Although Colonial Williamsburg is a popular tourist destination year-round, there are slow times, particularly in January and February. Businesses that rely on the tourist trade – like local restaurants – struggle to keep going during these down times. Hence, Restaurant Week. Local restaurants offer special menus and reduced prices to encourage residents – who don’t always patronize local restaurants – to eat out. This article says that the Williamsburg Area Restaurant Association launched Restaurant Week years ago as a way to drum up sales during the slower month of January and provide local chefs with the opportunity to experiment with different dishes to possibly add to their menus.
In Williamsburg, restaurant week runs from January 16-31, so it should be called Restaurant Fortnight. However, since most Americans aren’t familiar with the term, we use Restaurant Week instead. Dozens of restaurants typically participate. The article mentions a few of them: Aberdeen Barn, Sal’s by Victor, Fat Tuna, Surry Seafood Company, Second Street American Bistro, Opus 9 Steakhouse, and Craft 31.
In addition to these popular local restaurants, Colonial Williamsburg’s restaurants – including the Raleigh Tavern Bakery, King’s Arms Tavern, and the Terrace Room at the Williamsburg Inn – began offering discount rates this week. These normally very pricy restaurants will be a bit more accessible during Restaurant Fortnight. Check here to find out more.
We don’t eat out very often, butwe have eaten at several of these restaurants. We particularly enjoy Surry Seafood Company and Craft 31. Eating at Surry Seafood Company is a real event – to get there, Williamsburg residents have to take the Jamestown Ferry across the James River, and the restaurant’s setting on the waterfront offers spectacular views. Eating at Craft 31 is not as much of an event, but it’s convenient to our house (less than 10 minutes away) and has a wide variety of offerings that appeal to us.
If you live in Williamsburg, take the Restaurant Fortnight opportunity to visit a new restaurant or revisit an old friend. Restaurants not listed as formal Restaurant Fortnight participants may offer special deals during this week. If you don’t live in Williamsburg, check your community for the dates of Restaurant Fortnight (okay, Restaurant Week) to brighten up the dark and cold days of winter.
A good read on a cold day here in Rochester. Thanks!!