We were lucky to get seats quickly. The location is small so it's quick to fill up. We were greeted quickly and ordered our drinks. I got a bottle of ginger ale. We were at "the bar" so we were in bar stools. Definitely not my preferred seat, I squirmed a lot trying to get comfortable without kicking my neighbor. It was a pretty long wait for our food, as we salivated looking into the kitchen. I will say once we got our food, it was really yummy. My favorite part was the tomato bisque, tasted freshly made. So if you plan on going, definitely plan on waiting but totally worth it or just think ahead and do takeout. read more

The Grilled Cheese Bistro - Boylan Bottling Co. Ginger Ale - Sandwiches Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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Such a big taste from a small place. Another DDD for us and this one did not disappoint. It's small so you may have to wait for a seat. We sat at the bar and were greeted immediately. They told us the specials and we ordered our drinks. Once we ordered our food the fries and fried pickles came out so quick. Everything was delicious and hot. You can watch into the kitchen as they cook. Great experience and we will be back. read more

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What's better than grilled cheese in a cold night?! Came here to grab dinner before going over to The waterside bonfire. There was about a 20minute wait which wasn't bad. My husband and I were seated at the bar area. My husband got the goes with a small tomato soup which was very tasty. I got the don Quixote and added bourbon chicken. The parmesan & chimichurri fries are a must!!! Food is always great here!! read more

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Hello! Yum! Don't be sleeping on this place!!! First time visiting and wish I had not taken so long to try it out! First off the moment I walked in and mentioned my husband was parking the car, the waitress mentioned a less expensive garage nearby. Thanks for saving us money! I was given a choice of seating. They do not have tons of seating and some of it is share seating. Love the wood and vibe inside. It's a very nice setup inside and aesthetically pleasing. Now onto the most important part the FOOD! I got the sampler board and loved getting to try so many of their dishes! It was all amazing and TONS of food! I took more than half of it home and enjoyed all the leftovers! My husband got the Rueben and said it was one of the best he has had! Drinks: Root beer and lemonade delicious and you get a free refill! That just sweetens the deal! Will be back! read more

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The grilled cheese bistro is one of my favorite places and had been for years. Quietly sitting on Granby street in Downtown Norfolk GCB is a must visit. On this visit I started with something l get almost everytime. l got the parmasean and chimmichurri fries!! This mound of deliciousness were hot, well seasoned and it was definitely plenty to share. Next l chose a new sandwich that I haven't ordered before. The El Cubano had pork carnitas, ham,cheese and fried pickles on sourdough!! Perfection on a plate. cheese was melty, pork was so well seasoned, pickles were nice and crispy on the outside. I was so pleased with everything. The young man that served me was nice and attentive. and the vibes in the space were relaxed and chill. a perfect place for a first date or family afternoon out. read more

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I'm not a big bread person nor am I big grilled cheese person but I went here with my husband and friend to grab lunch and got The Sticky Pig and it was the tastiest and most unique, and most filling grilled cheese I have ever tried. Absolutely love it and the staff is so friendly. There is a little bit of seating inside and a few tables outdoors. We sat outside and it can get quite loud with your usual parade of motorcyclists and loud vehicles as common in Norfolk. The cars also get super close sometimes! But I highly recommend this place to all the grilled cheese lovers out there. There's a great variety to choose from. Their fries and the accompanying dip are also quite delicious! read more

Food is good. Service was friendly. Like the decor and the availability to sit outside. I also love the fries are enough to share for two-three people. read more

The Grilled Cheese Bistro - Sandwiches Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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What a fun spot for lunch! We popped in and sat at the bar - they definitely get busy and aren't set up for huge groups. The staff were very friendly and helpful. The tasting board was excellent as were the other two sandwiches we got. The fries are great and lots of flavor choices is always nice. read more

We stumbled upon this masterpiece before going to an Admirals game and it was incredible! Excellent service, efficient operation, very clean, and the best grilled cheese of my life! I highly recommend the Bourbon Street! Yum! We'll be back! read more

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This place has the best fries in the known universe. AND they have Larry's Lemonade on tap?! Wow! So many varieties of grilled cheese on the menu... Dip into the tomato soup. Delicious! There's exciting grilled cheese daily specials on the chalkboard. I that! read more

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I've been wanting to try this place for literal YEARS and this day I couldn't wait anymore! First, the staff greeted me as SOON as I walked in. Super friendly, all smiles, and very patient with my lack of knowledge of the menu. My server as very patient, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic about me trying them for the first time! The vibe is as very uptown/big-cityish which is super cool to me, especially right in my own home town! My server made some awesome suggestions and although I went out on a limb and tried something completely different I was NOT disappointed! Everthing was fresh and tasty and the portions were so large I had enough for an entire second meal later! Absolute BB Referral!! read more

The Grilled Cheese Bistro - The Arnoldest Palmer ever! - Sandwiches Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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Been wanting to try this place for years, but living on the peninsula and my hate for Norfolk and Va. Beach traffic delayed my experience. Well I decided to FAFO today lol. Restaurant = 8/10 The inside is pretty nice and clean to start off. The seating is somewhat limited due to the compact set up of the inside but it works. Just get there early because it fills up fast. They also have outdoor seating for those days it's nice outside. I gave it an 8/10 because the argument could be made about how crampt it is in there, it didnt bother me too much though. Customer Service = 10/10 This is a bi-product of the compact set up of the dining area. They are up close and are ready for any request you may have. Every person working today was super helpful and really friendly. Food = 10/10 I had the El Cubano and the Parmesean Chimichurri fries, both tasted . Where I was sitting, i can see them making other peoples food and absolutely everything looked good. I will definitely be going back to try the other offerings. That speaks volumes because of how much I hate driving on that side of the water. This place will not disapoint. read more

The Grilled Cheese Bistro - El Cubano - Sandwiches Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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I popped in for a late lunch and was greeted by a warm and friendly staff! The lighting and seating in this restaurant is very cozy and fresh! Depending on your mood, there's perfect window seating to watch as cars pass by and if you're feeling social- the bar is a fun option. I ordered the bruschetta grilled cheese on sourdough- it was buttery, bright, and flavorful! It was a really big sandwich and I paid around $20 for my meal. I honestly would've been happy paying more, that's how delicious my food was! I'll definitely be back. read more

The Grilled Cheese Bistro - Bruschetta grilled cheese sandwich - Sandwiches Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

A CHEESE LOVERS HEAVEN!! I stopped in for lunch and opted to sit at the bar. The seating was limited, so takeout might be a more convenient option if it's busy. I began with the Fried Pickles, they were whole pickles which was a first for me. Unfortunately, I found that the batter-to-pickle ratio was off, with the pickle dominating the dish. The batter didn't quite balance the tangy pickle as I had hoped. For my main, I tried a limited-time grilled cheese and asked for half the usual amount of cheese. Even with less cheese, it was incredibly rich and indulgent--it's hard to imagine how much cheese the full version would pack! Every ingredient in the sandwich was carefully chosen and absolutely delicious. All in all, this place is a cheese lover's paradise, but not the ideal spot for those seeking the perfect fried pickle experience. read more

The Grilled Cheese Bistro - Grilled Cheese - Sandwiches Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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The food was absolutely perfect. I wanted a huge grilled cheese that would make 12 year old me cry and it sure didn't disappoint. I got the rosemary and garlic aioli fries and they were excellent. I then got the Hangover and the Mac and cheese was phenomenal. The service was excellent as our server was as fast as I've ever seen a server be. The ambiance is neat and casual and it was a cute little place. read more

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I had high hopes for this place. I'd struck up conversations with multiple business owners in downtown Norfolk and they all mentioned how this place was treasured amongst the community. I went this afternoon, it was mildly busy, there wasn't a wait time, and entering customers could sit immediately. I waited for 35 minutes on a grilled cheese sandwich that was $20. No problem with the price alone, as I understand it's a unique place and it takes a certain customer. However, the price coupled with the duration to receive a sandwich is a little ridiculous. Additionally, immediately after I received my food the folks next to me that came in about 20 minutes after received theirs. Not sure if I was forgotten about but I certainly wasn't acknowledged, or even informed of prolonged wait times by the server or staff. Disappointing. read more

Super cute but small place. It's clean, doesn't smell funky. Our waitress was amazing. Super attentive but not over bearing. We never had to ask for refills on drinks. Before ordering you must know the portions are HUGE. We saw a lady get served with a bowl of something. It looked delicious and it was a lot of food. Our grilled cheese sandwiches were also huge, cooked to perfection and delicious. The fries with the chimichurri were also delicious. I highly recommend this place. read more

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We came in during lunch hours, the place was packed but my family and I were seated pretty quickly. The waitress was extremely helpful and took her time despite the amount of patrons at the time. My daughter and I shared fries and a 'Gooey' grilled cheese without fontina. Basic but my youngest has a smaller palate, still it was amazing watching the cheese pull on this thing! The bread was perfection, with a buttered crispy outside but the inside was soft. The portions are definitely shareable. The fries were perfect, we rated this meal 5/5. My oldest ordered the 'Loaded Baked Potato' grilled cheese. We should have looked it up with pictures on the app because it was just grilled cheese, bacon, and with their french fries inside. Mentally we were expecting smashed potatoes with sour cream, bacon, and the works. Our fault for not double-checking. It was really good but he would have ordered something different if he had seen a picture beforehand, just underwhelming. He rated it 3.4-4/5. Lastly I ordered the dipper tomato bisque, it was a perfect amount and I was even able to share it with my oldest. It's everything you'd want in a tomato bisque! 5/5 The establishment is small, a bit cramped for me personally, but our experience was pleasant and we would love to come back and try their other sandwiches! It was "grate" no matter how you slice it! read more

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First, the owners and staff are amazing, feeling welcoming. Every time me and my family come it feels like home, like family. I've been coming since they first opened and still here, 2026. Second, let's get into the FOOD!!!!!!!! Omg!!!!! My top three: All the grilled cheese FRFR, Ribbon salad( the ingredients are all FRESHHHHHH, the CHEESE BOARD!!!!,BONUS * the truffle french fries*. Yes the space is small, but who cares!!!!! There's an added outside patio. I'm soooo cool with the space inside. Love you guys. VA-TN read more

Have been here a couple of times now but this is my first time leaving a review. Came here with some family from out of town. We quickly got sat at facing out the window (which is perfect for people watching). We scoped out the menu beforehand so we already knew what we wanted. I got the "We're Jammin" and an order of chimichurri fries to share. Fries were 10/10 I will only want Parmesan and chimichurri on my fries from now on lol. Bread was super crunchy and toasted very well. I was expecting the fruit to be in more of a jam/preserve but it was full pieces of fruit. Still very good just not what I was expecting. Family got the shrimp Mac and cheese sandwich and the cubano which they both spoke very highly about. Overall would be back again! read more

The Grilled Cheese Bistro - Were Jammin - Sandwiches Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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I was wandering around downtown Norfolk waiting for a concert at the Norva and decided to grab some lunch. Hadn't been over here to the Grilled Cheese Bistro in ages, so figured I'd give them a shot since it was a cold day and grilled cheese sounded good. The place was PACKED. There was a line waiting out the door, which isn't great if it's cold outside, but since I was flying solo, it didn't take long for me to get a seat at the bar top. I went with a Gobble Me Up turkey grilled cheese and a bowl of their tomato soup. These sandwiches are HUGE y'all. I couldn't eat the whole thing - and for some unknown reason, they don't offer a 1/2 sandwich and soup option. That's a real negative for me, and likely other foodies who aren't able to stomach huge portions. Of course, if I was able to take it home it might be a different story (assuming it would reheat well - which is questionable given the bread consistency of the sandwich), but you can't exactly carry around half a sandwich all over downtown and then stand at a concert at the Norva with it. In terms of taste, I found the sandwich to be quite bland and the blend of flavors wasn't that great. The soup, however, was fantastic. A+ on rich creamy tomato soup. So overall, it was just alright for me. I mean, I might visit again if I'm in the area - but it's still pricey (even more so since my last review) and I honestly haven't been WOWed by this place. read more

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An elevated take on the classic grilled cheese sand-which. I got the gooey grilled cheese with bacon and an order of the Parmesan & chimichurri fries...I would come back just for the fries alone! Lunch on a Saturday here was very busy but I was seated outside with no wait. read more

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Its been a good while since I was last here and that could be before the shutdown. Thankfully they weathered through and are still here. Spent the day with my baby sister to celebrate her birthday early with a girls day. I ordered the Iced Hibiscus tea unsweetened, this was nice an refreshing. We ordered the Fried pickles to start. These were spears where huge and I loved the that dill pickle bite. The Chipotle Aioli was the perfect match for those fried delicious spears. We decided to for go the fries and just get sandwiches. I got the Elote Loco and added Buffalo Chicken. My sister got the Hangover and added mushrooms. My Elote Loco was so good, the buffalo chicken definitely had some kick and went well with my grilled cheese. I really enjoyed this. My sister also loved hers, she always gets the same thing and it never disappoints for her. I need to make sure to get here again and not wait so long between visits. Edit: I totally forgot to mention that we both got the tomato dipper to go with our grilled cheeses. The tomato soup was still on point and it now comes in a bowl versus the smaller metal bowl, which is awesome as it makes for good dunking! read more

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Excellent service. Reasonable prices considering the portions. 2 people could easily share 1 sandwich. The fried pickles are so crispy and well battered. The fries with the chimichurri sauce are the BEST fries I've ever had in life. Crispy and perfectly seasoned. The seating is bar, a couple small tables and a community/shared booth read more

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Shout out to our server, Daniel, who made our first visit great! My spouse and I enjoyed our first visit, of many I'm sure! We ordered El Cubano and El Ranchero-- DELICIOUS. We paired these with an order of their Fries with Parmesan, Chimichurri and Garlic Aioli. Hint: these are definitely shareable sizes. If I wasn't pregnant and starving all the time we would have definitely split a sandwich and fries and still would have walked out feeling full and happy ! There are so many flavors that looked so good on this menu, it was hard to choose. read more

It has been a little while since I had been here, but I'm pleased to say the taste and quality of food is exactly the same as I remember. The portion sizes are great here so I always know I am going to share a grilled cheese and fries with someone. Even then I am still left so full! I wish this establishment was a bit larger. It's so cramped when sitting inside. But that doesn't stop us from coming. Because this place gets rather busy, service can be a little lacking. Again, nothing terrible and it won't stop us from coming. :) read more

The Grilled Cheese Bistro - a plate of food - Sandwiches Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

The Grilled Cheese Bistro was on my bucket list for a while and I was really excited to finally get the chance. Grilled cheese is such a simple dish I ate as a child and I loved how they turned it into something more complex and unique. It was difficult picking a sandwich but I ended up trying El Ranchero which had pork carnitas, egg, caramelized onions, sea salt fries, cilantro, chimichurri & havarti. It was amazingly delicious! The sandwich is definitely a decent size that I had to take the other half home. I also ordered a side of fries; cinnamon cayenne with chipotle aioli. It was sweet and had a nice kick. Very yummy and definitely large enough to share. I can't wait to go back and try other delicious sandwiches. read more

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We love a dog friendly spot! The patio outside was great for us Superb filling grilled cheese We got the below: The islander 4.5/5: more do your traditional grilled cheese taste and very delish Lobster Mac n cheese 3.5/5: verrrrry heavy on Mac n cheese - maybe a lil too much for me The tomato soup was a great add to dip your grilled cheese too! Overall, rly good experience here! read more

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Great service! FANTASTIC grilled cheese! No wonder this place ended up on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. Everything was fresh and made to cheesy perfection. Must get the fries! read more

The Grilled Cheese Bistro - Elote Loco (with shrimp; daily special) - Sandwiches Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

When my friend recommended we go to a grilled cheese restaurant, I didn't expect too much. But man, am I glad I tried it! The shop is so cute and tiny, and we sat at a table with a view of the street. I tried the house special of the day, which was a Banbang shrimp grilled cheese with a house slaw, scallions, and mozzarella on Sourdough. We also ordered rosemary truffle fries with chipotle aioli. The grilled cheese had the perfect ratio of shrimp, cheese, and Cole slaw. It was very cheesy and well-balanced. The shrimp pieces were well seasoned and perfectly cooked. The fries were very good and crispy with a hint of rosemary, but the star for me was the chipotle aioli sauce, which paired perfectly with them. read more

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This should be a mandatory stop if you enter Norfolk .Va. Words cannot explain just how good and tasty all the Sandwiches, Parm/Chimi Fries and drinks are. Everything is HUGE portions and hot and fresh. This was our last stop before flying home. The street meter would not take my credit card and the manager put some of her own change in so we could eat inside. Silly me I was thinking we could eat in the car. lol Daniel was our server and topped off our drinks before we left with 2 Half Sandwiches and Fries for the road. YOU WILL NOT BE SORRY YOU MADE THE TRIP !!!!! read more

The Grilled Cheese Bistro - Pastrami - Sandwiches Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

OMG you must go! I had been wanting to pop in for a while. Apparently I picked the perfect day because the special was the lobster mac and cheese sandwich and it was amazing Not that the rest of the money doesn't look equally amazing Ordered: Lobster mac and cheese sandwich They have inside dining which can get a little crowded and they have an outside eating area as well read more

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Best sandwiches you can ever put In your mouth, basic names extra special insides, everytime my family comes to Norfolk, you best believe you will see my family here!! At least 1 time!! Best food and customer service!! Can't beat it and I love food, and I love people, so this is best place for both thanks @GrilledCheeseBistro read more

Yes, this has great Yelp reviews, but there are a few things you need to understand as to why... The first, is probably location. Super easy nearby parking either in the garage or in the open lot. Second, they actually serve beer flights here. The selection might not be huge, but they still allow you to enjoy a spectrum of your choosing. (I just wish they had a printed menu instead of trying to take in the waiter's memory as I am way too slow for that!) Third, and yes, this is before we are even getting into the Grilled Cheese part, are the fries. They are freakin' legendary. I think Thrashers up in Rehoboth Beach or in Ocean City might have held the bar for the all-time greatest, but these actually beat that. Yes, they are that good. Finally, to the grilled cheese. I had the Meathead - Chicken Carnitas, Applewood Bacon, Avocado, Sea Salt Fries, House Mustard & Cheddar on Sourdough which was amazing. It was also filling enough that lunch lasted through the day - as in I did not even end up having dinner later. The inside area is tight for seating. Thankfully they have seating outside and with a cool breeze blowing it doesn't get better than that. Service was amazing, attentive, and patient for a first timer trying to take everything in. It made you feel like a repeat customer on your first visit. read more

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Amazing service, great grilled cheese sandwiches with a wide variety of flavors. My Mom eats Reuben's her whole life, she claimed that this was the best one she'd ever had. I had the sticky piggy. Very good sandwich with a continual change in flavors from sweet to spicy. Nice ambience, we got there after the main lunch crowd and quickly were seated! Service was attentive and charismatic! read more

Y'all, when I say this place has the most EXTRA grilled cheese options, I mean it! So many flavors and options to choose from. I ordered the black truffle mac and cheese (the Hangover) and I'm not sure what I was expecting but they delivered. I also ordered the fried pickles on the side instead of fries and they were perfectly cooked. The mac and cheese was super creamy with truffle flavor, and the "grilled cheese" sandwich was MASSIVE. I placed my order to go since I was working nearby, and the food held up nicely. The cashier was friendly and gave me a free iced water while I waited for my food. It's a pretty small restaurant, but chic and offers bar style seating to accommodate more people. read more

The Grilled Cheese Bistro - The Hangover and Fried Pickles - Sandwiches Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

I've always had a great experience here, with delicious flavors, great services, and such a nice atmosphere. I wish it was a bit bigger as far as seating space, but it's a classic and I enjoyed all of my sandwiches from here. read more

First time trying this restaurant. It was packed when we got there but got a table fairly quickly. Service was great and quick to help with any questions we had. Drinks stayed filled throughout our dining experience. The fries are a new favorite. I honestly would just go for a to go order for the fries. They were nice , crisp, and seasoned really well. they didn't even really need to dip them in anything. I got the brushetta grilled cheese. It was good, but they only put a sliver of the vinegarette on the plate to dab the sandwich in. I wish they had put some on the actual sandwich as the vinegarette is what really made the sandwich taste it's best, or at least put some in a small dip bowl to pour on since some people may like less or more. Other than that, it was a wonderful experience, and I would like to go back to try something else. read more

The Grilled Cheese Bistro - Brushetta grilled cheese - Sandwiches Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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Everything!! Thanks Dina & Team!! The tomatoes basil soup, all the sandwiches, French fries with all the sauces, great atmosphere (sharing with other GCB Lovers) read more

You want her to just get a grilled cheese sandwich and soup. The menu had sandwiches on it with things you couldn't even pronounce. It was super expensive, about $15 for a grilled cheese sandwich. We left and went somewhere else. read more