Colonial Williamsburg Family Restaurants
Colonial Williamsburg Family Friendly Restaurants
Chowning's Tavern 109 East Duke of Gloucester StreetNear Market Square and Courthouse•Colonial Williamsburg, VA •757-229-2141 Josiah Chowning opened his tavern in 1766 with a plan to serve ordinary folk. Ironically, while Chowning's is still casual and friendly, the prices can be high. At lunch diners can choose to eat either in the garden (with a self-serve window) or in the Tavern with full service. Lunch in the garden tends towards sandwiches and burgers while the Tavern lunch menu offers fancier sandwiches, salads and desserts. Dinner's light fare menu includes chicken, beef, barbecue, ales and draft root beer. Just as in Josiah's day entertainment features balladeers singing while servers in full costume play games with the guests. Reservations recommended for dinner. |
Christiana Campbell's Tavern 101 South Waller Street•Colonial Williamsburg, VA •757-229-2141 Christiana's dinner menu reads, "Giving satisfaction to travelers and townspeople with a taste for seafood." Long recognized as one of George Washington's preferred dining spots, one can just imagine Mrs. Campbell presenting the General with a "muddle of shrimp, scallops and lobster." One of Colonial Williamsburg most prized possessions is a receipt by Washington paying Mrs. Campbell "seven pounds, seven shillings, and sixpence" for meals from the earlier spring. For present day guests Mrs. Campbell and her chatty daughter greet everyone in a beautiful eighteenth-century ambiance. Entrees include meats, seafood and salads. Reservations recommended. |
DeWitt Wallace Museum Cafe 325 West Francis Street•Colonial Williamsburg, VA •757-229-2141 Offering a quick bite if you and the kids need refueling. The prices are high, but the menu items are kid friendly including hot dogs, peanut butter and jelly, whole fresh fruit and yogurt. Adults might prefer a Chicken Caesar wrap or a Pork Barbeque sandwich. |
Huzzah! 113 Visitor Center Drive•Colonial Williamsburg, VA •757-229-2141 Located adjacent to the Woodland's Hotel & Suites, Huzzah! (we say "hurrah") is convenient when you want burgers, hand-tossed pizza and desserts. |
King's Arms Tavern 416 East Duke of Gloucester Street•Colonial Williamsburg, VA •757-229-2141 Widow Jane Vobe began operating a tavern around 1750 when she helped her husband manage a small hostel. After he died she opened and operated the King's Arms Tavern. The King's Arms' menu is an impressive offering of authentic fare including peanut "soupe," Norfolk pottage "pye," and a dish of beef (slow cooked beef). "Punch" (lemon and sugar with liquor), several ales and lagers are fun for adults while sparkling cider is festive for the kids. Dinner entrees include Colonial game "pye" (venison, rabbit and duck), roast prime rib of beef and a Chop of Shoat (maple- and whiskey-brined pork). Can't quite envision the kids tucking into any of these plates? No worries, the King's Arms provide a children's menu with chicken strips, hot dogs and grilled cheese sandwiches. The King's Arms' "sweets" menu is incredible with chocolate fudge torte, pecan pie and a meringue shell filled with ice cream and strawberries. Or go "old world" and sample a "syllabub" (a colonial treat that is wine laced cream with lemon zest and berries). Reservations recommended. |
Merchant's Square Dining The Duke of GloucesterSits adjacent to the Historical Area•Colonial Williamsburg, VA Merchant's Square is a group of upscale shops and restaurants that sit in a beautiful locale next to the Historical Area. Stop for a cone at Baskin-Robbins or grab a light breakfast, lunch or dinner at Aromas Coffee & Cafe. You'll hear nothing but raves for the casual Cheese Shop where you can pick up sandwiches, cheese platters and wines to enjoy in your hotel room or in one of the Colonial Williamsburg gardens. For fine dining Fat Canary, David Everett's The Trellis Restaurant and Seasons Restaurant offer excellent sit down service. |
Picnics Spots Behind the bookbinderyNear the Print Shop and Post Office•Colonial Williamsburg, VA My vote goes to a living postcard snuggled behind the Bookbindery near the Print Shop and Post Office. You'll find a little stream winding through a garden with a rustic bridge, bench, flowers and flowering trees in spring. My boys loved dipping their toes into the water and watching handfuls of leaves sail down stream. (Lissa: I have a cool picture of my boys watching the leaves go down the stream. Let me know if you'd like it for the site.) |
Raleigh Tavern Bakery Duke of Gloucester Street•Colonial Williamsburg, VA Located behind the Raleigh Tavern, this is a nice spot to pick up the extremely popular gingerbread cakes, the Queen's cakes (made with currants and cherries or cinnamon), ham biscuits, root beer, apple cider and more treats. You'll find simple, but comfortable outdoor seating where snacking people and drooling dogs congregate. |
Regency Room 136 East Francis Street (located within the Williamsburg Inn)•Colonial Williamsburg, VA •757-229-2141 Children are catered to in the Regency Room, but this restaurant is not exactly their natural habitat with glamour filling every nook and cranny. The staff is beyond friendly and will welcome you into their fold whether you're dressed to the nines or not. Don't fall for it. If you're having dinner in this elegant restaurant, fine dining wear at dinner for both the lady and gent is your best bet. (Even the literature states "no denim" at any meal.) Dinner offers incredible meals including grilled filet of Angus beef, seafood, pasta and pork tenderloin. Tea is a beautiful affair featuring several types of tea paired with clotted cream, chocolate dipped strawberries and finger sandwiches. Open for breakfast, Sunday brunch, tea, lunch and dinner. Dinner and tea reservations recommended. |
Shields Tavern 422 East Duke of Gloucester Street•Colonial Williamsburg, VA •757-229-2141 Shields delivers a charming and authentic atmosphere. Lunch includes Banger and Mash (sausage, gravy and potatoes), Oyster Po Boy (local oysters breaded in cornmeal on a roll) and more. Dinners offer seafood, ribs, pork and chicken. Both lunch and dinner offer an array of "sweets" including apple pie, chocolate pudding and ice creams. |
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