Shields Tavern

Review summary

1. L

   Linda

   Wilmington

   12 reviews

   1.0

   12 reviews

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 2

   We have been to this restaurant many times during our 50 year residence in Williamsburg. I did not expect the buffet dinner we received, I expected to order from the menu but couldn't because only the buffet was offered. Salad was wonderful, as was the fried chicken. Beef roll up was almost inedible, potato pudding and veggies were also good. The worse part of the meal was the strawberry dessert. Nothing but a few strawberries and a glass of whipped cream. Terrible. Strolling musician was excellent. Cost of meal was approximately $38.00. A cup of coffee was $3.00 additional. No alcohol iof any sort was available. I believe they do not have a liquor license. The best CW could do is close this place permanently and just show it off as a period building, similar to the Raleigh.
   

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2. K

   Kelvin

   Richmond

   2 reviews

   1.0

   2 reviews

   Dined 5 days ago

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 1
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 1

   Our reservation for 12/14 was made 4 months in advance for 7 people coming from out of state who were so excited to be able to go to dinner at a Williamsburg tavern. We received a call from Shields Tavern 2 weeks prior re our reservations to tell us that the tavern was booked for a wedding party and all reservations for that evening were cancelled. There were no solutions offered...just cancelled. The grand illumination was that night so, no other reservations were available for a sit-down dinner within miles. To say that we were so disappointed, was an understatement!
   

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3. B

   Bob

   Northern MI

   3 reviews

   5.0

   3 reviews

   Dined 5 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Perfect in every way from food, to value, and service.
   

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4. B

   Bob

   VIP

   Houston

   14 reviews

   5.0

   14 reviews

   Dined 6 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   Prix fixe menu that provided plenty of food. our server didn't explain it like some of the others we overheard which would have been helpful. All the food was good. Would go again.
   

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5. P

   Pam

   Columbus

   3 reviews

   5.0

   3 reviews

   Dined 6 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   We are so excited that Shields Tavern is open again! Our meal was fabulous, service was excellent and the ambiance superior. The musicians are always delightful.
   

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6. G

   George

   Richmond

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined on December 10, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   The food was very delicious and well worth the price. Ambience was excellent as was the entertainment
   

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7. M

   Mark

   Philadelphia

   4 reviews

   5.0

   4 reviews

   Dined on December 8, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   It's always great dining in one of the colonial taverns of Williamsburg. Like the other taverns, Shield's has the 18th century fare, and an entertainer who plays some music and explains the history behind the couple of period songs he plays. Unlike the other taverns, Sheild's serves the same food to everyone. This is how it was done in the 18th century, so it's really cool that they do that now. It's served family style. The salad is individual, as is the desert. The main course and sides are all served on platters for each person to make a plate from. There are also seconds served for the main course. They food was very good! And the price per person is very reasonable - $39 each. The only change I would make is to server wine or punch. They server water and soft drinks. Other than that, a great experience.
   

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8. J

   Jenifer

   Chicago

   2 reviews

   3.0

   2 reviews

   Dined on December 6, 2024

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 4

   First, this place should be called Shields Non-Tavern. NO ALCOHOL is served, so be forewarned if this is something you want in a dining experience. No one tells you this before booking. Also ... service was friendly, atmosphere is authentic, and food was good, not great - served family style with one menu. But they don't begin to give you enough plates! Not with the appetizer, not with the meal, not with dessert! We had to pull the napkin from the bread basket to put our dessert beignet on so we could scoop the pudding. Somebody didn't try this menu out on themselves before planning the service. We wouldn't go back and wouldn't recommend.
   

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9. K

   Kathleen

   Raleigh

   6 reviews

   1.0

   6 reviews

   Dined on December 6, 2024

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 1
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 1

   I was excited to try Shield's Tavern, but unfortunately, was disappointed. We had a 7:15 reservation and they sat us downstairs, which was getting ready to close, so we were the only ones downstairs and the ambiance was liking eating in a basement by yourself. They could have sat us upstairs, which was still open and had more of a cozy, colonial environment with a gentleman stringing a musical instrument. The waitress was pleasant and helpful, but the food was awful. We were served extremely dry fried chicken and the beef was not much better. The dessert was decent, a strawberry type of parfait. And the bill? Extremely over priced for the food and experience we got. I wished I had known, as we would have skipped this restaurant.
   

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10. E

    Eugene

    VIP

    New York City

    15 reviews

    5.0

    15 reviews

    Dined on December 4, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5

    The new menu is terrific. Loved family style serving and each course, from salad through entree to dessert, was absolutely delicious. One of my favorite places in Colonial Williamsburg is now even better.
    

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