Tavern on the James

"Had some pretty darn good food. Fish & chips were very good, and the spicy chicken sandwich was scrumptious. Beer was ice-cold, too! Yet, the service was the best. Elijah, our server, was the most courteous and effective guy ever! Will likely return in the future."

"I've eaten at the Tavern many times in the past. At lunch I usually order the special or the standard great fruit salad. Today I tried the chef salad. AVOID THE CHEF SALAD. It consisted of a large bowl of lettuce and very, very meager of anything else but a little bacon. I would rate a 1 , but the bacon on top was really good bacon. GREAT SERVICE. Special shout out to Tess."

"I was going to leave this place 1 star but the manager and the chefs saved the day! My family and I stopped here on our way back home from a long road trip. It was family friendly and looked like the food would be quick. We ordered a couple burgers and chicken nuggets for the kids. The food took almost an hour to come out. I also ordered a French onion soup which never came out for some reason. The waitress offered to bring it out after I already got my burger but I declined as I prefer to have soup, salad or apps before my main course, not after. When we walked in, the manager was working the front of the house. It was my wife's birthday so I snuck away to let the manager know so he can order the Muddy River cake after our food. Not 5 minutes after I have this conversation with him, the waitress walks straight up to my wife and informs her that her 'surprise' birthday cake will be out after the food!!! I am still confused why someone would do that! Luckily the food was REALLY good! The cake, the burgers, everything! Also, the manager apologized and bought the desert for us which was really nice. I was going to leave 1 star because of how long the food took, the soup thing, and the ruined surprise but I feel like I can't do that since the food was actually really good and the manager tried his best to make it right."

"Happy to try this iconic Scottsville institution midday on a Friday. I had a delicious BLT with fries and a Diet Pepsi. The regulars had not quite started rolling in so I enjoyed a peaceful lunch at the bar. Reasonable service and a fun bar. Definitely worth a visit while passing through!"

"Fantastic small town find!! Perfect spot to get lunch while driving to/from a hike in the Blue Ridge mountains. My waitress Tiffany was super friendly and positive and had great recommendations. I tried the Big Chick, a new menu item, which had ham & a ground chicken burger between two grilled cheeses. Unique and original and very, very tasty. Fries were fantastic as well. Glad I stopped here and I would go out of my way to come back!"

"This establishment offers a delightful experience for everyone to enjoy. The food, prepared in the American style, is absolutely delicious and satisfying. You will find that the prices are very reasonable, making it an excellent value. There is seating both indoors and outdoors, allowing you to choose your preferred ambiance. The inclusion of a fun bar enhances the overall experience, perfect for socializing. It is a great spot to unwind and create lasting memories with friends or family. The combination of the food, environment, and bar makes it a really attractive location. This place is indeed a fantastic choice for a great time."

"French onion soup was excellent broth w onions. Could have been baked a little longer to give me some crisp on the cheese. The Reuben was decent but I found it a little bland, but dipping it in the soup made the two excellent together. French fries or better than the homemade chips which was a surprise. Maybe the chips were cooked beforehand. My vegetarian wife had the grilled cheese and it liked it."