Best Neighborhood Gem Restaurants in Smithfield

Le Yaca lived up to all the hype on social media, Trip Advisor, Yelp, and Open Table. I had booked our reservations 7 months out in advance of our Thanksgiving trip to Williamsburg. Every aspect of our dining experience was great. Check in was easy and pleasant and we were seated promptly. Our server, Gail was cheerful, friendly, knowledgeable, helpful, and professional. She guided us through the considerable selections and offered the special Belon oyster appetizer to add to our choices. The menu offered the choice of ordering à la carte, 2, 3 ($50 or $65 options), or 5 courses ($90). We opted for the 3 course selection (1 @ $50, 1 @ $65). My choice included a unique preparation of French onion soup (so velvety, cheesy and delicious!), a delicate, flavorful exquisitely prepared Scottish salmon with a buttery lemon sauce and thin, peeled lemon garnish served over a bed of perfectly cooked spinach. Good to the last delectable bite! My husband also enjoyed the French onion soup starter, then the coquilles St. Jacques, a beautifully baked dish of large scallops perfectly cooked with a cheesy crust. Asparagus was an accompaniment. We had also ordered a combination of baked and raw Belon oysters to share. Both were excellent—raw were sweet and plump; baked were also sweet served in a delicate light lemony butter sauce. Desserts were also good. One tiramisu and one very light lemon chiffon concoction served with strawberries and raspberry coulis. Le Yaca—a must for an exceptional dinner! Ask for Gail as your server. She was great!

Came for Thanksgiving dinner. This restaurant is absolutely one of the best dining experiences I've had in many years! The ambiance and decor was so comfortable yet upscale. The service was great and the food was fantastic! We drove an hour to get to the restaurant and will certainly do it again on future visits to the area.

We were seated quickly and Darrell (a recent Virginia Wesleyan graduate) was our server. As always, service here is exceptional. We have been coming here for years, and have sometimes cancelled reservations elsewhere just to enjoy another meal here. My husband salmon and shrimp in parchment that he raved over. I had gluten free baked crab cakes that were outstanding. The portions are huge, so no room for dessert. It’s a popular restaurant, we recommend reservations for the evening especially over holidays. But you will have a superb meal!

Best rabbit ever! And special entree of rockfish over chili mashed potatoes terrific

Enjoyed a wonderful birthday dinner here at Schlesingers. The service was fantastic and the food was beyond my expectations. I can’t wait to return for another wonderful night on our next special occasion.