Virginians love breakfast. It’s a southern staple. You can’t experience southern hospitality without country-fried steak, among other classics. Throughout Virginia, you’ll find unique takes on old favorites, award-winning pit stops, and an unparalleled dedication to biscuits and bacon. Read on, but beware: You’re going to get hungry.
Virginia Beach has unbelievable breakfast options, but my go-to is always Citrus Breakfast and Lunch. With two beautiful locations near the beach, Citrus’s atmosphere is light, bright, and friendly. Their menu is extensive and includes health-nut options. Make sure to get an Orange Crush (or two)!
Looking for a unique breakfast experience in the Shenandoah Valley? Look no further than the worker owned Little Grill Collective. Since the 1940s, Little Grill has been a Harrisonburg mainstay. Nowadays, it’s a full-service restaurant with live entertainment and unique menu options, including Lambert’s Platter (a tofu scrambler) and Bricker’s Son (two toads-in-a-hole covered with veggie chili).
The Handsome Biscuit in Norfolk, Virginia, leans in to what makes them special: Their unparalleled biscuit options. The Handsome Biscuit is a bit cozy, so expect a wait. Everything on the menu, save dessert and very sides, are sweet potato biscuit sandwiches. A favorite? The Hella Fitzgerald biscuit, which comes with fried chicken, bacon, cheddar, and red eye sausage gravy.
Millie’s Diner is practically a Richmond landmark (it even says so on their website). Millie’s has only 44 seats, a small bar and patio, so make sure to come early. Known for its “fusion cuisine,” Millie’s constantly changes their menu. For brunch, the go-to dish is called Devil’s Mess, an open-faced omelet of spicy sausage, onions, garlic, green peppers, tomatoes and mild curry, finished with melted white cheddar and avocado cooked right in front of you.
Market at Main won Virginia Living’s Best Breakfast Restaurant Award last year. Before opening in 2009, the historic building underwent huge renovations to install wooden floors taken from a 19th century Lynchburg tobacco warehouse, a front counter designed to recall the 19th century, and even more to give an authentic, vintage feel. Breakfast is available all day, every day. Try the sweet potato pancakes, quiche of the day, or the green eggs and ham benedict.
If busyness is any indication of quality, then the Egg Bistro is one of the absolute best. Customers come back because of the positive atmosphere, great service, and delicious food. The Egg Bistro has three locations in Virginia: Chesapeake, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach.
Chadwicks has served brunch and lunch since 1967 to hungry Old Town Alexandrians. The first thing you notice when you step into Chadwicks is the grand staircase leading to the second floor. Everything about Chadwick’s atmosphere, from the bar to the patio seating, is reminiscent of the English pubs it was modeled after. The food is nothing to sneeze at, either, with fresh seafood sourced from the waterfront in view. The brunch menu offers vast traditional options, too.
Mercantile Restaurant in Fredericksburg, Virginia, is a quaint breakfast joint with southern influences. The team at Mercantile loves to reinvent classic dishes. Try the sweet buttermilk waffle or the assorted breakfast tacos. The coffee is sourced from sustainable farms from around the world. Event booking available.
Our Daily Bread Bakery and Bistro has three locations, in Blacksburg, Salem, and Roanoke, all with slightly different menus, and each worth a visit. Breakfast and weekend brunch menus offer omelets, poached eggs on croissants, crepes, hash brown plates, and chef specials. But their bread and butter are their breakfast pastries: don’t go home without a muffin, scone, Danish, or croissant.