Inside-airport table service at ORF is basically Back Bay Bistro
Back Bay Bistro sits airside in the Main terminal at 2200 Norview Ave, and it’s one of the only sit-down spots reviewers actually confirm inside Norfolk International. It stays open until about 19:30, so it mostly serves the late-afternoon and early-evening bank. Figure mid-range pricing ($$-$$$) for standard bar-and-grill food, not a destination meal.
The menu leans American: think burgers, basic sandwiches, and a beer or house wine before your flight. One TripAdvisor review mentions a burger and beer as the default order, and several others echo that pattern. With a 3.0/5 average across roughly 60 reviews, expectations should sit firmly at “it’ll do” level, not date-night level.
Pricing gets the loudest complaints. Multiple reviewers call the food “overpriced,” especially simple burgers that eat like a $12 plate but feel closer to $18 once the bill lands in front of you. The $$-$$$ band on TripAdvisor lines up with that feedback, so plan for sit-down restaurant pricing for food most people rate as average.
The other recurring theme: speed, or lack of it. One traveler reports nearly 30 minutes for a burger in a half-empty room, and other reviews mention 25–30 minute waits for basic entrees. Regulars say to pad your schedule and not cut it close to boarding if you plan to order anything that touches the grill.
What people seem happiest with is the bar itself. One reviewer calls it a “decent place to grab a drink before a flight,” and several note they stop in mainly for a beer or wine, not a full meal. That lines up with the vibe: more airport bar that happens to have food than a serious bistro.
Tip: If your departure is inside 45 minutes, stick to a drink or something cold that doesn’t need the kitchen; save burger orders for longer layovers.