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Their seasonal menu changes frequently as do their specialty cocktails and extensive wine and beer selections.
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Executive Chef of Fat Canary, Tom Power, Jr., knows from experience what success in the restaurant business requires. He was raised in Williamsburg during the ascendancy of two Power family successes: The Cheese Shop and Trellis Restaurant.
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Located in the heart of Colonial Williamsburg, Fat Canary has received the AAA Four Diamond award each year since opening in 2003.
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Fat Canary’s drink menu represents quality, uniqueness and real value. Their goal is to offer beverages that marry well with the current dinner menu.
A friendly hostess greeted us as we arrived for our 6 p.m. dinner reservation at The Fat Canary. The atmosphere and bar, packed with locals, struck me as inviting and authentically Williamsburg.
Our hostess directed us to our table, which was complete with salt and pepper shakers, a small vase with fresh-cut flowers, and a round candle. While not extensive, the menu offered options for those looking for an authentic taste of Williamsburg.
The bottled water and cocktails were quested were promptly served as we settled in and got ready for an amazing evening of fine dining.
After placing our orders for appetizers and entrées, our server brought bread and butter to the table.
We started with seared foie gras served on hazelnut toast with blackberries and watercress. One of my favorite dishes, the foie gras was beautifully presented.The combination of the blackberries and watercress was exquisite.
With the entrées, we requested a bottle of 2012 Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley. Certainly, lots of wonderful choices on the wine list and both our wines were shining.
Our waiter recommended a glass of Sauterne to accompany the dish, and though it was a bit young, it was a great compliment. My guest had the fricassée of rabbit, wild mushrooms and leeks with a sage buttermilk biscuit – a light, refined-flavored dish strengthened by the wild mushrooms.
For the main course, I had the pan-seared sea scallops, cous cous, smoked tomatoes, peas, green beans and pork belly. A very nice dish, although I would have liked more of the pork belly to compliment the scallops.
My guest had the braised short ribs, shiitake mushrooms, turnips, jasmine rice and sweet chili. The flavors accompanying the dish were nice and enjoyable.
I looked forward to choosing wine. When the wine shop beneath The Cheese Shop is open, it’s a pleasure to go down, explore the selections and choose a bottle or two straight from the rack. Unfortunately, the shop was closed at the time of our reservation. Even so, we had an extensive wine selection from the list provided by Fat Canary. The majority of the list is composed of wines priced at $50 per bottle and up.
I was pleased and impressed to find a bottle of 2010 Chateau Musar, which I had been looking forward to trying. It’s a $100 bottle that’s not easily found.
We finished the evening with a tasty cheese plate and a glass of Port.
We dined for over three hours. There is a lot to enjoy from a selective, but well thought-out and prepared menu and extensive wine selection at Fat Canary.
fatcanarywilliamsburg.com · 757-229-3333
