We were in town and looking for a spot on the water for dinner, so we ended up here. My husband and I came in and they seemed a little busy on a Friday night, but the bar was totally empty so it was perfect. We had great conversation and service all evening with the bartender. This spot is definitely more of a pub type place. Food is American bar food with a coastal flair. I got the potato skins and my husband got some fried fish. They were both good but nothing to call home about. The bartender also came up with some pretty good drink options, I was surprised because I expected a standard bar with well drinks but she definitely experimented and had some great menu options to choose from. We walked down to the water for the sunset and enjoyed their little beach, it was a perfect nightcap. Great little spot in the area! read more

Willaby's is a fun spot and one of just a few restaurants on the water and this one with a beach! Decorated inside with everything fishing, crabbing, etc., the vibe definitely matches the outside. This is a sizable restaurant able to accommodate large parties with indoor and outdoor seating. Service was very attentive and staff very friendly. There is a big selection of food from seafood to burgers, pasta, pizza, bbq, salads, steaks, soups, and always specials of some sort- if your not sure what you want or your party can't decide (and even if you can) then this is your place because there is something here for everyone We have tried a bit of everything across the menu and didn't have a dish we didn't like. In fact I was surprised at how good they were given the variety. Add to that, that this is scratch cooking it makes it a bit more special. I particularly like that the restaurant makes note and practices using less salt to support its patrons health. I didn't find anything bland and certainly not anything over salted either. The restaurant offers a big beer list with many craft and micro brews along with full bar and wines. We tried the lemon cello cake for dessert and thought it was spot on- well balanced and not too sweet. Live music at times- check the web for who and when. A fun place to eat at and the food very much compliments to the fun. Definitely worth your try for a laid back restaurant experience with options for everyone. As a cafe, Willabys is a solid choice at 4+ stars in my opinion. Happy eating! read more

I love Willaby's! Whenever you are in the northern neck you need to check it out! It has expansive views of the river and has a warm homie feeling inside! The staff is great and always greets you with a smile! To top it all off the food is delicious as well! This time I got the fried oyster sandwich and I could not recommend it enough! It is packed with flavor, and the hushpuppies that come with it are heavenly too! read more

Willaby's Cafe' - Cafes Near Me - White Stone, Virginia

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Such a disappointing experience. We arrived at 5:30pm (they opened at 5pm) and it took about 15 minutes before someone came to get our drink order. We had a booth by the window and sat there killing flies for the first 10 min we were waiting. The waitress then tells us that she is the only waitress for the night. Despite this- the hostesses were still seating the entire restaurant. Almost all of the tables were full. We got our drinks around 6pm and then killed two more flies. By 6:20pm I noticed the table who ordered right before us get their food. I'm thinking ours will be coming soon. By 6:45pm- no food. Then two others get their food and then a 4 top that came in after us (we were a party of 5) got their food. By 7pm we just got up and told them we had to leave. I had three kids with me and one of them needed to get to a baseball game that starts in an hour. Of course the staff was apologetic, but I never saw them with any sense of urgency, they would get together and talk at the hostess stand while other tables had their credit cards out needing to pay. Instead of standing around and talking, they could have been filling drinks. We had to get up and get our own drinks refilled around the first hour we were there. We ended up tipping our waitress, it's not really her fault; but apparently even the kitchen was short staffed. The whole time I never saw a manager or owner. Obviously the place needs new management; someone who knows how to run a restaurant and how to deal with one when you're short staffed. The staff wasn't doing any of the things they could have been doing to make things better for the customers. My advice? Ask if they are staffed properly before being seated. read more

If I could give zero 's I would Today we had another catered lunch for an event at my place of employment........3 times previously we chose the chicken, which was only partially cooked every single time, sides were tasteless. Today we tried BBQ instead of the chicken, it was saturated, watery, fatty and absolutely disgusting . Maybe in house is better, but I seriously doubt it, though. We have convinced my employer not to use them ever again and I highly suggest everyone else avoid them......if you decide to, despite my urging, I hope your home has multiple bathrooms available within 30-40 mins of eating there. Good luck! read more

Great experience. Food is excellent. Service is great. Ambiance is nice. Fun and retro. It's casual.

This place was fantastic. We were hesitant to go here because of the reviews but decided to go for it. My family of six all enjoyed their meals. It's a rare thing to get all of our kids to eat (and enjoy) everything and this place succeeded in that. Our server was super friendly as well! read more

I wanted to love this place. It's super cute with a great view and we watched an amazing sunset. However, we never ate. I watched five other tables get seated and receive their food and we waited for 80 minutes. The waitress did apologize for the wait but didn't give a time frame or offer something else to munch on. We were a Party of six which included two kids. Everything we ordered was fried and would be simple to make. My kids were patient but at 8pm we needed to go and at that point I was upset at the lack of service and communication The food was coming out just as we left. Unfortunately, by that time we had to resort to fast food and drove to McDonald's. It was a disappointing night. Hopefully that is not the norm. read more

Whoever was the opening cook on Thursday September 11 2025.....he prepared me the best plate of steamed shrimp I have EVER HAD. it is too bad that I discovered this place too late because I understand they will be closing soon. I just wanted to let it be known that that was the best shrimp ever....also the cook even followed the waitress out and asked how did I like the looks of the plate. It looked like it was arranged professionally...I wish I knew his name. Thank you for the opportunity to voice my opinion. Service was fine...very friendly waitress...no complaints. I rate this restaurant a 5. read more

Dinners were generous servings. Prepared well. Nice presentation. Very tasty. Server was amicable and efficient. Great vista views-of the Rappahanock! read more

Stood at the hostess stand for around 5 minutes or more with no acknowledgement from any hostess, waitress, staff etc that we even existed. No one even looked our way as we were moving back and forth out of their way as they took care of the seated quests. I finally asked if we could seat ourselves and got the eye roll and she grabbed a couple of menus and seated us. Yes, really! Food was very good once they got our order right. Gave them another chance the next week just for the delightful oysters and was told they don't serve them at lunch time. I said "well you did last week"? She said ok, he just hasn't picked them up yet. (this was around 2:00 and they close at 3) So oysters only for dinner time on 'this day'??? We went there just for the oysters! read more

We drive by this spot every time we're in Kilmarnock visiting friends and always comment we need to check it out. I'm so glad we finally did because we will NEVER return. It was lunch time on a Friday and when we walked in we were happy to see a huge staff working the floor, even a man who appeared to be a manager or owner was bringing food from the kitchen even though the place was not full or seem busy. We were seated at the bar and waited about 10 minutes to be acknowledged, several scurried by but never spoke or at least smiled. finally a lady came from the kitchen and took our drink order (weird) I ordered a vodka tonic, hubs got a draft, my drink was so strong I couldn't drink it so I waited for her to return and she never did. By the time someone came to take our food order I didn't even mention the drink just wanted lunch as we were hungry! She took our food order and 25 minutes later, still no food. I counted 10 ladies working and the kitchen was visible so I could see several people "working" in there. We finally managed to flag someone over to ask how much longer she went to the kitchen to ask, came back and said they hadn't started prepping it. We cancelled our order and left. This place has got to be the most disorganized restaurant we have ever visited. Horrible service. It looks like a fun river dive from the road but trust me, don't bother!! read more

The raw oysters were really good there sandwich that I got was okay nothing special the fries were good as well . The service was far less than good . The lady gave us our food and we didn't see her no more for 30 minutes we ran out of drink and had to wait for her to come back to give us more drinks . read more

Food was very good. Service was dismal. We were seated right away, but never saw the server. Finally the bar tender came over and got our drinks and took our order. Took over an hour to get our food. We never did see our server, if it wasn't for the bar tender we would still be sitting there. As I said before, the food was good, but don't go expecting good or quick service. 3 stars only bc of the food. read more

Food was very good, although the broccoli was over cooked a little and had a seasoned salt on it that I'm not used to on vegetables. The chicken was perfectly fried, juicy and tender. My husband loved the fish sandwich, which had a great crunchy crust. Service was friendly and fast read more

We stopped in for dinner on a whim. The view was amazing, the staff was more than friendly as well as welcoming. They also did a really great job considering their kitchen was closing early due to short on staff. I had two glasses of Decoy Cabernet and my husband had some really nice craft beers, our friend had his usual Diet Coke an bourbon. Our meals were prepared very well as well as to our liking. When we return back to the area this will definitely be a place that we come to again. read more

Supper good food. A true mom and pop place with lots of locals eating. Crab dip was amazing, loved the bread bowl it was served in. Service was good for a busy night. read more

Willaby's Cafe' - Menu - Cafes Near Me - White Stone, Virginia

Good food, friendly people, beautiful view! Hush puppies were delicious. Sundays you can eat on the beach.

Camping in Deltaville and looking for places to try some local seafood, we stumbled over Willaby's on Yelp! As most things in the area, they close at 8 so we arrived about 6:30. As a recent bariatric surgery patient, I'm limited in my options, but seafood is right up my alley. I got 1/2 lb of steamed shrimp and ate about half. I also got the chicken breast sandwich without the bread and added Swiss cheese. Hubs had the crap dip and the crab cakes. Everything tasted good, nice consistency, served hot. We personally felt there was a little "wow" missing from the dishes. They were seasoned, but in a good way, but not yet a great way. I'd definitely say to try the place. I enjoyed the views (and the pews) and I enjoyed the food. read more

Willaby's Cafe' - Appetizers / steamed shrimp and crap dip. - Cafes Near Me - White Stone, Virginia

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We went during the thick of Delta and while they didn't have any patio seating available due to staffing shortages they were so kind and allowed us and another party to sit on the picnic tables on the beach and order take out... we ordered beverages and ordered the food and went outside, t they texted us that our order was ready and we enjoyed it on the beach watching the sunset! The food was amazing like truly! The kindness the staff had when they were stressed was beautiful! Will absolutely be returning read more

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For the 2nd time, no one working. Waiting in line. Can't sit at the bar or a table, 2 people working. And even then not capable. Unfortunate with such a location. read more

Beautiful view, quick and delicious food! They have a lot of live music events in the evenings, and brunch on Sundays. They make a bbq sauce called Extra Special Sauce that is soo unique and delicious. I wish they still sold it by the bottle. Check this spot out if you're visiting the area! read more

Willaby's Cafe' - The big fish sandwich w added cheese. - Cafes Near Me - White Stone, Virginia

Very friendly staff. That said, the menu and food in general could use an update. Perfect location.

i absolutely love this place and every time i am visiting this is a must!! amazing people and incredible food!!

This was not the first visit to Willabys. The food was excellent as always . Service also excellent. We had a dog with us so we sat at the tables on the beach . It was lovely . A good breeze, good food . I'm sure I shall return. read more

We are new to this area and were looking for new place to eat. Drove by this place on the first place and the parking lot is packed, which is a good sign. Went on their website and found out the all you can eat brunch buffet for only $15 and we are sold right there and then. Came here on Easter Sunday around 12:30 and were seated immediately. The view is breath taking and the food are amazing. They got breakfast items and lunch items and we are literally full till lunch next day. Everything is so great that we have already decided to come back again next Sunday! Maybe this time I will remember to take pictures before inhaling the plate! read more

Willaby's Cafe' - View from our table! - Cafes Near Me - White Stone, Virginia

Great view of the water! An elderly uncle took me to lunch there when I was in town for a quick visit. He was a little thrown off by a slightly rude hostess but the service by a friendly waitress made up for it. The menu offered typical lunch fare once would hope to find near the water. Uncle enjoyed fried catfish and I had the crab cake sandwich. I was bummed to find lunch only came with cole slaw (I hate cole slaw) and what seemed like Sysco hush puppies. Not bad, but not great either. read more

Cute place right on the river. Food was fresh and delicious. I had the eggs Chesapeake and they were amazing! Honestly my favorite part was the restroom wallpaper. It is done up with old print ads from vintage magazines. Such as an adjustable heat lamp for the whole family. Hilarious! read more

Willaby's Cafe' - Cafes Near Me - White Stone, Virginia

Came here during Sunday brunch. It was busy but not too crowded, and we were seated right away. Very friendly service, and the food was great! Highly recommend the Eggs Chesapeake with the light and crispy home fries. read more

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I stopped here after styling a wedding at the Tides Inn! I had seen it in passing so decided to try it. The staff was all SO friendly. I started with the crab dip appetizer, which was great. They provided complimentary corn muffins, yum. I ordered a crab cake, and oysters. The crab cake was almost all crab, little filler and their tarter sauce was delicious. The oysters were SO fresh, not salty at all. I also decided to splurge and order dessert to go. Over all great service, great food, and not overpriced. I will definitely be back, if you're in the area it's a must to stop by. read more

Good food, excellent service, beautiful views. My husband and I are there two nights in a row. We enjoyed ourselves so much!

We loved the Eggs Chesapeake! Great blend of flavors! My mimosa was larger than most you get, and the Bloody Mary bar looked tempting! Service was friendly, and quick. read more

Willaby's Cafe' - Eggs Chesapeake - Cafes Near Me - White Stone, Virginia

This place was an awesome place to get brunch on our way home from enjoying the river. They have a great view of the Rappahannock River and some great fish options as well. For the record, I was ready to give this place a two star rating, however the waitress really saved it for us. Food and everything was great, however our ticket was lost so we didn't get our food until about an hour in and watched tables around us get their food before us. The waitress was very nice about this and told us that our bill would be half off. However, when we got our bill, they only took off our coffees, which were a whopping $1.50 each. A $3.00 discount for their mistake and an hour long wait didn't seem too generous to us, especially when half off was promised upfront. When I asked the waitress about it, she said that's what her manager offered even though that's not what she wanted. I asked her to go back and try again and she was able to work some magic and get us the half-off that was mentioned earlier. I think even though she got herself into a little predicament by promising us something that the manager wasn't interested in, I think she did a great job responding and doing what was right, and giving us a better deal for the long wait and the mistake on their end. I can't say the same for the restaurant manager... So, because of good business practices by the waitress and good food, I would recommend this place and would go back. I had the crab and shrimp omelette and it was awesome! Also, patio is dog friendly, they were great to our pups. read more

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They have beach area seating, looks like it would be a nice place to eat when the weather is nice.

On our treks, besides taking in the area's nature, folks, architecture, history and all around ambience, we thoroughly enjoy the local eateries for their types, styles, takes and difference as well as down-home ways of cooking. One happy surprising encounter recently while visiting the south-eastern area of Virginia was this quaint, clean and appealing joint in White Stone overlooking the bay. Beside the incredible sunset view through their huge windows, we were really impressed with their seafood selection. Everything we had that evening was a-plus from the shrimp to the hush puppies, and their collards... and I can only say that their Shrimp & Grits is to die for... you can't get this goodness in the big cities, nor from any chain or franchise joint. Overall, this place we consider 'gotta visit' when in the area. I give it a huge 'thumbs up' for all things you want in an eatery, especially in the middle of nowhere! Clean, great service, incredible selection, tasty, fresh and just plain good! read more

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Drove 2.5 hours to get here Saturday. After living on the beach for 4 years finding steamed shrimp & a beach type restaurant is a challenge. But this place scored!! The steamed shrimp was perfect, the crab cake was all crab, and the hush puppies would make you slap your momma!! We will be back, often!! read more

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This place has fantastic food! As a well traveled guy (with a bit of a belly), I've tried Chef's treats all over. Willaby's has the very best hush puppies on the planet. To boot their pulled pork bbq is killer, and their crab cakes can compete with the best out there. At their new location on the riverfront, they have great live music and an excellent selection of craft beers. Probably the most hip place in Lancaster County, where true care and love (William) have gone the extra mile to make this a place you want to keep coming back to. read more

Willaby's Cafe' - Riverfront dining! - Cafes Near Me - White Stone, Virginia

Arrived at 2pm, not crowded at all. Pluses: Food was good. View was great. Service was good when it was available. Negatives: Sitting outside was a mistake. Waitress was "chilly" to start, but warmed up after awhile. However, after the food was delivered she practically disappeared. When she finally came with the check, we were told we had to take our credit card inside to pay, she wasn't allowed to take it for outside tables. When we asked the cashier about this odd rule we were told "people tend to walk off with both copies without signing...". Our response was "perhaps if you didn't leave people unattended as long as you do, they wouldn't have the opportunity to walk off." The cashier was dismissive of us. This was our first time there. And most likely our last. The view was great, but not good enough to overcome the negatives. read more

This is my second visit at this location. I miss the old building, but this one has such a terrific view!! The first visit after they reopened was disappointing (this was maybe two years ago), but this visit hit the mark. Service has improved greatly, as has the food. They even serve alcohol now. I had a simple ham, cheese and bacon sandwich. It was prepared perfectly. The potato chips on the side were fine, but potato chips are disappointing as a side unless they're freshly made. I go to restaurants to be impressed with what they do, not what they dump out of a bag. Their waffle fries are good, but didn't come with my sandwich. Service was satisfactory - not fast but not slow. It was only about half-full when we ordered. Parking was kind of chaotic since someone parked wrong and it threw the whole pattern off, but I didn't downgrade the rating for that. Just something to be aware of when pulling into their lot. Prices are average for the area, meaning this is a good value! Food is fresh, hot, filling, and relatively inexpensive. If they keep up on the service, this place could once again be a destination restaurant. A note about their beer menu. I'm not a big beer drinker, but drank quite a few on this trip to Virginia. I had the Old Rasputin Stout. It's a very nice stout! And only $6 for a 12 ounce bottle. The beer menu seemed well constructed with some interesting offerings. I tried the Washington Porter elsewhere and liked it as well. I didn't look at the wine menu, which is my usual drink of choice. I don't think they serve liquor, but I could be wrong. When I come back through again I'll likely stop here for lunch or dinner. read more

Great service, awesome atmosphere, seafood was perfect. Live music on Friday night was a real treat. Whole family loved this place! read more

Willaby's Cafe' - Great view! - Cafes Near Me - White Stone, Virginia