King of the Sea

King of the Sea is a seasonal seafood restaurant in Reedville, Virginia, a small waterman village on the Northern Neck peninsula that juts into the Chesapeake Bay between the Potomac and Rappahannock Rivers. Located at 902 Main Street in the heart of Reedville's historic fishing district, the restaurant sits within a community whose identity has been shaped for more than a century by the commercial fishing industry — menhaden processing, crab potting, and oystering have defined the village's economy and culture, and the seafood served at King of the Sea reflects that proximity to the source with a directness rarely found in more urbanized Virginia dining. The restaurant's proximity to Chesapeake Bay watermen means that the soft shell crab platter, served during the late spring and early summer soft-shell season, arrives at the table at a freshness that justifies the considerable drive from Richmond or Washington, D.C. to reach Reedville. Crab bisque — rich, cream-based, and generously crabbed — is a consistent menu anchor through the season. The oyster po'boy, built on locally harvested Chesapeake oysters and served on a toasted roll with remoulade, captures the bay's tidal flavor in a format suited to a casual waterfront lunch. The restaurant operates on a seasonal schedule, opening Thursday through Sunday and typically running from late spring through early fall; calling 804-453-3338 to confirm current hours and seasonal availability before making the journey is strongly advisable, as hours vary with the catch and the season. Reedville itself is a remarkable destination — the village's Millionaires Row along Main Street preserves Victorian mansions built during the menhaden-boom era of the late 19th century, and the Reedville Fishermen's Museum adjacent to the harbor provides essential context for the community's waterman heritage.