Colonial Pancake House

We found this place by accident and it turned out to be such an awesome restaurant! It's not at all…read morepretentious and we loved it for many reasons. Our server Cherice was delightful. She made recommendations and was so attentive and funny. Hubby was between 3 different meals but went with the Hanger steak special. It came with a potato knish, perfectly cooked asparagus, in a burblanque sauce. He said it was one of the best meals he ever had and it was cooked medium rare as he requested. He also had a perfect manhattan. I wasn't super hungry, so I went for the salmon poor boy. It was crunchy and delicious and the sauce was perfect. I had a Saint Germain spritzer which was light and refreshing. We couldn't leave without ordering beignets. They came with a chocolate and a vanilla sauces. Hubby got a coffee that came in a fun cup. The decor in the restaurant was so fun and made people feel welcome.

I had high expectations for this restaurant given my positive experiences with others in Colonial…read moreWilliamsburg (to include Fat Canary). Starting with the service, the staff were attentive and welcoming. Unfortunately, the food was underwhelming. While portion sizes were reasonable, several dishes lacked the creativity and seasoning needed to stand out. The mussels and French onion soup were highlights, but the escargot and rotisserie chicken were only average. For dessert, the Gateau Breton is fantastic and a standout! However, I would skip the beignets if you are expecting the traditional version. These are smaller with the consistency of a donut hole, and lack the light, pillowy texture typically associated with classic beignets.

Ladies restroom

Baguette basket

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Food For Thought

4.5(3.6k reviews)

2.4 mi

I always have a great time at Food For Thought. Whenever we visit, it's usually with a big family…read moregroup, and this time we had eleven people. The staff is consistently gracious and accommodating, which really sets them apart from other restaurants that seem to dread large parties. Even on a busy Friday night, we were seated in under thirty minutes. Our waiter was friendly, attentive, and handled multiple tables with ease. He stayed on top of our orders and refills, and he took allergies seriously, checking with the kitchen to make sure certain dishes were safe. That level of care is always appreciated. As always, the food was excellent. I usually go for the crabcakes, but this time I tried the special, a crowned salmon, and it was so tasty. They truly do seafood well here, and the portions are always hearty. Every experience here is consistently great. The atmosphere is welcoming, and the manager even stopped by our table to check in, which was a nice touch. I always recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting Williamsburg.

I was impressed with FFT overall. Liked the theme of thought provoking sayings…read more Really enjoyed the drinks my wife and I had (Old Fashioned and a Margarita). Bread bowl was fresh and tasty. (cornbread and sweetroll). My baby back ribs were fall of the bone delicious. My wife enjoyed the chicken dish as well. It was busy and bit close seating. Waitress was attentive and friendly/helpful.

Cilantro Cilantro Lime Chicken

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The front door

Amber Ox Public House

4.4(1.4k reviews)

1.1 mi

Locally owned & operated

Outdoor seating

Went here tonight for dinner and was really impressed with our meals. We started with the…read morestrawberry gazpacho, which my wife loved. I didn't try it. For entrees, we had the bone-in pork and the cavatelli, and both were excellent. The pork was probably one of the top five I've ever had -- cooked perfectly, with a great sauce on top and really good grits. My wife had a gin, egg white, raspberry, and prosecco drink. It tasted mostly like prosecco, so we weren't quite as impressed with the cocktail as we thought we'd be. One little tiff: there was no one sitting on the outside patio, so we asked if we could have the shaded table. They said no because of the staffing setup. About halfway through our meal, one couple came and sat at the larger table we weren't allowed to use, then decided they didn't want to sit there and went inside. Not really sure what the big deal was with that table versus the one next to it where we were seated on an otherwise empty patio. But all in all, it was a great meal and we would definitely go again!

We stopped in here for brunch while passing through Williamsburg. There is parking out front and…read morearound. We sat outside - it was a large high top and was covered with large fans. They brought out a water bowl for our dog. The food was excellent - would recommend the biscuit board as an appetizer. They also had a fun specialty latte that was amazing. We were celebrating a birthday and they thoughtfully brought our glasses of champagne, which was quite nice.

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DoG Street Pub

3.4(902 reviews)

We were excited to make our way out to the DoG Street Pub in Merchants Square this past Saturday…read morefor dinner and drinks. We found the atmosphere of this gastropub, once an 80-year old bank, to be very relaxed and fun dining experience. It was busy and the noise level was loud, but that was expected as there were several larger groups of all ages. Service was good. We were seated at a nice table. The nitro stout on tap was enjoyed by a few in our party. The "chips" aka fries that came with our burgers were exceptional. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked the Impossible Burger which was larger than expected. My husband enjoyed the Fish and Chips which was also a generous sized plate. The Duke of Gloucester Street Pub offers a nice dining experience while you're in Williamsburg's Merchant Square.

It is a pub style restaurant with really great outdoor seating we sat inside because it was so hot…read more My friend and I split the Turkey BLT wrap and Wedge salad. Both were fresh and delicious. It was the perfect amount to share. The service was very quick. The meal was there shortly after we ordered.

Full bar

Corned Beef Brisket

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Cider

The Hound's Tale

4.2(549 reviews)

3.3 mi

Fun ambiance, great service, delicious food! Highly…read morerecommend this unique restaurant! We have a good time here each time we dine here! Very pleasant and attentive service. Food is excellent! Something for everyone. Our favorite appetizer is the large warm and tender pretzel straight from the oven! Carolyn P.

A group of 10 of us went for lunch this week, and everyone enjoyed their meals. Andrew was an…read moreexcellent server. When asked about preparation and ingredients in regards to food allergies, he always went to ask the chef. Our group ordered the fish and chips, burger, Count of Monte Cristo sandwich, chicken salad (which came in a tortilla bowl), and the Reuben sandwich. It was a quiet lunch as we were enjoying our meals. They also were awesome in providing separate checks for everyone. A fun feature: dog bowls filled with popcorn were brought to the table to enjoy while our food was being prepared! This is a new location for the Hound's Tale. It's quite large and it has a separate bar area. Parking is free and plentiful in front.

Interior

Gratuitous popcorn served in dog bowl

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Espresso martini

The Bake Shop

3.8(104 reviews)

1.1 mi

Very friendly staff and the cupcakes are very tasty. The owner met us at the door and apologized to…read moreus for the A/C because no one the fritz.

So good. Get anything with the black salt garlic bagel . Love bake shop. Huge bagels and sammys.read more

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If you go on a weekend; be ready to wait in line.

Emily's Donuts & Cafe

4.4(331 reviews)

•$

I can't think of any way to improve this place. Regular items include a wide assortment of yeast…read moreand cake donuts -- filled, coated, and sprinkled with wonderful flavors. Then there are the seasonal specials -- creative, adorable images and flavor combinations beyond anything I've found elsewhere. Their apple fritters are huge, tender, and overflowing with apple chunks. I've had a good experience with their online ordering, always finding my order accurate and ready on time. As if delectable, creative doughnuts weren't enough of a draw, Emily's Donuts & Cafe adds on friendly personnel and an upbeat environment. I'm getting hungry just typing about it.

If you love doughnuts, Emily's is the spot! With a small parking lot out front, walk into shelves…read moreof all kinds of doughnuts from fancy to standard. For a little over $3, I got the chocolate topped doughnut. It was tasty!

Salted Carmel, pistachio, and mocha

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Peanut butter

Berrets Seafood Restaurant and Taphouse Grill

3.9(886 reviews)

Wonderful southern style cooking with traditional seafood . Parking is an issue. May have to wait.read more

Looking for an outdoor patio with amazing food? This is your spot! I would recommend the Dining…read moreRoom for a romantic date night. The patio for a girls night, or guys night out. Driving through Williamsburg for my first time and could not be happier that this caught my eye. Service was impeccable and I quickly figured out why... Ask for the GM, Nate. He lives and breaths hospitality. I will always support someone that is trying to take an amazing Restaurant to another level! Need a recommendation?, Ask Matt behind the bar. He's a local that will never give bad advice! Hot Oyster sampler was an amazing ice breaker. Barrimundi is his "go-to", however, if he recommended the "Special of the Night" to you, I would order it in a second. Overall, atmosphere was perfect, staff was friendly and had the best experience. My vote for Best Restaurant Williamsburg.

Seating area

Fried Green tomatoes

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Berret's Oyster Stout

Fat Canary

4.5(568 reviews)

•$$$

This was a highlight of our Williamsburg trip!…read more I made a reservation about a month out and I'm glad I did. It was so busy when we showed up. They asked us if we wanted to wait for a few minutes at the bar while they prepared our table so we ordered a couple of drinks. As soon as we ordered they came to get us. No big deal, we just paid and took our drinks with us. We were sat toward the front of the restaurant, which gave us the perfect people-watching position. Our server stopped by to greet us and said she'd be back. Waters and bread were delivered and she oriented us to the menu. We made our selections of salmon for my husband and short ribs with a side of squash. Everything was delicious. We were happy with our selections and so full when we left. I appreciate that the short ribs are boneless and tender and had the perfect seasoning. I'd eat that dish again anytime!

Our first time at the Fat Canary restaurant in Williamsburg, VA. I had the halibut special, served…read moreover shrimp and risotto. My wife had the scallops over risotto. Everything was incredibly delicious. The entire restaurant is spacious, clean, and beautifully maintained. The staff was very helpful and took the time to explain the menu. We also had espresso martinis--the non-creamy version--which were excellent as well. We will certainly be back for another visit within the month.

Little bits of goodness, mozzarella with ham n amazing sauces.

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The Cheese Shop

4.0(869 reviews)

I admire this cheese shop in Merchant Square. It's definitely a place you'll want to check out when…read morevisiting Colonial Williamsburg. The first level is the market, filled with an abundance of craft beers, drinks, cheeses, breads, sandwiches, deli items, ingredients, and more. The lower level is the tasting room, and there's also outdoor seating available, although it can feel a bit tight. We didn't get a chance to try anything since it was close to closing time, but I can definitely see this place getting super busy on the weekends.

The Cheese Shop was highly recommended, and I can see why. It was a little confusing, but once we…read morefigured out the process, it was a short wait till we were enjoying our lunch. We ordered the Italian, turkey, and daily special from the counter. They use high-quality meats and breads. I really enjoyed my sandwich, which had a lot of prosciutto in it. I chose chips and a Colonial Williamsburg iced tea to go with my lunch, and they were good as well. It was a hot summer day, so this was the perfect spot to take a break and have lunch.

Port section

This photo is from my sandwich in 2020--which was delightful. I was so disappointed in my sandwich in 2024 I didn't even take a picture.

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Jonah G.

3 years ago

Absolutely divine breakfast experience! The pancakes were a delightful blend of fluffy and flavorful - truly the best I've ever had. The breakfast sandwich was a perfect harmony of freshness and taste, leaving me craving for more. The bacon was cooked to perfection, adding that extra touch of deliciousness to the meal. Ordering 'The Colonial Breakfast' was a brilliant choice; it encapsulated the essence of a satisfying, hearty breakfast. This place is a gem for pancake enthusiasts and breakfast lovers alike. Five stars without a doubt! read more

Nona L.

2 years ago

Craving some irresistible down-home cooking? Look no further! This is the place to be! I find myself here every weekend because they consistently deliver on deliciousness and quick service. The atmosphere is so welcoming, it feels like a second home! Parking is always a breeze, the bathrooms are spotless, and the friendly servers -- including the amazing hostess -- make every visit a joy. And let's not forget the unbeatable prices! You won't want to miss out on this gem! read more

Monica P.

110

5 years ago

The food is very good. I've been here for both breakfast and lunch and have never been disappointed. The staff is very friendly and welcoming. The service is quick and I've always had a great experience here. read more

Julia P.

4 years ago

Service was fast and good. Breakfast was great came out a couple minutes after order. The coffee was also good not common for most breakfast places imo! Loved the atmosphere all friendly staff. read more

Lisa M.

12 years ago

Came here for breakfast, not really sure what to expect since I read the reviews. However I was pleasantly surprised. Good coffee, good service and good food. I would eat here again. :) read more

Greg M.

5 years ago

Fantastic! Everything from the service to the food was perfect. Fried steak - delicious! Eggs cooked perfectly. When I am in town, I will ALWAYS go here for breakfast. read more

Paul A.

6 years ago

The mask nazi at the front door refused us service. There are plenty of other breakfast options in town to spend my breakfast money.

Marcia G.

7 years ago

First time visit and this place is AWESOME!!! Great prices, lots of food, extremely friendly staff. And the food taste great!

Lisa I.

11 years ago

Breakfast was fine, service was good. The place could definitely be a lot cleaner. Appears very worn.

Elizabeth R.

5 years ago

The blueberry pancakes were absolutely amazing and we could not get enough! So very wonderful

Daniel H.

10 years ago

The food was okay, but the service and atmosphere was really great.

Jessica O.

6 years ago

The BEST biscuits and gravy, HANDS DOWN! Awesome pancakes too!

Colonial Pancake House - breakfast_brunch - Updated September 2026

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Not Another Pancake House

4.1

(197 reviews)

This is by far the best pancake I ever had. They don't call Williamsburg the Pancake capital for no…read morereason. Me and my girlfriend visited Williamsburg for the first time together. Let me start off by saying the service and ambiance were amazing. It was like a 90s retro dinner theme and we got our food hot in less than 10 minutes. We both ordered the Cinna-Swirl Pancake and when I sya it melts in your mouth i mean it. it also has a nice soft fluffy interior and a slightly crunchy crust outside. I never had a pancake like this, but it was wonderful. We also got the steak and cheese with fries. For a pancake place it was suprisingly really good, im not gonna say it was the best i ever had but it was definitely filling and tasty as well.

We had a party of 7 we finally got seated! We waited 15 mins at the table not one worker came to…read moregreet us or even ask us if we wanted water or anything. At least 3 waitresses walked past and did not acknowledge us. We then asked a waitress who was overseeing our table and she said she would speak to front host which she did but we decided to just leave at that point! Me and my group of friends dine frequently in the area and have never experienced any kind of service like this. We will not be back. That's a real bold move with all the breakfast spots in Williamsburg!!

Southern Pancake and Waffle House

4.1

(866 reviews)

Food was great. Waiter was great. Service was awesome. Definitely would recommend and come back to…read morethis place again.

The quality of the sausage links were disappointing. Texture was mushy. Biscuits were actually…read morerolls.

Astronomical Pancake House

3.6

(544 reviews)

This is probably our favorite pancake place out of all of the ones we have tried so far. The…read moreservice is great and the ambiance is real diner type. It's great. The chocolate chip cakes were really delicious. Huge and filling just the right amount of chocolate. The chocolate insanity cakes are crazy. It's very sweet and ALOTTTT. It has ice cream chocolate syrup whipped cream and butter. It's a lot. Fun but a lot. The fruit is fresh and a solid variety which is kinda rare. The chunky monkey special was crazy. Chocolate bananas pecans sugar. It was great. We will definitely be coming back again.

Rebecca provided very good service, making sure my coffee cup was always full…read more Food pancake was ok. Fyi they put the adds on top i.e apple, nuts, fruit etc va in the batter. Eggs, were good, home fries very good but cold. Virginia ham was also good. Western Ommlette was dry but okay. Biscuit was very good We were immediately seated, wasn't very busy. Seating tables on the right and another area on the right, seperate.

Hohl

4.4

(57 reviews)

What a great coffee shop! Inside a white house, they have a full coffee menu, food, and pastries…read morebeautifully on display. In honor of the second day of Fall, I ordered the maple latte. It was delicious! Service was kind and efficient. There are two levels to the space, so you're bound to find a table during the week. They also have outdoor space when the weather is nice.

3.5 stars. This place is super cute inside but just has 4…read moretables. There are a few more on the patio outside. It seems like more of a to-go place? I snagged a table inside and had the chili garlic omelette which was delicious. It came with toast, but there was no butter on it or the table (?). It was okay if I put the eggs on it. I also ordered a chai latte which was clearly from a premixed box and much, much too sweet. Service was friendly.

Aromas Coffeehouse & Cafe

3.9

(672 reviews)

Met up with a friend and tried their drink of the week which was absolutely delicious! I wish I…read morecould remember the name but it had coconut milk and some cherry flavor and just great for a hot day! Also tried their maple pecan cookies and I was surprised how good they were! The brownie was a little too rich for my taste but I will just get more cookies next time! Service was good and it's a little tight in the space when it is busy, because it is a popular spot with the college students and those visiting Williamsburg, and hey even us locals!

Dinning Experience: 2/5 Coffee: 4/5…read moreFood: 3/5 Prior to eating at this location, we had died across the street and thought it'd be nice to give it a try based on the outward experience and the folks sitting out in front at the sidewalk tables. It looked to have a good vibe, but once we walked in, we realized it was a coffee shop that served food. You have to get in line grab a menu and place your order. Any coffee, water or juice juices are delivered on the right side of the bar and the food is delivered on the left side of the bar. And what I mean delivered that's where you have to go to pick it up. The food is served on Small paper plates so you will lose some of your food as you try to cut or move it.. I ordered the breakfast platter which was scrambled eggs, choice of meat, potatoes, and toaste. My partner had the cheese omelette with sourdough toast. There was nothing special or extraordinary about the food. With the small paper plates that they use food easily fell onto the table top. They don't offer water in a cup, but rather you can buy a bottle of water. If you didn't realize that after you ordered, you have to go back and get in line so that you purchase your water. (We assumed they had water/cups to use). We left felling unsatisfied.

Shorty’s Diner - Williamsburg

4.3

(1.1k reviews)

Shorty's is exactly what you want in a diner. No frills, no gimmicks, no attempt to make every dish…read moreinstagramable. The menu tells you exactly what you're getting and that's exactly what comes out and they execute it very well. Good portions, great prices, greater food. They didnt try and reinvent breakfast and I found that to be refreshing. We went around 12PM and there was a lunch rush but it moved fast. They also have one side of the building designated for take out. I really enjoyed my time here and loved that the waitress offered me a coffee to go as I paid the check.

I needed to update my review because this place continues to be so consistent on all fronts…read more The food ... Always tasty with generous portions. The staff ... They could not get any friendlier. The ambience ... Loud and energetic, which is what I look forward to in a diner experience. Keep doing what your doing, and I'll keep coming back!

The Smokey Griddle Pancake House

4.2

(376 reviews)

The usual pancake spots were full so we decided to try somewhere new and so glad we did. Very good…read morefood, pancakes were on point!!! I got the sampler so I could try a little of everything (meats). It was all good. The service was friendly and fast, as busy as it got they were still attentive to each table. Will be visiting again on a future trip to Williamsburg!

In town for a college tour, and am family logistics had us running late (didn't know if we'd have…read moretime for a sit down meal). Rolled in at 8:30. Super friendly greeting at the door and we were made to feel like guests. Service with a smile and a laugh. Got a table right away. Atmosphere: bright, cheerful, diner. Plenty of space. Jazz music in the background on this day. Food: excellent. We had Chorizo con Huevos. Hint of heat / spicy. Generous portions of fried potatoes, refried beans. Chorizo Breakfast Burrito, Breakfast Sandwich, and Breakfast Quesadillas. All of the dishes were excellent. Breakfast Quesadilla is unique and worth a try. We'll be back on future trips.

Capitol Pancake House

3.5

(307 reviews)

We were looking for a good breakfast place. The Williamsburg travel guide highly recommended the…read moreCapitol Pancake House. When we pulled into the parking lot it was full. That's a good sign that the food is good! We had chocolate chip pancakes, peanut butter and banana both of which were real hits with our teenager grandchildren. My wife had cheese blintzes which she loved. She ate the whole thing. She said they were wonderful. The best she has had. My daughter had Philly cheesesteak omelette with a side of grits, all was delicious. I had a Swiss cheese and ham omelette which was great with bacon on the side. The serve was good and the food was hot. We all recommend that you stop in for breakfast or lunch. This is local spot so you know it's good! Enjoy your food and enjoy your family. Be safe and stay healthy! All the best to you and your families.

The pancakes here were yummy!! I just ordered a side of pancakes with apple topping and a side of…read morebacon. With the 20% off punch card, I paid under $10. It was good! This is an older establishment. It shows its age. The pancakes were good, the bacon was mediocre. I didn't get the best pieces. They have gluten free options, so if you are looking for that they have plenty! I'll be back especially with that punch card! Don't get this one confused with the one down the road called Capitol Pancake House. Who knew Williamsburg was the pancake capital?!?!

Honey Butter's Kitchen -Candle Factory

3.8

(166 reviews)

So happy we stopped here, the food was so good, dare I say the best food we've had in the area. We…read moreenjoyed their lunch and breakfast options. Service was also great! I recommend the biscuits and gravy with the garlic potatoes and the fried apples. Both sides were excellent. The smoked turkey in the Club sandwich was really good.

This was my second visit to Honnybutter's for breakfast. The restaurant is in a strip mall near a…read moreFoodLion we frequent. We were immediately disipointed by being made to wait for an abnormal amout of time to be seated, while the hostess finished a personal conversation with another employee. As we walked to the table, we commented to ourselves how the carpet looked ready to be replaced, it looked stained and dirty. The waitress was nice and seemed to know the menu well, but her body language told us our questions about menu items were keeping her from something. When the food came out it was not very good, and over priced. This was our last time there.

Five Forks Cafe

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