10/10 - A Hidden Gem in Tappahannock My husband and I visited 1710 Tavern for our anniversary, though we didn't mention the occasion to the staff. The evening started off a little rocky, as several of the wines we selected were unavailable. However, any initial disappointment quickly disappeared thanks to the outstanding service, beautiful atmosphere, and attention to detail throughout the restaurant. From the elegant leather-bound drink menu to the stunning restoration of the historic tavern, every detail reflects quality and charm. The ambiance is warm, inviting, and perfectly suited for a special evening out. One thing worth noting is that the menu differs between the patio and indoor dining areas. After reviewing the options, we chose to dine inside and made a reservation that morning to ensure we could enjoy the indoor dining experience. The beautifully restored interior was well worth it and added to the overall charm and character of the evening. For dinner, I chose the Snakehead fish, while my husband enjoyed the Prime Rib. Both dishes were excellent. They were unfortunately out of the clam stew, so I opted for the She-Crab Soup instead--and I am so glad I did. It was absolutely amazing and one of the best I've ever had. To finish the evening, we shared the lemon cheesecake, which was simply incredible. The perfect ending to a wonderful meal. What a treasure in this quaint river town. As foodies who have enjoyed dining experiences across the United States and Europe, it takes a lot to truly surprise us, and 1710 Tavern did exactly that. Keep doing what you're doing--your dedication to hospitality, atmosphere, and exceptional food is creating memorable experiences and leaving guests both pleasantly surprised and thoroughly satisfied. We will absolutely be back. read more

An enjoyable Mother's Day brunch at the 1710 Tavern. The tavern is a restored Ordinary; adding to the wonderful historic dining experience. From the massive fireplace we dinned near, to historic wood floors and massive beams, table ware and more. The wait staff is helpful and friendly. The menu was varied with many delectable choices (cream of crab soup, fried oysters {yum,} shrimp dishes, soft shell crabs, fish options, ribs and beef options, chicken waffles, omelets, various salads and more. Nice portions and reasonable pricing. They have a nice bar menu too and outdoor patios for dining and handicap access to inside and outside. It is nice to have a fine dining restaurant near Montross and local towns. read more

This place is amazing. The ambiance and the waitstaff is impeccable. This was my first time visiting and they did not disappoint. First off, I love that the cocktail menus are bound leather. Swoon. We tried the special rockfish with lobster risotto, hush puppies and their other risotto. Everything was so delicious. I also got their drink Lavender 75. read more

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We sat outside perfect weather and set up Wait staff was attentive and knowledgeable Met the owner and she explained how they had done the renovations on the inside Delightful experience Food and cocktails fun and delicious read more

The service was great. Food portions have decreased significantly. Last order was the rockfish special. It was two rockfish "nuggets". Disappointing, as this has been the trend. Good food, good service. Overpriced for what you receive. read more

Holy moly I will be back! Kicking myself for taking so long to come check out this spot 30 minutes from Montross! Went for brunch around 11 on a Sunday and there was plenty of seating available. Started with mimosas and they had so many options to choose from, landed on a jalapeño one which was unique and refreshing. For starters we had fried oysters which were fried perfectly and served with a very spicy sauce! The she-crab soup was genuinely the best I have ever had in the northern neck. Would come back just for that alone. I ordered the special which was a salmon tartar served on avocado toast and it was amazing, I could have eaten another serving. To finish brunch we had espresso martinis and again.. the best one I've ever had. I thought the prices were fair and the service was great and everyone was friendly. Can't say enough good things and I can't wait to come back and try more things on the menu! read more

1710 Tavern - Brunch Special: Salmon Tartar - Wine Bars Near Me - Tappahannock, Virginia

Honestly? Better than the period theater of Colonial Williamsburg. Our waiter spoke to us with the southernly gentleman's cadence of Revolutionary times. With our treble-tined forks, candle lighting, and bowls of mutton, we felt like settlers meeting to gossip about the upcoming visit of General Washington to give the first commencement address at nearby St. Margrets. And to think we got all this in our humble little town. read more

1710 Tavern - 1710 omg - Wine Bars Near Me - Tappahannock, Virginia

The food, atmosphere, people are all amazing! We love going to 1719 for an upscale dining experience!

A charming and beautifully restored Ordinary. The tavern salad was unique with pickled onions and cucumber. I had the dozen shrimp appetizer with my salad and the shrimp were sweet and delicately bread accompanied with a perfect dipping sauce. My husband enjoyed slow cooked short ribs paired with delicious green beans and mashed potatoes. We were properly served by a lovely young woman and we found out her husband was the chef. Kudos to them both. We will definitely return! read more

, The service was excellent The waitress was very polite and very much a great server I would recommend that anybody that was looking for a great place to eat go to this restaurant and you will not be disappointed Great people great service can't ask for anything better read more

Thank you, Heather for a lovely service. Thank you, Greg for the history that makes this restaurant so rich. We decided on the main dining room. But I will go back for the patio! The food is scrumptious! Perfectly priced for the amount given. I highly recommend this experience in Tappahannock. Cannot wait to go back! read more

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First...if you like Williamsburg you will like this place....small tavern...wavy panes of glass...the smell of fires in the hearth...the view of the old Essex Inn across the street. Second...staff and manager were attentive and accommodating. Third....cocktail menu was creative with nice wine and good selection of beer. Fourth...the food was excellent. My she crab soup was lumpy ( in a good way) and the scallops and potatoes were tasty. Julie's rockfish over cheesy polenta with a lobster sauce was great. The coffee and warm chocolate bread pudding was well-received on a cold winter night. PS: Would have been nice to have an actual fire going...not just the smell of fires long-extinguished.... read more

I feel so blessed to have this establishment in my town because folks will travel upwards of an hour to dine at 1710. I have eaten there many times over the past year and have never been disappointed. Service is always exceptional. I'm not much of a cocktail drinker while dining out but as you watch the inspired libations go past you on trays, it's hard to resist and not indulge. A seat at the bar provides a show worth watching as quite literally the best bartenders in the area put their heads down and go to work while also attending to the culinary needs of diners seated there. There is a traditional offering of three courses on the menu and I enjoy trying different combinations each time I visit. The Caesar salad is the best I've had in years. She crab soup and gazpacho are both phenomenal. I am not a fan of fried food, but the hush puppies; offered both with crab and without are also - the best I've ever had. I can't say I even liked hush puppies before having these. My husband gets the fried oysters every single time we go. The meat and fish dishes are exceptional and start with a very high quality protein when accompanied by the skills of the chef will quite literally knock your socks off. Roast chicken with mashed potatoes, Rockfish with lobster risotto, lamb lollipops, scallops, a killer (and enormous) seared sushi quality tuna, tuna tartar, and the perfect filet mignon have all been something to celebrate. While the meat and fish dishes are incredibly well done, on our first visit to the Tavern, my husband had the mushroom risotto as his entree which was so impressive it caused him to hug the server who recommended he order it. Vegetarians fear not, it's a staple on the menu. I often skip dessert but I do not do so when I eat at the Tavern. Get. The. Dessert! The pastry chef on staff is always coming up with brilliant options that are constantly changing and amazing Tavern guests. Crème Brûlée is seemingly always available in traditional presentation but at times they change it up to something really unique like a chocolate creme brûlée. Most recently they offered a banana pudding crème brûlée which was a perfect way to showcase the traditional southern dessert with an upscale flair. The menu is cognizant of gluten free diners regularly and while I'm not GF, we recently enjoyed their flourless orange torte for dessert as a table. We had asked for a box to take that home but ended up not leaving a morsel on the plate. The owners are always present. They assist staff and engage guests. Pride of ownership is apparent and justified. They appreciate and enhance the building's historical significance and story and highlight it in online posts for fans like me to read each Tuesday via their Facebook account. As the name indicates, 1710 is the year this building was established and its character is unparalleled. There are two beautiful and working fireplaces dating back hundreds of years and they love to keep them going when appropriate. There are sections of the walls that are exposed and protected by plexiglass so diners can enjoy a look back at the place in time when the Tavern was built. The renovation was a labor of love that has surely revealed itself to be a well deserved success story. Items on the menu like the cherry bounce, one of my newest and most favorite drinks dates back to the George Washington era and is made in that same tried and true method of old; by steeping cherries in mason jars with sugary, liquory goodness and utilizing them in several celebrated cocktails on the menu. If you're an out-of-towner, you're in luck because the proprietors of the Tavern first established themselves in Tappahannock by acquiring the Essex Inn, a historic building which is a popular bed & breakfast just across the street. Wine dinners and other special events are not to be missed and never disappoint. Make a reservation and make a visit to the Tavern a priority soon and you will definitely want to make it your special occasion destination for years to come. We are lucky enough to enjoy it as our favored local eatery. Be jealous! read more

A group of 6 of us drove from Richmond to try this new restaurant and we were all impressed with the venue, food and service. The drive was peaceful and easy since it was mostly back roads. The building from 1710 has been beautifully restored and much has been preserved. It's a small venue so I recommend reservations. The outside area looks lovely for warmer days. The owners were delightful and came around chatting with everyone. All of our food was amazing. The bar area is nice but I was surprised it's listed as a bar on the Yelp website. The highlight is definitely their food. The drinks are good but the food is the star. Worth the drive! read more

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My date had been here before and nothing but great things to say about the food. Needless to say I was not disappointed. The restaurant has two dining areas, one for fine dining and the other with a more casual patio atmosphere. We dined indoors where the room has the look and feel of an old tavern like those in Williamsburg, wam and inviting. We started with a crab and bacon rarebit which hit the spot. I had ordered the rockfish which sat atop a lobster risotto. Absolutely delicious. She had ordered the imperial flounder topped with a generous helping of crab. She thoroughly enjoyed her entree. For dessert we shared the Old Fashioned carrot cake. It was made with caramel, ginger and maple buttercream. Not your run of the mill carrot cake. The staff were very friendly and attentive. In keeping with the season we even had a visit from the big elf himself. I will definitely return to try the pan seared scallops or Pekin duck breast and foie gras. read more

Great food,especially the Asian nachos! We tried an interesting bourbon. Great service for a meal at the bar.

Best fine dining in Tappahannock! The atmosphere is authentic and the food is delicious.

Finally, a real fine dining restaurant in this area! This was our first visit and met the owner and heard the great story and history of the building. Look forward to coming again. read more

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Finally able to come after following on social media for some time and experience exceeded expectations! Great food: lamb lollipops, oyster stew, rockfish, and surf and turf. Amazing service from Dana and sweet ambiance. Wonderful date night. Our new favorite in the northern neck! read more

1710 Tavern - Lamb lollipops + Cosmo - Wine Bars Near Me - Tappahannock, Virginia

Absolute perfect fine dining and immaculate food. The portions are large. The verde on the lamb was outstanding. The lobster risotto to die for. No notes. read more

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Only became aware of 1710 Tavern after a stay at an AirBNB stay at The Essex Inn literally across the street. Mid-to-Upscale venue, Bar and Patio seating and menu, as well as a main dining area with premium entrees. Food and service were both fantastic! Place was at full capacity on a Friday night. If you haven't visited, I highly recommend. Historic downtown Tappahannock read more

went to 1710 for the second time......looking for to the best oyster stew ever and was sorely disappointed. it was served with 0 oysters so it went back to the kitchen and came back with 1 whole and one half an oyster in lukewarm milk with no flavor. The main reason I went was for the stew that was so amazing the first time. Drinks, other food and service was wonderful. However I suggest that if an offering is under par it should be off the menu for that evening!! read more

I have been to 1710 Tavern twice now and the food is amazing. Best she crab soup I have ever tasted. The crab cake appetizer is impeccable. The staff are top-notch and the ambiance of the historic tavern is exceptional. Highly recommend! read more

We think the 1710 Tavern is the best fine dining option in and around Essex County. The food is consistently amazing and the service and ambiance are lovely. Both the bar and main dining room offer great options and it's our favorite spot for both a special and casual meal. Greg and Jennifer are wonderful proprietors and hosts and 1710 Tavern is a great addition to Tappahannock. read more

What a beautiful restored building in downtown Tappahannock. My husband and I decided to go for brunch today on the patio sitting under the large pecan tree nice, breezy and quiet . What a wonderful experience, food and service were outstanding . Nice to have such a gem so close to home. Can't wait to try dinner and dessert menu! read more

We stopped here for Sunday brunch. The owner stopped by to tell us about the building and its restoration. The menu had brunch and lunch options. I had the breakfast burger with home fries. The burger was a delicious mix of beef and sausage with cheddar, bacon and a fried egg, cooked perfectly. The home fry potatoes were well seasoned and cooked with chunks of peppers and onions that were not mushy. The slight crunch of the peppers and onions really elevated the potatoes. Then I ate some of my husband's pancakes with blueberry compote-yum! Everything was so good. Our waiter was friendly and checked on us several times. Thank you for a great meal! read more

Went on a weekday evening for a casual dinner with a friend. Quaint tavern atmosphere, attentive wait staff, generous food portions.

Everything is in the details! This restored historic ordinary is lovely and not a detail was missed. It was a modern experience set in a time capsule of sorts. The staff was helpful and polite balancing their attentiveness with enough space for patrons to be able to converse among themselves. The drinks were festive and the food was amazing. I was a little sad that I was too full for dessert. But I will definitely be back! read more