket scramble, grits, and a pluot latte. Every single thing was amazing. I'm not a sweets-for-breakfast gal, but the French toast changed my life. A must go! read more

Codex - French toast, scramble, grits - New American Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

tl;dr. Eat here soon. This team is eventually going to be big fish in a bigger pond. ("Hello Michelin, have you tasted this food?") I dined with my husband and we shared everything. I recommend this approach so you can try more items. Cocktails. Old favorites, plus unusual flavor pairings that work amazingly well. Extraordinary food. I wanted to lick the plates. The prosciutto onion tart is all that others have claimed. There's some weird alchemy between the lightly dressed arugula on the side, the crunchy buttery crust, and the salty, unctuous onion and ham filling. It's much more than the sum of its parts. Cauliflower. Roasted and seasoned perfectly. I chased down every bit of the swipe of tangy (chèvre?) on the side of the bowl. Shiso leaves added an earthy floral note and fresh red chilis brought the heat. So good. Pork shoulder. Roasted a lovely bark brown, heavenly agrodolce sauce, and a melange of green beans, faro, and corn freshly sliced off the cob. I ate my share and sopped up every bit of the sauce (with in-house baked foccacia!). Dessert. Lemon olive oil cake. Moist, intense lemon flavor and fruity olive notes. Chocolate pot de crème. Rich, dark; ground pistachio accent. Very very good. Service. Stephanie was the best advocate for the food a chef could wish for. Attentive, cheerful , well informed, generous with samples, great with meal pacing. Ambiance. It's a casual place with a welcoming background hum. The attire was a mix of casual and "look nice for my date." I saw a wide range of ages and a family with a toddler. Again I say, go eat here soonest. So so good. read more

Our friends suggested having dinner at Codex because we were watching a show downtown, let me tell you we were not the only ones with this idea haha FOOD: I ordered the Fett, which is a classic dish at Codex, and it was pretty delicious. I personally didn't like the egg, I didn't end up eating it. We ordered drinks off their happy hour, so glad we made it. I tried their version of an espresso martini -- it tasted more like chocolate milk, and the portion was tiny. SERVICE: We should have known to make reservations, we thought maybe coming on a Tuesday night wouldn't need reservations, but I was wrong! We did get a table by the window, the wide one where we were sitting side-by-side. The seating situation wasn't ideal, but we know to make reservations next time. The food took a while to come out, too, I think they forgot to put in my Brussels sprouts. LOCATION: Not very big, seating is snug. The location is right off a main street! The vibes and atmosphere is fun. Will I come back? I'm interested in trying different food off their menu and drinks! read more

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FINALLY made it to Codex after having it on my to-try list for over a year. I consider myself an expert when it comes to the "best places in this area", but I now know that I was missing a top contender until last night. We didn't have reservations, but called at around 7:30 on a Saturday night in hopes that we could be squeezed in or potentially snag a seat at the bar. We lucked out and they had an opening so we dashed right over. Parking CAN be a bit of a hassle, so plan accordingly. Just like any of the other restaurants right in this area of Granby. I immediately loved the ambiance; from the garage-door-like entrance to the small touches in the bathroom that were just obviously well-thought-out, which I always appreciate. Service was wonderful. I'm sad we didn't catch our server's name but he was welcoming, knowledgeable and had great style! He gave awesome menu suggestions, kept our drinks full, and checked in often enough, but was never overbearing. He ended up leaving before we officially finished his meal, however he left us in other good hands. I will note: Codex automatically adds a 20% gratuity to your bill, no matter the size of your party. I personally have zero issue with this, but do find it necessary to mention. Let's get to the good stuff: the food. And dang, was it good. Started with the tempura-fried trumpet mushrooms. Loved them, would absolutely order again. We also got the Brussels as our second app, which didn't blow my mind, but they were tasty. Next time, I'm trying the Chicken Liver Tart. It sounded DELICIOUS. For entrees, we shared two dishes: The Fett & The Ribeye. Both were prepared to perfection. The Ribeye was absolutely one of the best I've ever had. Perfectly medium rare with a crispy exterior. Topped with the best sauce and a generous amount of mushrooms. The Fett was also delicious. I think this duo is what I would get every time... and I will surely be choosing my date accordingly. I could rave about the entrees for at least one more paragraph, but that would mean you might miss out on reading about their Sticky Toffee Pudding, which you actually must order. It's required. I think you might actually kick you out if you don't. Have I convinced you? Top 5 desserts I've ever ordered in a restaurant. I'll be back, Codex. I'll be back. read more

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It was a bit hard to find Codex along the packed with restaurants Granby Street, we missed it a couple of times even on foot! But once you find it, The atmosphere here at Codex is chic, modern and inviting. Lighting is key in setting the mood so wonderful that as you sit and wait for your order you do notice that the lights are dimmed to set the mood to just relax and enjoy your meal. My friend ordered the pimiento dip. I ordered the peach and goat cheese salad. Both dishes were stunning to look at and equally delicious. Service is wonderful, they come by often to fill your glass, asking if they can get you anything. The only thing I wish is that they have better selection of desserts! Such a nice upscale place should be able to offer unique end of meal experience so we all can linger a while longer. read more

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Great service, good cocktails, interesting menu. Not sure why these reviews "need to have 85 characters."

The Old Fashioned is sublime. Guy running the bar is a local treasure. In a world of two thumbs, he gets a hard third. read more

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Great spot that I went to for brunch today. We came out of a recommendation from a friend and it was a nice way to catch up. We got there early. A little before 10 am and we got in line as everyone started showing up. We were seated immediately and then received okay service. I would recommend this place in the future, but their brunches are only once a month so just pay attention to the timing. I haven't had their dinner but I am interested after how good the food was today. And they also add gratuity to the bill as well! read more

I believe that they did their best. I ordered the focaccia bread with butter, the chicken liver pate, the fried mushrooms, and the ribeye with Demi gaze. I also had a drink with gin and a cup of coffee. Dessert was the Toffee pudding. My favorite was the mushrooms and everything else was decent but nothing outstanding. I left the steak on the table because the sauce was too salty and I didn't like the flavor. The Gin cocktail was below average. The server was excellent with a pleasant attitude. The atmosphere was cafeteria like. I was truly excited about this place too. read more

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Although reservations are recommended, we took our chances and popped in on an early Saturday evening dinner at 5:30pm. We were headed to a show at the Scope Arena and Codex is a great walking distance/location for dinner and a show. Lucky for us, we were able to sit at the bar which was perfect for us. I always enjoy watching bartenders do their thing. We ordered: 2 glasses of the Shiraz/Merlot Little Gem Salad Brussels Burger My husband had the burger and he was in the clean plate club so that is always a good sign. I had the gem salad and it was good but not amazing. I wanted more flavor from it and I thought the green goddess dressing would give it that but it was a bit lacking. The salad also had only once slice of a beet, and three slices of shaved carrots. I did not see or taste and radish. Still good, just not wowed by it. The brussels on the other hand made up for all of the flavor for the night. Wow, they were so tasty and packed a punch that kept your tastebuds wanting to come back for more. Overall, we really enjoyed the atmosphere and our bartender was friendly. read more

Codex - Menu at bar seating - New American Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Cute restaurant. Wait staff was attentive and helpful when it came to picking out dinner choices. We started with the bread and butter, which was phenomenal. So warm and fresh. Our dinners were good, although I would like to come back and try some other options. Ended the night with the olive oil cake. Overall, a solid 8.5/10 read more

Codex - Fett pasta dish and the pork shoulder - New American Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Can confidently say Codex is one of the best restaurants in the entire 757. Located in the heart of downtown Norfolk, the quality of the food here is much better than some of the luxury establishments nearby. For me it is the quality of their appetizers that takes the cake for me. Their oysters come with a yuzu mignette sauce that accents the flavor of the oysters so well and give them a delicious briny freshness that cannot be topped. The restaurant as a whole exudes a freshness and youthfulness that you should not miss. If you consider yourself a 757 foodie you have to try Codex out! read more

Codex - New American Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

When we arrived, the hostess was friendly and led us to our table. However, not until we sat down were we notified that the heating system was out (it was freezing outside and now inside). We kept our jackets on and ordered drinks and appetizers. While serving us our drinks, our waitresses accidentally spilled my drink all over the table and on me. I've been a waiter so accidents happen but this was another thing in a series of issues. We were disappointed in the value of food to cost overall. The frites were under cooked and portions were small. I also had to remind waitress to provide a drink I had ordered that was never given. At the end of the meal, we received our bill. A mandatory 20% tip was added (we were a party of 3). I would not have tipped that much given the above issues and no comp. Unlikely to go there again. read more

Ummmm I am now obsessed with this place. I love that this place participated in restaurant week, because it gave the chance to check this place out for a decent price. My friends and I met up at this place and I can't rave more about it. We had an amazing waitress. My friends and I were a pretty large party for this place, but she made it very personal for each person. If I am gonna be honest ...the menu didn't sound that flattering. Our waitress told us her favorites from one to ten. The appetizers didnt sound appetizing at all. We all decided to order all the appetizers and share. I ordered the mushrooms for the appetizer, the lamb ragu, and the olive oil cake with the lemon glaze. I also ordered two lemon drops. I am going on the top of my head with what I ate but I can tell you i LOVED each appetizer I ordered. They were so amazing. My lamb ragu was on point and the olive oil cake was different but was so good I ate the whole thing...there was no food left. I will be definitely rolling through here again. SO GOOD Great Service and great food! read more

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The food was great. It did take awhile to get the food which was odd because it wasn't super busy. I got the house bread and butter. It hit the carb spot so well. I also got a drink, the revolver. I loved it! The smokey flavor was amazing. I order the visiting fish which happened to be salmon. It was well cooked and seasoned. Then I finished with the signature sea salt dessert. I liked it all. Parking is city parking so while not ideal it is understandable. The price was a bit high for the full experience. I do appreciate that they auto put 20% tips for their people. The only thing that would better than that would be including it in the actual price of the food on the menu. Ambience was modern and clean. read more

I'm in town for work and I left the hotel around 7 on a Tuesday night. Parking on Granby can be difficult but found a spot about a block and a half away. Not too bad. They have a one way awning that allows the 4 people sitting at the sidewalk high top to see out without having foot traffic in their face while they enjoy dinner. I didn't have a reservation so I was sat in the two top in the back by the bar. I didn't catch the server's name but she seemed like a character. She let me know about the 3 course special with tortellini as the main and then went through some of the popular items on the regular menu. I was eyeing the short rib so when she mentioned it as a popular item I was sold. The short rib is probably a 6-8oz portion served over the Carolina grits and roasted veggies. Originally, I thought the veggies were undercooked small redskin potatoes but after a few more bite, I think they were radishes. The short rib was excellent. It had a lot of flavor with some fatty parts. If I had one critique I'd say it was a little on the salty side (I don't like much salt). The grits were very creamy and a great compliment and helped tone down some of the bold flavors in the red wine sauce. I don't normally do dessert but since the entree was so good I thought I'd give it a shot. The server said I couldn't go wrong with any of the four options but the toffee pudding was the way to go. I'm guessing a date cake is along the same lines as a carrot cake. It was very dark, so I thought it was going to have a heavy chocolate flavor. The flavor in the cake was mild and not chocolate. I really liked the texture. I think they put it in the oven before it gets the dollop of whip cream to crisp up the edges. It was a nice touch. The toffee sauce was pretty good. I'm not much for sweets and this sauce wasn't overpowering. The entree and dessert were great. The service was better. I don't make it to Norfolk often but I'll make it a point to come to Codex the next time I'm in town. read more

Superb. I appreciated every aspect of my meal here. The cuisine was exceptional. The service was outstanding. Fundamental, minimalist atmosphere. Adored the mussels and bread appetizer. Additionally, the fried mushrooms. I highly recommend. read more