Dennis C.
Yelp
This review is based upon recent visits made this year before the temporary operational changes were implemented as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Norfolk location of Cure Coffeehouse was founded in February of 2011 and occupies a historic building on the cobblestone Botetourt Street in the Freemason district of downtown Norfolk.
On street parking is available. Members of the nearby downtown Norfolk YMCA can use their parking garage a short walk away.
After placing and paying for your order at the counter, you take a number and find a seat. Your order is brought to you. There are now three dining areas available as a result of a recent expansion.
The popularity of this spot was a revelation. It was bursting at the seams with patrons during each of my visits. I was lucky to find the last seat available on two occasions.
Their coffee is sourced from Counter Culture Coffee in Durham, North Carolina. I am not a coffee person, but I have enjoyed the following beverages to date:
HOT CHOCOLATE: Cure gets my vote for my favorite hot chocolate in Norfolk. Enjoyed on a cold winter day, the bubbles and the soft and foamy whipped cream radiated with warmth. The leaf art was stunning. My Rating: 5 Stars.
MATCHA LATTE: Ordered hot with whole milk and sweetened with honey, the flavor of matcha didn't pull any punches and gave me a nice energy boost. Once again, the leaf art sparkled. My Rating: 5 Stars.
CHAI LATTE: The chai latte is one of my new discoveries, and it was here where I tried one for the first time this year.
I have since tried chai lattes at two other coffeehouses, but the one served here, again made with whole milk, exhibits a depth of flavor that beats the others by far. My Rating: 5 Stars.
On to the food:
AVOCADO TOAST: Fresh Avocado Mash with Salt, Pepper, and Sesame Seeds on Toasted Wheat Bread. I added Bacon, Tomatoes, and Lox for small up charges.
The thickness of the toast, the crispy crunch of the bacon, the tartness of the tomatoes, and the flavors of the lox and avocado mash came together beautifully for a totally delicious taste experience. My Rating: 5 Stars.
BUDDHA BOWL: Fresh Avocado Mash, Chickpeas, Baby Kale, Red Onions, Tomatoes, Purple Cabbage, and Watermelon Radishes with Tahini Maple Dressing.
This one succeeded nicely as a light and flavorful salad offering. My only disappointment was that the watermelon radishes exhibited a monochromatic red instead of the usual rainbow of colors I expected. My Rating: 4.5 Stars.
PASTRAMI REUBEN: Tender House Smoked Pastrami, Melted Swiss, House Sauerkraut, and Russian Dressing on Toasted Marbled Wheat Bread.
This was a solid and respectable pastrami sandwich that was thick, rich, and flavorful. It came in two halves, and I had to take the second one home. A few bites of the bread, however, left me with a dry aftertaste. My Rating: 4 Stars.
GRANOLA PARFAIT: Greek Yogurt, House Granola, Fresh Seasonal Fruit, and Honey Drizzle.
This parfait lacked the amount of chill I prefer and was closer to room temperature. I found the volume of yogurt to be overwhelming in proportion to the amount of granola. The texture of the yogurt was overly thick for my tastes.
On the upside, the juiciness of the blueberries and strawberries came to the rescue to deliver an overall satisfactory taste experience. My Rating: 3 Stars.
BAGEL: A Toasted Everything Bagel with your choice of toppings. I kept it simple and only added the bacon.
The bagel came in four slices and delivered an excessively dry taste and texture that were a struggle to eat. The bacon bits were crispy and tasty, but were unable to rescue the bagel slices. My Rating: 2.5 Stars.
When I crunch the numbers, my final score still averages out to a solid 4-star rating. Service has been very friendly during each of my visits.
Once the pandemic ends, I will be looking forward to becoming more of a regular.