I dined here twice during my stay. The first was on Christmas Eve, when the Tavern featured Mrs. Shield's Yuletide Supper. Because the tavern was very busy that night, service was not as good as I expected. As part of the special menu for that...night, everyone received three main courses, served family style, plus soup or salad and dessert.. I ordered the soup and received half a cup of Brunswick Stew. When I made the reservation, I indicated that I do not eat pork. I was surprised to learn that two of the three main dishes contained pork. Luckily the third was beef, which I enjoyed. I ate here on New Year's Eve, with their regular menu. Service and food were excellent. My server, Mo, provided service with a song and a smile! My food was delicious.More

Made reservations to eat here on a Saturday evening during the Christmas season. Seated downstairs which was not my choice but it wasn't so bad. Was fairly close to kitchen but didn't cause any issues. It was a bit chilly down there so bring a...jacket! Service was good; food was very good. Pricing about what you'd expect for the type of place it was.More

Visited Colonial Williamsburg for the post Christmas season and prior to New Years. The food at Shields was excellent and the portions were excellent. Service provide by waitress dressed appropriately for Colonial times was excellent.

Dinner at Shield's Tavern was a fun experience, and the food was good, not great. I had reserved there because the restaurant is listed on several websites (including TripAdvisor) as a good option for vegans like my companion. There were almost no vegan options on...the menu. They were able to accommodate with a salad (altered a bit from the one on the menu), but that was it. If you have special dietary issues, I suggest checking the menu ahead of time. The atmosphere is great, though, and we had fun dining at Shields Tavern. As others have noted, be sure to make a reservation.More

If you want to eat in a basement - even though authentic - and be told you got “tavern fries” with your sandwich - and get extruded, reconstituted mushy potato strips instead . . . and a waitress who made no attempt to rectify the...situation, then stand in the long line and pay the high prices. Enough said ??More

Excellent dining experience. Great service and perfectly prepared traditional colonial meal. We had the fried chicken special Shields meal.

Out of all the taverns, I think we got the last reservation at a decent time for dinner. (Make sure you reserve. dining anywhere a couple weeks in advanced). Great dinner, great service, and music. A must try! I got the chicken dinner and it...did not disappoint. A half chicken with delicious flavor. Soups and sides all wonderful. I either need to learn this cooking or go more often for a visit!More

Third trip to Colonial Williamsburg in four years. Everyone I spoke with told me you MUST have lunch at Shields Tavern. Once the restaurant fills up they won't let any more in for lunch. I got there 1 1/2 hours early. First in line. Donna...and I were greeted and guided to a window seat facing the street. We watched as the restaurant filled up quickly. Amusingly enough despite the fact we were first, we were served last. The food was very good and worth the wait. I told the staff that this was my third attempt to eat at the tavern. First two times, I was turned away. You can call to reserve a table for dinner; however, lunch is first come first serve.More

We booked a table for just after the tavern opened, when there were only 2 other couples eating. They tried to make us sit downstairs in a soulless brick room across from the kitchen, and said we hadn’t requested a table on the main floor!...Unbelievable. I would not have paid $200 on a dinner if I’d had to sit downstairs looking at white brick walls and listening to kitchen staff screaming at each other. Prepared to leave, they begrudgingly seated us upstairs where we enjoyed a fiddler’s music, beautiful ambience, and great food and drinks. I still prefer Kings Arms Tavern, but our evening at Shields Tavern was acceptable. Make sure you reserve a table on the main floor!More

Wonderful beff short rib dinner. A bit pricey but excellent food and service. They had gone downhill some a number of years previous but the changes have really helped. Should have kept the original china though!!!

Great food, historic building which the server will share with you, roaming musician, great service!

Our server Kim was EXTRAORDINARY! She worked hard to ensure my husband's bad gout diet could be worked out by the Chef even though we had called ahead of time to alert the Tavern of a change in his dietary restrictions. The food was plentiful...and delicious! And Peppermint Ice Cream for dessert! We had a prime two top table with window view of Duke of Gloucester Street too! The Balladeer, Stephen Christof, was AMAZING on the Spanish Guitar and returned to play a Carol on his HANDS! AWESOME!! HIGHLY RECOMMEND Shield's Tavern for dining, service, ambiance, entertainment, and location.More