Can anyone recommend a nice place for an anniversary dinner in the Williamsburg area? My mom loves seafood, dad loves italian. Thanks,

I like the Trellis, but it's very touristy.

I would look at the Whitehall on Jamestown Rd www.thewhitehall.com. I think it fits your requirements. The other Italian restaurants in town are in the more casual and moderate range. The best restaurant, food-wise in town is The Fat Canary but it is more southern regional and is small and can be noisy.

http://www.history.org/visit/diningE...ianaCampbells/

Ask for a quiet table. I hosted an anniversary dinner for my parents in a semi-private upstairs room, and it was great.

Birdie- How dressy is Whitehall? I don't know the area, and my parents will be on vacation. Thanks.

I was going to get a gift certificate, but now I'm thinking of a general gift card with menus/suggestions and let them chose.

Nothing in Williamsburg is very dressy, except the Williamsburg Inn, because there are so many tourists. Your dad would be fine with a collared shirt and your mom in nicer pants or a skirt.

Without a doubt, the Regency Room at the Williamsburg Inn is the "best" restaurant in Williamsburg, but it is quite expensive and a jacket & tie are required for gentlemen.

(And it's not 'seafood' or 'italian'.)

The Trellis is nice, but I don't know if it's fancy enough for an anniversay. I think their pastry chef's recipes are in a book called "Death by Chocolate".

I think Birdie's suggestion for the Whitehall is an excellent one given your parents preference for seafood and italian cuisine.

If your parents have never had the colonial tavern experience, then that could make for a memorable anniversary dinner.

I would argue that the Regency Room at the Wmbg Inn "the best." I think the atmosphere is very stuffy and the food, while impeccably prepared, is remarkably unadventurous given the high prices.

I have to agree with Obxgirl regarding the Regency Room. I always find it overly pretentious and snobby with mediocre food. It is a beautiful room which I enjoy more for tea or breakfast.

I did have a lobster caeser salad for lunch at Christmas time which I thought was one of the most adventurous and well-prepared dishes I have eaten there.

I dine at the Regency Room several times a year.

Jacket & tie are required and the wait staff are dressed and professional. They aren't college students.

If that's "stuffy" and "pretentious," so be it.

I'm sure there's an Applebee's on Route 60 somewhere.

I should add that a pianist or harpist plays at dinner time, which adds to the romance.

My parents danced to a favorite standard a few months ago and loved it.

I have been known to eat at an Applebees every once in awhile. And, you're right, Gekko the dancing music is a very nice touch. Everyone has different likes and dislikes but as a frequent poster on Williamsburg I would be remiss if I didn't give my opinion on the Inn. I think you will find a lot of the same thoughts on other forums such as chowhound. I am also not a big fan of the Trellis but many are.

What Birdie said.

Thanks birdie and obxgirl. I like the menu at Whitehall. I only put what they prefer as a guideline,because I knew someone would ask what they like. Regardless of varying opinions, they'll have nice clothes, but not jacket/tie. Will probably tell them about Trellis for a different nite. Thanks!!

I agree about the Trellis. It's a Williamsburg staple and worth a visit, but not for a celebratory anniversary dinner.

Another anniversary option is Le Yaca, an excellent French restaurant owned & operated by a wonderful French woman:

http://www.leyacawilliamsburg.com/index2.html

So we agree that Le Yaca is fab. Hooray! I just didn't recommend it at first because it is very french.

Oh yeah, Le Yaca is great. I never miss it (or the Regency Room) when in Williamsburg.

Le Yaca is very nice, though the location is not very convenient. For that matter, you could also try the Dining Room at Ford's Colony -- its been a 5 diamond restaurant for many years in a row. Not inexpensive, by any means, but was delicious last time I was there. The taverns are a treat -- and can be very romantic. The Trellis is not THAT touristy at night -- more so during the day -- and its lovely to walk around Merchant's Square and Duke of Glouster Street in the evening.

Thanks for the input - they ended up chosing the Fat Canary, and enjoyed it. They also really liked the cheese shop next door. They went on and on about some italian place, but couldn't recall the name. Starts with an A, run by 3 generations..... I know I read about it somewhere.