Fat Canary - Williamsburg VA

My husband and I ventured out to the Fat Canary this past Saturday. It was a cold day of drizzling rain, and not much seemed to be happening up and down Duke of Gloucester Street, but the restaurant was hopping. The interior of the restaurant is funky, and it is not as large as you might expect. The tables are close together, and Saturday there were several large parties versus a lot of couples dining. The atmosphere was festive and loud. The open kitchen and hard floors/ceiling/walls are volume maximizers. There was a lady at the table across from us who was literally yelling through the entire meal. I am sure the wine had something to do with that as well. So wear your party shoes, and leave your secrets at home.

Dinner was fantastic from start to finish. Our server Nicholas really steered me in the right directions when I was stuck between two entrees and two desserts. He was also very helpful with wine accompaniments. The staff is well trained on wines and I recommend you take their suggestions and try something new. He was so right about the dessert too!

Here is what we ordered

Arugula and Frisée with Pears, Old Chatham Camembert and Aged Balsamic

Free-Range Guinea with Gnocchi
Charred Tomatoes, Tuscan Kale, Melted Onions and Fresh Thyme

Pan Seared Sea Scallops, Freekeh with Oyster Mushrooms

Huckleberry Amish Cake with homemade Goat Cheese Ice Cream

Pecan Pie ( I think the Ice Cream was Cappuccino)

_Laine
Fat Canary
410 W Duke of Gloucester St, Williamsburg, VA 23185-3603
(757) 229-3333

Singing Praises of the Fat Canary, Williamsburg

Located at 410 W Duke of Gloucester St, next door to the Craft House, is the Fat Canary. It is a smallish place with an open air terrace for alfresco dining, and a fun, contemporary interior. We had some time to kill before being seated and decided to spend it at the bar. There were five specialty drinks that evening. The lady sitting next to me was sipping a martini called the "Tuscan Sun", made from orange vodka,and cointreau. It looked delish, and she confirmed that it was tasty. Having never been a big rum drinker, I suppose I was the among the very few to have never tried a Mojito. I decided to give theirs a shot, and my husband tried the Tuscan Sun. The Mojito was made with lots of fresh mint and really hit the spot. The martini was also refreshing. (I had to try a sip!)

Service was really on point that night. We were seated promptly at 6:30. Our waiter was very attentive, but not overbearing. He was knowledgeable of all menu offerings and skilled at making wine recommendations to complement dinner selections. We sampled four courses: soup, salad, entree, dessert. (Trust me, save room for dessert.) It was all excellent. We had a lentil soup that was the perfect marriage of flavors, a light and interesting peach salad, soft shell crabs (perhaps the best I have ever had, top 2 for sure) and macadamia nut pie a la mode. This pie was a serious indulgence. Rich, sweet and worth every calorie and fat gram. It was all I could do to restrain myself from licking the plate.

Price is a little bit on the high end, but I believe it is appropriate considering the end product. Parking can be a bit of a chore in the Merchant Square section. Give yourself some extra time to find a spot and walk a block or so. Duke of Gloucester street is always bustling, so the stroll is entertaining. For weekend dinner, reservations are a must. Holidays and other popular weekends will require calling a couple of weeks in advance. The bar was full of people dining that night, so you can probably get seated there if you want to pop in without calling ahead. The restaurant is connected to the Cheese Shop, a Williamsburg staple since the 70's. If you have the time and are a wine lover, take a few minutes to browse the shop's wine cellar downstairs. It is impressive.

Laine