Little Dog Diner

You gotta come here! While I was slightly disappointed to find it they were no longer called the Donut Dinette… The quality of the food has definitely been kicked up a few notches.
Today I had the French Toast & Eggs with Texas toast, home fries & bacon.
Eggs over easy looked like something prepared for a photoshoot… As did the rest of the plate (as you will see from my photo).
Even the syrup that comes out on the side is something special… As if they have here very own tree out back.
I added the bananas to the toast… I personally wasn’t crazy about them as they are more like a candied or drunken banana… Something that is probably also used for some kind desert… It was really just a texture thing for me as I don’t care for mushy bananas… But even with that I still ate them all.
If I’m really digging for a criticism, hmmm… I think if they added a bit of Tony C’s Cajun seasoning to the potatoes it would make them even better than they are now.
Service was also stellar… Even though I sat outside on a weekday AM when they only appear to have 1 server, he still pulled it off without a misstep.

Great atmosphere, lots of outside dining. Inside bare-​bones, kind of like an old soda shop but comfortable. Clean environment. Friendly and knowledgeable staff. I was suggested to try a sorbet mimosa. Seems like a new and trendy idea so I chose the mango flavor to give it more of a traditional Mimosa approach. So glad I did; it was delicious! My friend had a Bloody Mary with bacon infused flavors called the porky Mary. It was awesome as well. I’m talking about our drinks but make no mistake, this little joint is serious on fresh and flavorful foods. We both had the Chesapeake eggs benedict and it was a divine experience. I never finish my plate and I mopped it up. Please check this out and ask for Nanjean. She helped make our experience amazing.

This little gem is the joint!!! Friendly staff, spotless, great sorbet mimosas and a variety of tasty bloody marys. The veggie omelet and the eggs benedict are my go to’s! They have outdoor seating or refreshing AC inside. The music is perfect but could be a bit louder but the speakers are just above a few tables so they make sure everyone is comfortable! ! Consistent. Affordable. I found my new favorite spot. Carl is my favorite server but they all rock!!! Well oiled machine they have there. Bravo!!!

My mother and I walked into the little dog diner around 2:55 one day and were told that they were about to close. We said that we would be quick and sat down with menus. The waitress mumbled as she walked away to get our water and when she returned we said that we would just leave since we didn’t want to keep them open. She thanked us and promptly walked off. It was quite rude to turn us away like that. Nevertheless my kids wanted to come and so we tried it again. This time it was lunch and they were very quiet. The waitress seemed to be training someone and so stood over her shoulder as she took our order. When the bill came there was a discrepancy and instead of politely fixing it the waitress tried to explain to me how I had made an error in how I ordered and that’s why there was a charge for my daughters milk (which should have came with the kids meal). We will not be coming back.

We found this little place a few weeks ago and let me tell you, it was so cute and the food was amazing! Perfect Sunday breakfast and you have got to order the chicken n biscuits with gravy, hands down to die for! So glad we have a new spot for Sunday brunch.
Stoermanns

My friend and I stopped in for lunch today. She had the lumberjack grilled cheese and loved it the only comments was that she wished that the apples had been caramelized before being put on the sandwich and the bread could have been crispier. I had to deep fried hot dogs with chili, mustard and cheese with home cut fries. The hot dogs were good and I would stop again for them I will never ever order the fries again. I am not sure what went wrong they were not crispy, but really soggy and greasy. I am only guessing that the oil used to fry them was not hot enough. Also the Ketchup just tasted bad not sure why. On to the service it is a big reason for 3 stars and not 4 it was horrible. My first order came out wrong they had ketchup not mustard the waitress had even put the order in wrong. The second try they got it correct, but still the waitress just kind of I don’t know how to say this lurked around and kind of made you feel like you were in a bad horror movie kind of. You just kept waiting to see what she was going to do while she just lurked. Like I said not sure this is the best explanation, but it made both of us feel really awkward.

Despite the name there is no dog on the menu.
Unwavered, I opted for the Vegan something. I say something because not quite an omelette and not quite a salad. It is served hot. I cannot remember it because of years of heavy drug use. But it was delicious. Avocado, spinach, mushrooms, potatos, soy patties, which were delicious, some other healthy stuff and wheat toast. I do resent having to butter my toast. I came to eat, not to work.
The staff was genuinely pleasant and very attentive, and the place is far improved from the Donut Dinette. The bathrooms are clean, nice, and on the INSIDE of the restaurant as opposed to on the outside of the building, which pissed me off, literally.

Carolinian Benedict (biscuit, sausage patty, poached egg, hollandaise) was fantastic. Eggs were perfect, which has been surprisingly hard to find at breakfast places in Norfolk. Coffee was maybe the second best I’ve ever had and came in a addict-​sized mug. My mug was never less than half full because it was constantly refilled without asking. My fiancé was happy to have a variety of hot sauces offered without request.
The atmosphere makes me miss diners back home in NJ. Great variety of music that my mom loved when she was growing up — Jackson 5, Beach Boys, The Eagles, Bowie.
The Health Department dropped in while we were there and left looking happy, so that’s always a good sign.
Our only complaint was that it’s a little pricy. Around $ 30 for two of us.

The diner is clean and visually appealing. The music is 50s/​60s and not too loud. This adds to the diner atmosphere.
The coffee was served promptly and was ready to drink rather than being too hot.
The service was excellent. We were never bothered during our meal and service was prompt when needed.
Our breakfast was excellent. My wife had pancakes, scrambled eggs, and home fries. I had the Greek omelette. All of which were top notch.

I had a wonderful brunch here last week while the weather was still nice. This was my first visit to the Little Dog Diner since it had opened and I decided to sit on the new covered deck on the side of the building. The weather was perfect, not to hot, yet not to cool in the shade. Once I grabbed my table I noticed that the tree’s were growing through the deck. This is a really cool touch, they didn’t chop the tree’s down, they build the deck around the tree’s giving them room to continue to grow on and upwards.
After looking over the extensive menu I had a really tough time deciding on whether I wanted breakfast or lunch. I finally decided to go with their Breakfast Skillet and at the servers insistence I selected a biscuit instead of bread slices. In addition I added a side of their home made corned beef hash.
A short time later my food arrived. The skillet was nicely setup in a ceramic skillet styled plate, that’s a first, and the bed of home fries and other ingredients were covered with cheese and 2 fried eggs over easy and strips of bacon. Under those eggs I found crumbled sausage, tomatoes, green peppers, mushrooms and onions. This was one hell of a skillet and was quite filling indeed. Along with that was the home made biscuit and corned beef hash. The biscuit was everything the server said it was going to be. It was fresh, light and wonderful. Perfect for soaking up everything at the bottom of my skillet and then some. The corned beef hash unfortunately left a little to be desired. It was very dry and actually it probably would be fine in a breakfast dish like the skillet I had just eaten where it could mix up with the egg yolk and other juices, however on it’s own, very very dry.
All in all I was very happy with this visit. The menu is huge with both a breakfast and lunch menus to choose from as well as a big special sheet each day as well. I’ll be checking them out again soon, especially with spring right around the corner. You can find the Little Dog Diner in Ghent on Colley in the location of the old Donut Dinette.

Hubs and I stopped in, as our favorite place was far too busy, and I’ve been wanting to try this place.
Charming diner, great atmosphere.
Food was good– chicken and waffles were okay; waffle was seriously dried out, chicken was perfect, syrup brought it all together. Husband enjoyed his burger for the most part– although he doesn’t eat onions, he said the burger tasted very strongly of such. Could have been the flat top it was cooked on?
I swear my husband and I are cursed. It seems 8 out of 10 restaurants we go to, we get the laziest server possible, who doesn’t care to check on their tables other than to collect their check. This was another prime example.
We also happened to be sitting for quite some time with empty plates, when another server stopped by. I thought she was going to help out our server, by clearing our plates or offering my husband a refill. But no. She wanted to swap out our butter caddy.
I’m sure we will go back, but will sit at the little counter. I’m sure the service will be better.

I had a good solid breakfast. Nice counter service. Home fries were the highlight. I will go back and go deeper into the menu.

First time coming to this location and I have to say I was more then impressed! Super clean location and super friendly staff! I love the old school diner feel and the ½ lb angus hot dogs were on point! We will def be back for another round!

A for ambiance and atmosphere– outside eating area is great and the music was on point!
C for food. It was extremely bland… For a good breakfast, there are far better places on Colley and in Norfolk. Eggs were plain, and what you would cook at home… The bacon was burnt to a crisp and they ran out of donuts at 1030 on a Saturday! The BLT breakfast sandwich was ok– nothing special. I had one last week at Cure that was phenomenal– this didn’t compare. Overall, not worth it, but if they start staying open as a late night diner they could have a niche.

Been there twice. Took a break during Christmas shopping in Ghent and had two deep fried hot dogs with chili, cheese and onions. Awesome! Stopped in the the other day with the wife. She had the chicken & dumplin’s ($ 5.99). I had the pot roast platter with mash potatoes, carrots, and green beans ($ 7.99). OMG!!! Better than mama’s! Dennis C. had a less than stellar visit, but he also liked the pot roast special. Can’t beat the price. I think they have worked out the kinks.

This place was great! We’d driven past it a couple of times and we’re excited to see it open. I know it’s new, but the place was so super clean, and all the waitresses were so friendly. I had the grilled cheese and the boyfriend had the giant hot dog. Both were delicious. My only negative comment is that the sides are a little skimpy. Otherwise, can’t wait to go back!

Great Food! Great Service! They did a great job renovating the old diner. Nicely decorated and very clean. Soccer playing on the TV, classic rock in the background and grit cake on my plate! What else do you need?

The Little Dog Diner is the latest incarnation of the Do-​Nut Dinette, a Norfolk landmark for many years. It first opened a little more than 50 years ago, and I still remember it when I attended Blair Junior High School during the early 1960s.
Its business began to sputter in later years, leading to its closure in December of 2012. It reopened in August of 2013, only to close again in August of last year. Finally, it was purchased by the owners of the Red Dog Saloon.
Nearly an entire year was spent giving it a complete makeover, before it finally opened for business on December 7^th. The new look includes a patio deck adjacent to its intersection with Harrington Avenue. The signage and décor sport a jazzy checkerboard 1950s motif, reminiscent of Happy Days with its lively retro vibe.
The manager is running it as a traditional diner with a few twists, including a drink menu that includes Mimosas and Bloody Marys. They have two separate menus, one for breakfast and one for lunch. Their current daily closing time is at 3:00 p.m. and breakfast can still be ordered during their lunch time hours. They eventually plan to expand their hours to 8:00 p.m.
I have now eaten here three times and ordered the following:
CHICKEN POT PIE: This one was on their list of daily specials and priced at only $ 5.99. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a sad looking puppy. It consisted merely of a small bowl of chicken vegetable soup with a roundish piece of flaky crust bread flopped over the top.
The chicken and vegetable mix was not baked, and there was no crust inside the bowl as with traditional chicken pot pies. The flavor of the chicken soup itself was satisfactory, but this was supposed to be a chicken pot pie instead, as described on their specials menu.
During my second visit, a gentleman sitting to my immediate left also ordered their Chicken Pot Pie, and I couldn’t help but observe. The flaky crust literally came floating on top of the «pie.» He stared at it for a few moments before touching it and ate only about half of it before having the rest boxed up to take home. I’m no mind reader, but he did not seem too impressed. My Rating: 1.5 Stars.
THE LITTLE DOG PLATTER: Described as follows on their breakfast menu: «Two XL eggs cooked your way with a choice of meat and one of the following: tots, grits, fried apples, or house made home made fries. Choose toast or a giant biscuit smothered with sausage gravy.» $ 9.99.
I fared a little better with this dish during my second visit. I ordered my eggs scrambled, and they were fluffy and flavorful. My choice of meat was bacon, which came as three crispy and crunchy strips, just the way I like them. I chose the fried apples, which were tasty but a bit too sweet for my tastes. The biscuit came in a commercialized cookie cutter shape and was not served warm. It was also missing the sausage gravy to go with it. My Rating: 3.5 Stars.
Based upon my first two visits, I was looking at a 2-​star review. Then came my third visit.
POT ROAST SPECIAL: «Stewed with carrots and onions. Served with seasoned green beans, creamy mashed potatoes, and a warm soft roll.» $ 7.99.
This dish was a winner and one that really hit the spot on a chilly afternoon. The meat was tender and flaky. The gravy was thick and savory. The mashed potatoes were creamy and plentiful. The onions and carrots were flavorful. All the ingredients and their flavors came together well in this dish. The beans looked and tasted like they were canned but were still pleasant. My Rating: 4 Stars.
The service has been friendly, attentive, and proactive during each of my visits. Their staff members have demonstrated a cheerful willingness to answer any questions about their menu.
I have not seen much of an emphasis upon their doughnuts yet, and I have not yet seen them listed on their menus. Instead, their doughnuts are enclosed in a storage case behind the counter in various flavors. During my third visit, there were only two flavors left.
It is my sense that the owners and manager are making an aggressive and ambitious effort to make this venture a success. It can certainly fill a niche by offering an affordable alternative with their traditional diner fare and bring back some nostalgia as well with its historic location.
.
They appear to be doing a brisk business so far, and I have noted diners in all age groups, including my own. Personally, I wish them the best of success.
In the meantime, please do something about that Chicken Pot Pie.

Tried this place on a whim and was not disappointed. They had breakfast and we went for lunch. The portions were good and a decent selection. A good value as well. Food was good. Can’t beat getting a donut with your lunch! The hot dogs were good and my friends got sandwiches which they really enjoyed. I will be back to try them out for myself. Small outdoor seating was great on a nice day like today. Sorry to see the donut dinette go, but glad this place is here…

I have been waiting for this place to open for awhile. So when I saw that it was finally open I tried it out. Wasn’t very many people in there but I think that will change, I hope. I tried their soup of the day which was potato soup and it was served in a coffee mug. The soup was too thick for my liking needed more liquid but overall it was okay and it should have been served with some crackers. I was excited to see a deep fried hot dog on their menu so I thought I would try it. I was disappointed it just didn’t seem to be deep fried more like it was cut in half and put on a flat top to grill. It was served on a hamburger roll with Smithfield ham (which had to much fat on it) and lettuce, tomato and mayo it just didn’t impress me. Maybe they should dip it in a batter and then deep fry it and serve it on a toasted hot dog roll? I ordered a side of onion rings and I seriously doubt they are homemade they tasted pre made, store bought and they were over cooked. With a place called Little Dog Diner I hope they add more hot dog selections to their menu .The service was good the waitress was attentive and it’s really nice inside, although the overhead music was too loud. Oh and here’s a tip for one of the servers the next time your rolling silverware and some of your friends come in and you shake their hands, wash your hands before going back to rolling the silverware. With so many restaurants in Ghent I hope this place catches on, I would like to see them succeed.