It has been nearly three weeks; I can stop thinking about No Frill Bar and Grill…read more I'm a military spouse, so I know my time in Hampton Roads is coming to an end soon. I visited a Hampton Roads Restaurant group on FB and asked if someone was visiting from out of town: What is your go-to place to take them? Out of 90+ comments, No Frill Bar and Grill was mentioned the most - six times! So when I finally had a day off and some other business to tend to in Norfolk, it was the perfect excuse to finally try them. No Frill Bar and Grill has been open for nearly 30 years by Jerry Meltsner. Jerry's nephew Jon Kliner helps co-own and manage operations. It originally opened on Tidewater Drive, but the space didn't allow for much growth - 10 years later, he moved to a location off Colley Avenue and Spotswood Avenue. Growth continued, moving from counter service to table service. The second location, at 1620 Laskin Road in Virginia Beach, opened in 2005. The restaurant's longevity stems from quality, consistency, price, service, and staff who genuinely care about the business and serving the community. I asked the server for her opinion on two options - Salmon, Shrimp and grits won. The dish was incredible: lightly blackened salmon, for once blackened food that doesn't just taste like salt. I don't dine with the swine, so I asked for no andouille sausage. The sautéed shrimp, caramelized onions, tomatoes, and spinach simmered in Norfolk Canyon ale sauce over cheesy grits and Boursin lavash cracker. The cheesy grits were smooth, and the Boursin lavash cracker was a nice touch. The Boursin added extra creaminess to the meal. The cracker wasn't really a cracker - more like little toasted bread. After this first meal, I know two things for sure: 1. I definitely understand why it is such a local favorite, and 2. I will be back.

Service is prompt, salads are good, parking sometimes can be an issue due to the narrow streets and…read morelimited parking.

Back at the old favorite. They have a a trivia night special, the BBQ Pulled Pork Flatbread, and it…read moreis one of the best things I have ever had at Public House. I would eat this every time if it was a permanent addition to the menu. Tuesdays are always great with Trivia provided by Bar Trivia Live. Nick, Kevin, and Dave make everyone welcome and make sure the game is fun for everyone. Keep up the great work! P.S. RIP Public House Crunch Wrap. Good night, sweet prince, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.

Well we finally made it back here for dinner on a Wednesday night. We started with the pretzel…read moreflight. SO disappointing. The sauces were good, especially the beer cheese (at least they haven't changed that). What was pretty terrible were the pretzels themselves. They take the longer soft pretzel logs and cut them into bite size pieces. And then they are FRIED. Who fries soft pretzels? They were hard and greasy. This is the first time in our history of ordering a soft pretzel appetizer that we just couldn't finish it. They were that bad. For entrees Hubby ordered the crispy chicken Caesar and I got the burger with fries. Hubby's salad was huge, but there was way too much Parmesan cheese. He never did get a good taste of the dressing because of that. The chicken on the other hand was well fried and still juicy inside. I ordered my burger medium, and it came out mid-rare, which is how I eat them anyway. The burger itself was salty - guessing the flattop maybe hasn't been cleaned after lunch? The top bun spent a little too much time on the flat top as well. The pickles they use are sour (some people like that, I don't mind), but if you are not a fan of sour pickles, you'll want to skip them. Service was fantastic and it's a very clean place (restrooms are particularly clean). I am sure it is a great place to go for drinks - the bar is pretty extensive. But since we don't bar hop anymore, I don't think we will be going back. One last word on the pretzel appetizer because I am still shaking my head over that. If you want to serve pretzel bites so there are more ways to try all the dipping sauces, just purchase pretzel bites and bake them.

Finding 10-Top was fortunate and completely random. On one of my explorations, I noticed it tucked…read moreinto a mini-strip mall next to a laundry mat. The unusual sign, a red and black circle (the colors of anarchism!) and bold lettering drew my attention. The window display of vintage/odd toys kept it and the door collaged with band flyers sealed the deal. It was closed at the time, but I knew I'd be back. A few days latter, I was. The inside was better than expected a "WE HAVE WINE" sign displayed prominently near the drink cooler, swag section. Quotes of the famous adorn the walls, in chalk so they can be changed based on whim (I hope). Gandhi, Toni Morrison, F. Scott-Fitzgerald to name a few. Everything on the walls likely has a story, known only to the initiate. I am but a humble pilgrim, seeking knowledge that is withheld, but the meatloaf sandwich did not disappoint. 10-Top has been a Norfolk/Ghent institution since 2001, the current owners have been in charge since 2011. Everyone I have met here smiles a lot. They are enthusiastic about the food they serve. Do you want to have a bowl of soup for your side? No problem! Everything is made in house, except the bread but its great. Nothing is the same-same here. Everything you think you know, has been reinvented, reinterpreted, and reimagined in the best ways possible. You will not be disappointed.

The service was excellent and friendly. It's a little place but cozy and comfortable. The salmon…read morewas super delicious as well as crab cakes. The vegetables were plenty; could have used just a tad more seasoning or butter but overall excellent

Glass Light has a beautiful ambiance and spacious seating…read more My server Krist was amazing! She was hospitable and attentive. I ordered off the small plates menu. The salad and salt and pepper shrimp were delicious! The flourless cake was the show stopper, it was flavorful and moist.

Glass Light was amazing from start to finish. The service was exceptional. Waitress was attentive,…read morefriendly, and genuinely made the whole experience better. The drinks were also fantastic and really well made. The food was incredible. Everything came out beautifully presented and tasted even better than it looked. The seafood pasta, Beef Wellington, and Basil Ricotta Meatballs was honestly so delicious. The seafood pasta was rich and full of flavor with plenty of seafood, the Wellington was cooked beautifully, and the meatballs were such a great start to the meal. The atmosphere is gorgeous too. Between the food, cocktails, atmosphere, and amazing service. It's in a hotel but definitely a great dining experiences in Norfolk and somewhere I'd absolutely come back to! You can also get up with your drinks to enjoy the glass gallery

Stopped in downtown Norfolk and decided to try Freemason Abbey Restaurant after hearing about it…read more The area itself was just okay, but the restaurant is definitely worth checking out because of the building. It's an old church built in 1873 as the Second Presbyterian Church, and it's been home to Freemason Abbey since 1989. The inside is really cool and gives the place a lot of character. You'll see some of that in my photos. I started with their she crab soup, which was excellent. It's one of their specialty soups and had that creamy, rich flavor you'd expect from a good she crab soup. For dinner, I was originally going to try the smoked gouda dish, but they had a chicken parm special for $24, so I went with that instead. Chicken breast, marinara, linguini and provolone cheese. Really glad I did. It was hot, flavorful and presented nicely. My only complaint was that it could have used a little more marinara, but I asked and they brought me some without any problem. Service was great from start to finish. I was there around 5:30, before the dinner rush, so it wasn't very busy, but everything came out promptly and there were no issues at all. Overall, definitely a cool place with a unique atmosphere, good food and great service. I'd absolutely go back again. Sometimes the building is half the meal, and this one definitely has a story to tell!

Freemason Abbey is the kind of place where you walk in expecting a nice dinner and walk out…read morewondering if you accidentally joined a secret society. The food was , the atmosphere was incredible, and the building has so much character that I half expected a guy in a robe to appear from a hidden hallway and whisper, "The appetizers have arrived." Everything was fantastic. The service was great, the food was delicious, and the atmosphere was so cool I almost forgot I was there to eat and not investigate a 200-year-old murder mystery. Five stars without hesitation. I'd come back again, although I'm still waiting for someone to tell me the password to the dessert menu. 10/10. Would eat here again. Would also investigate suspicious-looking fireplaces.

This is a high level upscale French bakery and pastry shop. Excellent. Items that are recommended…read moreinclude croissants and variants, ham and cheese quiche, eclairs, and many other pastries. To be eaten fresh at the store or take home. The owners and their staff are on hand to serve clients promptly and to help customers about their selections.

I made the arguably unwise decision to stop here late in the day on an Easter holiday when pastries…read morewere clearly on people's minds and the theme was chocolate eggs. It was a long wait in line. Towards the end of their limited hours, I was pleased that they still had a pretty good selection. They sold out of some things, but I found a robust selection of pastries and a loaf of bread as well, albeit one too big for their slices. With macarons and chocolate on sale as well, they had a lot worth coming for. The cake slices were as rich and smooth as one hopes for a French bakery, but several other pastries met with aplomb as well. I struggled to locate a high-end bakery in this geographic area, but did not regret having come to this one at all.

Absolutely FANTASTIC!…read more Just wow, this place has the best brunch food in Norfolk. I am so impressed. The meatloaf panini is seriously life changing. I changed out provolone for pepper jack and, genuinely wow. The eggs benedict was fabulous. Our pancake also hit the spot. Our server Avery was so nice! Our food came out quick and delicious. The atmosphere feels so nostalgic and such a vibe. This is an absolute must try spot for all locals and tourists!

Went on a Sunday morning around 10:30 a.m. This is a seat-yourself restaurant with bar seating,…read moretables, a front outdoor seating area, and a partially enclosed back patio. Just something to keep in mind if you're visiting in the summer. The back patio does not have air conditioning. If you sit by the large front windows, be prepared for the sun. The building faces east, so by late morning the sun is shining directly through those windows. I was sitting with my back to it and was so hot. I probably could have asked them to lower the shade, but it's something to consider when choosing your table. Shana was our server, and she was great. Friendly, attentive, and checked on us regularly. Now for the best part. The sorbet mimosas. We ordered two, one with mango sorbet and one with lemon and raspberry sorbet, and they were incredible. If you come here, these are an absolute must order. We started with the fried green tomatoes. They were good, but they were clearly made from frozen slices rather than fresh-cut tomatoes. I ordered the salmon cakes with eggs and a pancake. Everything was delicious. No complaints at all. The food easily earns 5 stars. The decor has a classic old-school diner vibe with black and white checkered floors and chrome accents, which I really liked. My only real complaint was the bar seating. If you're on the shorter side, the stools are not very comfortable. The seats are not very deep, there is no foot rail to rest your feet on, and since the stools are bolted to the floor, you cannot scoot in to get comfortable. The backs of my legs started going numb, so we moved to a table as soon as one opened up. Ironically, it was the table directly in front of that hot window. Overall, I'd definitely come back. Great food, excellent service, and those sorbet mimosas alone are worth the visit. Just be strategic about where you sit if you're visiting on a warm, sunny day.

Phenomenal food, outstanding service and wonderful presentation. I'll be attending every Levity…read moreevent every month! Can't wait until Chef Quick opens a full-time restaurant!

From the owner: Curating paired dinners throughout the 757. We also…read morespecialize in private events/In-Home chef services. We can’t wait for you to have the Levity experience!

Codex, its menu and its employees are wonderful…read more The Granby Street eatery is a cozy, welcoming space that combines modern and vintage decor. Because of the lack of street parking, my son chose to take a Lyft on our recent visit. It was a good choice. We were greeted and taken to a comfortable table. Service was prompt and helpful. Our last visit to Codex had been late January during Downtown Norfolk Restaurant Week. But when I ordered my cocktail, telling my server my need for a cocktail straw, I was surprised at the answer. She told me that the bartender Addie remembered me, my cocktail preference and my need for a straw. I looked up and she waved at me. It felt wonderful that I has been remembered. The Vodka Martini was presented in the vintage glass so familiar to me. It was the pattern I inherited from my Mother & Aunt, so popular with the WWII generation. Addie remembered how excited I was when I first saw the glass. The menu was awesome as usual. We started with Oysters, Raw with a Citrus Mignonette. Also from the starter section we chose the yummy House Made Pimento Cheese and Everything Crackers. My entree was the Gnudi with Ramps, Chestnut, Black Pearl Mushrooms, & Asparagus in White Wine Lemon Sauce. My son chose the Tuna. Both were amazing with perfect presentation. We shared the Roasted Cauliflower, which was a culinary masterpiece. When time for the dessert menu came, my son first declined. But I remembered there was a choice that I can never pass up, When the menu arrived I was excited to see that one of my favorite desserts was still on the menu. Olive Oil Cake with Lemon Curd on the side, you are wonderful. My son first declined to share but decided to take a bite. And....that was all it took. He shared the entire cake with me. It looked so good that I took a bite before taking a picture. It was a delightful evening when I needed one the most. Both my server Laurel-Manette and Addie were welcoming and friendly. I promised to return with one of each of the many types of glasses in the vintage stemware pattern. The small one used for my cocktail was the only size they had seen. Laurel-Manette made my night when she told us that dessert was on the house. If you've never been to Codex it's a must go! There's nothing about it that I would change.

Service was good, although drinks were slow. The server was great, very detailed knowledge…read more Both my sister and her husband who shared the pork belly appetizer had stomach problems the next morning. My biggest complaint is while "industrial" is a popular look, it's absolutely awful for ambience. Every sound echos and even with my hearing aids on max, I could not hear my sister across the table.

My partner and I were celebrating our anniversary after he had returned from deployment. They made…read morethis the best choice for having a memorable, romantic, and delicious experience. Our server was amazing. There was a small delay in getting our first round of drinks to the table, and he took it off our bill without us having to say a word. It was very generous. We were on the patio which is covered but airy, and perfectly spaced so you don't feel crammed with other guests! We ordered the Charcuterie, crispy octopus, and the Four Eleven Salad. For main entree I got the Filet, and my partner had the Pork. Everything was cooked to perfection and delicately layered with flavor! It will NOT disappoint. Be aware of smaller portion sizes. They offered complimentary bites throughout, including delicious cheddar biscuits, and an Anniversary cake.

Amazing creative cocktails. My favorite so far is the lavender margarita. Such an amazing vibe…read more Great spot for a date night. We also loved all the food we had!