I need recommendations on good restaurants in the Norfolk area, preferably close to ODU. We like anything ethnic, and seafood of course.

Here's a nice historic, reasonably priced restaurant in downtown Norfolk.

http://www.freemasonabbey.com/

When I travel down to Norfolk I come back to Williamsburg to eat. The only place in Norfolk that I eat regularly is Doumar's, an old drive-in that backs up to Granby. Great BBQ and limeade. I ate at Free Mason years ago and found the setting to be interesting (its in an old church) but the food only mediocre. Iceburg salad, etc. That was probably 10 years ago, though. Free Mason is on the far side of Ghent from ODU. Ghent probably has most of the interesting restaurants in Norfolk and its not far from ODU. Check www.chowhound.com and www.hamptonroads.com

My spelling may be off, but Todd Juric's Bistro is amazing!

Last summer we had an excellent meal at 456 Fish on Granby St. I'm not sure how close that is to ODU, it was walking distance to the Marriott where we stayed.

My personal favorite:

http://home.hamptonroads.com/dining/detail.cfm?id=490

I live in Va Beach and we go into Norfolk quite often. I definitely second Daniel's suggestion to review the website that he provided. Some of the restaurants that are reasonably close and are good are:

456 Fish
Orpach's (Greek)
Fellini's
The Monastary
Velvet 25 (Haven't tried this yet, but friends HIGHLY recommend it. Looking forward to going there next time we go into Norolk)