• 1. Where to Stay
• 2. Where to Eat
• 3. What to Do
• 4. Insider’s Tip
• 5. An Oddball Day

Find pre-development chic at the R Bar.   (Photo: Brandon Cummins)

Order the pan-fried chicken at Stroud's and find out why they won the inaugural American Classic award from the James Beard Foundation. Eat it family-style on checkered tablecloths inside a renovated log cabin from 1829.

Channel Williamsburg at the R Bar and Restaurant in the developing west Bottoms warehouse district. The dimly lit restaurant opened last fall and serves Prescriptions Juleps—rye whiskey, mint, cognac, and hand-crushed ice—in copper mugs.

Don't worry about being landlocked at the Bristol Seafood Grill, where fish is flown in daily. Oysters are 50 cents before 7 p.m., and the Sunday brunch buffet features made-to-order omelettes and lobster macaroni and cheese.

Published on Dec 10, 2009 as a web exclusive.