“Simple Eats” is a small, local restaurant located on Shore Drive that brings in locally grown foods from farms right here in Virginia. The eatery only opens during the week from Wednesday-Friday and on the weekend it’s open from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. on Saturdays and 8 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sundays.

The restaurant mainly focuses on brunch, and you can order from a variety of meals such as the B.E.L.T. sandwich (Bacon, Eggs, Lettuce, Tomato), pancakes, waffles, and my personal favorite, the biscuits and gravy. Anyone who is a big biscuits and gravy fan like myself, then this is the place to go.

There is a variety of healthy breakfast options such as acai bowls, which are fruity smoothie bowls with crunchy granola inside, avocado toast, which has eggs and bacon on top of it, as well as many more options in which to choose.

The restaurant itself is small and “homey”; eating here makes me feel like a true local and that I have found a hidden gem. The décor throughout Simple Eats adds to the “at home” feel and overall atmosphere. The workers are friendly and always have a smile to offer guests; great hospitality given to all guests.- And, the place is never packed full of people trying to talk louder than the person next to them, which is nice.

As inflation surges, people naturally worry about prices when eating out, but Simple Eats offers plenty of budget friendly options. While there are some dishes that are rather pricey, such as the “platters” and the fresh seafood, it is easy to find “eats” that are not so costly. Salads, including the watermelon salad goes for $8, buttermilk pancakes which are more than filling are priced at $11, and their famous B.E.L.T. is a gift at $10.

Again, Simple Eats does offer an easy dining experience, especially during the week, but is often busy on weekends.  The food comes out more quickly during the week as the kitchen is not as busy, but on the weekends it may take up to 15-20 minutes for food to arrive. However, the quality of the food and gracious and friendly staff make the food worth the wait.

If I had to rate their food quality, it would hold steady at 9.2/10 mostly due to its freshness and let’s face it, deliciousness. The fact that their food comes from local sources makes the experience even better. In terms of the service and environment, I would rate that at about a 9.5, because of the cozy atmosphere and the positivity and gracious staff.

I would most definitely recommend this restaurant to a family member or friend even if they did not ask. Simple Eats has to be one of the best local brunch eateries at the Beach. I will go again as soon as I have the chance.