26 February 2024

Dining: Downtown Norfolk Restaurants 

Take a walk up Granby St. on any given night and you’ll think you’ve wandered into a trendy NYC borough complete with restaurants of every cuisine type and happy foodies enjoying dinner on sidewalks and in cozy parklets. From the cozy and casual to the upscale and on-trend, Norfolk downtown restaurants have a little bit of something for everyone.


Here are a few of our favorite restaurants in Downtown Norfolk.

Burgers, beer and fries at Grain, Norfolk Hilton The Main.
Grain, Norfolk Hilton The Main

American Cuisine

Choongman Chicken — Wings, tenders. 436 Granby St.

Hair of the Dog — Comfort food with a Southern twist. 250 Granby St. 

Grain — Elevated beer garden in the Hilton Norfolk The Main. 100 E. Main St. 

Todd Jurich’s Bistro — Upscale dining and fine wines. 150 W. Main St. 

Canvas Social Cuisine — Soul food, comfort food, Caribbean. 411 Granby St. 

Guy Fieri’s Smokehouse — Smoked meats, barbecue, more. 333 Waterside Dr.

The Stockpot — Soups, salads, pastries in Selden Market. 215 E. Plume St. 

219 Bistro — Fresh seafood, charcuterie, steaks, more. 219 Granby St. 

The Norfolk Grille — Fresh meals and snacks at the Nauticus. One Waterside Dr. 

The Grilled Cheese Bistro — The name says it all. Featured on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.” 345 Granby St.  

Circuit Social — Video games, self-serve beer taps, food. 258 Granby St. 

Granby Bistro and Deli — American comfort foods and deli selections. 225 Granby St. 

Brothers Norfolk — Black-owned steakhouse and jazz club. 300 Monticello

Hell’s Kitchen — Wings, pizza, wraps and live music. 124 Granby St. 

Tap It Local — Burgers and craft beer. 244 Granby St. 

Codex — Upscale farm-to-table dining. 429 Granby St. 

The Bistro on Main —Urban bistro serving modern spins on Southern fare. 500 E. Main St.

Sweet Jam Cafe — Soul food. 1446 Church St. 

Famous Uncle Al’s — Breakfast, hot dogs and deli favorites. 151 Granby St. 

Tinto Wine and Cheese — Gourmet cheese, charcuterie, paninis. 999 Waterside Dr. 

Johnny Rockets — Classic American burgers, fries and shakes. 300 Monticello in MacArthur Mall. 

Jack Brown’s Beer and Burger Joint —  Excellent burgers and craft beer. 131 Granby St. 

Baxter’s Sports Lounge — Burgers and brews in a sports bar. 500 Granby St. 

Gershwin’s — Upscale bistro with live music (American standards). 332 Granby St. 

D’egg Diner — Breakfast and lunch with traditional favorites. 204 E. Main St. 

Granby Waffle Shop — Chicken, waffles, good times. 235 E. Plume St. 

Gourmet Gang — Bistro offering healthy alternative to fast food. 482 E. Main St. 

Syd’s Fish Pig Cafe — Award-winning Southern regional food with a French twist. 210 E. Main St. 

Byrd and Baldwin Steakhouse —  Fine dining steak and chophouse. 116 Brooke Ave. 

Pokey on Granby St. @melissa_dabucon
Pokey on Granby St. @melissa_dabucon

Asian

Bonchon — Korean fried chicken. 273 Granby St. 

Ya-Ya Asian Gourmet House — Modern interpretation of classic Asian dishes. 109A College Pl. 

Dong Tay — Authentic Vietnamese and Chinese dishes. 435 Monticello Ave.  

Hokkaido Sushi Bar — Specialty rolls and Chinese cuisine. 233 Granby St. 

Pokey — Fresh poke and ramen. 215 Granby St. 

Sakura Elite Sushi Bar & Hibachi — Asian fusion and sushi. 300 Monticello Ave.  

Sushi King Monticello — Fresh sustainable sushi and hibachi. 420 Monticello Ave. #100

Rama Garden — Fresh Thai favorites. 441 Granby St. 

Restaurant inside the Glass Light Hotel on Granby St. in Downtown Norfolk, VA.
Glass Light Hotel on Granby St.

European 


Chartreuse Bistro — Organic, farm-to-table foods to the table using European techniques. 205 E. City Hall Ave.  

Monastery Restaurant — Tastes from across Europe with gourmet desserts. 443 Granby St. 

Mermaid Winery — Charcuterie boards, flatbreads and entrees to pair with local wines. 101 Granby St. 

Istanbul Gyro and Kebab — Tasty Turkish Mediterranean Cuisine. 723 Monticello Ave. 

Glass Light Restaurant — Art-themed upscale eatery in the Glass LIght Hotel. 201 Granby St. 

Grace O’Malley’s Irish Pub and Restaurant — Irish pub fare and an excellent beer handle selection. 211 Granby St. 

Indian

Saffron Indian Bistro — Large selection of traditional Indian cuisine. 420 Monticello #170

Bartender pouring a glass of wine at Luce, Downtown Norfolk restaurant.
Luce Norfolk

Italian 

Capo Capo — Prime steaks, chops and seafood with an Italian-influenced menu. 235 E. Main St.

Luce — Traditional dishes like Osso Bucco, pasta, more. 245 Granby St. 

Varia — Italian trattoria with lush interior inside Norfolk Hilton The Main. 100 E. Main St. 

Leone’s Italian —  Authentic atmosphere, authentic ingredients. 455 Granby St. 

Pizza


Chicho’s Backstage — Pizza, wings, salads, more. 320 Granby St. 

Benny Damato’s — Serving New York-style-inspired pizza to order, sliced from a 28-inch pie. 131 Granby St. 

Outdoor dining at Saltine in Downtown Norfolk.
Saltine, Norfolk

Seafood


456 Fish — Tuna, salmon, shrimp and other fresh fare from the sea. 456 Granby St. 

Saltine — 100 E. Main St.

Norfolk Seafood Company and Big Easy Oyster Bar — Oysters, flounder, scallops, crab. 111 Tazewell St. 

Black Tuna Bar and Grille — Fresh seafood in the Wyndham Garden Norfolk Downtown hotel. 700 Monticello Ave. 

Waterside Seafood Company — Fresh catch dishes in the Sheraton Waterside. 777 Waterside Dr. 

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