Dining in Williamsburg - Not Just Pancakes!

This was a very pleasant find, thanks to Restaurant.com! Located actually in Lightfoot, about five miles west of Williamsburg on Richmond Road (Rt. 60), the small building sits in the middle of a small strip shopping center parking lot. Years ago, I have dined in that same building many times with my Mom, only it was a local mom and pop type Italian place. Not sure what happened, but it was obvious that many of the familiar places I had dined in during the late '80s and '90s had changed hands or closed altogether.

Once seated, we were quickly greeted with warm tortilla chips and a nice salsa that tasted homemade. It was chunky and very flavorful. The service was outstandingly quick, with our meals served within 15 minute of placing our orders. They were served piping hot and were very good. I had the taco and burrito combo while David had the burrito and enchilada combo. Both were also serviced with refried beans and Spanish rice. This was very much an authentic Mexican restaurant with delicious food. Both combo dinners were around $8, which was about average for their menu pricing. We did see fajitas being served, as well as what appeared to be some wonderful quesadillas.

In addition to the wonderful food, they offer a full bar service with margaritas and frozen, blended adult beverages. They also had a very good beer selection including several Mexican imports.

Tequila Rose has two locations in the Williamsburg area, with the other on Merrimac Trail on the other side of town. If the food and service is similar at the other location, we would not hesitate to recommend either to satisfy any craving for Mexican food that you may have while in the Williamsburg area.

Additional information may be found at their website: www.tequilarosemexicanrestaurant.com.

What would we do without Restaurant.com? Yet another wonderful “find” that is off the beaten path in an area of Williamsburg most often frequently by locals and rather few tourists. At the end of large shopping plaza, Shackleford’s II, you may not even see this place from the main road! But do not let its out of the way location deter you from venturing into the outskirts of town to this wonderfully delightful restaurant! They are known for their outstanding selection from land and sea, including a raw bar.

We were greeted by a lovely hostess who immediately took us to a nice booth where the sturdy wooden decor was very warm and homey. Our server almost immediately welcomed us and took our beverage orders. After a few minutes with the menus, he was back asking for our dinner choices. Any time I have the opportunity to have real crab cakes, I just at it...and David went with the beef tips over rice. I also opted to add an a la carte dinner salad, which was very good.

At the time that my salad was brought out, we were provided a plate with piping hot from the oven French loaf bread. Shortly thereafter, dinner arrived. In addition to our entrées, our meal was accompanied by steamed broccoli and cauliflower which was fresh and crisp...cooked perfectly. I was very impressed with the crab cakes, as they were 95% pure lump crab with very little in the way of filler; probably just enough, to hold them together. While I thought David’s meal looked a bit skimpy, he was full by the time he completed all that was on his plate. The beef tips were cooked in a sweet teriyaki sauce with red peppers and had outstanding flavor. He especially enjoyed the wild rice that accompanied his meal. Unfortunately, we did not save room for dessert, not that either of us really needs the extra calories. I will say that they had a very interesting menu of chef prepared delights including a “cheesecake of the day” and a homemade gingerbread cake served ala mode.

Dinner was a bit on the pricey side at $18 per entrée with another few bucks for the dinner salad. We felt, however, that the price paid was well worth it as the quality and service were outstanding. We would recommend Shackleford’s II without hesitation and will hopefully return again ourselves!

We enjoyed our first morning in Williamsburg at the National Pancake & Waffle House located right in the main tourist area on Richmond Road. I’ve seen a lot of the old red roof Pizza Huts converted into new businesses, but this remodel of a former Pizza Hut restaurant was done superbly maintaining the many large windows throughout, making the inside bright and cheery! Inside, the bright white and blue decor was very inviting and made for a nice atmosphere for breakfast. The staff were friendly and very attentive.

The menu had what I would consider the standard southern breakfast fare, including several fruit topping options for pancakes and waffles. David went with the standard eggs, breakfast potatoes, sausage and toast, while I stayed with the restaurant’s namesake with a short stack of pancakes and some very good (and salty) country ham. The pancakes had a unique, but very delicious flavor to them...probably from the “buttermilk and egg” batter that is their own. Breakfast for the two of us ran about $16 before any discounts.

We had a 20% off coupon from the online website for Entertainment Book members. But not to worry if you do not own one! They are also advertised in the “Colonial Guide” which offers a number of dining and entertainment options with discounts. National Pancake & Waffle House has a 10% offering which is pretty much standard for the restaurants featured in advertising in the guide. (Note: We would suggest that there is no reason why any family should pay full price for any meal while in Williamsburg. Many of the most known establishments catering to the tourist trade offer discounts either through the Entertainment Book, Restaurant.com or the variety of tourist publications available throughout the city.)

Note that they are also open through lunch, but closes mid-afternoon and does not reopen for dinner. There is another location on Pocahontas Trail (Rt. 60 East) on the other end of the city. In a touristy area where pancake houses are plentiful, we would highly recommend National Pancake & Waffle House!

Has anyone heard of cheesy grits? How about grits with shrimp? Well at Food for Thought these unique grit dishes are available as well as a variety of sweet potato items. For us, however, we both went with a more typical American meal from their very eclectic menu.

I went for the pot roast, like Mom used to fix complete with large carrot slices and mashed potatoes. Hubby chose a sirloin steak topped with creamy merlot butter and accompanied by steamed broccoli and green beans. With your entrée, you have the choice of two from a rather wide assortment, including a dinner salad for an extra dollar. With dinner, we were also served two types of breads. Cheese topped rolls or sweet potato cornbread made for a nice complement to our dinners. Everything was very delicious, and tasted just like we would have wanted it to. The beef for both of our dinners was tender and very good.

I should comment on the interior of the restaurant since like others in Williamsburg it was bright, cheery and well lit. We arrived shortly after 5pm so it was still very much daylight outside. With the many large windows throughout, it was very nice to have the natural sunlight pouring in. Interestingly the bar area is in the middle of the building and does not have any windows or natural light. It was nice enough, but compared to either end of the dining area, it seemed to lack the same open atmosphere that the restaurant itself had.

Prices here were not unlike other nicer restaurants in Williamsburg in that we paid around $40 for the two of us, which did not include alcohol or dessert. The good news is that they advertise with Restaurant.com and also features a 10% off coupon in the Colonial Guide that has many other discount offers for shops and dining throughout Williamsburg. I would not hesitate to recommend dining at Food for Thought should your travel include the Historic Triangle of Virginia.

More information may be found on their website: www.foodforthoughtrestaurant.com.  

We decided to take in the 1776 Tavern on our first night in Williamsburg, largely because I knew where it was and it was very close to our timeshare resort. Inside the Ramada Inn where Fairfield’s Patriots Place is located, it is well known by those who travel via Fairfield timeshares in Williamsburg. The restaurant and bar have a colonial motif complete with a nice sitting area facing a large hearth fireplace.

We arrived at around 6:00pm to find the dining room relatively quiet with perhaps four tables with guests. At the hostess’ stand we found that they were featuring their “all you can eat” crab legs and peel~n~eat shrimp with no menu offerings for the evening. At $19.95 per person, it was significantly less expensive than other all you can eat seafood buffets in town. They also offered a full salad bar with soup and desserts. We felt that the value was very good...with decent quality food items on the buffet.

On the salad bar was a very nice assortment of fresh fixin’s including shredded cheddar, mildly garlic flavored croutons, and several dressings. I also enjoyed a hot cup of chicken and rice soup! In addition to the above mentioned seafood items, the main buffet also offered fried chicken, BBQ beef short ribs and broiled fish. There was also oven roasted new potatoes, green beans almandine and steamed broccoli and cauliflower. I opted to keep to the crab legs, which were wonderful, and the green beans.

After having our fill of dinner, they had chocolate fudge brownies and lemon cake for dessert. David said the brownie was really rather dry so I was happy that I opted for the cake.

While we enjoyed our meal, we could see why they may have gone with the buffet as their service was less than remarkable. We were very disappointed to have to ask for even the most basic of items like extra napkins, crab leg crackers and refills of our beverages (iced tea and water). Additionally, there was a 20 minute wait for them to replenish the crab legs after a quick run on them when several additional groups arrived shortly after we did.

To add insult to injury, they have an 18% mandatory gratuity policy for anyone using an Entertainment Book dining card or Restaurant.com gift certificate (which we had). Our total dinner bill came to $42 before the $25 discount and I was prepared to leave a $6 tip. When the cashier advised me that the gratuity was a mandated $7.75 I about lost it. Not that a couple of bucks would break us, but the nerve to charge 18% on a buffet plus service that was marginal at best. The $6 I was prepared to leave, was generous for what “service” we received. I refused the amount she attempted to charge me, paying what I felt was appropriate and walking out.

Probably my most favorite restaurant in Williamsburg, Fireside Chophouse does steaks and seafood right. No wait... better than right...they do them perfect! Admittedly, it’s been many years since I was last there. Probably 1994, the year before my Mom died while living in Williamsburg. I remember my meal that night; just as clearly as I do the night David and I were there earlier this week. The steaks were just as tender, the salad as fresh...and the chocolate pecan pie as sweet. The service was outstanding and attentive throughout our dining experience.

The Chophouse, as locals refer to it, is one of the nicer fine dining establishments in Williamsburg which has become a haven of pancake houses and chain restaurants. The dining landscape really has changed here over the past decade, but thankfully Fireside is still serving locals and visitors with prime cuts of steaks, the freshest seafood and wonderful accompaniments that add the finishing touches to a great meal.

For our visit, we passed on the appetizers although it was really hard to not order their calamari. I also have enjoyed their shrimp cocktail as well as the crab cakes. But with a early dinner and much yet to do in the evening, we opted to keep it to dinner and dessert. Salad is the starting course which comes will all meals. All salad dressings are homemade and are very robust and flavorful. The warm dinner rolls melt in your mouth.

David and I had the filet mignon with the burgundy mushrooms and onions side, with baked potato and the fresh veggies of the day (broccoli and carrots). The nine to ten ounce cut of prime beef was prepared perfectly and so tender you could cut them with a fork. The steamed veggies were crisp and delightful and the potato delicious.

After dinner, we decided to share a piece of their homemade chocolate pecan pie, as much out of memory of my Mom as anything. Served with a side scoop of vanilla ice cream, it was plenty to share. Surely, neither of us “needed” dessert. With that being said, David decided to get a piece of their raspberry cheesecake to go for a late night snack after our evening show in Colonial Williamsburg.

Fireside Chophouse also has other meats including pork and chicken, plus a fresh catch of the day and other seafood choices. For me, however, the Chophouse is the place to enjoy a great steak while visiting Williamsburg. I should mention that their house specialty is the prime rib, available in two sizes (10-12oz and 16-18oz). As a fine dining establishment, you can expect dinner for two (without alcohol) to run you close to $70 including tax and gratuity. Add another $10-$15 if you are going to indulge in appetizers or dessert.

They have a full service bar offering beer, wine, and cocktails.

This is one of the new additions to the Williamsburg dining landscape...a welcomed addition and good competition for Pierces BBQ, the locals long-standing preferred place for pulled pork BBQ in town.

Red Hot & Blue Memphis Pit BBQ offers a wonderful meal with great value. In addition to "wet" BBQ, you can also have the "dry" variety as well. Offering ribs, pulled pork, beef, and chicken there is surely something for everyone including the youngsters. Burgers and fries are also on the menu for those who prefer to stay away from the sauce.

During our visit, we opted to start with the $1.99 à la carte dinner salad which for the price was probably the best value in salad we've had all week. The dressings were thick and rich, adding wonderful flavor to the fresh assortment of garden greens and tomatoes. We opted to add an order of hush puppies with our salads.

For dinner I had the pulled pork and David had the beef brisket. Accompanied by baked beans, coleslaw and a sweet bread roll our meals were complete and very filling. We both enjoyed our meals and thought the meats were well prepared with just the right amount of sauce. For those who may want or need more, however, there were several options available at the table.

They did offer a full dessert menu, but we passed. I must admit, however, seeing one of the fresh apple cobblers served a la mode looked really good! Maybe we'll stop by there one evening just for dessert.

Like most other restaurants in Williamsburg, they are very kid friendly but also offer a full complement of adult beverages. This is the type of place that you can bring the entire family from the little people to the grandparents. There were even some TV's throughout for those who had to have the ESPN fix during dinner.

For our dinner, with salads and soft drinks we spent right at $35 (including taxes and tip). Based on what we saw in the parking lot earlier in the week, you should plan on arriving early...or anticipate a wait if you dine at the more traditional 6-8pm timeframe.

The Library Tavern has been a mainstay in Williamsburg for many years. On our last evening in town, we really didn't feel much like fine dining so I remembered about The Library and their wonderful sub sandwiches.

It was a quiet Sunday night, with few people in the restaurant or bar...maybe three or four other couples in the dining room and a family out on the patio. For me, it was just nice to be inside with air-conditioning after a long afternoon of wandering around Colonial Williamsburg.

I ordered the meatball and cheese sub while David chose what amounted to a club sandwich on a toasted hoagie roll. It had roast beef, turkey, bacon plus lettuce, tomato and mayo. For an additional quarter you could opt for the french fries instead of the chips. With a dill pickle spear, the plate was complete.

The sandwiches were very good and the fries hot and crisp. In addition to great sandwiches, burgers and subs, The Library also offers steamed seafood including crab legs, clams and shrimp. Pizza is probably what they are best known for as they have a variety of sizes and topping options. For those who want to have a cold beer or adult beverage there is that option...as well as a dessert case with pies and cakes.

It was good to relax, enjoy some music and watch baseball scores on ESPN...and not overstuff ourselves with a big heavy dinner.

One of the nice things about The Library is that you can call ahead for carry-out or even stay in and have them bring it to you! They are open seven days a week, from 11am until 2am and feature live music in the bar after 10pm.

The prices are very good and the taste delicious. In my 20+ years of coming to Williamsburg, I have never been disappointed and would highly recommend it for a family evening or just a quick sandwich to go!

Oh yes...I almost forgot that they are featured in the "Colonial Guide" and offer a 10% off dining coupon or a free 10" cheese pizza with the purchase of a 16" pizza. Can't beat that!