The Glass Haus KitchenFancy food with a twistI'm one of those people who doesn't always enjoy fine dining. This was worth trying. Food was very interesting to try. Each dish had a unique twist. Many tasty cocktails too!6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMLives up to its hypeWe had read about the Glass Haus in the Washington Post and Chef Ian boden but had not yet managed to get there. We finally did and we were definitely not disappointed. Every course was exceptionally prepared and plated and the food, even for Charlottesville, was outstanding. Service was also wonderful (even when my husband waved his arm while telling a story and knocked our cocktails off the tray held by our server walking up). The Glass Haus is our new favorite local spot for incredible meals.6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMSeveral triesI've been here three times in the last two months. The food was never disappointing, although on of my fellow dinners thought the portions were small. The kitchen is built with the assumption that you will order appetizers and entrees. Two times we skipped straight to entrees and it took a long time for the meal (to be fair, the waiter warned us about this). I've found the food to be delicious, and in the right quantities. I've had fish, pasta and pork. All were outstanding. The cheese desert was fabulous and I noticed none of my fello diners left anything on their desert plates. The wine is is interesting, not extensive. I think the decor is very hip, try to grab on of the upstairs tables near the front - great view of the environment.6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Experience!We have pretty specific dietary restrictions and a friend recommended The Glass Haus as a place that could cater to those restrictions. I looked it up and saw some great reviews so we decided to venture downtown (a 40 min drive) to try it out. We did make a reservation but on the Saturday night we were there we could have easily gotten a table without one.
When we walked in I was a little nervous because the red curtain and entrance way just seemed a bit odd to me. The staff was very professional and knowledgeable and the waiter was always on top of refills, clearing plates, bringing new silverware, etc.
I'm limited on "characters" allowed on this review so I'll just say service, price, food & experience were all great! smart-casual dress6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat FoodWe have followed this chef from Staunton, the food is very very good. the restaurant was extremely hot and made for not pleasant dining.5/31/2013 12:00:00 AMArtistic foodWe had Chef Boden's tasting menu, which really showed his capabilities. Everything was delicious and it was a memorable dining experience. Not for those with large appetites or small budgets.5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMBetter A La CarteWe had the five-course tasting menu. Compared to other tasting menus we have enjoyed, this one was a bit precious, the plates were truly on the small side, and the sequence was a bit off, it seemed to us. We enjoyed it, but not to the point that we would try it again. When we go back to The Glass Haus, we'll order a la carte!
Great space. Very sophisticated environment, especially for Charlottesville.5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMExtra-ordinary!Great spot for those who want a food experience, as this is an adventure in flavors! Wonderful combination of the familiar and exotic. The evening we were at the restaurant it was a pre-fixed menu with something for everyone, including our vegan. The service was good and the ambiance chic. The only downside was the floor to ceiling mural of cows.5/19/2013 12:00:00 AMGlass HausWe had the seven course chef's tasting menu with wine pairings. Absolutely fantastic! Use of local fresh ingredients really makes a difference. Wonderful atmosphere inside. Not too noisy, but great for a group.5/17/2013 12:00:00 AMNew restaurant needs a little help.Food was excellent. Servers were very good. Miscommunication with waiter but it was handled well.
We did not know menu was changed every day which in itself is a big plus but disappointed when web page touted seared
tuna which was not available. Suggest include in your web page that the menu is changed every day you are open.5/16/2013 12:00:00 AMwonderfull first time experiencethe dinner was great and was served beautifully.
the server were helpful in explaining when we had questions.
We will for sure come back.5/15/2013 12:00:00 AMAbsolutely AmazingIf you are EVER in Charlottesville, eat here. Our server was a true delight and recommended the tasting menu, and he did not steer us wrong. Each course was superb from the amuse, the kale based salad with a spicy (sparingly applied) dressing and on through the rest of the courses. My friend and I both love halibut, and we both agreed with the crunchy crust and velvet interior it was the best halibut we have ever had. The venison was also perfect. Courses included ramps, fresh mushrooms and fiddlehead ferns, all seasonally appropriate and locally sourced. Our server explained each course and knowledgeably introduced the wine pairings which were perfect. The James Beard nomination is well deserved. Go and enjoy dining at it's finest.5/7/2013 12:00:00 AMBest Restaurant I have ever been toI have eaten in many good restaurants in the US and Europe, but there in Charlottesville, I found the best and most interesting food I have ever had. Each dish was a masterpiece of presentation, local ingredients, and taste.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMFaultlessIt almost pains me to do this in an era where superlatives are used indiscriminately to describe what might correctly be described as "enjoyable" ... but the Glass Haus tasting menu with wine pairings was simply faultless. Every course was delicious, the wine and cocktail pairings were spot on and in the case of the cocktails innovative, service was knowledgeable and welcoming, ambiance very easy on the eye with avant garde combinations of wood, metal, cloth and light. Therefore ... 10.0 out of 10.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMNice place, with room to improveI went to this restaurant twice in the last two months. The first time the food was great (dinner for four). We loved all the appetizers and main courses. Desserts were the only weakness, and the size of some left us a wandering on how they tasted.
The second time around, the appetizers and one main course were great, whereas a second main course was good in concept, but the meat was very chewy (I had rabbit). Desserts were just OK again. Prices are fine for quality, but quantity is on the 'minimalist' side. Wine selection is very good, but avoid wine by the glass (is a ripoff.)
The ambiance is nice, especially in the main floor, and waiters are very courteous and helpful. Managers can be a bit more welcoming.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMThe tasting menu is alwaysThe tasting menu is always special and the wine pairings well chosen. Great food and fabulous, friendly service.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMEnjoyed all of the tastingEnjoyed all of the tasting menu. The restaurant was so dark that reading the menu was difficult. Liked how quiet it was. Service was terrific.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMOutstanding chef - very creativeOutstanding chef - very creative menu - well trained wait staff4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMWe recently celebrated myWe recently celebrated my daughter's 21st birthday here at a special dinner with Chef Ian Boden and Guest Chef Ed Hardy. The food was amazing and the service was impeccable.4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMThe ambiance was warm andThe ambiance was warm and relaxed. The food was prepared and presented beautifully. The halibut ceviche and poached halibut were fresh, well seasoned and done perfectly. Pippin sorbet dessert was like eating fresh apples and donuts. We'll definitely be back with friends.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMUnexpected wonderfulness!I always use Opentable to find great places and this is my most recent discovery!4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMA hidden gemDivine. Menu that is incredibly creative and focused on organic great vegetables - super service and a must go in Charlottesville4/16/2013 12:00:00 AMInteresting ambience. RemindedInteresting ambience. Reminded me of a NYC restaurant. Food was excellent, although the bread was awful. We each had fish which was very tasty. Small portions, though!4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful evening, thoughWonderful evening, though our satisfaction was slightly diminished by the poor lighting at our table--it was hard to read the menu, and impossible to fully appreciate the visual elegance of the food.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMLoved it!All I have to say is wow! I expected good things here but everything we had was superb.
From the the two masterful cocktails we moved on to the five course menu and wine pairing which started with a silky soup, then simply cooked spring vegetables- ramps and morels etc, moved on to Fluke with a beet sauce, then the most flavorful duck breast I have ever had and finished with a sumptuous chocolate dessert. The total bill was $228.00 before tip, not cheap but this meal would've been over $300.00 in DC or NYC. The waiter, Andrew was terrific as well!
Attention C'Ville you've got a world class restaurant in your midst!4/12/2013 12:00:00 AMPerfect Engagement DinnerAfter I proposed to my girlfriend, we went to The Glass Haus Kitchen for a celebratory dinner, and it did not disappoint. From the complimentary fish taco from the chef, to the Wagyu beef, the cocktails, the banana bread dessert, and the service, everything was wonderful and made for a perfect dinner.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMPar excellenceIan Boden continues to make a great name for himself. His food combinations are beyond compare. I look forward to returning again.4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent, seasonal food;Excellent, seasonal food; creative cocktails; zen ambiance; attentive (but not too attentive) service. My only complaint is that there were a number of ingredients listed that I didn't recognize and had to ask the waiter about-- but I was thrilled with my meal and would go back in a heartbeat for a nice occasion.4/4/2013 12:00:00 AMMy wife and I had a greatMy wife and I had a great experience at this restaurant this past weekend. Coming from DC and enjoying top dining whenever possible, this restaurant certainly ranks up there with any restaurant in a major city. The food was incredible - smart, tasty, not pretentious and just plain delicious. Service was right on and the atmosphere was extremely comfortable and chic without being over the top. Only criticism was that the main entree we ordered (the only vegy entree on the menu) was a bit too expensive for what you got, but everything else was fantastic. Highly recommend this place.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMIntriguing combinations ofIntriguing combinations of foods went into each dish that we ordered -- and they all came out exceedingly well! Our waiter was enthusiastic and provided us with detailed descriptions of the various options on the menu, and we were never disappointed. An excellent meal, and all in all an occasion to be remembered.3/27/2013 12:00:00 AMBest meal of our lives.My wife and I loved this place. We are not foodies but we were trying to get out of our comfort zones a bit. We have eaten in fine restaurants in New York and other cities known for the great food And still it turned out that this was the best meal of our lives. The server was friendly, knowledgeable, and approachable. This was important. On his suggestion we ordered the Chef's 5 course meal. A veg, two fish, a meat and a dessert. All five were truly terrific dishes. The flavors were unexpected and unmatched. The wine pairing was done well, the portions for each course were just right- by the end of the meal we were perfectly satisfied. The restaurant takes food seriously but manages to be a happy and relaxed place to be.3/26/2013 12:00:00 AMCreative menu and great executionCreative menu and great execution as always from this chef. Certain dishes were notably better than others, but all were good.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMDelicious, creative food andDelicious, creative food and cocktails, excellent service, beautiful environment (and great music). I was wowed by the appetizers: rabbit liverwurst with bread pudding and a duck ragu with housemade chitarra pasta, as well as a delicious entree (monkfish cheeks with oats cooked in broth) and wonderful dessert (grapefruit olive oil cake with candied circus, olive oil crumble, and sorbet).3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMA great addition to fine diningA great addition to fine dining in Charlottesville, easily among the top five oriented toward the locavore and "foodie" crowd. The five course tasting menu was outstanding, except for a rather bland ice cream dessert that disappointed after the finesse and range of savory options in the first four courses. The reasonably priced wine pairing added considerably to the experience.3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMA true foodie must tryVery nice restaurant, excellent service.
Disappointed with my starter choice (squid ink tortellini....pasta was hard and rubbery), but main entree of heritage pork, sweet potato caramel and trumpet mushroom was delicious and perfect, dessert flan was beautiful and a bit intriguing.
Ambitious food/flavor pairings offered through beautiful, elegant presentation.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMPricy by excellentUnusual atmosphere with floating stairs and tables on balcony. The noise interfered with intimacy. Interesting menu and food well prepared but not outstanding. May return to try the tasting dinner - no menu, taste chef's surprises.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMThe servers all seemed veryThe servers all seemed very well informed about the often-changing menu. The restaurant has taken over a place that was a loud night club, and it still is large, high-ceilinged, with an open, industrial-design staircase above a bar, but this means diners aren't crowded together and they didn't rush us. We four had delightful food: three "beginners," the charcuterie platter was melt-in-your-mouth, and all of us raved about the cherry-mustard-seed compote; squid; sunchokes, all worth ordering again. My impression was that the lamb entree was more distinctive than the tuna, which was good. The chef knows how to pack flavor into something as marginal as a roasted pearl onion. Desserts, like other dishes, architecturally presented. Not cheap!3/15/2013 12:00:00 AMWe ate there in March beforeWe ate there in March before greens were growing locally, we appreciated the commitment to local, and look forward to dishes with more vegies and fruits. Our server was outstanding, he explained so beautifully when we asked questions such as: why no greens when there are green houses in the area? Somehow I left feeling proud that we are supporting local food production. All 4 of us at the table were amazed by how excellent his waitering skills were. A true master. ... We really liked the decor - down to the finest details. It felt like we were in New York or Paris or some amazing city.3/9/2013 12:00:00 AMConsistent, excellent, high endEasily the most creative and interesting food in Charlottesville. The space is excellent, the service is quite good and the food is delicious. I don't think we've left anything on the plates any of the 5 or 6 times we've been here.2/14/2013 12:00:00 AM