Williamsburg, Virginia. The name alone conjures up pictures of colonial American in the fledgling days of the birth of the U.S. This lovely, if somewhat quaint, community is home to the prestigious College of William and Mary, Colonial Williamsburg, Busch Gardens and Water Country USA theme parks, and a myriad of outstanding outlet shopping.
Williamsburg is strategically located between the Commonwealth’s capital of Richmond, Virginia and the Hampton Roads area, which also includes the famous Virginia Beach. It, therefore, comes as no surprise that this is a popular vacation spot in the Northeast. With its quaint shops (as well as up-to-date stores), different museums, and various tourist attractions, it makes perfect sense that this city also boasts some extremely fine dining.
With everything from the some of the best seafood in Virginia to fine Mexican and Oriental cuisine to Old Southern recipes, Williamsburg has a little something for every discerning pallet. Here are a few of the best:
For thebest seafood, try one of the Williamsburg’s favorites:
Captain George’s Seafood Restaurant located at 5363 Richmond Road. The focus here is on the food, not the atmosphere. If you are looking for romantic candlelit tables, then this may not suit your tastes. However, if your pallet hungers for a delicious variety of seafood tastes, then this is definitely the place to go. Captain George’s seafood buffet is famous on both sides of the water in the Hampton Roads area. People travel from miles around just to chow down on some of the most delicious seafood anywhere. With over 70 items including crab legs, shrimp, fresh fish, prime rib, fresh broiled salmon, oysters Rockefeller, Bar-B-Q, she-crab soup, salad and much, much more, Captain George’s Seafood Restaurant aims to please. Dinners average around $18.99 per person excluding drinks and desserts. Children between the ages of 5 and 12 eat for half-price. Kids under the age of 4 eat free. Banquet facilities are available for parties and can accommodate up to 500 people. The restaurant also offers catering service. The restaurant opens at 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, and Noon on Sunday. They accept Visa, MasterCard, and Diners Club.
For scrumptious Mexican cuisine, try:
Tequila Rose at 7207 Merrimac Trail. This family casual restaurant offers a huge variety of Mexican foods which include appetizers of nachos and chips with dip; salads like guacamole salad, mushroom quesadilla salad, and Acapulco salad; luncheon specials; and combination dinners including such dishes as tacos, enchiladas, chile relieno, tostados, tamales, burritos, chalupas, tostaguac, rice and refried beans. Menu items are available through inside dining as well as for take-out. Prices range between $4.99 and $15.99. The restaurant accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and Diners Club.
For wonderful Oriental food, try:
Golden Leaf Restaurant at 1665 Richmond Road. The atmosphere is perfect for families but is equally comfortable for singles and couples as well. Food items include: appetizers, soup, fried rice, lo mein, chow mein, chop suey, egg foo young, moo shu, sweet and sour, vegetables, pork, beef, seafood, and chicken. The restaurant features daily luncheon specials and various combination platters. The even have diet specials and house specialties which include Peking duck, general tao chicken, sesame chicken, dragon and phoenix, scallops and beef, hunan delight, tripe in garlic sauce, orange beef or chicken, seafood delight, and more. Food can be relatively mild to hot and spicy with everything seasoned to suit the customer’s taste. Items are available for dine-in our take-out service. Prices range from $1.00 to about $19.95. The restaurant accepts Visa, MasterCard, and Diners Club.
For a lighter gourmet sandwich fare, try:
Green Leafe Café, located at 765 Scotland Street. Green Leafe offers gourmet dining and catering for wedding receptions, graduations, and even family get togethers. The restaurant offers 30 local and imported drafts, a full-service bar, quality wine – – including some of Virginia’s best. This non-smoking facility offers a pleasant, relaxed atmosphere with a bit of cozy, romantic feel. Menu items include steak salad, sesame tuna salad, the famed Monte Cristo, the Green Leafe Reuben, the Portobella Stack, cracked pepper ahi (tuna steak rolled in fresh cracked pepper and then seared and served with wasabi), English style fish and chips, pan seared crabcakes, and Yankee pot roast. Prices range from about $9.99 to $18.99. The restaurant accepts all major credit cards.
For an upscale bar and grille experience, try:
Great Wolf Lodge, located at 549 E. Rochambeau. This relatively new (2006), exciting, and stunning, log-cabin style lodge and spa offers delightful dining at its two eateries: The Camp Critter Bar & Grille and Loose Moose Cottage. With a variety of menu items, ranging from appetizers, soups, and salads to sandwiches, pizza, and burgers to pasta and entrées, there is something to suit just about anyone’s taste. Entrees include roast chicken, perfectly grilled steaks, rib sticking ribs, pork and pot roasts, fish and fajitas. The atmosphere of the restaurants is that of an upscale lodge. It is comfortable and homey with plenty of room to relax and enjoy delicious food and drink, enjoy some company, and prepare for the day’s activities. Dining is not limited to lodge dwellers. It is open to the general public. Takeout is available, as is room service. Prices range between $6.99 to $29.99. Most major credit cards are accepted and lodge residents can charge dining to their room.
For the best in great American steaks, try:
Aberdeen Barn located in 1601 Richmond Road. Aberdeen Barn offers a family oriented atmosphere with good American style cooking. The restaurant specializes in steak but also offers a variety of other typical American meals. They also have a limited dessert menu. Items are available for dine-in as well as take-out. Prices range from about $9.99 to $19.99. The restaurant offers both a lunch and dinner menus and they accept most major credit cards.
For the best barbecue anywhere, try:
Pierce’s Pitt Bar-B-Que at 447 Rochambeau Drive. Once just a little fast food joint just off the interstate between Richmond and Virginia Beach, Pierce’s Pitt Bar-B-Que is now world renown. People come from all over Virginia regularly just to take advantage of some of Virginia’s barbecue best. Although still relatively small, the restaurant does have some indoor as well as outdoor seating. Meals are simple and include pulled pork sandwiches – – their most popular fare – – beef brisket, cole slaw, fries, and more. To taste a cult favorite, don’t hesitate to try this Virginia favorite.
For a variety of Colonial Williamsburg favorite gourmet eateries, try one of the following:
- Chowning’s Tavern, located on the historical Duke of Gloucester Street in Colonial Williamsburg;
- Christiana Campbell’s Tavern located on Water Street; and
- Shields Tavern located on the historical Duke of Gloucester Street in Colonial Williamsburg.
This, by no means, lists all of Williamsburg’s wonderful restaurants, which number in the hundreds. However, it does it outline a cross section of some of the yummy best!
