Restaurants in Norfolk

At Al Wadi Restaurant, executive chef Walid Massad and his cooks transport palates to Beirut with flame-grilled kebabs and stews seasoned with Lebanese spices. Seated at linen-clad tables, diners clasp skewers of marinated beef tenderloin grilled over an open flame, and sink teeth into baked haddock with roasted pine nuts, served over spiced rice. The dining room shrouds every meal in elegance, with tiny chandeliers illuminating the inlets carved into the walls. Twinkling lights illuminate the bar, changing colors so servers know when they’re allowed to walk without disrupting foot traffic.

Jenn and Donny have long accepted their elitist take on coffee. As college students and self-professed coffee snobs who both worked in the food industry, they bemoaned a lack of sophisticated brews and attentive service, finally deciding that innovation would be the best form of protest. They dreamt up their own café where the beans would be freshly micro-roasted, the cocoa would incorporate three types of chocolate, and every drink would be handmade by the same person who took your order. The resulting venue, Coffee Break Cafe, lined its menu with libations of all temperatures and caffeinated creeds.

The café's house blend hails from locales such as Sumatra, Colombia, Africa, and South America and is shipped from specialty roasters who prep the beans in small batches. Jenn and Donny's commitment to coffee quality is matched by their enthusiasm for the natural world—they stock organic and fair-trade options, as well as dairy products from a hormone-free farm. Though they stand by meticulous barista techniques, they are hardly sugar-shunning purists. They readily infuse hot and frozen drinks with dessert flavors, ranging from red velvet cupcake to cinnamon bun, crafting a far superior breakfast sweet than grapefruit pie. Bagels and pastries, delivered daily by neighborhood bakeries, balance out refreshing sips. The morning hotspot's communal spirit is reflected in hanging pictures by local artists, live music, and complimentary story readings for kids.

Isabella Restaurant

Isabella Restaurant is situated next to a movie theater, so perhaps that’s why its cuisine is so visually captivating. Under the guidance of executive chef John Mahoney, the eatery offers up succulent Atlantic salmon tossed in whole-wheat pasta and spicy hong kong noodles, served with wok-fried veggies and peanuts plus a choice of chicken, steak, or shrimp. Hardwood flooring bespeaks a muted elegance and pea-green walls help vegetables to feel relaxed.

Within the recently renovated confines, sunlight streams from large windows in the dining room, bouncing off the dark wooden tables as well as the frameless cityscapes that adorn the walls. Exposed brick walls, romantic lighting, and a sleek wooden bar further augment the casually elegant space. Diners can indulge in hearty New England comfort food, such as pumpkin ravioli and Nantucket risotto, from their chosen spot, whether it be a booth, a barstool, or the chef’s lap.

Patriots Diner is a throwback to the 1950s, a time when restaurants and soda fountains served as important hubs of socialization. The menu there deepens nostalgia with dishes that the owners hope emulates the cooking most people grew up with. Under glowing lights like hanging martini glasses, plates brim with juicy burgers, fish and chips, meat loaf, and pork chops. Coffee cups warm hands next to all-day breakfast offerings of omelets and waffles beneath walls decorated with vintage magazine covers and photos of Christopher Columbus’ wooden scuba flippers. The restaurant’s neon-blue lights are easily seen from the roadside and match the dining room’s royal blue booths and chrome-trimmed stools.