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    Mea Culpa Cafe

    4.7 (102 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

    Mea Culpa Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    MEA CULPA CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Mea Culpa Cafe

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    Outside donation fridge
    George N.

    From start to finish, everything about this place was exceptional. Tucked away outside of downtown Norfolk, this charming little coffee shop offers a cozy ambience and a refreshingly creative approach to breakfast. The menu--posted on the wall--is small, with just 6 or 7 items, but it's a perfect example of "quality over quantity." We ordered nearly everything on the menu, and each dish somehow outdid the last. The inventive combinations--like corn pancakes topped with parmesan, cilantro, and egg--gave every plate a unique and memorable twist. The French toast was among the best I've ever had: perfectly crisp on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and topped with just the right amount of sweet, fresh cream cheese frosting. The lemon curd on the waffles was delicious. And the BLT sandwich was crispy and had a delicious sauce. Even the coffee impressed us. The flavor options were both unique and natural-tasting--not overly sweet or artificial. The staff was warm and welcoming, rounding out what was a truly outstanding experience. If you're in the area, this is an absolute must-visit for a standout breakfast. Oh they even had an outside donation fridge which I thought was really cool. Great way to help out the community.

    london fog
    Esha R.

    Love love love this little cafe hidden on a street in Norfolk. It is such a cute little house that has an amazing food pantry right outside of it and has a wrap around porch that has seating outside as well as inside! An amazing place for a cute hang to catch up with friends during the few days they are open during the week and even an amazing study spot! The artwork for the drinks are gorgeous! I always get a london fog because I don't drink coffee (I wish they had more chai/decaf options would be my one request). I especially love their brunch food items. I think they are so unique and so well decorated with the plating and knife through the unique waffle sandwich with amazingly welled cooked veggies and eggs! Highly recommend trying this place and getting food here! The service us a bit slow but that is because they take their time to make everything very fresh! I will definitely be back!

    Stephanie S.

    Good to know before you go: You can order to-go, but they don't carry plastic utensils. Overall, I do enjoy Mea Culpa. Unfortunately, I don't know if I'll be back because it's out of the way from my house and I just didn't have a great experience today. It took 45min to get our order. After about 35min of waiting, I asked if we could change our dine in order to-go because we had an appointment we needed to be at. Last time I was there, the service was quick. Today, they were busy, only had 2 employees, and it was very slow. When we got out to-go order, I asked for utensils. They said they don't carry plastic utensils. So we had to leave for our appointment, and I couldn't eat my breakfast on the way because I didn't have utensils, and I had been looking forward to this meal all week. I left feeling hungry and frustrated. The food and coffee are good though. If you have the time, I'd still recommend giving Mea Culpa a try. I really like the community fridge outside, and the aesthetic inside is really cute and cozy.

    Menu
    Jorge I.

    What a sweet spot! Make sure to pay attention when trying to find this place because it's a literal HOUSE! It's super adorable and the baristas were sweet! Hands down, probably the best Dirty Chai I've had so far, it had the right amount of sweetness and spice!

    French Toast.
    Tony B.

    This is probably my favorite Norfolk coffee spot! Love their heart for the community with the community pantry outside. The vibes are artsy. Conversations with friends are great here, but also you can go solo and get into a book. As a coffee lover the coffee was legit and the brunch was very good. Each time I've been, Josh has taken my order and he is awesome. Josh is very kind and will chat with you about anything if you want, seems like he loves what he does. There is also a covered outside area if you prefer that. Would recommend this to anyone!

    Entry
    Fina K.

    Hidden gem! It show the care they give to the community. Plus the food is great! Not a big menu, but the dishes are super yummy! Will definitely go back!

    Waffle sandwich (zucchini, egg, lettuce, sun dried tomatoes)
    Sikoya A.

    Came because the (very cute) name caught my eye. A heads up, don't walk past this place, it's looks like a regular two-story white house on the outside. Loved the ambiance, decor, and outdoor seating options. Plenty of outlets inside if you decide to sit and work. Owners were very kind and offered great food recommendations. The waffle sandwich was well seasoned and balanced. I'm glad I had the chance to stop by.

    London tea
    Mary-Ann L.

    I have seen reviews which really peaked my interest to discover Mea Culpa. There's nothing to profess Mea Culpa for, as the ambience, the food and the service were all wonderful. From the outside, it is just like any other houses, very simple sign that easily could be missed. But when you enter, there is nothing typical about this place. It is very light and airy, very clean lines and modern decor. You look to the side you immediately know there were very deliberate thoughts to making the customers feel welcomed to stay and enjoy their menu items. There are tables on a covered porch facing a very serene and private side of the restaurant. The food is deliciously complex and unique. The liege waffle is unlike any other waffle. I ordered the waffle breakfast sandwich which had egg, zucchini, micro greens, secret sauce. My friend ordered the savory oatmeal which she said was really good with raisins and walnuts. The specialty lattes and teas were equally phenomenal and uniquely complex. I ordered the coriander caramel latte and my friend ordered The London Tea. We both loved loved loved our beverages! If you haven't been to Mea Culpa then that's what you'll be feeling because you'll truly be missing on a fantastic experience.

    Indoor Decoration
    Jessica L.

    We were able to find parking right by the cafe. It has a chill atmosphere. We enjoyed the horchata syrup waffle and goat cheese waffle. We also got mocha lattes. It took a while for the food to come out but we weren't too bothered about it as we were just hanging out and catching up.

    Interior
    Allison N.

    Favorite coffee shop that I visited in Norfolk! They use local beans and the coffee was made with care. They use house made syrups and their vanilla oat milk latte was so good I came back and got it a second time. Drip coffee comes with a free refill. They have a limited food menu with unique items that were all very good. We tried the banh mi and liege waffle and both were hot, fresh, and delicious! Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating and the place itself is cute and quaint. Employees are friendly and service was great. Would definitely recommend if you're in Norfolk!

    Horchata waffle
    Annabelle P.

    After tasting the first bite of these waffles, you'll need a moment to process the flavor explosion happening inside your mouth. Both the horchata waffle and the goat cheese waffle are well balanced and complex. The atmosphere is great for studying (plenty of outlets). The staff are so friendly and I can't wait to come back to try their entire menu!

    Iced vanilla oat milk latte
    Deni B.

    Honestly, not sure what I could write in this review that hasn't already been mentioned here. Mea Culpa is an incredible addition to Park Place. From ambiance to food to coffee, it's an all around wonderful experience. I stopped by to catch up with a friend on a gray rainy day. After going inside to order, we opted to try to sit on the porch regardless of rain for better air circulation. Thankfully, the porch was well covered and provided a lovely oasis from the water. We didn't get wet, but were able to listen to the rain and passersby. My iced vanilla oat milk latte was delightful and refreshing. I'm a notoriously slow coffee drinker, but downed this whole glass before the ice melted. Some of that is definitely due to the fact that they have paper straws and I wanted to finish it before my straw disintegrated - next time I'll remember my metal straw! We shared the corn pancakes and waffle with goat cheese, honey, and pistachios. Wow!! I went for the pancakes first, so the waffle wasn't warm anymore by the time I got to it. But it was definitely the star of the show!

    Caramel Latte

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    3 months ago

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    6 months ago

    normally great experience ; complete opposite today. New menu ; not the regular staff. Quality went way down in just a month.

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    Wow this place is cool with great service, good vibes and tasty waffles. Good mix between brunch and coffee shop.

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Mea Culpa Cafe

    Are the corn pancakes gluten-free?

    Do they really not open until 8:00 on weekdays?

    Their current hours are listed as from Wednesday through Sunday from 8 am to 3 pm.

    Are the waffles vegan-friendly?

    I don't believe so, I think Tina uses milk with them, but they are fluffy and delicious!

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Vessel Craft Coffee

    Vessel Craft Coffee

    4.6
    (24 reviews)
    1.2 mi

    This review is only for coffee, I did not have any food…read more The coffee here is outstanding. I had a pour-over, and it was amazing, and not very expensive. I could really taste the flavor notes, you can tell it's freshly roasted and ground and prepared correctly. They roast the beans here, and overall, I think the inside is super comfy. They have all sorts of different seating, from tables and a couple booths to couches. They also have a small kids area, with a couple games, books, and coloring, which is a huge plus. There's board games too. From downtown, you can take the LRT to the last stop and then walk on the bike/pedestrian path here, it's a pleasant walk. Bathrooms were clean, and there was a baby changing table in mine. Highly recommend!

    HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!! As soon as I walked in, I was convinced this was the cutest coffee shop I've…read moreever seen. The atmosphere immediately transported me to New York City. Sarah and Erin greeted me with such great energy that they instantly made me want to come back and become a regular. I had to take a moment to look around because the entire place has an incredible aesthetic and vibe. Then I ordered an iced double espresso with cream, and it was absolutely out of this world. It was so good that I ended up buying a whole bag of coffee to take home. I got the Main Street Espresso, and it has amazing notes of chocolate and berry--smooth, rich, and delicious. The staff also recommended the food, so I ordered the chorizo burrito. Honestly, that's what pushed me to write this review. It was incredible. This place nailed everything: the atmosphere, the coffee, the food, and the people. I'll definitely be back--possibly as soon as tomorrow!

    Photos
    The roaster
    The roaster
    Cranberry Orange Muffin
    Cranberry Orange Muffin
    Peppermint Mocha w/ Oat Milk

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    Mudita Cafe & Coffeehouse

    Mudita Cafe & Coffeehouse

    4.4
    (113 reviews)
    6.1 mi
    $$

    Stopped in for some down time. Today I went with old faithful- danish and a hot tea…read more The coconut imperial tea is a must try. I prefer it hot but I'm pretty sure you can have it over ice. The smell of the tea is intoxicating and the taste is even better. Good snacks, great drinks and a crazy chill vibe.

    What a gem of a coffee shop in ocean view! Stopped in on a recent Friday for a morning pick me up…read morebefore venturing through the tunnel. I love this area of the city - feels a little small town/a little suburban. I have the coffee passport and was excited to try this new-to-me spot. Mudita sits just off Ocean View Ave practically on the beach. On this visit, there was ample street parking, but I dare say it is tricky on weekends and during the summer. It is in a pedestrian-friendly area, which is a plus, so it's easy to walk to. They do make a point to remind you not to park in the lot belonging to the adjacent shopping center or risk being towed. When I stopped in, it was empty except for one table. I let them know this was my first visit and the staff was happy to tell me about seasonal specials. They have a variety of teas and coffees. I do wish they had a sample of their food menu where they take orders. I didn't notice it until I picked up my drink, so I'll have to return when I have more time to peruse it. For my first visit, I wanted to try a seasonal special drink and opted for the Vietnamese Egg Coffee. It was described as an Americano style drink with egg custard foam. They offer decaf which is a plus so I selected this. It was ready in about 5 mins and was absolutely delicious. The only downside was the size. I wasn't expecting an espresso sized beverage for the price, but probably because I'm used to a Starbucks Americano which is bigger (even for a tall) and has slightly more hot water. The flavor was impressive and I much prefer the espresso Mudita uses! Overall, a great experience. I don't often venture out to OV, but I'll definitely stop back in when in the area!

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Mudita Cafe & Coffeehouse
    Bloody Mary & Sunrise on the Beach Smoothie

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    Bloody Mary & Sunrise on the Beach Smoothie

    Mea Culpa Cafe - cafes - Updated July 2026

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