Sandfiddler Cafe — Restaurant in Norfolk

EDIT: service here has consistently gotten better each time we paid a visit. Looks like they worked out their early-pandemic woes. Can also attest that the Crab Benedict is consistently amazing!

I so badly wanted to give this place five stars based on everything we’ve heard in the past. But I can’t. Party of four, 30 minute wait, not unusual. Option to sit outside with no wait, even better! This is a popular place for locals, off-season or not; so we came expecting a long wait. Pleasantly surprised we were seated immediately.

Three different waitresses were taking care of the tables outside (along with, I’m sure, splitting those inside as well.) We did not, however, win the lottery on which of three we got. Our waitress, a younger girl with the enthusiasm of a butter knife, was almost non-existent and must have forgotten to put our order in. Three tables around us that were seated after we ordered received their food before we did. She offered no reasoning or apologies for the wait. I’m usually very patient, especially when dining with friends, but this was especially long. The other waitresses were very attentive and seemed to be having fun with their tables.

We’ve lived here almost two years now and have heard so many great things about this restaurant. The food was tasty; but not really out of the ordinary compared to most other local eateries. We’ll give Sandfiddler another try and I’ll update this review should our experience live up to previous expectations. We were so excited to finally eat here (we aren’t typically dine-out breakfast/brunch people, hence why it took us so long to make it here,) but the service was just a major letdown. Maybe she was having a bad day, I don’t know; which is why we’ll definitely give it...

I am moving from Washington to Norfolk and was in need of a new home. My real estate agent picked me up from the airport and asked if I was hungry. She knew of a place near her office that had good breakfast food. So we went to the Sandfiddler Cafe. They were pretty busy at 10 AM but we only had to wait about 5 minutes to get a table. The food was good but the service was kind of annoying...it seems that all the tables are shared throughout the restaurant so any time a server walked by they asked us if we wanted anything or if we were doing OK. It was fine at first but when you can't go 2 minutes in a conversation without telling someone you don't want anymore coffee it eventually gets annoying.

What really killed it for me was we had just finished eating and had just received the bill. My agent and I wanted to discuss which houses we were going to go see first, what would have been about a 5-10 minute conversation, before we got up to pay our bill. We had our folders out and the owner/manager walked up to us and very directly said, "Look, I don't want to be rude but I have people waiting to get a table and this isn't an appropriate place for you to do your business. I know real estate is important but this is not the place for it. I'm not telling you to leave but this isn't the place for you to discuss this." He repeated himself another 2 times while he clearly saw us picking up our papers to leave. There were other open tables and only about 6 people waiting. The table next to ours looked at us and said, "That was very rude!". So, while the food was good, the owner/manager was extremely rude and I'm sure this wasn't the first time he has...

My goodness what happened to Sandfiddler Cafe. When we are in town this is our go to place. When our friends visit this is where we would take them. After a year hiatus, we finally were able to come back and it will probably be our last time, which is unfortunate because this place was great. We walk in (July), and the ac is ridding the struggle bus, it warm. I tell the gentleman at the desk we are a family of 5. 2 adults, 3 kids (not little kids but 14 year old ages). The gentleman seats us at a table for 4. When I tell him I am going to pull the 2 top over to the 4 top I am met with an eye roll. Okay, cool. Our waitress Nina, I am not sure if she’s new, or had some other things going on or just not that great of a waitress. We waited 10 mins to place our order and nearly 30 minutes for our drinks to arrive, I had to ask her for our drinks. One of our orders wasn’t right but Nina is no where to be found. Drinks stayed empty in a restaurant with a struggling ac in July, order isn’t right, and we waited and waited annnnnnnnd waited. Other employees did walked past our table with not even a glance or an acknowledgment when we tried to get someone’s attention. Photo of my bacon omelette. It was 2-3 strips of bacon wrapped in a thin egg blanket.

Jeff, the former owner, was always walking around checking in with his guests, interacting with his employees, and created a very welcoming atmosphere.

Leadership makes a...