Christiana Campbell's Tavern
Southern restaurant (US) · Williamsburg ·

Christiana Campbell's Tavern

Southern restaurant (US) · Williamsburg ·

Historic tavern serving fine Southern fare, seafood pie, crab cakes

Christiana Campbell's Tavern by null
Christiana Campbell's Tavern by null
Christiana Campbell's Tavern by null
Christiana Campbell's Tavern by null
Christiana Campbell's Tavern by null
Christiana Campbell's Tavern by null
Christiana Campbell's Tavern by null
Christiana Campbell's Tavern by null
Christiana Campbell's Tavern by null
Christiana Campbell's Tavern by null
Christiana Campbell's Tavern by null
Christiana Campbell's Tavern by null
Christiana Campbell's Tavern by null
Christiana Campbell's Tavern by null
Christiana Campbell's Tavern by null
Christiana Campbell's Tavern by null
Christiana Campbell's Tavern by null
Christiana Campbell's Tavern by null
Christiana Campbell's Tavern by null
Christiana Campbell's Tavern by null
Christiana Campbell's Tavern by null
Christiana Campbell's Tavern by null
Christiana Campbell's Tavern by null
Christiana Campbell's Tavern by null
Christiana Campbell's Tavern by null
Christiana Campbell's Tavern by null
Christiana Campbell's Tavern by null
Christiana Campbell's Tavern by null
Christiana Campbell's Tavern by null
Christiana Campbell's Tavern by null
Christiana Campbell's Tavern by null
Christiana Campbell's Tavern by null
Christiana Campbell's Tavern by null
Christiana Campbell's Tavern by null
Christiana Campbell's Tavern by null
Christiana Campbell's Tavern by null
Christiana Campbell's Tavern by null
Christiana Campbell's Tavern by null
Christiana Campbell's Tavern by null
Christiana Campbell's Tavern by null
Christiana Campbell's Tavern by null
Christiana Campbell's Tavern by null
Christiana Campbell's Tavern by null
Christiana Campbell's Tavern by null
Christiana Campbell's Tavern by null

Information

101 S Waller St, Williamsburg, VA 23185 Get directions

$50–100

Reserve a table
See Menu
reservations required

Information

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101 S Waller St, Williamsburg, VA 23185 Get directions

+1 855 263 1746
colonialwilliamsburg.org
@cwresorts
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@colonialwmsburg

$50–100 · Menu

Reserve a table

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Last updated

Dec 10, 2025

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In Colonial Williamsburg, Food Teaches Visitors About American History | Eater

"At Christiana Campbell’s Tavern, where servers in period costume can answer questions in- and out-of-character, the menu leans on documented historic recipes — you might find farced oysters from François Massialot’s 1702 The Court and Country Cook (greens minced in cream and smoked streak, buttered crumb), the To Fry Fish from Thomas Jefferson’s 1788 personal cookbook (with advice to keep it free from grease), or a Seafood Pye inspired by John Townshend’s 1773 Universal Cook — all adapted for a modern restaurant kitchen." - Nick Mancall-Bitel

https://www.eater.com/dining-out/917316/colonial-williamsburg-food-taverns-virginia-america-250
Christiana Campbell's Tavern

J J

Google
The service was excellent. I ordered the pea soup, potatoe dumplings in the Italian manner (meaning gnocchi in a flavorful cream sauce with tomatoes and mushrooms) and apple pie (with vanilla cream sauce on the side). The pea soup was very unique. A turnip puree was mixed in with the broth. I don't usually care for turnip's but, found the concoction surprisingly delicious.

Julie E.

Google
This was my first time dinning at this tavern and I cannot express how excellent the food, service and atmosphere was. Would definitely recommend going earlier, say between 4-5 o'clock, as we basically had the whole dinning room to ourselves and was able to have some interesting conversations with the staff about the history of the tavern and dinning customs in colonial times. The drinks were refreshing and stronger than you'd expect. The food was superb and made with fresh ingredients. Would not hesitate to dine there again!

Tracy L.

Google
Because of the cost of the food, I had certain expectations, and the restaurant exceeded my expectation. The seafood pie and the crabcake were the best I have eaten. Hubby didn’t like his fried chicken as much. He liked that it’s very light and not greasy at all, but the meat it locked the flavor. We love the atmosphere with the musician playing by the table and in the dining room. The server also made some presentation about the place, the food, and how to use the napkins. All of these added to the enjoyment of our dining experience. This really is a place for special occasion because of the high cost of the food.

Dannielle R.

Google
Wonderful experience! Food is outstanding as is the service. Atmosphere is so symbolic and it's amazing to think we ate were George Washington ate 96 times! Sweet potato muffins to start. My family had steak, crab cakes, seafood pye (winner) and fried chicken. Apple pie and chocolate tart for dessert. They do have a menu - note, even kids fried chicken comes on the bone so you might need to help pull apart for the little ones. Extremely enjoyable dinner and highly recommend. Oh, reservations encouraged!

Lisa S

Google
I dined here my first night in Colonial Williamsburg and this place is nothing short of wonderful. I really loved the whole Colonial old fashioned vibe of this restaurant. Alexis was my server and she was warm, attentive and knowledgeable. I went with Mrs. Campbell's Fried Chicken as my dish. Even though it was a simple meal, it was really good. And the little muffins poppers on the table were so good, you can treat that as dessert. During dinner you get a little entertainment as well that isn't too disruptive. The menu is a tad small, but they have good options to choose from. Plus, the drinks were good and were strong. The hours of operation here are short as well as I believe they are only open from 4pm to 8pm, so I suggest to go early. I recommend coming here as I will return in the future. I mean, who wouldn't want to dine in a place that was George Washington's favorite spot to eat?

Carly V.

Google
I had no expectations of this dinner and was kind of blown away! You will not leave hungry, the flavors of the food are too enticing. And you will not leave bored because of the live entertainment and amazing service! First off the sweet potato muffins out the door I could have eaten the entire basket. I managed to find a copycat recipe online that I'm definitely going to try because I need to have more of those. My husband and I split the potato dumplings while my MIL got the seafood pie. We also got the apple pie for desert! Loved the live music and loved the experience

Angie C.

Google
I had such a wonderful experience at Christiana Campbell’s Tavern in Williamsburg! The atmosphere was charming and full of colonial character, with friendly staff who made the whole evening feel very special. The food was delicious and full of flavors. What made it even more memorable was that they surprised me with a postcard for my birthday, which was such a thoughtful and unique gesture. Highly recommend this place for anyone visiting Williamsburg especially if you’re looking for great food with historic ambiance!

Bryan

Google
Walked in to see if by chance I could get a table, since it was just me they were able to find a spot down in the cellar which was completely acceptable. It was a very unique experience but as with anything in colonial Williamsburg you pay a premium for it. I had a great experience. The food is very good and the service was even better. Even got to enjoy a little harp performance which was great. The crab cake is wonderful. If you have a group get it to share.
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Dave F.

Yelp
The service was impeccable and the food was good. Please forgive me, I failed to remember the server's name. I had the fried chicken, came with three pieces of chicken(leg, thigh, breast) and was the best food ive had at The Tavern. Sides were amazing and the little corn bread minis were the bombdiggity! Thank You CCT
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Denise L.

Yelp
Upon check-in for our reservation via OpenTable, we were immediately seated. If you have trouble walking lots of steps, note this on your reservation, and keep this in mind because you need to walk up several steps to the tavern. We ended up being seated in the cellar dining area that seemed like it was more of a pub vibe because one of our menus was specific to the cellar and there's a bar there. For all of my past visits, I've only been seated on the main level. Stephanie was our server. She was very friendly and had lots of trivia for us, She had the harpist come down and play a bit for us. She entertained my inquiry about the standard napkin we had compared to the table-sized one I had in past visits. All of our entrees were perfectly cooked and served hot. My favorite was the seafood pye but the fried chicken and crab cakes were delicious. The steak was cooked perfectly as requested - rare. Oysters were large & plump. A little disappointed with the crab claws - very tasty but overcooked. The apple pie was yummy and not too sweet. It's sharing size for 2 (or more). It had large slices of apples with a puff pastry on top. Tip Make a reservation well in advance of your visit.
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Ron D.

Yelp
Did you ever find a place that was so good and enjoyed it so much that you were reluctant to write a great review.....It might become so popular. You might not get in the next time. Firstly, let me say it is unique in a way that many people probably would not enjoy it because of it's uniqueness. This place would qualify. You must have a sense ft history where you are sitting, what you are eating, how it was prepared. Patience as this is NOT Micky D! Firstly, out waitress was awesome and had been taught about the history of the building and it's setting. Also the food and ambience. Sadly I have lost her name. The building itself is much older than any place near where i live, but then my community began probably 200 years after Williamsburg. The food was outstanding. Having been told how it is chosen and prepared.....we didn't know what was to expect. We both have commented tht this meal was so much better than almost anything else we eat...it is a commentary on how quality has been lost. I had fried chicken as it is a favorite. She tried the Seafood Pie. If we have the change to return we would probably have the same. Why? well why not have again what you enjoyed so much the first time.
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Heather B.

Yelp
What an experience! A friend of mine made a reservation for around sunset. It was nice after dinner to walk back to the car with the sun setting. When we arrive, we parked at a lot a little bit down the street we had a very small walk to the restaurant . The musician who came around playing really set the vibe for the entire restaurant while we were there. The window seating and the candle light really also added to the ambience. The historic building was the cherry on top of all of it. I ordered the seafood pye and it was fantastic! I highly recommend it! A few other tables had ordered it, and they also were raving about it. All of our desserts were fantastic. My favorite was the raspberry sorbet, but I also really enjoyed the fruit trifle that they had. Pricing is very reasonable for what they offer. I think this is an affordable experience for most. I will definitely be returning .
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Tara H.

Yelp
3 stars for food 4 stars for experience. Service was friendly and fun. Very attentive and accommodating. I liked the candlelight atmosphere. Tables were packed tightly together though. Food was bland. Didn't like crunchy breading on fish. Limited dairy free options. Veggies undercooked. All breads have dairy which is a no go. Little muffins were good. Spoon bread is like mushy corn meal. Punch is like drinking vinegar tasting soda. Very expensive. $150 with tip for 3 people and left hungry. So wouldn't go again but try once for fun if you can afford.
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Tiffany J.

Yelp
To start we had some tasty sweet potato muffins. I had the Monticello Spritzer to drink, it was not too bad. To start, I had the Lettuces from the garden, I am not an olive fan and the brine from them is very prominent in this salad so I did not enjoy it. For my main course, I had Mrs. Campbells Fried Chicken. The veggies were nice and the portion plentiful, the chicken skin was crisp however the meat was incredibly dry. I was not a fan and did not finish my meal. My friend had the oysters on the half shell and crab cakes, he enjoyed both! The service was excellent and the serenade was also nice. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming with a great crowd. I'd definitely give them a try!
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Anna K.

Yelp
You're here for the experience. It feels a little like it was made for tourists who want to eat by candle light in one of the historical homes in Colonial Williamsburg. Our server, Alexis, was amazing. She made our whole dinner experience great with her jokes, knowledge and fast and friendly service. She checked up on our table without it feeling like a lot and even surprised us with more muffins. She also went above and beyond by giving us a second sticky toffee pudding on our way out when ours had taken so long to arrive. The musician going room to room was also great. He had our room tapping their feet and bobbing their heads along to the music. Food wise, the farced oysters and seafood pye were pretty good. I would recommend getting both of those if you come here. The fried chicken was very salty with the ham tasting like a salt block. The vegetables that accompanied it were good though. I also got the whiskey cup, which sounded like it should taste flavorful with the trio of juices in it, but instead it was on the watery side. Every meal comes with sweet potato muffins and spoon bread. The sweet potato muffins were good and warm while the spoon bread was like nothing I've had before. It tasted like it was missing an ingredient because it just tasted like flour paste that was baked. Like I said above, you're paying for the experience of feeling like you've been transported back in time. It's a high cost for food that isn't the best, but the service is great.
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Maria T.

Yelp
We were thrilled to find that this tavern in Williamsburg was open on Tuesdays when the other taverns in colonial Williamsburg were closed. Christiana Campbell's Tavern is located behind the capitol building at the end of Duke of Gloucester Street. We were warmly welcomed by several hosts, and we didn't have a reservation, but were happily seated downstairs in the dining hall. It was an authentic and historic place with wooden booths and colonial style tables. The servers were dressed in period garb, and were gracious and accommodating. The food was lovely! Colonial recipes were served: fried chicken, fried fish, potato dumplings, and other entrees, plus spoon bread, vegetables and sweet potato mini muffins. We thoroughly enjoyed our meals and to top it all off, we were entertained by a guitar player, minstrel, singing old songs and giving us a wonderful history lesson about musical instruments and colonial times. The chef also came out to greet us and asked us how everything was! The pewter cutlery was heavy and we wished we could have been able to purchase some!! The necessary facilities were clean as well! What a treat to have discovered this gem of a restaurant!

Terry B.

Yelp
Fried chicken was just like what my mother in law fixed every Sunday. I loved the sweet potato tea muffins and Sally Lynn bread. So good! The ambiance and service was unmatched only in Williamsburg. Just like we were served 55 years ago on our honeymoon!
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Arnie M.

Yelp
A great meal in a historic setting. our waitress was knowledgeable of the menu and the history. She made the dining experience fun. Half way through dinner we had a Tavern madrigal play a few songs. Before you think "uggh" and groan. It was value added entertainment. My wife had the fried chicken and it was moist and delicious. I had the steak and the apple pie. I strongly recommend both.
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Andy M.

Yelp
Made reservations here for dinner one night while in Williamsburg. The waiter was very informative on what to order and also the historical significance of the restaurant. We started off with drinks and appetizers - they served us sweet potato muffins that were the hit of the table. Entree's - I got the Crab Cakes which was fresh and loaded with crab meat - very little bread crumbs. Other entrees were the Fried Chicken, and the dumplings. It was all good. Dessert - I got the Apple Pie which was about the best slice of Apple Pie I have ever had. Food is good here - but it is pricey. If the food and service is good, I don't mind paying a bit more than other restaurants. Easy 5 stars
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Dan L.

Yelp
Outstanding authentic traditional meal with equally outstanding service. Highly recommend. Don't miss it on your next visit to Williamsburg.
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Erin M.

Yelp
What a charming experience! The staff was friendly and helpful, and we even got to enjoy some live music, which added to the atmosphere. The kid's menu was a hit--our little one gave the macaroni and cheese a big thumbs up! We also loved the fun incentive for kids: if they eat half of their veggies, they get to pick a scoop of ice cream (vanilla, chocolate, or hazelnut). The hazelnut ice cream was absolutely delicious! For the adults, the crab cake was filling and flavorful. The only downside was the oysters--they weren't my favorite, but that's just personal preference. Dining by candlelight was such a wonderful touch--it really transported us to the feel of colonial Williamsburg. We'll definitely be back for the cozy atmosphere and great food!
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Kathy T.

Yelp
As always a lovely tine. Stephanie our waitress was great, everyone was great. Food was excellent atmosphere was perfect. Always a good time
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Chris S.

Yelp
BLUF: Very good and enjoyable, but not among the most impressive restaurants where the flavors have blown me away. Pros: Delicious oysters (smaller than I've had elsewhere but maybe there are different sized oysters for different types of dishes? I dunno), veggies, spoon bread, rum cream tart, scoop of (dutch?) chocolate ice cream all tasted very good. Waitress shared several fun historical facts. Not Pros: Limited menu. Pea soup was an interesting presentation, but not a flavor I'd seek out again. Objective: We were seated in the basement which had the pro of being quiet, private, and cool temperature. But, you may feel too hidden away and wish to sit upstairs. Tip: Make a reservation!
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Brad Heather S.

Yelp
I was very concerned after reading several reviews that the food was not going to live up to our standards, however I wanted to experience the place that George Washington use to frequent. FOOD - The food was excellent. The fried Chicken is probably the best I have ever had. It was crisp, juicy and steamy. The steak was perfectly cooked and seasoned. The salad was so very good with a mixture of lettuces, figs, micro-greens and radishes. The sweet potato muffins were so good that I tracked down the recipe to make myself. STAFF & EXPERIENCE - This is why the 4 stars and not 5. The staff was pleasant and kind, however based on what I saw the other dining room was experiencing, we had no "experience" in our dining area. We did have a gentleman come in and play some music, but that was all. Based on other reviews and what the other diners were experiencing in the other dining areas, I feel we were greatly jipped from the experience aspect. PARKING - There is parking in the rear of the tavern. All in all I would visit again, with the hopes that there would be more interaction.
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Manuela P.

Yelp
A truly fun 'old world experience we had last night! Not the cheapest place, however the best food & entertainment for a special night out. Traditional foods & drinks, some with a modern twist. HH (Hungry Hubby) ordered the fried Trout, which you can have the head or not... he wanted the whole body. He said it was wonderful, savory and perfectly pan fried! The fish was fresh fresh fresh, tender & flaky he said. He also enjoyed the fresh & great assortment of greens Salad, the dressing was the perfect touch. With his dinner he also had the Apple pie, which was nothing like what is how we see it these days. I had the Seafood Pye and I was in heaven! If you love a variety of fish, this one is for you! Lobster, crab etc etc etc! And the lobster sauce over the top of the flaky bowl it was in was to die for. Perfect combo for me. My dinner also had the Pea soup which was wonderful and I chose the killer Flourless Chocolate Cake. So much great food, so full walking out ;) Getting to the bathroom ("Nessities") was a bit of a challenge. The restaurant is in a true historic Williamsburg building, thus the doors & stairs are much more narrow as well as steep. Traditional music was provided by a talented wonderful young man, he played an Irish flute & a old style of a guitar. Such a special evening while visiting Williamsburg.

Ana K.

Yelp
Authentic menu, their "bread" is to die for, good service, informative waiters, overall a fun and friendly experience!
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Jason W.

Yelp
2 of us had the crab cakes & 2 of us had the fried chicken. Everything was really good. Our server was very attentive as well.

Molly S.

Yelp
Was greeted and seated right away. Room was very noisy, cocktails were good and the muffins yummy. My sister and I ordered the fried chicken dinner to split, because we just can't eat a single serving. The chicken dinner comes with a slice of ham and vegetable. The ham was dry and tough, and the chicken overcooked so it to was on the dry side. The server had a little attitude. She didn't check with us to see if we were happy with our meal or needed anything else. I had to wave her down to request a wine list and then had to wave her back to order the wine. We were very disappointed as a friend had highly recommended the restaurant.
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Greg J.

Yelp
Eating here is early more about the experience than the food. We were there as a group and the servers gave us a presentation about the history of the tavern and I think gave us kind of a feel for what eating there might have been like. We had the chicken, which I liked. I didn't care for the greens that were the dude. They also came around and gave each a spoonful of some starch. I don't recall the name, but it was good. I think this is definitely a place to include on your visit to Williamsburg
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Bill M.

Yelp
Ambiance is top notch, we really enjoyed servers and musician. Food was just okay so would I return , no. I have had better Fried Chicken elsewhere. Apple pie was disappointing .
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Ron H.

Yelp
Christiana Campbell's Tavern-Colonial Williamsburg - dinner We have taken care to frequent Colonial Williamsburg for decades; Probably the Christmas season is our favorite, and the long hot humid summer is the season we avoid. Any frequent visitor to Greater Williamsburg is in for a culinary treat; we focused our first few years on Colonial Williamsburg dining, and we still recommend the historical taverns. Dining in the 18th Century setting is provided at the following: * Christiana Campbell's Tavern® * Chowning's Tavern® * King's Arms Tavern® * Shields Tavern® We note the history that Christiana Campbell's Tavern was a favorite of George Washington, and it is a half century favorite for us as well. York Supper of Low Country Stew of Clams, Mussels, Shrimp and Local Fish, Fingerling Potatoes, Tomato Saffron Broth and Garlic Herb Crostini remains a favorite of ours. Caveat: Williamsburg visitor's center is pleased to make dining reservations for your week in Williamsburg - we suggest a mix of colonial dining with 21st century dining. The tariff is appropriate for the fare.
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Chris K.

Yelp
Going to a Colonial Williamsburg tavern is a treat, whether you are a local or a visitor. The ambiance and staff transport you to the mid-1770s, with period furnishings, attire, and live music. During our most recent visit--our first since 2019-we ordered the fried oysters as an appetizer and the Seafood Pye and the To Frye Fish as entrees. I find the menu names and descriptions to be confusing. Just say it's fried fish. Both meals were very good. The fried fish was rockfish, which was fried with bread crumbs so it wasn't greasy. The vegetable hash was good, but I found the greens (kale or spinach) difficult to chew. The seafood pie was bursting with lobster, cod, scallops, and shrimp with a lobster sauce in a light puff pastry. Delicious! The meal started with small sweet potato muffins and spoon pudding--a corn and egg combo baked and served in a small skillet. They have a limited wine list with some wines offered by the glass and bottle and others by the bottle. They also offer cocktails and other specialty drinks. We enjoyed our meal so much that we passed on dessert, though diners nearby were enjoying apple pie and different flavors of ice cream. Be sure to make a reservation well in advance, as the Colonial taverns book up.
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Mike S.

Yelp
After visiting the other taverns in Williamsburg, we would not come back due to a very disappointing experience. First, the seafood PYE was supposed to have lobster, scallops, and crab. But when we got the PYE, it had salmon instead of lobster. Second, our waiter didn't tell us that the PYE had no lobster until it was too late to take it back. Then, the steak was a New York Strip which on the menu describes that the steak is a center cut, which would equate to a filet. Most disappointing was the complete lack of any 'tavern-like' ambience. They did have a performer, but only had it on the main floor, and never came to the level we were on. For almost $400 for a family of 4 (2 children, 11 and 6), it was completely underwhelming. For the price of the food and the dinner, we were left extremely disappointed.
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Margaret C.

Yelp
We had a delicious dinner with our group of 8. The server was wonderful and willing to give honest recommendations. I ordered the crab cakes and they were delicious. I also enjoyed the fresh salad, spoon bread, and sweet potato muffins! We all enjoyed dining by candlelight, with live music, and a little history lessons added in.
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Devon C.

Yelp
Historic touristy experience. Staff are costumed, menu implies food is historically inspired (menu: "2lb of fish in this fish pye" waitress: "oh, haha, no, sir, that's dramatic license. you get about 8oz of fish in your $58 fish pie"). There's a lady that plays music and sings very well, exposing tourists to authentically historic songs. Our waitress did a special spiel tying our oversized napkins into the historical context, relating to "making ends meet". Go for the pretense that you can pretend to be a time traveler. Don't go for the extremely limited menu of one beef option, one fried chicken option, some very limited seafood offerings, and overpriced wines (theirs is a 433% wine markup, according to their sommelier, versus a 300% industry standard). Your kids will struggle to enjoy themselves there. You'll be hard-pressed to recommend it to others. You definitely won't recommend it to friends and family that you care about.
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Will S.

Yelp
The Campbell tavern is an experience. The service, Alexis was our waitress, was top notch. She was friendly, engaging, and shared "the knowledge" on the food and colonial customs. I had my steak and tried the fried chicken and potatoes (Italian style .. gnocchi). Everything was great. The cherry bounce is also an amazing little drink and apparently Washington's favorite. This place is a pleasurable experience accented with excellent food and friendly staff (especially Alexis and her mom).
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Jeffrey A.

Yelp
Ate here for dinner while visiting Colonial Williamsburg. I had the whole fried fish (head and all) and my husband had the pea soup and the seafood pie. We were also served the best little sweet potato muffins and some delicious spoon bread. I hate pea soup - so as a judge of pea soup - it seems totally unfair for me to state my opinion of it. My husband thought it was great and he also really liked the seafood pie. The server was kind enough to warn our table that the fried trout was whole - head, eyes, everything! Though thoughtful, it was unnecessary. The fried fish was lovely and was butterflied before being fried. It looks like most of the skeleton (save the head) was removed but some pin bones remained making it a little harder to eat - but delicious nonetheless. The meal and service was wonderful and we will be back if and when we come back to C.W.
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Gabrielle H.

Yelp
Man, this place was a bit of a bummer. I came to Williamsburg as a child, and my fondest memory was eating split pea soup with Virginia ham in a tavern. (I'm not sure which one.) I came back as a history loving adult, and my biggest wish was to eat at a tavern. I made my reservation in January for a November trip to Williamsburg. Candidly, the food was VERY disappointing. The ambiance was amazing, the waitstaff was amazing, a historical musician came and played, but my God the food was a massive let down. My appetizer was incredibly gross and cold. Actually I ordered the only good entree on the menu, the chowder. We were a party of seven and every other entree was a massive disappointment (as we all shared). The prices were sky high for the quality of the food. I've spent the last 10 years living in NYC, so for me to be shocked by the prices is something. (Almost everywhere else we went in Williamsburg, I was marvling at the good deal I was getting including the Norfork airport and the Colonial Williamsburg Park itself.) I'm a bit sad about the food. The 3 stars are fir the history and the ambiance.
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Y Yelp Y.

Yelp
***FOOD: Colonial Comfort Food. Wow eating at the place George Washington ate at. Lobster bisque - good a little salty, sweet potato muffins-so good, fish fried - ok, seafood pye-love the gravy has lobster scallops shrimp all good, chowder - very good, onions spinach & tender salmon. Apple pie- good, Hoe cake- with the crab it was so good. Some food was a little bland or too salty ***COST (OUT OF 4$) $$$ ***DÉCOR: in an original old tavern. Wonderful authentic down to the creaky old Floor boards. ***SERVICE: servers dressed up in period piece. Service was a little slow despite there being not as many people there. Then our server dropped plates and dropped food. ***RECOMMEND: YES RECOMMEND for the historic aspect
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Cherie O.

Yelp
Started with a Monticello Spritzer and an IPA special for drinks. Perfect summer drink for me. Tiny yet tasty muffins with butter were served. We each had half a dozen oysters on the half shell. Ate nearly all before realizing to take a photo. Hubby's were gone completely. I had the popular seafood pye while Hubby ordered the chowder which wasn't a soup or stew but salmon. We then split the apple pie with a scoop of hazelnut gelato. The pie had a small amount of blackberries. Such sweet live music was performed for us. Delightful way to spend our anniversary.menum
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Kathryn K.

Yelp
Loved the ambience. The waitstaff were all so lovely. They had a musician walking g around playing tunes. The food was delicious. We ate on the 2nd floor be aware if you have disabled people attending with you. My kids enjoyed the experience as well.

Jimmy W.

Yelp
It was a memorable experience and overall delight. The staff was remarkable and joyful with of a desire to serve and made us feel well cared for. Our server was kind, patient, knowledgeable and always had a smile. The three dishes we had were excellent. The crab cakes were loaded with sweet crab on a bed of vegetables. Tasty and perfectly cooked. The potato dumplings were a better surprise and a savory cream sauce which stole the show! We also had oysters as an appetizer, just like George Washington did, and they did not disappoint. A woman played the harp and shared her passion for period music too. Even in the basement seating, we loved all of it. A bit pricey indeed, but an experience worth enjoying in a great destination loaded with history!

Pat S.

Yelp
Enjoyable atmosphere. Our server Emily was personable and attentive. Food, including crab cakes and fried chicken, was very good.

Jo Ann C.

Yelp
We had a delicious fish and Italian potato dish. The spoon bread was very good as well as the sweet potato muffin. It was fun being and eating in an 18th century setting.
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Aj W.

Yelp
Found this on Yelp! before a quick business trip to Williamsburg and what a cool experience! Of course it's colonial style but the food is delicious! Waitress was very friendly and attentive and knowledgeable of the times. The sweet potato muffins came out first and were fantastic with the butter. I ordered the crab cakes which were full of crab meat and flavor, and came with spoon bread which was something I'd never had or heard of. It was my favorite part! I had a local IPA beer to drink. A gentleman came around singing old songs on a guitar which added to the ambiance. Set in the colonial Williamsburg so I did some walking around before dinner which was also fun. Definitely recommend.

Megan M.

Yelp
The premise of Christiana Campbell's Tavern is good; it is a tavern that offers diners a colonial dining experience with supposedly "authentic" colonial food. The wider experience was good, with a nicely themed dining room, live music, and a little public commentary from our server, who gave diners a bit of information about the owner and her life. The menu is extremely limited and does not appear to be as authentic as I would have hoped. It is also extremely expensive for the food that is served and the portion sizes. Our server was polite but not overly friendly or personable. Service was fast and efficient. I think a colonial tavern is well worth a visit when in the area, but I would not advocate for it as good value for money.
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Amanda J.

Yelp
Christiana Campbells was on our list purely for the vibes. For that reason alone - four stars! We had a great time listening to the music within the authentic space. Food selection was not very broad, but we had looked at the menu ahead of time to prepare. I got the "Potato Dumplings in the Italian Manner" and my husband got the crab cakes. I really enjoyed the dumplings (gnocchi) and the sauce was perfect. Husband said the crab cakes were good but he was disappointed in the vegetables it came with. For $48 he wished he had a chance to substitute for something else which I think is fair. They only had one beer on tap for my husband which was disappointing, but my Monticello Spritzer drink was tasty. Service was average - our server did her job but there were definitely no "frills" to the experience. Overall, an enjoyable experience, but unsure if we feel compelled to return. I guess we'll see on our next trip to Williamsburg!
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Ted D.

Yelp
Wanted the full historical experience and went for dinner. We made a reservation several months in advance! They were very busy! It's the full experience and feels like you are in colonial times with costumed servers, authentic decorations and a strolling musician. Our server Emely was outstanding! We started with LOBSTER SOUP - take a couple of middling lobsters & take out the meat, put the shell into a mortar until very smooth & put into the pot & cover it close & stew it from some time & reduced by half. A second appetizer was HOE CAKES ANOTHER WAY - drop the batter a spoonful at a time on a hoe or griddle when done on one side turn to the other...send to table with warm crab and sweet sauce of butter. Both apps were very good. The fried ouster app was ho hum - too much batter. Entrees included the very tasty CRAB CAKES as well as the SEAFOOD PYE - make a good crust...boil two pounds of fish add to it scallops, shrimp and lobster in the same manner, send to table with gravy. Both entrees were fantastic! Highly recommended experience although, as expected, it's pricey.
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Mark S.

Yelp
We were really looking forward to this experience. Save your money, such a let down. Just another tourist attraction with subpar food and service.
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Sterling G.

Yelp
Wonderful food. Great service. They do a wonderful job of explaining the background of the tavern and the history of the area. Historical background is a great background for the meal.
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James S.

Yelp
Ate here for dinner with my wife. You will need reservations! Restaurant is very clean and looks the williamsburg part. A classy but comfortable atmosphere with semi casual dress. All staff is dressed in williamsburg colonial attire. Restrooms are downstairs but clean. Our staff paused and gave a small history lesson of the tavern and owner. Staff was extremely helpful and polite and very attentive. Food was outstanding. Everything was very fresh and excellent in flavor. We split the salad & crab cakes and they split into 2 different dishes, which is so helpful. The dishes served on other tables looked awesome. It is slightly romantic. Menu is slightly limited and focuses on a traditional background for colonial time. We really hope to return
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John D.

Yelp
It has been almost ten years since last I ate here. And I was not disappointed in my reservation as handled through OpenTable. I arrived a few minutes before my assigned time, and was immediately sat at a table very much to my liking. Another great improvement real candles on the tables. That was not the case during a visit to another Tavern last year. Glad to hear of that change. My server Kimberly at Table 5 was efficient and knowledgeable about the menu for the evening. I had to try the Green Pease Soup and The Seafood Pye. As spelled in the 1700's I must say the Soup was better than I expected and I would order it again, and the Seafood Pye was really spectacular and will be added as one of my favorites. You should really try Christiana Campbells Tavern as one of your go to places when you visit Colonial Williamsburg.

Yolanda J.

Yelp
This was our third or fourth visit over the years. We enjoyed excellent service, good food, and music of the period. I would recommend the potato dumplings in the Italian style. (Gnocchi).
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Julie T.

Yelp
I would have tried this place for dinner, however on this 90+ degree weather, I was turned away by the hostess: reservations mandatory. Really? That was NOT on the Colonial Williamsburg page I had looked at before walking over. Again, 90 degree weather and I nearly fainted. Not fun...post it on the colonial Williamsburg webpage.
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Kelsey R.

Yelp
We visited Christiana Campbell's on a quick day trip in to Williamsburg. I was very concerned that reservations were going to fill up, but the restaurant was rather not busy when we sat to eat dinner. If there was a possibility to a eat a full meal of just the sweet potato bread, I would. Do not skip! You get a better bang for you buck if you order a punch bowl to share instead of individual cocktails. We each ordered the fried chicken. Historically, my boyfriend is not a big veggie guy, and he loved the veggie accompaniment. I did not, and typically do. Strange! There are no substitutions so be mindful. We learned many interesting period specific etiquette practices and facts while dining. After a long day on our feet, this was a great way to rest and refuel.
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April B.

Yelp
It's all about the ambience and experience. Traditional food of the times and period staff make for a great time. Music is played for you as well. Such a great experience and our server was amazing. They even gave us a sweet card since we were celebrating our anniversary.
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Michael P.

Yelp
One of my favorite taverns in the Historic Area. My favorite item is the crab cakes. Very little filler, plenty of crab!