Written by Chris Fellini with photography by Joshua Fitzwater
Sandwiches are nothing fancy, but Laura Parker finds ways to spice things up. Her off-beat eatery, Dancing Tomato, is hidden in an office park off Newtown Road just inside Virginia Beach.
As we chat in the kitchen, Tom Johnston jokingly harasses Parker about a sandwich he needs. Johnston is Parker’s right hand man and might best be described as the keel that keeps the ship headed in the right direction. He tends to be the realist, while Parker maintains a sense of eccentricity that keeps things exciting. They’ve been working together since the beginning, and that level of trust and bonding makes it seem as if they can read each other’s mind.
Tom Johnston
With nothing on the menu coming in over $8 it’s hard to be disappointed, especially when you realize that this tiny café has over 30 sandwich and wrap options. The food tastes good because it should, not because it’s trendy or pretentious. Expect to find standard fare such as a cheese steaks and Clubs. However, the menu also features high end options, such as pork loin sandwiches and the Krista Wrap which pairs house made pimento cheese with bacon.
Laura Parker
The menu also shows off Parker’s creative side. The Betty pairs cream cheese and nuts with bacon on raisin bread. The Dixie Chicken adds house made chow chow to a standard chicken salad sandwich. The Dancing Tomato sandwich is definitely a crowd pleaser. Smokey flavor from the turkey dances with the heat from the cherry peppers, and the tomato dressing adds equal parts sweet and tart.
Mama Rosario
The Veg Wrap is fairly standard. The hummus keeps the veggies from being too dry, as is often the problem in basic vegetable sandwiches. Though the sand- wich will appeal to the health conscious, it’s by no means a creative endeavor. The Cuban showcases the mustard and pickles wonderfully. I only wish the meat stood up to their assertive flavors more. Like the Dancing Tomato and many other sandwiches on the menu, the Cuban comes grilled.
top (Cuban) bottom (Dancing Tomato sandwich)
Many of the items have very personal names, often named after regular customers. This sense of community is highlighted as Parker shouts out first name greetings to many guests in the Dancing Tomato. More than just a sandwich shop, her café is a place for conversations about life, work, and everything in between. Parker’s food might not make waves, but it doesn’t need to. She serves classic sandwiches in a fun way to the dozens of office workers lucky enough to be nearby.
The Dancing Tomato is located at 205 Business Park Drive Suite 108 Virginia Beach, VA
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