The Smithfield Inn Restaurant & Tavern

We went here for Mothers Day while in the area and really had a wonderful experience. The hostess was very friendly, our waiter was great too. The food was delicious, we ate outside on a beautiful day. The food came out incredibly fast but still nice and hot and yummy. I loved it here. I’ll 10 000% be back

We saw the Smithfield Inn on the Food Network so thought we would make the 1 ½ hour drive from Virginia Beach to try the food at the Smithfield Inn and their ham rolls.
Walking in, the Smithfield Inn is a beautiful, charming Inn. After a quick tour of the Inn, we sat down for lunch.
Since they are famous for their ham rolls, we tried a couple for $ 1.50 each. The ham rolls are about ¹⁄₃ the size of a White Castle burger with 2 slices of razor thin ham. The bread was very fresh however we could barely taste the ham since the portion was probably ¹⁄₈ of an ounce. I know they were only $ 1.50 each but I would have truly enjoyed tasting the famous Smithfield ham. They really are not worth ordering.
We started with the southern Caesar salad which was very good but thought it was small for $ 8.95.
We ordered the pork and apples, which is described as braised pork shanks topped with demiglace, served over fire roasted apples and sauteed asparagus. Sounds really good but it was not. The pork shank had the texture of a turkey leg with dark, stringy meat and the demiglace had a very strange flavor that did nothing to enhance the pork’s flavor. The roasted apples and asparagus however were good.
Based on our dining experience, we would not return to the Smithfield Inn.

Beautiful location. Fried flounder was very good.

Very clean, welcoming staff, excellent service. The prices are a little above average, but the she crab soup is amazing. I haven’t had any entrée that I didn’t love. Great place to celebrate wedding anniversary with a nights stay.

Food was ok — little over priced for dishes served. Chocolate Cream pie was amazing! Waitress was horrible! She dropped off our food and never checked back with us. We found the station and brought the pitcher of water back to our table. It was a Friday night at 8 pm and empty. Will not be back…

… this spot has been here since the 1800’s!!! Stopped by for lunch and had the beef brisket flatbread sandwich w sweet potato fries.

Oh. This place has to be seen, and experienced to believe.
Recommended.

My wife and I go here most Friday nights. The staff is great the martinis fantastic and the food always satisfying and the whole experience is comfortable which is why we go so often.

Horrid customer service! Being a resident of Smithfield, I had invited my parents out for fathers day to have brunch and spend the afternoon in town. We arrived at the Smithfield Inn approximately 20 minutes prior to our reservation (also prior to the start of brunch). It was at that time we discovered that they had lost our reservation. Having made the reservation more than a week in advance, and being told that the facility was booked, we asked to speak to a manager.
Understandably, human errors will be made. I am sure this was not the first time this has happened to this (or any) establishment. The hostess went to grab the manager, who then REFUSED to come speak to us. Instead, she gave us the business card of the general manager, who was not on site. The general manager insisted she would correct the issue and call the Inn.
At that time, the hostess began seating for the brunch service. It was clear that they had pushed our party off to the side in terms of immediate needs to be addressed. We asked to speak with the manager one more time, who again REFUSED to speak to us. By then, my father was completely put-​off by the service, mentioned we might have better luck at a local fast-​food place, and wanted to leave. Start to finish, we were there for approximately 30 minutes without resolution.
It saddens me that a local eatery would treat its patrons so poor. I cant imagine that they did not have a contingency plan in place for overbooking or a lost reservation. Additionally, even a floor manager at a Denys will come speak to an upset customer. The hostess was having additional problems locating others’ reservations and accommodating requests, however I cant speak for the service those customers received once seated, as we were never given that pleasure.

My wife and I needed some «us time» so we booked an overnight getaway at the Smithfield Inn. We arrived in time for Sunday Brunch in the garden. The food was nice, but we were disappointed because many of our first choices were 86’d from the menu. We tried to order a Wedge Salad, but they were out. As a backup I tried to order something else (that I forget) but it, too, was out. And, finally, our server convinced us (that really didn’t take too much work!) to order the dessert special, Chocolate Decadence so we did. But a few minutes later returned to tell us the kitchen was out. Pooie!
But the dishes we were served were tasty and satisfying. We shared a Chicken Pot Pie. Nothing special about it, but it was hearty, hot, and accompanied with a terrific puff pastry crust. (I wish they had used fresh vegetables; the peas and carrots had the telltale mushiness of frozen product. I also wish they would have used some dark meat in the pot pie, but I understand some diners might not share my preference.)
We shared a Club Sandwich that was terrific. The wasabi mayo really brought the flavors together. And we had onion rings, which were slightly on the greasy side, but made from scratch and very tasty.
We shared a chocolate cream pie for dessert and it was really good (although we really had out palettes set on the Chocolate Decadence!); cool, creamy and chocolate-​y, with a very light and flaky crust. Being in the south, I’d have sold it as Chocolate Silk Pie, but they didn’t, which is surprising because the Smithfield Inn exudes southern tradition and hospitality.
After our leisurely lunch we checked in and went to our suite. It was nice, cozy, and well-​outfitted with a big mini-​fridge, a flat-​panel TV, and terrific internet service. The room had a separate bedroom and sitting room, so we didn’t feel cramped in at all. (The bed was nice and soft, the way my lady likes it!)
In the morning we had breakfast «made to order.» She had French Toast; crispy, crunchy, sweet and steamy! I had the «sampler» which had grits, Smithfield Ham, eggs and toast. The grits weren’t the best I’ve ever eaten, but they were close! And my eggs were cooked perfectly. I point this out because it evidences that the kitchen staff is very skilled.
Everyone at the inn was as friendly and helpful as you could possibly want. We really enjoyed our stay. We wish it could have been longer, but there’s no question we’ll be back!
Smithfield is trying hard to become a touristy draw. They’ve got more «antique» (read, «junque») shops per block than anywhere I’ve ever been. There are walking tours and plenty of places to eat and relax. We’re a couple hours away from Smithfield, so for us it’s becoming our go-​to getaway spot.

Beef Strudel Perfekt! Better than MOST German Restaurants! Thin, thin, thin Layers of Dough filled with sliced Beef Steak in a Curry much more Gourmet than I usually think of for German our Southern American Cuisine! OK I have not been this far North in my Unilocal lifetime!
Impressive ! ! ! My Brother picked this Restaurant though I imagined mostly for its Charm and being a Very comfortable place for a Relaxing Lunch? After tasting the Strudel served with Fingerling Potatoes and Asparagus I think he picked this place for the food and Total Experience!
Outdoor Terrace Dinning was popular because the weather was so nice and they also had a table on the Front Porch! Glad we stayed inside this time at a Big Table in the more intimate Bar Room, right beside the Dinning Room! Felt like being in one of the Old James Bond films in a VERY Good way!!!
Inn = Rooms on top of a Restaurant? Very Romantic !
Sweet Potato Fries Fantastik
Calamari was good, not the typical and in a good way! My Bride, Niece and sister-​in-​law enjoyed it more than the Men in the group!
She Crab Soup was Very Smithfield Inn! Maybe some Sherry in the Soup would help OR if everyone else Loves it do NOT change for me!
Pork Fijitas NEED Work! This IS Smithfield! Right! Wait! The Pork should have been better than this! Maybe change the name to a pork chop wrap and make an Austrian Style Apple/​Onion Curry Sauce to go with it!
I Hope Paul Koehlers life is this good!

This place deserves some credit for good food that is both an homage to Old Smithfield/​Southern cuisine and new flavors and techniques.
While we were the only diners under the age of 70 last Saturday we were not offered tea sandwiches and Arnold Palmer’s as I had originally feared, instead we found a pretty diverse and appealing menu.
Some of the more exciting things on the menu were watermelon salsa, a pork belly BBQ sandwich, fried green tomato BLT with house made pimento cheese and Smithfield’s take on a Cuban sandwich.
We settled on the BLT and Cuban to split with fries and slaw on the side.
First, the ciabatta that the sandwiches are served on was amazing. I usually don’t go in for ciabbata because its so dense it takes away any flavor that might have been there, but this one proved me wrong. The BLT was awesome, the pimento cheese is perfect on there. The tomatoes are tasty and balanced well with the bacon, not overpowered. The Cuban was even better, with really moist, thin slices pork loin and local ham stacked with swiss, pickles and mustard.
The only reason this review wasn’t 5 stars is because of the service and cleanliness of the outdoor patio. We sat outside on a beautiful day and loved having that option, but we were seated next to a column that was covered in cobwebs and dirt. We had a great service, but I think our server was really overwhelmed with tables, my water remained empty for a good part of lunch and while we really wanted to take our leftovers home, they were being swarmed with flies while we waited and tried to flag him down for a box. Not his fault, just needs to be better manged.

we were on our way to Smithfield for a 2 night stay. Called Smithfield Inn on the way to see if we could get reservations. Person who answered said she needed to get the hostess. 5 minutes latter I hung up and re-​dialed. No answer after 12 rings. When we arrived at our hotel we asked for reservations in the dining room at the Smithfield Inn. When we arrived we were seated in the Tavern — not the fine dining atmosphere we expected. Surrounding us were people in caps and tee shirts. Chairs were vinyl, ‘lounge chairs’ not comfortable for eating especially if you are short. 30 minutes after being seated we finally got water and the drinks we had ordered. My drink was OK. My wife swears the liquor in her drink was not what was ordered (we had the same drinks at our hotel). Our appetizers of ham biscuits was typical of any ham biscuit you would find at any Virginia Church dinner — nothing special (were we expecting too much?). My tuna appetizer was comprised of pre-​made tuna circles — not high quality at all. The watermelon salsa it was served on was good though.
My wife did not order an entrée but we shared the crab cakes. They were good — not spectacular. A little out of the ordinary but unique.
Our biggest complaint is that we were ready to experience ‘fine dining’ but were placed in a tavern atmosphere (there was a fine dining room with white table cloths too) where service was poor and food only OK.
If you are looking for a dining experience — don’t expect it at the Smithfield Inn.

Had dinner in the main dining room tonight, (I usually go to the tavern side), I ordered the pan seared salmon, and I have to say it was one of the best pieces of salmon I have ever eaten. The balsamic glaze and red bell pepper cream were a great accompaniment, I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone.

When traveling on business, I like to eat at local places than the typical chain type restaurants. While in Smithfield, VA on business, I decided to stop at the Smithfield Inn for lunch.
First off, I would have given it 5 stars, however, some of the service was slow. It looked like they needed a little help so empty drink glasses tended to go unfilled. On the other hand, once I ordered my food, it came out fast.
The food was excellent. I went on a seafood theme and started out with the She Crab Soup. It was excellent. I had never had this type of crab before and I could have eaten just this and would have been satisfied. I would have ordered the bowl instead of the cup if this was all I was going to have.
My entrée was the Ultimate Crab Cake. t came with a large crab cake, fried green tomatoes and succotash. The crab cake was very good. Lots of crab and not too much breading. The fried green tomatoes were a little bland but still ok. The succotash was good but the Lima beans were a little under done. All and all it was a good entrée.
The atmosphere was great. This was an old inn and restaurant on historic Main Street. I recommend checking out the shops on this street as well.

After spending the day digging at Jamestowne, my wife and I decided to take the long way home through Isle of Wight County and stopped again at the Smithfield Inn, this time for dinner. The place has never failed to be consistently 5-​star, and last night’s visit was no exception. After being seated and warmly greeted by our server Henry, we began to relax after a long day in the field with a drink, and a look at the constantly changing menu. We both couldn’t resist their She Crab soup as our appetizer, and I still rate it among the top three in Tidewater — and one of the very few that doesn’t try to over-​dramatize the dish by adding too much sherry. My wife’s pan-​seared scallops were served with a creamy hominy concoction, further seasoned with fresh basil and saffron oil — just wonderfully delicious. I had the crab cakes, and they were unique, and equally delicious. Almost 100% lump crab, lightly seasoned with fresh herbs and onion, and held together for broiling with a delicious light corn roux — an unbelievably moist and rich preparation of the cake. After broiling, Chef drizzled the crab cakes with a sweetened balsamic reduction, which added a splash of sour to the rich and flavorful crab cake that was totally unexpected, wonderfully inventive, and just plain delicious. Add some fresh succotash and a couple of lightly fried green tomatoes, and the completed dish was just outstanding. I had no room for dessert, but my wife’s coconut crème brûlée was quickly finished, and brought a big smile to her face.
In addition to their outstanding food preparation, the Smithfield Inn continues to be a place where you are welcomed almost as a family member, and are made to relax and enjoy your visit through constant personal attention. Without a reservation, the restaurant’s longtime hostess somehow found a table for us, at 6:30 pm on a Saturday, in the Main Dining Room. With a full dining room, our server Henry started his service by placing our napkins in our laps, chatting for two or three minutes about the new bluegrass group playing at the Inn’s Sunday Brunch (we’re both banjo pickers, which he remembered from a previous visit), and only then took our drink orders and reviewed the evening’s menu with us. And, at an adjacent table, we again had a nice visit with one of the city’s ex-​Mayors and her husband, whom we had met by chance while out walking on a previous day trip. In addition to being extremely well fed, as we drove home we both felt like we had had a really pleasant visit with old friends and family — a real rarity in our dining experiences, and something that continues to bring us back to the Smithfield Inn, again and again.

We REALLY enjoyed our lunch at the Inn for Mother’s Day… between my wife, my daughter and I we consumed the following items:
Smithfield ham, fried green tomatoes, home made pickles, champagne peace soup, she crab soup, beef short ribs with mushroom bread cake, lobster cake, cheese fried grits, spiral ham, hummingbird cake.whew. GREAT food.
One negative, however — it took them three tries to get my bill right. First time the bill was for 40 dollars more than I though: turned out to be the bill for the table next to us. Next bill: 20 dollars much — added two desserts we didn’t order. Third time they got it right. I feel they should have taken the dessert off the bill but they didn’t bother to.

So we have been to this place in the past and really loved it. We had dinner and brunch and at that point thought we would return without a doubt. For Christmas I thought this would be a great little getaway so I booked a room at the inn and was looking forward to dinner as was my husband.
When we arrived we loved the room (Captain Mallory Todd room) though we noticed it was alittle chilly in our room. We didn’t think much as there was a fire place in the room and we were going right to dinner. We went to dinner and I was really looking forward to the duck. I had it last time we were there, we have sent friends to have it at the Inn, everyone we have sent there has loved it. When I looked at the menu I was sad to see the duck was gone. It was a mild disappointment and the She Crab soup and the Southern Tasting made up for it.
After dinner we went back up to our room to relax. When we went inside it was cooler still. I tried to work the thermostat, my husband tried to work the thermostat, we called downstairs for help and no one would answer. We lit the fire place and because it is a gas fire place it is more for looks than heat. We finally decided to go to bed and warm up no problem we thought. 3am came and it was a problem! It was freezing! In the morning we went downstairs to ask if someone could help us with the thermostat an NO ONE knew how to help us. The person service breakfast said she needed to call her manager, housekeeping had no idea, no one ever came to help us. The bathroom was even colder and we couldn’t get the water to warm up at all. It was so cold our hands hurt when we washed our hands and face. It was way to cold to shower. My husband and I sat with our coats on and the door open till check out. It would have been a good trip had it not been for the freezing cold bedroom and no one to help us. My husband calls it the Big Chill Trip! It really was. I am really disappointed and saddened. It was a Christmas present gone wrong for sure. If you go and your room is cold ask immediately for it to be taken care of or you will wake up an ice cube.

Drove out to Smithfield this weekend, just because it’s there and we were needing an excuse to get out of the house. Having heard good things about the New Orleans Brunches at the Smithfield Inn our lunch choice was easy.
Great looking place, looks upscale, but has absolutely no pretension about it (I was in shorts and flip-​flops, and was not the only one). Service was fast and friendly.
I had a couple firsts here. My first Brunswick Stew that did not come from a Dinty Moore can (delicious) and Bananas Foster served flambé table-​side (see the pics, sorry for the blur, but I was diving for cover). Quite the show, lots of jealous faces around us… but I think the waiter lost an eyebrow.
We will have to come back for a full dinner, maybe even do the bed and breakfast thing.

The Smithfield Inn is an historic bed and breakfast located in Smithfield, VA. The Inn is quaint and full of antique charm. The entry features an autographed dinner plate signed by Paula Dean. The Inn is historically restored and has guest rooms, a restaurant, and tavern.
We dined outside in the garden area. The garden is lush and full of multiple varieties of flowers and shrubs. The setting is charming and comfortable, with overhead ceiling fans to keep the breeze flowing and the bugs to a minimum.
Traditional fare such as she-​crab soup, onion rings, truffle fries, virginia ham yeast rolls, and other favorites are all available. Service was prompt and attentive. All food was freshly served and portions were generous.
The garden area is the perfect spot for a spring or fall outdoor dinner, lunch, or brunch.
Indoor dining room is decorated to period and extremely dark. Heavy tones and wall papers made for a much more formal-​stiff feeling. (A little too over the top for me.)
However, the food is the same no matter where you are seated.