Soo I went here with a school group in the 8th grade for our washington DC trip. I wanted to go to the sweets shop in the marketplace area with 5 minutes on the clock. I dropped my camera while attempting to run there and decided to turn back with frustration... I entered the restaurant late and sat down besides some of my buddies. They served me salad as I left to wash my hands (get into the habit ppls). When I came back, the salad was GONE! WTF I hadn't even started eatin and they took it away? So I asked for another one and one server just got another salad and plopped it on my table with annoyance...(he deserved it since someone took it away when it was untouched). Plus there was no bread for me and butter...sadly. I was already too annoyed to ask for it again. The main course was a chicken with some type of sauce similar in texture and taste to alfredo. On the side were some string beans and mashed potatoes. Chicken was ok, string beans were good for the american standard. (some how not steamed) and who can go wrong with mashed potatoes. The only thing that gives this place two stars is good lemonade and nice salad dressing ( they took the salad away again as they served the main course...) :( Otherwise...they better improve on service...( its even worse than asian restaurants) or else im definetely not coming back. I should've skipped the meal ( if i could) and snuck over to the sweet shop. Then I might not have lost more saliva staring at my classmates delish candy and broke my camera. ARGGGGGHHHH read more

Outstanding Service. Considering that we were a party of 55 people (mostly children) I feel that the staff was very professional, patient and yes friendly and for the most part always in character. The meal was 1 thing for everyone...a salad a chicken pot pie and ice creme. I was in complete favor of this because it eliminated all the guessing for the kids and everything that came was tasty, hearty and more importantly homemade. I would definitely come back to try the rest of the menu. Cheers! OH... and mad props to the gentleman who came out (in full colonial get up) and gave us an educational lecture of how things were back in the 1600's. Very informative and entertaining. read more

This is a solid two star restaurant. The service is a 4 star, so I'm meeting in the middle with three stars. We casually overheard another server (who was being very interactive from the get-go with her tables) So I asked our waitress who had just given us the check already about Williamsburg history. Before we knew it. We had a great history lesson and recommendations and explanation of differences (unbiased opinion) between both ghost tours at night. (One is sponsored by the Tavern.) The server lit up upon us wanting to interact with her and any question she was unsure of, she found out for us. She brought the manager Kate to answer more and we had a great conversation with us. Didn't feel rushed either. The food; Is mediocre. The 18th century salad is stupid and over priced. Burger is boring. Po Boy hmmmm....?? Soup, fries and beer are very good. Biscuits that come with soup are also tasty. Those are all I recommend and you'll be happy. It's really too bad. That they haven't made these restaurants into a dining experience and must go-to restaurants. There are tooooo many other 4-5 star restaurants to choose from in Williamsburg to be mediocre. Raise the bar Shields Tavern! read more

Shields Tavern - Beer flight. Old Stitch is awesome - American Near Me - Williamsburg, Virginia

Excellent food and fast, friendly service! I had the Crayfish and Shrimp Stew and the Savory Beef Pastry, my wife had the barbecue ribs and my sons the Tavern Meatloaf and Pasta with Butter and Cheese. All were delicious! And if wanting a cooling summer cocktail to accompany your dinner, try the Doctors' Delight. A refreshing drink of gin, lime, cucumber and lemongrass. When back in Williamsburg we'll be back to Shield's Tavern! read more

Loved the experience, ambiance, quality. Was probably the better if the feed we had and it was the last night. Loved the history and the staff was awesome. Would go back every time. The food was a great experience and quality. Fresh ingredients and good quality mea read more

When we were in the Colonial Williamsburg area, we decided to check out Shield's Tavern for their AYCE feast. We had the following: Sweet Butternut Squash Stew, Seasonal Greens (with English malt vinaigrette), Young Roasted Turkey (with apple dressing, giblet pan sauce, cranberry compote, with a side of cinnamon-glazed sweet potatoes), Hearth-Cooked Salmon (crabmeat and a sauce from wine, cream, and butter; a side of rosemary-garlic mashed potatoes), Prime Rib of Beef (red wine jus and horseradish; rosemary-garlic mashed potatoes), Southern Pumpkin Pie (with nutmeg cream), Caramel Apple Pie (cinnamon ice cream), and Williamsburg Ice Creams (vanilla, chocolate, and/or cinnamon). The food itself was okay, but the experience itself was what made it special. I did love the fact that "Mr. Shields" was in both parts of the rooms of the restaurant and socialized with the guests. He was talking about some history, his family, the life, and about the tavern. He was very engaging and personable. +AYCE feast +Mr. Shields - conversations read more

Shields Tavern - American Near Me - Williamsburg, Virginia

An 11-year-old Celiac is Forced to Eat Outside...in the Rain On May 11, a class had a field trip, with 30 children and 30 adults, including a boy's father. The trip, which was was the culmination of a yearlong research project, included lunch at Shields Tavern. Because the boy had celiac, the father smartly brought food from home so the boy could enjoy lunch with his peers. The dad told the server that his son could not safely eat the restaurant's food and that he did not need a meal. He then proceeded to pull out his own lunch. An employee at Shields, said they could not stay if the boy was going to eat his own food and were told to leave immediately. The dad appealed to the manager, who unbelievably also said nope. Out you go! I feel bad for the people that work at and own Shields Travel, to be so heartless towards an 11 year old boy that simply wants to eat with his pals. These people must walk through life every day in absolute hateful misery to act like this towards another person, especially a child. read more

Not a good experience at all. Made a reservation for the 7:30pm time slot on Christmas Eve. Be aware - if you or any of your party is handicapped, the parking lot is a little ways away from the tavern and there is barely any lighting along the walk there. When we arrived at the tavern, there was a woman outside checking people in and a lot of people waiting. Apparently the restaurant was running behind so even if you had reservations you had to wait. Not a big deal, except that there was no waiting area inside so everyone was outside in the cold. To make matters more annoying, the woman checking us in admitted that she let people in who had a 7:45 reservation because there were less people for that time slot than for the 7:30 time. Still scratching my head on that one. We were finally seated in a room with two other free tables but no one sitting at them and our table was next to a window which was not doubled paned and letting air in and was thus very cold. Onto the food. The portion size was small considering how expensive it was. The bread they brought at the beginning was stale, but there were corn bread muffins that were good. All the food was lukewarm, the green beans and carrots undercooked. Beef was too tough, gratin potatoes were good but very salty. Chocolate cake was mediocre, they sell better cake at the grocery store. I had wine, but they did have an interesting looking drink menu. Anyway, I realize you're not coming here for some amazing culinary experience, but the food could at least be cooked well. I'd recommend Christianna Campbell's Tavern, which gives a similar tavern experience but with much better food. read more

I thought the half chicken was good... unfortunately, $25 was the cheapest thing i found for a dinner option so thats what I got. The experience was almost well worth it, though! There were two people going to each room singing and the decor was set appropriately for the time period. Also note that a reservation should be made in advance or else you are looking at a, possibly, 1.5 hour wait like we did. What I would KILL to know is the recipe for the Mango Lemon Punch Bowl! I loved it so much and it was absolutely worth the $12! It easily served two people and I'm currently looking on pinterest for something similar, so if you know the recipe PLEASE LET ME KNOW! read more

As someone who suffers from a gluten allergy, I couldn't not believe what I read about the young boy who was forced to sit outside do to this restaurants policy on bringing in outside food. There have been many times in which I have needed to bring food from home along with me to a restaurant to ensure no cross contamination and I can't imagine the embarrassment this must have caused this young man to be singled out in front of all his classmates. Its one thing to be coming alone bringing your own food... but he was there on a class trip. Give the kid a break, having the allergy already singles him out. No need to rub it in. The management should be ashamed. read more

The food was quick, prepared to our liking and reasonably priced compared to similar options in Colonial Williamsburg. My husband and I both ordered the beefsteak sandwich (aka cheeseburger), and fries. The food took about ten minutes prepare, and it was generally a no-fuss meal. The restaurant keeps with the times in both its decor and the food titles, but if you ask the staff, they will translate any meal title that looks unfamiliar. Our meal came to $41 for two beefsteak sandwiches, fries, a ginger ale, and root beer. The price is a bit steep, but again, so are all of the other places with similar fare. read more

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Horrible horrible how about some common sense. A child on a field trip with other kids around. I could understand maybe like old people or homeless coming in but a child with a food allergy? I have an food allergy and I understand that restaurants will tell you one thing and your stomach says another. This was a rare case unless your food is so bad people bring there own food all the time, either way you got issues! read more

This issue is one that prospective diners will want to be aware of when considering whether to patronize this establishment. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/legal-issues/a-boy-a-chicken-sandwich-and-a-federal-case-over-dinner-at-colonial-williamsburg/2019/05/31/4fc7763c-83d6-11e9-95a9-e2c830afe24f_story.html?utm_term=.f937a3aa11d0 read more

I visit the area many times a year and had stopped going because of menu changes. (My bean soup was kidnapped from menus along with the chicken pot pie and the crab cakes. Crab cakes can still be had at Christiana Campbells but the service there has been dropping off.) I decided, while with a family member today, we would give it try. I am so happy we did. The service at lunch was wonderful. John, I am pretty sure that was his name, was knowledgeable, friendly, and never rushed us. I typically share dishes with people when i go places and sometimes get upset staff . He was not. My mom and I shared a total of 4 dishes. A bowl of soup, salad, meat pye, and the berry cobbler. Having eaten in many of the taverns in the area I try and give the food a chance if I am trying something more "time period". Loved everything. The meat pye i will definitely order again. It has quickly become a favorite. The soup was delicious. The salad crips, no questionable bites in it (think no wilted lettuce or half molded berries ) and the dressing was great. Typically I go for the ranch but tried the one that came with it... you cannot go wrong. And the COBBLER. So so so yummy. I am such a hard person to please when it comes to berry cobbler. This one wasn't over sugared and the topping crisp. In ending, the service here I hadn't truly seen in two years from the staff. I am definitely hooked to going back again. read more

Our evening at Shields Tavern was all we expected. The waitresses are dressed in period clothing, the interior is typical of the spare furnishings I expected & the food was great. I had the sampler plate, which included 3 sweet & spicy wings, 2 biscuits with savory Virginia ham, & a skewer if 6 smoky grilled shrimp. The wine wasn't bad either! read more

I came to this tavern for lunch. There are many rooms and I was sat in the historic basement. The server told us some local history about the building which was nice. Food was excellent. Pulled pork and fried chicken sandwich were great. Fries were good and cole slaw was ok. The cole slaw had an odd after-taste. Overall a good place to eat while in Colonial Williamsburg. read more

Shields and Kings Arms are my two favorite taverns in Colonial Williamsburg. Shields has the best vegetarian option in my opinion. The stuffed bell pepper is absolutely delicious. The service is amazing and the atmosphere is wonderful too. read more

Shields Tavern - American Near Me - Williamsburg, Virginia

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Great ambience, helpful staff and a unique menu. Should definitely try it if you are in Williamsburg.

Dined here with my wife and daughter; their company was the high point of the meal. Short rib was good, but tough. Blackened catfish had color, but no real flavor. Etouffee was likewise bland. Service was good, and entertainment-monologue was funny (1-2 minutes), but this tavern did not meet our expectations at all. read more

We had a great dining experience with our three children while visiting Williamsberg. I have to say the crayfish & shrimp soup was so tasty, and the meatloaf & cauliflower mash was sooo good. I do wish the portions were larger since the price is steep. That would be my recommendation for sure! I figured we were "paying for the experience" of being in a tavern, which my kids will remember! We sat in the cellar which was fun. Another suggestion would be to add a few authentic tavern food choices to the kids menu other than grilled cheese, hamburger etc. our 10 eat old daughter wanted to try something more unique, not what she could get at another diner. We ordered her the sampler, but $16 is a bit expensive for a child but she enjoyed it! Also, they had free appetizer coupons through October in the visitor center. read more

Shields Tavern - American Near Me - Williamsburg, Virginia

Engage the servers and musicians with banter, they will make the evening a lot better as a historical experience along with a dining event. Our group of 7 got seated without reservations, we thought we had made them but for some reason the host didn't have our name down. It took them about 6 minutes to get us in, we were either very lucky or the dinner rush was over. We got seated in the main entrance hall of the restaurant, it was fine, but a bit noisy and chilly whenever the door was opened. Our servers were great, while not in a "period" style of "talk" she kept our group happily entertained, well fed and freshened drinks a plenty. One thing I will note for visitors, this is our second time visiting CW, and while this is mainly an "educational" place to visit, the food, to me, is somewhat on the "just okay" side of things regarding prices VS quality of food, but overall we have enjoyed ourselves the two times we have visited. Musicians wander the halls and stop by your table for a ditty or two, during our visit two gentlemen kept us entertained and one played a hurdy gurdy. When I asked him about it, he was pleasantly surprised I knew what type of instrument it was, and then on his second tour around the restaurant, he took the time to engage with our table in some banter and educated us on a few samples of styles and songs on his flute, yes he was VERY talented! I think our evening was made with a mix of the server and the musician, food-wise we were all happy with our meals, minus the Mrs., she had opted for a pork special that was rather overcooked and dry, but she did like the flavors, that really was the only miss of the evening. We rounded off our evening with a mixed berry cobbler alamode with cinnamon ice cream, it was perfect. read more

Very disappointing. Shields Tavern is an example of what happens when a restaurant gets away with selling an 'experience' rather than good food At $60 per head, and given how the place marketed itself as a 'period' tavern, we expected decent enough food and great entertainment/ambience. We got neither. Service was lackluster, seating was horribly uncomfortable, atmosphere was dull. Soup was passable. Prime rib was bland. Desserts were of the standard you'd expect in an airport cafeteria. The chocolate mousse was warm and bland. The apple pie seemed store-bought. Save yourself the trouble and go to Fat Canary instead. read more

Great food, great environment, and great service! My husband got the burger and I got the pulled pork sandwich. Both came out amazing. Total cost for this and two drinks was $40. The server also tells you some of the history of the Tavern and facts about whichever room you're dining in. The decor and seating is that of colonial times and adds to the atmosphere. Located in the middle of colonial Williamsburg so great access to all the exhibits and shops! read more

After reading all of the different Williamsburg Tavern reviews, I wasn't expecting much from Shields Tavern. Let me also say that me and my wife recieved $100 worth of Tavern certificates for going through (suffering through!) a time share promotion. With that said, I booked Shields tavern, because they offered on their menu something everyone in the family would like. We had a 7:00pm reservation, and there was a crowd of people out front when we arrived. But even with the crowd, there was a couple in front of me that didn't have reservations, and they were told that the wait would only be 5 minutes. We opted to sit inside instead of outside. In the room we were seated at, Mr. Shields had just came into the room. He chatted with the adults and kids before he moved to another room. There was also a lady that played the harp, and she was real talented. For our drinks, we had homemade lemonade. And it was good! Definitely was not expecting the "real stuff". We each got a different meal. I had the Braised Pork Shank with polenta. The pork was really tender and good. Crisp green beans were okay and the polenta was okay. My son had the half rack of ribs and they were really good. No one cared for the chutnied slaw, and the tavern fried potatoes were baked potato wedges, and they were okay. My daughter had the Ale-potted beef and it was tender and good. Almost like a beef stew. My wife had the Barnyard chicken and it smelled really good. The chicken was tender and moist. And the mashed potatoes were good also. For dessert we tried the peanut butter pie and the Wild Berry Crumble pie. The peanut butter pie was very good, but the berry crumble pie was awesome. It had a scoop of "melting" ice cream on top. It had strawberries, blackberries and raspberries. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with a very good meal. Good thing I had that $100 certificate, because our bill was almost $111 (before tip). read more

Shields Tavern - American Near Me - Williamsburg, Virginia

The history nerd in me was in love with everything Williamsburg had to offer and I was glad for the opportunity to eat at Shield's Tavern during my visit. We came on a day that was not crowded at all because the weather wasn't great and that worked out well because the wait for a table for 5 was less than 15 minutes with no reservations. They announce your name and group number when your table is ready and then you are ushered inside the restaurant. Seating is ample; they have tables downstairs in the basement (which have no windows so you rely on candles) and upstairs they have different sections for seating. My group got seated in the 'kitchen' part which had low seats and plain wood tables. The servers were all polite and our drinks got served to us pretty quickly. They have good, strong alcoholic drinks and a good variety of choices. As for the food, I ordered the Crayfish and Shrimp Stew as a starter and their special for the day which was country fried steak with gravy, mashed potatoes and veggies. The soup was served in a small bowl so I was a little disappointed at the portion, considering the price, but the soup had plenty of delicious flavors. They didn't skimp out on the seafood and I finished that little bowl of soup rather quickly. There was nothing really out of the ordinary with the country fried steak, it was pretty standard. It tasted good and the portions were also good for me. The mashed potatoes could have been mashed a little more but I don't know if it was made chunky on purpose. The bathrooms are located in the basement and as you walk down, you get a chance to see all of the different rooms. I'm glad to have sat in the kitchen area (although the living room area looked like they had much more comfortable chairs) because the basement has little lighting and the space looked cramp. I don't think you get a preference on where you sit, they just put you where your party fits/where they have the open table. Overall I had a fun lunch at Shield's. From the roaming musician playing as you eat, to the colonial décor and 'themed' rooms, this is a great stop if you're visiting Colonial Williamsburg. read more

My girlfriend and I liked Shields Tavern so much, we later bought a print of it, framed it and hung in it the living room. The food was excellent, as was the service. It is pricey, but what did you expect at Colonial Williamsburg?? My girlfriend had the pot roast with carrots, mushrooms and pearl onions, served on top of mashed potatoes. The sauce was very flavorful and it was a very hearty and delicious meal. I had the Crayfish and Shrimp Stew and it was really outstanding, rich in flavors and full of seafood. The service was great, too. The real treat was the period musician who played during the meal. All in all, a great part of the Williamsburg Colonial Experience. And, like the Terminator, I'll be back. read more

Disclaimer: this review is for the Pig Roast featured every Friday and requires tickets to attend, $49.95 as of September 2013. In short, it's worth every penny. You walk around to the back of the tavern and it's located under an open roofed structure (for inclement weather) with individual tables so you're not elbow to elbow with other guests. They have a full selection of beverages including alcohol and products that are made locally such as the ginger ale. There's a short history of the tavern and the owners during the course of the meal. During the dinner, there were two musicians who played for us, one on a guitar the other on a mandolin playing period pieces, very entertaining and added something special to the atmosphere. The staff was very courteous, the chef made an appearance and described the entire meal. I haven't had pork that good since living in Kansas City in 2008. This meal rivals any pork in that city--the BBQ Capitol of the World. If you plan to splurge on dining while visiting Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia--this is one of the places to do that. It's a great way to spend a relaxing evening, enjoying a great dinner, friends and family and music. read more

Very, very cool. When I came with a few family members last weekend, our party of 5 was seated in a part of the restaurant that used to be outdoors. It was dark and candlelit, just as they used to have it back in the 18th century. Our server, Thomas, who is amazingly knowledgeable about the tavern's history and Colonial Williamsburg history in general, pointed out that the wall my side of the table was up against actually had the original siding of the building -- yes, from when it was built in the 1740s. He also took the time to share with us some fascinating bits of information about beef pasties, turnspit dogs, garment buttons, and where George Washington used to hang out as a 21-year-old back in the day, among other things! He was such a pleasure to talk to that we lost track of time and didn't realize we were actually holding up the place from completely closing down for the night. (Apart from that, he was on top of his service game, of course.) A harpist also sat by our table and played for our party. She was so delightful. Nobody talked until she was finished because we all wanted to pay attention to her harp. Before she started playing, she entertained us with her own stories of the rumored hauntings here -- because naturally, we were curious and had to ask! Food- and drink-wise, everything was on the pricey side. I opted for a cup of crayfish and shrimp stew to start, a sampling of 18th century savories (sweet potato biscuit, salmon croquettes, duck sausage, and potato beef pasties with mango chutney) for my main dish, and a wild berry crumble for my dessert. Truthfully speaking, the food was not memorable. I don't think the other members in my party would disagree. My parents shared the chicken and my niece had the ale-spotted beef. The portions were generous, but no one raved about the food. I think we were all really into the whole colonial dining experience that we didn't feel bummed out about the eats not being all that special, however. In addition, they served wine in goblets. I had two goblets of red, and I absolutely loved that part. I won't hesitate to revisit Shields Tavern if I ever end up in Colonial Williamsburg again. read more

Shields Tavern - A sampling of 18th century savories! - American Near Me - Williamsburg, Virginia

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Colonial Williamsburg is an awesome place with great ambiance; it is truly like walking back in time. Shields Tavern is a great place with entertaining staff and great service but unfortunately the food fell short compared to the price. We had the salmon which was over cooked and very dry. Microwaved rice and veg on the side with no taste, all for the price of about $30.00. I would avoid and eat at Kings Arm tavern which is much better and around the same cost. Disappointing for the price. read more

Since I dined here a couple weeks ago for Christmas Eve dinner, I wasn't too sure if I had the right colonial tavern that I was reviewing, but then I read one of my fellow Yelper's review talking about the pork shank and I knew I had the right place! My parents now live in Williamsburg and my dad couldn't stop talking about this place's hunk of pork yumminess that he had gotten the last time they were there. Shields Tavern, like all of the other colonial taverns in Williamsburg, is a show to entertain tourists that want an "authentic" experience. How authentic the experience is up for debate, since the first thing I noticed out of place was our server's very modern wrist watch while she's putting down our drinks. Costumes, on the whole, were believable and didn't look too over the top. While we're on the topic of atmosphere, I must say that I really enjoyed the musicians and storytellers that would come in and out of the different rooms for a short, five-minute or so set, and then leave the patrons to their meals. The management and musicians definitely have that part of the experience down to a science. Since we're talking about Colonial Williamsburg, I was surprised at the level of food, as well as the price point for our meal: the former being rather high and the latter being rather reasonable. Granted, I live in metro DC and am used to the prices up here, so I'm sure these meals are more expensive than other local restaurants. Regardless, my lobster and crayfish bisque as a starter had wonderful chunks of seafood in it, and there was definitely enough butter and cream to satisfy even Paula Dean! My beef stew, with ever-so-tender chunks of beef, root vegetables, and a reduced stock gravy, was as hearty and tasty as I've ever had. While the food was surprisingly good, I'm looking forward to checking out some of the other taverns to compare. I definitely am happy this was my first because of the service, cuisine, and the fact that they have their own vegetable garden in the back (this time of year all they had were cabbages, but you could still walk through). read more

I guess what they say about "timing is everything" is probably true in this case. We recently visited Colonial Williamsburg and evening reservations weren't available for any tavern. In fact, two of their biggest were closed on the day we were there, which seemed odd for a busy spring break week. We decided that lunch would still be a nice option. It would give the kids a chance to eat in the tavern and it wouldn't cost as much. We went right at open, since it's first come first served for lunch. There were a number of huge school groups there and I'm amazed at how many seats are actually in the tavern. I brought my little one to the restroom inside before they started seating, so I got to look around quickly. The bottom level seemed like it had the most ambiance, with it being dimly lit by candlelight and just had a cozy feel. Unfortunately, that's one of the rooms in which the school group was seated. Darn. We were seated in an upstairs room which was really bright. It definitely wasn't charming. The room was completely white, nothing on the walls and there were about 5 tables in this small room. Obviously, it was afternoon so it wouldn't be candle lit (and I do think that goes a looooong way in terms of "feel" for the tavern) but it was just a stark, plain room. Our waiter came over (in period dress of course) and announced in his ye-old-colonial-speak "Hey! Can I get ya some drinks?". :) We ordered our drinks (the best being root beer and my husband's ale) and then looked at the menu. It's a fairly simple menu and fairly simple is what we got. Nothing was outstanding at all. It was really very basic, edible but not enjoyable. We got the salmagundi, which is a glorified salad...very ordinary, except the smoked ham was an interesting touch, hot turkey sandwiches (blah), chopped beefsteak (hamburger) and kids hot dog. So, I guess what it boils down to is that the food was pretty blah (only 2 stars) but it would've been so much better if there had been some atmosphere. There wasn't. We had one gentleman stop by, ask us where we were from and told us to enjoy our travels (we would've chatted more had he not walked away). Other than that, there was no music, no people in colonial dress to interact with, nothing to look at.....it was really not worth the money at all. I'd love to say it was at least fun to be in the tavern, but it just didn't pay off. I heard the sandwich place at the other end of Glouchester St is awesome, and I should've trusted my gut and went there instead. Next time! read more

What happened to traditional colonial food? I used to love the colonial restaurants in Williamsburg, but they have lost something over the past 5 years. Starting to become more like Disney world, too bad read more

I was pleasantly surprised by the taverns in Williamsburg. Granted, the food is expensive, but you are paying not only for a great meal, but also for the entertainment (whether that includes actors or musicians.) As someone not too into the tourist destinations, I was pleasantly surprised by Shield's because there were no sacrifices of quality in the pursuit of tourism. The food was great, the setting was fun, and I have been back a few times. read more

We spent 4 nights in Colonial Williamsburg and Shields Tavern was the best meal. The tavern is large with three floors. The entrance has the fireplace and two tables. The rest of the rooms are sparse with just candlelight. But a wonderful fiddler walks around. We had great ale-potted beef with mushrooms, carrots, and pearl onions over good mashed potatoes. And to start, Travis House oysters--cornmeal-battered and fried, with firecracker mayonnaise. My son consumed a half slab of tender pork ribs with tavern fried potatoes and chutnied slaw. Service was the best of the trip, and everyone was in costume and more than helpful with my 90-year-old mother-in-law and 10-year-old son. It can be very dark at night and I should have brought a lantern to find our way back to the car (parking is about a block away) as you must make your way through the backyard and a few gates. read more

Awesome tavern with singing minstrels. Huzzah! Down with King George and those Tory dogs over at Applebee's!

Enjoyed a late lunch (after 1pm) and was seated right away in the basement (larder?). The host was excellent. It was humorous to hear our waitress break into her accent when she realized we were there, but it sounded more German than Colonial British. I kicked back a Pimm's No.1 and Ginger Ale to start off the meal in honor of my British friends and decided on a Potage Pie, which is a very good pot pie but with a few extra letters and a great crispy crust. I really thought the spouse was going to go for the Brunswick Stew, which is her historical preference, but she called an audible and went for the ham sandwich, also an excellent choice. There wasn't any colonial entertainment, but the basement was a nice and warm setting on a wintry day... a great place to enjoy food during your visit to Colonial Williamsburg! read more

Great service, fun atmosphere, and delicious food. All I wanted after a long day. My parents and I wanted to squeeze as much in before we ate lunch, so we were pushing it to make it to a tavern before they closed. I think we were seated maybe 20 minutes before they closed for lunch, but they were accommodating and sat us anyway. I've been to Shields many times before as a child and have continued to enjoy it throughout the years. I ordered the Tarragon Chicken Salad and it was perhaps one of the best chicken salads I've ever tasted in my life. It was fresh, light and refreshing, and very flavorful. It was served with fresh fruit (LOTS of fresh fruit, which was nicer than the usual fruit "garnish") and french bread crisps, which paired nicely with the salad. My family shared the berry crisp desert - great seasonal sampler! The service was superb. Not once did they try to rush us out (despite the fact that we were the only ones left in the restaurant), but they continued to show us great service and courtesy, even though they were extremely busy trying to set the place up for the dinner crowd. Reservations are a BIG help, especially at dinnertime, but you can probably walk up (like we did) at lunch time. read more

Amazing!! I loved the authentically dressed waiters and waitresses. Additionally, as we were dining one of the players performed a song and then played the flute! Wow!!! Great atmosphere. Food was very good. We ordered a veggie trough and a fight of the beers. I really loved the veggie trough. It was a vehgie sandwich on a flatbread with hummus. Delicious. The flight of beers were a good size, maybe about 4 ounces each, so you got a good taste of a variety of your choosing. Stand out for me was the Old Stitch. It's a smooth stout that was my drink of choice for the rest of my stat in Williamsburg. Service was great!! read more

The most overpriced garbage I've ever had the displeasure of attempting to eat. Never mind the Abismal service - no one is in character, BTW - we just paid $63 for a fried chicken dinner and 2 kids chicken strips. I ordered bbq ribs - inedible rib tips. My husband ordered meatloaf. Literally the worst meatloaf we've ever tried to eat. Those two were removed from the bill. Also, the restrooms are FILTHY. Absolutely FILTHY. read more

Went here for lunch today, first time eating in a Williamsburg colonial tavern for lunch. First of all, they only advertise dinner times on open table and always show lunch as full, so we had not planned on eating here. Kind of a dumb way for them to chase off business, but ah well, to each their own I guess. I got the shrimp po boy and my girlfriend got the chicken sandwhich. Not that these were bad dishes, they were both cooked well, just no seasoning whatsoever. I could've gotten the same po boy from long john silvers. This would have all been fine, if my bill wasn't 48 dollars for mediocre food. Not terrible, but wouldn't come back for lunch. read more