We have traveled to Williamsburg, VA for years and just found this place!! Parking is a little tough but you can use the lot adjacent to the restaurant. The staff was super nice the moment we walk in the door. Our Server (Emily) was supper knowledgeable and made suggestion's that where on point. Plating was nice to look at and tasted wonderful. Rib appetizer was fell off the bone tender, better than some BBQ joints. My wife had the Nutty Chicken, Mash Potatoes and Beets with citrus. I had the Peppercorn Encrusted Tuna , Mushroom rice with zucchini. Portion size was appropriate and the flavor profile of our food could not be beat. The restaurant has quotes post on the walls from historical figures that I fell in love with, after mentioning this to our server, she gave me a printed list of all the quotes. Thanks for a great dinning experience!! read more

Nice clean restaurant, good service. The fish with the fish and chips meal was dry and overcooked.

Love the theme. There are meaningful sayings everywhere. I took a picture of one to send to my grandson and another for my screensaver. The vibe is upscale diner. Our server , Eric, was super friendly and helpful with the menu. Food came out really fast. Stuffed mushrooms were the bomb. Not only was the ribs delicious but the meat fell off the bone. The crab grilled cheese sandwich was awesome. The shrimp chowder was okay. What turned this review from 4 to 5 was the bread pudding. To die for. Right amount of sweetness and topped with ice cream. The beer flight of local beers was fun. read more

Food For Thought - American Near Me - Williamsburg, Virginia

We visited this restaurant based off of the positive reviews that others had shared. I wouldn't say that I made a terrible choice, but I probably wouldn't dined here again. My son and I chose to dine early to beat the rush. We got here at 5pm and we're seated right away. The kids menu has a great selection, but my son chose the cheeseburger and fries. The cheeseburger was very plain, void of any vegetable or topping. They use ciabata, and it was very tough. My son asked to use the parmesan roll and said that was better. I ordered That Nutty chicken with broccoli, subbed the Mac and cheese for the mashed potatoes. That decision I regret. The Mac was very boring, bland and not homemade. One would think with the upcharge, the quality would be better, but no. The chicken was okay. I liked the flavor of the chicken, but the portion size was small and the serving of broccoli was even smaller, about 3 pieces. Our server was great and I enjoyed the atmosphere! It is a little noisy, so if that bothers you, just be prepared. read more

Food For Thought - Love the quotes on the wall! - American Near Me - Williamsburg, Virginia

Vibe: Great vibe overall. The cards, quotes, and pictures on the tables were a nice touch and actually got conversation going. It didn't feel forced, just a cool, thoughtful setup. Food: I had the jerk chicken and cilantro lime chicken with mashed sweet potatoes and broccoli. Both chicken options were good, tender, and flavorful. The broccoli was solid too, I'd definitely double up on that again. The mashed sweet potatoes were just okay, a little too much lemon for my taste. Service/Timing: Service was great, no complaints here. Food came out on time and everything was handled smoothly. They close at 8, we got there about 7:10. Value ($$): Good value for what you get, especially with the quality of the chicken and portions.$25 for my meal, under $50 for me and my gf. Highlight: Flavorful Wrap-Up: If I'm back in Williamsburg, I'd definitely come here again. Easy choice for a solid, reliable meal. read more

Food For Thought - Jerk & cilantro lime chicken, broccoli and mashed sweet potatoes - American Near Me - Williamsburg, Virginia

Still our go-to spot for amazing food and service in Williamsburg! Dined here last night for dinner and even on a busy Saturday night, we had great service, yummy food as usual and no complaints! Shared the seafood special platter (fried flounder, fried shrimp and crab cake) Had a choice of two sides which we chose grits and skinny fries. Since we mentioned we were sharing it, they brought out our meal on two separate plates already all split. So nice of them! We also share their special crab soup. Very good! read more

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Food for Thought is easily one of the most popular restaurants in Williamsburg, and honestly, it lives up to the hype. No matter what day or time you come, expect it to be busy. If you're in a smaller party of two, you might luck out and get seated pretty quickly, but if you're rolling in with a larger group, plan to hang out in the waiting area for at least 20 minutes. It's worth it. The restaurant has a fun theme centered around American history, which fits perfectly with its location so close to Colonial Williamsburg. The vibe is very family-friendly without feeling cheesy. It feels thoughtful, welcoming, and uniquely "Williamsburg." My first visit was so good that when I came back to Hampton Roads for the holidays, I literally made a day trip just to eat here again. The ribs I had on that first visit were fall-off-the-bone tender, and the creamed spinach tasted just like the one Boston Market used to serve. That is high praise, because they shut all their locations down and I've been missing that flavor ever since. On my most recent visit, I ordered the crabcake platter, and it did not disappoint. The crabcakes were juicy, flavorful, and packed with real crab meat, not filler. Everything tasted fresh and thoughtfully prepared. If you're visiting Williamsburg, or even if you're local, Food for Thought is one of those places you just have to experience at least once. And if you're anything like me, you'll probably end up coming back. read more

Food For Thought - Crabcake platter with cream spinach and mashed potatoes. - American Near Me - Williamsburg, Virginia

An Amazing Find of a Restaurant! Came here for few days to go to Busch Garden. Stomach wasn't in the best state after riding all the upside down and twisty rides, let alone I was not hungry but had to eat with others. And all I can say is I am so glad we came here. The food was so good and Impressive, it even cured my tummy! Venue: casual dining. Has full bar/ bar seats and table sitting. IT WAS PACKED. I did not make reservation but was lucky they had open seats at the bar seating. The walls are decorated with famous quotes- I loved them! Food: ordered burger and catch of the day (fish) with rice pilaf and broccoli. Honestly I did not expect anything But when I took the first bite of the fish I was already addicted. White fish- clean - tender- fresh- lemon really brightened the flavor and it was season to perfection. In fact, this is my utmost favorite fish I've ever had. I'm still thinking about this dish. It was that good. Trying to make another reason to come back to Williamsburg. Burger was great as well. Service: I can't say I had the best-ever service. Busy bar seating, really didn't expect so much service but overall everyone was very friendly. Price: reasonable price - if even if they double the price, I'll come back. read more

Food For Thought - Happy kid with BLACK ANGUS BRIOCHE BURGER - American Near Me - Williamsburg, Virginia

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Went here for the second time because of great food and superb service. Walked in on a Saturday night, we were surprised it was not that busy. Got seated right away. They sell shirts and some other merchandise here. Atmosphere was casual and cozy. One of the soups of the day was creamy crab chowder. It was indeed creamy and delicious. Got the light and heavy crab cake with Jasmine mushroom rice and handmade coleslaw as sides. Also got the chicken combo (island jerk chicken and cilantro lime chicken) with coleslaw and fresh fruit dish. The jerk chicken was very flavorful and I liked it more than the cilantro lime chicken. The apple cobbler was a generous serving with vanilla bean ice cream. It was perfect to end the night! Our server Matthew was very personable. Another person who would refill our glasses asked if we needed anything and if she could do anything else to make our experience even better. The small things like this really makes you feel well taken care of and one of the reasons why we keep coming back here. Delicious food and great service. Highly recommended! read more

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My family and I went to Food for Thought on a Friday. I was looking at different restaurants that were close but not within walking distance to William & Mary campus so my oldest son had something different. They had an interesting menu so we decided to try it. We arrived around 430 and were able to get a table right away. The bar offerings looked great but decided to not indulge this visit. My youngest son and I both had the family reunion (pot roast/meatloaf combo) with two sides. My oldest son had fish and chips, and my wife had a crab cake. All of us thoroughly enjoyed our meals. Rolls with the dinner were great. Pot roast was some of the best I've ever had! Service is absolutely outstanding. Even the owner stopped by our table to check on us. This is a very strong option when you are in Williamsburg. I would stop here again in a heartbeat. read more

Food For Thought - FAMILY REUNION - American Near Me - Williamsburg, Virginia

Great place to stop in for food! The staff is friendly, there's a lot of food to choose from and everything was very good. The atmosphere is fun and keeps you entertained while you wait. It seems to be a very popular place, we got there not even an hour after they opened and it was already busy and with no wait. read more

Had lunch today with a group of 10 neighborhood friends. You must try the Wine Country Grilled Cheese! The cheese is Brie, and it includes apples, strawberries, red onion, and honey mustard. Delicious! Plus you get the choice of a side salad, cup of soup, or side dish. The salad is a good size, so I order it with house raspberry vinaigrette. Messy and Yummy! Service is always friendly at Food for Thought! They have increased their parking area recently with the lot next door, making it easy to go to the restaurant. read more

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Back at Food for Thought again, and this time we met up with friends from VA Beach. My wife to the ribs again, and I ordered the crab cake sandwich also again. My mom got the ahi tuna salad and it was really good. The little one had a burger with fries. The food here is always so good! Our friends tried the turkey special and some other item. The bread that gets brought out before the appetizers and entrees are so good! Open one up in the DC area! read more

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Everything and everyone at this restaurant is first rate. Highly recommend you try the pork chop when it's on their specials menu. read more

Food For Thought - Acorn squash w/ grilled chicken and crab chowder. Crab abella. And shrimp po boy. - American Near Me - Williamsburg, Virginia

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Our first visit to the Williamsburg area and there are many restaurants to choose from. Even so, at a bit past 6 PM on a Monday their parking lot was almost full and there was a 25 minute wait, which turned out to be shorter than that for the 2 of us. This a lively and enlightening place, in a good way! It has extra good vibes and I sensed that it is a local favorite. The menu is original and diverse. We started with a beet salad and haddock red potato soup neither of which disappointed. My main course, a vegetarian spaghetti squash with a sun-dried tomato pesto sauce that was very tasty. I optioned for a piece of grilled Norwegian salmon added to it. Service was friendly and attentive. Worth visiting a again. read more

Man, what a great place to eat! I stopped at this location to go to a lantern festival. The service was great, the vibe was great, bathrooms were clean. Our waiter was upbeat and attentive. The ribs, were delicious and the steak. The have an extensive kids menu! I love they offered actual real food vs just basic kids meals. I definitely had a great experience. read more

Excellent food, very friendly service, great ambiance to enjoy a nice Mother's Day meal.

I chose this eatery for a birthday lunch and had already selected my meal choices on the website menu. So when I found out they had different soups than on the website I was left in decision mode. The restaurant itself is ample with a bar area and table seating, a dining room and a separate sort of indoor patio sort of. The vibe is industrial with extremely diverse quotes as decor from notable people in history. Seating is comfortable but some of the areas are crowded. To get to the restrooms they are off from the kitchen and there is a desk prominently where the doors are to the restrooms. Just a bit tight and strange. As you go back and forth to the restrooms you encounter a crowded area where staff are congregated at the registers/computers. More staff congregate at the bar area, waiting to be of service. I opted for a plant based crab cake. It said crab cakes but I only got one served with the $16 lunch portion. My iced tea was nicely brewed. The onion rolls were delicious, and the sweet potato cornbread a bit dry but both a nice complimentary starter. The manager came to speak with us about our meal and how we came to choose to dine there. He asked if I did not like the creamed spinach because I ate very little. I had ordered it to eat with my crab cake to moisten it. But hear me now, restauranteurs: if I don't like it I will tell you. I hate to have to explain why I have not eaten every thing I am served. Usually I stuff a paper napkin in to cover it up. If I pay for it, then it is on me what I do with it. I get why they ask, but just don't. If you ask was every thing ok and I say yes, then it was. Trust me. I had no room for the creme brulet on the menu and next time I am ordering that first. I think if you have any kind of diet preferences you can find thoughtful food offerings here. Parking is onsite but apparently it sometimes flows into a neighboring business who will tow you. Signs let you know so I guess it happens enough. Price point is moderate to mid. I imagine it is about $25 per person for a lunch and tea and goes up from there. But it has a nice vibe and eager to please management so all said, it is worth a try. I gave 5 stars just based on my experience because it was better than a 4. Maybe a 4.3 read more

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YES just YES. Food delicious and unique Atmosphere super cool quotes on all of the walls and quirky comments and facts in the bathroom. Even the menu has character Tip do not park next door they have a posted sign to show where to park without being towed They have a bar area as well As plenty of family seating The service was attentive and very polite I tried this awesome "grilled cheese" it had provolone with apples and strawberries and honey mustard it was interesting but really good and the vegan gumbo was absolutely delicious read more

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Food was very good! Service was very good and plenty of it. Staff was there to make sure everything was up to their standards! Very good helpings to bring home as well! The walls are covered with wonderful sayings and icons of America! read more

There are SO many wonderful things about our lunch! We are visitors from our of town. The staff, wonderful Eshawn was our server and gave us all the right time for a dining experience. And it is that, a dining experience. One of us had the pot roast with sweet mash potatoes and squash soup. It was the textures and subtle deep rich flavors. It was comfort food and I ate it all. I also had a spiced apple cider with rum- oh so good. The other person had ribs with so much meat on them and flavor. Sauce not too sweet, not too spicy. Grits & loaded mashed potatoes. One thing I thing great is when managers stop by and check on you. The restaurant was clean! My most important requirement! We would come back! read more

The food was outstanding! We came back a second time it was so good. The filet and scallops were perfectly cooked and flavored. The atmosphere is fun and the customer service is second to none. This place is worth the drive 4 hours back to Williamsburg from NC! Don't go pay twice the price for a filet at the other places! read more

The food was outstanding and the service from Gilbert was probably the best I have had in years. Stopped in with a colleague. The dining room was immaculate and had such friendly atmosphere. The cheese rolls were great -- sweet potato cornbread was good, but had nothing on the cheesy rolls! We started with the ribs appetizer. They were amazing and the portion was generous. My guest had the pot roast which was appealing, but I had the nutty chicken (Parmesan crusted chicken with a creamy sauce and crushed pistachios). It was truly unique and amazing. Their side of the day was grilled zucchini--if I could grill it like that, oof! Definitely the place to check out if you are in the area, you won't be disappointed!! read more

Food For Thought - Pot roast (with onions added) - American Near Me - Williamsburg, Virginia

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The service was amazing, we sat at the bar, it was very crowded, at the time we went. There was an amazing separate menu for GF, and I ordered pad Thai. The ambiance was great. The community was so kind, and everyone was so nice when interacting. The food came out fast, and I will be back! read more

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I went here years ago with my parents so when I was there last week, I had to try it again. When I got there, there were many people waiting outside for a table and I was worried that I wouldn't get a seat. Luckily I was alone and was able to sit at the bar with no problem. The bar was very lively and the bartender was very attentive. I asked for some recommendations and he told me about the Thai dish that I had. It was delicious! All in all a great time! read more

We read a few comments online advising to skip Food For Thought but it was the only restaurant we called that didn't have a massive wait on a Saturday night. We arrived, joined the waitlist, and only ended up waiting about 20 minutes for the two of us. We saw other large groups able to be seated too. Our server was very friendly and walked us through everything. Our cocktails were great. All of the food was quite delicious. The shrimp boat appetizer surprised us the most - the bruschetta tomatoes are such a nice complement to the dish. The fish was massive and the skinny fries were addictive. The crab cakes could use a little more crab but still enjoyable. During dinner we saw the manager checking in with each table (including us), refilling waters, and cleaning tables. Although the restaurant was completely packed, the staff clearly have a well run system to keep everything going as efficiently as possible. We completely disagree with the comments we read and would recommend trying this restaurant! read more

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The food and service were both incredible. I was sat in a sunroom feeling dining area and was served by Marcos. Marcos made incredible recommendations and although I knew I wasn't hungry enough for both an appetizer AND lunch, they way he described both made it so I couldn't decide and ordered both. Although I couldn't finish both the Shrimp Boat & the "Stick to your Ribs" I didn't regret ordering both. They were SO GOOD. And as a bourbon girly, I got the Lavender & Rye old fashioned. I'm not a fan of maple so that's what I went with and I'm glad I did, it wasn't too earthy with the lavender. It was honestly perfect. Can't wait to come back again. Also it always feels a bit more personal when the manager comes by to check in & Emily made me feel very welcome and taken care of. Loved this experience. read more

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We ate at Food For Thought on a Saturday night and called ahead. The wait was only about 15 minutes. The soups and salads were excellent, the steaks were great, and the dessert was wonderful. The crab cake was not good, but the staff took care of it right away. Overall, a very good experience and we would definitely go back. read more

This whole place was amazing!! The atmosphere & the food - 10/10! I loved how the chef brought my food to the table. And then later, the owner comes around to make sure everything is good! I've never had a dish like the one I ordered. It was a very well put together dish that I had to make myself stop eating! I'm from out of town. I'll be returning soon! read more

Food For Thought - I fell in love with this quote!! - American Near Me - Williamsburg, Virginia

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First off, the food was great! My sister was very happy there was a gluten-free menu. I was happy the the BLT had the perfect amount of bacon. The service was great. Our server was engaging, pleasant, and helpful. The manager stopped by our table to ask how we were doing - the was very nice.l and warm. There were great quotes on the walls and T-shirts for sale. It was a special day for us and they made lunch very special. We will be back - great experience. read more

Food For Thought - They put the date on our leftover containers. - American Near Me - Williamsburg, Virginia

This is an amazing restaurant. From the thought-provoking quotes on the walls and articles about inventors, to our great waitress and fantastic food we couldn't have been more pleased. My husband ordered the lunch order ribs, the Upgrade side mac & cheese, and creamed spinach, while I ordered the cilantro lime chicken with beets and the mushroom rice. I wasn't sure about that mushroom rice, but it was flavorful and had a nice texture. The ribs my husband ordered were Literally fall off the bone and with a rich smokey flavor. He said that it was perhaps the best mac & cheese he's ever had. Everything tasted so good! We would definitely come back here! read more

Still my favorite spot in Williamsburg! Great food and great vibes. Staff is always friendly! Got the salad last time and it was fantastic. read more

Food For Thought - Classic Cobb Salad - American Near Me - Williamsburg, Virginia

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The food was amazing. I had the meatloaf with the tomato based sauce. It's good to see the tomato based sauce being served somewhere. I grew up with a tomato based topping for my meatloaf and it seems to be hard to find places that serve it. As far as taste, it was full of flavor and I'd give it an A+ for quality. Our server was attentive and was cognizant of our needs. I feel like we had great service during our meal. The atmosphere is quite comfortable in the volume of noise was just about right enough that you could talk to the people at your table without overhearing everything at the table next to you. The spacing of the tables was comfortable as well. The wait time was about 15 minutes. Parking is tight, very limited. There was a sign that so we could park next door so we took advantage of that. This is my third time eating here and we've always had great experiences. I had guests from out of town that I brought with me and they appreciated the quality of service and food as well as the relaxed ambience. The quotes on the walls are a nice touch integrate for stimulating conversation. We will be back. read more

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I've discovered this gem years ago and have gone here with friends who in turn has now found this to be one of their favorites as well. Great atmosphere, good food and the service is first class. If I didn't live almost an hour away, I'd frequent it much more often. I'm thankful they've been consistent over the years. One of my favorites is the Thai one on dish read more

Wow this was a pleasant surprise. I can see why the parking was overflowing and the place was packed. The food and bread were amazing and the staff were friendly. Ate and left no crumbs literally. It's a bit packed in terms of getting there and walking inside, but everything else makes the experience worth it. There were a few souvenir items on sale too. American decorations and theme all around, very nice. read more

Food For Thought - Cilantro Lime Chicken - American Near Me - Williamsburg, Virginia

We decided to go to Food for thought for dinner on a Sunday evening while visiting Williamsburg. To our surprise, the parking lot was full and we saw people waiting in front of the restaurant. It was a Sunday evening. I did not expect a crowded place at all. They told us that it would take 25 minutes to get a table, but we could also sit at the bar immediately . Since there were only two of us, we decided to just sit at the bar. After sitting the bread basket came quickly. Everything was warm and it went really well with the cold butter. For the main course, my boyfriend decided to go with a piece of salmon and two side dishes, steamed broccoli, and cream spinach. Everything tasted great. The salmon had nice taste and very fresh. Creamed spinach was really tasty, but it was probably more creamed than spinach. Ha ha. For me, I decided to go with a crab-a-Bella. A huge pile of crab meat on top of stuffed portobello., on a bed of mushroom rice. Very delicious. I typically don't order a dish like this since I try to eat on the healthier side, but I just had to try it. And it was definitely worth the calories. While we were eating the manager Edwin stopped by to say hi and to check whether the food was OK. We told him everything was great and he had a nice conversation with him. Turned out he moved here from California 21 years ago.. shout out to Edwin!! This is the couple from San Diego that you talked to on a Sunday evening! All in all , this is a great restaurant. Pretty cool concept and good quotes all over. Nice and friendly people. Great food. I'm glad we decided to check it out during our stay at Williamsburg! read more

Really enjoyed my dinner here. I started with the "really good margarita" which was very good. I had the Meatloaf and friend had the beet salad. Both were excellent. Will definitely return to try more items. read more

Amazing service. I'll start there. As to the food, everything is very very (add a few very's) good. Better meatloaf than my wife's. And she ate a few bites and agreed! Crabcake was excellent. Beets were promised to be orange glazed and they tasted like they were.... orange glazed! Great bread service, good mashed potatoes, nice salad. I have nothing negative to say. Will return. read more

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This place is awesome! All the phrases on the wall along with shirts and stuff at the entrance is pretty neat. The service of the staff is top notch and made sure we didn't have to wait hardly at all for drinks, bread, or our food! Speaking of the food, it's delicious and very well cooked. I will definitely be back! read more

Food For Thought - PANKO BAKED WILD HADDOCK with a side salad and fries. - American Near Me - Williamsburg, Virginia

The service was very good. The waiter was pleasant and engaging. The restaurant was actually larger once you entered with a bar area toward the rear. The food was delicious. I had the pot roast which was so tender and meaty along with mashed potatoes and creamed spinach. My wife had the beet salad which she said was delicious and was large enough that she brought some home. We will return there when we return to Williamsburg. read more