Highest-rated restaurants in Norfolk by diners
Humans are creatures of habit. We tend to stick to our morning routines, rewatch movies we've seen time and time again, and hit up the same tried-and-true restaurants when going out for a meal. In fact, 35% of Americans said they rarely, if ever, try a new restaurant they haven't been to before, and 5% say they never do, according to a survey of more than 2,600 diners from TouchBistro.
But those numbers look quite different when you focus on younger generations—56% of Gen Zers and 47% of millennials in the U.S. say they visit new restaurants once a month or more. When it comes to deciding which new restaurant to try, younger generations are also more likely to rely on online reviews, through sites like Yelp or Google or from social media. The TouchBistro survey found that 71% of Gen Zers and 72% of millennials have opted to try a new restaurant solely because of favorable reviews online.
Some of the best restaurants in your neck of the woods might be those established spots that customers have been visiting for decades, but some may be brand new. More than 10,000 new restaurants opened in 2023, up 5.7% from 2022, according to a report from BentoBox. The states that saw the most new restaurants open up in 2023 were Florida, Texas, California, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, but new locales are popping up all over the U.S.
To help you determine which spots—both new and long-standing—to try out, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated restaurants in Norfolk, according to Yelp reviews from diners as of January 2024. Only restaurants with at least 20 reviews were considered. Read on to find some inspiration for the next time you dine out.
Note: The photos in this article are stock images and do not necessarily reflect each restaurant listed.
#23. Virginia Cheese Co.
- Rating: 4.5/5 (34 reviews)
- Address: 501 Botetourt St. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Cheese Shops, Beer Bar, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Chorizo Mexican Eatery
- Rating: 4.5/5 (128 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4820 Hampton Blvd. Ste A Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Punjabi Rasoi Indian Cusine
- Rating: 4.5/5 (55 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4200 Monarch Way Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Indian
- Read more on Yelp
#20. LeGrand Kitchen
- Rating: 4.5/5 (276 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4226 Granby St. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: New American, Diners, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#19. crudo nudo
- Rating: 4.5/5 (148 reviews)
- Address: 727 West 21st St. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, Pasta Shops, Tapas Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Coach House Bar & Grill
- Rating: 4.5/5 (73 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5103 Colley Ave. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Grandiflora Wine Garden
- Rating: 4.5/5 (35 reviews)
- Address: 1231 Boissevain Ave. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Vegetarian, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Blanca
- Rating: 4.5/5 (167 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 4117 Granby St. Ste A Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Wine Bars, Modern European, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Mahalo Poke House
- Rating: 4.5/5 (54 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 9559 Shore Drive Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Poke, Hawaiian
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Chartreuse Bistro
- Rating: 4.5/5 (180 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 205 East City Hall Ave. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Modern European
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Waters Edge Winery & Bistro Norfolk
- Rating: 4.5/5 (59 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6464 Hampton Blvd. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Wineries, American, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#12. 350 Grace
- Rating: 4.5/5 (109 reviews)
- Address: 350 West 22nd St. Bldg 114 - 115 Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Southern, Seafood, Gluten-Free
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Blackdog Cafe & Catering Company
- Rating: 4.5/5 (50 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5360 Robin Hood Road Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Caterers, Custom Cakes, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Codex
- Rating: 4.5/5 (126 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 429 Granby St. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Sam's Texas Sub Shop
- Rating: 4.5/5 (209 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4311 A Colley Ave. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Sandwiches, Barbeque, Delis
- Read more on Yelp
#8. La Brioche Bakery & Coffee
- Rating: 4.5/5 (143 reviews)
- Address: 765 Granby St. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Bakeries, Patisserie/Cake Shop, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Cafe Genevieve
- Rating: 5.0/5 (35 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 208 East Main St. Ste 101 Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Macarons, Desserts, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Mea Culpa Cafe
- Rating: 5.0/5 (89 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2410 Colonial Ave. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Jack Eats
- Rating: 5.0/5 (35 reviews)
- Address: 208 East Main St. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Filipino, Bakeries, Donuts
- Read more on Yelp
#4. kitchenfinity
- Rating: 5.0/5 (30 reviews)
- Address: 9500 Fechteler Road Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Comfort Food, Desserts, Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Maymar Poke and Grill
- Rating: 5.0/5 (171 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 130 Maple Ave. Ste A Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Poke, Filipino
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Naci's Corner Cafe
- Rating: 5.0/5 (94 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1900 Granby St. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Mediterranean, Cafes, Turkish
- Read more on Yelp
#1. The High Cup
- Rating: 5.0/5 (55 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 117 East Princess Anne Road Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Korean, Art Galleries
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Jaimie Etkin, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 331 metros.