415 Richmond Road · Williamsburg, VirginiaIndependent heritage site · carrying the story forward
Williamsburg Hospitality House

Hotel & Conference Center heritage · Williamsburg, Virginia · since the early 1970s

Dining

Christopher’s Tavern.

“The Place to Be for Feasting, Fun & Friends” — the hotel’s tavern, menu and all.

The Hospitality House ran two full-service restaurants, and Christopher’s Tavern was the one guests wandered into after a day in the Historic Area — a casual, club-style room with its own house beer (batter for the onion rings was made with “Christopher’s Lager”) and a menu that read like late-90s Virginia comfort food. The dishes and prices below are from the menu the hotel itself published in 2000.

Things to share

Tavern Crab Dip $7.95Warm cheeses, fresh lump crab and artichoke hearts, with crusty French bread
Christopher’s Coconut Shrimp $6.95With apricot-horseradish dip
Cajun Prime Rib Bites $6.50Blackened prime rib with Pommery mustard and ranch, grilled pita
French Quarter Pie $5.95Pizza dough with grilled chicken, andouille sausage, roasted peppers, smoked gouda
Lager Rings $4.25Onion rings batter-fried with Christopher’s Lager, spicy horseradish sauce

Soups & salads

Virginia Ham & Corn Chowder $3.95“A rich traditional chowder — the name says it all”
Virginia Country Salad $8.25Edwards country ham, white cheddar, roasted turkey, apple, dijon vinaigrette
Bourbon Street Caesar $7.95–$8.50With blackened chicken or blackened mahi mahi, smoked gouda
Southern Fried Chicken & Pecan Salad $7.50Toasted pecans, spinach, buttermilk dressing

Sandwiches & mains

Crabcake Sandwich $8.95Grilled onion roll, homemade tartar sauce, cole slaw and fries
Cajun Chicken Sandwich $7.25Roasted red peppers, smoked gouda, Pommery-Boursin spread
Edwards Virginia Country Ham Melt $6.95With roasted turkey and Virginia white cheddar on sourdough
Honey BBQ Mahi Mahi $12.95Evening entrée — garlic mashed potatoes and fresh vegetables (served after 5pm)
Christopher’s Classic $6.95Half-pound burger or grilled chicken, build-your-own toppings
Menu and prices exactly as published on the hotel’s own site in 2000 (a selection; the full card is preserved in the Internet Archive). By the mid-2000s the dining line-up was led by the 415 Grill.

Were you a regular? A cook? A server who carried that crab dip? Add your memory.