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    Fat Canary

    4.5 (566 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Fat Canary Photos

    Business Info

    FAT CANARY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Fat Canary

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    Rockfish-awesome
    Elizabeth N.

    We went here for an early Valentine's dinner and it was superb. We had Keith as our waiter and he was just perfect. He was attentive but not overly so. He whisked away dirty dishes almost immediately after we were done. We wanted to share some dishes and he asked the kitchen and they had time and kindly split them for us. They were generous in serving and delicious in taste. We couldn't have asked for a better experience. Everything was excellent. I'm from New Orleans and the dishes we had tonight rivaled any big name restaurant I've eaten at in NO. Bravo chef. Service, food, ambiance. This has become our number 1 here in Williamsburg.

    Cocktails
    David O.

    Dinner out for Father's Day; We had reservations but arrived early and were able to be seated immediately. Hosts were very pleasant and accommodating, taking care of our dripping umbrellas for us. We started off with a Mocktail, "The Golden Hour" and a regular cocktail, "The Near West End" both of which were very enjoyable. We enjoy exploring different mixology when out at new places, and these were both a nice treat. Appetizers were Softshell Crab and Braised Rabbit with Mushroom ragout. Delicious! Dinner mains were the special of the day, Halibut, and Duck Breast. Meal was delicious throughout, and we both sampled each other's food. Deserts looked interesting, but we were too full by that point. Maybe next time! The ambiance was very nice, upscale and a little more formal without being pretentious or over the top. Comfortable yet classy. Our server, Melissa, was both kind and considerate, giving us all the time we needed and attentive without being overbearing. Price was, unfortunately, commensurate with higher-end dining. Pricy, but not unexpected, and the meal was worth it, in my opinion. Now I have ot go exerecise to work it off!

    Halibut special
    Cherie O.

    Melissa was our server tonight and she was so sweet to us, providing us time to think over our dinner choices. We started out with our cocktails which were a "Near end" for my husband; though it may have been named something else but it had gin, Rye and both sweet and dry vermouth. I had the Golden mocktail containing coconut milk, pineapple, etc. Appetizers were Rabbit for him and soft shell crab for me. Entrees were Duck for him and the Halibut special for me. Top tier ambiance with soft lighting and very comfortable seats. We were so happy with tonight's dinner.

    Halibut
    Diamond O.

    This restaurant is a hidden gem! It's tucked away in Colonial Williamsburg and is attached to the cheese shop. The service was phenomenal. The waiters were very friendly and attentive. The manager even came by our table to ask how we were doing. The food was great. The halibut was very flaky and flavorful. The linguine was perfectly cooked. The prices were surprisingly reasonable as well. It's a pretty small restaurant, but it is very quaint. I would definitely make a reservation ahead of time.

    Abigail R.

    This is my second time coming to the fat Canary, my first time was upstairs, and I had an absolutely phenomenal experience. Because I had such a wonderful time I wanted to take my partner to experience it. However, we were short on time, about an hour and a half, so we went downstairs to the wine bar for just a drink. We were quickly sat and our drinks came out promptly. Now, the drinks and the wine selection are amazing. Truly truly, I think the Fat Canary makes some of the best food in and around Williamsburg. However, from the time of asking for the check, it reviewing the check, it took about 40 minutes. During which other tables were sat, other patrons were tabbed out, and drinks were delivered. We eventually went to the bar to get our check because we were now late for our dinner reservation because we waited so long. Maybe it's because I do hold the Fat Canary to such a high standard because I know how good it is/can be, but I was disappointed! But I do recommend it, but I wouldn't plan anything to follow. Make sure you can take your time and savor your experience fully.

    Wagyu Beef Burger
    Anna K.

    Visited the Fat Canary Downstairs on a rainy day after my plans suddenly changed looking to eat great food with a great cocktail. It was one of those days where I really needed a win. I've heard the Downstairs is amazing and it definitely lives up to the hype. This experience made my day. Located in the wine shop below Merchant's Square, Fat Canary Downstairs offers a cocktail menu, a limited menu as well as the upstairs Fat Canary menu. I started off with a Gold Rush cocktail. It was refreshing and the Makers Mark still shone through. For my meal, I chose the Wagyu Beef Burger. They asked how I'd like it cooked and I said medium. To my delight, it came out a perfect medium. This isn't my experience with burgers at many places, so it was exciting. The burger was flavorful and juicy. The fries were also delicious. The way they were stacked made me laugh when my meal arrived. The plating, while simple, brought some whimsy to the table. My server was very nice and attentive. She checked in on the cocktail and food after each were served and then gave me my space to eat until I looked ready to leave. While it is a small space with few seats for diners, below the fancy Fat Canary, the atmosphere was cool and made me feel like I was in a place slightly out of time, away from the world. My experience wasn't loud or rushed. I had a great time and would definitely come back.

    Pan Seared Duck Breast
    Klara C.

    We were down in Williamsburg for a short trip and had a lot of people recommend Fat Canary. We weren't able to get a reservation but we tried to call right when they opened. The phone went straight to a busy dial tone. I called about 20 minutes later and someone indicated that they had a table around 7-7:30 downstairs as the main room was all booked up. We would have to come in to put down a name doe the reservation. Luckily we were close by and was able to place our name down for 7 pm. We arrived around 6:45 and kind of hung out in their wine shop until 7:15. They have two menus, their main and then the downstairs menu. My friend ordered a the Bee-Laverdier cocktail which she really enjoyed. For our appetizer, we ordered the Lobster and for our entrees, I ordered the Pan Seared Duck Breast and my friend ordered the Grilled Atlantic Salmon. The Lobster fettuccine dish was okay, the snap peas seemed a little out of place and so did the pistachios. It seemed like it was a really random put together dish and kind of more of a small pasta plate than an appetizer. While the duck and salmon were both cooked beautifully, I found my duck lacking in flavor and the cherry demi glaze seemed more of a jus at the bottom of my plate under the Farro. My friends salmon sat upon Fregula pasta but there was a lot of oil at the bottom of the dish. It also seemed a strange mix with the golden raisins and capers as well. I asked for a recommendation of a wine pairing with the duck and was suggested the Cabernet Sauvignon Quilt. I'm not sure if something had adjusted my palate beforehand but it seemed quite acidic. Overall, a little disappointed as we heard so many great reviews. Not sure if I'd come back to try any of their other items. A cute place with a great atmosphere and a cute wine market downstairs but the food was lacking in our opinion.

    Lemon Infused Vodka and a Bourbon salad...both very good.
    Kris S.

    We stopped in here for a quick libation while we waited for our reserved time at another Colonial Williamsburg restaurant. Although they were really busy, they made room for us to grab a drink and go out to their patio. I asked for Deep Eddy's and Melissa suggested their lemon infused vodka with a touch of simple syrup and my partner had a Bourbon concoction that he called "the most interesting drink he has ever had." A salad was left in the bottom of his glass when he was finished. Both were good and we appreciated how accommodating the staff were!

    Menu
    Amanda E.

    This is a classy place! Definitely need reservations well in advance! Service was PHENOMENAL! Mixed drinks were liquor up extremely well. Food was awesome, I got the salmon and husband got the beef tenderloins. All was cooked to perfection!! The atmosphere is romantic. Need to dress up coming here. We did get dessert it was awesome here. This is a pricey place so be ready to pay for it!! Husband got a 20 yr port wine with his dessert it was aged perfectly. Highly recommend coming here when you want to splurge!!!!!

    Cocktails at the bar.
    Chris R.

    Sit at the bar, talk to David or the other bartenders, watch them create delicious cocktails, eat fantastic food full of a variety of flavors. Watch the kitchen staff focus and prepare each plate. Others seated at tables appeared to enjoy themselves as well. Reservations a must. It's a $$$ meal if you have drinks. But it's all good.

    Halibut special ( best ever dish with corn,shrimp and chanterelles sitting over mashed potatoes)

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    2 months ago

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    3 months ago

    Excellent meal and terrific service! The experience was great and we look forward to returning.

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    2 years ago

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    9 months ago

    This was our first time and everything was amazing. Our waitress Melissa made several recommendations and everything was spot on

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    8 months ago

    Food, ambiance, service. Will come again for sure! Friendly staff great place!! Menu was perfect mix of choices!

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    4 years ago

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    10 months ago

    One of the beat meals I've ever had. Waiter was awesome. They were so nice. Highly recommend.

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    9 months ago

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    3 years ago

    Pricey, but still one of the best meals that we've had in Williamsburg. Service, food, and experience were all correct and well-timed.

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    Ask the Community - Fat Canary

    Will they do a simple pasta with butter for a child?

    Yes of course they would. They are very accommodating!

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    Le Yaca - Lemon mousse bomb

    Le Yaca

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    I came here during brunch and got their prefixed brunch 3 course ($50). This came with a drink ,…read morepastries, and the three course meal. For starters I got the French onion soup which came out in about 20 minutes. Soup was very solid and had more of a purée taste which was surprisingly good. The pasties especially the chocolate croissants were also delicious. After another 25 minutes the main dishes came out. I got the fillet which came with a peppercorn glaze (amazing!) and crispy potato pie. Fillet was cooked to correct medium rare temperature and tasted delicious! For desert, I got the cheesecake with raspberry! It was really rich and delicious! The raspberry puree provided a nice tart taste to go alongside the sweetness! Staff were very friendly and the service for this entire meal was about an hour thru. A very delicious place restaurant that I'd gladly come back to if I'm in the area! Food(50%): 8.8 Staff/service(25%): 8.5 Value(25%): 8.0 Overall: 8.5/10

    A special treat for the birthday girl, my wife. We made a reservation for two but turns out we…read moredidnt need it, we sat at the bar. Plenty of bar stools. Wife started with a Cosmo and an old fashion for me. Great drinks and nice pour as well. My wife had the lobster and I had the shrimp dish. Both were absolutely amazeballs. Finished with the Apple desert...sorry no pics. It was very delish! Thank You Chef. Service was absolutely top notch and several friendly helpful staff members..Thank You Le Yaca!

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    Le Yaca - Bar

    Bar

    Le Yaca - Caesar salad

    Caesar salad

    Le Yaca - Cocktail was ok but perfect for indecisive drinkers

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    Cocktail was ok but perfect for indecisive drinkers

    Oceans & Ale - Seafood Nachos

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    A group of four of us were excited to finally go to the new location of Oceans & Ale, and I'm sorry…read moreto say that we were disappointed. The fresh catch meal included a simple house salad, and it took 30 minutes for the salad to arrive. Shortly after the salad arrived, our meals came out, and they were lukewarm. I had the grilled mahi mahi with lemon dill butter over some roasted fingerling potatoes and corn. While the fish itself was a nice piece and well prepared, its not-quite-warm temperature made it less appetizing to eat. The same was true for our other meals: the seafood pot pie and the mahi mahi fish tacos. While our waitress offered to have them all reheated, we both didn't have time as we had theatre tickets and reheating the tacos with their toppings, the pot pie with its pastry crust, and the seared fish didn't sound appealing. The restaurant's dining room was comfortable, and the bar area looked vibrant. Hopefully they are still breaking in their new facility, as we liked dining with them in their previous location.

    I want to give them another chance with different menu items. I think there's potential this place…read moreis better than our experience. We went on a Sunday afternoon at 3 PM and were promptly seated. The atmosphere was fine, pretty open and unexceptional, but modern and new. Big screen in front of us playing the Sunday football game. Server was quick to get drink orders in, 12 oz. Commonwealth Modern 'Smores stout for $8 and my wife got a $16 Peppermint Espresso Martini. I appreciated the nice Commonwealth stout and the price was fine. The Peppermint Espresso martini was mediocre and very overpriced considering that. Our food took a long time. Like 3 apologies from the server long. There were 2 parties of like 10 that were in process when we sat so I get it. But I do feel like something should be given when it's 45 minutes plus on food. Anyway, on to the food.... My kid is not much of an eater and they did not have any type of kid menu. Ended up with a soft pretzel for $13. Add cheese fondue and it's $16. It was very big and delicious.... At $16 it's hard to be excited about it though. The cheese fondue definitely made the pretzel. I was not overly hungry and got She crab soup $8.50 for the cup and a Caesar salad $5. The soup was good, they add the crab on top so you can see they give you about half a cup and for the price it was good. Definitely not the best she crab soup in the area, but good enough. Caesar was just croutons, Parmesan and dressing and was fine. My wife got the "fresh catch" Chilean Sea Bass for $33. It was kind of fishy tasting. Fresh fish is rarely fishy. It was overcooked, horribly plated and the blackened seasoning had minimal flavor. It was bad. We asked for some tarter for it and it made it tolerable. The server offered to replace it, but having just waited 45 minutes for food we weren't going to chance something else, particularly since we were with another couple. While we were waiting I had 2 $3 special Budweisers and my wife had a $14 Snowflake Margarita. They were all fine. My kids sprite was $4 which feels outrageous, but I don't know what places are charging these days for sodas. I normally don't pay attention. Bill came with another apology for all the waiting and no discount. Tough to make it as a seafood restaurant when you are struggling with your seafood. I heard their seafood nachos are excellent.... Maybe I'll give them another chance for those. My first experience was not a good one.

    Photos
    Oceans & Ale
    Oceans & Ale - Seafood Mac

    Seafood Mac

    Oceans & Ale - Mason jar piña colada

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    Mason jar piña colada

    Circa 1918 - The "Original" Bison Meatloaf

    Circa 1918

    4.6(344 reviews)
    21.2 mi
    $$$

    Circa 1918 lives up to the hype. It's a tiny, charming joint nestled in the row of boutiques and…read morerestaurants in Historic Hilton Village. This has been high on my "want to try" for a long time and finally saw an opportunity with an available reservation, went for it and am so happy I did. I dined solo, which I rarely do, but this was the perfect place for it. It was apparent that most people dining were regulars. The owner was chatting with just about everyone and diners were popping over to other tables to say hello, as well. Felt like a very small town. Service was perfect - not overbearing, but perfectly timed for a good flow throughout dinner. Their menu changes often, so some of the items I loved, may not be available - but it does seem like their fried oysters are a mainstay and holy moly, they were delicious. I had one cocktail - I believe it was called Watermelon Sugar. It had vodka, aperol and fresh watermelon. Refreshing and smooth. I tried two apps: the fried oysters and the bao buns. Both were fantastic. Perfectly prepared, so much flavor. I think that next time, I would stick to the appetizer section and try many rather than getting an entree. I got the scallops, which were delicious, but the apps wow-ed me more. Prices aren't low, but you get what you pay for - really high quality dishes with lots of thought and execution embedded. I don't say this lightly - this has been added to my top 10 list in all of Hampton Roads!

    Circa 1918 Review We…read morehad an amazing experience at Circa 1918 last night! From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was warm, intimate, and full of charm. It's a small, quaint space that gives you that perfect blend of cozy neighborhood vibes with an upscale, refined feel. The food was absolutely outstanding--every dish had unique, well-balanced flavors that clearly showcased the talent of the chef. You can truly tell that a lot of care and creativity goes into the menu. The service made the experience even better. The bartenders were fantastic (James especially stood out!), and the waitstaff were incredibly personable, attentive, and welcoming. Circa 1918 is one of those rare places that feels both like a hidden neighborhood gem and a fine dining experience all in one. We will definitely be back!

    Photos
    Circa 1918
    Circa 1918 - Salad of Frisée

    Salad of Frisée

    Circa 1918 - Crispy Pekin Duck Leg

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    Crispy Pekin Duck Leg

    Fat Canary - newamerican - Updated May 2026

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