Diners' Choice: Best Value restaurants in Charlottesville

OpenTable

Updated April 05, 2025

Looking for the best value restaurants 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!

Spoon & Spindle

4.9

4.9 (113)

$31 to $50

Southern

Orange

About the restaurant

Spoon & Spindle is located in historic Orange, Virginia in a nearly 100 year old silk mill. Spearheaded by Chef Kyler Rudy, Spoon & Spindle serves seasonal menus for brunch, lunch, & dinner as well as ever-updating craft cocktails, local wines, and unique beers. Our Spring/Summer 2025 lunch/dinner menu features fun new dishes like a Loaded Mac & Cheese, Shrimp Toast, All American Burger, and Crab Linguine. For brunch, we have menu stapes like fresh from scratch Eggs Benedict, Chicken & Waffles, and Breakfast Fried Rice. You'll also find house made desserts to finish off your meal. Our unique menu, intimate dining room, and uber friendly staff keep our regulars coming back to see what we have on special each day.

Top review

Patty

Dined on Apr 22, 2025

The food was delicious and plentiful. The service was very good. The menu has a wide variety of items. The bathrooms were nice and clean. We will be back!

The Farmhouse at Veritas

4.9

4.9 (1038)

$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

Holly

Dined on Apr 19, 2025

Amazing food pairing and wine experience! Very great way to celebrate something special, intimate dining.

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Experience

The Farmhouse Wine Paired Dinner

The Ivy Inn Restaurant

4.9

4.9 (3907)

$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

HeatherVIP

Dined 6 days ago

We had not been here and years and it is always rated as one of C’ville’s best. So we decided to give it a try and it was excellent!! Great service, dont miss the stuffed date salad and ham biscuits. All of us had fish and every entree was yummy. Dont miss the Ivy

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Popular dish

Key Lime Pie

Popular dish

Potato Gnocchi Bolognese

Popular dish

Grilled Certified Angus Beef Tenderloin

Rapture

4.7

4.7 (232)

$30 and under

Southern

Charlottesville

About the restaurant

Rapture features playful, farm-to-table Southern cuisine in a swank-but-cozy atmosphere. We have outdoor dining, billiards tables, and live music several nights a week.

Top review

JeniferVIP

Dined on Apr 11, 2025

Rapture is a fun, relaxed vibe restaurant with something for everyone. Great food and cocktails, great service and if you are sporty, there are multiple pool tables to play on. We really enjoyed our dinner at Rapture.

Hamiltons' At First & Main

4.8

4.8 (2395)

$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

Lester

Dined 4 days ago

Hamilton’s is our go to restaurant when we have friends in from out of town.

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Blue Crab and Corn Chowder

Public Fish & Oyster

4.8

4.8 (2703)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Charlottesville

About the restaurant

Public Fish and Oyster serves only the freshest and responsibly sourced seafood. We believe in the complete dining experience and our knowledgeable staff is eager to provide you with the best dining experience Charlottesville has to offer.

Top review

MarkVIP

Dined on Apr 21, 2025

Great seafood and raw bar. Friendly service. Outdoor dining is quieter than interior. Always consistently excellent.

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2025 UVA Graduation Weekend May 16th-18th

C&O

4.9

4.9 (895)

$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

Bruce

Dined 7 days ago

Everything was delicious, from the bread and butter to the delightful first course (fresh pasta) and then the entrée! C&O knocked it out of the park with the duck. I need to mention the dessert: Fabulous frozen custard. Our server was spot on, attentive, and not overbearing. What a great way to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. WE WILL BE BACK.

Bad Luck Ramen Bar & North American Sake Brewery

4.7

4.7 (77)

$30 and under

Creative Japanese

Charlottesville

About the restaurant

Slurp some hot fresh ramen, swig some hand crafted sake or craft beer, eat some sushi rolls, and HAVE FUN! Exciting atmosphere with a great vibe, North American Sake Brewery is Virginias first and only sake brewery. We offer a huge selection of craft beer, slushies, seltzers, and a great happy hour! Dine on our famous rice bowls, or try our handmade dumplings. One of a kind place filled with people that are passionate about craft. Outdoor dinning available on our patio!

Top review

Allison

Dined on Apr 5, 2025

The ramen was amazing once again!! You have to try the Nas Original

Ten

4.8

4.8 (1117)

$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

MJVIP

Dined on Apr 9, 2025

Always a stellar experience! TEN is one of our all-time favorites.

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Experience

2025 UVA Graduation Prix Fixe Menu - $75.00

Black Cow Chophouse

4.9

4.9 (558)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

Charlottesville

About the restaurant

Black Cow Chophouse is Charlottesville's spot for steaks, chops, fine wines, modern & classic cocktails and fun times. We feature a huge daily selection of both dry-aged and non dry-aged local and nationally sourced beef, as well as pork, game and lamb cuts. Our beverage program is carefully crafted and our hospitality is second to none. For the budget conscious, visit during our daily happy hour from 4:30 to 6:00 for Charlottesville's best steak deal and discounted drinks.

Top review

Michael

Dined 5 days ago

From the moment we walked in, Black Cow Chophouse delivered an exceptional dining experience. The atmosphere strikes the perfect balance between upscale and comfortable, making it ideal for a date night or special occasion. The service was impeccable—attentive without being overbearing, and genuinely welcoming

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