Coming to Charlottesville, VA and wish a dinner thought? From informal to fancy and downtown to countryside, right here’s my record of suggestions for one of the best eating places for dinner in Charlottesville, Virginia. In search of lunch too? Take a look at this publish.
Take a look at the publish Greatest Locations To Eat in Cville and my Cville web page for much more concepts!
Greatest Eating places 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 social gathering, or romantic getaway right here in Charlottesville.
It’s a well-liked place for a weekend go to, particularly with the College of Virginia right here, and we’ve some fabulous eating places to get pleasure from throughout your go to!
Individuals in Cville like to exit to dinner, and we’ve a vibrant meals scene. Outside eating is especially in style, particularly on the downtown mall which is nice for folks watching.
Most individuals are dressed of their on a regular basis garments – you don’t see too many sequins or stilettos. Whereas we don’t have fairly the variety or scale of a giant metropolis, we’ve somewhat one thing for everybody.
Listed below are my favourite eating places for dinner grouped by the vibe of your night.
Good 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 wonderful too!
Attempt the margarita flight (together with a jalapeño one!) and the fritters with pepper jelly sauce. Additionally they have some nice juicy wines on the menu.
There’s numerous patio seating that makes this a sensible choice for a gaggle and folks watching.
The Zocalo Black Bean + Corn Chile Relleno is my favourite entree on the town! I might eat it seven days per week : )
The Bebedero
The perfect Mexican on the town, together with some wonderful cocktails! I like Yuli’s Quesadilla, the tacos, and the Huarache. You should definitely attempt 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 related by the identical house owners, so you’ll be able to cross order on the menus. Every part is nice! F
rom its cozy classic eating room to the outside patio, Bizou is a good restaurant for folks watching.
They’ve vegetable-heavy small plates like Butternut Squash Fritters and some salad selections to “traditional Virginia entrees.”
Have completely satisfied hour or a nightcap at Crush Pad Wines throughout the mall. Crush Pad has small plates and an important wine record and it’s also possible to purchase bottles there from there in depth store space and open them with a small corkage price.
You can too dine at Crush Pad and order from the Bizou or Luce menus. Luce is a takeout window with wonderful pizza and home made pastas. We love all of their choices and the kale salad.
Bang!
Asian-inspired tapas-style small plates and big martini menu. Additionally numerous vegetarian choices.
Attempt the coconut rice, Normal Tso’s Cauliflower, and the Afterglow martini (ask for it if it’s not on the menu!) Great place for a women evening. There’s a pleasant patio out again if the climate is sweet.
The Fitzroy
Certainly 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 rooster with honey over the kale caesar. Their cocktails are great. Different menu highlights embrace the pork chop, avenue corn, and fried rooster 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 comfy (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.
Good Dinners Close to Downtown
West Principal Road Neighborhood:
Oak Hart Social
Farm-to-table small plates. Very contemporary and native! The within ambiance may be very cool open-garage door vibe and out of doors options picnic tables and a beautiful patio with picnic desk fashion seating that’s beneath a tent within the summertime for shade and safety from rain.
Vegetable based mostly plates, like Charred Carrots and Beets with Quinoa, are blended with hearty wood-fired pizzas, fried rooster, and glazed fish.
Maya
Certainly one of our favorites serving wonderful 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 gaggle as a result of they’ve loads of indoor seating.
Orzo Kitchen & Wine Bar
A comfy spot for wonderful Italian meals, Orzo has an important menu with pastas and seafood – plus wonderful wine. I like their hummus to begin.
Their pastas are made in home, and also you’ll undoubtedly need to order one with a velvety glass of purple wine. You’ll be able to’t go fallacious with Bolognese or Risotto right here! Sadly they’re now not open for lunch.
Public Fish & Oyster
Certainly one of my favourite eating places as a result of I like uncooked oysters and seafood! That is one in all our favorites within the summertime due to the patio. They’ve an important completely satisfied hour earlier than 6pm to get $1 off the uncooked oysters. Attempt the mussels and Belgian fries (so crispy). The steampot is my older son’s favourite entree on the town. Additionally: finest key lime pie.
There aren’t a ton of seats inside, so reservations or the summer time patio is a good suggestion.
Quirk Lodge Rooftop
When the climate is ideal, the Quirk Rooftop is the place I’m going! There’s each indoor and outside area to dine or have drinks. The menu has small plates, pizzas, salads, and apps. Nice cocktails too! However go for the views.
Belmont Neighborhood:
Lampo
Oh boy – the most effective 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!! Additionally they have sandwiches and a tremendous wine record.
Tavola
At Tavola you’ll discover rustic Italian meets farm to desk with tremendous contemporary 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 in style, however there’s a bar within the again the place you’ll be able to order apps and look forward to a desk.
The Native
Subsequent to Tavola is The Native which serves native farm to desk meals. Menu highlights are the Crab Soup, Bison Empanadas, and Crispy Fried Trout.
They’re additionally a great spot for personal occasions with a number of eating zones you’ll be able to hire off.
Mas Tapas
Certainly one of Cville’s longest-running in style spots, Mas focuses on Spanish tapas from small plates to massive shareables (like paella).
Favorites embrace 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 outside seating.
They’ve 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 huge flavors. The menu options mole sauces which might be to die for, tamales, carnitas, empanadas, and ceviche.
The Wool Manufacturing unit
A hip vacation spot in a historic renovated nineteenth century textile mill, The Wool Manufacturing unit homes Selvedge Brewing, Broadcloth Restaurant, and The Workshop espresso + wine bar.
Nice for a gaggle with numerous area.
These two sister eating places have the identical chef: Tucker Yoder.
Go to Selvedge for an off-the-cuff 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. Learn my evaluation right here.
Informal Dinners
Whiskey Jar
If this title shouldn’t be apparent, it is a good spot to go for whiskey!
On the far finish of the downtown mall, there’s loads of seating indoors and a festive wood bar inside.
The menu options southern favorites like fried rooster and catfish, plus mac and cheese and cornbread. Certainly 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, huge group ambiance.
I like getting a beer sampler, and favourite beers are the Hydraulion Crimson and Minute Man IPA.
The Pretzel Bites are wonderful (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 in case you’re on the town for a sport. I like that they’ve nonalcoholic beer on the menu!
Kardinal Corridor
One other nice beer corridor with good meals and many area for teams. Order on the counter and have your meals introduced out makes it simple to separate checks.
Nice brats and fries! Plenty of video games for teenagers, together with a pleasant outside bocce space.
Head throughout the road to choose up bagels from Bodos to make a breakfast sandwich within the morning.
Citizen Burger Bar
The place one of the best burgers are made out of native grass-fed beef!
Scrumptious burgers, big salads, wonderful candy potato fries and truffle fries.
I like the roasted beet salad and the Little Bleu burger. It may be onerous to get a desk so go early.
In The Nation
Blue Mountain Brewery
Blue Mountain is about half-hour outdoors of Charlottesville and well worth the drive!
They’ve stunning views of the blue ridge mountains, tons of outside seating and video games, and actually good huge sq. pizzas. Oh and beer!!
The Native Sausage Pizza is our favourite.
Vivace
Not likely in the nation, however on the way in which out of the west facet 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 home made 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 buddy Landon who’s the chef!
The Clifton
That is the place Thomas and I had our marriage ceremony!! (And my Bachelorette Celebration!)
The Clifton is a boutique resort (you must keep there too!) about 10 minutes from downtown Cville. The grounds are stunning (why we beloved it for a marriage!) and the again porch is a gorgeous setting for an outside 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
One other of Charlottesville’s well-known special 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 concentrate on native elements.
From grilled quail to bison brief ribs, you’ll discover fascinating twists on traditional entrees. I additionally beloved the important thing lime pie!
Duner’s
Situated within the coronary heart of Ivy (simply west of city) you’ll discover the Cville traditional Duner’s.
Recognized for his or her in depth menu (and the crabcakes!) the menu adjustments regularly. It’s an important spot for an off-the-cuff date evening or in case your dad and mom are on the town.
And extra!
I wished to concentrate on our very favourite eating places in Charlottesville, however after all there are lots of extra nice spots on the town!!
These of you who’ve visited earlier than and my native mates, what was your most memorable dinner?
