Williamsburg, Va. – As Virginia Woolf once said, “one cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.”
Patriots Colony At Williamsburg, the region’s premier retirement community, is pleased to announce it has completed a series of renovations to enhance and expand its dining services that promotes just that – the power of food, fellowship and choice as an important element of healthy, active and joyful living.
The extensive renovations, which opened to residents earlier this season, included building out three restaurants on site of the community and an outdoor eating terrace.
“Food is so personal because that’s the highlight of most everyone’s day,” said Christopher Thomas, Director of Dining Services at Patriots Colony. “What we’ve done is created different venues that each have a different ambiance. It’s not just one round dining room. We’re giving residents the opportunity to choose.”
Located in Williamsburg, Patriots Colony At Williamsburg is a Riverside Health System continuing care retirement community – offering independent, assisted, memory care, short-term rehabilitation, respite care and long-term nursing home care – for those 55 and older. Independent living is reserved for residents who served in the Armed Forces or as civil servants.
The restaurants range from fine dining (Fireside) to tavern style (Archie’s Tavern) to fast casual (The Bistro) and include options for residents to do take-out or enjoy the fare on an outdoor terrace overlooking Patriots Colony’s green spaces and an outdoor fountain.
The Bistro was the first area to be renovated, Thomas said, and the first piece to the renovation puzzle. The Bistro features a fast-casual style menu created in an open kitchen and along an upscale buffet. Residents can take their food to-go or enjoy it in the dining room overlooking The Bistro kitchen.
“Residents love seeing their food prepared and getting that personal touch,” Thomas said. “The Bistro has a real at-home feel and its menu includes things like Buddha bowls, burgers, fresh salads and sandwiches.”
Archie’s Tavern, as the name suggests, is a pub-style restaurant featuring casual fare and happy hours.
“This new tavern area has 65 seats and includes a bar, table top seating and happy hours,” Thomas said. “It’s very casual and, if you come by for happy hour in the afternoon, you can see it’s very popular.”
Archie’s Tavern was named for retired Army Maj. Gen. Archie Cannon who led a group of retired military officers to approach Riverside in 1994 with their plans for a community dedicated to those who shared the common bond of service to country.
Fireside, nestled in a beautifully decorated and renovated room featuring a large fireplace, is a fine dining area with a menu that reflects the experience. It’s meant to be a slow dining experience, European inspiration, where residents can sit, linger and enjoy dinner together or with friends and family.
“We just completed our inaugural champagne dinner in Fireside that was a six-course meal,” Thomas said. “People raved about it.”
As time goes on, Thomas said, the dining team will continue to build up its Marketplace, too. The Marketplace, a shopping area located inside The Bistro, features items residents may need to buy for their own kitchens, from gourmet meal ingredients, wine, beer, cheeses, milk, novelty ice creams, baked goods, artisan foods and other staples.
“Eventually we’d like to expand The Marketplace to feature gift items, too,” Thomas said. “Until then, residents can come by The Marketplace and pick up everything they’d need for a picnic or to finish off a meal they are cooking in their own homes.”
Learn more about Patriots Colony At Williamsburg by calling 757-220-9000 or visit patriotscolony.org. Patriots Colony is located in Williamsburg at 6000 Patriots Colony Drive.