Good Morning,
After checking out CW on the way back from Florida, my husband and I decided on a 3 night stay for our anniversary in July. Any suggestions for a nice dinner??We are staying at the Govenors Inn, and are doing the 3 day pass to CW, Busch Gardens and Water Country!!!

Thanks,
Heidi

The Trellis is an old fave. Good food -- great desserts. The Williamsburg Inn has a formal restaurant. It requires jacket and tie. Some say it is stuffy. I've never eaten there, but we found the bar in the hotel to be stuffy.

Do a search under Williamsburg on this site. You will come up with some newer suggestions.

The Williamsburg Inn is very nice for an Anniversary or special occasion. It is expensive, but the atmosphere is very nice.

The current two favorite spots among locals are The Fat Canary (contemporary American, small and upscale) and The Blue Talon Bistro (more casual, excellent dining described as "serious comfort food") The Fat Canary is on par with most anything DC has to offer.

I'm on record here as thinking the Trellis food is hugely overrated. Desserts are to die for, no question.

The Regency Room at the Williamsburg Inn serves excellent food with a very traditional decor and menu. I find it a bit stuffy. Think of the grand old dining rooms of the 40s and 50s. Jacket and tie a must, no denim ever.

Reservations are a must for all but The Blue Talon but I'd recommend making a booking there too. The wait for a table at 7pm this past Tuesday was 40 minutes.

Without a doubt, for a special occasion you should dine at the Williamsburg Inn. Everything about it is extraordinary!

I've eaten at Trellis twice over the years and enjoyed it highly. Very nice.

I have to put my vote on the "No" to the Trellis side. The only time we go is on a warm summer night to sit outside or when we have the winter 50% off coupons.
My husband and I like to spend our anniversaries at The White Hall on Jamestown Rd. www.thewhitehall.com. Excellant continental food with a German slant. Lovely atmosphere. Also excellant is Le Yaca on Rt. 60 near Busch Gardens. French food in an atmosphere that isn't quite as nice as White Hall. While I find the food at Blue Talon and Fat Canary to be very good, I think the environment is busy and noisy and may be less romantic than you would want for an anniversary dinner. But maybe not. It depends on what you like. Also good but a little pricey is A. Carrolls near the College. Basic menu of steaks, chops, and seafood.

The blue talon can be loud, but I have never seen the fat canery noisy, perhaps because I leave by 8? A Carols is alright, a bit overpriced IMO for the quality. The Trellis has gone downhill, they rest on reputation, not quailty food or service.

Whitehall is off the tourist track, but usually very good food and service, a bit more old fashioned.

Fat Canery gets my vote, be sure to get a reservation at least two weeks in advance though.