Shields Tavern

The whole experience was unique. We were early enough to be seating when they opened at 5pm. We sat near the kitchen in the basement to experience the tavern environment. Started off with their warm homemade rosemary bread with butter compound. For appetizer: an apple and candied walnut with local white cheese and 2 different dressings: herbed and buttermilk dressings. Added both to the salad to add dimension of flavors. Next up: fried chicken pieces (crispy, delicious and juicy chicken-the crust was so crispy and not greasy at all) mashed potatoes and in-season vegetables (mushrooms & squash) with an herbed buttermilk sauce. Had seconds of this because it was so delicious...creamy, herbal and had a bite to the vegetables. Last up, homemade whipped cream with strawberries and strawberry purée topped with a spiced (cinnamon, nutmeg and sugar) donut. The best donut I've ever tried!

Shields Tavern Taste southern comfort food in the charm of Shields 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 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. Reservations are highly recommended.We like Shields Tavern, and we arrive at our Marriott's Manor Club at Ford's Colony during our colonial visits, and enjoy a Williamsburg immersion.Servers for all Williamsburg taverns are well trained, and can speak to people. Shields is pleasant, and we like the period furniture. Both lunch and dinner menus are limited, and select a three course dinner: soup, fried chicken, and pie - all is fine.Close your eyes and it is 1740's. Always excellent service, and ambience is that of a 1740's Virginia tavern ( with ac of course.) We like the furniture, decorations, and lighting. Servers are on period dress.The tariff is appropriate for the fare.

We came here with a school group. This is my third visit while on a field trip. I have witnessed a decline in service and food quality. I am gluten free and the one choice of soggy vegetables and roasted chicken or turkey, not sure, isn't something I enjoyed. My gluten eating coworkers really did not enjoy their pot pie either. Although they did like the puff pastry it really is not what they remember having on previous visits and the filling was over salted.

Shields is one of the four tavern located on the Colonial Williamsburg grounds. Shields is also located right on DOG street, very close to the capital, so it's easy to find. In addition, there is parking just a block over if you are only visiting CW for your meal.I highly recommend visiting shields if you are wanting the Tavern experience. The rooms and restaurant as a whole is meant to be as close to the style of the times as possible. The dining location I was in had no lights, just candles on the tables for light, and very minimal decor. There was also a man playing the violin throughout the restaurant.There are 4 to 5 dinner options to choose from, including a vegetarian option. I opted for the pork shank that came with a polenta and stewed cabbage. My food tasted pretty good, but it was quite expensive, I believe around 28 for the plate. If you want the best bang for your buck, get the fried chicken meal. That meal is around 27 bucks and it includes a soup, your giant chicken meal with potatoes and veggies, and a dessert of your choice. I think it's the best way to get the most for your money, and that meal had a much larger portion size compared to the others. Overall, I'm happy I went, and enjoyed my meal. My service was a little on the slow side, but that was no bother. It was just so hard to pay so much money for such little food.

The atmosphere and delicious food make a great dining experience. We eat here every time we visit CW.

chicken was very good, but portions are not equal. Friends received large chicken breast and leg. others including myself received a small thigh and wing. There was almost no meat on those portions. Meal also included lemonade, bread with garlic butter, small cuts of mixed veggies and small portion of mashed potatoes. Dessert was a parfait with cinnamon donut. This was a set meal for a bus group.

Huge disappointment! Excited to return after our last stay in Williamsburg, only to be seated in the dark and dingy basement with minimal lighting and virtually no air movement or relief from the heat with the lack of adequate air conditioning.No review on the food, we departed immediately!

I recommend you skip this restaurant entirely. They do not have a liquor license so do not serve wine, beer or liquor, which would have been absolutely fine if the food had been anywhere near acceptable. There is no choice, just a fixed menu consisting of fried chicken and some pounded and rolled meat dish that was filled with corn meal. There was nothing that appealed to our 12 year old grandchildren, although the chicken was good. The meal came with a salad, mashed potatoes and green beans. We wanted the kids to experience a late 1700's tavern experience but would have gone back a second time to Kings Arms which was very good. Avoid this place.

But they did not have any alcohol..... the dinner would have been better with beer or wine The service was great and the food was good but..... the candle lit room was romantic!

Nice to be able to eat in the historic district with a reasonably priced meal, good service, and very tasty food. Kept us fueled all day. Atmosphere added to our day in Williamsburg.