It has been nearly three weeks; I can stop thinking about No Frill Bar and Grill. I'm a military spouse, so I know my time in Hampton Roads is coming to an end soon. I visited a Hampton Roads Restaurant group on FB and asked if someone was visiting from out of town: What is your go-to place to take them? Out of 90+ comments, No Frill Bar and Grill was mentioned the most - six times! So when I finally had a day off and some other business to tend to in Norfolk, it was the perfect excuse to finally try them. No Frill Bar and Grill has been open for nearly 30 years by Jerry Meltsner. Jerry's nephew Jon Kliner helps co-own and manage operations. It originally opened on Tidewater Drive, but the space didn't allow for much growth - 10 years later, he moved to a location off Colley Avenue and Spotswood Avenue. Growth continued, moving from counter service to table service. The second location, at 1620 Laskin Road in Virginia Beach, opened in 2005. The restaurant's longevity stems from quality, consistency, price, service, and staff who genuinely care about the business and serving the community. I asked the server for her opinion on two options - Salmon, Shrimp and grits won. The dish was incredible: lightly blackened salmon, for once blackened food that doesn't just taste like salt. I don't dine with the swine, so I asked for no andouille sausage. The sautéed shrimp, caramelized onions, tomatoes, and spinach simmered in Norfolk Canyon ale sauce over cheesy grits and Boursin lavash cracker. The cheesy grits were smooth, and the Boursin lavash cracker was a nice touch. The Boursin added extra creaminess to the meal. The cracker wasn't really a cracker - more like little toasted bread. After this first meal, I know two things for sure: 1. I definitely understand why it is such a local favorite, and 2. I will be back. read more

My husband and I enjoy No Frill when you're in the mood for just that -- no frill, laid back, good comfort food. the portions are huge and it's always consistent. The service is always great and the hosts/servers are always friendly. Our go to is the meatloaf. when you're looking for a good ol' comfort food - that's the best. They also have amazing desserts that are worth a try. We found this restaurant good for families (including our toddler)! Food was toddler approved! read more

Service is prompt, salads are good, parking sometimes can be an issue due to the narrow streets and limited parking. read more

No Frill Bar and Grill - Tuna Melt and Brown Sugar Baked Beans - American Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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Went here for lunch around 12:30 pm. Inside was pretty packed / crowded, but we didn't have any wait for a table. The layout of the tables inside is a bit crowded and too close, not much room when people kept walking trying to get through the tables. Waitress was attentive and nice. The atmosphere inside is okay, maybe if we would've been sat somewhere else rather than in the center of the room among the crowded tables, I would've like the atmosphere more. Started with the Chesapeake Bay Breeze drink (4/10) tasted nothing but pineapple and pomegranate juice and that was all. Also tried the Chanel (10/10) great flavor, sparkling/bubbly, and gave a good buzz also. For food, I ordered a Tuna Melt with bacon and fries (8/10) I enjoyed the flavors, felt as though lettuce was possibly missing from the sandwich. As I kept eating it just felt like something was missing. Also, the fries had no salt or seasoning at all. I can see myself returning again to try some other menu items, but I will be requesting better seating next time. My overall rate of experience : 7/10 read more

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I love going to No Frill, as l have been for over 10 years! I had a birthday steak dinner with my son treating; and it was awesome and cooked just the way I love it,! We both got doggie bags and had meatloaf and steak today. Waitress and staff were very cordial. read more

No Frill Bar and Grill - NY Strip! Lol. My son made me hold my utensils like I meant business... - American Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Discover this amazing hidden gem in the heart of Ghent! If you're active duty and searching for the perfect spot to host a farewell or welcome event, this is it. Enjoy fantastic food, top-notch service, and spotless bathrooms. Just a quick heads-up: parking can be a bit tricky, so plan ahead--off-street spots, parking behind the building, or a quick walk from nearby lots. No matter what, you'll love the lively atmosphere and charm of this venue! read more

Visited NF for work and this was a suggestion from nice lady at Hotel. Small corner place. Nathan our server was very nice and helpful. I had the meatloaf bc it was the special and it was tasty. Next time I'm back I would go again. read more

After many, many years of dining at No Frill Bar and Grill it without a doubt still remains a favorite. I bring my Dad here every few weeks so he can get his French Onion soup fix. He is 86 years young and says it is the best in town. I especially love their salads. They are plentiful with a variety of options. This last time, I had a selection from the weekly special: the Vegetarian stew. It had a nice curry flavor with savory pita points. Very filling and enough to bring home! Although the restaurant was busy at lunch time, our server was good; especially since we didn't require much attention. There is nothing better than a consistent restaurant that locals love to eat at themselves and recommend to others. read more

No Frill Bar and Grill - Special: Vegetarian stew - American Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

This place was recommended by a local friend when i was down there visiting and for an event nearby They have a big assortment of food items, and there was too many to pick from. I wanted the ribs, but I opted for the chicken tenders and it was a very big portion and they were very tender and good Service was good and fast! read more

No Frill Bar and Grill - Chicken Tender Platter - American Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Service was good, no issue with that or cleanliness. We were able to get a table right away. The food was just ok. I honestly didn't like anything I tried for the most part. My friends liked theirs though. The Drunken cheese bread was just oily cheese. I did not get any flavor other than that. I had the Turkey Flat Bread, the flat bread was soggy but the flavor profile was there. It was also a good amount of turkey. Fries were just, meh. The mushroom cheeseburger was also nothing spectacular. My kid said he'd give it a 6/10, he said the mushroom flavor was lack luster and just tasted like a regular cheeseburger but the bread was good. My disappointment is probably due to my sister hyping the place. read more

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Where is truth in advertising these days? No frills? Portions here are large and accompanied by plentiful sides! Service is quick and courteous. Portions here are not just huge but taste great! Highly recommended if you want good food and great service. read more

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I've had No Frill Bar and Grill on my list for a while, and we finally were able to check them out while we were in the area - We started off with: +the Beer-Battered Onion Rings - came with a chipotle ranch dipping sauce; the onion rings could have been fried a bit more; the inside was a little mushy +the Drunken Cheese Bread - sliced baguette that were tossed in garlic butter, topped with Swiss, ham, onions, and white wine, then baked in a cast iron skillet; while this was an app I was most looking for, it was such a letdown - wasn't a fan of the sliced ham, and it didn't really have much of a garlic taste to it, considering it was tossed in such +and, a cup of the Famous Chili - topped with cheddar jack cheese, and sour cream as an option; served with cornbread; the chili was okay, and the cornbread was a nice thick slice For our mains, we ordered: +the Portabella Pasta - prepared with marinated and grilled portabella mushrooms, baby spinach, provolone, sun-dried tomato garlic pesto, roasted red peppers, onions, tomatoes, and penne pasta; served with herbed crostinis; you can also add grilled chicken and andouille sausage for an additional charge; penne could have been be more al dente; wasn't a fan of the pesto +and, the Famous Meatloaf - topped with boilermaker sauce, and served with string beans, beer-battered onion rings, mashed potatoes, and cornbread; the hubs was not a fan of this, as it was way too 'soft'; the side of green beans was the most preferred The place does get packed, as it is a local favorite; service was fine, but could have been more attentive. Note that they also have a VB location. Ample street parking. +inattentive staff +street parking available read more

No Frill Grill is hands-down one of my favorite spots in Norfolk -- my go-to when I'm craving a killer entrée salad and a perfectly mixed martini. This local gem has been around since 1987, and it shows in the best way: a loyal following, friendly staff who know their regulars, and food that's consistently fresh and delicious. Tonight, I had the Wonton Shrimp Salad, and wow -- the portion was generous, the shrimp perfectly cooked, and the Red Dragon dressing absolutely stole the show. Whether dining in or grabbing takeout (which they do a ton of), the quality never wavers. A special shout-out to Lauren behind the bar -- she's truly the heart of the place when she's working. Her martinis are spot-on, her service is warm and genuine, and she somehow makes the whole experience just a little bit sweeter. Seats at the bar are always in demand when she's on shift, and for good reason. If I had to pick one drawback, it's that they close at 9 PM, even on weekends -- but honestly, that just means you need to get there earlier to soak up the good vibes. Norfolk is lucky to have No Frill Grill, and I'll keep coming back again and again. read more

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Very busy place that is a staple in Ghent. Service was fair. Food is always great. I know they were busy but we were rushed out. Still always a good place to stop in for a quick bite read more

No Frill Bar and Grill - American Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Really good food and nice setting. The place has parking for customers, but be careful if you have a large car. My friends and I sat in for lunch and there was no wait; we were waited on immediately. The staff was quick and efficient as well. I had the new york deli sandwich with corned beef. They stacked it with the meat, and the coleslaw on it was crisp and yummy! The fries were also salted wonderfully and so crispy. Overall a really good place to have lunch at. read more

No Frill Bar and Grill - New York Deli Style Special w/ corned beef - American Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

So good every-time a solid Norfolk classic. Love the crispy chicken salad and pirogies

Always a great dinner at No Frill. Food was amazing and our server was very attentive. Love the vibe and how clean this place is. Don't sleep on the desserts! read more

I've never written a Yelp review but I knew I had to warn others about this. As soon as we sat down at our table, we saw a cockroach crawling on the floor underneath us. While we were debating whether to leave, we spotted another one crawling by a table nearby. I'm surprised nobody has mentioned this in the reviews as multiple surrounding patrons reacted. Do not go here! read more

Came back again to try the loaded pierogis after my cousin highly recommended them. Very solid choice!! My aperol spritz was also excellent, as was the Spotswood salad (with London broil added). Our server was great. And the ambience was relaxing, as always. read more

No Frill Bar and Grill - Spotswood salad with London broil - American Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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I love No Frill Bar and Grill. Every time I eat there, I thoroughly enjoy it. The wait staff is also very responsive! And I really enjoy the casual atmosphere! read more

Been coming here since the late 90's and surprised I have not written a review. Came here for my oldest niece's birthday on Monday (01/20/25) around 1130a, it was not to crowded yet but it surely did as time went on especially since it was a MLK holiday. I forgot to take pictures from this visit but we all got the following: Loaded pierogies appetizer, cup of their chili, French dip, Buffalo shrimp sub, London Broil pita and the Spotswood melt. Some of us also got their onion rings as our side. Their pierogies are one of my faves and were loaded with cheese, bacon, scallions and sour cream they were filled with potato goodness. I was splitting the French dip with my sister but ended up eating half of the buffalo shrimp sub which was really tasty and the sub roll it was on was so soft! The onion rings were fried to perfection and that chipotle ranch sauce is the perfect compliment. Everyone enjoyed their food and service was awesome as I have always remembered. I will be back. read more

I had my husband pick up dinner last night. A word of caution, don't get pickup after about 8pm. I ordered at 8pm and it was missing items and was disgusting. We live 30 min away, so by the time he picked it up, they were closed when he got home. How appetizing does this French onion soup look? What about spicy shrimp with the sauce as a dip and laying on top of the liquidy bean salsa and got soggy on the bottom. I don't mind paying good money for good food. When you slap stuff together to go when you are more concerned about breaking down the kitchen to leave, I have a problem with that! read more

No Frill Bar and Grill - American Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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Came for a early dinner. My friend and I was seated quickly. There were so many yummy options it was hard to choose! I got the salmon blt with onion rings and my friend got the cuban. Even though it was very busy and getting packed, it didn't take long to get our order. He good was fresh and cooked perfectly. The portions were huge!! I shared my onion rings with my friend and still took some home with half of my sandwich. You get your moneys worth here!! Definitely will come back to try different items. read more

No Frill Bar and Grill - Cuban Sandwich - American Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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Cute little place on the corner with really good food. They are fast and efficient. Did take some time to acknowledge us for drinks or even greets up when we sat down but after that our server was wonderful. Really good food. Didn't stay for long and just had appt. read more

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Alright, I came to No Frill Bar and Grill with a couple of friends on (I believe) a Friday evening for a casual dinner. I have never been here before, but one of the friends recommended it, so I was in. Now, first thing's first: the ambiance was very nice - it is a bit dimly lit, especially in some areas, so that may be something to consider for those who have trouble seeing in low lighting settings. I liked the set up of the restaurant and the decor/vibes were really nice. Also, second thing's second: the portion sizes are quite large - at least for some of the things we ordered. Friend 1 (who recommended the place) ordered a chicken nacho appetizer for the table while they waited on my and Friend 2 to show up, and it got there shortly after I arrived. It was MASSIVE (and I actually remembered to take a photo this time!) Trust me when I tell you that the three of us could not finish this alone. I ordered the Loaded Pierogis - ummm truth be told, they were nothing to write home about. The portion size was great, but they were severely under-seasoned (for my preference - if you like yours super plain, more power to you), but they definitely could have used a bit more salt to at least bring out the flavor if nothing else. The service was a bit spotty for my taste - however, take into account that it was also a Friday evening (maybe a Thursday - I can't remember), but either way, it was quite busy. I understand the waitstaff taking a bit longer than they may have usually taken due to the crowd (there was also a large group seated around the middle of the restaurant as well, so that certainly took some time/effort. Overall, the place was decent and I would probably go back, I just would NOT order the pierogis again! read more

No Frill Bar and Grill - Chicken black bean nachos - American Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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Haven't been here in 2 years, always come with coworkers. The London broil was good but i probably will stick with the burger melt in the future because I prefer hot sandwiches. Service was good and food came out in a timely fashion. Good lunch spot. read more

No Frill Bar and Grill - Had the London Broil Pita - American Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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Friendly staff and customers, blending neighbors, locals and visitors in-the-know in a comfortable, casual environment. Lovely people watching, yet it's not so loud that table conversation of challenging. You'll notice that this is quick-ish dining. It's not fast-casual, but you're not waiting 30 minutes for your food. Expect at least 10 minutes for appetizers to arrive. Our entrees were ready in about 20, and the place was near capacity. The great thing about the wait? It was well worth it. Piping hot food, served with that homemade flavor arrives on dishes that almost match. I chuckled at the mismatched bowls that hit our table. I felt like family before my first bite. Meatloaf! I can't make one, but I'll eat one that is well made. Dense, flavorful and portioned to take some with you. My bonus was that I got my wife's leftovers, too. It was delicious! It was even better when I warmed it for lunch the next day. Traditional sides, worthy of their own review, but I'll keep it brief. Get the mashed potatoes! Send a thanks when you're full. read more

Our neighborhood favorite for weeknight takeout. The menu is extensive for different tastes and the food is always well prepared. Staff is amazing with friendly, local service. So happy to have you in our community! read more

Good food , friendly people, good value. Very good French Onion soup. Popular location off Colley Ave.

Food was great / service was personal & food was delicious! We met some old friends & mentor eating there too !

The place was hopping, but we were seated right away. Food was good, service was attentive. Definitely will be back.

We tried this place for the first time FINALLY after many people had recommended. We were immediately seated in the dining room by the hostess who was pleasant. Our server greeted us and got our drink order minutes after being seated. Our food was DELICIOUS!! I ordered the spotwood melt (basically a patty melt) with onion rings. My partner got the phili cheesesteak & broccoli cheddar soup. The patty melt was cooked to perfection, huge, and full of flavor. The cheesesteak had great seasoning. The broccoli cheddar soup was also so good!! It came with this seasoned pita bread which was delicious. My onion rings were just out of this world! Perfectly fried, you can tell that they were hand battered and not previously frozen ones. Overall just a great experience- we would eat here again!!! read more

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the food was very tasty! highly recommend the breakfast and burgers! the food was a bit slow but worth the wait. more importantly the bathrooms were so lovely! read more

No Frill Bar and Grill - bathroom - American Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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I love this place they have a variety of dishes to choose from. The waitress was nice and attentive. Nice and cozy vibe. read more

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Decent spot, but could be better!!!!! I visited No Frill Bar and Grill recently. The food was okay -- some dishes were tasty, but others felt bland or overcooked. Portions were reasonable, though nothing really stood out. Service was friendly, but a bit slow and inconsistent during busy times. The atmosphere is casual and relaxed, which makes it a decent place to hang out, but it didn't feel special overall. In summary, it's an alright option for a casual meal or drinks, but there's definitely room for improvement in both food and service. read more

Enjoyed a good meal here for a birthday. shareable sizes indeed! Everything we ordered was enjoyable. I wish the appetizer artichoke dip was offered as 1/2 and whole. as it's priced like an entree and so rich and heavy. The size is for four people to share pre meal. shrimp and grits with Salmon very good. my only disappointment is when a server asked me how I like my fish cooked and the chef doesn't cook it that way. I prefer Salmon cooked MR and it was definitely thoroughly cooked well. Also enjoyed a shared piece of carrot cake. Appreciated that it wasn't swimming in nuts inside or on frosting. I will gladly return and look forward to trying other shareable items. Ambiance is cozy and clean without fake plants. read more

This hits the spot every time. When ever the sun is shining and the wind is blowing this is me and my coworkers go to spot. read more

No Frill Bar and Grill - Bowl of chili with warm cornbread - American Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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The food here is fantastic- I loved it when I worked in Norfolk and the taste and service hasn't changed over the years. Service is top notched. Healthy but satisfying portion sizes. read more

My mom and I went to No Frill before a concert a few weeks ago. Even though it was busy for a Sunday evening, they seated us within 15 minutes. My mom got the pierogies and I got the funky chicken salad. Both were delicious and fed us for lunch the next day, too. We were happy to be seated on the perimeter and not in the main dining area so we could have a quieter atmosphere. We will visit again someday! read more

No Frill Bar and Grill - Funky Chicken Salad - American Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Yum! Great service, ambiance and food! Always great when a place has been around since 1987 and still doing it right! This was my first visit there and overall impressed. Hosts were kind and were able to seat us right away. The great service continued with our waitress who let us have some town to look at the menu. Food came out quick and she was great at checking up on us to see if we needed anything else and how the food was. Food was great! Club sandwich was huge and yummy! I had the baked beans as a side and they were delicious. Ruben- was also delicious and large. French fries are nice and crispy. Not overly large inside but it is comfortable. A mixture of tables and booths, more tables than booths. Will be back to try their other dishes as lots of them sound delicious! read more

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