Story and photos by Lisa Hinton-Valdrighi –
Yorktown Pub is more than the name implies.
Situated on Water Street, overlooking the state’s most historic beach and the York River, Yorktown Pub is perfect for a girls’ day lunch, a bite while you’re visiting Yorktown or the beach or a date-night destination.
A few weeks ago, I ventured across a few bridges with my daughter for lunch at the pub. Honestly, I’d never been before and the word pub had me thinking beef stew, shepherd’s pie and fish and chips. The menu was far from what I would call “traditional” pub food. To my pleasant surprise, it was full of fresh seafood and Boar’s Head deli sandwiches. And a full list of signature cocktails.
Built in 1951, the restaurant was known as Gus’s until 1987 when the name changed to Yorktown Pub. Rick and Tsamouras Tanner bought the restaurant in 2000.
On my visit, a sunny, warm June day, the pub was packed. Some were obvious beach-goers. Others seemed it was their primary destination or a stop on a tour of the historic district. My daughter, her friend and I had to wait about 10 minutes for an open table and were told by our waitress, Ashley, that there was a large party outside under the tent.
She said the food may “come out slower than usual” but again, to my pleasant surprise, the food was delivered timely and the service was attentive.
Along with a big glass of water—I’d worked up a sweat on my walk over from the parking lot—I was craving a fruity cocktail. The blackberry lemonade, and the pub’s many takes on a traditional Moscow Mule, including the Mermaid Mule with blue curaçao, the Citrus Mule with orange vodka and the Malibu Babe Mule with vanilla vodka and pineapple, were tempting, but I went with an orange crush. Made with orange vodka, triple sec, orange juice and Sprite, it hit the spot on a hot day.
The extensive menu had so many items I wanted to try, I turned to Ashley for advice. She recommended the crab dip as an appetizer, along with the special app of the day, a dozen mussels swimming in a bath of white wine butter sauce, served with toast points, fresh lemon slices and a few slivers of fresh tomato on top. A feast for the eyes when it was delivered!
I am not a raw or steamed bivalve gal, but there was silence at the table—a rare thing with two 20-somethings—as they devoured the plump, juicy mussels. I also stopped talking to dive into the crab dip, which was loaded with chunks of blue crab in a creamy cheese sauce. It was served with toasted French bread.
My daughter’s friend April ordered the barbecue platter special which included what looked like a pound of pulled pork, lightly seasoned, with a heaping pile of French fries.
Although Ashley said the crab cake and burgers were popular, I’m a fan of all Boar’s Head meats and Ashley said the reuben is a customer favorite. Reubens are also a favorite of mine and this one was one of the best I’ve had.
A stack of shaved corned beef with sauerkraut and dressing. I could only eat half, but was still tempted to try their two desserts of the day, a moist piece of carrot cake from the Carrot Tree in Williamsburg and a made-in-house tart but sweet and tasty piece of key lime pie.
The menu also includes fresh, steamed, raw and blackened seafood, seafood platters, soups and burgers, along with sandwiches and salads.
The Yorktown Pub was a surprise that will keep me coming back.
