J. Brian’s Tap Room

The Restaurant:

J. Brian’s Tap Room is a family-owned gastropub. It opened in 1994, and is a staple of downtown Fredericksburg. Labeled as a locally owned Irish pub and restaurant, the star items on the menu include classic bar food and pizza. There are also a variety of sandwiches including the Reuben and Rachel, as well as creative burger combinations. Although they have few truly Irish menu items, they do have a few entrees that speak to traditional Irish foods including Shephard’s Pie and Irish Whiskey Salmon.

I decided to try their pizza selection, since I love pizza, and I wanted something light and easy to transport home. I chose the Greek pizza, which was dressed in red onion, black olives, diced tomatoes, and jalapeños. This doesn’t sound Greek to me, but the combination was right on time!

The pizza itself was large for one person but not quite enough for two if you’re hungry. It had a thinner hand-tossed crust with a light application of white sauce. However, it was loaded with thick and stretchy cheese. If you like a pizza with a thick cheesy layer, you will love the pizza here. The Greek Pizza cost $13, which was about the average cost of a meal here. I ate half of it (three slices) and took the rest home for dinner.

J. Brian’s Tap Room boasts of a well-developed draft list, and I agree with this sentiment. They have a decent variety listed on their menu, including Virginia Craft Beer, Virginia Seasonals, and Virginia IPAs. I love that they specifically emphasize and support local Virginia breweries. I chose the IPA X: New England IPA, which hails from Richmond and cost $7.

Cost Range:

Starters: $4.00-$15.00

Salads: $10.00-$13.00

Sandwiches & Burgers: $11.00-$14.00

Entrees: $15.00-$20.00

Pizzas: $10.00-$14.00

Visit J. Brian’s Tap Room:

Hours: Kitchen Open 11:00am-9:00pm Wednesday-Monday

Bar open until 2am everyday (last call at 1:30am)

CLOSED Tuesday

Address: 200 Hanover Street, Fredericksburg, VA  22401

Phone Number: 540-373-0738

https://www.jbrianstaproom.com/

Lovely Patio for the Weather:

My favorite part of the afternoon at J. Brian’s Tap Room was having the entire back patio to myself. Lulled into complacency with light jazz music on the speakers, the shade of a tree, and a light, intermittent breeze, I couldn’t have been happier with my selection of restaurants.

I always enjoy an outdoorsy area with some love put into it. The back patio at J. Brian’s Tap Room was laid brickwork with black metal tables and chairs sprawled around the ample space (simple, but effective). The back area consisted of trees, light shrubbery and rose bushes, as well as lamp posts ready to light the area for evening ambience. I bet this space would be beautiful at night!

Forget the crowded sidewalk patio with passers-by constantly disrupting your meal. I had all the space, peace and quiet in the world.