I'll start by saying this: I am not someone who typically writes reviews. In fact, I'm known among my friends and family as a very critical eater--some have even jokingly called me a food critic. So for me to take the time to write this says a lot. From the moment we walked into Oceanview Diner, we felt at home. There was an immediate warmth--like stepping into what America is supposed to feel like--people talking, laughing, and genuinely connecting over good food. The attention to detail was impossible to miss. Fresh-cut flowers sat on each table, adding a simple but thoughtful touch. Before our meals even arrived, we were served homemade herb focaccia with olive oil--an unexpected and appreciated gesture. And yes, even the water stood out. Being near the ocean, you often get that slightly earthy taste, but this water was clean, crisp, and clearly filtered. Now, the food. I ordered the Parmesan-crusted chicken with roasted potatoes and collard greens. The chicken was juicy (not dry at all) and cooked perfectly--something that sounds simple but is rarely executed this well. The collards were good, though I personally would've liked just a touch more salt and a splash of vinegar to bring them fully to life. My partner ordered the fried flounder with asparagus and mashed potatoes and had nothing but praise. Not a single morsel was left on the plate, which tells you everything you need to know. Oceanview Diner delivered not just a meal, but an experience rooted in care, pride, and hospitality. Thank you for an amazing visit--continued success to you, and a huge job well done to the kitchen staff. read more

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Not your normal dinner. However, if you like dinners and you like elevated food; you'll love Oceanview Dinner. Instead of too many items on the menu, like many dinners, it's like 4 appetizers and 4 entrees. There are additional daily specials (stuffed figs? At a dinner? This ain't Kansas toto). I had stuff shrimp, mashed potatoes and gravy, collards and a side salad. All were amazing all homemade (I'd even bet on the salad dressing). Only regret was I wasn't hungry enough for the pot roast (fyi- pot roast and the stuffed figs were both daily specials) but the gravy was from that; it was literally my grandmas gravy. I didn't have dessert room either. I'll have to cross the HRBT for this. I Will. read more

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The start of our breakfast experience went like this: When we walked in, we were seated immediately in a tight table and asked to move to a booth. The young hostess went to the other young hostess (Ali) and loudly said, "they want to move to the booth" and Ali replied with an annoyed sigh. We then waited for the booth to be cleaned off and the initial hostess said loudly, in front of us, to a family waiting after us, that a party right before them walked in and asked for the booth so they would now to wait. She then led us to our table. Overall, this put a sour taste in my mouth. No customer service, no manners. When I worked in a restaurant as a server, they would've been talked to about how to speak in front of customers- I was really put off. Moving on, our server was spectacular, the guy who maybe was the runner was spectacular, and they both made us feel very welcome on the establishment. The food was great and we were in & out in an hour. We don't come here that often, and we've normally waited for a table when we've come. It is a tight squeeze in there and the tables always feel sticky, but the food is so good & the servers are wonderful. I came in feeling irritated at the lack of people/customer skills the hostesses had, but left happy and full. read more

Oceanview Diner - Chilaquiles - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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Amazing service and food definitely with a visit. The diner is very cozy and staff is very friendly.

This hidden gem is a solid diner! The food is fresh and service is friendly and quick. The blue and coral walls fit perfectly with the beach vibe. read more

Had the Parmesan chicken and it was great. The service was fantastic and it had a very friendly atmosphere. Next time in Norfolk, I'd definitely stop by again. read more

Oceanview Diner - Booth and condiments table - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Good home style breakfast. Fast service. I have to come back for lunch. I got their skillet, which is scrambled eggs, cheese over hash browns. I ordered mine with bacon. Got to my table in less than 5 minutes. Now that's a real short order cook. read more

Been here a few times, and always have a good time! Have had a few menu items that I wouldn't be interested in ordering again. Mainly the fried stuff, not a fan of their breading, but the pancakes are always spot on! Fair warning, massive is an understatement for them. Love getting to see all the oceanview history and things they have hanging up. Definitely a good place to check out! read more

Still the best spot for breakfast in OV. Really crowded this Memorial Day, but we were able to grab two seats at the bar. We had our always good orders: vegetable omelet, and corned beef hash and an egg. The servicer was excellent and the kitchen was a tad slow. We were able to pull into the lone parking spot made handicap accessible. read more

So I'm from Texas. When I hear finer, I expect a mom and pop restaurant with big proportions and great prices. That's exactly what Oceanview Diner was for my family and I! We went on a busy Saturday morning, and were seated as quickly as possible. The inside featured pictures of VA beach's history as well as a rustic seaside feel. The food was cooked amazingly with enough to go around for everyone! read more

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This is a nice local diner, in Oceanview. Service is friendly, fast and the food is good . Dining room seats about 50 people. The walls are filled with local historical photos and sea shore themed items. Location is just off the Chesapeake Bay. Simple, tasty, friendly and filling! What more could you want? read more

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This little diner is like a warm hug from the neighborhood itself, so cozy, charming, and full of heart! The décor perfectly captures those Ocean View vibes, with cool historic photos of the local area on the walls. The menu is stacked with all the classics, but *psst*- there's a secret menu, and it's worth the detective work. I went for a secret menu item, and let me tell you, my blueberry pancakes were so good that my dining companion conveniently "helped" me finish them (after devouring their own shamrock Benedict, of course). The staff? Absolute sweethearts. Kind, welcoming, and probably capable of making even burnt toast taste like a delicacy with their good vibes. Love this spot and fully intend to become a regular. If you see someone guarding their pancakes like a dragon with treasure... that's me. read more

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Stopped here for lunch 12:15 Monday. Old school mom and pops place. Ordered the Reuben with onion rings. Service was friendly and quick , food came out hot and fresh, sandwich was perfect, onion rings were really good except the large rings that seemed to have extra batter between the rings that I wasn't crazy about. Would definitely stop back in here again when I'm in the area. The Reuben was actually one of the better Reuben I have found in the 7 cities read more

Oceanview Diner - Reuben with onion rings - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

I have been meaning to check out this place for a while kind of glad I did that. I went here today. I was trying to decide whether I wanted breakfast or whether I wanted lunch. As you can see which way I went. The staff was amazing and very friendly the food came out quick and got. The onion rings were crispy and tender at the same time. The daughter said that her order was great and flavorful. She said we need to go again. We definitely will the vibe and s so laid back and chill. read more

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Everything was amazing. Views, food, service parking. Would highly recommend this place. It wasn't expensive in my opinion. read more

Omg--what a great little diner! I've been coming to Ocean View in Norfolk for around 8 years, and shockingly, this was my first time visiting this spot. We stopped in around 8:30 AM on Father's Day, so there was a bit of a wait, but it was well worth it. The vibe is cozy and casual, and the staff was friendly. Bonus points: I was able to tap to pay with my phone--always a win. My husband had the country fried steak and added a crab cake on the side. He said both the meat and the breading were super fresh, and the crab cake was a standout. (The crab cake side was $12.) I went with the crab omelette and added mushrooms and spinach--though they forgot the spinach, it was still a solid dish. I loved that they had a variety of hot sauces at the table, too. Most entrees come with toast, and I also ordered a side of fruit. Bless--no melon! I saved most of it to top off the one pancake I added on the side (which came loaded with strawberries, blueberries, and banana). Love being able to just get one pancake! I'm definitely planning to come back the next time I'm staying at the Best Western in Ocean View. The menu looked great and there's so much more I want to try. read more

Great dinner and dining experience! Ate dinner here last night after the dinner rush departed. Had the place to ourselves and had the opportunity to meet Beth and a couple of the wait staff. Lovely meeting them and learning about them, the resturant and community. I had a lovely lightly fried Flounder with veggies! My Husband had the Ossobuco. Shared the tomato salad and had coconut cream pie and a peach tart . Delicious and fun to have a terrific experience at a new place with lovely folks! Atmosphere was old town beach vibe! We will be back! Oh, and have heard the breakfast is great as well. read more

I've gone a few times since my initial visit. I've enjoyed every time I come. I'm currently loving the Rueben sandwich! And the fried green tomatoes are excellent. read more

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Great food served hot, friendly service, and good prices. This place is a hidden gem.

Me and my coworkers decided to check this location out one day. We were a large party of 13 people on a Friday (St. Paddy's weekend... those in OV know how busy this weekend is. Any way they were very busy but super friendly and were able to seat us all together and a booth so conversation was still able to occur. Our waitress and a waiter were very friendly and pleasant. Now onto the food- DELICIOUS. I ordered the Shamrock Benedict and all the ingredients were fresh. All of our party's food came out at the same time. This is much appreciated and not common at a lot of places. All was warm so I know it wasn't sitting long before serving. I recommend this place, it's a small town vibe there too. Nothing fancy, good food and service- that's all we need sometimes. See you again soon OV Diner! read more

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Diner for mostly OV regulars. Service and food average. No strong feelings either way. Strong three read more

Decided to try a little local spot after flying into Norfolk. There was a bit of a wait 25+ minutes but for brunch on a Sunday, that's expected. The food was worth the wait! The staff is super sweet and it feels like a mom & pop business. The FRIED GREEN TOMATOES are a must order! The sauce that comes with them is so good. The rest of the menu is all yummy - standard breakfast foods. I wouldn't recommend the mimosas though. The Bloody Mary was alright. read more

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Super great food and service. The food comes fast and it is so yummy. Haven't tried the lunch menu but want to! read more

The Best Breakfast and best service. I cannot say enough good about this place without sounding ridiculous. Just try it, you will like it.

Way late in posting this review...I flew out for a business trip in late September, but left fairly late in the morning and I was in the mood for a BIG breakfast. Reasonably close to the Norfolk airport and right near the Oceanfront district with a beachy theme, this place did not disappoint! Quickly seated, I was met by a sweet and sassy old-school waitress that called me "hun" and gave me a few suggestions. I picked the standard western omelette - a huge omelette - with wheat toast and home fries. The coffee was good and dark, the food was amazing, and the staff was incredible! Definitely need to hit this place again! read more

Hello, The date we went here was: May 6th, 2023. I took my mom and grandma to Virginia as a Mother Day's getaway. We decided to try Oceanview Diner. The staff was so friendly and felt comfortable immediately. The orange juice was amazing and pretty good. We love the food and hope to try this place again. The atmosphere was wonderful as well. If you want some good breakfast, definitely recommend this place. The staff was friendly also. read more

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We got there around 10 on Saturday and only had a twenty minute wait for 2, were sat and serviced quickly. Servers are all nice and work together well. The diner has a cozy, typical diner feel to it. Not somewhere to go for something fancy, just good old fashioned breakfast. Food was great, wouldn't get the biscuits and gravy again. Pancake was divine! read more

Oceanview Diner - The Big Combo - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

This place gets a solid 5 Yelp elite stars from me for overall bang for your buck! First, don't let the small unassuming outside of this place fool you, come in for big flavor and some of the best service ever. The ambiance is definitely Oceanside meets dive bar feel, but there is a magic to it. The environment is cozy like a grandma's breakfast nook. The service was attentive! Like oh my God, some of the nicest and warmest servers I've had the pleasure of dining with in a while. Truly good people work here. So the food is FRESH, FRESH, FRESH-DJ MANNY FRESH ya heard? I inhaled a simple cheese omelet in a fashion similar to the food critic eating the simple ratatouille cooked by that cartoon rat in the movie Ratatouille! Sooooooo good. But the kicker- the reason everything is so amazing? THE AFFORDABLE PRICES! Bang bang bang for your buck, go here for good food luck! read more

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Ended up here after a place we had intended to go to was closed for the holiday. I'm GLAD Oceanview Diner was open! This place was great! Cozy coastal vineyards inside with a great selection breakfast foods. There was a wait when we arrived but wasn't too bad and food came out quick. We got a shamrock Benedict and crane cake Benedict. The corned beef hash was crisp, had a great flavor and was delicious! The crab cakes were very generously filled will crab and little fluff. The flavor was sooo good and it also was nicely crisp on the outside. Poached eggs were perfect! The single pancake was huge! Soft and fluffy! Would definitely come back again when I visit! read more

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Came hear for breakfast. Got here early and there were already quite a few people. Wife got the OV special which was eggs, potatoes, a biscuit and they subbed the creamed chip beef for sausage gravy. I also got the cream chipped beef over biscuits. My ONLY complaint was they went very light on the cream chipped beef. I was eating some of my biscuit nearly dry. For $12 they should be covered. I will say the CCB was excellent and the biscuits were so good. We both enjoyed it. Had 3 different servers from beginning to end so I guess they just help each other out. Nice little beachy vibe to the place. If im in the area...id be back for sure. read more

Yum!! Excellent breakfast and service!! Food was delicious and convenient location for us. We will be back!!

Was feeling hungry and in the mood for breakfast. Made a stop at Oceanview Diner and I was pleasantly surprised. I ordered the Big Combo and it was delicious. For $10.99 you get a plate filled with 2 eggs, 2 pc of sausage, 2 pc bacon, home fries or grits, and your choice of pancake, French toast or banana bread. I decided on eggs scrambled well, sausage links, grits and the grilled banana bread. The meal was delicious. The service was prompt and friendly. The restaurant is a cute spot and in Ocean View across the street from Dairy Queen. The diner has their own parking lot, so you do not have to worry about finding parking on the street. I would definitely recommend Ocean View Diner for a traditional breakfast. read more

Oceanview Diner - Inside - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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Just moved here and went to the first place we saw for breakfast and it did not disappoint. Fair pricing, very fulfilling and tasted great!

This is a gem in the heart of OV! The staff are amazing and it is always busy for a good reason. Coffee is good, food even better. Great place for breakfast with a local vibe. read more

Food excellent. Service excellent. Desserts excellent. Nice place to hang out and enjoy a meal with friends and family.

Stopped here for brunch on a Saturday morning. It was pretty busy but we got right in. They have quite a few tables and a bar to sit at. They do lunch and breakfast all day. A diner vibe, with quick and friendly service. We got our food very fast. I got a breakfast scramble and it was okay. My boy friend got an eggs Benedict and he really enjoyed it. Good prices as well. I would come back for a quick, good breakfast. read more

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Excellent service. Food is great. Always cooked the way I ordered it. Highly recommended.

The staff is always super friendly here. The place is pretty small, but totally worth the wait because the food is amazing. The country fried steak is the best I've ever had. And the fried green tomatoes are perfection. I've never had a bad experience here and I've eaten brunch here, at least once a quarter for the past four years. read more

Food was really good. I had the chicken and waffles and the chicken was really tender. Waffles were fluffy and flavorful. Also order the grit cake and that was amazing first time ever having one and it was delicious. read more

Great breakfast diner with amazing omelettes. Service was steady but don't rush. This is not the place to rush but patience will be rewarded. read more