I have read all the posts regarding where to eat in Williamsburg but would like someone to give some detail regarding menus. I haven't been able to find such and when I called to book a room, they suggested making a reservation way ahead. Thanks, Chris

huh?

Make the reservations, check the menus as soon as you get there, cancel the res you don't want.

When we visited last year we ate at Christiana Campbells Tavern. The food was quite good, prices for entree's ran about $22. The menu had quite a few seafood items and serves delicious sweet potato muffins and spoonbread. We made a reservation well in advance, and when we got there we were seated immediately despite the huge crowd. The other menus (Shields, Chownings, and Kings Arms) had similar menus although they leaned more to meat and game. Hope this helps a bit. Enjoy

Hi Chris!
I can highly recommend all the CW venues. The offerings at each place is similar, although Chownings is more pub atmosphere. For dinner, I would recommend the King's Arms or Campbells, and the last time I was there, I made my dinner reservation when I booked my hotel rooms -months in advance. The restaurants are nearly always packed - and with a reservation you will probably not be kept waiting for more than 5 minutes for your table. The service is excellent, and the atmosphere is fantastic. You might also enjoy trying the Trellis, which is (or at least it used to be) on DOG street opposite the movie theatre, or the main dining room at the Williamsburg Inn. You may be able to have these last two restaurants fax you their menus. Hope this helps!

Chownings has wonderful entertainment in the evening. It is an experience, not merely a place to eat!

Hi Aunt Jennie!
What kind of entertainment do they have at Chownings? Is this suitable for a 5 year old? Need somewhere interesting...if not...can you help?

Actually, you can get the menus for the taverns on the Williamsburg website at history.org. We looked them over before we booked.

We also enjoyed the evening entertainment, called "gambol," at Chownings. Just me -- it's really probably not for 5 year olds. They had a comedian who made it be known that he had to "edit" some of his more salacious material due to children in the room. There are also games that might be entertaining to a 5-year-old that will be led by another entertainer. The third entertainer will teach sing-along, but they are more "adult" songs in nature. I don't mean to suggest that they're really dirty (although one has a refrain "lift up your skirts"), just have a more adult content than a 5-year old can appreciate. It's also intended to be a "tavern" atmosphere, so they're serving beer. Basically, I got the impression that they didn't appreciate people bringing small children who were taking up seats of beer-buying customers.

Hey, thanks for all the info. I feel kind of studpid as I hadn't found the links to the menus on the history.org site. Anyway, your personal recommendations are more meaningful anyway. I am taking my teenage son to DC, Williamsburg and Charlottesville next April and hope to have a great trip. Chris

Not so stupid that I can't spell

Thanks Lisa, Too bad, sounds like fun, but definately not for a little guy! I agree!

I was just in W'burg a few weeks ago. We went to Chowning's Tavern for lunch and it was very good. I think it is the most casual of the four taverns. But we didn't go at night.

I highly recommend Trellis, which is in the shopping area next to the historical area. It is excellent! If you go for dinner, recommendation are a must. We went for lunch and it was very good, despite the wait.

Chris,

Enjoy your trip to Virginia. Regarding the taverns, I always tell my visiting friends the following:

Christiana Campbells : the upper scale tavern - a bit dressier and more expensive.

Kings Arms : More with the Historic theme.

Shields: Relaxed and casual dinning

Chowings: The only one where you do not need reservations in advance.

All are very good. Also within Merchants Square is Barretts (seafood, pasta, sandwiches) or the Trellis (famous for their Death by Chocolate dessert)

Check out their website for the Tavern Menus: colonialwilliamsburg.org

Virginian-thank you for the advise. I think I will make reservations for Shields. I'm so excited about coming but it is a whole year away. Planning and researching is half the fun. Let me know if you need any advice about California. Chris