planningit

Going to Williamsburg for Thanksgiving and looking for some good tips...
1) any really outstanding places to eat ice cream?
2) good place to get family haircuts
3) best place to grocery shop
4) any good teppanaki type resturants
5) anything super special going on down there during Thanksgiving week that's really something that shouldn't be missed?

Thank you in advance

obxgirl

1) Ciao Bella for gelato and Brewsters for ice cream
2) Haircuts?
3) Fresh Market and Ukrops
4) No teppanaki here. Magic 8 Ball says "try again."
5) Nothing out of the ordinary. It's a small town and it's a family holiday. Mostly you'll find gorgeous autumn weather and plenty of history.

Have a great trip!

Birdie

Jamestown Settlement usually has a colonial foodfest highlighting cooking during the 17th century. There also may be something going on out at Berkeley plantation since Charles City County was the true site of the first Thanksgiving not Plymouth as so many people errroneously believe. Buy a Wed. VA Gazette to find out local happenings.

MikeTravels

Hey! Williamsburg has several teppanaki places (well, two at least). Hayashi, down Rt 60 by the outlets and the bowling alley, is actually pretty darn good. Their sushi isn't up to my standards, but the teppanaki is fine and pretty good as such places go. There is a much older one called Kyoto much closer to the colonial area, but I think it is not as good.

If you feel a bit more adventurous, Miyako (in between the 2 on 60) has excellent sushi, soba, shabu-shabu and more traditional Japanese items.

I'd second the suggestion of Ciao Bella. Excellent stuff. I'd personally rather eat at Ben & Jerry's than Brewsters, but it is quite popular despite my reservations. Portions are quite large, maybe that's why.

planningit

Thank yo all for your responses. I did forget to ask a few question.
1)Where's the best place to buy some yummy home baked pies.
2)Are there any places to buy a fresh killed turkey, should I order prior to arriving in Williamsburg. Otherwise I'll buy a Shady Brook Farm at the grocery store (if they carry that brand).
3) Are there farm stands selling fresh veggies?
Thanks again for all your help.

obxgirl

Hey Mike, I forgot about Hayashi and you're right. It's pretty good. I would't, however, send anyone to Kyoto. Bleh. I had a bad sushi experience at Miyako shortly after they opened and haven't been back. I didn't know they did the grill thing.

Hi planningit,

1) The Carrot Tree Bakey and the James River Pie Co. both do excellent pies. You need to order ahead for the holidays. There is another bakery in town, Flour City, and I'm almost sure they do pies as well. I have only had their breads which are excellent.

2) Is fresh killed the same as fresh? If so, I'd order now from the Fresh Market.

3) It's a little late in the season for fresh veggies. One place, Hill Pleasant Farm, may still be open but I think they're selling only root veggies and hay. Best place for produce in town is the Fresh Market.

And I'm still curious about the haircut thing.

Hope you all have a great time here.

planningit

Thanks again for the replies. Oh, the haircut thing is simply the kids are always super busy with activities that I don't think I'll have time to take them to a salon prior to our trip. Thought I'd just get them clipped while on vacation. Locally we're able to order fresh killed turkeys straight from either the chicken farm or butcher. There are a bit fresher than Perdue/ShadyBrook.

MikeTravels

OBX: yeah, Kyoto is pretty bad. But once I talked to Bruce Hornsby and Phil Collins there years ago and I pretended like I wasn't impressed by Phil, so I have some fond memories. Miyako doesn't have the table side cooking, but they do have heated shabu-shabu plates in the tables. I'm bummed you had bad sushi there -- we've had four or five good experiences. Its on my short list of places I always hit when in town (Pierces & Le Yaca being the others, although my beloved Le Yaca is not what it once was)

I can't help with the rest, other than to plug the FedEx delivered fresh "Willie Bird" from Williams Sonoma. Fresh kilt, all granola-fied and pretty darn good. Much better than the Shady Brook Farm stuff.