Everyone goes to Colonial Williamsburg to explore the historic streets, costumed interpreters, and colonial-era buildings. But after spending a few hours walking through the historic district, it quickly becomes clear that you can’t spend the whole day exploring without stopping to eat.
One of the fun parts of visiting Colonial Williamsburg is finding places where the experience extends beyond the exhibits and into the dining room. Inside the Historic Area, there are several taverns designed to reflect the atmosphere and flavors of the 18th century. During a recent visit, my mom and I spent the morning wandering through shops, talking with tradespeople, and stepping into the many buildings open to visitors. By lunchtime we were more than ready for a break, so we stopped at Josiah Chowning’s Tavern.
Josiah Chowning’s Tavern sits in a historic home right along Duke of Gloucester Street, making it an easy stop while exploring the main colonial thoroughfare.
Josiah Chowning’s Tavern
Quick Guide to Josiah Chowning’s Tavern
Location: Colonial Williamsburg Historic Area
Known for: colonial-inspired tavern dishes and cozy dining rooms
What to try: crock of cheese, chopped salet, smoked turkey trencher
Best for: a relaxed lunch break while exploring Williamsburg
Starting with the Crock of Cheese
We started lunch with the Crock of Cheese, because there are very few situations where ordering cheese feels like the wrong decision.
The cheddar beer cheese came with grapes, apple slices, and crackers. Instead of a melted dip like we expected, the cheese was served as a creamy spread, similar in texture to pimento cheese but without the heat. The fruit added a nice bit of sweetness and made the whole plate feel like a classic tavern snack.
Crock of Cheese
The Chopped Salet
For the main part of lunch, we decided to share a Chopped Salet (which is how “salad” was spelled in the 18th century).
The bowl arrived piled high with lettuce, smoked turkey, bacon, hard-boiled egg, cheddar cheese, tomatoes, and cucumbers. Everything was tossed with a creamy buttermilk herb dressing that brought the ingredients together perfectly. After a morning of walking around the historic district, it was exactly the kind of hearty but refreshing dish we needed.
Chopped Salet
The Smoked Turkey Trencher
We also shared the Hot Smoked Turkey Trencher, which quickly became one of our favorite dishes of the meal.
The sandwich layered smoked turkey with spinach, Swiss cheese, smoked bacon, and basil pesto on hearth-baked bread. The turkey had a rich smoky flavor, and the bread held up nicely to all the toppings. It was the kind of sandwich that leaves you feeling ready to head back out and keep exploring.
Hot Smoked Turkey Trencher
A Midday Stop in Colonial Williamsburg
Stopping for lunch at Josiah Chowning’s Tavern felt like a natural pause in the middle of a busy day exploring the historic area. After refueling with a hearty lunch, we were ready to continue wandering through the cobblestone streets and colonial shops for the rest of the afternoon.
If you’re spending a day in Colonial Williamsburg, it’s worth planning time to stop at one of the taverns for a meal. It’s an easy way to extend the historic atmosphere beyond the exhibits and into the dining experience.
Josiah Chowning’s Tavern is located at 109 E Duke of Gloucester St, Williamsburg, VA
If you’re planning a trip through Virginia, you might also enjoy some of the other food stops I’ve discovered while traveling, including cocktails and bites at the Williamsburg Inn Social Terrace and some memorable bakeries in Richmond.
You can see where else my travels take me, here.
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While this meal was paid for by Colonial Williamsburg, all views stated here are my own.
Colonial Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg
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Hearth baked sandwiches are my favorite!