Williamsburg Winery’s Gabriel Archer Tavern Earns National Distinction from USA TODAY

The Gabriel Archer Tavern at the Williamsburg Winery has been recognized as one of the best winery restaurants in the nation, according to USA TODAY.

The Tavern was selected as part of the 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for 2022. A panel of travel experts and 10Best editors originally came up with a list of 20 restaurants that was pared down to 10 finalists based on popular vote.

Williamsburg Winery founder Patrick Duffeler appreciates the recognition, noting, “It speaks to the quality of the service. It speaks to the quality of the food, and it speaks to the ambiance at the Gabriel Archer Tavern.”

The winery’s French-inspired eatery serves lunch on weekdays and Saturdays, dinner on Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday brunch. The farm-to-table creations on the menu include Big Island Aquaculture Oysters, a Wessex Hundred Spinach Salad and the popular Turkey & Brie Sandwich, distinctive thanks to the Lingonberry preserves and house-roasted turkey brined for a week. Dinner main courses range from a Summer Seafood Pasta to Herb Marinated Hanger Steak to Summer Street Corn Gnocchi. Virginia Peanut Pie is among several dessert options.

Guests can enjoy their meals indoors or outside underneath the canopy of wisteria that allows sun rays to peek through during the day. The Tavern also hosts several special wine dinners during the year.

The Tavern opened in 1996 with a small menu of tapas and a selection of wine. It expanded in 2004 with additional kitchen space and a vineyard room that brings the outdoors in. Originally the Tavern was a tractor shed that Duffeler had a hand in constructing in 1987. It housed equipment and an upstairs apartment was home to the winery’s first viticultural manager. It later became a bonding area before modifications were made to transform it into a restaurant.

The Tavern is named for Archer, one of Jamestown’s most significant early leaders and co-captain of the Godspeed, the lead ship among three vessels that brought the men who founded the first permanent settlement in the New World. Archer envisioned calling the early settlement Archer’s Hope with a location at the mouth of College Creek on land that the winery occupies today. He was overruled by Capt. John Smith who chose Jamestown Island. Inspired by Archer, Duffeler named the restaurant in his honor and called the winery’s inaugural reserve wine the Gabriel Archer Reserve. Make reservations at the Gabriel Archer Tavern by calling 757-564-8869 or online at opentable.com/gabriel-archer-tavern.

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