On a whim, as my boyfriend and I walked through the Freemason area on a lovely, early-springlike evening, we decided to give Voilà a shot for dinner. The special advertised on the blackboard at the cozy corner restaurant drew us in: two courses for $20.

NORFOLK
Pizzerias run the gamut, from old-school Italian joints to gourmet eateries that serve versions without a drop of tomato sauce or mozzarella. Now, Mama Jo's Pizza, near Old Dominion University, is trying to carve out a slice of the pie.

Taste Unlimited’s flagship store is, like the restaurant’s menu, massive.

SUFFOLK It wasn't enough to see our old friend Ed Beardsley on opening day of the Plaid Turnip downtown. His new restaurant had rye bread too. I don't know why I like the bread with those tiny black seeds, but I do. And I was glad to see that finally somebody around here is offering it.

By Jennifer Mason
The Virginian-Pilot

NORFOLK

Something about a chopped salad just makes eating salad more enjoyable.
No knives required, no hassle getting odd-shaped lettuce in your mouth, and the flavors just meld together better.

GREAT BRIDGE
They had me at "milkshakes."
I'm a sucker for old-fashioned diners. This remains so despite one disastrous visit on a road trip with my then-10-year-old daughter. Who knew meat loaf could be crispy? And we wouldn't have walked in on that woman if she had completely shut that ladies' room door.
But I digress.

If there's a food-lovers' delight in this town, it's the Greek Festival, coming this week to the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral.

SUFFOLK A smiling Dorothy Lovell rushed to the counter as soon as the door opened. A man, two women and a baby had just entered Jammin Jerk BBQ in the Freedom Plaza shopping center. "Would you like a menu, taste of anything?" she asked. One woman in the party looked a bit apprehensive. "You don't have to look so scared," Lovell teased.

Walking into a mall food court, you expect the usual pizza and subs. But at The Gallery at Military Circle is something unexpected: chitterlings. Yes, the tender, wrinkly pig intestines - commonly referred to as "chitlins" - can be found at Aunt Dorian's restaurant.

We'd seen the sign promoting the weekly Thursday night special weeks ago.
My husband and I are native Louisianans and Cajun connoisseurs. Our childhood palates consisted largely of crawfish, spicy jambalaya and gumbo, red beans and rice, fish, shrimp, and did I say fish?