Virginia Ballroom at the Williamsburg Lodge

Review summary

1. N

   Nicole

   Richmond

   3 reviews

   3.0

   3 reviews

   Dined 3 days ago

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 1

   We had Thanksgiving dinner at the Williamsburg Inn, since the menu was the same as Thanksgiving for Christmas, opted to have Christmas Brunch at the Inn. Our family attended this buffet a decade ago. I realize we are experiencing inflation but that shouldn’t have affected the quality of the food offered nor the ambience. It was not festive at all. There wasn’t any Christmas music piped in and the decorations were just a couple of undecorated Christmas trees. I would have rather paid more to experience the buffet of yesteryear… a chocolate fondue fountain, ice sculpture, wreaths, garland, the works. The made to order omelette station was no longer offered, instead scrambled eggs in a chafing dish like the Golden Coral. As the old saying goes, “less is more,”less antipasto and more dessert offerings… cakes, would have been nice. The menu overall was ok but nothing special about the overall experience. We enjoyed the dining experience in the past and would love to see improvements to the standards and exceptional quality of prior years in order to return.
   

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2. M

   Mary

   Baltimore

   1 review

   2.0

   1 review

   Dined 3 days ago

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 1

   Later seating and had to wait in line for over 30 min, got seated late, many things picked over or out. Cold coffee, grouchy men at the carving station. Got charged for a bottle of Prosecco and given a bottle of Cava. Staff clearing out food from table while we were still eating. Felt rushed and pushed out. Not worth the $100 pp. Plus expensive bottle of wine.
   

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3. R

   Rudy

   New York City

   1 review

   2.0

   1 review

   Dined 3 days ago

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 1

   Food was good. Service was poor. It was a complete “do it yourself” experience. At the price asked, there should have been live music. 3-piece classical ensemble, Carolers etc.
   

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4. a

   amanda

   Baltimore

   9 reviews

   2.0

   9 reviews

   Dined 3 days ago

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 2

   The service was very good, but otherwise it was fair. Though there was a good variety the “hot” food was warm at best and much lacked flavor. The atmosphere was somewhat industrial with no music leaving the room cold. It was fine just something I wouldn’t book again.
   

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5. M

   Michael

   Raleigh

   9 reviews

   4.0

   9 reviews

   Dined on November 28, 2024

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   The event was very well attended, and the staff handled the seating of the very large number of people extremely well. The buffet lines moved along nicely with no appreciable wait, and there was quite a variety of food. Music was provided from a piano player throughout the evening. We were sitting very close to him and the sound did not overwhelm conversation. The wait staff were very attentive with refills for water, coffee, etc. All in all a very pleasant evening.
   

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6. D

   Danya

   New Hampshire

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on November 28, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   Lovely night. Staff made the evening special-they were very attentive and kind.
   

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7. D

   Deb

   Baltimore

   1 review

   3.0

   1 review

   Dined on November 28, 2024

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 1

   There was no information on the booking site to say what drinks were included (water, tea, coffee, sodas we found out). There was a cash bar (also not mentioned). This meal was not vegan friendly. No vegan desserts, and poorly labeled foods. In addition the wait staff was overworked and frazzled by the time we arrived (our booking was late in the afternoon).
   

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8. C

   Claudine

   Richmond

   3 reviews

   3.0

   3 reviews

   Dined on November 28, 2024

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   I made my reservation in September for 3:00 PM. However, there was a line to get in, so we weren't seated until around 3:30. The room was very nice. The staff was very courteous and professional. The food was good though some of the meat and fish was a bit dry along. The desserts were plentiful. A glass of wine was $11 so we stuck with coffee and water. I thought there would be some fresh fruit along with the desserts, but aside from the fruits used as decorative pieces, I didn't see any.
   

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9. P

   Paul

   Raleigh

   12 reviews

   3.0

   12 reviews

   Dined on November 28, 2024

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 2

   The experience was good but not great. For $100/person including tip and tax. I would have liked the hot food to be hotter, it was warm. I would have liked to have more guidance upon entering as to the procedure, drink options and locations to source them, more staff to keep water glasses full and clear used plates. The deserts were the best part with many, nicely made items to choose from. Given that they must have served several thousand people on Thanksgiving, it was well done but there is room for improvement. Another example, don’t expect your reservation is anything more than a place in line. We luckily arrived 15 minutes early for a 2:00 reservation and waited in line for 30 minutes to sit at 2:15. Would we go again. We will likely try to find a smaller more restaurant like experience in the future. All that said, everyone in our group left full and our we enjoyed the dinner. Luckily nobody brought up politics…
   

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10. P

    P

    Baltimore

    12 reviews

    2.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on November 28, 2024

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 2

    What a huge disappointment! We waited 30 minutes past our reservation time in a long queue. No one bothered to inform us as to why there was such a delay, and there was frustration and anxiety in the line as a result. When we finally got to the hostess, she had to call out to a lone man who was ambling through the ballroom looking for random open tables that seated the number needed. When he found one, he would wave his hand and folks would wade through the room to him. At our table, there were crumpled used tissues on the floor under one chair. The table was set for 4, (there were two in our party), and there was only one napkin. It took 10 more minutes for a server to come to us. He explained the buffet and asked for our drink order, we requested iced tea. Those drinks were never brought to us. Halfway through the meal a second server arrived, asked if we had been helped, and asked if we would like coffee, one of us did. There were no coffee cups on our table, but he only had one saucer. He went in search of a coffee cup and we never saw him again. 40 minutes and 2 requests later (to server #1), and we got coffee but no refill. Other staff bussed tables, cleared dirty plates, and folded napkins in a corner of the room but seemed unauthorized to serve soft drinks or otherwise help. The food itself was mostly good, some things were dried out in the chafing dishes and others were not at all hot. Gravies/sauces were placed along the line with no identification as to what they were or what meat they should accompany. The salad and cold food section was more well done, selections there were better identified and flavorful. Desserts were plentiful and a very nice variety. Again, with so many reservations in a ballroom setting, the buffet was quite messy. There just didn’t seem to be enough servers, floor managers, or anyone that seemed to actually care. This was a prepaid $100 per person event, not cheap. I wonder if that de-incentivized good service? A disgrace!
    

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