MJs Tavern

Absolutely love this tavern! We went here after going to Pride night at the Virginia Zoo and it exceeded our expectations! First of all the food was good and affordable. Second, our waiter was exceptional in terms of service and friendliness! Third, the vibe here is so cool and laid back...two bars, outside dining and hang out, pool tables and board games inside and inside dining tables. There is a front and back bar in this place. Love the sign at the door and love that they give you a church bulletin discount every day of the week and not just on Sunday! Love the rainbow stripes painted in the parking lot. The Buffalo Chicken Dip was phenomenal as Ive never had a dip that had more chicken than anything else and it wasnt like a soup. It was mostly chicken with a buffalo taste and some cheese. Kudos! Our party of six all loved it! The hummus was okay, but we all thought it was too bland. We felt like it was missing some salt and lemon to punch it up a notch, but it was definitely home made. Everything else was delicious too! Well definitely be back!!

Each time Ive visited M.J.s it has been early to mid afternoon (I just never seem to be in Norfolk for the nightlife) Jaimie has been on duty handing the bar and the tending to the tables each time. Always with a smile and a very friendly , professional manner. Im almost always alone and I dont drink alcohol, so my check is never large but I receive the same excellent service as the well known table full of regulars. Im a proud product of the restaurant/ bar trade, so I notice and appreciate some of the things that most establishments have over the years have allowed to slide. Such as spotless polished bar glassware, and flatware. Topping off soft drinks and iced tea without asking or being asked. Clearing finished dishes quickly and the most pleasant of all, being allowed as the customer to set the pace and not feel rushed. You get all this and more at M.J.s. Also the food is tasty and well presented, hot when it should be and cold when it should be, nothing worse than a warm salad or cold soup. Ill definitely return and make an effort to do so later in the evening. So as to see the full venue at its finest.Keep up the excellent work

What a GREAT PLACE!! The staff is very friendly even to canine customers! There’s space for smokers outside also.The atmosphere is welcoming to all patrons. I haven’t even started with the food!! I got lunch, dinner,& brunch. (We went daily while I was in town)Every meal we had was delightful!! The brunch is a Must have!!I LOVED the spinach!!The Bartender makes a MEAN MIMOSA!! Overall all just outstanding!!I live in Atl and this is the best gay bar I’ve been to in years.Nuff said????

Stopped by for a great breakfast! I had eggs benedict, and she had 2 eggs and bacon, and we both had the home fries. The eggs benedict were very good and spiced nice! The home fries were deep fried and perfectly crispy! They have a great selection without being overwhelmed. We have been there for dinner before and it was great. Great flavors and great service fun place to go.

MJs is a home away from home; I always feel welcomed. The food is amazing; in fact, MJs has the best hollandaise sauce (for Eggs Benedict) that Ive ever had. Days are normally somewhat quiet (which is right up my alley). Evenings are lively; theres always something going on, such as karaoke or trivia.

Cute bar with table service available. The French fries are the best. The bartenders are super nice and make good drinks. Restrooms are always clean, which is a plus. Tuesdays is $2 vodka so yeah go on Tuesdays.

Great great atmosphere! Very welcoming! Had a couple drinks here after a litter clean up and it was a fun place. They had a trivia game going on and good music. Pool tables and an outside seating area too. Plus the Tesla chargers in the back were a plus!

This is a nice place to go for some fun! The food is fantastic... get that Cuban sandwich!! Shoutout to Courtney for being a wonderful server.Great for meeting new people and having some great bar food with a few drinks. Definitely recommend it for a night out with friends.Just had breakfast here and it is so good!!! This is such a great spot!The events planned here are so much fun. Im so glad a bar in the community still hosts events that bring us together. Love this bar.

This is a review based on my latest two experiences at this establishment. 3/30/2024, my party and I came for dinner. The food and service was good which I have come to expect. However, the next day 3/31/2024 the same party I came back for Easter Brunch. It was the exact opposite from the day before.The two overarching emotions we felt were, being rushed and neglected. The server came to the table with menus and took our drink orders. The server then proceeded to ask us what did we want to eat. I kindly asked him to give us time to look over the menu. Meanwhile he had a large table he attended to so it took a while for him to return. I don’t have a problem with that, but he rushed through taking our orders.Once the orders were delivered to the table my party had the wrong order. The server then brought the correct order without the items my party specifically requested. Instead of re-doing the order they just threw cheese on top of the eggs and grits and it wasn’t even melted. My order then came out after his.Then the server asked was there a problem and we said don’t worry about it. By that time, I just wanted to eat. But he responded by saying, “Obviously something is wrong and is there a way it can be fixed?” We again replied “Don’t worry about it we will make it work”.The server did not refill our drink orders and spent lots of time chattering with the large group. Once he returned with the check we paid the bill and left.I believe the contrast between Saturday and Sunday could be fixed with more training. I was embarrassed because I told my party who was visiting from NY how great this place was. Easter Brunch did not measure up.

Approximately 7 to 9 days ago my husband and I tried food from MJ’s Tavern in Norfolk Virginia. It was pleasant enough outside for us to eat our food which tasted appetizing and the foods/drink we selected included fried pickles tuna bites onion rings cheese steak and bread pudding and cherry coke (obviously we did have some leftovers). Our waiter was friendly and the food tasted better than I expected.

I can’t say enough high praise about this place. I’m very new to the area and have been desperate to find a new spot that I can go and have a good time. I came to MJs for the first time yesterday and I had an INCREDIBLE experience. Delicious food, immaculate vibes, I’ve never felt so WELCOMED.The staff was beyond but I met a bartender by the name of James C, or as they call him “Baby J”, who really made the night incredible. They have a second section of the bar called “The Shed” where James is frequently bartending. I can’t recommend him enough! He was hilarious, played the best music, and made us amazing drinks. He made the night unforgettable for me and I will be coming back to see him! He told me he hosts a game night there on Wednesdays!Very thankful for this bar and the experience I had!

I was here with friends for my 21rst. My fiancé told the server he was not drinking when he came to check our IDs. He accused my fiancé of being drunk and puking in the bathroom and told us that we needed to leave. We left immediately because they accused us of hiding information. We left immediately. Service was disappointing, I just wanted to hangout and celebrate with my friends, we were literally at our table the entire time and they accused us for something that we didn’t do. I had heard great things about this place and I was proven very wrong.

My first time there tonight on 03/23 and we waited 10 minutes to get served and the bartender took everyone around us. Then had an attitude when we tried to get her attention. A few other customers of color said she was rude to them too. I will never come back here or recommend this place to anyone. Service was disgusting. Big fat zero. Doesnt even deserve any stars

I love MJ’s. I’m born and raised in Norfolk but have been away for work but every time I’m in Norfolk, I find myself at MJ’s on a Friday night. The bartenders are always so friendly and upbeat. As far as food, it’s not a Michelin star restaurant, the late night menu is basically “drunk food” or “munchies”. Still very fresh, tasty and delicious.

My wife and I love coming for Brunch. They have a rotating menu and the classic breakfast and brunch staples too. Pictured here are the biscuits and gravy and the loaded oatmeal. Disregard the unflattering pic of the oatmeal, it tasted great.

We typically come here multiple times a month. However, tonight was not a good experience here with security. Your new security staff are very hostile and disrespectful towards the customers. Your door guy slammed the door in my boyfriends face as we were leaving and was immediately hostile towards us, I understand you were using the metal detector to wave down patrons, however, being in front of the door nobody can see you while they leave. Ive never had any issues with this bar until recently, however, tonight was a terrible experience at this bar.

This place came highly recommended and I heard they host great queer events for the community. But the bar itself was a disappointment. Im queer, POC, nonbinary, trans masc, and came with a female-presenting friend and the atmosphere was unwelcoming from the get go. We stood around no service or welcome, sat at the bar and had a few bartenders pass by without so much as eye contact. Definitely didnt feel like this was an inclusive space. It felt like we were just interrupting a sausage party. Left and just went to a burger bar instead. Very sad and disappointed as it came so highly recommended... Any queer/lesbian-friendly bars in the area??

I was working in the area and came in for lunch. Came back every day that i was in the vacinity. Highly recommend. Both lunch bartenders that took care of me did a wonderful job. And, and, and... the chili is amazing.

I had an incredibly long, long day and live behind MJ’s, so I put in a pickup order for dinner. I got the BBQ sandwich on toast w/ slaw and fries. My additional note was “pls make this with a lil bit of extra love bc I’ve had a long f—ing day xoxoxo” and that’s exactly what Chef Wolf did. They made my sandwich into a heart and added the sweetest note in my to-go box lid. I truly love the staff and environment at MJ’s and they will alwaaaaaaays get my coin. Thank you so much guys

If youre looking for a place with a bit more openness & variety, then MJs Tavern is where its at. Good music. Hospitable service - no rudeness.

I have been coming here for 12 years and have never left a review. I apologize. This is the most community inclusive place I have ever been to. Going above and beyond, Mike and John (MJ) always make sure this is a great, exceptional, and welcoming space; enjoyed by everybody. Brittany, Amanda, DJ pup coop, James x 2, Sierra, Debbie, Jack, they all make this the go to experience.

Bartender is incredibly friendly, outside seating is a blessing! Trivia night was fun! Drinks are delicious!

The food and drinks here are just awesome. Cant say the same about my waitress. Food came out fast. The kitchen staff handles their business back there. Once we received our food its like she disappeared. She was taking so long to come back and check on my friend and I that we had to ask the waiter from another table to get items for us. After we ate we paid the check and still sat to enjoy the atmosphere. We paid the exact amount of the check which was 52.07. So when she left the table I watched her go to the bar. She was talking to two people and you know when someone is having a conversation about you because at that moment the people whom she was speaking with turn around and looked directly at my friend and I then turned back around. Its cool though, I still left her a tip and I will be returning because I love their food and drinks but I will definitely make sure I dont sit in her section.

We had breakfast there yesterday and we will be back! The wait staff was very quick, very polite and overall very inviting. Be mindful though if you have a service dog, this place is pet friendly. We didnt have an issue as the dogs that we saw there were very well behaved.

I Love joining a friend at MJs & theyre never disappointed..my Brunch was excellent today! I got the Breakfast Combo & a Blueberry Cobbler to go 🥰

Cooked my steak to perfection. Very friendly staff. Patrons are very nice. All around great bar and atmosphere.

As a colored person, I’ve seen many of us spend money here. Although I’ve experienced mild racism here, I have paid it no mind. Over the last week, I’ve learned that if anything happened to one of us, they are not going to help. Keep this in mind.

Amazing Sunday brunch food was delicious waitress not so friendly but not mean if that makes sense. We definitely enjoyed

Very friendly atmosphere. Staff is super friendly but overwhelmed at times. Best to order from the bar sometimes. Game nights are really fun and the neighborhood hangout vibe is strong and everyone was welcomed.

The experience has gone downhill. I have gone to M J since it opened. I have known John before he opened the bar. Last night after ordering dinner, dessert and drinks from the bar and paying my bill of 85 dollars, I was drinking some water and talking to a friend beside me when a young man behind the bar told me to vacate my seat. I would have agreed with him but the way he said it was either I get up or he would throw me out because his friend wanted my seat. The staff is poor and is why myself and all of my friends don’t go there anymore.

Two nights in a row! Love going here. The food is ALWAYS great! I love it. The steak was excellent Thursday night and the Fish was good tonight! Id like to see more people of color there, but not that big of a deal to me.

We played Singo. It was like Bingo, only with songs that played. Gift cards were given to winners ranging from $10.00 - $50.00.

I love the vibe this place gives off. You always feel welcome no matter what walk of life you come from. The shed is also a little fun area you and your friends can play games and have drinks with others.

Wonderful staff and a fun atmosphere. The problem was the bread pudding. It was soggy and burnt unfortunately. The taste was just okay. I feel like I wasted my money and wont be going back for that reason

First time in 7 years I’ve been here, remodeled of course but very clean!! Nice plants out around the building as well.

Very friendly, delightful, inclusive environment and community. The restrooms are not labeled for any particular gender, which I love. Very accepting environment and vibe.Absolutely love it. Nobody bats an eye at my queer disabled self or my service dog and people are so warm and kind. Very rare find.The food is good. Service is excellent and staff are a delight. Drinks are good.All around a great place ❤️

This gay bar has great energy, kind staff, and attracts good people. Good food and drinks, fun karaoke, but the bathrooms aren’t super clean.

Got breakfast here with my wife before going to the zoo. Weve been driving by both almost daily and thought it was finally time to check both out.Server was great! Very friendly. Food wasnt amazing, but Im not saying it was bad. We had our fill and the price was fair. Pretty sure we got the steak and crab cake benedict.Its always nice to find a place where you can eat outside (although there were ants)Happy to support a local, inclusive, establishment.

Fast, clean, excellent service....AWESOME food and prices. Love this place

New Years Eve was a failure due to the owners not stepping up. Mike and John should have been there since the place was extremely short staffed. Staff who werent scheduled to work stepped in and started helping out when they were just there to enjoy NYE - that should never have to happen. Security was not hired on purpose, which seems highly irresponsible, and two bartenders working one bar was not nearly enough (the shed was not open). The staff that was there did amazingly and busted their behinds all night, and this review is in no way a reflection of them, but to not anticipate a crowd on NYE and understaff your place of business on purpose to save a buck is just irresponsible and frankly, pretty damn entitled.To quote one of the staff: Mike and John are never here when we need them. Seems about right.

Nice restaurant/bar/club. Went for taco Tuesday, and they were great. Had music bingo being played while I was there. Looked fun, but I was playing pool. Had tremendously great service. Just stunningly good service from our server, Alexander. Would go back just for him if it werent for the place bring so cool. Cant say enough about how great Alexander was. Will definitely go back. Did I mention Alexander was phenomenal?

Very unsafe environment. Two guys I had never met ordered me a beer and the bartender poured it when I was in the restroom. I return to my seat at the bar with a beer in front of it. I refused to drink it. Bartender got upset when I tried to buy another beer. Thought it was a trust issue with her. My safety is my number one priority. She then began to berate me and told me to leave. I think her name was Barbara or Brenda. She had an unpleasant personality all night anyways; making comments about not wanting to be there, and that they hired her instead of ‘attractive guys’ because she knows how to make a drink and guys don’t.

The food was amazing. There wasnt anything I didnt like. The tuna bites alone are worth going for. Everyone was friendly and I loved reading the signs/posters. Kids loved their food as well. Will definitely go again.

Great place to hangout and be yourself! Staff and bartenders are awesome. The food is great and served in a timely manner. I originally put 1 Star cause i’m not focused perhaps..my apologies … but face it we are all STARS …FIVE ***** All they way!!

Love this place. Food, drinks, atmosphere is amazing

Amazing place great service good prices cant wait to go back again

James recommended chicken strips... 💯 missle. This might be best bar experience in hampton roads...

We have driven past it for five years and finally stopped in tonight. Our table had boneless buffalo wings (just the right spice), onion rings (lightly breaded and sweet onion crunchy goodness), a cup of hearty, tangy chili, Nachos Diaz (O!M!G!), Mammas grilled cheese with bacon, and the meatloaf and mashed potatoes. Kudos to our server, Koda, who seemed to be the only table service person on duty. Thank you, Koda! Clean bathrooms, too. 100% plan to return. The grilled cheese was not my favorite, bit everything else was A+. We agreed that the Nachos Diaz was the best dressed-up nachos we had ever had.

I got my food to-go but it was the best vegan/veggie burger Ive had in this area.

It was a very friendly place and the food was really good! The vibe is amazing! I ordered the chicken alfredo.

I came here with my friends and Boyfriend for pride. I was also here about 6 years ago for a fetish event, wonderful staff. The food is great but be patient! Its delicious! Food is worth the price and affordable, great portions.The openness and acceptance of all at this bar is what makes them stand out. Everyone here has been kind to others from what Ive seen. Im sober so I cant say much for the drinks or drink prices. Though I hear theyre good. They constantly have events and deals, plus pool!

Just left this place. Came in 2:15pm ask for a menu which took a few minutes to get. Ordered a drink and then waited 15mins to final get to my food order in. Waited till 3:05pm and just got frustrated at that point since it was my lunch break. Told the bartender James that I was just going to pay for my drink and leave since Ive been waiting so long. He said ok fine he will eat it. Then ask me if I wanted my change after paying for my drink. Came here few times before and the service was alot quicker and pleasant with the other bartender. But with this terrible service I refuse to spend my money here again. James must of been having a bad day because the zero care he showed for anything was just horrible. Went a whole lunch with nothing to eat. I should of just went to McDonalds. Never again.

Came into the bar with one of my friends who was celebrating their 30th birthday. Security treated us well and so did the bartenders. The drinks were very good and reasonably priced. One surprise of the night was how good the seasoned french fries were. They were excellent. I enjoyed seeing friends I had not seen in years.

Had a great brunch today with my man! Service was great with one person working the floor and bar. 30 people in the building and still had our food come out real fast. IDK what’s wrong with the dal review but I hate for people to read a comment from one person and not come to this bar. Be going here for 2 years and will say it’s been the best time! Oh and this is a great place to play pool!

MJs is a cultural staple for the Norfolk gay scene. They cater to most subcultures within the community and keep things friendly and professional

This place has a great atmosphere, the staff is awesome and foods delicious. They have pool tables and a breathalyzer machine so you can test if your ok to drive.They are LGBT allies and I will be going here much more I cant say enough good things about this place.

I went to MJs for New Year’s Eve and they charged everyone for food and then told them the cook they hired wasn’t actually cooking so nobody’s food got made and they had to refund every single person in the bars food order lol and the bar back that chose to be working but not agree to make the food told our friend that if she didn’t like it she could go somewhere else lol :) UMMM WHATS GOIN ON MJ

Great bar, Great food, great drinks and pricing.

For alot of lgbtq people in the area this place can feel like a second home. Truly a local cornerstone of the community. A great atmosphere, with good food and drinks. All kinds of events here on a regular basis and they constantly give back to the community. If you are looking for a queer space thats a little more relaxed this is the place for you, just make sure to check if there are events going on cause they tend to be packed on those nights. Cant recommend their chicken tenders and the soft pretzels enough honestly, but honestly I havent had a bad meal here.

It was very quiet there that day; attended a belated birthday party. It was catered with fried food appetizers such as fried dill pickles I did not care for them-way to sour for me, fried shrimp, and Chicken fingers. The waitress was very nice and establishment is just an easy casual place to hang out. Only rated it four stars because I wasnt there to actually order an entree. One other positive comment is they actually allowed Dogs there which Im very partial to!!😊

I appreciate the diversity in atmosphere especially since I have a transgender son. But I have been in hospitality management for 26 years and I still think that as an establishment there should be dress codes especially considering that you are serving food. I did not appreciate seeing the belly button of our server nor do I appreciate his comments to my military son about his manicure assuming that he is gay or transgender. Your employees should be taught to respect that there are those who patronize your establishment in support of but do not mean that we are a part of it. We are all about inclusion but we just feel that respect for both sides should’ve been in place. A message from the owners would be greatly appreciated

Perhaps we went on an off-night. Bartender was extremly standoff-ish. Would not even speak, just stood in front of us (of color) when we sat down at the bar, and waited to ask us what we wanted. He did not. So we ordered.Seemed like he either didnt want to be at work, or serve us, or both. (During pride month, no less)Probably wont be back.

Bartenders will bully you into tipping them , you can’t force anybody to tip you an on top of that you can’t force nobody to tip you when you have provided horrible customer service tipping isn’t the problem their attitudes were rude and unwelcoming.

FRAUD!! (TAKE PICS OF RECEIPT WITH TIP INCLUDED) bartenders are changing prices and tipping themselves more than what was given. My CC email asked me if I meant to “tip them 36%.” Of course not! Drinks were terrible.

I wanted breakfast. As the bride and I headed to a franchise restaurant, we passed by MJs on Granby. Made a quick turn then a right, right and left and pulled into the parking lot.Coffee had that strong, robust taste you dont seldom find when going out for a breakfast. Ordered pancakes and was pleasantly surprised to be served 3 large ovals of scented flapjacks. And better yet the edges had the crispy edge of a perfectly cooked southern buttermilk pancake. Her over easy eggs were silky, stone ground grits had the mellowed corn taste and her sausage tasted like homemade from the farm.Have been going to that location for 50+ years and when it became MJs it kicked up the restaurant experience in Norfolk. Looking forward to going often.

I have never been to such an amazing place!! You can tell it was built on love !!

Was hoping for a fun enjoyable experience. Walked in and didnt know what to do. Tables full seats at bar full. No one who worked here bothered to speak to us or offer anything for us. We stood around trying to figure out what to do. We gave up and went somewhere else. Doubtful we will be back.

Came in for lunch on a Monday afternoon. Was impressed with the menu offerings as there is a lot of variety and the prices are great. I ended up ordering a cup of tomato soup and a baked potato with bacon. The tomato soup is out-of-this-world good!! Found out it is made on site but I couldnt get the secret recipe. :-) I will definitely be back for that soup as well as some of the other yummy dishes they have. Friends ordered the spring roll appetizer (great!), the chef salad which was freakin huge, and some sandwiches. Everyone was happy. Definitely worth a visit. Also proud to support an LGBT-owned, small, local business.

Damn the food is good here! Had the Philly cheesesteak, wife had a burger. However, the fries are the thing you need to know about! Fire! The fries are amazing here! Decent drink variety great food and trivia night is a great time with friends! Hit it up

Colorful decor, fast friendly service. Excellent food, chicken salad was moist and well seasoned, Philly cheese steak had plenty of cheese and good flavor. Jalapeno chips, fried cheese balls, and sweet potato fries all excellent.

The food and people are great. Going to MJs is an enjoyable event and colorful. For the most part the food is all very well cooked and seasoned. Breakfast is amazing they have wonderful breakfast burritos and the hash browns; which in my personal perspective are homefries, are great. The only major complaint I have is that the air of the Tavern lingers on your clothing and it is a bit abrasive which in turn made me drop it by one star because I want to enjoy food and when I leave I dont want that smell to cling to me all day.

Super search at the front door was a little off putting, but I guess it makes it safe inside! $14 for a single cuervo and orange juice. Are you fing kidding me!! That bartender was a snot. I left a $2 tip. My first time in the joint. I think the bartender in back would have been a nicer guy. Bowling alley atmosphere, a little too bright for my taste. A little like a USO club which makes sense in a Navy town! Most people seemed to be having fun.I dont have any reason to return.

Best gay bar, best gay restaurant, best gay club. Everything. This place has been so low key, with great staff, amazing food, killer drinks. It’s the best of the community that comes to MJs Tavern! Shout out to M & J for being awesome owners of an amazing spot. True gem of Norfolk.

The three-star review isnt for the bar itself its more for the karaoke on Monday nights if you get here late dont expect the same karaoke starts at 8 any later than that itll be an hour or more before you get the sing but you will see people to get up there twice or three times before you ever get a chance to sing again the venue is great karaoke guy needs to do a little rework on his program

We drank and ate food. And after abt 30 min of eating and everything, we were told to leave. We were apparently too drunk after we stopped drinking ages ago. We sat in the car waiting to sober up enough to leave. If you come here, watch your behavior because theyll tell you to leave with no reason

Love this place. We go every time we are in town !!!

Ive almost never had a bad experience here with the exception of one bartender who decided to tell my friend how to raise her kids. Everyones always very welcoming. The food is very very good

I celebrated my birthday here last weekend..... I had A BALL!!! I plan on being there on Halloween!!!! I love the staff & the people that come in!!! The bartender made my night! Ive even been in here to pick up food and the waiter was AWESOME!!! I have absolutely NOTHING bad to say about MJs! AT. ALL. If you know me, you know thats RARE!!!

I was surprised with how good their food is! Truly delicious! I got the sweet chili wings and WOW Ive been craving them for days now.

Nice local bar with good food. Has a parking lot right next to it which is nice. This is a gay bar, but we never felt out of place. The service is ok, and we found out there are themes depending on the day you visit. Monday is karaoke night. Overall, a nice place to simply hang out and enjoy a burger.

Good vibes, good food, good prices. This place has a divey feel with a kinda outdated look, but the people are always great and I always have a good time here. Theres a heated outdoor porch which is great. The food has always been good and they have daily specials that keep the prices pretty low. This bar is accepting of everyone and supports the local womens rugby team!

2020 (3 stars)Wonderful hospitality! Decent $8 malbec. Miserable $8 salad: Iceberg lettuce, baggy cucumberUpdate 1/27/23 (3 stars)Late night bar snacks (cheese bites and O-rings were deep-fried to a crisp and the grease had not been changed in days. Not good at all. Tuna bites (rare) were very satisfactory, however.

I was pleasantly surprised. I would not have expected a hole in the wall gay bar to serve and execute such a good dinning experience. The staff is friendly and attentive, the food is prepared well with reasonable pricing and adequate portions.

Great food and service. We were celebrating a 100th birthday and our server brought our whole party individual fudge brownies with ice cream. That was above and beyond the call of duty! Thanks for a memorable dining experience!

Ive been going here for quite some time now and I love it. The food is always good you can never go wrong with anything you order, same for drinks. Even if you dont know what to order the bartender has your back, you will not be disappointed. The prices are cheap and the staff treats you like family. There is always an event here love this place.

This place just might single-handedly make me into an alcoholic. The drinks here are AMAZING! Try the Parmesan wings; youll thank me later. 😃 Overall ,its an awesome place and the staff are super friendly! Always good music too.Ive never had a bad visit!

I usually dont like to put down a place , the wait staff and Dominic on 11/21/2021 were unable to get do their jobs to wait . I waited for a long period of time , was not able to at least placed a drink order let only watch others who come in after get me immediately got drinks ordered. This is not the first time this has happened . this is coming from what I thought a loyal customer. Yes I did speak to management about this and no satisfactory came from it !

Came here for a social after a match. They provided us a great spaghetti and meatball meal with garlic bread! The staff is super friendly. The atmospheres is inviting and quirky. If youre looking for a fun meal and drinks, check this place out.

Okay time. Delicious frozen pina colada, Nachos for a late night snack. The music that establishment was playing, I had never heard, I guessed it was house music. I think there were a couple of pool tables. The crowd seem to be enjoying themselves. I did however have to step by a drunken female when we were leaving. The female bouncer was great. She wouldnt let the drunk leave. She offered to take her home, but the patron refused to give her name nor address. My daughter got a really good park next to the door.

Its okay. Not impressed with the staff one of the bartenders was actually very rude like he was entitled to be rude. You are rude to me no tip for you even the floor staff never came over and offered to get us drinks but helped other patrons. Needless to say I will not return. Sorry I am honest when goggle wants me to review. Always remember you never know who is walking in the door.All staff should be helpful and kind.

Very laid back lgbt bar! Never had a bad experience here. I love their spring rolls with sweet chili dipping sauce. They have great daily food specials, game nights, karaoke, pool tables, etc. great neighborhood bar for people of all ranges.

One of my favourite local places, great atmosphere, great food, great prices, and owned by some of the most caring people Ive ever met!!! They also have several events throughout the week to participate in like Karaoke, trivia, singo (music bingo), ladies night, free poker night, and daily specials to die for!!! 💜

I’m a regular here! I love the food so much and the bartenders are incredibly kind, super fun, and make a great drink. You need to stop in if you haven’t already.

MJs is apparently know for being very LGBT friendly. As Im not from here, I didnt notice until walking in. But Ill tell you, I LOOOVED every bit of my time there. Crazy Lit scene! From the Amazing staff to the Fabulous people. Great drinks and Delicious food. The menu will definitely surprise you! I just had to go back, so I did! Still EPIC! I made all my friends in Virginia right here at MJs. Definitely going to be my Go-to spot when Im in town! 💖

I love Mjs! The food is delicious and more than reasonably priced.. they have amazing dinner specials. ( I was absolutely thrilled last week when they had beyond Burgers on special! It was SO good). They have amazing salads...and I love coming in for Sunday brunch....it is a wait from time to time when they get busy .. but....its not McDonalds...so have a drink and chill.

Love this place, almost like a small English pub. Weve been a few times for the food during the day and every time the service has been speedy, the staff friendly and the food delicious!My husband and I love it every time we visit! Thank you, MJs!

This place is my second home. All the bartenders are amazing and know how to give respect when it’s earned. The food is always on point and drinks never fail. Love the staff.

Very much a Hometown Tavern. Everyone knows everyone, and for the most part that can be nice. The food is well priced for what you get. Again this is a tavern not Michelin Star cuisine. Drinks are well priced and get the job done.Overall the atmosphere is a bit dated, but it is definitely comfortable, safe, and a place where my friends and I will continue to frequent for their Saturday Night events. Also the owners are very kind and interactive with their customers... one even lets you rub their belly! I wont say which one though.

Breakfast menu is great. I have also came here with friends for drinks while bar hopping. Great staff and environment. My friends enjoyed the karaoke.

Fun gay bar. Great drinks and food. Bartenders are friendly and fast. Mix crowd: Young, old, pretty, etc... The patio is fun to hangout in during the warmer months. I would say this is the best Gay bar in the area.

Always my go to bar in Norfolk. Perfect ambiance, responsive and attentive waiters. Nice food and bar. I love going Monday nights(Karaoke Night) fun and gender friendly bar! Everyone is welcome and treated equally! I will definitely recommend!

Omg so much fun food and drinks were delicious 😋 karaoke night people were supportive of bad singers there were some singers who too us to church lol prices are awesome great service great vibes in the whole place will be returning many times!!!! They also have the best brunch around and the best lunch specials in town!!

Super friendly service. Drinks are well made. Definitely an enjoyable, welcoming atmosphere. Havent tried the food, but Ill be sure to the next time I go!

I absolutely love this place. Go here to have fun and hang out, and check out their Sunday $1 wells, but make sure to try the food. So delicious and surprising. I was expecting your standard bar food, but they have some great cooks working back there.

Super great time and very good food ! Never been where Karoke was featured and I really enjoyed it that evening . Hope to return next time Im visiting Norfolk VA

Wonderful, accepting, friendly place.

They have amazing food and even better staff, Ask for server Ray when you go. He is friendly and very motivated in his job. Great atmosphere and very clean environment.

Every time I come, everything is perfect. Great food, great drinks, amazing people and staff. This is my home bar and I love this place.... If you are in town make sure you stop in to have lunch or dinner. Amazing Every time.

It was a lot of fun! Me and “The Crew” from Richmond visited for a joint bday celebration Saturday night Feb 1, 2020 & had a really great time. Drinks were reasonably priced, music was good...we will come back again!

The waiter was great. The owner is not child friendly. He clearly thinks its okay to talk about your child with other customers. Like you cant see or hear him! My son did nothing wrong. That being said I would never go back.

Had the cheese steak, not as gooey as advertised, actually kind of bland. Wife had the club and it was good, fries were on point as well. Waitress was nice and very efficient, beers were cold!

Great spot & Great drinks! The people are super friendly, and the vibe is chill! Love it here!

So much love and acceptance here! Consent is top policy and it goes without saying, security is very present, and the food is amazing 😍 also great music and the bartenders are great

Great bar, great restaurant, wonderful service, fun customer base, all at a great price. Idk what more to tell you. Drop in for a bite or a drink, and share good times with great people! Open breakfast till bar close!

Its like Cheers for the LGBT community. Very comfortable since I stop going to clubs in the late 2000s. The drinks are awesome. Age group is about 28 + . Always a great crowd. Incredible bartenders.

Bar services always 5 star ! Sometimes its a little slow on the deck. The food comes up fast and the people are grate!!!

Very tasty food. I had a great fish fry, my wife had shrimp perfectly done. Neighborhood casual atmosphere, friendly to everyone. Reasonable prices, good servings, cordial service.

I adore MJs. Diverse, welcoming, fun. I love karaoke Mondays and Singo on Tuesdays. Their fries are *chef’s kiss* so good.

Understaffed and under-nice. In order to keep a positive spin on this review, MJ’s is very popular despite the shortcomings. You should also expect that this is not a leisurely brunch location.

Had the BBQ sandwich and fries, then the brownie with ice cream. Food was delicious and service was excellent! Still good August 2022! In December 2022, tacos (Taco Night) and chili were good!

Great food and atmosphere - poker night

I love this place! Its SAFE, fun, and filled with people who know how to party! Keep up the awesome vibes! You all make so many people in the area smile and cheers! CHEERS BACK AT YA STAFF!

Welcoming environment, the staff are really friendly and quick. I was most surprised to find that the food was exceptional for the price. I would definitely recommend the steak special on Thursdays.

Some of the best service I have got anywhere. Pretty fair prices too. Best chicken tenders I have ever eaten. The people are really nice. Keep up the great work MJ’s.

Great place, more toned down than Rainbow, but still as friendly & nice. Food smelled great (not eating that trip). They can make a mean Blue Motorcycle.

Meet up with friends for Friday Happy hour.

Great service, atmosphere and staff. Had a very enjoyable brunch experience and would love to visit again. Highly recommend the Crab Cake Benedict, was delicious.

So I am curious my wife was a lesbian my 18 year old son came out of the closet. So I came here and love it everyone is friendly the food is awesome I mean awesome I am a cook and I love it prices are great and I feel so comfortable even tried tucking and a thong heck it out

I ate here and they mislabled their vegan burger as vegan when in fact the bread was cross contaminated with dairy products, luckily I verified it first with the polite server who instead gave me the burger in tortillas to compromise. This is a major animal rights violation, and a huge health issue towards the consumer. Would not recommend eating here until they fix their false advertising.

I love this place. The owners are fantastic. The kind of place when everyone knows your name. The food is always good. One of my favorite things on the menu is Mike’s grilled chicken, named after one of the owners!

I love everything about this place everytime I come. Talk about a home away from home. Its warm and cozy with awesome food! Tavern Chips are my faves! I can go and hang out with my friends or have nice dinner with my family.🏳️‍🌈

Great safe environment lots of good food and good people

Ive come a few times and it wasnt bad. But this time takes the cake. I came here with my friend who was in town. And the lady if you can even call her a lady was so rude to my friend every time my friend tried to ask a question she would walk away and she got so nasty when she was trying to ask a question. I can honestly say this is the worst service Ive ever have seen. And Ill never come back to this place.

Always a welcoming place. Sassy staff. But thats to be expected when youre that amazing. Love it there.

Mjs bartender in the “shed” literally broke into the bathroom when my friends went to go use the restroom (to pee). Mind you there were no signs that only one person at a time could use the restroom. And security chased them out of the building. This was a terrible experience. Very unprofessional on MJs Tavern. Mjs, from my experience, feels like a very hostile environment. Be careful because you could get kicked out for keeping your friend safe in the restroom. 😵

I had a great time here with my brother and his friend the last night! A very low-key welcoming place. Drinks were great and the staff were amazing.

Love the food! Pork chops are my favorite with baked potato. It’s tender and flavorful! Best I’ve ever eaten. Delivery is great!

MJs is a great place! They are a tavern, the early crowd tends to be more about the food, which is excellent, while the later crowd is all about the party. The drink pours are honest, the food is excellent, the servers friendly, and the owner, wh is frequently there, is a great guy too!MJs is very LGBT friendly, with all gender restrooms, and has an outdoors covered smoking area which allows cigars, and during cold or inclement weather is heated and equipped with plastic wind curtains stop the breeze and rain or snow.

A restaurant that serves all people with great service and homemade food. Always happy when I’m there

Great food for a tavern! Yummy waffles and eggs! Vibe was on point. Music was perfect for a chill brunch. 😎

I got medium rare steak and it was cooked absolutely perfectly even if I didnt care for the seasoning they used and I substituted the side it came with for their mushrooms and those were to die for! Honestly, the highlight of the meal for me.My boyfriend had the all you can eat pasta special of the day and he really liked it (it was a great price, too). We were both pretty full after the entrees be but decided to finish off the meal with the moose which was super rich and creamy but light on the stomach.None of that earns the 5th star though, that credit goes to the atmosphere and the people working that night being so respectful and kind.

You cant miss it. NOPE! A must go when you want a drink ,a good snack, and a good time! The atmosphere and locals are amazing and kind, the staf is attentive and quick. Amazing! Thanks for the fun too we played Singo on tuesday night!

Super friendly atmosphere, food is great, the people there are amazing and sweet, the staff jokes with you and karaoke nights are the most fun!

Great service. The specials are affordable. I love the atmosphere. Ill go at least 4 times a month.

Great place to go as an LGBTQ+ person. Drink prices are reasonable, the bartenders are fast, and the atmosphere is fun and inviting. Definitely a place to check out!!

Great food and great people. Family friendly. Surf and turf special is very good. Their house chowder is excellent. I travel a great deal and this is my favorite tavern by far.

Joshua is quite possibly the most amazing bartender that had made drinks for me in Hampton Roads.

So much fun. Wonderful place.We did trivia night and had a blast. Such a welcoming atmosphere. Definitely going again ❤

Love MJs. Great atmosphere. Food is better than bar fare. Owners are great supporters of the LGBTQ+ community.

Nice place to hang out. Food is very good. Some of the food items are a little pricey(in my opinion). Nice neighborhood bar restaurant atmosphere. Everyone is friendly.

Food. Is. DISGUSTING. VERY, VERY, salty. Everything i ordered was literally too salty to eat. Drinks are cheap during happy hour but horribly watered down. 3 stars because of the atmosphere. Very welcoming, innovating and entertaining.

Great atmosphere with friends and my son John Lapushansky.Ive been there before and its still a good place to eat breakfast lunch or dinner.

I go here for breakfast Saturday mornings on occasion. The food is great and the staff are extremely friendly. This place serves as a bar at night and is very lively.

Love this place. Everyone is just so pleasant and friendly. The food is delicious and they have pretty awesome prices on drinks.

Great food and prices, very welcoming people. Seriously the only negative reviews on here are two people who harp on it being a gay bar-its not they welcome everyone...theyve even had straight people Wed there...just come see for yourself unless you are a homophobe you will enjoy it.

Wonderful place waitress was super nice drinks and food very reasonable. Very enjoyable atmosphere

Best bar experience Ive had in a long time. Was just in town for the weekend, so I cant compare it with others in the area, but the service was extremely friendly and the drinks are strong. Ill be back!

Very good atmosphere. Ive been a few times and each time has been nice. Also, cheap drinks. If you wanna drink and relax just come here

Cool place to relax and clear your mind. Very respectful crowd. Not too much activity. Neutral mixed crowd.

Was unaware of unspoken rule of not having blunts even though it’s legal, they took it and put in the mailbox for the night and when I went to come back for it the rude security wristband man said they had thrown it away unbeknownst to me so now I’m 40 bucks out of four blunts but other than that the tenders were fried too hard like they were almost unedible if I didn’t have teeth and the ranch tasted weird too, I had a very uncomfortable experience bc of the unspoken blunt situation edit: the drinks were ok some were straight up garbage tho I wish I could have had a word with the owner about their rude ID checker

MJs has taken the past year to upgrade their back bar, reno the kitchen, spruce up the parking lot, and do a little adjusting to their menu. As a bar that must serve food, thank you VA, MJs rises to the task and brings locals a wide variety of items that will satisfy you whether its for dinner or brunch.

LGBT FRIENDLY, great place, lots of fun, awesome staff, cool place, hella chill, the waitress Tatiana was very nice and helpful, the Bar tenders are great and have some creative signature drinks that are their own creations, and the staff all seem to love working with eachother and their customers. Iam a very happy customer and plan to return on the future and anytime Im in the area. Thank you MJS TAVERN...

Went there for a friend of mine to put in an application well I chatted with another friend good atmosphere like everybody theyre awesome place

Best vibes! Wonderful people for the staff and the patrons. Karaoke was a blast and Ill definitely be back!

We went there during the day they have plenty of good food on the menu. There is not a drink menu to my knowledge but the bartenders were nice and made me a really good martini. Fun place!

I always have a great time when I go here. From the bar staff to the atmosphere in the bar. Ive even brough my straight father to MJs. And he enjoyed the atmosphere. Always recommend ❤

A safe space with always immaculate vibes, food , and people.💕🦋 Met an amazing lady Jenny and lost her number 🤦🏿‍♀️ And definitely cop the afternoon nachos!

I love MJs- the people who frequent are amazing, the bartenders are great, the food is delicious and the drinks are superb! Highly recommend- all of their events are fun too!

On my list of places to pregame at. Great drink prices and the food is good to. Older crowds, more mature atmosphere. They have pool tables, card games, darts , and other things scattered about.

A great place to go. A very comfortable environment to meet friends and allies. Great food. Wonderful staff.

Excellent specials on lunch and dinner. Visiting from Ohio and heard a lot about MJs, A MUST stop for visiting the area. Friendly service, clean location, fresh hot delicious food. 10 stars if I could.

First time Ive been there and I really enjoyed myself. Friendly staff and people. A friend told me about it and he was right. This place is fabulous.

One of the worst gay bars I have ever been to. Absolutely no vibe in there...very outdated...seems kinda dirty...the drinks are horrible...the bartenders take forever to serve you...just overall no place I would ever take anybody.

The food was exceptionally good. Flatbread pizza was amazing. Our waiter was so friendly, wonderful person. Definitely will be going back

Non interactive bar tends. When I went with a friend who did not know drinks well I asked for a small list of good tasting drinks they could make. Received no type of response. I also got double charged for an excessive amount and received no compensation after showing proof of my tab.

Care free environment..great staff and atmosphere! You can enjoy the inside and shoot pool or drinks at the bar..maybe a table in the corner or if weather permits the outside deck is my favorite!🤘

They serve food although I didnt try it I was told it was good by a patron. The old fashioned I ordered was good but not your typical old fashioned. They also have a couple of pool tables as well.

Great place if you go with a group but not a place to go if you are not a regular and alone. Coming from Palm Springs where every bar welcomes you and makes you feel welcomed this place is very clicky and even the bartender isnt real friendly to newcomers.

Friendly atmosphere and good food. It was my first time there and I will definitely go back

Everyone should come here.Great food. Try the Tuna Bites. The salad greens crunch. Free pool tournaments on Thursday. A dart board. And lots of parking. Shows. Why arent you on your way here yet!

Great food. Nice staff. Neighborhood feel. Pool, patio and more. This place feels like one of those bars on a tv show where locals gather to unwind.

This place is fantastic. Very underrated menu and food.

Bartender AWESOME! Food AWESOME! Desert AWESOME! Very friendly place.I was in there once before..when I walked in they greeted by my name. That alone was special to me. Thanks everyone there.

Met an old friend for a couple beers. MJs was a second choice. Our regular place didnt open until 4 PM Very pleasant

Every time Im in town I make sure to visit and I always have a donut!!! The food is great! This last visit the Halloween decorations were up!!!Thank you!!!

Ive been here many times. Our community deserves better. If you are femme, AFAB, or trans do NOT come here. They dont care about us.

This place is awesome. I havent been out in awhile and the atmosphere was perfect.I had the 8oz Sirloin with Baked potato and it was tender/jucey. Will return for sure. 💜

Miguel is a super nice bartender! However, tubby has a chip on his shoulder. Ive been in here many times before and tubby, always has the same chip. Hes not happy to be a part of the team and /or doesnt want me to spend my hard earned money here. What a shame. If it were my place of business, he wouldnt be working for me.TE

My friends used the bathroom to pee, and the BARTENDER unlocks the door and BARGES in! So unprofessional and honestly disgusting knowing someone with no authority can just walk into the bathroom while someone is in privacy. Then he wouldn’t move from the bathroom door, so they were blocked in. We won’t ever wanna go back because of this. Such a disappointment and gross

The food is delicious, the atmosphere is completely relaxed, and the staff is amazing. Matty, Nick, Miguel, and the crew is beyond terrific. Not to mention great food and drink specials!

Good menu. Dishes prepared as requested. Wish they would add some darker beers...maybe a bourbon barrel aged or coffee oatmeal stout.

A very cool place to hang out everyone was very kind including the staff. They definitely have very good fruity drinks

Bartender is on point. Well the one I use. Good vibes here. Been only a handful of times but not once was I dissatisfied. Great place to go

Updating my review to no longer recommend. A friend had a terrible experience with her partner who was a woman of color. I am really disappointed and I will no longer be supporting this business.

First time and I enjoyed the atmosphere and the waitress was so caring and very kind the food was excellent

Was thrown out because the bouncer didnt personally approve of my face covering. I was just picking up an order that I placed by phone but, didnt recieve my order and was not offered a refund. Will NEVER go there again. BEWARE

You cant beat a local spot that provides a quiet brunch or afternoon meal (both with great prices) and the social atmosphere you can also get in the evenings and during g special events. This local has it all!

Thanks bar can be crowded, but the bartenders are outstanding. Its a nice bar mainly for lgbt folks looking for a safe place to have a good time, but theyre perfectly well accepting of everyone.

Food was amazing!!! Also had pool tables and karaoke. I had a great time hanging out with my friends and would love to go back.