Sweet Jam Cafe

Always a great dinner at No Frill. Food was amazing and our server was very attentive. Love the…read morevibe and how clean this place is. Don't sleep on the desserts!

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.

Inside No Frill - Norfolk

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Club sandwich

Freemason Abbey Restaurant

4.1(1k reviews)

1.0 mi

I have eaten there about 50 times over the years and every time it was very enjoyable.read more

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!

Interior.

Herb Butter Steak Pasta

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The Curse

Jack Brown's Beer & Burger Joint - Norfolk

4.3(770 reviews)

1.2 mi

Have you ever been to a walked into a bar and expected the Rolling Stones are always being played…read moreon jukebox? This is that kind of place. So cool!! The world needs more bars like this. Huge beer selection, the When in Roam Thursday special burger was awesome. Time to top it off like Keith Richard's would with a little Jack Daniels!!

Jack Browns is a hopping spot on Granby street. I stopped by before a baseball game for dinner. The…read morestaff is awesome, makes great beer and food recommendations. The décor is loud but fits the vibe. I got the Elvis Burger, a yummy little burger with peanut butter and bacon. I added an order of their JB fries as well and it will fill you up. If you are really hungry, I recommend you add the extra patty. For dessert I had a couple fried oreos, YOU HAVE TO GET AT LEAST ONE.

Interior

Fried Oreo with powdered sugar.

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View from within the restaurant

80/20 Burger Bar

3.7(760 reviews)

0.7 mi

I would like to say I'm very thankful the owner came out and served us for our first time. We sat…read morethere until they opened at 1700 exactly! The inside was dark and cozy. There are booths and chairs and bar seating available. There were a lot of interesting options on the menu for burgers. We both got the cheddar burger. It was super juicy and delicious but my favorite part were the appetizers. The mozz sticks were so fat and crunchy! And the fried pickles were done to perfection! I didn't see the 80/20 on the bun though! Never the less a great experience. And they're a little expensive so be prepared to save this for a special occasion!

Great gourmet burger options! I had the French Dip, which was divine!…read more Fries are crispy and fantastic. Everyone was vey happy, especially those in the party who ordered the spiciest burger on the menu. (MAYBE it had Reaper or Ghost, but I don't recall. ) Definitely a pub feel, but not obnoxious and still great for non-drinkers like me. Excellent option for non-chain burgers. Ours was a business trip group of 10, and it was a great venue for casually meeting co-workers, many of whom had never met.

Inside bathroom

Cinnamon Roll Pancake. Follow @LaVida_757 on instagram for more

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Coach House Bar & Grill

4.6(108 reviews)

2.2 mi

Don't forget that on Wednesday's it is Wine Wednyand it is half off of bottles of wine! If you…read morecan't drink it all (tsk, tsk), they will bag it for you to take home. On this occasion we sat at the bar and enjoyed a lovely dinner. I had the white chicken chili and my husband enjoyed the always tasty Igloo burger. Our white wine, the Zenato, was delicious and accurately described as "crushable" on the menu. It was a porch pounder for sure. Our bartender was lovely, attentive and friendly. The hostess who greeted us was welcoming. A lovely Wednesday night in a great setting.

Food is good but the star is the bread pudding. The bread pudding will ruin you for all future…read morebread pudding to come. They have rotating favors every week. In terms of entrees my favorite is the pulled duck BBQ. Their menu is rotating but this is one of the dishes that stays Drinks were always good and refreshing Service was good. Never had bad service there.

Burger

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The Ghent

4.5(72 reviews)

0.8 mi

They have an upstairs rooftop bar that you can sit at. Only downside is they will close that area…read morefor events. When that happens you have to sit indoors and it gets pretty loud indoors. However, when the rooftop is open, it's a very nice space with great vibes. Food was typical bar food. Nothing amazing but not bad. They have a beer wall but their selection was pretty limited to IPAs and ales. Not too many sours or ciders unfortunately

10/10 I knew this place in college before it changed to this I can say it's a great spot now. I…read morewent for the first time and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I got the shrimp Poboy pizza and about five different rounds of cider and seltzer on tap. I enjoyed every drink and got some recommendations from the staff. Their rooftop is beautiful and spacious with the tap upstairs and downstairs.

Pizza!!

Fish taco with mango salsa

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Tap wall

My Mama's Kitchen

4.4(547 reviews)

4.9 mi

My Mama's kitchen has amazing energy, it feels like I'm sitting waiting for church service with…read morefriends and family waiting for my food. The owner/manager is welcoming and friendly even with a larger audience of hungry patrons. She handles it with grace and kindness. Building is inviting, full bar and lovely florals around a low lit but separate seating from main area with relaxing vibes. Finally, the food was delicious, wings were cooked to perfection and the collard greens were one of the best I've had! Be sure to check this place out!

For many years, Sophia and I have dined at My Mama's Kitchen where the food was excellent and the…read morestaff very friendly. In 2023, they closed their original location of Shore Drive and set sights on a new local which was expanded. They have finally reopened and we got a chance to stop in to see how they were doing. Let's check it out shall we? We were seated a minute after walking in. There were a few people dining inside on this cloudy day. The decor is nice resembling a type of restaurant you may see in New Orleans. Right when I was looking through the menu, I ran into Chef Moe who greeted me with a handshake. It has been years since we last saw each other but the vibes came right back since Sophia and I were long-standing customers. We couldn't talk long since he was busy, but it was great to run into him again smiling from ear to ear seeing me there. Great people indeed. How was the food you might ask? Pretty damn good. We both ordered their fried catfish meals with sides (mine came with fries and sweet cornbread and Sophia's with mashed potatoes and gravy and mac-and-cheese). The fish was seasoned perfectly and was huge. It was big enough to cover a football field (just kidding). The fries, as always, tasted great and the cornbread was delish. The both of us ended up taking home leftovers where the food didn't lose any taste from before. It was so refreshing to stop by after so many years. And it was wonderful seeing Chef Moe continue to bring good vibes to the Norfolk community through his cooking. You know we'll be back soon. Till next time :)

Catfish Dinner with Collard Greens and Green Beans

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The Restaurant at Four Eleven York

4.5(134 reviews)

1.1 mi

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.

Located near Ghent and downtown Norfolk, this restaurant was a really pleasant find. The parking…read morelot is small, but we had no trouble finding street parking nearby. It was a little chilly tonight, but I imagine the outdoor seating would be perfect on a warmer evening. We didn't have a reservation, but luckily we were seated within seconds. The space itself is on the smaller side, but it's thoughtfully designed and perfect for a cozy date night. Every employee who passed by greeted us, which made the atmosphere feel especially welcoming. We started with the octopus, served with potato foam, pickled pear, and chorizo. For entrées, he ordered the duck and I had the pork bolognese. Both dishes were full of flavor and cooked perfectly. We also ordered drinks. I do wish they had come out a bit earlier so we could enjoy them sooner, but the selection was impressive. We chose the bartender's choice, which was a really fun experience. The waitress asks a few questions, and based on your answers the bartender creates a drink they think you'll love. We were too full for dessert, though they did offer four different options. Overall, we were really happy we tried this restaurant and will definitely be back.

Inside

Brussels and octopus app

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French 0 mocktail-delicious!

The Grilled Cheese Bistro

4.4(1.4k reviews)

1.0 mi

Everything from the food to Service was really good parm fries are a must if you comeread more

We were lucky to get seats quickly. The location is small so it's quick to fill up. We were greeted…read morequickly and ordered our drinks. I got a bottle of ginger ale. We were at "the bar" so we were in bar stools. Definitely not my preferred seat, I squirmed a lot trying to get comfortable without kicking my neighbor. It was a pretty long wait for our food, as we salivated looking into the kitchen. I will say once we got our food, it was really yummy. My favorite part was the tomato bisque, tasted freshly made. So if you plan on going, definitely plan on waiting but totally worth it or just think ahead and do takeout.

Sea Salt Fries

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Rosemary Fries

508 Locals

4.3(35 reviews)

1.8 mi

My reservations fell through at a different location, and I came about this restaurant online. Most…read moreplaces were booked on a Saturday night. However, I called 508 locals to see if they had any availability. The hostess told us to come on through. When I pulled up it wasn't too busy. They were welcoming and sat us right away. We had an awesome waiter. Judging from his accent, he was from Ireland. He was great. Very enthusiastic and attentive. I was pretty hungry. I ordered the crab cakes (great sauce and aioli), Brussels (hot honey with goat cheese and cranberries), junglebird drink (delicious, it wasn't overly sweet), and ribeye. All delicious. I was not disappointed. It was such a chill place. It wasn't overly loud. It was clean. I recommend.

So we have been here twice now. I'm going to give each one separately:…read moreFirst time: Came in after a VA Stage show so kinda late. Sat at the bar. Service was absolutely awesome. Bartender was incredibly attentive for having a full bar. We each had 2 different cocktails and both were distinctive and excellently crafted. We had shared a couple of the small plates and enjoyed them both. We enjoyed the place so much that we decided to come back with a group of 14 for All Lovers Eve. Second time: Made the reservation with ease. If you've ever made a group reservation you know how complicated some places make it. This was a large group and they were short handed. This lead to a slower service which actually worked out well for our group. We didn't mind the gaps. They put us in their back room (hint - GREAT for groups) there was a little confusion with the order to include an extra dish we didn't order. We still ate it and paid for it though. The staff was great with our large and rather disruptive group. The food was all excellent (local oysters on the half shell and the apple desert were my highlights). Multiple cocktails that were all wonderful. My only real negative was that there was a $50 "loyalty club " charge that was never mentioned and I didn't even notice on the $1200.00 bill. This is, I believe, some sort of credit card fee. Both times were good. Both times staff were wonderful. Both times we were comfortable. Give the place a try. I don't think you will regret it.

The brunch menu

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T B.

0

3

3 years ago

i ate here today for the first time and I must say that the food and service was immaculate I love the fact of how clean they were I will definitely be back!!! Oh and also I got the fish and grits pancakes veggie omelette and the ultimate grits read more

TooZ3sty

0

1

0

2 years ago

The food was amazing after eating my pancakes was super delicious and pat (I think the owner) had a good vibe and the cafe felt like home I came with my family and with out a doubt I will comeback everything I came to VA. The service was A one. read more

Toni J.

2

0

2 years ago

Delicious food, Great Service by the employees. I love the atmosphere too. The food is bomb and just everything was so Danger good. read more

Ashlei L.

0

8

4

1 year ago

Great restaurant, their Sunday brunch is amazing! Highly recommend checking them out !!

Sweet Jam Cafe - tradamerican - Updated September 2026

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Hotrodders Cafe

4.4

(176 reviews)

I had to come visit when I saw them posting on Facebook that they had a great Gluten Free…read moreselection. We decided to go on a Saturday afternoon and it was a pleasant experience. I ordered the hamburger steak platter with collards and potato salad, ( I did get the hushpuppies but took that home for my kiddo) I also splurged on the fried pickles. Everything was great! I have been craving fried pickles and they are hard to find gluten free. They had GF cake but I was too full to enjoy a slice. Maybe next time :) My husband ordered a hamburger and also said it tasted good. If you are looking for a diner experience. This will give it to you for sure. The service was quick and friendly. There were multiple tvs playing a variety of shows perfect if you have multiple people in your party. Overall it was good and we will be back if you are out that way again!

I live nearby and had passed this place a hundred times before deciding to give it a try. To be…read morecompletely honest, I'd seen this place mentioned in chats identifying MAGA supportive businesses and that certainly gave me pause. BUT unless I see the business pushing their political viewpoints I never know how accurate rumors are plus I like to assess things for myself. Group of 3 came in on a rainy Memorial Day afternoon. We were immediately greeted by a friendly waitress who told us to sit wherever we'd like and she'd be right over. The place was not busy and our waitress was very sweet and efficient. We each ordered a different breakfast item (served all day) and I have to say everything was tasty. Pancakes cooked the way I like with crispy edges. The breakfast potatoes were crispy seasoned cubes but not at all greasy. I love that sourdough bread is an option. Overall, it's a good diner breakfast in a diner environment. We didn't get any dessert but there was a woman there as we were checking out who raved about the cake slices there and told us she comes almost every day for a slice of cake. I forgot to snap pics but the pics on here look very consistent with what we had and saw.

Pops Diner

3.7

(292 reviews)

Pop's Diner was a great first time experience for us. The coffee was fresh and really good, which…read moreis always a great way to start a meal for me. My daughter had the Hawaiian Mimosa (champagne, pineapple juice, and grenadine) and it was perfection well balanced between the juice and champagne without being too sweet. We ordered the she crab soup as well. My daughter really enjoyed it, but it just wasn't for me. It's hard to pinpoint exactly why it simply wasn't something I would order again. Overall, the food was great. My daughter ordered an omelette and said she would definitely get it again, though next time she'd ask for the lemon dill sour cream on the side because the flavor was a little overpowering for her. I had the pancake combo played it safe because this was our first visit. Overall, we had a good experience and the ambiance is nice booth and table style set up. I would come back to try more items on the menu.

I love diners and a very nice breakfast experience, so when I was in the area I did some research…read moreand two places that seemed to be nicely rated were Pop's and Filipino style breakfast place. I opted for Pop's. They weren't busy with regular customers when I arrived (I say "regular" because it appeared that someone rented out one side of the restaurant for a presentation and no one was on the other side). I was quickly greeted and seated and my server was friendly and very attentive and helpful. The menu is loaded with excellent options and there were so many that I had a tough time deciding. I opted for their Chorizo Bowl. Their coffee was great! I was amazing at how clean the water glass was... it's small things like this that tell me about their attention to detail - very important to notice! The Chorizo Bowl was bland and boring, which is unfortunate. I really wanted to like it, but there was no sauce, no flavor distinction between the items in the bowl and it smelled like flat top grill, not like the ingredients in the bowl. Hot sauce helped, but didn't really help that much. I ended up eating about 1/3 of it. My server did notice and ask, but I told her it was fine... I honestly didn't want to start over and I was short on time. I like the concept, if I ever came back, I'd do something different.

Shelton’s Big Grill

4.3

(342 reviews)

This little hole in the wall by the j mart/ food lion is so quaint you can barely see it, but once…read moreyou're in there you are in a world of food goodness. Service was fast, nice and homey, just like a nice old school diner. Waitress came up to us often and I believe one of the owners or maybe the older folks came to us and called us hunny and you cannot get that service anymore. We got the biscuits and gravy and reuben and they pretty much slap. I can't say I've had a bad sammich/ biscuits, but those were pretty good. Overall, it's the kindness and the sweetness that got me. 10/10

Service is good. Waitress checked in with us a couple of times. First time here, ordered their…read morecorned beef hash special as it seems it's highlighted on the menu as recommended. Corned beef was not as chunky as I had expected. It had a lot of potato bits which was too much potatoes as the corned beef hash was sitting on a bed of roasted potatoes. Sunny side up eggs were cooked perfectly, Ambiance is typical neighborhood grill cafe. Wish they used newer mugs - mine was slightly chipped and cracked! Coffee was typical, wish it was more robust and less bitter; I normally just have cream no sugar.

Angie's Family Restaurant

4.0

(117 reviews)

I like my food well done, and they made the bacon & French toast just how I asked. Loved the silver…read moredollar pancakes and their presentation. Very friendly server, the space is open inside and we will be back when we are in Norfolk.

The overall look of this place is nice. There's plenty of room downstairs and the upstairs has…read moreadditional sitting if needed. We were able to get a seat immediately but was placed in the back of the restaurant even though the place wasn't packed. Our waitress was attentive and brought over menus and took our drink order almost immediately after being seated. After placing our order our food arrived within 15 minutes. The food was fresh and hot. While there wasn't anything in particular that stood out about the meal, I enjoyed myself.

The Pancake House & Grill

3.4

(272 reviews)

I will probably be thinking about Eggs Benedict with soft-shell crab for years to come…read more The only thing which would have made it better was being able to swap the Canadian bacon for a tomato slice. I'm guessing that's possible at the restaurant, but I placed my order online so there were some limits. I don't think a side request would have helped because I did try to ask for some ketchup packets. The strawberry crepes were also good. I'd happily get them again when craving something sweeter for breakfast.

This place has been around for as long as I can remember, and I somehow just recently had the…read morepleasure of trying it for the first time at The Pancake House & Grill, and honestly, I'm mad I waited this long come dine here. I ordered the Southwest omelet, a side of fresh fruit, and the sweet potato pancakes (no pecans, no powdered sugar). Everything came out exactly how I asked for it, which I truly appreciated. Shoutout to our waitress, who was incredibly kind, patient, and attentive. I'm currently being mindful of my blood pressure, and she made sure my food was prepared without added salt with zero attitude and full care. That level of service really stood out! The omelet was flavorful without being overwhelming, the fruit was fresh, and the sweet potato pancakes still hit without all the extras; soft, comforting, and perfectly cooked. They didn't even need syrup or butter to fully enjoy. I'm giving 4 stars because while the food and service were great, I still want to come back and try a few more things before calling it perfect. But I can absolutely see why this place has been a Norfolk staple for over 60 years. I'll definitely be back.

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What a great hole in the wall diner. There were plenty of specials and the regular menu was loaded…read moreas well. I would have had the shrimp and grits, but they were out of shrimp. So I had the sausage gravy special. It was great! Their sausage gravy is one of the best I've had. I will return if I get back here.

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I've eaten here several times now. Their prime rib is really good, service excellent, and the…read moreatmosphere better following a remodel. Prices are reasonable. Arrive early, they stay relatively busy.

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This was our first visit to this hidden gem. The food was home cooked…read moredelicious, the menu was extensive, and the desserts were to die for! Our server, Tiera, did an amazing job even considering they were a bit short staffed. The place had a family friendly feeling. We will definitely be returning!

We woke up on a Saturday morning and decided to do breakfast instead of our usual coffee date. We…read morekept driving by Brick House Diner and have never stopped so we figured today was the day! When we arrived it was busy but not full. The staff was polite and we were seated quickly. We ordered some coffee and took a look at the menu. At first glance, my daughter was stated the menu reminded her of waffle house at school. Gotta love college kids! I ordered a bacon and cheese omelet but omited the sides because I wasn't sure if they were gluten free. My husband also ordered an omelet, his was the meat lovers. He had toast and potatoes as his side. My daughter enjoyed a Eggs Benedict. The food came out pretty quick which was nice because it started to get quite busy. Our omelets came out and were huge and full of ingredients. I had no complaints. The eggs on the eggs benedict were a little over done but the rest of the plate was perfect so it didn't bother my daughter at all. Overall everything was really good and when we were leaving there was a wait so I'm glad we got there early. We will most definitely be back!!

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Hood spot, amazing chicken. Each piece tastes like somebody's grandma was in the back massaging it…read morein holy oil and herbs. I can eat hot and cold and that is saying alot considering I do not eat cold chicken.

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