When we decided to visit Colonial Williamsburg, most people told us we had to frequent one or more of the taverns, preferably King's Arms. It was awe inspiring to think Jefferson and Washington ate and drank here after House of Burgess meetings. We made a reservation on Open Table for an early dinner since we were traveling the next day. (No lunch reservations taken). They are set up in various rooms throughout the house and the servers and staff are dressed in colonial garb. They speak and serve in old school Fashion which is delightful. They even had a gentleman walking around playing music from the time period. I enjoyed a Rummer refreshing cocktail while hubby had an Apple Jack old Fashioned. The drinks average $15. They also have a fine assortment of wines. They brought a bread basket with super fresh bread and mini corn muffins. They also brought whipped butter, a Virginia ham spread and corn relish. All excellent! We saw peanut soup in several places and ordered it here. It was very different. Very peanutty and super filling. I ordered the crab croquettes which were flaky and delicious. The sauce had just a bit of zing and completed the flavor profile perfectly. Our server Lynette was such a sweet lady. I adored her and she even tied the giant napkins for us to prevent spills and mess. (It was super hot though and we took them off eventually) For dinner, hubby got the beef steak. It had a seasoned butter was cooked medium rare, exactly as hubby asked for. The mashed potatoes were creamy and delish. Also came with perfectly cooked stemmed carrots and string beans. It was a little pricey at $58, but you are also paying for the experience and atmosphere. I was a bit full from the bread, muffins and croquettes, but dug into my onion pye. It was served in a deep tin, covered in a flakey crust and topped with an over light egg, fun onions and scallions. It also came fresh veggies. So yummy! read more

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Don't go thinking the food is going to be great. It's equivalent to theme park food with a high price, sad selection and okay flavor. The server was the highlight. Black-eyed peas and rice were decent but fully believe they are canned beans just based on the rest of the food. The server said it was Carolina gold rice but it's not based on the texture. It's Sysco parboiled rice. Crab cakes were 80% filling and were bone dry. BBQ chicken sandwich was dry and the bread was stale. Onion pot pie was good and the veggies on the side were good. Husband enjoyed the pecan pie but they put honey on the plate and said the whipped cream was fresh. Okay. Don't believe you but okay. I am fine to eat here to support Colonial Williamsburg but if you come here, make sure you level set your expectations. read more

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I took a late lunch at the King's Arms Tavern while visiting Colonial Williamsburg. I guess some days they close at 2pm and other days they power on from lunch through dinner, so plan accordingly. It's located in Colonial Williamsburg, so parking is not nearby. There tends to be a line to get in if you don't have a reservation, but we were seated soon after we got in line around 1:45pm. Their menu is sourced from recipes from the colonial era and the staff are all dressed in the latest colonial fashion. I ordered the fish sandwich which I thought was too salty (perhaps this is period accurate) but my family really liked it. I liked the chips it was served with! I also tried the peanut soup which tasted like drinking peanut butter and I'm not sure if that's for me, but my brother loved it. I had a bit of the beef hash which was pretty tasty! I also had the chocolate tart which was very chocolatey. For a drink we had the non alcoholic orange ginger peach bowl, which served our family of 5 just fine for $16. There was entertainment during our meal, a woman came around and sang a colonial song before taking out a recorder and playing a dancing song. This was fun! Our waitress rubbed us the wrong way. She repeated our order several times to us because she was not writing it down. I was not confident we would get the right food. When we tried to add other things she made us wait since she was busy committing everything to memory. She seemed annoyed when we put in other orders for food, but she did bring us an extra peanut soup "in case" we wanted another one, since we had put in an order for a soup after we initially ordered. She did not really seem keen on serving us. The service was slow, too. At the end of the meal, she put something of ours on another table's check, then took our check back to add what she missed. There was also a bowl of soup on our check that we did not order and the card was charged twice, plus another $18 charge. Not sure what ye olde POS system they're using back there... read more

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I heard from multiple people that this was the place to try in Colonial Williamsburg. You should book as much in advance as possible. The first time I looked, there were no reservations, but then a few opened up. We got to sit in a little nook by the window. Our server was excellent and very knowledgeable about the restaurant and food. We had the ham plate as an appetizer, and it was really good. The complimentary bread was also tasty. I added the soup and dessert to my meal, which is not a bad deal for 19 dollars. I had the famous peanut soup, which I enjoyed. It has great texture and a unique flavor. For dinner, I had the game pie. I loved all of the different types of meat, and the flavor was amazing. Dessert was delicious too. I had Thomas Jefferson's favorite, which is the snow eggs. This was a very cool experience, and I would recommend eating here. read more

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AUTHENTIC!! The experience seemed to nail the zeitgeist of the colonial time. Food. Ambience. Drinks. Historical Tidbits. Entertainment. Fantastic! I seldom have red meat, but after a number of veteran reviewers said they liked the prime rib I ordered it. It was very nice. The favorite was the Game Pye - might be seasonal, but the crust pastry was lovely. Snow eggs were fun. A lot sweeter than expected--came with nuts and berries. Good. I would ask to go light on the sugar myself next time. Staff was great. Marcin has a great energy and lots of good suggestions and guidance. Our entertainer was wonderful too. I would have loved a toast at the end of the songs! It is the 250th anniversary of the country. Toast to the USA! Toast to Thomas Jefferson! Toast to President George Washington! People would love that. I would've loved it. read more

It's always special for our family to dine at one of the Colonial Williamsburg taverns. Our favorite for decades has been Kings Arms. We have not not dined, or even spent much time at CW since the pandemic. After a hike behind Bassett Hall my wife and I enjoyed lunch. We arrived at noon and were promptly seated in an empty room. Around 20 minutes later the first floor was full. The atmosphere was cool and authentic. Nothing has changed since my previous visit. Our friendly waitress got menus and waters. I started off with an Apple Jack Old Fashioned utilizing Virginia Gentleman bourbon. We reviewed items on the menu that may have been served in the period. We started with apps. I got a salad, or "To Make a Fine Sallet". My wife crab croquettes. They pushed out first and we enjoyed. For mains. I got the pork shank, or "To Stew a Shoat in the French Way". My wife had "Chicken Hash", it was like a thick soup. The plating was beautiful and the taste matched. The old fashioned was disappointing because it was so weak. Service was decent, but not much attention. For dessert I got the bread pudding and wife chocolate tart. Both were outstanding! The bill was dropped on the table. It was around $150 w/ tip. Although pricey we had fun and felt like tourist just an hour from home. I would recommend. read more

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Excellent experience 10/10. Food, service, and atmosphere were to the kings degree. Great for our kid too!

The King's Arms Tavern is an interesting experience with decent service but nothing more to offer than that. I came here with my parents and girlfriend as a way to cap a nice day of introducing her to them and I was unpleasantly surprised by the visit. Despite the fact that you cannot park in front of the establishment , there was very little signage in the back to route you to where you needed to be to reach the host stand. Once we got there, there was some awkward interaction from the hostess to get us seated, and we reviewed our menus. We all opted for the peanut soup ($10 each) as an appetizer, and my girlfriend and I opted for the Roast Duck ($50 each) and my parents both opted for the Salmon with crab on top ($59 each). While the peanut soup was excellent (and available elsewhere), the roast duck was flavorless, the accompanying vegetables cold, and the mashed potatoes were not enough to save the entree. The "free" Sally Lunn bread and cornbread were quite nice, though again not enough to save the meal, nor was the bread pudding. My parents told me they liked the salmon meals but without sampling it I have to take their word for it. I risk seeming ignorant here so to be clear: I have enjoyed a number of elevated meals where the high prices were entirely justified by the quality of food, level of service, and upscale atmosphere. King's Arms failed in every respect: the food was middling at best, the service was okay but failed to make enough callbacks to avoid running out of water, and the ambiance was spoiled by a large party with eight children they decided to seat in the middle of the room, thereby ensuring a loud distraction for everyone. While this was indeed an interesting experience from a historical perspective, it is utterly unfit to charge the prices it does and I strongly recommend against coming here. The extra star is for the soup, definitely seek out the peanut soup (but do it somewhere else). Overall: 2.0 stars ---- Pros: - The peanut soup is excellent, as is the Sally Lunn bread - The historical experience of dining where those in antiquity have is quite cool. Cons: - By fine dining standards, the rest of the fare here is laughably bad. - The service is decent but nowhere near where it should be given the airs they put on. - Prices are exorbitant and horrifying to anyone with an eye for value. - Directions and parking are an additional pain point. - If you know you have a large party of children, plan seating accordingly. This is an awful way to ruin the experience of everyone else who is paying a lot to be here. read more

King's Arms Tavern - Bread pudding - Southern Near Me - Williamsburg, Virginia

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Wow this was expensive..... BUR WELL WORTH IT. The food was delicious and I still crave it. It even filled me up! The waitress was so cool and gave me information on the two amusement parks I'm headed to. It wasn't much more than I thought but I'm glad I got a Virginia residents input. I bought a colonial hat way earlier that day for like $50 but I felt at home in the 1700s styled building. read more

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Guests get transported to the 18th century by way of authentic setting, food, music, dress and some oral history provided by the various professionals involved. The live music is fun. The musician who entertained our small dining room for the evening plays fiddle, mandolin, recorder, and pocket violin. He weaves in a narrative of tavern culture while presenting tunes that were once popular. His presence doesn't overwhelm as he comes and goes in his yesteryear costume. To hear this music wafting throughout the candlelit building in the evening is really delightful. Crab croquettes are top notch. I also enjoyed the roast duck. The old-timey onion pye is unappetizing. Relish tray and rolls are a nice complement. And the pecan pie for dessert is flavorful but not overly sweet. The wait staff is very knowledgeable about the era. It's interesting to learn how a dish or a custom came to be. John, the waiter for our whole room on the evening that I visited, is an experienced performer. He embraces being a culinary guide/historian with panache. For foodies, this is a true "treat" (food pun intended). The "extra, extra-large" cloth napkins from the past are a hoot. They're so practical too; would love to see a resurgence of them today! My experience at The King's Arms Tavern is a good memory for me. Reserve early, recommend dinner over lunch. read more

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Happy to be back on their opening night! This restaurant was closed for several months, but the spring is here and they have opened back up!! We reserved for dinner (party of 5) from beginning to end it was an exquisite experience. The historical interpreter was excellent! It's so hard having to be a waiter plus have a script to memorize, so kudos to them! Our food was excellent though! My husband had the duck, I had the game pot pie and my daughter had the pork roast. I was such a huge fan of it all! The portions were absolutely perfect and we even had leftovers. There was even a musician that played 18th century music. The food there was probably better than most local restaurants we had been to. We plan on returning very soon!! read more

While on vacation in Williamsburg my wife and I decided to eat at the Kings Arms Tavern. We went during the lunch hour which was good for us which the lower cost lunch specials . I ordered the Beef Stew which was very good and my wife had a special of the day which was a Maui Fish Sandwich which she enjoyed. Overall the place was historic, the food and prices were good and the service was also good. read more

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I was looking forward to coming to this restaurant for a meal resembling that which was eaten in the 18th century. The menu was a little limited. We opted for the dessert and soup add-on. I ordered the peanut soup which was very creamy and rich. I enjoyed it very much. For a main, I ordered the pork shank which was very dense meat on a large bone served on top of what appeared to be polenta with pomegranate seeds. This was a very filling dish and I could not finish it. It didn't have a lot of flavor. I finished off with a pecan pie, which was delicious. During dinner, we were briefly serenaded by a performer, dressed in period garb. Although I wasn't rushed, it seemed that it was a very brief dinner with the food coming out very quickly. The tavern was what I expected to be with candlelight and decorations from an earlier century. There was just something missing with the vibe. My husband ordered the onion pie and the bread pudding. read more

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I booked a dinner at King's Arms Tavern during our stay at Colonial Williamsburg. I figured, let's have a full colonial experience! I have to say that compared to the reenactors in colonial Williamsburg, folks at the tavern did not explain or say much. It was really like a normal restaurant experience. Order, get food and go. The service was good but it's really a normal service, nothing more than that. We had the popular dishes - peanut soup: I like peanut but I don't really like the soup. .It tasted like diluted thai satay peanut sauce. Would have preferred diluted peanut butter. It was my favorite and I did not finish it. - To Stew a Shoat in the French Way : pork was fall off the bone tender. A good dish and a gigantic dish. - To Bake Salmon with Crab another Way : crab and salmon had really good taste. Nicely made. The rice seemed a bit out of place for the theme but oh well... - Snow Eggs : not too sweet. A light dessert is very much appreciated because I was so full. It was just okay though. I wouldn't order it again. Considering how much people raved about it, it was a let down to me. There you have it, a colonial dinner experience. The musician was entertaining and the bread/dips were great. Food in general was ok. It's fun to do it while you're in Williamsburg. read more

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We came for the Thanksgiving dinner again and it didn't disappoint at all. I had the ham pie, prime rib, and blueberry crumble. My husband did the ham pie, salmon and crab, and bread pudding. We also shared one of the punches. They really lean into a colonial style Thanksgiving and it makes it a great experience. There is also some entertain with instruments from the times and an explanation of the instruments. A unique experience for the holiday season! read more

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Kings Arm is our favorite restaurant in Colonial Williamsburg. The peanut soup is our favorite. We almost always get the Game Pie and Prime Rib. It's excellent! read more

King's Arms Tavern - Game pie - Southern Near Me - Williamsburg, Virginia

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We wanted to eat at an authentic restaurant in Colonial Williamsburg so we ate here. We ordered an old time recipe, Onion Pie, and it was very good. It was made with sliced onions, potatoes, and apples in a creamy savory sauce topped with a thick buttery crust, simple ingredients and very tasty included sides of fresh green beans and carrots. My sister ordered the Pork Shoat which is a shank in cheese grits with green beans and carrots. We also had a fiddler enter the room and played a couple songs. We enjoyed it. read more

King's Arms Tavern - Pork Shoat (shank) - Southern Near Me - Williamsburg, Virginia

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This was a prefect dinner experience for our family of 3. We were seated upstairs and the ambiance of this old tavern is on point as you basically feel like you're dining in someone's home because yeah that's kind of how it was. The candlelight provided each table once the sun went down makes for a wonderful setting. Our waiter was filled with knowledge of all things, from the menu to the history of the tavern and even what the dining experience would've been like back in the day. He was friendly, informative and all around entertaining. We ordered the fish house punch bowl and wow it was good, very strong but very good, so much so we left some not wanting to find ourselves staggering through the streets of Colonial Williamsburg later on, that was the right call! We went straight into the dinner with the roast duck, salmon and pork shank. Everyone loved their dinners. About this time we got some wonderful live entertainment as one of the tavern performers strolled in, sang a few songs and told some wonderful stories about what it would've been like to dine here in the 18th century and the role that music played in the lives of people of that time period. Again it was both educational and entertaining. Even the 15 year old was having a great time and put down their phone to enjoy the show. We finished with some ice cream for dessert before we wrapped up a wonderful evening at the King's Arm Tavern!! Thank you to the entire staff for a great night. read more

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I really wanted to love this place. Truly. The vibes were great--friendly service, charming colonial atmosphere, and live entertainment that could have earned a standing ovation. Then came dinner. My Manhattan arrived looking like it was mixed for a dollhouse party--tiny, delicate, and definitely not "on the rocks" as ordered. No worries, I thought, we'll settle in. After all, we had plenty of time--an hour, to be exact--while our six dinners (well, technically three appetizers and three actual meals) were being conjured in the kitchen. The breads, muffins, and pickles tried their best to distract us, bless them. The famous peanut soup? Let's just say it was more satay-adjacent than soup. Thin, salty peanut sauce in a bowl for $10--perhaps the liquid form of disappointment. I went for the crab croquettes, and I'm convinced someone whispered the word "crab" near them during prep, but that's about the only seafood connection they had. I bravely finished one out of three before surrendering. That's twenty bucks I'll never see again. One of our companion's $58 steak was an adventure--it was small, mysterious, and riddled with gristle. He couldn't tell what creature it came from, only that it didn't die of tenderness. Bottom line: Go for the music and the colonial charm. Don't go hungry, and absolutely don't go expecting culinary fireworks. It's dinner theater without much dinner. read more

Absolutely perfect in every way! Worth the 300 including tip. I don't always give 5 stars...this place deserves it!

The atmosphere is so authentic to the colonial period, even the furniture. The staff wears the clothing of the period, too! I enjoyed the peanut soup as a starter which very tasty. Then I ordered the colonial version of the chicken pot pie which was delicious. As a dessert, I had a meringue which just hit the spot. read more

King's Arms Tavern - Southern Near Me - Williamsburg, Virginia

I really wanted to like Kings Arms Tavern but all in all for me I'm really glad I live in the 21st century. So Kings Arms Tavern tries to mimic what it would have been like to dine in the 1700s. Which is cool. We made a reservation for 4 on a Saturday night. Important note. The parking Is across the street. I accidently drove through main street Colonial Williamsburg because one of the gates were open and I failed to notice the giant do not enter sign. The streets are really dark to recreate the ambiance of the time. A well dressed Colonial cast member tracked me down and very nicely told me to turn the hell around and get off the street. So don't make the same mistake that I did. Parking is behind the restaurant. Once seated it's pretty dark inside. It's all candle lit and feels very colonial. They give you a gigantic napkin but it feels more like a table cloth. No way you are getting any stains on your nice 21st century clothing. We ordered the peanut soup, duck, chicken, prime rib, beef steak, and the snow dessert. Peanut soup.... It was just not my thing. And judging by the fact that I have never seen peanut soup in other restaurants it's probably good that it never made it out of the 18th century. Duck, chicken and the prime rib were really good. The beef steak... yikes... not really good at all. It was slightly over cooked, a little tough and not much flavor. For $58 way too over priced. I would not have balked if it was more of a $25 steak. Prime rib is the much better option as it's not overcooked and the Prix fix with starter prime rib and dessert is a better deal. We had some colonial entertainment during our dinner which was nice. Dessert was snow eggs. I liked it but three of my family members didn't like the texture. All in all it's an interesting dining experience which is okay for a one off. Not recommended for foodies however. read more

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Rounding out the Williamsburg experience, we took our grandchildren here. We loved the 18th century feel with servers dressed in period attire. Our server was Christine. She was very good. Their selections were delicious, each of the four of us choosing something different. The beef stew and the beef short ribs were excellently cooked and the Salmagundi Salad, like a Chef Salad, was filling and excellent as well. The Fried Chicken was a great dish, too. Everyone was happy with their choices. We finished up our lunch with the 'Snow Eggs' to share. You just have to taste it to understand the decadence. This restaurant is not cheap so you must be prepared to spend some money. It is probably a one time experience for us, though we are not sorry that we enjoyed this historical fare. read more

Delicious and entertaining dinner! Our waitress was excellent and informative, the food delicious and filling. I got the Cornish hen and mint julep and pecan pie. My sister got the onion pie and a glass of Pinot noir. The musician playing the Irish harp was delightful. Would highly recommend and definitely get a reservation read more

Wonderful food, great service with a side of historical information. Beautiful experience of the past! read more

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I'd give an arm AND a leg to eat here again! We were treated like royalty at this colonial tavern! The ambience is stri-king with its rustic, colonial vibe, dark wood and wrought iron add the the authentic feel! I've been here for dinner and lunch! For dinner, I came with a friend and we had a true colonial dining experience. We had the prime rib with roasted veggies and the most delicious popovers! It was sublime! The hurricane candle centerpiece and the 18th century entertainment really set a old fashioned mood. We wine was a Pinot noir which was perfect with the prime rib and for dessert we shared the southern pecan pie! When I came back for lunch another time, I chose the chicken hash which was served in a bread bowl along with roasted green beans and carrots, and it was amazing... tender chinks of chicken in a savory sauce like the inside of a chicken pot pie! My hubby had the beef stew which was incredibly tender! And our friend had the onion pie with an egg on top! Equally tasty! Yes, we shared so we could all enjoy the entrees! Again, the pecan pie was chosen for dessert! A must! Our server, Miranda, was gracious and informative, letting us know that the nursery rhyme "Humpty Dumpty" was about a cannon of all things! Love learning trivia like that! She was a godsend, giving me a cool neckerchief to put around me since we had just come in from the 90 degree heat! What a classy, and hospitable gesture! It cooled me off and made me smile!! This raven is a must if you want a true colonial dining adventure!! A king would be pleased to dine here! read more

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Another amazing dinner at Kings Arms. Highly recommend the snow eggs for dessert. They try to push the peanut soup.. it was okay. The other soup (soupe another way) we had was better. I'm sure that's a special and changes. The steak was a NY strip and was good. Prime rib was also very good. I'm sure you can't go wrong with any meal. Make those reservations early. read more

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This used to be the best part of a trip to Williamsburg. I have eaten there for years and this time I felt like a number. The wait staff had this grand idea to line everyone up and you all get the same speech, you all order at the same time, everyone is expected to stay on schedule. For a $200 meal I want personal service. I want to be able to relax and not feel like I am just filling a seat and need to stay on schedule. The food was fine but we just felt like we were being pushed from step to step and they wanted us gone as soon as possible. For $200 I want personal service and do not want to feel rushed. read more

This is a must do for history lovers and foodies alike. I would highly recommend dining here, I would discourage anyone with small children as the menu is not geared towards them. Our server Steve, was fantastic, he explained about the room we were dining in, what it would've been used for, the typical day of for a person staying the night at the tavern and explained each item on the menu. It's a bit of a history lesson while you dine, servers wear period clothing to lend to the ambience of the tavern. They had a lovely musician come in and play the mandolin and well as the tin flute for us. I would highly suggest the roast duck, it was absolutely fantastic! Not too crispy, the meat was tender and the jus it is served on was perfectly salted, the potatoes were a great accompaniment. The veggies were a bit undercooked for my taste. read more

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Incredible experience all around last Monday night. The food was authentic and on the menu, there was an interesting write-up about the historical context of each dish. The staff was incredibly cordial. I loved the music performances and the in-character speeches. The seasonal drink for fall was super tasteful and potent ;). I had the salmon and crab dish for the entree and it was as tasty as our waitress said it would be. Their complimentary bread was also super yummy. I really recommend anyone going to Colonial Williamsburg to try this round out your experience! read more

We were confused about trying to make an online lunch reservation without success, so we showed up hoping for the best and learned it is first come first served. We were seated immediately in a room that was fairly full with diners. The venue has quite a few seating areas and can likely accommodate quite a crowd in season. The staff are dressed in Colonial garb for ambiance and a strolling musician entertains with period songs. Our server made several suggestions but 3 of us chose the apple onion pie, a very sweet concoction with a lovely flaky crust. It is topped with an over easy egg that I passed off to my friend. 3 of started with the peanut soup and I found it very flavorful and tasted like peanut butter of course. My guests enjoyed several mugs of hot cider. I asked for hot tea and was told they do not have hot tea because it is colonial times and tea is boycotted. Interestingly I was able to get unsweet iced tea. We had no room to try any of the delicious desserts. The Snow Balls looked particularly yummy. The price point was what one would expect in a tourist property, where ambiance is part of the cost of the fare. Our guests enjoyed the experience and we all enjoyed the food! read more

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Lovely restaurant. The food service and atmosphere were excellent. A little pricey with the least expensive main course being 38.00. However, here they serve the lovely peanut soup. Completes your stay in Colonial Williamsburg. read more

King's Arms Tavern - Dinner - Southern Near Me - Williamsburg, Virginia

We visited on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in April, looking forward to enjoying the outdoor seating, but unfortunately it hadn't been set up yet. The main indoor entrance requires going up steps, which made access difficult for us with a sleeping baby in a stroller. We did locate a ramp around the back that led to the restrooms and what appeared to be a family dining area, but were told by staff that we couldn't enter through that way. With no accessible entry option available, we ultimately had to leave and find another place. Disappointing experience from an accessibility standpoint, especially given the otherwise charming setting. read more

Chef Ivey is amazing. I met him last year while with CW teacher institute. He took time from the kitchen to come talk to me about the recipe, the history, and the tips. I was so lucky to get to see him again this year and eat the amazing dish of snow eggs. It is one of the best desserts I have ever had. I am so thankful for the video he created. read more

A unique experience in Colonial Williamsburg-I would give it 3.5 stars but rounding up for the ambiance. The main reason to come to King's Arms Tavern is for the experience-my friend and I recently came here for a weekend dinner and I felt transported back in some ways to the 18th Century. We walked through a deserted, dark, eerie reconstructed Colonial Williamsburg to a reconstructed tavern lit only by candlelight. The servers were in period costume and our napkins were full-torso napkins, meant to be tucked into your short as was done during the period. The King's Arms also had a musician playing 18th-century tunes on a guitar and recorder, livening up the mood. Two important notes: make a reservation ahead of time and despite what the menu may indicate, there are NO vegetarian mains as the onion pie is made with chicken broth. The only main King's Arms can offer vegetarians is a plate of cut vegetables, so if you're vegetarian I would go somewhere else unless you are fine having just squash soup, a salad, and black-eyed peas. Also, make sure to budget at least 90 minutes for your dining experience if you want to do multiple courses. My friend and waited over 20 minutes from the time we ordered to get any food, and 50 minutes until our main course came out. Despite the restaurant's small size and that it seemed fully staffed, everything took a long time. Possibly due in part to the slow service, the King's Arms gave us Sally Lamb bread accompanied by butter and a corn and pepper relish. The bread itself was less hearty than I would have expected for the period and was just OK, while the relish was delicious. For appetizers, I got the peanut soup, while my friend got the squash soup. My soup was very peanut-y and creamy, and the bread went well. The squash soup was heartier and tastier, and I would order that again if given the choice. My friend and I split the trout and the black-eyed peas for our main dishes. The trout was rich and buttery, with perfectly-cooked broccoli and carrots on the side. The trout was cooked whole, so be careful about bones. Although the black-eyed peas were on the salty side, overall they were good (and one of the very few vegetarian-friendly menu items). We shared the bread pudding for dessert, which was rich, delicious, and nutmeg/ginger-forward. For a tourist restaurant, the prices and portion sizes are fair given that you are also paying for the ambiance. I would recommend King's Arms if you are looking for a tribute to a late-18th century dining experience. read more

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We were there for dinner the day after Thanksgiving because we were not able to book it on Thanksgiving night. We are lucky that we were able to book the reservation at all. If you are a fan of history, you should visit Colonial Williamsburg. However, it does not require you to be a fan of history to enjoy the great food offered in this restaurant. The dishes are inspired by the old cook books, and they are second to none compare to any modern fine dinings. Servers and the musician provide rich knowledge of history that you cannot experience anywhere else. Performance, history, great food, great environment, even though it is a bit expensive, it is worth every penny. We loved that place. read more

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This is a wonderful spot, right in the heart of Colonial Williamsburg. I was very satisfied on my latest visit since the service was very good and the food was delicious. There are a lot of taverns to choose from in Williamsburg, but this one has it all from the traditional dress to the musical performances. My son was so into it all and loved seeing the musician play the penny flute to the guitar and many other instruments. I had the roasted duck, which was fantastic. My parter ordered the stew, which was also tasty (but was so glad that I had the duck since it was perfect). They also offer an extensive cocktail menu and wine list with selections from Virginia, France and Napa. I sampled a Virginia Cabernet Sauvignon, which was delicious. I appreciated them letting me taste it before committing as I can be a little picky with wine. The atmosphere was great and the family really enjoyed our time here. I would totally come back again. read more

Colonial Williamsburg Charm Food We had the Virginia ham appetizer, prime rib, short ribs, peanut soup and a couple desserts. The two things that were the most memorable for me was the ham (such a Smokey flavor some of the best I have ever had) and the peanut soup. I have tried peanut soup at other places and didn't care for it but this one was excellent. I am somewhat of a steak snob so bear that in mind when I say the prime rib was good just not amazing. I think our favorite dessert was the bread pudding. Both were interesting but not super memorable. Service The staff are very friendly and everything was served promptly and correctly. The service manager came over and asked how our meal was and was very friendly. Ambiance While the food is very good the price point is also rather steep. The ambiance is what takes the place over the top. Great location in colonial Williamsburg. The musician that came up and played his antique instruments and everyone being in costume was a lot of fun for the kids. Not a place you can afford to take the family often but for a nice vacation spot it was just what I was looking for. Parking I don't normally mention parking in a review but this was an issue. We arrived after most of the streets were closed. Even though someone from the restaurant called us warning us ahead of time (which I greatly appreciated) navigating the closed streets to find a parking lot that had no gps address and was several blocks from the restaurant was very frustrating. When we got lost we tried to call the restaurant but the number listed went to colonial Williamsburg call center instead of the tavern. Now that I know where to park it wouldn't be a problem going back but if you've never been to colonial Williamsburg make sure you give yourself some time to figure it out or go earlier in the evening before they "roll up the streets" for the night. Conclusion We had a great time it was great food. It was VERY expensive so we couldn't take the family often but I am glad we went and would enjoy going back. read more

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Made reservations a day before. Was busy even though in middle of week at night. We had a group of four and was seated pretty quickly by period dressed staff. This restaurant is located in a historic home in the old village. The dining room is dimly light to resemble candle lighting. It appears several reservations are made for a time period as to seat an entire room at once. Customers are seated at individual tables and waited on at same time with each coarse. Wait staff work together. Napkins are the size of a tablecloth which is meant to be worn to cover your entire front by tying it behind your neck. We each ordered an adult drink which were good. And we all ordered something different for entries. I ordered Game Pie which is a period meal that includes three different game meats and vegetables. My wife ordered Cornish Game Hen with cranberry and baby carrot. Our guests had Duck over mashed potato with green beans and carrot with another plate consisting of Baked Salmon with green beans and carrot. We all enjoyed our meals. It was a good experience. Pricing is as to cover the period atmosphere. read more

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King's Arms Tavern is a historic tavern that opened in Williamsburg, Virginia in March 1951. It is one of four restored historic taverns located in Colonial Williamsburg. The building was originally owned by Mrs. Jane Vobe and operated as a tavern from 1772 - 1787. Vobe had operated a number of different taverns throughout the 18th century. The King's Arms was the last of her enterprises. After Colonial Williamsburg opened to the public in 1934, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation set out to not only restore the homes and buildings but also the historic taverns. Vobe's original tavern building was enlarged by combining it with the Alexander Purdue House next door. Today patrons can visit the tavern and dine on authentic 18th century colonial dishes with updates to suit 21st century tastes. My family and I visited King's Arms Tavern this past summer while we were on a road trip. Although the tavern is located inside Colonial Williamsburg, customers do not need to purchase tickets to the museum if they simply wish to dine. We really liked all of the colonial decor. Even the staff were dressed in period clothing. I ordered the "To Stew a Choat in the French Way" (browned pork shanks placed in a stew pan with claret, thyme, marjoram, savory, rosemary peppercorn and mace) and my wife ordered "An Onion Pye" (potatoes, apples, onions and eggs sliced, seasoned and layered in a pie crust). To drink, I had the "Tavern Brown Ale" while my wife had the "Draught Root Beer". From the Young Patriots Menu, our older son had the "Fried Chicken" (mashed potatoes and vegetables) and our younger son had "Macaroni & Cheese" (vegetables). As we dined, we were treated to live music performed by a costumed musician. While we felt that our meals were a tad too expensive, we all had a fun historic dining experience with tasty period food. read more

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