the thirsty camel

dissapointed. been going since the 70's and this may be the last.
our prices on the bill were higher than what was on the menu and listed specials. when we asked the waitress she said the menu is old. didnt try to correct bill.

fine by me. today at lunch i visited the thirsty camel for the first time. i admit curiosity got the best of me. if someone asked, "hey, describe what a bar in oceanview should be like" they would describe the thirsty camel.

i enjoyed it. had a 1/2 pound cheeseburger, comes with french fries, potato salad or potato chips. i had the potato salad and it was fine. i had a draft miller lite and it was fine, too. the waitress did just fine, too. no complaints at all. when i was there, which was about 1130, there were about 16 people in there, too, including me.

in short, for an oceanview bar and place to have lunch, it is a quaint honkey-tonk-type place, the kind of place i like.

half pound cheeseburger. mmmmm

best steak in tidewater!. best steak ever! that cook know what he is doing. i have eaten at alot of expensive steak houses, nothing comes near. don't you dare put steak sauce on it. i have even cut it withva fork before. best 12oz. ribeye ever! cant beat two for one thursday night.

i had the ov burger, burger with crabmeat and cheddar cheese that comes with chips. ... all for 5 bucks!

response to are you serious. the question i have is, are you serious? we never go to the virginia beach area and not eat at least once or maybe twice at the thirsty camel. some people are just negative people. the thirsty camel is fantastic. the food has always been great when we eat there. good live music and the service has always been great. we went this past saturday night and guess what? it was fantastic! our waitress was so nice and so helpful. i wish i could remember her name. if you are the owner and you read this, give that pretty blond waitress a raise.

good food was really happy with my 1\2 pound burger but the service sucked like terrible i dont even know my waitresses name she.was very stand off ish and came off.very rude would have been awesome if she didnt.suck

tasty camel two. had prime rib on the two for one saturday night, had ny strip steaks on the two for one thursday night, had steamed shrimp on another visit and had the "bbq'd prime rib ribs" on a wednesday lunch ...what a treat! all fantastic, served hot and cooked perfectly. this is a classic dive bar with phenomonal food. the bathrooms are under construction and are being updated , it is dimly lit as most dive bars are but it is clean and the service was very adequate....this is a dive bar, one waitress covers alot of ground and you have to be somewhat patient, but the waitresses are friendly and attentive....although they work their butts off and don't have alot of chat time, they are freindly and look out for their customers. last night we had 2 -12oz ny strip steaks with salad and potato, two beers and with tax and tip it came to $30. food was great, service was great and price was off the chart. want ambiance and a waiter up your ass , this ain't the place. want good food, cold bevs and affordable prices, seat yourself and dig in and show some patience with your waitresses. .

great.... if you like cellophane in your salad and more gristle then meat on your steak. filthy environment. wait staff could care less. don't waste money here. it's a dump.

mama was wrong. i grew up in norfolk (back in the day) and mom always told me "don't ride the roller coaster" and "never go in the thirsty camel". sorry mom. after moving back to norfolk recently, my husband and i ventured in to the thirsty camel and even though mom is probably rolling over, i can't wait to go back. as hamburger fanatics, we ordered the large burgers and fries and were completely satisfied. it was a bit more than i could eat in one sitting. the burger was cooked to perfection, exactly as we ordered them, the hand cut fries were fresh and tasty and the beer was cold. not to mention the friendly wait staff. yes the thirsty camel is a dive, but it is a great one and one i hope to enjoy again and again.

the tasty camel is more like it!. stopped by the thirsty camel for lunch. when you see this place you first think, what a hole in the wall. and guess what? it is! and i love it. this place is unpretentious, a real bar with food, and they aint' fancy one bit. the cool part is they aren’t trying to be and don’t expect you to be either. when you walk in your greeted by a friendly staff. its a sit where you want kind of place. i grabbed a booth and my server was right there getting my drink order. i got a diet coke and started checking the menu out. and if you read my reviews, you know what i probably ordered. the club! gotta’ stay consistent. it came out very quickly. let me tell ya, it was fabulous! here is why, the turkey part of this club is real pulled off the bone turkey! it totally makes the sandwich, it also comes with swiss and american cheese. the bread was normal sliced, but was toasted perfectly. the mayo was quality commercial, very creamy. the cold toppings were juicy and fresh. the fries are a stand out definitely hand cut and fried hot! man they were outstanding. this was a great lunch. i like the thirsty camel a lot. i recommend you check them out if you find yourself in north oceanview or out at willoughby spit! good job thirsty camel!

now that i think of it. im gunna go there tomorrow and burn up some of those hard earned tokens.


-----01 jun, 2012-----

i actually enjoy their food. dont bring your entire family or children if your looking for that sort of restaurant. for christ sakes just look at the outside of the place. i enjoy it though. i can watch the games, eat, drink, and not be bothered with or without friends.

thirsty camel 394 w ocean view avenue, norfolk, va 23503 (757) 480-0874 this is the definition of a dive bar. nice little restaurant located in west ocean view near the ocean view fishing pier. best 2-1 specials in town, large steamed shrimp not over cooked, but we're only talking wings here. hot or mild with blue cheese dressing, barbecue mild or hot your only options. $10.00 good wings - hot is not crazy hot and the mild really are mild. another large serving (no pigeon wings here) - good mix of flats and drums. drbyte - wingman

don't be fooled by the thirsty camels outward appearance! situated by the ocean view fishing pier in norfolk, va, this restaurant sports a giant camel on the outside and looks a bit weathered. its weathered because its been a local favorite for a long time! inside the camel is a casual atmosphere and the best 2-for1 specials in town. prime rib or ny strip nights are exceptional with top choice cuts of beef, a salad, sides, and garlic bread. a dinner this great anywhere else would go for well over 60.00 but here two can enjoy a nice dinner for less than 25-30 dollars and that includes cocktails. they even have free live music which is also usually great! the thirsty camel has the best cook in town, and i usually stop in the kitchen and give him a tip. no! i am not a employee of the camel.. i'm just a customer that appreciates great service and food! if you are in this area take the willoughby spit 4th view exit and the camel is right in front of you, across the street from the bp. you will be sure to tell your friends about this hidden gem! don't forget to take a walk on the fishin' pier after dinner! its romantic and fun! my vote :" a plus"

are you serious!!!!. new to the ov area, swing in after people tell me its a landmark and known for burgers. ouch. what a dump! i cant beleive this place is open. dark, dingy, dirty, poor service, terrible food. stay far away diners or you might catch something.