King’s Arms Tavern

Come for the experience, not for the food, other than the bread pudding, that was the one culinary highlight. Our server was dressed in period attire and provided a wonderful history of the table settings, food offerings and tavern life in the 18^th century. It’s reasonably pricey for the food quality, but as it’s more like a dinner and experience, the value was on point. You must visit a tavern, even if not this one, while in Williamsburg.

My parents love Colonial Williamsburg. We came here with them. I was optimistic about the food at this restaurant. The service at the restaurant was good and I liked dining by candle light. The food was not good. The vegetables were mushy. The half Cornish game hen was dry and not tasty. The bread was okay, but I couldn’t say anything more than that. The best part of the dinner was the pecan pie. It was very delicious. My wife and I paid $ 100 for the two of us with no alcohol. I would have expected a much better meal at this cost. They should stay true to the colonial period and adjust their prices accordingly.

An instant favorite! I recommend the Punch Royal and Mint Julep. They hit the spot.
Lovely décor. The atmosphere is inviting and cozy. The portions are just right, not too much and not too small. The right stuff on a rainy day in Williamsburg. I’d probably eat here every day if I were staying longer. I’d definitely drink here every day if I were staying longer.

Yes, we decided to dine at the King’s Arms Tavern and we weren’t disappointed. It was a wonderful way to step back in time and prepare ourselves for our stay in Williamsburg. Our waitress Amira (sp?) was lovely. She was very attentive, informative and just a sweetheart. She was delightful and made our dining experience special (even though I’m sure she must say the same things to everyone). The guitar music was also very neat. Clearly I don’t need to say much about the ambiance. That’s one of the main reasons one would dine here and not necessarily for the food. Having said that now, the food was very good but pricey. I had the Prime Rib and my husband had the Game Pie. I also had the Romaine salad, which is a Caesar’s Salad. That needed a bit more cheese but it was fine. Both entrees were very tasty, Was it the BEST prime rib ever? No but it was very good. I knew going in that King’s Arms Tavern would be expensive and so should you. If you’re going for the experience, then I think you’ll enjoy this restaurant and you’re hoping for good food, you’ll be pleased.

The Four stars is for the experience and the Bread Pudding. The remainder of the food is more 3 stars. Eating by candlelight in a 1775 house is cool; the period costumes and the live entertainment really made for a great night. If you are just looking for fabulous food, maybe go elsewhere. If you are looking for an awesome colonial experience, this is a great choice!

What a wonderful experience in Historical Williamsburg. You have to look for this place since there really is no indication that this is a restaraunt and not a building to go through as part of your walking tour. It’s literally like walking back in time, and eating in a tavern or in a boarding house. We had their fried chicken dinner… comfort food after walking around. Glad that we made the decision to find one of the taverns in the historic district instead of eating in the ‘modern’ part of Williamsburg.

We are on vacation in Williamsburg and this is where we ate dinner, our first experience of the stay. We had eaten here 16 years ago so it was fun to revisit.
We loved our meal here, both the service and the food. Plus, the seating was extremely comfortable. We walked up and there was quite a line waiting for a table. We checked in and told them that we had a reservation. They asked us to wait inside and our name was called immediately. So I would urge you to make a reservation which you can easily do on Open Table.
We were served tangy and vinegary relishes to start. I loved them all but the watermelon was the best. I had never had pickled watermelon before. We also were served delicious bread, yum!
For my entrée I had the pork chop which was fabulous. I even ate all my vegetables. That’s unusual for me. I had a berry shrub with it, we loved them so much 16 years ago that we own a set of Shrub glasses, indigo blue. Now they are clear glass, so glad we have the blue ones!
For dessert I selected the pecan pie which was magnificent. I paired it with coffee and we got to hear a musician play a small guitar. (Maybe a different instrument?) It was super fun to hear him and the representative of the owner of the house. What a lovely meal.
What made it even more special was that it was Easter, what a great holiday!

This was by far our best meal in Williamsburg! We stopped for lunch on a Saturday afternoon, and managed to get a table immediately. The atmosphere was unique, the service was beyond excellent, and the food was delicious. My boyfriend got A Made Dish of Beef, which he wolfed down. I tried a bite of it, and it was the tenderest beef I’ve ever had. He also tried Dear Olde Mum, one of the local beers, and enjoyed it enough that he bought some to bring home. We likely wouldn’t be able to go for dinner considering the hefty price tag, but we’ll be back for lunch!

Where else can you dine like they did in the 18^th century? One of the BEST restaurants on site. At dinner we dined by candlelight, wore our yard napkins around our necks, and listened to music and sang and played songs from Colonial times. Dinner is served with warm Sally Lund Bread! You also get a sampling of corn relish, pickled watermelon rinds, and ham salad! These are all soooo good! For appetizers the romaine salad is good but the Peanut soup is to die for. They are served with snippets (thick toast sticks) for dipping. The prime rib is moist and cut thick! The horseradish is FRESH grated! Atmosphere and staff are so friendly and in costume/​role. We come here every year for 11 years for my pre birthday celebration!

Eating at the King’s Arm Tavern was an excellent experience.
We started with the peanut soup and the potted cheddar, both of which were very tasty. The waiter also brought us some awesome bread and a trio of preserved colonial-​style «sides» (corn, watermelon rind, and chopped ham) which were incredible.
Then, I had the Game Hunter’s Pye (which contains venison, duck, and rabbit) with a mug of the Old Stitch (a colonial-​style beer that complimented pye very well). Both were excellent. I have been craving them since I left.
My GF had the beef tenderloins, which she really enjoyed, along with some root beer that was on tap. (Her meal also came with a potato cake of some kind, that was just okay).
Our waiter was super helpful and super knowledgeable. There was also a minstrel-​type guy playing a guitar. The décor felt very rustic and cool.

While visiting family, they took us here for dinner Friday night. It was a hit! From the cocktails, salads and entrées, and not to mention the violinist playing throughout the restaurant. Real candles burned at every table making this restaurant beautiful and romantic. Our server, Leon, was beyond passionate, professional and extremely friendly and helpful with answering all questions. LEON DID NOT MISS A BEAT. HE WAS FABULOUS and so was the entire staff. Our salads were fresh and full of flavor. All of our entrées were spectacular full of color, fresh and extremely tasty. Not to mention the dessert bread pudding and Fresh Berry Crumble was outstanding. See my pictures. We cannot wait to come back. Thank you do much it was a grand night.

My spouse and I ate dinner here last night. The menu is a mix of old-​style dishes with some modern stuff. Hubby got grilled salmon over rice pilaf, and he said it was good. I went for the meat pye with a glass of cabernet franc.
Be advised when you eat colonial food: they didn’t season things as heavily as we do now. Salt and sugar are on the table, so if you like salty food you will have to help yourself.
It’s a fun balance to get a taste of history while still having modern options. Our server was very attentive, and the food came out pretty quick. Overall we had a great meal. Watch out for those napkins, though.

We had a very pleasant lunch (no reservations — and luckily we walked right in) with delicious (albeit touristy) food and wonderful service.
This is a total tourist trap — but we were hungry and did not feel like leaving the Colonial Wmsburg area that day. El kiddo LOVED the fried chicken and mac ‘n cheese. A big platter of 2 thighs and a small leg for $ 15.
Pricey, yes.
Touristy, yes.
Worth it? Surprisingly, yes.

With the number of good reviews of that this place had between Unilocal and Foursquare it founds its way on to my must try list.
We where traveling through the area to head to Yorktown Battlefield saving the Colonial Williamsburg Experience for another trip and figured we would make a stop in for lunch. My wife had been raving about the Peanut Soup from her last visit a number of years ago.
I was pleased to discover they have a designated parking lot, only a block from the Tavern which made for easy park which was unexpected in Colonial Williamsburg. The walk to the restaurant was pleasant and upon arrival as expected in a tourist destination like Williamsburg we where told there would be a 20 minute wait. I would like to say we relaxed in the downstairs area while waiting for our table but there wasn’t enough seats to accommodate everyone who was waiting for a table. Instead of dwelling on having to stand around waiting I checked out the menu. I immediately thought the food better be amazing and the serving sizes better be huge!
To my surprise we where sitting down at a table in less then 10 minutes, and our server immediately took our orders. Sadly it was about 20 minutes before we would ever see her again! Not even a glass of water, some bread or my $ 9.00 beer! We sat down for Lunch at 1305 and I didn’t have food or drink in front of me until 1340! Thirty-​Five minutes is completely un-​exceptable in the world of food service, especially at the prices this place charges during lunch.
My wife got the Peanut Soup and we both got the «famous» chicken pot pie, our daughter got the kids cheese burger meal. The peanut soup tasted like a cup of Jiffy that had been put it the microwave and mixed with water. My wife said it was great so apparently I just don’t know what peanut soup is supposed to taste like, apparently there peanut soup is the best around. It makes me want to open a restaurant and buy a bunch of 40 oz jars of peanut butter for $ 5.00 each and then add some water and charge $ 6.99 for a cup, not even a bowl of liquid peanut butter.
I was hopeful that the Famous Pot Pies ($ 15.99) each would be better, which of course they where not. Granted I’m also not a good judge of chicken pot pies, as I don’t like chicken that much, but I do know what puff pastry is supposed to taste like and this wasn’t it.
Like the peanut soup the price to taste quality just left me unhappy with my food.
What I did discover is that I should have ordered the $ 7.00 Cheese Burger from the kids menu. The portion was larger than my Pot Pie and tasted significantly better, it was actually nearly perfect, I only had two complaints. First it was my daughters and not mine. Second the Pickle, if your going to be a themed colonial times restaurant give me a quality pickle. I don’t want some little spear you got from a $ 2.00 jar of pickles, I want a big honking pickle pulled from a giant barrel out back!
The only real saving grace to the Kings Arm was the extremely weak attempt at being a themed restaurant. That feature and the private parking area took them from a 1 star to a 2 star in my book. I certainly won’t be making a trip back there, and I am 100% confident I can replicate the Peanut Soup in my kitchen at home for my wife, so we won’t need to return for her either.
What I will say is that, there is a lot of great looking pictures of meals from this place on this site and FourSquare but nothing I was served look anything like it. Im convinced that all these pictures must be from dinner service and not the lunch menu.
With a end of meal $ 60 bill for lunch, I expected much much more than what we got.

This place was great! It is one of the most expensive places in Colonial Williamsburg, so you should be prepared when you go. However, the servers as well as the actors dress in period garb and are fully willing to interact with you and discuss the history of the building in particular and the colonies in general. In addition, I thought the service was rather polite and efficient.
The food is quite authentic and, overall, pretty delicious. I do remember the complimentary sampler of pickled fruit being kind of weird. Apparently the colonists used to pickle watermelon rhine and eat it? Very bizarre. Our entrees were delicious though; in some ways better than much of the overly processed food we eat now. Overall, a great experience that I recommend everyone try at least once!

The setting is fantastic and the live period music is a nice touch. I had high expectations for the dining as I heard good things. Overall the dining experience fell short of what I had hoped for.
I had the duck, it was overcooked and pretty dry. It was served with summer squash that was cooked well and served still brightly colored and had a snap when eaten. The mashed potatoes were good, but nothing special.
My wife had the fillet of beef. Quality was good, but the two medallions were so small they looked like beef tips. Not what a $ 32 plate would predict.
My oldest son had the game pie, it was good although not balanced with cuts and had more duck than rabbit or venison.
The child’s prime rib was perhaps the best meal we had ordered.
Overall not bad, but not what I would expect from a place that touts itself as fine dining.

Went for lunch for two around noon. No reservations needed for lunch but highly recommended for dinner. The menu was limited and pricey but it had great colonial period descriptions and styled food. Service was friendly. Located right in the middle of colonial Williamsburg.
The peanut soup is a must. Tasted like peanut butter. The pepper steak soup was hearty and delicious. Not spicy. Could have easily been a full meal.
Skip the potted cheese. Mild cheddar cheese — nothing special and a vat of pub cheese. Impossible to finish unless you have at least 4 people.
The bread pudding dessert was served warm with a sauce and was to die for. The ice cream over baked meringue with strawberries was good. The bread pudding was much better. Could easily share any deasert with 2 to 3 people.
Overall a charming meal in a unique destination.

We had call ahead seating for dinner. It is one of the more expensive taverns but I would say it was so so worth it! I’ve heard lunch is a bit cheaper but harder to get in. We had the best time at this tavern! The food was amazing! The violinist was delightful! And the service was impeccable!
We had the peanut soup, hunters game pye, prime rib, with creamed spinach, and the bread pudding for to end. Everything was really good.

Oh! How delightful and period atmosphere this place is.
I was just walking by when the doors opened and out came two ladies. One with a big heavy pedestal. The other with the menu of the day to be posted for public scrutiny.
I asked if a reservation was needed and the first lady told me“Madam, for lunch, first come, first served.” So I was the first person in at 11:30AM.
I was escorted by the 2^nd lady into a room. I placed the napkin around my neck.
Shortly after that came my waiter. I believe his name is James. He scared the wits out of me. He looked and spoke as one of those characters out of a Dickens story.
For libations? I sort of hesitated and he started to recite the different alternatives and I caught Hot Apple Cider! That is what I want. Do you want it spiked? No, I said.
Next, Peanut Soupe. I don’t like peanut butter, and was afraid it would taste like it. Not at all. A velvety consistency and a hint of peanuts in a watery broth. Delicious!!! A must!
The Salmon BLT, was very good.
As I was savoring the cider this lady came in and started addressing the clients. She said her name is Christiana Campbell and owns a tavern where George Washington prefers to go and dine and rest in private.
It was very informative and fun. I’ll go back!

Even though this place is more expensive than most places I would eat at back home — it was worth the wait and the price.
If you want to eat here, either try to sneak in at lunch (there will be a long wait) or call ahead and make reservations for dinner. We made reservations for dinner for right when it opened and there was even a line to get in!
The ambience of the restaurant was amazing. It was very dark and there was only candle light in the dining areas. The waiters acted very proper and instructed the proper way to wear your napkin/​small table cloth around your neck to prevent food from falling on your clothes.
We also got a few little complimentary items to eat including bread, cream spinach, and some pickled items to eat with the main course. Make sure to try the peanut soup at least once — it is an experience! Mom and the sister got the main course (which came with dessert) so we opted to split the two desserts three ways.