Sandfiddler Cafe

Yes this place is at the end of East Ocean View
Yes this place is in a tiny strip mall
Yes this place is busy
Yes, you will probably have to wait for a table
But oh YES, it is worth the wait

When we arrived I think we were #3 on the list, that's not too bad. There were a couple of benches and a few chairs to accommodate the waiting. There are also about 6 chairs outside for waiting. After a few minutes of waiting the flood of people started coming in, so I would advise you to get there a bit earlier to avoid prime time crowds.

The decor is all beachy of course, and everything has a price tag on it. I loved the fused beach glass framed mirrors. Adorable t-shirts line the wall in all colors. Had to get one of those.

Alice was our waitress and she was just so nice and attentive. She was a Norfolk native, so it was great picking her brain on some of the old places which no longer exist. The menu had a full array of food at great prices. There was also a daily special board. Alice suggested the 50/50 burger, made of 50% beef and 50% BACON. Really? No way..WAY!

We intended on having breakfast but who can possibly pass up something like this gift from the bacon gods, the 50/50 burger. Not only is this thing 50% bacon, it had cheese, more crispy bacon, an onion ring, lettuce and tomato.
This 50/50 burger is only offered the second week of the month and once they are gone, they are not offered again until the next month. It was on the daily special board and we got the last one. That item was removed from the daily special board once we ordered it. It was like winning the burger lotto.

The burger special also came with fries, drink and a big chocolate chip cookie for dessert.

We decided we would just order the burger and split it. If we were hungry after the burger we would order something else. The burger of joy came and it was everything we were hoping it would be. Moist, delicious, bacon heaven sandwich of meat. They also serve you this little bowl of garlic mayo. That stuff was so good we dipped the fries into it. Alice said they make the garlic mayo too.

The burger and fries were so filling that we had no need to order anything else. We had no tummy room for the cookie so we saved it for a later snack.

Would I come here again...yes I would. I would almost move back here just to eat at this place on the regular. Thank you Alice for the great service and meal suggestion. You rock!

Amazing service, food and people. The owner Jeff and his wife are absolutely amazing people. When I lived in OV this place was a staple in my life. Do yourself a favor and go. It's like going home.

I decided to venture out and try a new, breakfast spot on a Sunday afternoon which led me to Sandfiddler Cafe. The reviews were great so I couldn't wait to try it out. I arrived a little after 12pm and it was packed, the only seating available was at the high-top seating area in the back, which I didn't mind sitting at.

The staff were super friendly and gave me a menu right away. I decided on the Crabmeat Omelette which came with two sides so I ordered the potatoes with onions and some fruit. As I waited for my food, other locals arrived and sat around the counter area as well. You can tell they were regular customers which I loved.

The Crabmeat Omelette came out fairly quickly and was amazing! The hollandaise sauce was flavored perfectly and the crabmeat was filled all throughout the omelette. I love veggies in my omelette so if I were to order it again, I would definitely add some onions and peppers but it was still great as is. The potatoes were just as amazing and definitely tasted homemade.

Overall, I highly recommend stopping in and trying out this cafe. The space isn't super big so you may have to wait, depending on the time you arrive, but if there's space at the high-top seating in the back, I say take it and make some new friends with the locals.

Looking for a great local breakfast in East Beach? GO TO SANDFIDDLER!!!

I stopped here with my son and was blown away with the service and quality of food.

Sandfiddler sits in a strip mall with other local businesses but is very welcoming and warm inside. They have a large menu full of lunch and breakfast choices.

My son ordered the pancakes and I went for the chorizo breakfast burrito and blueberry pancakes. Our waitress name was Karen and she was absolutely fabulous! She made sure the food was hot and my coffee cup was never empty.

Another huge plus of this establishment is their prices! Very affordable, family friendly and clean! We will be going back soon!

Let me start by saying service and food were good. But read on.
Was immediately greeted, asked how many in my party, I decided to sit at the bar/counter, I was handed a menu to take with me to seat myself.
I was greeted and was asked if I wanted anything to drink. I settled for iced water for the moment. Looked through their massive menu that offers a variety of breakfast favorites like omelets, Benedict's , waffles, pancakes, salads, sandwiches. All great brunch staples.
I ordered the Irish Benedict which is two poached eggs on corned beef hash and biscuits and gravy. You get a side with your Benedict (grits, greens, hash browns, etc) . I chose fresh fruits.
Food came out in 10 minutes.
The Irish Benedict was okay, just wish they heated up the English muffin to have that crisp instead of just soft right out of the box texture. The corned beef hash - seemed like they just took out of a Hormel can and didn't bother to heat it up.
Then this is the part where I really am not keen on. They have a designated person checking the food that the cooks put on the window ready to be picked up by wait staff to be served. I know high end restaurants have taster. But the food check person lifted omelets then touched trays and put away counter items then touched the food again without at a minimum wiping her hands.
Not going back, I know people say it could be worse, but why are we accepting sub-standard health protocols?

"Absolutely delightful experience at the Sand Fiddler Café! From the moment we stepped in, the cozy ambiance welcomed us, setting the perfect tone for a memorable meal. The menu boasts a fantastic array of dishes, each one expertly crafted with fresh, local ingredients. The staff were incredibly friendly and attentive, ensuring our every need was met with a smile. Every bite was a burst of flavor, leaving us eager to return and explore more of their culinary delights. A true gem in the dining scene - five stars without a doubt!"

My husband has been going here with his golf buddy for breakfast and FINALLY took me there to test it out. We went Sunday morning around 9ish.

The interior of the restaurant its cute, and the pantings and art on the wall are for sale which is really cool! Brings a sense of community together!

It was packed and we knew that, so we decided to eat at the bar. We were greeted by pearl, she was really nice and accommodating despite how busy it was.

Food came out quick, hot and tasty! My husband had the fisherman and i had strawberry french toast. It was delicious. We cant wait to come back!

Locals favorite!! We have had SO many 5 star meals here (can't believe this is the first review I have actually written), but last Saturday was a little disappointing. Again, so many meals here have been great, so thinking last weekend was just a bad day. That's why they get 4 stars instead of 3.

We arrived on Saturday at about 11:30. They were on a wait, as usual, but also as usual, they were turning the tables fast. Seriously, don't let a wait deter you. Luckily there were seats at the counter with no wait, so we took it. As usual, everyone was super friendly.

This crew is AMAZING! They just get the job done. And as usual, the owner was there - busing tables, seating people, getting refills, whatever needed to be done. We complimented him on his amazing staff and that is when we learned they weren't his anymore - he sold it 3 weeks ago to his kitchen manager, but he was still there in support. Nice!

And here is where they lose a star - the kitchen was in the weeds (to the point where they stopped putting orders in - maybe that has happened before, but we have never seen it). We did now because we were seated at the counter. People that came in after us got their orders. We had not. That can be forgiven because stuff happens.

But where they lose a star (should probably be two), is because of SALT. Seriously, I am a salt addict. But Hubby's and my eggs (his sunny side and mine scrambled) were WAY over salted. In fact my bacon was so salty that it was inedible (which is saying a lot coming from me). I'm guessing they didn't clean the griddle because they were so backed up?

Again, hoping this was an off day. This is a fantastic breakfast and lunch spot that is beloved by us locals. I'm looking forward to updating this review soon.

I have driven by this place a couple time, on my way to CoVa Brewing. Today I decided I'd treat my husband to breakfast, so we went in.

The place is cute. It has a lot of handcrafted decorations on the wall, that can be bought. I really loved the coastal vibe they were going for.

We were sat pretty quickly, and our waitress was also fast to get us our drinks. There were no issues with service on our end. I did see a couple people mention they had some issues with their server.

I did give this place 4 starts because the food was good, but it wasn't great. I had a breakfast burrito, and I felt like my tortilla wasn't heated. It was room temperature, and for me that was a big red flag.

My husband ordered the chicken and waffles, and I would compare the tenders to what you can get at Denny's. However, the waffle, was so good. It was fluffy like a marshmallow.

Overall, I would come again, but I would definitely be ordering something different.

New ownership and there is a better vibe in the cafe. Nobody directing traffic. Good fantastic wait servers all great the biscuits and gravy IMO best in town. Vacationers give it shot, won't be disappointed.

Cute local spot tucked away in an East Beach shopping center! Parking was a breeze and right when you step in, you're greeted by the friendliest staff and the coziest vibes.

I ordered the French toast combo which I really enjoyed! Their menu had all the breakfast classics from pancakes to Benedicts. I wish the portions were a *little* bigger but all in all, it's not gonna stop me from coming back!