Cancel

Open app

Search

Amber Ox Public House

4.4 (1.3k reviews)
Closed • 10:00 am - 9:00 pm
Updated 2 months ago

Amber Ox Public House Photos

AMBER OX PUBLIC HOUSE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Hipster
Casual
Trendy
Moderate noise

Recommended Reviews - Amber Ox Public House

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Beercan chicken and Porkchops
Sean M.

Amazing fresh, made from scratch, quality food. Very nice atmosphere. And Sophie was the best, she was very helpful and knowledgeable of everything offered on the menu and her recommendations. Sean & Sandra M.

Steak frites ordered medium rare, came out with some parts well done, most medium well, and only the very center cooked right.
Todd P.

I've been to the Amber Ox four times. First time was for brunch and it was really good. The biscuit board is amazing and I could eat that every day. Second time, I sat at the bar and got the fig and prosciutto salad which was good but way overpriced and the pork chop with grits and greens which was excellent. While I was at the bar, the guy next to me had an amazing looking steak frites and I knew I wanted to try that next time I came. True to my word, I got the steak frites and couldn't have been more disappointed. It came with fingerling potatoes and broccolini, and I asked for it medium rare with carrots instead. A food runner brought it out instead of my server, and not only was it medium well at best, they forgot my potatoes. I didn't see my server for 25 minutes and had to ask someone else to find her. By the time they did, my dining companion finished their meal and I didn't want to make them wait for them to fire a replacement and watch me eat. So I ended up having carrots for dinner. They comped my meal and gave me a $25 gift card. About a month later, I was back in town and wanted to use my gift card. This time, they changed the cut to a ribeye (which I love) with a compound butter and fries. Again, a runner brought it out not my server, and again it was overcooked and they forgot a component (this time the garlic butter). The ends were completely well done, while most of the steak was medium well. Only the two center pieces were medium rare, but they also had thick gray bands. This time, I was able to flag my server and the manager came over. She agreed it was cooked improperly and offered to have another made for me. Since I was dining alone and hungry, I agreed. I pointed out to her that they served it sliced, so the line cook knew it was overcooked but served it anyway. The expediter didn't check it and didn't flag the missing garlic butter. The food runner could have caught these things as well, but just brought it out. Three people had an opportunity to catch it, but again I got an overcooked steak. She said I was right on every point and would take care of it. The replacement was okay. Cooked more medium rare and with the butter this time, but either the steak or he butter were too cold as it didn't melt on the steak. The fries were also tempted at best and not crispy nor well seasoned. It was fine, but certainly not worth the $60 they were charging for it. I've had better steaks for more than half the price at Texas Roadhouse. The manager comped my meal, so it was good enough for a comped meal. Still having the gift card, I went to the bar for a drink. They have an impressive whiskey list with some really good prices and others that are too pricy. I got a two ounce pour of E.H. Taylor Single Barrel for $28 which isn't outrageous. On the flip side, they have Russell's 13 Year for $45 when I can get it for $30 across town. They also don't update their whiskey list regular. Both times I sat at the bar, I noticed bottles on the shelf that weren't on the list (e.g. Stagg, Thomas Handy, etc.) So do yourself a favor and look before you order. While I had two positive experiences, their inability to cook a steak coupled with the same poor experience twice in a row means I would be going back. Stick to brunch or things they don't have to cook to temperature.

Drinks from the bar
Britney B.

Was back in town and stopped in for brunch with friends. We sat at the bar, and everyone we interacted with was genuinely kind and brought such positive energy. It was hands-down a better experience than my last visit. The atmosphere: Super busy for Sunday brunch, so plan ahead and make a reservation. Parking can be limited, especially when the farmer's market is happening. Most parking is street parking, with a few spots available at the nearby police station during market hours. The food: I ordered the Benedict Burger to split with my friend, and it was huge. Super flavorful and cooked to a nice medium-well. Definitely shareable. The fries were delicious, and the egg on top was perfectly cooked. I wouldn't have expected it to work so well, but it was such a great combo. The service: Sitting at the bar was a great choice. Our server was friendly, helpful, and really added to the experience.

Nameeta M.

We came here for dinner after arriving in Williamsburg for the weekend and this beautiful restaurant definitely set the tone for an amazing weekend. For drinks we got the bartenders choice which at the time was like an herbal old fashioned and I got the Sage it ain't so, both drinks were delicious! The food really stole the show though, and that too mainly the appetizers. Their biscuit board was phenomenal (and I have high standards for biscuits since I'm from the south) and their pimento mac and cheese hit the spot. The chicken and dumplings and shawarma cauliflower steak was also delicious. Service was great, we sat at the bar and our bartender gave wonderful suggestions. When choosing where to eat, the thing that sealed the deal for us coming here was the fact that they have a mini speakeasy called The Study. We went there after dinner for another drink (we got the Perfect Martini and Flower Flame) and macaron and really enjoyed our time. All in all, we were blown away by this restaurant and would absolutely recommend!

The Shrimp & Grits lacked flavor, just boiled shrimp and dried out andouille.
Cindy P.

Sometimes expectations cause such a let down that it's difficult to find the positives! We stopped in for an early dinner and although greeted with a smile from the hostess, the employees standing around her were anything but friendly or welcoming. We opted for the bar seating that was open to the patio so thanked her and sat ourselves. There was one other couple at the bar, one couple outside and we counted 8 employees milling about, chatting with each other and awkwardly leaning against counters staring into the restaurant. We waited 7 minutes to be greeted, that's seriously a long time in an empty bar! Our very disinterested server finally showed up, dropped menus and disappeared again! Do we stay, do we go? The place has an awesome vibe, the decor is fresh and the menu was seriously promising so we stayed! Quick rundown on the food: Crispy Fingerling Potatoes presented well but had a reheated taste with a burnt oil aftertaste; the Squash Soup was delicious but was lukewarm, needed to be either hot or cold; Shrimp & Grits lacked any flavor other than the andouille which was a bit overdone; the Rockfish didn't hit the menu marks at all with a sprinkling of nuts on top, skin on the bottom the texture of jerky, little to no flavor and no chow chow to be found, just mounds of kale! Definitely not up to the hype but a beautiful spot with great cocktails!

Cooked perfectly
Tim T.

09.24.25 Amber Ox Public House I was browsing Yelp for dinner options and almost chose another restaurant, but the reviews there were mostly negative. Instead, I found Amber Ox -- and I'm extremely glad we came here. We arrived around 5:30. There were plenty of tables both inside and outside, but as usual we chose to sit at the bar. The hostess led us over, and all four bartenders greeted and welcomed us right away -- a great first impression. The drink menu really stood out. Each cocktail is hand-crafted with fresh ingredients, and even the bitters are made in-house. I ordered the AO Old Fashioned -- wow, very tasty. While deciding on dinner, we went with the highly recommended Potted Pimento Cheese appetizer. It came out beautifully presented: house-made cheese with a touch of pimento jelly, served with fresh, homemade "everything" crackers. Spreading the cheese and jelly on those crackers was surprisingly delicious. For dinner, we shared the AO Bacon Burger with fries. The burger looked fantastic, and everything tasted great. I even spread a little of the leftover pimento cheese on my half of the burger -- that took it to another level. For dessert, we tried the Chocolate Mousse Cake with ice cream. It was very good, though I expected a creamier mousse with a darker chocolate finish. Still enjoyable. Overall, our experience at Amber Ox was excellent. On top of the great food and drinks, we met a wonderful young lady sitting next to us at the bar. We had a very enjoyable evening talking with her -- this is exactly why we love sitting at the bar: the chance to meet people, share stories, and even pick up some travel tips. We'll definitely be back!

AO Burger and Fig and Prosciutto Salad
Grace M.

I know people seem to be raving about Amber Ox but my partner and I went at lunch time and weren't that impressed with what we ordered. We made a reservation the night before and had to sit outside, which was fine. We ordered the AO burger and the prosciutto and fig salad to split, our bill came to $50 dollars with tip. The actual burger was not seasoned, the ingredients were quality but the flavor was not there. It came with fries & ketchup which were okay, not crispy, reminded me of five guys. The fig salad was good, nothing special, had a total of 1 1/2 figs on there. Maybe we ordered the wrong thing? I am not sure I'd recommend.

Catfish and grits
Lisa T.

We got into Williamsburg late on a Thursday and quickly searched for a place to dine. We found this place on Prince George Street and it was lit up with outside string lights and there were several patrons dining outside; so we decided to give it a try. When we approached the hostess she said that everything was closing except the bar area, but we could order food in there. It was about 8:30, and the bar area was quite busy. We found a long bar table that was meant for a large group or sharing, it was a beautifully-made table of a unique, curved piece of wood. As soon as we sat down a friendly server came over and offered to wipe down our table and give us food and drink menus. He also explained that they are a farm to table restaurant that has their own bakery and their own farm. They had several local beers on the menu and he recommended a Pilsner style. I asked for a sample and one was brought over quickly. My husband ordered their signature old-fashioned made with Four Roses bourbon and I decided to go with the beer that they suggested. My husband said the old-fashioned was good; but it was kind of small. (Single finger pour) I decided to get the AO burger that came with onion jam and French fries. The burger was delicious, although very messy! (I had to request extra napkins.). The bun was fresh and tasty, and the beef patty was cooked to perfection and really thick! I also enjoyed the onion jam, which I added to my burger, and the French fries. My husband had the fried catfish and grits which he devoured! He said the catfish was flaky and flavorful and grits were creamy and had just the right texture. All during dining several servers checked on us and the bartender, Samara, was friendly and attentive! Amber Ox was our first dining experience in Williamsburg and it set the standard pretty high! I'd love to come back if we are in the area and enjoy a meal on their outside patio.

Mushroom Toast
Maggie K.

Not only was the ambience brilliant, and the food absolutely exceptional, but the service was on point! Kid friendly, and welcoming of all, with a wide range of items on the menu, even if a small menu, and of course, the drink menu was amazing, with options for every palate and even NA options too. We had a Saturday reservation for 1630 and while early, I'm glad we went at that time because it was very busy as we departed. Quite a top notch spot, love the local focus; we will def be back.

Pang R.

The decor is beautiful and the vibe is perfect for brunch with family and friends. The food was delicious, though a bit salty for me personally, especially the smoked chicken wings, but everything else was great! Our server, Madison, was incredibly friendly and provided excellent customer service.

Epic hamburger with fries.
Gertrude S.

Atmosphere, Food, and Service! Our waitress was gracious, helpful and happy to serve.

Mary-Ann L.

Service was great. There wasn't seating but bar and communal seating were available. Came here on a Saturday on a whim, not too hungry but had to get done protein! Ordered the brunch board, more than enough for 1 seating! Crackers were rectangular larger than typical, very generous heaping of ham and smoked salmon, all different kinds of fire ads or cheese, love the cheese that was grated and had cranberries, 2 warm biscuits, shaved cucumbers, pickled onions, apple cinnamon spread - just great value good for $22. Will definitely come back for dinner.

Wings
J E.

Stopped in for dinner, started at the bar while waiting for the rest of my party to arrive. They feature distilled spirits produced in VA and have a decent selection of them. They also have an interesting cocktail list. Their dinner menu is loaded with some great selections, both in the starter and the entrée lists. We had a tough time deciding, so we got a few things to share and try out. Their wings were really good, nice and smokey. Their ham board was great and nicely curated. Gazpacho was fresh, but a little too watery for my liking and I also would have preferred no bacon in it, but the flavor was decent. I also tried their burger, which was beautifully built and tasted decent. Service was excellent... Sophie did an excellent job taking care of our table too! Definitely would return!

See all

2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Andy W.

Andy W.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Andy W.

Andy W.

Sean and Sandra, thank you so much for the love!

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1
Photo of C P.
0
17
2

5 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Andy W.

Andy W.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 days ago

Excellent farm to table food, drinks & atmosphere. Looking forward to the speak easy!

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Andy W.

Andy W.

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

14 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

12 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

16 days ago

Awesome food selections as well as craft brews. And the staff was friendly and accommodating.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Lisa T.
261
916
4349

10 months ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 1

6 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Andy W.

Andy W.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Andy W.

Andy W.

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Andy W.

Andy W.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of J E.
127
3686
13207

9 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Andy W.

Andy W.

Helpful 5
Thanks 2
Love this 3
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Andy W.

Andy W.

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 2

11 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Business owner information

Photo of Andy W.

Andy W.

Thank you for the kind feedback, Shilisa!

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

Business owner information

Photo of Andy W.

Andy W.

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Zarah P.
87
14
17

3 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Andy W.

Andy W.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Business owner information

Photo of Andy W.

Andy W.

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Andy W.

Andy W.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Andy W.

Andy W.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 3
Oh no 0
Photo of H S.
1
83
16

5 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Andy W.

Andy W.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Lisa C.
66
65
56

6 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Andy W.

Andy W.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Andy W.

Andy W.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Andy W.

Andy W.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of C L.
0
59
3

2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 month ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Andy W.

Andy W.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

Page 1 of 34

Ask the Community - Amber Ox Public House

Are pets allowed on the outdoor patio?

Yes!

Price range for adult dinner?

See menu Price of dinner Ranges from $20 to $30

What is the location of the beer keg urinal shown in the photos?

Hey Dee! Hahaa those are long gone. But. They were, of course, in the men’s room. 🤷🏻‍♀️

What are the options for gluten free diners?

See menu https://www.theamberox.com/dinner

Is it hard to get a seat at the bar around 6 pm on a Saturday?

Hi, Ross, it really depends on the specific weekend and your party size, honestly! Like most restaurants, 6-8pm is the busiest time overall. We hope you'll give it a shot! You are also certainly welcome to reserve a table as well.

The website mentions a "hospitality fee" instead of tipping. Is this a per person charge? (A restaurant in NYC would charge $25/person just to sit at a table before ordering anything.)

We are proud to replace tipping with a universal hospitality charge of 20% per check. This allows for a professionalized pay scale, a living wage for our team members, and a sustainable business. There is NO expectation to leave an additional tip.… Read more

Do they do anything for Thanksgiving or is it the regular menu?

Good Morning Geula, We offer Take and Bake dinners for Thanksgiving that typically feed 4-6… Read more

Do they have a kids menu? is it kid friendly?

100% kid friendly (assuming the kid isn't running amok?). They have the typical crayons for coloring, but also wiki sticks and etch a sketches to help keep the kids entertained. Definitely a separate kids menu as well, plus they have organic milk… Read more

View All 10 Questions

Second Street American Bistro - Flatbread  pizza

Second Street American Bistro

4.4(1.7k reviews)
1.2 mi
•$$

My wife and I split a full rack of ribs at Second St Bistro. The ribs were fantastic and fell right…read moreoff the bone, very tender! I would recommend getting the mustard drizzle on the side, just to be sure it is to your taste. We also had the Crab/Corn Chowder soup. You must try it! Super delicious and flavorful. The onion rings were also very good/hand breaded. Service was excellent and the manager stopped at our table to check on us. The atmosphere is comfortable and ambiance is nice/quiet and clean. Strongly recommended for a good meal in a very nice setting.

We were looking for somewhere to eat in Williamsburg and came across this spot. At first glance, it…read morelooks like an upscale restaurant, but it's actually casual dining and kid-friendly. We were seated right away, and our service was awesome from start to finish. FOOD REVIEW Thai Poppin' Shrimp 5/5 - I really appreciated Robin for making sure we had a great experience with this dish. Berry Burrata 3/5 - Not my favorite, but still decent. Asian Chicken Wraps 3/5 - This was okay, just a little too saucy for me. Fried Green Tomatoes 5/5 - One of our favorites. The pimiento cheese paired perfectly with it. Carolina Burger 4/5 - Huge portion, and my son really enjoyed it. 2nd St Burger 4/5 - Another big portion and overall really good. Kids Pizza & Tenderloins 3/5 - Decent for the kids, though the pizza bread was a bit dense. DRINKS Margarita 4/5 Prickly Pear 4/5 Robin really made our experience even better. She checked on us frequently and made sure everything came out right. The portions here are on the larger side, so I'd recommend ordering family-style if you're dining with a group. Overall, the food was great, and the service made the experience even better.

Photos
Second Street American Bistro - Bar area

Bar area

Second Street American Bistro
Second Street American Bistro

See all

Terrace & Goodwin Rooms - Morning's special: brioche French toast with fresh whipped cream, strawberries, and sausage. Absolutely fabulous.

Terrace & Goodwin Rooms

4.1(39 reviews)
0.6 mi
•$$$

Had rwo wonderful breakfasts at the Terrace served by the most upbeat and friendly waitress by the…read morename of Sarah. She kept the coffee coming and was very attentive to the entire room of customers. I ordered the grain bowl which began with a smear of green goddess dressing on the bottom heaped with quinoa and wild rice with the most perfectly ripe avocado sliced on the side and a perfectly poached egg on top. There were other things to give this dish, texture and color simply perfection. Theme t day, I got the poached eggs dish with roasted potatoes and a tomato salad. Perfect!

UPDATE TO 1-STAR ORIGINAL REVIEW (2 days later): Were able to contact the exec chef who took this…read morequite seriously and made things right, assuring us that what happened was not nearly up to their standard. While we can't promise *you* won't have a similar experience, we can say that in this case the executive chef personally responded promptly to a respectful polite email and then handled it all very appropriately once informed. And for that alone, we revise to 4 stars. Perhaps ours was an isolated incident. Regardless, a big thank you to the executive chef for the response and swift refund. Much appreciated. We *think* any executive chef would want to KNOW what was going on, perhaps in their absence, right? YMMV. Thanks again. ORIGINAL 1 star review: New Years Eve dinner at Terrace Room. The photo shows "pan-seared" scallops with a ... risotto-like substance. Heh. $50. Uh huh. Scallops: No sear. Super chewy. Hard to even cut. Risotto was like mushy oatmeal stuff and zero seasoning or flavor. Maybe something was wrong in the kitchen, I dunno. Ack. We both ordered this and left most of it. Also a bottle of wine (white) that had to be chilled in front of us for a while before the server could/would pour it. Hm. $110 for that. Note: the *service* was excellent! It is never a waiter's "fault" when the food is awful. We tipped the excellent waiter accordingly, BTW. Just sharing our experience at this place on this particular night. Hope it helps. Be aware. Maybe it's "iffy."

Photos
Terrace & Goodwin Rooms
Terrace & Goodwin Rooms
Terrace & Goodwin Rooms

See all

Amber Ox Public House - tradamerican - Updated May 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...