11 years later since my first review and this canary still shines brightly in Colonial Williamsburg. A pureed sweet corn soup special with peanuts was summer in a bowl. Their take on a Caprese salad with mozzarella-wrapped Virginia ham over walnut pesto and balsamic was savory and satisfying. The roasted scallops over lemon basil risotto entrée was divine and like taking a bite of the sea - paired well with their refreshing, subtle sweet cucumber cosmopolitan. This restaurant and its more casual sibling The Cheese Shoppe have deep roots in Williamsburg and they show. Both have aged tremendously well and the constant crowds they enjoy are proof of that. Service was pleasant as ever. The dining room hasn't changed much from when I was there years ago, still awash in soft shades of green with its signature ornate pendant lights and ultra comfortable seating but nothing feels outdated. It's still the classy, high end dining experience we've enjoyed over the years. Williamsburg is incredibly lucky to have this jewel in its crown of fine dining restaurants - it feels good to know some things never change. read more

The food here is exceptional. We shared the rabbit appetizer, & it was outstanding. Unusual & delicious. I had the salmon for my entree, & my husband had the pork chop (which was HUGE). We were both very happy. One tip I will add is that you should make reservations. We didn't do that, & the place was packed, even in late February. Fortunately, they found room for us at the bar, & we had a fun time interacting with the very friendly bartender, David. read more

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We have dined at Fat Canary 3 or 4 times in the past, and finally got to enjoy it again in March of 2024. What a wonderful experience. In the past we had had a few "slips", which included being ignored by our server and once sat in an area with no server which made for an interesting night. We gave it a go on this last trip and I am so glad we did. Everyone, from the host to our server to the manager who kindly took our bags (took our son shopping as we were visiting him on spring break) and stored them for us were so very friendly. We like to eat and drink and take our time and we were not rushed in any way. It is not cheap but we knew that going in. We had 3 different appetizers with the ribs being a huge hit. All of us (4) ordered different mains. I know the steak and salmon were raved about. Then 4 different desserts. My espresso profiteroles may be the most delicious dessert I have ever had. Adding beer, cocktails and a bottle of wine took the total WAY up, but we were prepared (and using Uber!) We will be back in the area next October and are looking forward to another delicious meal. The only reason for 4 instead of 5 stars is the cost. It could easily make it impossible for people who want to have a meal there but don't want to spend hundreds. read more

I can't say enough about this place. The food is excellent. I especially liked the lobster fettuccini and pistachio appetizer. I ordered the short ribs entree. It was a bit too sweet for my taste but my husband's steak tenderloin was perfect. Our waiter Maizen was a delight. We will be back! read more

Review is for Downstairs at Fat Canary. Outstanding. Staff terrific. Very customer centric. Wonderful food and drinks. A highlight of our visit to Williamsburg. And wine store that is in restaurant is great. Large selection and fair prices. Cannot say enough nice things about this place. read more

We couldn't have asked for more as our gourmet dining experience was seriously the best ever! We sat at the bar while the wait staff efficiently catered to our every need:) They were all so warm and friendly, that it felt like seeing old friends:) We found our entrees, drinks, and desserts to be absolutely delectable! We were more than impressed with their quality of service! Thank you Fat Canary for making our night out such a memorable one! read more

My family and I had dinner here after graduation and I can see why we needed to make those reservations really far in advance. The place is tiny with only perhaps a dozen tables and a small open kitchen in the back. There is a good size bar though along the length of the restaurant for those who did not plan months in advance to dine here on a busy week-end to sample their excellent cuisine. We were greeted warmly at the front door and promptly shown to our table, seated and provided menus including a "special" one signed by the staff for our graduate. Darcy, our server, appeared magically and with her bubbly personality made us feel even more welcome if that was possible. She shared her insights into the menu along with some specials and took our drink order including a bottle of wine from their excellent wine menu. Insider tip we learned later on from a neighboring table is to buy a bottle of wine from the downstairs wine shop and bring it up with you for only a $10 corking fee. I found their wine prices reasonable though if you don't want to go to the added trouble. We started with the House-made Mozzarella that was super fresh and presented in a beautiful floral arrangement with sliced tomatoes piled in the center on a layer of pesto and surround by a ring of balsamic. It was amazingly delicious and the four of us almost came to arms to fight for the six rolls provided. We left nothing on that plate as we even used the bread to sop up that wonderful pesto and balsamic. We split fifty-fifty on the entrees with two of us selecting the pork chop and the other two the tenderloin. I still think we were the wisest selecting the pork chop. I mean come on there are dozens of spots that can serve a decent tenderloin but many fewer that can come up with such an unbelievably great pork chop as they do here. The chop was served at my desired medium temperature, quite juicy and with a wonderful grilled onion on top. When paired with the chunky cut apple sauce, the favors were marvelous. I probably could've eaten another one it was that good. On the side was a light and airy cheese soufflé that was equally as delicious. My wife kept trying to trade a few of her fries with me for a slice or two of it and I finally relented and shared the rest of it with her. I can't rave enough about this dish and at $32 well worth every penny. I didn't hear much from the other two attacking their tenderloin. It disappeared quickly along with positive comments on the bleu cheese butter server with it. My one daughter would have liked her asparagus cooked a little more crispy as she prefers the tips to be almost burnt but a minor nit for the evening. Everything can't be 100% or they would have nothing to strive for in the future. read more

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A "NOT TO MISS" EXPERIENCE IN WILLIAMSBURG. So great to see this place bustling on a Thurs night. The Fat Canary delivers a special experience for every guest. A thoughtful menu of incredible options - service that is seamless and a convivial atmosphere that's lively - not too loud - and super friendly. read more

After deciding to visit Williamsburg for our one year wedding anniversary, my husband and I wanted to ensure we had a special meal out while in town. When searching, being the Yelper that I am, Yelp was my first stop to scout out the nicest restaurants in town.Fat Canary had stellar reviews and also happened to be within a couple of blocks of our bed and breakfast. I was able to make an opentable reservation a few weeks in advance, although my choices were either 6:30pm or 8:30pm. Normally I prefer 7pm or 7:30pm, so we went with 6:30pm. I really appreciated that someone from the restaurant called to confirm the booking AND to confirm how we would address ourselves (Mr & Mrs......or something else). When we arrived just before 6:30pm, I was surprised to find out we had actually been on the other side of Fat Canary earlier at the cheese shop, which, by the way, is the absolute worst store for a pregnant woman to go in because I wanted ALL of the wine and cheese! Anyways, these two places shares a building (be sure to check out the large selection of wine in the cellar where the restrooms are located). When we were seated we were given a personalized anniversary menu (photo attached), and our server kindly wrapped it up after greeting us so it would not get anything on it. Our server was friendly, efficient but not intrusive, and generally helpful throughout our meal. When I requested a "good mocktail", he said he knew just what to get me, and I LOVED it! It was fruity and refreshing. My husband had a whiskey (honey something) on the rocks and enjoyed it. The table bread was fresh and crisp, which we munched on while we perused the menu. We decided to start off by sharing an appetizer-the crispy softshell crab with sweet onion, tomato, and green chile. When delivered, the presentation was beautiful! The flavors of the accouterments paired well with the crispy softshell, particularly the green chile sauce. The crab was crisp, not greasy, and well seasoned. For entrees, everything looked so delicious, it was hard to choose! My husband decided upon the free-range guinea fowl, parmesan gnocchi, garlic rapini, and charred tomato. The meat was flavorful and tender and the accompaniments made a well-rounded dish. I ordered the Heritage breed pork chop with goat cheese souffle, golden apples, and grilled onions. The pork chop was delivered perfectly cooked to a medium temperature and was very tender. The caramelized outside was tasty and enhanced the accompanying grilled onions. I loved the golden apples which balanced the savory and sweet. The goat cheese souffle was quite cheesy and melted appropriately in the middle. It was not something you see often on a menu so it was a nice surprise! We were absolutely too full for dessert, but the menu looked delicious with featured sorbets and ice creams off menu too. I would highly recommend the Fat Canary for a special meal in Williamsburg, and I would happily return here in the future! read more

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Best food ever! Came here for my anniversary. Got a personalized menu. This might be cap but I heard the executive chef came out for us as well. I don't even like pork chops and that pork chop I had was a top 5 meal I've ever had. Girlfriend enjoyed her meal. Will definitely be back. read more

Wonderful, top quality food and atmosphere. Our server Kevin was knowledgeable and friendly. I love the fact that they include a gratuity for the kicthen workers! We enhoyed all three courses of our meal! read more

Always amazing food service and atmosphere. Will always come back here. Their food is delicious, I love the entire experience of dining at this restaurant. The best on the peninsula read more

Unbeknownst to many locals is a restaurant in the top 100 restaurants in the USA for multiple years running. They are a family owned business housing 3 businesses under 1 roof: cheese shop, wine shop, & restaurant. We started off with a sweet onion cream soup with bacon and grilled scallops. I could have made a meal on the bread and soup. Next was a romaine salad with parmesan shavings, crispy croutons, and a balsamic dressing. The beef tenderloin didn't require a steak knife because it was so tender. We swear the restaurant must have asparagus and green beans growing out back. They tasted fresh picked. The salmon was served with couscous, beets, goat cheese, pesto, and diced vegetables. I expected small piles of each item on the plate. It was all mixed together with the piece of salmon on top. I was skeptical ... IT WORKED really well. And then dessert ... first, coffee was served hot (v. lukewarm) ... and we shared the special ... trio of sorbet ... raspberry, peach, and key lime. The meal was excellent but dessert was even better. We are considering returning tomorrow... read more

I have only been to The Fat Canary once. I took my parents there for a special dinner. The food was some of the tastiest I have ever eaten!

Phenomenal service and food. Can't wait to come back. Great date night. Our server was amazing. Knowledgeable about wine and food pairings and a real sweet guy. Made super suggestions throughout the evening. Will definitely revisit!!! read more

We went her for my birthday dinner. When I made the reservation they asked if it was a special occasion. They then provide a menu with personalized birthday wishes along with signatures of all the staff. A nice touch for special events. We started off by splitting the Tuna Tempura appetizer. Perfectly cooked tuna with delicious veggies and sauce. For a main course my wife had the scallops. She is not a bean fan but declared the white bean cassoulet to be wonderful. Scallops were perfectly seared. I had the rockfish special, pan fried with fingerling potatoes and tomatoes in a curry sauce. The curry sauce was nicely flavored without being overpowering. We finished up with the macadamia nut tart and the chocolate mousse, both delicious. A meal here is not cheap but you will not be disappointed. read more

Traveling to Williamsburg from Naples Florida we were concerned we would not find great restaurants in the area. However we found the Fat Canary with Excellent food and service. read more

Favorite restaurant in town. Always have generous pours and menu changes around which is great. I don't think I've ever had a bad meal there. Usually go weekly. read more

This restaurant has a nice atmosphere and delicious upscale food, however it is a tight space.

It is a very nice place and hope they will keep it this way!! Thank you for your hard work !! It is a really great pleasure to sip a glass of wine and taste your rabbit! ! read more

Come here for their appetizer: the Ginger Barbecued Pork Ribs with the Marinated Cucumber Salad - it is absolutely delicious! It is sweet and savory, and it had a right amount of flavor to it - finger-licking good! The restaurant itself is cute, and my husband and I had an anniversary dinner here. They personalized the menu, which I thought was so sweet. Other items on the menu were decent, but I highly suggest in going for their rib appetizer! +ginger Barbecued Pork Ribs appetizer! :D +personalized menu for special ocassions read more

This place is very good, as far as food goes; however, the dining area is fairly small and the noise level is high. I had dinner at the bar, and everything I ordered was very well prepared. I highly recommend the Pork Chops. They are some of the best I have had in a very long time. They are very tender, juicy and mild flavor, and they come with a wonderful goat cheese soufflé and apple sauce. If you like sweet with your meals, this is a must have. Service was also outstanding. Very attentive and flexible if you want to change something in the menu. Overall, a nice place to go for some gourmet food. read more

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Went to the fat canary downstairs and have nothing but great things to say. The place isn't cheap but the food is absolutely killer. We got a sweet onion soup and something else and the wines they suggested by the glass were absolutely exquisite: a great German reisling and perfect passion-fruit-scented Sauvignon bland read more

Awesome lemon dessert! In fact, I've never had anything bad there. My fav! My daughter is coming into town soon and we'll definitely go there! read more

Fat Canary is the BEST restaurant in Williamsburg! We were so happy that there was availability for dinner! We have been to Fat Canary before & were always pleased with the food! The food & service remained perfect!! It is obvious that this restaurant cares about quality and customer service! We had salmon and halibut & shrimp. Profiteroles for dessert. We were celebrating our 54th anniversary & were given a signed menu to commemorate our anniversary! Thank you to everyone at Fat Canary! You made our day! read more

Highly recommend! We enjoyed everything about this place. The maitre 'd was very personable and fun to talk with. Our server was an absolute delight. A special request to prepare a dish without the sauce (for medical reasons) did not throw her off her game. We were celebrating our birthdays and the staff had personalized our menus which was a beautiful gesture. Probably one of the best and prettiest restaurants we have been to in Williamsburg (maybe Richmond too!). Thank you for the perfect dining experience! read more

The food here is outstanding. It may be pricey and have a long wait, but you'll leave satisfied! The scallops were amazing. Cooked perfect - nice and buttery with a great sear and on point seasoning. Couscous went perfect with it. The short ribs dish was also incredible - the meat fell apart with your fork and oozed juices. The salmon was also amazing. It had a great range of flavors from its seasonings and it paired perfect with lentils. Our wait was super long, one hour after we had been told by the hostess that it would be 30 minutes. That same hostess has a really cold and unfriendly demeanor too. But that's okay - the food was great and our server was really friendly. The atmosphere is also really nice. It's right on Duke of Gloucester Street, the heart of colonial Williamsburg, which is a really quaint spot. Great location for a date or family visiting. I would definitely come again. read more

Luckily for us we discovered the Fat Canary early in my son's time at W&M. The food is amazing and the ambience wonderful. The hard part is remembering to make a reservation before they are booked. Hoping to enjoy a meal there on a quick visit to Williamsburg next weekend! read more

Took my brother and sister-in-law to Fat Canary Saturday night. Loved the cocktails and food! Had a great time at the bar. Definitely I will go back! read more

We had our anniversary dinner at Fat Canary on July 11th, Wednesday at 6:30. Had reservations. Location: easy to access right on DOG street in the Colonial Williamsburg village. We took the shuttle from our hotel (Williamsburg lodge) and it was an easy walk from the market square shuttle stop. Atmosphere: it was a nice setting. Yes, as other yelpers have mentioned, the tables are kinda close together, but it was not too bad. Could have a nice conversation, not too loud. It's a very nice restaurant and I'm sure rent is high in colonial Williamsburg. Candles and fresh flower on the table. Classy. Service: helpful, chipper server without being pushy or intrusive. They all seemed to work together as we had other servers help bring dishes to the table and remove dishes as the food was eaten. Cocktails: I had the lemon canary, it was good, but would not order again. Husband had a red wine, he enjoyed very much. Food: husband had the special of the day, a chilled cucumber soup and he loved it. I tasted it and while it was yummy, I'm not much a fan of cold soup - although if any cold soup could make me a believer, it might well be the chilled cucumber soup at the fat canary. Comp bread: it was okay, the butter was very good, spreadable and a nice flavor. Hit the spot. I had 2 apps as an app and entree, first one up, soft shell crab. It was great. Crispy, not too heavy on the breading. The little salad on the side of the plate was a wonderful compliment to the dish, bright and fresh tastings. Entree: my husband had the scallops, loved them. Good count and they were prepared perfectly. I had the ginger ribs app as an entree, tender, great flavor. A little thick on the sauce for me. But, I liked them. Great flavor. Good char. Yummy. Dessert: forget about it. They all looked fabulous, but we were way too full! What we loved: 1. the special touch for the occasion. The server knew right away it was our anniversary. They called prior to the dinner, went over the spelling of the name, presented us with a personlized menu signed by the staff. Gave it to us after ordering, wrapped in a little curling ribbon. Wonderful touch!!! Made it all very special. Thank you!!!! 2. went downstairs to a scheduled wine tasting after dinner at their wine shop and enjoyed it as well. Server said they usually close at 7, special wine tasting, they were open until 8 that night. 3. Appreciated that it is a family owned business and not a corporate operation. You go, small business! Negatives: it was a little pricey, but it was not price prohibitive for us. We'd rather spend a little more, than throw money at a tourist trap meal that is not up to par. We did not experience any real negatives during our visit. Would recommend. Loved it. read more

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Started with tempura ahi tuna, followed by a creamy sweet onion soup (of the day). Wrapped it up with the grouper special and the seared scallops. So delicious! We will be back! read more

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We dined on the patio on July 3 2010. We started with a salad made from local greens, with goat cheese and almond flour chips and a balsamic dressing. Delicious! My wife had scallops with white beans and kale and I had the seared halibut on a brothy bowl of corn, peas and other veggies. Both were delicious! Our waiter Keith was incredibly knowledgeable read more

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Overall, it was over priced food for the quality/quantity and a very loud atmosphere. This included a drunk customer who was yelling; to the point where several other diners at tables, as well as at the bar across the room, were annoyed and staring at her. The dining room is small and tables are very close together. The kitchen is open but you can't really see anything, unless you're sitting right in front of it. The menu is small and limited. They have no meatless entrees. Even the scallops came with pork belly and the mozzarella, tomato, basil appetizer came with ham. Onion and mushroom soup was very good. Caesar salad was ok. Crab cake appetizer was nothing special, and it was not lump crab. Scallops were very good and cooked perfectly. For dessert, the ginger crepes with strawberries were good, and the profiteroles with ice cream were delicious. The service was very good. The server was friendly, knew the menu, water was refilled, she checked on our dinners, etc. The bathrooms were downstairs, so you could either walk or take an elevator. One of the toilets in the ladies room was disgusting. Parking is across the street in a public lot if you can find a space. It gets full quickly on Friday and Saturday nights. I don't consider this to be a fine dining establishment, as they missed the mark with the ambiance, quality of the food, and the bathroom situation. I would not recommend this restaurant and will not return. read more

The service, atmosphere, and food is fabulous. I highly recommend this place to locals and tourists. It's our spot for celebrations and special occasions. Jessica was our server this evening, she was phenomenal! We did the cheese and fruit plate for an appetizer, it's on the desert menu but it's my favorite appetizer. read more

Fat Canary - Crab Cakes - New American Near Me - Williamsburg, Virginia

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From the amazing food to the world class service, Fat Canary has it figured out. We celebrated my parents' anniversary, and they even gave them a special menu signed by the staff. We had the halibut and shrimp risotto special, and it was so yummy! Also the desserts were very creative and delicious. Our waiter Neil was wonderful, made great recommendations and was so attentive to us the entire meal. read more

Fat Canary - The special for the night: halibut with creamy risotto with shrimp, sweet corn and mushrooms. So delicious! - New American Near Me - Williamsburg, Virginia

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Five stars for great service, drinks, wine, & location! The food here is wonderful and with multiple chiefs on site you can't go wrong. My favorite server, Tink, is retiring soon, so my wife & I had to come by. Started off with an appetizer & cocktails, then a beef tenderloin along with a mild red wine (awesome) and finished with a brownie-ice creme dessert! Yeah baby! The ONLY way to dine! They also have a Killer Vegetarian Plate that isn't on the menu, just ask for it. Depends on the fresh veggies available is the reason. It is made on order as requested, which is really good. Parking in the parking garage is my favorite place, it's covered and a very short walk. If looking to impress a special someone or just want some great eats, try this spot, it is really that good. read more

A superb meal! Loved all the dishes: 1. Tempura tuna 2. Leek soup with crab meat 3. Seared foie gras 4. Rockfish with whipped potatoes Everything was packed with flavor without being salty! And the foie gras with toast is one of the best that I have had! Very balanced flavors with freshness in every bite! read more

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Very loud and crowded restaurant environment. Food is outstanding and drinks are generous. If you don't mind the overcrowded loud environment the food is outstanding the wait staff attentive, very friendly and helpful in selecting menu items. read more

Always the very best in Williamsburg. The food is prepared perfectly on a consistent basis, and the flavor always comes through. It's a very popular setting, and is oh so good. read more

The Fat Canary is associated with quite possibly my most favorite, most beloved Williamsburg institution, The Cheese Shop. Don't even get me started on The Cheese Shop, because I could wax rapturous for hours and don't care what the poo-poohers have to say. But this review is for The Fat Canary. Last visit to Williamsburg we enjoyed a glass of wine at the bar before dinner reservations elsewhere. We loved the ambiance and the menu intrigued, so this time around we made dinner plans at The Fat Canary. I'm a fan of the chartreuse. Or the lemongrass. Or the spring green. Whatever you want to call it. The walls and accents are this soothing, mossy color. It casual-downs the otherwise pretty chichi, white-table-clothed atmosphere. This place is supremely popular with the locals, it gets very crowded, and reservations are recommended. I'm less of a fan of the service. The ladies who greeted us at the door (and I use the term "greet" loosely), kind of just raised their eyebrows like, "What?" when we walked in -- with reservations. Tho they did then cheerfully take our coats and show us to our table. Our server hardly smiled, however. It was disconcerting. He also looked above our heads when speaking to us, rarely making eye-contact. I'm more of a fan of the food. We started with an appetizer special of ahi tuna tempura, and a menu staple app of fried Rappahannock oysters with roasted green chili butter sauce. The ahi -- while prepared nicely and clearly fresh -- wasn't very exciting. The oysters, on the other hand, were marvelous with a nice, briny taste, tender shellfish, and a thin, ultra-crunchy cornmeal coating. The chili sauce was subtle but packed with excellent flavor. For dinner I ordered seared sea scallops with mussels, shiitakes, rapini, and a miso broth. Individually, most of the ingredients sang. Mussels were exceptional. Scallops tasted light and fresh. Rapini was cooked al dente. But the miso broth was *SO* salty it almost ruined the dish. Others tried the free-range quail with gnocchi; the truffle and sage stuffed pheasant with root veggies; and the braised beef short ribs with faro and brussels sprouts. No one else had any complaints about over-salting and really enjoyed their dishes. (They declared the beef short ribs the winner, tho.) For dessert we shared a sea-salt brownie with some kind of ridiculously delicious custard...or whipped creamy type thing. At this point we'd shared so much wine nothing really registered with me after reading "sea-salt brownie." Overall, a nice meal at The Fat Canary. It's a bit pricey, but for an every-once-in-awhile dinner, it seems worth it. Just fix the miso problem, will ya, FC? read more

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