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Interior - Leaping Lizard Cafe, Virginia Beach, VA

Leaping Lizard Cafe

4.9 (1470)
$30 and under
American
4408 Shore Dr, Virginia Beach, VA 23455

Make a booking

A photo of Leaping Lizard Cafe restaurant

Leaping Lizard Cafe

4.9
$30 and under
American
Virginia Beach

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 26 times today

About this restaurant

  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Charming
  • Great for brunch
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

Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

Menu

This menu from Leaping Lizard Cafe.

Kid'S Sandwiches

All served with chips and fresh fruit.

  • Grilled CheeseUS$4.50

    • TurkeyUS$4.50

      Cafe Sandwiches

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

      • Chicken SaladUS$11.95

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

        • Oven Roasted Turkey BLTUS$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 & CheeseUS$11.95

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

            • Roast Beef & TurkeyUS$9.95

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

              Soups

              Made hearty and daily.

              • Cup of Soup & 1/2 SaladUS$8.95

                Served with potato salad and fresh fruit.

                • Big Bowl of SoupUS$6.95

                  Wraps

                  All served with potato salad and fresh fruit.

                  • Fresh Tuna Salad WrapUS$9.95

                    With provolone cheese, lettuce and tomato.

                    • Hummus WrapUS$7.95

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

                      Last updated: 2 February 2022

                      Powered by OpenTable

                      Reviews

                      OpenTable reviews from verified diners

                      Reviews from people who have dined at Leaping Lizard Cafe.

                      4.9

                      4.9
                      (1470)
                      • 4.9Food
                      • 4.9Service
                      • 4.8Ambience
                      • 4.6Value

                      Noise • Moderate

                      Diners' Choice Awards

                      • Virginia

                        Best Overall

                      • Virginia

                        Best Value

                      • Virginia

                        Great for brunch

                      • Virginia

                        Healthy

                      • Virginia

                        American

                      • Norfolk / Virginia Beach

                        Best Overall

                      • Norfolk / Virginia Beach

                        Best Food

                      • Norfolk / Virginia Beach

                        Best Service

                      • Norfolk / Virginia Beach

                        Best Ambience

                      • Norfolk / Virginia Beach

                        Best Value

                      • Norfolk / Virginia Beach

                        Great for brunch

                      • Norfolk / Virginia Beach

                        Healthy

                      • Norfolk / Virginia Beach

                        Neighbourhood gem

                      • Norfolk / Virginia Beach

                        Great for outdoor dining

                      • Norfolk / Virginia Beach

                        American

                      Review summary

                      AI-generated from verified diner reviews
                      Leaping Lizard Cafe offers a "unique and very cool" dining experience with "delicious food, terrific service," and a charming rustic atmosphere. Known for its "fantastic fresh and delicious food," the cafe is a top choice for brunch, lunch, or dinner. Reservations are recommended, especially for the popular outdoor seating.
                      1,470 Reviews

                      1. Barbara

                        Virginia21 reviews

                        5.0

                        Dined 2 days ago

                        1. Overall 5
                        2. Food 5
                        3. Service 5
                        4. Ambience 5
                        Leaping Lizard is always a treat! Fabulous food and service and the fluffy German geese!

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                      2. Marsha

                        Virginia8 reviews

                        5.0

                        Dined 5 days ago

                        1. Overall 5
                        2. Food 5
                        3. Service 5
                        4. Ambience 5
                        Very lively atmosphere! Great food and excellent service! If you are having a down day, a great place to go!☺️

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                      3. Laurie

                        Washington, D.C. Area2 reviews

                        5.0

                        Dined 7 days ago

                        1. Overall 5
                        2. Food 5
                        3. Service 5
                        4. Ambience 5
                        Delightful! We will be returning for sure! Loved it!

                        Is this helpful?

                      4. Sharon

                        Virginia1 review

                        5.0

                        Dined on 1 October 2026

                        1. Overall 5
                        2. Food 5
                        3. Service 5
                        4. Ambience 5
                        Unique and very cool restaurant with delicious food, good sized servings, and terrific service. Will return!

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                      5. Valerie

                        Washington, D.C. Area4 reviews

                        5.0

                        Dined on 27 September 2026

                        1. Overall 5
                        2. Food 5
                        3. Service 5
                        4. Ambience 5
                        Outstanding food and service! Shrimp and grits and duck hash were excellent. We had a dog and we're going for Saturday brunch, so we made reservations in advance for the patio and were seated right away.

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                      6. Katie Gold

                        Virginia10 reviews

                        5.0

                        Dined on 23 September 2026

                        1. Overall 5
                        2. Food 5
                        3. Service 5
                        4. Ambience 5
                        Leaping Lizard is such a great choice for lunch! I had one of the specials, tuna on a bed of greens. It was delicious and I just loved the dressing. our servers Tracy, was great! She was perfectly attentive and personable! You won't be disappointed

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                      7. Kim

                        Orlando / Central Florida East7 reviews

                        4.0

                        Dined on 21 September 2026

                        1. Overall 4
                        2. Food 5
                        3. Service 3
                        4. Ambience 3
                        This is my go to place when people come from out of town. I think it’s such a unique spot with fantastic fresh and delicious food. What drove me nuts at our lunch were the flies. I don’t recall them being such a nuisance and so intrusive in the past. To the point that I was getting really angry because it was a total distraction from what would’ve been a fantastic meal and lunch with friends.

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                      8. Janie

                        Virginia1 review

                        5.0

                        Dined on 20 September 2026

                        1. Overall 5
                        2. Food 5
                        3. Service 5
                        4. Ambience 5
                        Each time we visit VAB from our home in Winchester, we make it a point to schedule a meal at LL. We totally love the rustic FTT charm, the excellent, personal service & the fabulous food choices. Love the quiches, salads & seafood, and always treat ourselves to key lime pie! We recommend LL to anyone visiting the beach area. Thanks for never disappointing! 🦎 Janie & Greg

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                      9. Charlie & Kathy

                        Virginia2 reviews

                        5.0

                        Dined on 20 September 2026

                        1. Overall 5
                        2. Food 5
                        3. Service 5
                        4. Ambience 5
                        As always, great food, great service, great place

                        Is this helpful?

                      10. Arvin

                        Washington, D.C. Area2 reviews

                        5.0

                        Dined on 19 September 2026

                        1. Overall 5
                        2. Food 5
                        3. Service 5
                        4. Ambience 5
                        You can’t go wrong. Very good heathy brunch!!!❤️❤️❤️

                        Is this helpful?

                      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

                      FAQs

                      Leaping Lizard Cafe feels like a charming, garden‑like escape, a canopy of trees, a screened porch and backyard with chickens and geese create a relaxed, whimsical farmhouse atmosphere.

                      Yes, reviewers call Leaping Lizard cozy and charming for special evenings, and guests report anniversary and date-night visits with attentive service.

                      Yes, Leaping Lizard is family-friendly: guests note a kids menu item, regular family visits, and fenced chickens and geese that kids enjoy seeing and petting.

                      Yes, dogs are welcome at the outdoor/back seating: guests report being asked to sit around back with their dogs, leashed small dogs are allowed, and a friendly neighborhood dog often visits tables outside.

                      Sunday brunch is a standout, guests frequently praise Leaping Lizard's weekend brunch and crab quiche, and weekend mornings are a popular time to visit.

                      Casual dress, comfortable, everyday clothes are appropriate; nothing formal is required.

                      Leaping Lizard Cafe is at its best for weekend brunch, the porch, bakery treats and brunch dishes are frequent highlights, if you want quieter dining, Wednesday dinner has been described as not very busy.

                      Yes, the cafe asks guests to call if their desired time slot isn’t available, and reviewers note adding reservation details (like birthdays) when booking.

                      Guests often describe the portions as generous and ample, several reviews single out the crab quiche and other dishes as generously plated.

                      How FAQ content is generated

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

                      Make a booking

                      A photo of Leaping Lizard Cafe restaurant

                      Leaping Lizard Cafe

                      4.9
                      $30 and under
                      American
                      Virginia Beach

                      Make a booking

                      2 people
                      19:00
                      Booked 26 times today
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