Martinan

Which of the colonial taverns would you recommend Shield's Tavern, Kings Arm,Chowning's or Christiana Campbells? Are these the only ones where the waiters are dressed in colonial costumes or are there others? We will be dining with our children ages 5 and 7 who have fairly good restaurant manners. Thanks.

padams421

We ate at Shields, Chownings and Christiana Campbells with our 6 and 8 year olds last year. We enjoyed all of the meals. We ate lunch at Chownings, which was more of a casual sandwich place. We picked up food in a line outside behind the building, and then found a table inside.

We ate sit down dinners with table service at Shields and CC. Our waitress at CC was particularly entertaining. However, we felt rushed as the restaurant hurried us and the tables around us through our meals so they could seat their next sitting (we went to the early meal time). CC had a kids' menu. At Shields', the food was brought to our table family style (largae platters to share). Our kids, even the picky one, found plenty to eat.

Birdie

Shield's is now a coffee house. Go to www.history.com and look at the menus to find out which one you would prefer. Remember that lunch or Sunday brunch can be a more budget concious option.

Birdie

Sorry, its www.history.org and I see that Christianas no longer serves Sun Brunch.

Martinan

Thanks padamas and Birdie! We planned on eating an early dinner as well. I've read that they start serving dinner at 5PM or do these restaurants do table service for lunch as well. We don't like being rushed for our meals. So what would be our best option? We will also be going off season - next week - how far ahead do we have to make reservations for these restaurants?

Martinan

Birdie, thanks for showing me the link for restaurant menu's!

obxgirl

Martinan,

April isn't off season in Wmburg, in fact, next week is Historic Garden Week, a popular event. It wouldn't hurt to call and make a booking now.

I agree with you that no one likes feeling rushed through their meals, but during busy times restaurants have to balance multiple seatings. Would your kids be able to handle a later seating? (alas, I know mine would not have).

You might consider doing one of the taverns for lunch. The colonial ambiance is better in the evening, but given all of your variables, lunch might be the better compromise.

Martinan

obxgirl, Thanks for the information regarding Historic Garden Week! And here I thought we had an excellent Spring break schedule as most schools already had their break. Will book by tomorrow. I guess based on padamas reply, Shields will be best for us. Am I correct?

obxgirl

No, Martinan, as BIrdie mentioned Shields Tavern has been converted to a "colonial" coffee house. The quality of Kings Arms and Christiana Campbells is the same so I'd book with the one that has a better time or the preferable menu.

The gardens will be beautiful. Hope you have a great trip!

Martinan

Obxgirl,THANKS!!! Will do as you suggest, Kings arms or Christiana's. We are all excited for this trip! I'm actually reading all the past posts about other resturants in the area. What a wealth of information!

travelgirl2

Last year, we (family with 10 and 12 year olds) ate dinner at Kings Arms and Christiana Campbells. I preferred Kings Arms. I didn't care at all for the meal at Christiana Campbells, although I love seafood. The taverns are a fun experience (very pleasant waiters in costumes explaining the colonial customs, strolling entertainers), but if going again I'd only have a tavern dinner once. It's quite pricey and the food is just not that good.

We also had lunch at Chownings. We all liked this meal the best. The turkey legs were great. Also the baked beans. My son loved his brownie. We took out from a counter and sat at tables with benches inside the building.

Martinan

Thanks travelgirl! My husband loves Turkey legs. We had them last at Disney in November. Can't wait to tell him. I'm reading that King's arms is a more formal place. Do you think that the other diners will be bothered if we take our younger children to this restaurant. Just don't want to ruin other people's colonial dining experience.

rb_travelerxATyahoo

The Shields Coffeehous isn't a bad stop for lunch .. they've sandwiches, salads, soups and a number of cookies, pie & other sweets. There is also covered outside dining behind the building -- all "pickup your tray and find your own seat" type dining, inside and out.

Each time I've gone into Shields, a "person from the past" came in and chatted with those dining, usually it was "an instructor from Norfolk, here to give private lessons", who also "loved to dance"

It was interesting reading about the significance of coffeehouses in both England and colonial America ... not a new phenomena after all, these "Starbucks" merchants.

Birdie

The menu looks a little more formal at Kings Arms and the candlelight will make it seem formal at first but you will soon realize that you are, indeed, in a colonial tavern. For one thing, almost everyone is a tourist so there will be a lot of children. The floors are wooden so you get a lot of noise anyway. Add to this the wandering musicians. I don't make it sound inviting but it really is an experience every visitor to Wmsbg should have. I prefer the Kings Arms only because I like the menu choices. I love the game pie. If you do go make sure to try the peanut soup. Unless you hate peanut butter you will find yourself pleasantly surprised.

Martinan

Thanks RB travel and Birdie. Will definitely try to do lunch at Shields. Just got our reservation at Kings arm for 7:30 seating. After previewing the menus, I was happy to see that they had a separate one for the kids. Birdie your description of the place actually makes me feel more comfortable about going there with the kids. Thanks everyone for your input. It truly made my planning much easier!

travelgirl2

There were lots of families with children at the Kings Arms. It was not that quiet of a place either, as Birdie described, so the kids did not have to be super-quiet like in a formal restaurant.

I hope you enjoy yourself. Williamsburg is so much fun. I was surprised at how much I like it.