The 6 Norfolk restaurants Guy Fieri visited on ‘Diners, Drive-ins and Dives’
Foodies and Food Network fans should check out these 6 Norfolk restaurants featured on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.”
Foodies and frequent viewers of the Food Network are likely familiar with the prolific Guy Fieri show “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.” It features Fieri as he takes cross-country road trips to some of America’s classic “greasy spoons.”
Given that the show has been on the air for 39 seasons, it should come as no surprise that it has featured its fair share of Norfolk-based restaurants over the years. If you’re looking to channel your inner Fieri, consider visiting one of these five Norfolk diners, drive-ins, and dives.
Doumar’s Cones & Barbeque
1919 Monticello Ave. Norfolk, VA 23517
When it comes to must-visit Norfolk establishments, Doumar’s Cones & Barbecue should be at the top of your list. The iconic curb service restaurant has been around since 1904. Start with its North Carolina-style barbeque and a glass of its famous limeade, which are made by scratch and by hand. You can’t go wrong with a pork barbeque sandwich. Then move onto some ice cream. You’ll love the handmade waffle cones, which are rolled right in front of you on the original four-iron waffle machine that was built in 1905.
If the weather is nice, be on the lookout for a member of the Doumar family and the waffle machine. They often park it right outside the diner, so patrons can watch the magic happen from their cars.
In the episode it was featured in, “Diners You Sent Me To,” Fieri had the Strawberry Willy sundae and limeade.
The Dirty Buffalo
4012 Colley Ave. Norfolk, VA 23518
There’s a reason why The Dirty Buffalo bills itself as “more than just a wing joint,” and it’s because of its unique and expansive menu.
Established in 2012 by Western New York native and Old Dominion University alumni Russell Gilbert, the restaurant was originally aimed at bringing an authentic buffalo-style chicken wing restaurant to the area. Having grown up in the restaurant business and equipped with a marketing degree, Gilbert came up with a plan to create a family-friendly restaurant and sports bar that features his interpretation of his favorite Western New York dishes. It has now grown to include four locations.
You can’t go to The Dirty Buffalo and not order the wings, so check out the 10 rub options, including mango habanero, sugar bourbon BBQ, and sweet Jamaican, plus more than 30 sauce options, including strawbenero BBQ, margarita buffalo, and mawi wowie. Cauli wings are also available. Pair them with an order of dirty home fries and you won’t be disappointed.
In the episode it was featured in, “From Spicy to Icy,” Fieri said he loved the Buffalo Solider sauce so much that he wanted “to use it as a stir fry sauce.”
The Grilled Cheese Bistro
345 Granby St. Norfolk, VA 23510
Who doesn’t love a good grilled cheese? Grilled cheese lovers should check out The Grilled Cheese Bistro. The bistro has every version of a grilled cheese sandwich imaginable.
Some standout menu items include the Loaded Baked Potato, which comes with applewood bacon, sea salt fries, sour cream, scallions, and cheddar on sourdough, and the Fall for Giuseppe, which comes with Moscato-poached pear, prosciutto di Parma, fresh basil, local honey, balsamic glaze, mozzarella, and fontina on sourdough. For a side, consider the rosemary truffle with chipotle aioli or cinnamon cayenne pepper with chipotle aioli. It even serves gluten-free bread and vegan cheese. Wash it all down with a Grilled Cheese Bistro red sangria.
The bistro was featured in the “Ocean Coasts and Great Lakes” episode.
Pendulum Fine Meats
820 Shirley Ave. Norfolk VA 23517
Pendulum Fine Meats is a labor of love for Dylan and Dana Wakefield. The Wakefields are so dedicated to the business that they live upstairs in the historic building that they painstakingly restored. Their path to owning the business was a natural progression, given that Dylan grew up being involved in his father’s bar, spent time cooking on a Navy submarine, and studied at the Culinary Institute of America.
The Wakefields view the business as being more than just a butcher shop, but rather a place where customers can get educated. They encourage customers to inquire about the farmers they source from and how they raise their animals.
Sample the Wakefields’ classic favorites and new innovations daily from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at The Butchers Luncheonette. You can’t go wrong with the classic Cleaver Burger, which comes with house ground beef, bacon, American cheese, caramelized onions, pickles, shredded lettuce, marinated tomatoes, cleaver steak sauce, and mayonnaise on a brioche roll. When you drive up, be on the lookout for the metal cleaver that’s on the building’s exterior. It was made by Dylan’s brother who lives in Louisiana.
In the “Sandwiches, Spaetzle and Sticky Wings” episode, Fieri was taken back to his childhood by the slow-roasted beef that he described as being “so thin, it only has one side.”
Alkaline
742 W. 21st St. Suite F/G Norfolk, VA 23517
Alkaline is the place to go for modern interpretations of the classic ramen dish. The restaurant prides itself on the fact that almost everything it serves is made in-house. While ramen is its specialty, it also serves Asian-style street food like lumpia, Asian tacos, stewed pork nachos, and okonomiyaki.
In the “Sandwiches, Spaetzle and Sticky Wings” episode, owner Kevin Ordonez served Fieri his popular wings. Ordonez lightly coats the wings and fries them twice for an optimal crunch before brushing them with a sweet and spicy sauce.
Food Network reports that the braised ox tail-topped ramen was so tasty that Fieri didn’t want the dish to end.
Get Fresh Cafe
Sadly, the Get Fresh Café, which was featured in the “Gettin Fresh” episode in Season 12, is no longer with us. Offering a farm-to-table experience, the café earned high marks from Fieri, who said that everything from the meatloaf mash to the vegan sloppy joe had an unbeatable “knock-out” flavor.”
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