Diners' Choice: Best Ambiance restaurants in Charlottesville

OpenTable

Updated October 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best ambiance in Charlottesville? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Ten

4.9

4.9 (1068)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Charlottesville

About the restaurant

Ten is a modern Japanese tapas style restaurant, centrally located on Charlottesville's Downtown Mall.

Since 2006, Ten has served a variety of both traditional and original cuisine.

Chef Pei Jen Chang sources ingredients from the finest local, regional, and international sea and farm purveyors, and strives to offer fare that will appeal to the gamut of culinary palates.

Our bar menu boasts an extensive wine list, an assortment of imported and local craft beers, as well as one of the largest collections of sake in Virginia. In addition, we offer a unique selection of libations, such as hand-crafted Asian inspired cocktails, assembled using inventive, authentic ingredients, or a 'Sake Flight', which allows for the subtle, intricate flavors of three selected varietals to be experienced.

The meaning of the Japanese word 'Ten' is 'heaven' or 'celebration', and our highest goal is to create an elevated, adventurous, and intimate dining experie

Top review

Tim

Dined 5 days ago

Great experience, I give TEN a 10 out of 10. Food was great service was great. Overall experience was great, TEN is highly recommended.

Fleurie

4.9

4.9 (1814)

$50 and over

French

Charlottesville

About the restaurant

Serving Dinner Tuesday - Saturday.
Daily Prix-Fixe 3-Course Menu ($109) with optional Wine Pairings ($75+)
Fleurie offers patio and indoor dining by reservation.
Please make sure to select your desired seating area when booking.

Join us at Fleurie Restaurant for a contemporary French fine dining experience, located just off Charlottesville's charming Downtown Mall on 3rd Street. Fleurie's elegant atmosphere, stellar wine list, and innovative menu are sure to produce an unforgettable meal. Fleurie is the perfect place to celebrate special occasions or simply enjoy masterfully prepared dishes and intimate service.

Top review

Henryvip

Dined 5 days ago

Great food, like being in France. Can’t wait to return again.

The Farmhouse at Veritas

4.7

4.7 (996)

$50 and over

Farm-to-table

Charlottesville

About the restaurant

Please inform us of any dietary restrictions at least 48 hours prior to reservation time.
No children or pets allowed for any reservations

DINNER: Plan to arrive at 6:15 pm for a glass of bubbly and be seated for dinner at 6:30 pm. Dinner is four courses, each one paired with wine. The cost is $120.00 per person prix fixe

Top review

Lindavip

Dined on Oct 1, 2024

We have dined at the Farmhouse lots of times but this particular night was exceptional - from the service to the menu choices - a perfect evening. Thank you, Chef and all of the staff at the Farmhouse at Veritas for making that happen for us.

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Experience

The Farmhouse Wine Paired Dinner

The Ivy Inn Restaurant

4.9

4.9 (3763)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Charlottesville

About the restaurant

Seasonal Local American Cuisine. We use many local products from local farmers. We are located about a mile west of the University of Virginia campus. Historic old home turned into a restaurant. Three small intimate dining rooms upstairs, one on the ground floor and a large weather protected patio. In the winter the Patio is heated. Family owned since 1995. Special diet needs met upon request.

Top review

Brian

Dined 4 days ago

Had an excellent meal last Saturday night. Every part of the meal was great - highly recommend the beef tenderloin and the devil food cake desert. We will eat here again on our next visit to the area.

Forked on Main

4.5

4.5 (137)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Orange

About the restaurant

Forked on Main is a casual contemporary eatery, located in the historic Sparks building on Main Street in Orange, VA. Walk in the door and you’re instantly faced with the hostess stand and a decision – a fork in the road. Take a right and you enter a light-filled dining room that can seat couples, families or even private parties. Take a left, and you’re ensconced in the lounge, perfect for a casual mid-day coffee, a happy hour drink with co-workers or a night out on Main Street with friends.

Top review

Vtkakivip

Dined on Sep 14, 2024

Always a favorite of ours on a Woodberry visit weekend! A warm welcome greets you when you arrive, often with a personal visit from one of the owners at some point throughout your meal. The ambiance is classy casual and the menu has a ton of variety. Whether you want a burger and wings, or tuna tartar and muscles- it’s all there and it’s all delicious!

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Experience

Sunday Sauce!

Palladio

4.7

4.7 (511)

$31 to $50

Italian

Gordonsville

About the restaurant

The elegant balance we value in wine, the quality of celebration inherent in its welcome, inspire palate harmonies that are Virginian in resources and Northern Italian in perspective, in country dining of vivacity and refinement. Here the estate of wine is inhabited at its most seamless and complete, sustained behind the scenes by the rarest collaboration of colleagues gifted in cuisine, viticulture, horticulture and service. Luxury on-site accommodations available at our 1804 Inn and Cottages. For additional information, please visit our website www.bbvwine.com.

Top review

Gregg

Dined 5 days ago

We hadn't been back to Palladio for years, so it was a nice treat to go back. Often we forget to think about it when choosing a nice dinner out or a special occasion, even though we live on Stony Point Road. Generally we think of downtown and not heading north. I'm so glad we headed out! Just lovely. From the service to the quality of the food to the atmosphere it was all very enjoyable. One tip: the restaurant doesn't serve spirits beyond what can be concocted from wines and a handful of complementary liqueurs. That wasn't an issue for us, and their reserve list of wines is from their extensive library, although we chose to get the suggested wines offered per course since the somm and chef had worked that out for us. Also, the tiramisu is certainly one of the best I've ever had, including when traveling Italy.

C&O

4.8

4.8 (822)

$50 and over

American

Charlottesville

About the restaurant

Dinner is served in our mezzanine, bistro and upstairs dining rooms, Tuesday through Saturday.
Reservations are for dinner only, please. Bar seats operate on a first come, first serve basis, and cannot be reserved.
We cannot accommodate parties larger than 10. Due to the layout of our restaurant, we are unable to accommodate pets on our patio.

Top review

Jared

Dined on Oct 1, 2024

This is probably the finest restaurant in Charlottesville, a city with some great restaurants. Professional service, great ambiance, and the food is wonderful. The upstairs dining room is lovely but may get a little loud when fully populated (but it did create an upbeat atmosphere!). I hadn't been here since 1986 and all was still wonderful.

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Popular dish

Tenderloin of Beef

Popular dish

Duck Confit and Ricotta Gnocchi

Popular dish

Pan Roasted Scallops

Cafe Frank

4.7

4.7 (301)

$31 to $50

Contemporary French / American

Charlottesville

About the restaurant

Café Frank is a vibrant, intimate Franco-Italian restaurant and cocktail bar on Charlottesville's Historic Downtown Pedestrian Mall. We can't wait to serve you!

Top review

Markvip

Dined on Sep 30, 2024

Great food, great presentation. Excellent service.

Aberdeen Barn - Charlottesville

4.6

4.6 (1741)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

Charlottesville

About the restaurant

Established in 1965 as Charlottesville's premier steakhouse, dinner the Barn has become a Charlottesville tradition. Serving only the finest Certified Angus Steaks, award winning Roast Prime Rib, exceptional seafood, fine wines and a full bar.
We are open Wednesday - Saturday for inside dining, curbside pickup and outside seating when weather permits.
Please call for reservations for parties over 10 people 434-296-4630.
We look forward to seeing you.

Top review

Russell

Dined 5 days ago

Absolutely phenomenal experience. Seated quickly, service was great, and the prime rib was incredible. Can’t recommend it enough. Never had a more friendly waitstaff.

Hamiltons' At First & Main

4.7

4.7 (2274)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Charlottesville

About the restaurant

Contemporary Fine Dining in Charlottesville, Virginia Located in the heart of Charlottesville’s Downtown district, Hamiltons’ is the perfect spot for a delicious afternoon lunch or a romantic evening dinner. A cheerful, cozy atmosphere and attentive service ensure our guests enjoy an outstanding dining experience, be they Charlottesville natives, out-of-town visitors, or University students and staff. We also feature outdoor patio seating seasonally, providing our guests the opportunity to dine amidst the bustle of the Downtown Mall.

Top review

Lisa

Dined 5 days ago

Food and drinks were tasty and the service was excellent. Too loud for easy conversation.

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Blue Crab and Corn Chowder

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