Zeke’s Beans & Bowls

Great location, fun people watching, awesome staff (thanks for the quarters for Ms. Pacman!), and a latte so good I’ll be back sooner than later. Was in a hurry this time but the poke bowls looked amazing and I will definitely try one next time.

This place was really cool! The atmosphere was chill and there were paintings everywhere. My friend got jasmine tea which was phenomenal and I got the PB and J acai bowl. It was absolutely delicious! Wish it wasn’t so far from New Jersey!

Love this place! Too bad I don’t live here. The acai bowl is on point.
The slow pour options were great but the food options were what really were unique and blew me away. Loved the friendly service!

Like literally amazing, soo delicious. I had the Cali pita combo with the pbj smoothie. Honestly, just wow!!!

Upon walking into Zekes: Beans and bowls, I was greeted by upbeat 1950’s music in the major. The antiquated props scattered around the shop gave the atmosphere a delightfully pleasant and cozy feel.
Service lagged a little when I was at the counter, but was completely on point the rest of my visit. I had the hot chocolate, on recommendation of a friend, and it was phenomenal. The chocolate had a very sweet thick satisfying flavor, and the cream was completely perfect, not airy at all, and exactly how cream should be. My beverage was served in a retro mug, with a simple design, I felt comfortable and very welcome in this shop, if I could give a 4 and ¾ stars, I would. I will definitely be coming back.

Ok, so I randomly was looking through Unilocal and somehow saw that this unassuming little spot has POKE! What!!! I literally work and live a couple blocks away and couldn’t believe I have been missing out so long. My clinical field placement is about 5 blocks aways, so after a particularly grueling morning I decided to treat myself (b/​c treating yo’ self is important) for lunch. I am familiar with the area because I live here, as I already mentioned, but because I frequent the Vape Shop a couple places down. Another reason why I was feeling stupid for not knowing poke was so close at hand. Anyway, the décor is quite cute – it reminds me of some of the spots up in Williamsburg in NYC. The staff was friendly and I guess the prices were decent. $ 10 for the spicy poke bull + $ 2 for rice. I left a $ 2 tip, although I rarely do for take out orders. I figured since it was my first time coming here I would do so, but I don’t know if I’ll do it again. That’s just my personal philosophy. My maternal side of the family is from Hawai’i and Guam (my paternal side Japan), so poke has got to be good to impress me. I thought the poke was pretty darn good, but it was SO SPICY. Oh man, I know I ordered the spicy bowl, but this was like Korean level spicy not spicy tuna handroll spicy. The fish was fresh and the marinade well balanced. I’m pretty sure I would’ve liked it more if it wasn’t so incredibly caliente. But that was my bad. The brown rice I got with it was a little hard, but hey, that’s how brown rice. I think a better choice would be to use a partially milled brown rice, which is softer but still retains the nutrient content of the rice. That’s what they use as brown rice in Japan, it is my favorite.
Ultimately, this is a place I will return to with my husband who absolutely loves poke. I am definitely interested in trying their other items.

I hadn’t intended on eating at Zeke’s. After doing my pre-​business trip research, I walked to The Parlor on Granby to dispense with my per diem. After the mile long trek from my hotel, I discovered it was inexplicably closed for lunch. I scratched my head for a moment and asked a gentleman who was painting the exterior of a nearby building what I should do now. He pointed me up the road to Zeke’s. He said his fiancé loves the place. Though he was a stranger, I can declare his wife-​to-​be has good taste in restaurants.
Nestled inside the Neon District, a resurgent artsy neighborhood, Zeke’s has cool cache in spades. The décor is warm in a Portland sort of way. The music overhead is new and obscure. The typewriter in the corner begs for your pithy observations. There’s a lot of flannel and top-​buttons buttoned in the room.
I surveyed the lunch menu and gravitated towards the section with a funny name. I’ve never had poke (prounced poh-​kay for those, like me, not in the know) before. When I asked the barista/​hostess/​waitress about it, she gave me a friendly answer rather than shame me as a snootier Millennial might. I ordered the spicy poke over a bed a seaweed. I paid the somewhat high, but understandably so, price and received my bowl swiftly.
When you’re serving raw hunks of meat, there’s little room for error. You can’t hide poor quality with sauces and toppings. Zeke’s let their seafood shine. The tuna’s texture was remarkable. The seaweed wasn’t slimy as it often is. The wasabi bits added much needed crunch to the otherwise soft meal. They were kidding about the spiciness, either. All told, it was a lovely, flavorful experience.
Alas, I’ll likely never have poke again because no where in my hometown serves it. I owe Zeke’s a debt of gratitude for expanding my horizons as well as my stomach.
(Note: their portions are not American. They are reasonable. Smalls are not likely to fill a grown man’s tummy. Larges are not going to force you to loosen your belt when you’re finished.)

Very unique location for a unique place. All around it, there’s street art and other equally unique stores.
I ordered a North Pole Açai Bowl and really enjoyed it. The only aspect I disliked was how small the bowl was. Every scoop of my spoon in when I first dug in, a blueberry or some other fruit would spill over. Every. Time. I guess it’s a good thing that they fill it very generously, but I think it’s pointless when the ingredients are spilling over.
Nonetheless, I’d still visit again to every all of their other unique dishes!

I would have never known this spot was located at the now «Neon District» of Norfolk. This quaint little spot fits this area though.
It’s a nice spot to hang out with some friends. They have art work on the walls you can purchase. The prices I saw was from $ 20 to $ 75. It’s Cool they support local artists. There were also books all round if you want to really chill and stay awhile while you eat.
So now for the menu item… I ordered the North Pole bowl. It’s basically a smoothie with fruits or nuts or granola etc., it was pretty yummy. I think that the bowl or the actual container it’s in makes it hard to get down to the smoothie thats on the bottom without you needing to eat most of the topping first. It looks like all of the items comes in a bowl like that.
I would come again and try out more things because the menu items really sound appetizing!

I really enjoyed the off-​beat décor and hipster staff. I thought the sweet & spicy poke bowl was nearly perfect, though pricey. The tun was super fresh and went well with the ingredients inside (roe, cucumber). I didn’t like the way the avocado was served with the bowls (slapped on top). I would have liked it cut up small so I could enjoy it with the entrée. I just gnawed a bit off a slice and quickly shoveled some tuna in my mouth.
I was hugely disappointed in the beans side of this place. I ordered an iced coffee and was shocked that it was FIVE dollars for a TINY cup! The serving was like a «tall» (the small) at Starbucks. I couldn’t even enjoy the coffee since the soy milk used was so nasty looking. I thought it looked funny when I first got it, then it started to settle… and separate… it was gross. I asked the barista to make me another one. They just showed me that the soy milk was not expired and helped me by swirling my cup some to mix it back in. I didn’t want that, so I threw it out. They did make me another… BUT USED THE SAME NASTY MILK! I just left with my friend and threw it out. UGH!
There were also gnats on a going-​rotten mini-​pumpkin by the cutlery and water. I saw the barista straighten this area and take the dirty dishes, but the pumpkin and gnats were ignored. Yuck.

So what is all the commotion around the PLOT today? For those that are not aware the former Norfolk Art District is now the Norfolk Neon District. Locals are preparing for a neon bash like the city has never seen before. Well actually this would be the first. Activity around the PLOT’s Granby and Olney streets was not limited to workers hanging a new neon sign either. Lots of photogs were every where to capture murals being completed, the main sign attached and improvements to the PLOT.
So with Zeke’s being in the neon district and having it bookmarked for a few months I seized the moment. I have heard great word of mouth and was excited to check them out. The building itself is a reason to say… okay this place has a history from the turn of the century. Exterior is a two story brick painted pale blue. It fit in perfect to this eclectic neighborhood. Large glass windows provide plenty of visibility for foot traffic.
When opening the door is was a bit like a time warp in an awesome way. Art for sale on a large wall, throw back items ranging from projectors to typewriters to a vintage 1950’s Mattel Magic 8 Ball. A few tables in the center and counter by the register and one by the window for terrific people watching. But the crème de la crème a sweet corner booth with Betty Boop sitting on top of a vintage 1960’s radio. A light colored warm wood laminate runs through out the dining room. Right there and then I decided this was NOT a place trying to exhibit a persona of coolness. They are indeed cool and I was a bit giddy about looking at the breakfast menu.
I talked with the young friendly woman behind the counter about breakfast options. She whipped a huge menu that was intimidating. It ain’t cheap folks, bowls run up to $ 14 for large. I already was excited about the availability of Three Ships Coffee and had her start my pour over while I decided. A recommendation of the PB&J bowl was made, but darn everything looked good. So what would the Magic 8 Ball say about if I would like this selection, we shall find out. With a shake of the ball the answer to my question…“It is certain”. Could I deny this 1950’s technology, I think not! I ordered up the large bowl too! A quick trip to the unisex restroom found it in perfect condition. Well geez, there are even two Bally video games if you need to wait. HELLO MS. Pacman, been a few years.
I found a table in the center and enjoyed my Three Ships coffee in a monkey mug. There is something about drinking coffee out of a monkey mug that made it even more yum. The eating area was pristine and presented well to visiting customers this morning. I was still a bit in aw of the coolness factor of the place. A bit like a retro museum and I had to admit that was a turn on. At the coffee station where you can add sugar, crème etc I ran across a childhood memory. A small glass mug with a wooden handle from the 70’s. We had the exact same mug when growing up that we got from the Smokey Mountains. An A/​C unit just above needs a cleaning ASAP!
So what’s the hold up already, I’m hungry and it’s been like 10 minutes. Well they used everyone of those minutes to create a work of art for me. So yes picture worthy, but the taste was yet to be determined. The first bite and I was hooked, this was not a normal breakfast bowl… OMG! The granola was so fresh with a great crunch, but I learned its made in house. Not only the granola, but the fruit, almonds, and everything else thrown in was so delicious. I worked my way down to find an ice cold chocolate banana smoothie used for the base. So creative with a smoothie at the bottom, I loved it. Flavors popped the entire time right down to the last bite. Impressed was an understatement. $ 14 worthy, you have to decide. Something to ponder is their large bowl is like two meals.
The Magic Ball has never failed me in life and it sure did not fail me at Zeke’s for breakfast. Maybe, just maybe the lyrics from the classic MC Hammer song were playing in my head as I exited the joint. Too Legit… to Legit to Quit is right! This should be on everyone’s must try. The winning combination of Three Ships with an awesome bowl had me all chips in. Throw in the developing neon district around it and you have a winning combination. I am in this area all of the time and will return.

Giving five stars because I love finding a place like this in Norfolk. It restores my faith in hippies, humanity, and happiness.
1) Delicious authentic Poke. I cannot say more. If you know poke, you will love it. If you don’t your live is less complete. Think Hawaiian style sushi/​ceviche. Amazing!
2) Local goods. I really love buying local. Corporations get enough of my tax dollars from corrupt politicians. They shouldn’t get my economic approval. Buy local it’s mo’ betta.
3) Interesting and unique beverages at a coffee shop always makes me smile. They have all the usual stuff too.
4) Smoothies to satisfy every bit of health nut you happen to have possessing you.
5) Located in the Arts District with interesting stuff to see everywhere.
6) Did I mention Poke? No, for realz cuz your life is empty if you a foody and haven’t had a proper Poke.
So come visit here, they’ll Poke ya good!

I was pretty excited when I found out that they were expanding and opened a location in Norfolk (10 minutes from ODU!) Most of the time, I’ve been lucky enough to find an open spot in front of the store. I think it’s two hour street parking, but if you’re just coming out for a bowl with a friend, you should be good!
I tried their Brazil bowl (which is an açai smoothie base topped with mango, kiwi, banana, granola, honey, and watermelon juice). I think that the small is the perfect size, it’s just really on the sweet side. I’m not sure that I tasted the watermelon juice too much (the girl working said they pour it on top), but maybe I’ll have it without honey next time to cut the sweetness! I’ve also tried their North Pole bowl with I preferred over the Brazil one.
I also just found out that they offer their own made vegan granola and pitaya add in’s for your breakfast bowls! I can’t wait to try them !!

This has become one of my new favorite lunch spots in Norfolk. It is located in the Arts District, a long neglected commercial section of Granby Street that is now coming to life on behalf of the hard work of a dedicated group of local artists. A new and contagious vibe has captured the air here and has made its way into this new restaurant.
You order and pay at the counter of this restaurant, and then wait until your food is ready. As you wait, you can walk around and enjoy the décor and scenery. One of the windows at the counter facing downtown overlooks The Plot, a community gathering space that appears to be in its final stages of completion.
The décor includes a whimsical array of odds and ends. There is an old manual typewriter on one of the counters facing Granby Street. During my lunch time visit today, I noted a Pocket Etch A Sketch on the counter as well.

An old-​fashioned student school desk sits in the back. An antique radio sits on one of the tables. Various pieces of antique furniture abound, including an antique sofa I saw for the first time today, as well as a number of tables, chairs, and lamps. The walls are dotted with a number of interesting pictures.
The menu items I have ordered and enjoyed so far are listed as follows, with their descriptions quoted from their current menu.
SPICY POKE: «Tuna, shoyu, sesame oil, green onion, sesame seeds, Sriracha, crushed red pepper, and wasabi.»
Poke is a salad like dish consisting of raw sashimi grade tuna and other ingredients. it is very popular in Hawaii and has often been described as Hawaiian sushi.
Several varieties of Poke bowls are available here, and this is the one to which I have taken a special liking. I always order it extra spicy and with the addition of brown rice.
The bright red chunks of raw sashimi grade tuna is a visual feast in itself. The ingredients blend together exquisitely, creating an explosion of flavors which scream with ecstasy inside my mouth. The heat level ravishes my hot tooth as well.
NORTH POLE BOWL: «Acai topped with granola, banana, mango, blueberry, coconut, and almond.»
This dish got its name from the coconut sprinkles which resemble a layer of snow. I have now ordered the small size bowl on two separate occasions for a take-​home snack. It is served with an exhilarating chill and is packed with flavor and nutrition. I will be stopping by during some future morning visits to order this for breakfast.
SPICY TUNA SAMMICH: «Fresh cooked tuna, Sriracha mayo, seaweed salad on toasted bread or pita.»
I ordered this with the toasted bread, and its ingredients combined to form a divine composition that melted in my mouth with a profound level of warm and toasty goodness. It was as if all my taste buds were chanting «OM» in a state of unison and bliss.
POKE NACHOS: «Chili, chipotle and lime seasoned tuna with cilantro, tomato, kale, pineapple, green onions, and jalapenos on tortilla chips.»
This dish is served with the same raw sashimi grade tuna as with their Poke bowls. I enjoyed it overall but found the tortilla chips to be a bit bland and ordinary. This dish may work better with a quality brand of organic stone ground blue corn tortilla chips, which should also add an attractive visual color contrast with the bright red chunks of tuna.
As for their beverages, I have tried their CARROT GINGER JUICE. It was very flavorful but could have used a little more chill. The WATERMELON JUICE I tried was colder, as well as delicious and refreshing. I am unable to address the coffee, for the simple reason that I am not a coffee drinker.
There is also a self-​serve dispenser of free ice cold cucumber water available, with slices of fresh cucumbers floating inside. I have enjoyed several cups during my visits and have found them to be most refreshing.
I am giving them a four-​star rating for now. If they can continue with the quality I have enjoyed so far, and maintain it as they make improvements along the way, an updated five-​star review shall be forthcoming before the year is over.