City: Williamsburg, VA

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (757) 253-2787

Address: 5234 Monticello Ave.

Description: This local chain has six Virginia locations (including two in the Richmond and three in Norfolk/Virginia Beach). The newest is a welcome addition to New Town, offering affordable and delicious food in an inviting setting. High-backed leather booths ring the dining room; a separate bar area is a popular spot for a glass of wine during happy hour. The real draw here is, however, the fresh-baked breads, salads (full and half portions), burgers, soups, and crepes—prepared both as entrees (shrimp and jumbo lump crab or steak and mushroom) and desserts (the “Wimbledon” version contains fresh strawberries and whipped cream). Several varieties of Mediterranean flatbread pizzas work as appetizers for the table; the roasted tomato and house-made mozzarella panini is warm, gooey, and full of iron-rich baby spinach leaves. Don’t limit yourself to trying just one thing—the most popular items on the menu are the soup/salad/sandwich combos. Steam rises from the liquid center of the chocolate lava mini-bundt cake—cool it off with the scoop of vanilla bean ice cream served alongside. Children are welcomed with a menu they can color and seven smaller-plate options—pasta, burger, chicken fingers—each $4.99. During the winter months, one daily special is an appetizer and entree for $10.99. Bottles of wine are half-price every Wednesday. Customers who dine-in get a 25 percent discount on whole loaves bought to take home, but that means you will have to stop at the bakery case—just try to get out of there without a lemon square or a double chocolate chunk cookie to go. Takeout and catering menus are available.Open at 11 a.m. for lunch and dinner Mon through Fri; open at 8 a.m. for breakfast on Sat and Sun every day. Dinner is served until 9 p.m. every day; until 10 p.m. on Fri and Sat.