Who doesn’t love a really good brunch? Not just the requisite lineup of eggs, bacon, and pancakes, but a menu that’s elevated, mouth-watering, and downright delicious. We think we might have found just the spot.
Hair of the Dog, with three locations in Tidewater—downtown Norfolk, at ODU, and in Virginia Beach—just might qualify as offering a religious experience. Take their flights—Benedict Flights, that is—and worth every bit of its $18 pricetag for one each of three bennies: chicken and waffle, shrimp and grits, and biscuits and gravy. Frankly, I’m sold. But if they’re too fancified for you, garden variety eggs Benedict is a menu staple, along with a tricked-up Chesapeake variety that comes with crab meat.
The menu is a little bit Southern, with some comfort food, made-from-scratch selections, and elevated flavor profiles tossed in. Classic breakfast options are available, too, like omelets and French toast, and Plain Jane eggs and bacon. But don’t overlook their specialities like shrimp and grits that come with chorizo and gouda, a stuffed-to-the-gills breakfast burrito, or The Pungo—breaded chicken, cheddar biscuit, scrambled eggs, sausage gravy, and house potatoes. An entire meal could be created from their sides and à la carte menu. Frankly, a brunch with a smattering of cinnamon rolls, fried goat cheese balls, cheese biscuits, and candied bacon sounds decadent.
With a sweeping beverage menu that features craft and import beers, creative cocktails and mocktails, and hot or iced boozy coffee flights starring one each of four rotating flavors that can also come zero-proof, Hair of the Dog has cornered the area’s brunch market. But that’s not all. Lunch and dinner is served too. HairOfTheDogVa.com
This article originally appeared in the August 2024 issue.
