Dudley’s Bistro

I had a wonderful experience for lunch here yesterday. I’m already planning a trip back to try more of the food.
Located across from the movie theater in New Town, Dudley’s is modest is size but exudes a quirky character that makes for a fun and relaxing atmosphere. It’s the opposite of stuffy. And the friendly personalities of the staff, including the owner Jim, only enhance the charm.
Four of us stopped in after a morning of driving and walking around the Peninsula and I’m so happy we did. I had requested Opus 9, but my colleague suggested Dudleys and I had remembered reading a glowing review from one of my Unilocal friends.
The lunch menu was small, but everything sounded delicious. The specials menu had close to the number of options as the regular lunch menu. I ended up going with the chili con carne from the specials menu and a salad that featured seasonal mixed greens, cranberries, pumpkin seeds, smoked cheddar, and a sherry and pumpkin vinaigrette from the regular menu. I could have just gone for an extra large bowl of the chili. Wonderful blend of flavors, textures and not an overwhelming amount of beef. The salad was simple but satisfying. Everyone in the group cleared their plates. The Rockfish BLT looked incredible. I stole some fries, which were cut extra thick.
Also noteworthy are the beer and wine menus. The variety is really quite impressive. When I saw that they had the Southern Tier IPA I was thrilled.
It’s clear that Jim is picky about the ingredients and preparation of the items on his menu. It’s definitely worth a stop in, whether a tourist or a local. It’s truly something unique in the Williamsburg culinary scene.
Jim mentioned a periodic $ 40 deal for 2 filet mignon dinners, and I’m anxiously awaiting its return– I’ll so be there.

The sandwich board on the sidewalk brought us in with mouthwatering and exotic items such as Elk Chop and Asian Duck Breast on the daily menu specials. With a name like Dudley’s and lots of other dining choices in the New Town towne center to choose from, plus not knowing anything about Willamsburg dining or Dudleys Bistro for that matter, we would have kept walking. And we did… But after a nice winter walk down the strip and doing some window shopping, I said «let’s try that bistro on the corner.»
Good thing too, because what we encountered was a great surprise. The Resturant is small and intimate. Not the type of setting you expect or that had success in a towne center. The location name and exotic menu species left me curious plus the bottle beer selection, which is amazing and bizarre with some selections containing 33oz of beer in one bottle. Why are people coming here? I pondered.
Once the food was brought to the table the mystery was solved. The chef is amazing. The daily menu changes (these dishes run close to $ 40 not cheap, but worth it to experience a once in a lifetime gourmet dish like venison or elk) with regularity which, along with exciting recipes not found elsewhere, must be the talk of the town with loyal followers and satisfied regulars eager to refer.
I hope the business model is working so I can comeback in the future to try another dish. I only wish they were in a less high rent location and allow their reputation be their draw instead of the mass of foot traffic at the towne center so that the prices were not so high. For this reason and a slow desert service at the end, I need to give 4.5 stars instead of five.

We had such a wonderful time and meal at Dudley’s! Everything was very delicious and prepared beautifully.

Fabulous food. I had the Ahi Tuna and Lobster bisque.
Too bad it was a slow night, I’m sure the quaint atmosphere is exciting when it is busy.

Dudley’s is, by far, my family’s favorite restaurant in Williamsburg. Meats and seafoods are not only fresh but exceptionally high quality. The owner, Chef Jim Kennedy, creates thoroughly thought out, seasonal menus to which he adds numerous daily specials, generally with at least one, if not more, VERY FRESH seafood options. Meat is always of high quality and cooked to perfection. And the fresh desserts are to die for!
Dudley’s is a tiny restaurant with a miniscule kitchen to rival those in the smallest restaurants in NY and I always find it astounding that such amazing food can come out of such a tiny kitchen. While crowded, there can be a wait for your food because only small batches can be cooked at one time. But that’s good. It actually gives you time to talk with your dining partner, visit with Chef Jim, or meet other diners.
A mention of the nice wine and craft beer lists almost completes my review. But I must add that the gin and tonic is a MUST anytime, especially in the summer while sitting on the patio. And when available, the soft shell crabs are amazing.
Whether Chef Jim or Chef Garrett is in the kitchen, you will get a meal worthy of the highest awards anywhere in the US at prices significantly less than the same quality of food (which is rare) in the best US cities.
Great restaurant, amazing food, attentive staff! I highly recommend Dudley’s.

A little disappointed in our food last night. Seems like a little lack of concern after sending back a dish to be cooked to taste and then questioning the preparation of a fish dish for two people. The chef/​owner never came to the table for these incidents. Not the service or quality we expect or usually receive. Hesitant to return. Seems hit or miss lately. For the price it is concerning.

We think Dudley’s is the best place to eat in Williamsburg, period. We have dined here many times, both dinner and lunch, and we have yet to have had a single dish that wasn’t excellent. The owner/​chef is passionate about good food and wine, and it shows in the overall dining experience. Farm to table fare in a casual environment, attentive service, and reasonable prices make Dudley’s a place worth visiting.

This has been bugging me for a while. I made the mistake of not showing up or cancelling a reservation. That was my fault and VERY unlike me. I had a good reason… my mother-​in-​law died! One minute I am sitting at work and one hour later I was on my way to Florida.
Now, where does this place get the nerve to send out a nasty text bemoaning all the horror that came upon them (food cost, loss of revenue, loss of server tip, etc.) because my no-​show? Frankly, IF they are as great as they say, I would imagine they would have no problem seating my table with walk-​ins. Secondly, when I texted them back to explain that MY MOTHER IN LAW DIED, they did not have the courtesy to reply with any sort of condolence. They didn’t reply at all. While I admit that I should have cancelled (and would have under different circumstances), texting things like «we lose money… not cool» andtheir «pockets» were «empty» because of my no-​show is just wrong.
IF this text was legitimately from owners or management then shame on them for not showing the least bit of concern for WHY I was a no-​show. If it was from an upset server that took matters into their own hands… then they need to know that unprofessional communication is going to hurt their business.
As far as I am concerned… they need not worry about me ever being a no-​show again. They are NOT the only restaurant in town!

One of the best dining experiences we’ve had in Hampton Roads. Other reviews say the chef/​manager was rude. I don’t know which one the other reviewer met, but when I met him, he was kind and shared stories of how certain dishes are prepared. In fact, he even brought us a taste (for free) of a new recipe he was working on.
Here’s why we like Dudley’s: First, the wine and beer list is incredible. There are some seriously rare finds on there (for example, a Didier Dagueneau Sauvignon Blanc). Second, you can get a meal which is either exquisite and refined, or completely laid-​back and casual. The lunch menu boasts a variety of burger options and an excellent Philly Cheesesteak. Other times you can order a chilled sun-​gold tomato gazpacho and a perfectly cooked lamb chop or steak. Add in a nice outdoor patio and you’ve got a great quick bite for lunch, or a romantic up-​scale dinner.
We’ll be back for sure!

This place really is a gem. The menu is seasonal so it’s always changing — be sure to check the Facebook page because they post menu items frequently along with where their ingredients are from. I’ve heard people say that it’s fancy, but I think the quality and amount of food is right on par for the price. I would suggest trying them out for lunch first when it’s a little cheaper and less busy to get a feel for the type of food they serve. One of the things I do when I visit is get one of their seasonal salads and one of their small plates. It’s plenty of food, I get to try multiple flavors, and it’s usually pretty economical. I will say that the service has been spotty though. Last time I went it took forever to get drinks and tables all around us had bread, but we were never brought any out. It can be pretty inconsistent.

Loved the glass of French Chardonnay! Adjusted the offering to meet my dietary needs without any problems and savored every bite. The goat cheese cheese cake is scrumptious!

Great food! Rockfish BLT is awesome! Have to try the lamb burger next time. We got here during non busy hours but making reservation would be a good idea if come for dinner.

My husband and I had the most delicious meal we ever had at Dudley’s Bistro.
We stumbled upon this gem while staying in Williamsburg for one night during our honeymoon. It was pretty busy and we thought we were going to be told it was about a 30 – 45 min wait. Nope! The waitress sat us down with 3 min outside. The atmosphere was nice, not very quiet, but I don’t mind some noise during dinner. We started off with a an iceberg wedge with their homemade blue cheese (yes! Homemade blue cheese!!) and pork belly for an appetizer AND IT WAS DELICIOUS!!! That pork belly was insanely tender and so flavorful. It was served with grits which was something I never had before with pork belly and it was amazing!
For entrees my husband ordered the Colorado Lamb Chops and I the special Swordfish. My husbands lamb was so stinking tender and my swordfish was to die for!!! It pulled apart the moment my fork hit the meat and the flavor was perfection! Needless, to say my husband could not stop eating and commenting on how this is the best dinner he has ever had at a restaurant. He enjoyed this delicious IPA and I had a great Manhattan and Pinot noir that paired nicely with our dinner.
We will be back! Thank you to the chef, Jim, for such amazing food.

This is a fancy place lads can take a girl to impress her before a movie across the street, but not compromise on getting a kickass burger for themselves.
Reasonably priced. Well-​rounded drinks menu. Both waiter and chef (who came out of the kitchen to chat) were very friendly. Best crab bisque I’ve ever had. Nice décor. We will definitely be back!

After wanting to visit Dudley’s Bistro for a long time, I was finally able to stop there today for brunch!
I was not disappointed. The food was incredible & fresh. There is finally a chef in Central Virginia who is not afraid of what makes so much food taste great: butter & salt/​seasoning. I ordered the Eggs Benedict, (which is typically a dish I shy away from, because you end up with an egg puck on a stale English muffin, with packaged Canadian bacon and weak, prepackaged hollandaise sauce). That was NOT what I received on my plate at Dudley’s. I received perfectly poached fresh eggs, smokey sliced Canadian bacon, buttery, toasted English muffin & the most deliciously creamy hollandaise sauce ever. EVER. It was real, fresh & delicious food. This is not a place that serves pre-​packaged, food service provided, frozen/​bagged meals. Which is such a refreshing change of pace!
Dudley’s is tiny with only (7?) tables — but the décor & music is super inviting. The waiter was friendly & attentive. The ONLY drawback is that New Town is exploding with big box places to eat & Dudley’s could potentially be overlooked by those who don’t value fresh, delicious food.
If you’re in Williamsburg/​New Town & enjoy great food, do not miss this absolute gem of an eatery — you will not be disappointed!

We loved this place. The food was great! They have craft beer and a «seasonal rotating» menu.
They have everything from cheesesteak (which was crazy good) to nice dinner type dishes. I had a chicken and white bean dish and I couldn’t stop eating it. They also have a few yummy sounding deserts.
The service was friendly and the chef was also. Great place I wish it were closer so I could get a good meal.

We had a great dinner last night with friends from California. The waiter was great, knowledgeable, attentive but not overly in your face. We had kale salad and scallops for app, they were delicious. Entrees were steak special, marlin, tuna and pork tenderloin. All were great, perfectly seasoned and not overly salty. Generous portions. The ladies each had a glass of the cabernet and the men had a special game of thrones beer, which was very tasty. The owner/​chef is very friendly and came and spoke to us after our meal. The atmosphere is very cozy and inviting. Price point matches the quality of the food.

My fiancée took me here on a surprise night out, and the food was incredible! In all honesty, it is a bit pricey for the shopping center (which in itself is failing, I’m sure), but the food was so delicious and choices you can’t find many other places.
The owner/​manager guy is kind of a dick, though. I’ve encountered him outside of the store, and he was straight-​up rude to me. Also, while we were there, he spent the entire time on his laptop sipping martinis. The chef came out to check on us (which was awesome so we could personally give him our compliments), but the only time the manager even looked our way was when he got up to get another martini. When we’re paying over $ 100 for two people to eat in a slow restaurant, I expect the manager to check in on us.

Excellent menu. Perfectly cooked… Had the quail, was to die for.
Heavily recommend. A must try…
Your Chicago friend…

With the kiddos at Auntie’s for the night, we were determined to enjoy an adult dinner preferably with dim lighting. Dudley’s fit the bill nicely. A reservation was accomplished easily via OpenTable a few hours prior, when we entered we were warmly welcomed and I’m sure they would have done their best to accommodate us sans reservation.
We were offered a choice of tables, always a plus in my book, and seated at a lovely spot with a nice view of those passing by the windows outside. Our server quickly approached and discussed specials drinks etc.
They have a reasonable wine list on print, mostly California, with a smattering of Argentina, the manager/​wine steward Jack was patient answering questions re. the vineyards I was not familiar with. He also was kind enough to let me have a little taste of a lovely naked chardonnay after dinner that was fantastic. If only I could remember the vineyard it came from… The craft beer list is a knockout which is a wonderful addition for a fine dining establishment, and a welcome change for the hubbie, although he decided on a watermelon martini in the end. The watermelon martini was amazing by the way, amazing.
I started with a wedge, don’t ask, I know it’s simple food but I love them. As wedges go it was nothing fancy, but that’s how I like it. I would have preferred a chunkier bacon but the taste was very good. For dinner I chose the filet, sometimes you just want a steak. It was cooked exactly the way I asked and served with petite asparagus wrapped in bacon and crisp potato wedges on the side.
Hubs had a salad as well, he liked it, can’t remember which one it was. He chose the rockfish special which was fantastic. My fork made its way over there several times. Oh, the yumminess of that rockfish, if it is on the menu, GET IT.
For dessert hubs had the chocolate mousse, very nice. I had the goat cheese cheesecake. Oh, it was soo, soo good. I almost always leave some dessert on my plate. Did not leave any, not a crumb, not even a mouse sized crumb.
We had a really nice dinner here and we will be back, looking forward to trying lunch! Service was great, wine knowledge commendable, food amazing, they hit the foodie trifecta!