“We all eat, and it would be a sad waste of opportunity to eat badly.” - Anna Thomas
Whenever I am able to try a local spot, it makes me so happy. Downtown Norfolk is literally bursting at the seams with amazing and quality restaurants. Many are tucked away in the historical Ghent area or easily accessible within the Neon District and on Granby Street! No matter where you turn you are bound to luck up on some place super special. Not only is the food super delicious, but the people make the experience that much better. Being able to connect with local business owners, and trying their food really make dining out that much cooler.
Today, I’m sharing two new spots that I’ve recently lucked up on - La Brioche and Codex. Their food and unique atmosphere really are worth trying out!
La Brioche
Rating: 5/5
One of my dear friends has raved about La Brioche - and I totally value her opinion, because she is from France! La Brioche is a French-style bakery, and their food is so fresh and authentic. Everything is made fresh daily and in-house - once an item is sold, it’s gone until the next day. From pastries to gourmet sandwiches, everything is super delicious and absolutely yummy. The ingredients are high quality, and you can taste it in each bite.
The entry to La Brioche, in the Neon District.
The staff was so sweet, and really went out of their way to review their menu. They were kind and ensured throughout our visit that we had everything we could possibly want. La Brioche, is perfect to visit at anytime throughout the day - from a breakfast stop to a afternoon snack, they have so many options. I do recommend visiting first thing in the morning if you want an excellent selection though - their items go fast!
Chocolate Chip pastry, Apple Tart, and Almond Croissant.
Codex
Rating: 4/5
Remember when I went to visit Pendulum Fine Meats & Market last month? Well, Codex is located right in that same space! By day this location is Pendulum, and by night Codex comes in and flips the restaurant into a Modern American dinner spot. Codex makes the restaurant slightly different by switching up the ambiance and adding additional seating. This place gets packed super quickly - so I most certainly recommend making a reservation - otherwise you’ll be waiting for awhile for table.
Entrance into Codex + lovely artwork showcasing the restaurant logo.
I was so pleased with the staff, and how kind they were during our meal. Our waitress even let us try a few wines before we selected the perfect pair for our meals! For my dinner, I ended up choosing the Sockeye Salmon entree. It was really delicious, and paired with the light salad, was the perfect summer dish. The experience was pretty neat, to see one of our favorite lunch spots transitioned to a high-end dinner spot was pretty cool. There was a slight drawback, it was pretty cramped in the restaurant to accommodate for extra seating, but my husband and I were glad we tried it out!
Sockeye Salmon + Heirloom Tomato and Cucumber Panzanella Salad
I can’t wait to try more local spots in the near future. It’s always a blast being able to try new experiences, and sharing them with loved ones.
XO, Analise
