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Leaping Lizard Cafe, Virginia Beach, VA

Leaping Lizard Cafe

4.9 (1355)
$30 and under
American
4408 Shore Dr, Virginia Beach, VA 23455

Make a reservation

2 people
11:00 PM
Booked 10 times today

About this restaurant

  • Neighborhood gem
  • Charming
  • Great for outdoor dining
Situated under a canopy of old growth trees on Lake Joyce, this natural gem serves seasonal fare from tidal Virginia. The menu reflects freshness with a distinct emphasis on showcasing the inherent colors and flavors of the ingredients. The cafe's bakery provides all its breads and deserts and is open for retail on the weekends. This fresh approach to food done in a natural and unpretentious setting has been a local favorite for twelve years. If you don't see your desired time slot available give us a call.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    American
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Mon, Tue 11:00 am–2:00 pm Wed–Fri 11:00 am–3:00 pm Sat, Sun 9:00 am–3:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (757) 460-5327
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Bill Prince

Featured in

Menu

Leaping Lizard Cafe's menu was last updated on 2/2/2022.

Kid'S Sandwiches

All served with chips and fresh fruit.

  • Grilled Cheese$4.50

    • Turkey$4.50

      Cafe Sandwiches

      All served on toasted bread with potato salad and fresh fruit.

      • Chicken Salad$11.95

        Blended with peach chutney, roasted almonds and our lightly curried yogurt mayo.

        • Oven Roasted Turkey BLT$9.95

          Our oven roasted turkey, bacon, tomato, lettuce our basil mayonnaise.

          Signature Sandwiches

          All served on our toasted rosemary bread, with potato salad.

          • Oven-Roasted Turkey, Surry Ham & Cheese$11.95

            Available until 3 pm. Our own oven roasted turkey, surry ham and provolone cheese with sun-dried tomato pesto mayo.

            • Roast Beef & Turkey$9.95

              Roast beef, our oven- roasted turkey, provolone and our own horseradish sauce.

              Soups

              Made hearty and daily.

              • Cup of Soup & 1/2 Salad$8.95

                Served with potato salad and fresh fruit.

                • Big Bowl of Soup$6.95

                  Wraps

                  All served with potato salad and fresh fruit.

                  • Fresh Tuna Salad Wrap$9.95

                    With provolone cheese, lettuce and tomato.

                    • Hummus Wrap$7.95

                      Our tasty hummus with carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, mushrooms and sun-dried tomato mayo.

                      Last updated: February 2, 2022

                      What 1,355 people are saying

                      Leaping Lizard Cafe reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

                      Overall ratings and reviews

                      Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

                      4.9
                      4.9 based on recent ratings
                      • 4.9Food
                      • 4.9Service
                      • 4.8Ambience
                      • 4.8Value

                      Noise • Moderate

                      Loved For

                      • Virginia

                        Best Value

                      • Virginia

                        Great for outdoor dining

                      • Virginia

                        American

                      • Norfolk / Virginia Beach

                        Best Overall

                      • Norfolk / Virginia Beach

                        Best Food

                      • Norfolk / Virginia Beach

                        Best Ambiance

                      • Norfolk / Virginia Beach

                        Best Value

                      • Norfolk / Virginia Beach

                        Great for brunch

                      • Norfolk / Virginia Beach

                        Innovative

                      • Norfolk / Virginia Beach

                        Healthy

                      • Norfolk / Virginia Beach

                        Neighborhood gem

                      • Norfolk / Virginia Beach

                        Great for outdoor dining

                      • Norfolk / Virginia Beach

                        American

                      Review summary

                      AI-generated from verified diner reviews
                      Leaping Lizard Cafe is a charming Virginia Beach gem, known for its "excellent food" and "friendly service." Diners rave about the farm-to-table freshness, creative dishes like crab quiche, and delightful outdoor ambiance. While parking can be challenging, the "relaxed and enjoyable" atmosphere and scrumptious bakery treats make it worth the visit.
                      1,355 Reviews

                      1. Sera

                        Virginia2 reviews

                        5.0

                        Dined 2 days ago

                        1. Overall 5
                        2. Food 5
                        3. Service 5
                        4. Ambience 5
                        We had a lovely evening at the Leaping Lizard! The baked goat cheese appetizer was absolutely delicious. My husband ordered the flounder, which was the fish of the day, and it was perfectly cooked. I had the crab cakes—flavorful and well-prepared—served with fresh, sweet corn that was a standout on its own. For dessert, we decided to branch out and try the strawberry crunch cake. So glad we did—it’s definitely worth ordering! The ambiance was charming, and our server was attentive, knowledgeable, and offered excellent recommendations throughout the evening. We’ll definitely be back!

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                      2. Katherine

                        Virginia3 reviews

                        5.0

                        Dined 3 days ago

                        1. Overall 5
                        2. Food 5
                        3. Service 5
                        4. Ambience 5
                        Leaping Lizard is such a quaint, fun place, and the food is excellent! Two friends and I ate lunch there this week, and all of the food was very good! We love the atmosphere.

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                      3. David VIP

                        Virginia52 reviews

                        5.0

                        Dined on June 1, 2025

                        1. Overall 5
                        2. Food 5
                        3. Service 5
                        4. Ambience 5
                        First things first / the food is Excellent! We had the stuffed sweet potato biscuit, crab quiche, and breakfast burrito and thoroughly enjoyed them all. We took home some treats from the adjacent bakery and they were amazing as well. The outdoor dining atmosphere is very relaxed and enjoyable. We had fun watching the chickens and geese. The natural trail down to the water was a nice walk following our meal. Our server, Maryssa, was very friendly and offered great suggestions. Do be aware that the parking is limited, which can be an issue given how popular the place is. We are glad we came down from Yorktown, and definitely will be back!

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                      4. Kenneth

                        Virginia18 reviews

                        5.0

                        Dined on May 31, 2025

                        1. Overall 5
                        2. Food 5
                        3. Service 5
                        4. Ambience 5
                        Great local venue. Country, casual atmosphere makes for a relaxing dining experience. One of the best in VB.

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                      5. DebbieB VIP

                        Baltimore / Maryland5 reviews

                        4.0

                        Dined on May 29, 2025

                        1. Overall 4
                        2. Food 5
                        3. Service 4
                        4. Ambience 5
                        Delicious meal and great service! We both had the chicken piccata which was served with an amazing potato gratin stack. The chocolate almond torte was one of the all time best desserts ever! Love Leaping Lizard. Always fresh and delicious!

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                      6. Kim

                        Baltimore / Maryland3 reviews

                        5.0

                        Dined on May 25, 2025

                        1. Overall 5
                        2. Food 5
                        3. Service 5
                        4. Ambience 5
                        I LOVE THIS PLACE. The people, the atmosphere, THE FOOD! This is definitely a special place!

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                      7. Melanie

                        New York City12 reviews

                        5.0

                        Dined on May 25, 2025

                        1. Overall 5
                        2. Food 5
                        3. Service 5
                        4. Ambience 5
                        Leaping Lizard is a just a lovely, local treasure! I cannot say enough good things about it - this was my second time enjoying it and, this visit, my best friend and I brought more family with us, who loved it, too! I was pretty sure the brunch menu would be amazing (based upon having lunch the last time) and man was this a correct assumption - the challenge was deciding what delicious dish to get. (I strongly recommend the crab quiche and my friend LOVED the strawberries & cream pancakes!) This is such a special experience - friendly, warm, and welcoming. Run, don’t walk (and hit the bakery on your way out for some delicious dessert (shout out to the oatmeal chocolate chip cookies) to go)!

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                      8. Eleanore

                        Washington, D.C. Area2 reviews

                        5.0

                        Dined on May 24, 2025

                        1. Overall 5
                        2. Food 5
                        3. Service 5
                        4. Ambience 5
                        Always a great time ! They made a busy memorial day weekend lunch fantastic !

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                      9. diane VIP

                        Virginia17 reviews

                        5.0

                        Dined on May 23, 2025

                        1. Overall 5
                        2. Food 5
                        3. Service 5
                        4. Ambience 5
                        Fabulous! Food was delicious! We ate outside under a tree. It was a beautiful spring night. The geese were strolling around entertaining us. Hard to choose what to get by the incredible variety on the dinner menu. Pork chop amazing, vege lasagna so good, chicken tornedo amazing!!! And the desserts… so so good!!! 

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                      10. Cary

                        Virginia11 reviews

                        5.0

                        Dined on May 23, 2025

                        1. Overall 5
                        2. Food 4
                        3. Service 5
                        4. Ambience 5
                        The flounder was excellent, flaky and moist. Slightly disappointed in the beef ragu. It had an unusual flavor (perhaps coriander?) Excellent wait staff and service

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                      FAQs

                      Leaping Lizard Cafe is rated 4.9 stars by 1355 OpenTable diners.

                      Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

                      1. Home
                      2. United States
                      3. Virginia
                      4. Norfolk / Virginia Beach
                      5. Virginia Beach

                      Make a reservation

                      2 people
                      11:00 PM
                      Booked 10 times today
                      Google Map for Leaping Lizard Cafe

                      4408 Shore Dr, Virginia Beach, VA 23455

                      Additional information

                      • Neighborhood
                        Virginia Beach
                      • Hours of operation
                        Lunch Mon, Tue 11:00 am–2:00 pm Wed–Fri 11:00 am–3:00 pm Sat, Sun 9:00 am–3:00 pm
                      • Price
                        $30 and under
                      • Cuisines
                        American
                      • Dining style
                        Casual Dining
                      • Dress code
                        Casual Dress
                      • Parking details
                        None
                      • Payment options
                        AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
                      • Executive chef
                        Bill Prince
                      • Additional
                        Bar Dining, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Weekend Brunch, Wine

                      Featured in

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