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 most effective eating places for dinner in Charlottesville, Virginia. On the lookout for lunch too? Try this put up.
Try the put up 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 acquired numerous (tons of?) of emails and DMs asking me for suggestions for a household go to, bachelorette get together, or romantic getaway right here in Charlottesville.
It’s a preferred 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!
Folks in Cville like to exit to dinner, and we’ve a vibrant meals scene. Out of doors eating is especially in style, particularly on the downtown mall which is nice for individuals 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 an enormous metropolis, we’ve just a little 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 superb too!
Strive 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 may be a number of patio seating that makes this a sensible choice for a bunch and folks watching.
The Zocalo Black Bean + Corn Chile Relleno is my favourite entree on the town! I might eat it seven days every week : )
The Bebedero
The very best Mexican on the town, together with some superb cocktails! I like Yuli’s Quesadilla, the tacos, and the Huarache. You’ll want to 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 homeowners, so you’ll be able to cross order on the menus. Every thing is sweet! F
rom its cozy classic eating room to the out of doors patio, Bizou is a good restaurant for individuals watching.
They’ve vegetable-heavy small plates like Butternut Squash Fritters and some salad decisions to “traditional Virginia entrees.”
Have completely happy hour or a nightcap at Crush Pad Wines throughout the mall. Crush Pad has small plates and an important wine checklist and you may also purchase bottles there from there intensive store space and open them with a small corkage payment.
You too can dine at Crush Pad and order from the Bizou or Luce menus. Luce is a takeout window with superb pizza and home made pastas. We love all of their choices and the kale salad.
Bang!
Asian-inspired tapas-style small plates and large martini menu. Additionally a number of vegetarian choices.
Strive the coconut rice, Basic Tso’s Cauliflower, and the Afterglow martini (ask for it if it’s not on the menu!) Great place for a ladies evening. There’s a pleasant patio out again if the climate is good.
The Fitzroy
One in all 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 fantastic. Different 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 high-quality high-end entrees that may exceed expectations: Strip Steak, Duck, Halibut.
Good Dinners Close to Downtown
West Primary Road Neighborhood:
Oak Hart Social
Farm-to-table small plates. Very contemporary and native! The within environment may be very cool open-garage door vibe and out of doors options picnic tables and a stunning patio with picnic desk type seating that’s below a tent within the summertime for shade and safety from rain.
Vegetable based mostly plates, like Charred Carrots and Beets with Quinoa, are combined with hearty wood-fired pizzas, fried hen, and glazed fish.
Maya
One in all our favorites serving superb Southern meals. I like the fried catfish and crab truffles 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 an important menu with pastas and seafood – plus glorious wine. I like their hummus to start out.
Their pastas are made in home, and also you’ll undoubtedly wish to order one with a velvety glass of purple wine. You possibly can’t go mistaken with Bolognese or Risotto right here! Sadly they’re not open for lunch.
Public Fish & Oyster
One in all my favourite eating places as a result of I like uncooked oysters and seafood! That is one among our favorites within the summertime due to the patio. They’ve an important completely happy hour earlier than 6pm to get $1 off the uncooked oysters. Strive 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 Resort Rooftop
When the climate is ideal, the Quirk Rooftop is the place I’m going! There may be each indoor and out of doors house 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 – among the finest spots for pizza on the town! We all the time 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 an incredible wine checklist.
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 a fan of 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 place for personal occasions with a number of eating zones you’ll be able to hire off.
Mas Tapas
One in all Cville’s longest-running in style spots, Mas makes a speciality of Spanish tapas from small plates to massive 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 an enormous entrance porch and gardens that home the bar and out of doors 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 massive flavors. The menu options mole sauces which are to die for, tamales, carnitas, empanadas, and ceviche.
The Wool Manufacturing facility
A hip vacation spot in a historic renovated nineteenth century textile mill, The Wool Manufacturing facility homes Selvedge Brewing, Broadcloth Restaurant, and The Workshop espresso + wine bar.
Nice for a bunch with a number of house.
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 high-quality eating small-plate expertise in a historic setting. Learn my evaluation right here.
Informal Dinners
Whiskey Jar
If this title will not be apparent, this can be a great place to go for whiskey!
On the far finish of the downtown mall, there may be loads of seating indoors and a festive wood bar inside.
The menu options southern favorites like fried hen and catfish, plus mac and cheese and cornbread. One in all 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 enormous 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 Pink and Minute Man IPA.
The Pretzel Bites are superb (like fried balls of dough) and the fries are superior.
We love the sliders for youths and grown-ups alike. Good place to observe sports activities should you’re on the town for a recreation. I like that they’ve nonalcoholic beer on the menu!
Kardinal Corridor
One other nice beer corridor with good meals and plenty of house for teams. Order on the counter and have your meals introduced out makes it straightforward to separate checks.
Nice brats and fries! Numerous video games for youths, 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
The place the most effective burgers are created from native grass-fed beef!
Scrumptious burgers, enormous salads, superb candy potato fries and truffle fries.
I like the roasted beet salad and the Little Bleu burger. It may be exhausting to get a desk so go early.
In The Nation
Blue Mountain Brewery
Blue Mountain is about half-hour outdoors of Charlottesville and definitely worth the drive!
They’ve lovely views of the blue ridge mountains, tons of outside seating and video games, and actually good massive 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 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 home made tagliatelle (Thomas’s favourite).
The bar will get packed earlier than UVA video games, so it’s great place 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 Get together!)
The Clifton is a boutique lodge (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 good.
The dishes are farm-to-table, and have all the time been impressed with the creativity.
Salad on The Clifton porch!
The Ivy Inn
One other 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 deal with 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
Positioned within the coronary heart of Ivy (simply west of city) you’ll discover the Cville traditional Duner’s.
Recognized for his or her intensive menu (and the crabcakes!) the menu modifications 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 needed to deal with our very favourite eating places in Charlottesville, however in fact 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?
