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"I love this place! It is by far one of the best restaurants in Williamsburg. The food is authentic French bistro..everything is fantastic.…" read more »
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Even on an overcast day in November, The Trellis makes you feel like you're sitting down to a light luncheon on a sunny day. Unfortunately, the illusion of a gentler way of life was shaken, then ultimately shattered by our server who perplexed/entertained us from the start by refusing to recite the beverage choices unless we narrowed it down between juice and soda. He then brought HG a root beer despite a very clear discussion about a local beer - a sweet Williamsburg amber ale that he enjoyed very much. The server didn't think to leave the extra root beer for HG Jr. who did order it and never got a refill.
HG ranks the cheeseburger in the top 3 of his life, and I loved my thick, fluffy, but small slice of salmon, spinach, and tomato "cheesecake" (yes, deserves the elevation from mere quiche, but a $11.95 price tag?). SG's French onion soup was a little skimpy on the onions (we know from "Babette's Feast" that onions are cheap!), but very thick and beefy. Well, maybe the small portions are a strategic move so that there's room for Death by Chocolate. Too bad - that led to their downfall. We ordered one slice and a coffee, waited and waited, then watched in dismay as the waiter proceeded to take a large party's order right next to us. How hard could it be to cut a piece of cake?! When we finally got it, not even its over-sweet icing could remove the distaste from our mouths.
I'm going to stick with a four star rating for the food because you can just ask not to be seated in Orlando E.'s section. I paid attention to the previously criticized hostess, and while she appeared frazzled and not that happy to be working (it wasn't even busy), she wasn't rude. I'd like to try some of the other lunch specials, but I'm sure HG will never want to return
We booked this dinner primarily for the chocolate but with a star chef at the helm we thought for sure a good dinner would be had. Not so. The waitress was completely and totally baffeled by our request to have our red wine chilled a bit. She kept explaining only white wine gets chilled. We had to educate her on these new things in homes called wine refrigerators and the perfect temp of 55 deg for red wine. She wasn't all that convinced. ( we get that reaction a lot though so we are used to it).
The food was bland and lacked flavor. No imagination at all.
The death by chocolate was amazing, and the desserts made up for the lack of flavor in the food. Certainly not worth the price. Much better places in town.
We came in for dessert, and boy did we make the right choice! The Death By Chocolate cake was incredible... so rich and moist, I highly recommend it.
The only negative aspect of our experience was when we asked for a recommendation of a wine to pair with the dessert. The waitress misquoted the price, and didn't tell us until we were already drinking it, which was somewhat unprofessional. The wine itself was alright, but nothing too special. This wouldn't stop me from coming back though.
Came here for lunch, food was great after touring around the historical sites...
this place might be quite touristy... but as a tourist... i loved it.... the award winning 7 layer chocolate cake is the BEST i have ever had... lived up to it's reputation and helped me to enter the heaven of chocolate...
i also had the burger for my entree, it was definitely one of the best burgers that i have eaten during my years in the states...
highly recommended... for a nice lunch outside when the weather is gorgeous... or for a nice dinner... just the chocolate cake would worth a visit!
After debating whether we wanted to stand in a long line at The Cheese Shop across the street, we decided to just sit down and pay a tad more. Our meal was comparable in price.
Me and my husband each got a sandwich soup combination ($9) which was delicious. I had the Chicken Salad: fresh chicken breast blended with diced celery, apple and mayonnaise on Trellis-made dill flat bread. Served with Belgian endive and fennel salad.
The Trellis has a lot of nostalgic value for me. I've been going there for easily 12 or 13 years. When we lived in Virginia, it was a huge treat to go to Williamsburg, hit Busch Gardens, and eat at the Trellis. We would always sit in the grill room and watch the cooks. Some of my fondest memories of my younger days were in that restaurant. If you go for lunch, it's fine to be casually dressed. However, you definitely want to dress a little nicer for dinner.
The menu has evolved over the years and I've long since stopped ordering dessert there, but I've never been unhappy with a meal. My dad and I ate there shortly after Christmas while we were visiting family. I had the black bean burger and the split pea soup. My only complaint was the black bean burger was a bit dry. The soup was delicious and I enjoyed two Mimosas with fresh squeezed orange juice.
The location also can't be beaten. After your meal, you can walk it off through the historic district. At least, that's what we always do.
trellis attracted us with the outdoor cafe.
the special lump crab cakes with scalloped potatoes and grilled asparagus was DELISH. the crabcakes were very moist, full of crab meat and equally matching yummy buttered potatoes and asparagus. For the price, it was little food.
the house salad with fresh season fruit (berries) had mixed greens and a home vinegairette dressing that was very well paired with the sweet salad and served as great dip for the 4-bread basket that was brought to our table.
The tuna salad sandwich with grapes, seeds and other goodness on wheat (something) bread, was tasty, but too dry. Paired with the fruit it came with it managed to go down with ease, however.
No dessert for us, but from what we saw, they were HU-MON-GOUS!!! just too friggin big, and they skimp on the savoury stuff...
the bread basket was yummy, but not memorable. The spicy cake-like bread was good.
Somehow they don't believe in musical ambiance, which was kind of crap on a hot summer day (you kinda need the tunes to go with it and not just the clanking of the silverware).
Did not get the "death by chocolate" cake... we saw it, we were flabbergasted by the dimensions and decided not to sacrifice our bikini on it.
most things were a la carte. not the most efficient service (but i think we are spoiled by NY fast and attentive, get-in-get-out mantra), and i'm sorry, but it wasn't very pleasing to the eye, to see the all the waiters in oversized shirts that did not fit the least well. Kind of like they were wearing the tablecloths...
overall, nice but wouldn't be dying to go back. Loved the flowers and the greenery though.
When in Colonial Williamsburg you should definitely make it a point to get to lunch or dinner here. This is where the term "death by chocolate cake" was coined and the cake is big, chocolate, and delicious. The rest of the menu isn't bad either. My usual favorite dishes are between the local Surry sausage with mashed rutabaga and onions and for lunches you can't go wrong with their burger. And they serve Richmond's Legends beer which will complement both the sausage and burger perfectly. Patio seating in Spring and Summer are great to people watch and see the Colonial tourism pass you by.
People come to the Trellis with lots of expectations, most of them of the chocolate variety. Inevitably, this clogs the place with folks hoping to prove themselves right or to be tremendously disappointed. Being at the epicenter of CW tourism heaven/hell, there is also a lot of foot traffic, people milling about for tables, and undecided diners reading over the menu to determine if the place is the right mix of quality and price. It kind of detracts from the actual experience of eating and drinking with friends, which is in the end all that a great place needs to offer famished customers looking for a memorable meal. Sometimes I wish that Trellis had never been burdened with the Death by Chocolate tradition - or exploited it to the hilt to make money buy selling cookbooks and luring first-time visitors. Because the really good stuff on the menu is seasonal, fresh, and simply prepared. But the chocolate cake will always lurk in the background. Go there and expressly avoid ordering desert, and I predict that you'll have a better time.
We REALLY liked this place and didn't even try the chocolate cake. The menu was chock full of healthy tasty ever-changing options conducive to the Zone diet, vegans, everything.
The BEST was the white bean, salmon chowder. MMMM.
The fresh raisin nut bread, catfish w/ sorrell butter and basmati rice, plump kids burger with sharp cheddar, really all of it was tasty, healthy, full of veggies.
The environment was simultaneously bustling and serene. They had a folk guitarist who added to the lunch ambiance.
The leftovers came in a foil molded into a swan.
I can't think of all the amazing dinners I've had here, or all the late night desserts with a girlfriend. This place NEVER dissapointed. If you go after 9pm (it may be different now) you could just order dessert and drinks. It was expensive enough to keep the frat types away.
Good times here.....good times....
I loved the Trellis Restaurant even before I understood the significance of organic, flavorful seasonal ingredients and French preparations. Marcel de Saulniers has crafted an experience that is memorable at lunch or dinner, with strict attention given to everything from the Surry sausage, melted leeks, and savory cheesecake to the notoriously indulgent chocolate desserts. The warm woods and exposed kitchen lend an intimate, sophisticated air to the dining room, and the flawless service allows you to completely relax into your leisurely meal. And at the end of the meal, you will be given a beautiful foil swan that floats your heavenly leftovers home on clouds. Highly recommended.
Lets cut to the chase. The food is overrated. I haven't had a dish worth returning for. That's not the reason for visiting. The star of the restaurant is the dessert. Death by Chocolate lives up to it's reputation. It is enormous and the 4 stars are solely based on that dish. It is a bit touristy. A suggestion would be to skip dinner and show up for coffee and dessert.
Great place for a romantic date and a scroll down Duke of Gloucester St. in Colonial Williamsburg.
The desserts are the restaurant's claim to fame. Definitely try the chocolate cake!
I've heard the food is not all that great, but their dessert, 'Death by Chocolate' is something everyone should try. My boyfriend and I came after dinner just for the dessert - the cake was chocolate-y in every way possible. It was moist, a mix between dark and milk chocolate, so decadent, and hits your sweet tooth on the spot. If you are a chocolate lover, you will literally die and go to heaven. It's a hefty piece, so you might have a good chunk of leftovers!
It is a modern looking, attractive restaurant with decent American food. Death by Chocolate is the restaurant's claim to fame though and if you go, you must try it. It is a triple layer cake with two layers of flourless chocolate cake sandwiching a chocolate mousse center, with chocolate icing and on top of a chocolate ganache.
This place is overrated. Aside from food poisoning nothing makes a patron more wary than a restaurant that is trying so hard to be something that it is not. The ambiance is off; the for sale paintings on the walls and the pretentious but ill-trained staff, and the underwhelming entrees is almost embarrassing. But everyone in the 'Burg knows Trellis is for desserts not dinner. My party sampled all of the desserts available and no one was super-excited about any of them. The lauded cakes felt like they were made with baker's chocolate and ground espresso beans. If you want to throw down big bucks head over to the fat canary across the square.
If you can overlook the consistently rude hostesses/seating staff, dont order any beef based items (except for their burgers), and are lucky enough to be there on a night where Geri or Michael are managing, you will be amazed to be seated in a restaurant where the vegetables and desserts dwarf the proteins!!!! Dont get me wrong folks, Im a carnivore. So is my fiance. But their vegetable dishes are as to die for as the chocolate book that made chef Marcel D one of the classic meisters of all times. When in town to assess how well William and Mary caters to our tuition, we always make it a point to visit the Trellis. Actually, on our last visit, we wanted to enjoy both lunch and dinner, which was quickly over shadowed by extremely rude, condescending hosting staff at the entrance who were quickly overshadowed by one of the most incompetent hostesses I have had the displeasure of encountering. Unfortunately, my favorite red-sox manager was on vacation, so we decided to lunch elsewhere. Luckily for us, if you can overlook being treated as a second-class citizen before entering the premises, AND go straight to fish/vegetable based dishes and enjoy good wines and death by chocolate - indulging is easy. Waitstaff is wonderful. We know what we are talking about - on our first visit, upon wandering credit card happy through the exquisite shops (and the wine cellar across from Trellis carries spectacular Amarone...), we walked up to the hostess and asked for a table. She looked us tired tourists up and down, and while her nose turned, she stated "sorry, we dont have any tables"... Out of curiosity and devotion to my death by chocolate books, I walked down two blocks and called to make a reservation in my perfect New England accent... (now over the phone you cant tell how devilishly hispanic I look...). Fascinating! I had a table ready 15 minutes later!!! The look on the girls face when we walked in was to die for. We had a fantastic server - Dawn- GET HER!, and when we were swooned by an incredible lobster - corn bisque, we cried our disbelief over some very impressive virginian wines. Within minutes, we had 2 managers at the table, and our love for their caring and the vegetarian dishes, has been a romance ever since. Now we have been back several times since. But this past week, as we prepared for our "Shakespeare After Dark" function with a talented group of young 20's (ah, the magic of talent and good tuition!), our mouths watering for some lump crab cakes and whatever earthly creature is in season, we walked up for our 3 day ahead lunch reservation. The (not to disappoint us again) rude, haughty front staff told us to walk right in to the main desk to be seated. Upon arrival we were quickly waltzed to our table, where we noted 5 placings were set... Ok, weird. Within minutes, a tall very ill attired woman stormed up to the table and as fakely nice as she could mustered informed us that we had "walked in and took the table" that was set for X party of 5... One wouldve thought we were criminals and did it on purpose! To add insult to injury, the very upset family was lead to where we were seated, allowing their horrid glances (which tells me the staff had the gall of blaming us for their faux paz...), she asked us to STAND TO THE SIDE while our table was cleaned. Of course all along strongly and blatently suggesting it was our fault. Not even the courtesy to ask us to wait at the bar, cocktail or beverage and or appetizer or bread while we waited for the table. Needless to say, I was flustered, and did not want to be looked at by the nice anglo family sitting at the table we were removed from for "barging in on int"... So we left. After a delightful tour of Virginia Winery, we enjoyed our crab cake, our wine, our server, and didnt bother to send back the tenderloin that I probably couldve saved as a chew toy for my puppy (flavorful and well prepared, just not impressive at all. Steaks as I have noted, are not their forte, but I did want meat after an afternoon of flowing red wines!). So, all in all, Trellis in my heart is a 5 because of their managers, waitstaff, and desserts to die for... Their beef as cold and hard as their hostess/greeting staff... well, leaves room for improvement.
Excellent cuisine and attractive modern decor. A nice change of pace from Colonial Williamsburg dining. It gets busy and crowded, but nothing unbearable. We didn't have room to sample a famous chocolate dessert, but the huge cakes looked good.
I live in California but have some family members in Williamsburg. Whenever I visit, the Trellis Restaurant is a must for lunch or dinner. It offers a creative, organic seasonal menu and is comparable to the best restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area. The atmosphere at the Trellis is chic, intimate and comfortable. Great desserts!
I used to love the bread basket, the house salad with french vinaigrette (I still make this dressing quite often at home), and the veggie sandwich. I now wish I had their recipe for the sour cream-marinaded chicken. Mmmmm. I was always impressed that the chef was not afraid to experiment with vegetarian offerings. For me, the Trellis was the Chez Panisse of Williamsburg.
I ordered the turkey/ham/Swiss sandwich served with wild rice and cranberry salad; then I followed this up by splitting two desserts with two friends. The food was somewhat tasty, and the service was professional, but the portions left me starving.
This has been a regular spot for us for 14 years. We just came back from a trip to Williamsburg and ate there twice. The first time for lunch to enjoy the burgers. They were fantastic as expected and we were quite suprised that they actually gave us three potato wedges this time (Last time was two). The second time was for dinner. I ordered the Hearts of Romaine Salad and the Grilled Half of Chicken. The salad was supposed to come with anchovies and didn't. Since anchovies are not a must for me, I did not complain, but the table next to ours got the same thing and they had the anchovies. When my meal came, it was a degree above room temperature. The flavor was good though. The best thing about the experience was the mixed drink, dessert, and the staff which were great. It is clear that this restaurant has some problems with the kitchen. For this kind of restaurant, the lack of anchovies on the salad should have been caught, and the dish should have been hot when it came to the table. The errors show a lack of proper kitchen management. I would still go back another time, but they need to fix this or they WILL lose patronage.
Williamsburg, VA
Category: Seafood
Williamsburg, VA
Category: Bakeries
Williamsburg, VA
Category: French
Williamsburg, VA
Category: American (New)
Williamsburg, VA
Category: Seafood
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