Coming to Charlottesville, VA and want a dinner thought? From informal to fancy and downtown to countryside, right here’s my checklist of suggestions for the very best eating places for dinner in Charlottesville, Virginia. Looking for lunch too? Check out this publish.
Check out the publish Best Places To Eat in Cville and my Cville web page for much more concepts!
Best Restaurants For Dinner In Charlottesville
Since transferring right here over a decade in the past I’ve obtained numerous (tons of?) of emails and DMs asking me for suggestions for a household go to, bachelorette celebration, or romantic getaway right here in Charlottesville.
It’s a preferred place for a weekend go to, particularly with the University of Virginia right here, and now we have some fabulous eating places to get pleasure from throughout your go to!
People in Cville like to exit to dinner, and now we have a vibrant meals scene. Outdoor eating is especially well-liked, particularly on the downtown mall which is nice for individuals watching.
Most persons are dressed of their on a regular basis garments – you don’t see too many sequins or stilettos. While we don’t have fairly the variety or scale of a giant metropolis, now we have a little bit one thing for everybody.
Here are my favourite eating places for dinner grouped by the vibe of your night.
Nice Dinners On The Downtown Mall
Zocalo
Zocalo has been close to the highest of my favorites for years as a result of the chef makes two of my favourite entrees on the town – the black bean and roasted corn stuffed chile relleno with smoked tomato grits and a buttermilk sauce (!!) and the salmon with goat cheese couscous. As a bonus: the scallops with a vanilla-carrot sauce are superb too!
Try the margarita flight (together with a jalapeño one!) and the fritters with pepper jelly sauce. They even have some nice juicy wines on the menu.
There is a lot of patio seating that makes this a good selection for a bunch and folks watching.
The Zocalo Black Bean + Corn Chile Relleno is my favourite entree on the town! I may eat it seven days per week : )
The Bebedero
The greatest Mexican on the town, together with some superb cocktails! I like Yuli’s Quesadilla, the tacos, and the Huarache. Be positive to strive my favourite drink: Donde Estan Mis Pantalones? Mezcal + rum with thyme and tropical fruit!
Bizou + Crush Pad + Luce
This trio of eating places are all linked by the identical house owners, so you possibly can cross order on the menus. Everything is nice! F
rom its cozy classic eating room to the out of doors patio, Bizou is a good restaurant for individuals watching.
They have vegetable-heavy small plates like Butternut Squash Fritters and some salad selections to “classic Virginia entrees.”
Have completely satisfied hour or a nightcap at Crush Pad Wines throughout the mall. Crush Pad has small plates and a terrific wine checklist and you can even purchase bottles there from there in depth store space and open them with a small corkage price.
You may also dine at Crush Pad and order from the Bizou or Luce menus. Luce is a takeout window with superb pizza and do-it-yourself pastas. We love all of their choices and the kale salad.
Bang!
Asian-inspired tapas-style small plates and large martini menu. Also a lot of vegetarian choices.
Try the coconut rice, General Tso’s Cauliflower, and the Afterglow martini (ask for it if it’s not on the menu!) Good spot for a ladies evening. There’s a pleasant patio out again if the climate is sweet.
The Fitzroy
One of our favourite bars for a drink with a mixture of consolation meals and classics. Patio seating fills up quick.
I like the fried hen with honey over the kale caesar. Their cocktails are great. Other menu highlights embody the pork chop, avenue corn, and fried hen sandwich.
C&O
A Charlottesville traditional, C&O is a good celebration spot or romantic date evening.
The upstairs restaurant is formal and fancy, however the downstairs bar is informal and comfortable (it’s the place Thomas and I had our first date!)
On the menu you’ll effective high-end entrees that can exceed expectations: Strip Steak, Duck, Halibut.
Nice Dinners Near Downtown
West Main Street Neighborhood:
Oak Hart Social
Farm-to-table small plates. Very recent and native! The inside environment may be very cool open-garage door vibe and outdoors options picnic tables and a beautiful patio with picnic desk type seating that’s underneath a tent within the summertime for shade and safety from rain.
Vegetable primarily based plates, like Charred Carrots and Beets with Quinoa, are combined with hearty wood-fired pizzas, fried hen, and glazed fish.
Maya
One of our favorites serving superb Southern meals. I like the fried catfish and crab desserts and you’ll select from sides likes cornbread and mac and cheese.
The pimento cheese fritters are additionally nice! Good for a bunch as a result of they’ve loads of indoor seating.
Orzo Kitchen & Wine Bar
A comfy spot for superb Italian meals, Orzo has a terrific menu with pastas and seafood – plus glorious wine. I like their hummus to begin.
Their pastas are made in home, and also you’ll positively need to order one with a velvety glass of pink wine. You can’t go flawed with Bolognese or Risotto right here! Sadly they’re not open for lunch.
Public Fish & Oyster
One of my favourite eating places as a result of I like uncooked oysters and seafood! This is one in all our favorites within the summertime due to the patio. They have a terrific completely satisfied hour earlier than 6pm to get $1 off the uncooked oysters. Try the mussels and Belgian fries (so crispy). The steampot is my older son’s favourite entree on the town. Also: greatest key lime pie.
There aren’t a ton of seats inside, so reservations or the summer time patio is a good suggestion.
Quirk Hotel Rooftop
When the climate is ideal, the Quirk Rooftop is the place I’m going! There is each indoor and out of doors area to dine or have drinks. The menu has small plates, pizzas, salads, and apps. Great cocktails too! But go for the views.
Belmont Neighborhood:
Lampo
Oh boy – probably the greatest spots for pizza on the town! We at all times get the identical issues: the orangey olives, the small however mighty kale salad, the Hellboy pizza (if they’ve it!) and the Prosciutto pizza with preserved lemon and arugula. These are so good!! They even have sandwiches and a tremendous wine checklist.
Tavola
At Tavola you’ll discover rustic Italian meets farm to desk with tremendous recent elements.
The burrata with sun-dried tomatoes and pesto is to die for, and I’m keen on the capellini “gamberi’ with shrimp and gorgonzola!
Seating may be very restricted and well-liked, however there’s a bar within the again the place you possibly can order apps and await a desk.
The Local
Next to Tavola is The Local which serves native farm to desk meals. Menu highlights are the Crab Soup, Bison Empanadas, and Crispy Fried Trout.
They are additionally a great spot for personal occasions with a number of eating zones you possibly can hire off.
Mas Tapas
One of Cville’s longest-running well-liked spots, Mas focuses on Spanish tapas from small plates to giant shareables (like paella).
Favorites embody the bacon-wrapped dates (a should!), the hot-smoked roma tomatoes (omg!), artichoke hearts with garlic aioli, and carne asada, served uncommon, with smoked tomato aioli.
Southern Crescent
Specializing in Cajun and Creole delicacies, Southern Crescent is as genuine Louisiana because it will get being this far north. The ambiance is equally pretty, because the restaurant is in an outdated home with a giant entrance porch and gardens that home the bar and out of doors seating.
They have gumbo and poboys, and tons of southern small plates. I like the tropical cocktails too – the Felina with mezcal and passionfruit is my favourite!
Conmole
Specializing in Oaxacan dishes, Conmole is a smaller restaurant subsequent to Southern Crescent with massive flavors. The menu options mole sauces which might be to die for, tamales, carnitas, empanadas, and ceviche.
The Wool Factory
A hip vacation spot in a historic renovated nineteenth century textile mill, The Wool Factory homes Selvedge Brewing, Broadcloth Restaurant, and The Workshop espresso + wine bar.
Great for a bunch with a lot of area.
These two sister eating places have the identical chef: Tucker Yoder.
Go to Selvedge for an informal setting and beers named after textiles (Herringbone, Denim, Seersucker) plus farm-to-table pub meals.
Go to Broadcloth for a effective eating small-plate expertise in a historic setting. Read my evaluate right here.
Casual Dinners
Whiskey Jar
If this identify isn’t apparent, it is a good spot to go for whiskey!
At the far finish of the downtown mall, there may be loads of seating indoors and a festive picket bar inside.
The menu options southern favorites like fried hen and catfish, plus mac and cheese and cornbread. One of my favorites for the Blackened Catfish and the cornbread with sorghum butter.
Sliders at Three Notch’d
Three Notch’d Brewery
A family-friendly Cville favourite, this big brewery serves tons of meals and beer in a sports-loving, massive group environment.
I like getting a beer sampler, and favourite beers are the Hydraulion Red and Minute Man IPA.
The Pretzel Bites are superb (like fried balls of dough) and the fries are superior.
We love the sliders for teenagers and grown-ups alike. Good place to observe sports activities for those who’re on the town for a recreation. I like that they’ve nonalcoholic beer on the menu!
Kardinal Hall
Another nice beer corridor with good meals and plenty of area for teams. Order on the counter and have your meals introduced out makes it straightforward to separate checks.
Great brats and fries! Lots of video games for teenagers, together with a pleasant out of doors bocce space.
Head throughout the road to choose up bagels from Bodos to make a breakfast sandwich within the morning.
Citizen Burger Bar
Where the very best burgers are produced from native grass-fed beef!
Delicious burgers, big salads, superb candy potato fries and truffle fries.
I like the roasted beet salad and the Little Bleu burger. It could be laborious to get a desk so go early.
In The Country
Blue Mountain Brewery
Blue Mountain is about half-hour outdoors of Charlottesville and well worth the drive!
They have lovely views of the blue ridge mountains, tons of out of doors seating and video games, and actually good massive sq. pizzas. Oh and beer!!
The Local Sausage Pizza is our favourite.
Vivace
Not actually in the nation, however on the way in which out of the west aspect of city, Vivace is a good spot for Italian classics.
With an outdated world vibe, they’ve favorites like Spaghetti Carbonara and Ragu alla Bolognese with do-it-yourself tagliatelle (Thomas’s favourite).
The bar will get packed earlier than UVA video games, so it’s good spot to hit for an early pre-game dinner and spherical of beers. Shout out to our pal Landon who’s the chef!
The Clifton
This is the place Thomas and I had our marriage ceremony!! (And my Bachelorette Party!)
The Clifton is a boutique resort (you must keep there too!) about 10 minutes from downtown Cville. The grounds are lovely (why we liked it for a marriage!) and the again porch is an exquisite setting for an out of doors dinner when the climate is sweet.
The dishes are farm-to-table, and have at all times been impressed with the creativity.
Salad on The Clifton porch!
The Ivy Inn
Another of Charlottesville’s well-known big day eating places, the Ivy Inn’s backyard setting will make you’re feeling such as you’re within the nation – however you’re actually fairly near city! Inside you’ll discover cozy white tablecloths and an American menu with a give attention to native elements.
From grilled quail to bison brief ribs, you’ll discover attention-grabbing twists on traditional entrees. I additionally liked the important thing lime pie!
Duner’s
Located within the coronary heart of Ivy (simply west of city) you’ll discover the Cville traditional Duner’s.
Known for his or her in depth menu (and the crabcakes!) the menu modifications incessantly. It’s a terrific spot for an informal date evening or in case your dad and mom are on the town.
And extra!
I needed to give attention to our very favourite eating places in Charlottesville, however after all there are lots of extra nice spots on the town!!
Those of you who’ve visited earlier than and my native pals, what was your most memorable dinner?
