Lizard Cafe

Awesome food — quick and convenient

Great lunch spot. Everything on the menu is great. I recommend the half and half special. Get a sweet potato biscuit with jelly to go.

Located inside Prince Books, Lizard Café is perfect for lunch. Popular amongst the locals for a working lunch, Lizard Café offers salads and sandwiches. I had the tuna salad sandwich, which was great and huge! You’ll definitely want to bring your leftovers home. Sandwiches come with a slice of watermelon and a side of potato salad. The potato salad was a little bland. I also like this place because it’s locally sourced and they have quinoa on the menu (as a Californian, I’m always excited about quinoa). Staff is super friendly, but not very knowledgeable about the beer they serve. I asked what was available and my waitress didn’t really know, but she told me that all the beers were local. I thought that was cool, so I told her I’d have a pale ale of whatever is local. She went back behind the counter to look for one, and couldn’t seem to find one, so she asked if an IPA was ok. As she held up the beer from across the café, I immediately recognized the iconic green flash logo. I’m a fan of green flash and IPA, so I agreed. When she brought it over I told my waitress this beer is actually from San Diego (so not local) and she was really humble about the mistake. I found the place charming and the food appetizing, but working knowledge of the menu a little lacking.

Great selection! I loved the turkey wrap — expected it to be plain and simple but their flavor packs a punch. Attached to the bookstore, which is a bit odd at first, but the café vibe was great for lunch.

I drove by maybe four times, completely lost. I’ve never heard of this place and, to me, it’s very inconspicuous as an eatery. More signage, please!
So there are a couple of booths. Mostly tables. Brightly colored. Small menus with offerings of soups, sandwiches, wraps, and salads.
I loved the turkey wrap. It was stuffed to capacity, and already a really big portion. Served in halves; I saved the other for later. It came with a side of sliced apples and a side of potato salad. I do not like potato salad. I liked their potato salad. I am amazed.
This is a quaint lunch café hidden inside a great bookstore. I never would’ve known, but I’m glad I learned today.

I was walking downtown yesterday, and decided to go inside Prince Books and went to the Lizard Café.
For lunch, I ordered the Surry Ham and Cucumber sandwich. I opened the sandwich, and first thing I could tell was a ton of Surry ham, and a lot of cucumber. The bread was a little soft, but not too bad. This sandwich though was a pretty good sandwich. The cucumber, basil mayo, tomato, and Surry ham work so well together. If the bread had a little more toast on it, it would’ve been perfect. The potato salad was filled with potato, and wasn’t clouded by a heavy dressing. The watermelon was a cool addition, but in my opinion would’ve preferred apple slices or something along that route.
Overall, this was a very good lunch, and I will definitely be back. Was it 5-​star perfect? No, but still worth a trip.

Great little café tucked inside a bookstore had some great vegetarian options I got the sweet potato biscuit special minus the ham Wonderful vegetable soup and quinoa salad So glad we checked this place out

Much appreciation to the staff for letting me camp out for a couple of hours before ordering. Despite not ordering for two hours, I was still getting service for water refills and frequent check ups.
When you hang around for as long as I did you see lots of dishes being served. Sandwich after sandwich, I grew hungrier by the moment. When it was all finally said and done, I couldn’t decide on a sandwich so I went with their taster sampler. It was chicken salad with fresh peach chutney, fresh dilled tuna salad, hummus and sun-​dried tomato pesto with a side of leafy green salad.
For something so fresh it was quite filling. I especially enjoyed the chicken salad and hummus. Everything blended all together was a nice mix, too.
Lizard Café is located inside Prince Books so double your visit with a walk through the book store. You can never learn too much!

We happened upon this cute book store café while waiting for our boat tour… so glad we did! I had the signature salad with the addition of a scoop of their egg salad. The greens were wonderfully varied and fresh and the fruits, nuts, cheese and dressing perfect. My husband had the Tuscan chicken sandwich which he thought was excellent. The service was friendly, promt and attentive. The prices were very reasonable for the quality and quantity. Great lunch!

We picked this café because it was near the Nauticus Museum and our parking garage. Excellent Pimento Cheese and Surrey Ham sandwich served with homemade potato salad and apple slices. My wife and daughter both had the Egg Salad and Surrey Ham sandwich which they also thought was excellent.

This small café in the waterside area of Norfolk and housed in the Prince Bookstore rocks an awesome lunch. I was in search for a hard to find book and low in behold I come across this find. In some ways this is really strange, because this café use to be owned by the Prince family whom I know. However, I have never even thought of where it was located, or attempting to find it. This was my second consecutive day in the area, the first day I only checked out the bookstore.
Parking is on the street meter, or nearby parking garages. It’s recommended if your staying long to utilize the garage as the meter is pricey. The building that houses both the café and bookstore is a real looker, possibly circa early 1900’s. Construction is a beautiful orange type brick. An antique clock that has been fully restored is positioned on the corner providing some really cool ambiance to the block. The front brick pavers are gorgeous and were clear. Signage is on the ground level for both businesses.
The interior is pretty dated, but I found it clean and quaint. The lime green vinyl booths are on platforms that lookout to huge windows. Tables are in the center and the small counter is in the back. High vaulted ceilings with drop lighting are fitting for the structure and beautiful. The ceiling was in terrific shape and I imagine restored at some point. If your eating in have a seat to be waited on. If your carry out proceed to the counter. The menu is listed on the board and consist of all types of sandwiches, soups and salads. If dining in the menus are on the table. You will find prices are very fair.
I talked with the super cool staff at the café that happen to be two sweet young ladies. They gave me some lay of the land. I also discussed ownership and found that The Leaping Lizard Café in VB no longer owns this café which was the original. The bookstore is still in the Prince family. The recipes used in the café are the same as when the Prince’s owned it.
I took a seat in a booth by myself and enjoyed watching foot traffic in front. I quickly decided on the ham biscuit soup combo. Little did I know that it would be so huge and filling. The dining room is not large and by the time the clock hit almost noon the place was packed with a mainly business crowd. There would later be a line waiting for a seat. The steady stream of carry out business had the three to four staffers quite busy. As I mentioned before the dining area is dated, but that is not the reason for a full star deduction. However, watching several customers set in booths where the seat flipped up and moved around is. Unsure if these booths are old, in disrepair, not just not made well. This is something that should be addressed before someone falls to the floor.
The lunch plate came out within around 15 minutes and looked stunning. A nice helping of hot potato soup with flavors that burst out of the bowl. The Main Street salad was crisp and fresh. The roasted potatoes (same recipe as The Leaping Lizard Café) are to die for and I almost consider desert… they are that yum! But the hero on the plate was the fresh biscuits, ham and peach marmalade. So incredible you want to savor every bite in your mouth and not rush the wave of flavors dancing around in your mouth. My waitress came over and checked on me one time which was adequate. The meal was completely satisfying in every way. The service was above par as well.
When one thinks of a bookstore café your first thought jumps to Barnes & Noble. For goodness sakes, this place could not be more unlike a chain and is the real deal authentic local anti chain. The bookstore is one of the last full service locals in our area. Come and enjoy a wonderful lunch, then head over and purchase a book. One only knows how long businesses like this can continue to survive, support it. I’m at a 4.5 rounding down. Keep in mind they are lunch only M-​F 11 – 3.

Great place, have been there twice and ordered the identical meal both times because it was that good. Got the special which was a sweet potato biscuit with ham between it, a choice of side salad, potato salad, slice of watermelon, & a small soup all for 10 bucks! The weight does tend to be a little long so I would advise calling in advance if you’re taking out, they have about 6 to 8 tables for dining in as well. Now about the food, the sweet potato biscuit sandwich thingy is awesome, full of taste and just the right amount of sweetness in a biscuit, countered by the saltiness of the ham is a great balance. I generally don’t like potato salad, but this is not like your average barbecue potato salad, it is served warm, has very little if any Mayo, and has the skin of the potatoes left on for great flavor. Probably the best potato salad I’ve ever eaten, the salad that I usually get. The name escapes me, but it has gorgonzola, and is dressed with just the right amount of dressing and cheese.
The soup I’ve gotten both times, soup of the day, is the summer vegetable soup fell a little flat to be honest, but the rest of the meal more than made up for it, definitely will be returning here

This place was a pleasant little surprise. I met my husband for lunch, and we didn’t have very much time. I was reading reviews as we were walking and this place sounded promising.
It’s a little café tucked inside a used bookstore. It doesn’t look like much, but the food was absolutely delicious.
My husband ordered the chicken bacon ranch wrap & I had the mushroom & artichoke sandwich. Both were served with fresh fruit (it was a decent sized wedge of watermelon) and really delicious potato salad.
He loved his wrap and my sandwich was pretty good. It could have been better if the mushrooms had been sautéed first. I’m not a fan of raw mushrooms. It would have been amazing though if they had been cooked first.
The service was good, and our food came out quickly. Definitely try this place if you’re looking for a quick lunch in downtown Norfolk.

Excellent lunch, the Tuscan chicken sandwich was great and potato salad was really nice. The quinoa salad was nice however lacked cheese, but they were more than happy to provide extra. Thanks.
The location is great, the atmosphere is quiet and the staff are great. Would recommend this to anyone in the area.

I cannot stop thinking about the grilled cheese I had at the Lizard Café. If I didn’t know it was mozzarella in there, I would assume it’s made of dreams. And the rosemary bread: outstanding.
I’ve eaten here a handful of times and everything is always top notch: salads, biscuits, sandwiches. I honestly don’t know why I ever consider going for lunch anywhere else in downtown Norfolk.
First of all, the portion sizes are huge. I ordered a half-​salad, half-​sandwich combo. The salad was quite literally as big as a full salad at any other restaurant. AND it came with potato salad and a slice of watermelon– all for under $ 10.
Second, their produce is in season and locally sourced. BONUS.
Third, did I mention the grilled cheese?

The Lizard uses local and very fresh ingredients in every dish they prepare. Their most «Famous» dish is the sweet patotoe biscuit platter, which is wonderful. If you’re looking for a little diversity their sampler is also a delicious assortment of thier various menu salads. My coworker is a huge fan of their three cheese grilled cheese sandwhich!
The only thing holding them back from five stars is their speed of service, be it sit down or order out, they have a small kitchen!
If you plan to eat lunch there during the week, I’d reccomend going before noon (11:30−11:45 might be ideal) because seating is limited!

Just went for lunch– had the sweet potato biscuit special. This comes with a cup of soup and ½ salad. Today’s soup was sun-​dried tomato with crab and shallots, and I ordered the signature salad which has mixed greens with red grapes, dried cranberries, walnuts, gorgonzola, and basil vinaigrette. The biscuit has surry ham and peach jam. They also throw in a side of potato salad (very light mayo), and a couple of apple slices.
It was absolutely delicious. I ate everything on the plate, and this is a LOT of food (especially for the $ 8.95 price tag). Service was great too.
This is my new favorite place to eat in Downtown Norfolk.

Tucked inside of Prince Books in Downtown Norfolk, the Lizard Café is one of the best lunch venues offered within walking distance of most downtown office buildings. Throughout the day it’s filled with working men and women grabbing a quick bite to eat during their busy work day. I recommend getting a table before or after the lunch rush because they are usually slammed. If you do have to wait for a table Prince Books offers plenty of items to browse.
The Cheesy Cheese (I think it’s recently been renamed Grilled Cheese) and their Signature Salad are my two stables. They have a Cranberry Tuna Salad Sandwich that’s delicious as well. All sandwiches are served on thinly sliced Rosemary Bread (I think that’s what it is), when it’s toasted just right it’s really good. If you have room after you gobbled down all your lunch they have yummy homemade cookies for dessert. It’s a nice treat and something the table could share. Everyone raves about the sweet potato biscuits but unfortunately I have yet to try. From the taste of everything I’ve had so far, I’m sure they’re tasty! Their potato salad is also amazing! J usually orders no fruit and doubles his serving ;)
Other things on their menu that I’ve had include the hummus wrap (SO FRESH!), the Mediterranean Sampler, and the Tuna Melt (made with a more traditional tuna salad). I haven’t had anything bad here! The food is always fresh and the service is pretty good.

There are a few things that I love about this place, a few things that I don’t.
I love that the ingredients are always fresh and delicious, I’ve literally never had a bad meal here.
On the other hand, I have had bad service and it seems like they are constantly out of things on the menu. Today they were out of tuna salad, soup, bacon, potato salad and a few other things. It might have been more useful for them to tell me what 4 – 5 items on the menu I could have instead of what I couldn’t. The girl behind the counter was signficantly more interested in her plans for the evening than refilling my water, so I finally got up and brought it to her.
I settled on the surry ham and cucumber sandwich. It was really delcious, fresh cucumbers really complimented the salty –proscuitto like ham in the sammy. My only complaint was that the bread was toasted to all hell — so crispy that it was literally scraping the roof of my mouth when I took a bite.
This is a block away from where I work, so I will definitely be back, but I won’t be a regular.

I was nervous to try Lizard after the reviews my Unilocaler friends Amber K. and Laine A. shared. While Laine A. said, «permanently off my list,» she had a change of heart and invited me to go with her and Alex (of the No Reservations blog) to give it a go.
I was pleasantly surprised. I ordered a salad and sandwich lunch combo, after Amber K. warned me, «DO NOT order the hummus! They can’t make hummus.»
So grilled cheese it was. I am a big grilled cheese connoisseur. I experiment with all kinds of gourmet grilled cheese concoctions at home, and I’ve had many delicious cheesy melty goodness sandwiches out. This one was not the best by far, but it was definitely above average… a fresh slice of tomato, provolone and mozzarella on wonderful homemade rosemary bread. I opted for no mayo, not a fan. The bottom of my sandwich was a little soggy in spots. I think it was from the cantaloupe that garnished the plate. I can forgive that.
My lunch came with a signature salad, with field greens, walnuts, grapes, blue cheese and basil vinaigrette. It was a half-​salad, but still a large portion. I really liked that the salad was light on the dressing and had an excellent lettuce-​to-​topping ratio. Very important. You know what I’m talking about – those places that are heavy on the lettuce and stingy on the cheese and nuts, etc – Lizard isn’t one of them.
The meal also came with a small portion of their potato salad. Pretty good. It’s made with roasted potatoes and is light on the mayo.
Overall, it was a huge portion of food for $ 8. Everything was very good. I liked that it still felt like a light meal, not bogged down with much grease. Fresh and refreshing. I’d go back, especially if I wanted to spend some time at Prince Books. But it’s not on my top list of places.