The Ridley

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1. JR

   JamesR

   Washington DC

   25 reviews

   vip
   5.0

   25 reviews

   Dined on June 26, 2022

   overall5food5service4ambience5

   I've lived in Charlottesville for a year and dated my wife here for two years before that. We've dined at many fine restaurants in town. The Ridley immediately catapults to the Top 3! My wife ordered scallops while I ate shrimp and grits -- both dishes were superb. Our cocktails were so delicious, we ordered a second round -- something we rarely do. Add in the understated elegance of the interior, the nice spacing so that we could carry on a normal conversation (unlike many other restaurants where you have to wear ear plugs), and the relaxed atmosphere -- and it was simply a wonderful dining experience. On top of all that, we were moved to read the history of Dr. Ridley, who was a true pioneer. We will return here many times for sure!

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2. MG

   MichaelG

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on June 23, 2022

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   The food and service were very good. They were very accomodating to our needs and requests.

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3. CB

   ChrisB

   Greensboro

   74 reviews

   vip
   4.0

   74 reviews

   Dined on June 17, 2022

   overall4food4service5ambience4

   Staying at the hotel: it was a great option!

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4. EV

   EmbotVirginia

   New York Area

   2 reviews

   2.0

   2 reviews

   Dined on June 14, 2022

   overall2food1service1ambience4

   Food: Father-in-law's steak was tough, potatoes were cold. He was very unhappy. Other meals were just OK, although I thought the scallops were good. Service: Our server seemed really miserable. When we asked her for recommendations about certain dishes and drinks, she said "I haven't been here in a week," implying she didn't know the current menu. It took 30 minutes to get our drinks, and that was after asking two people about them; however, neither of those people was our server because she never checked on us after getting our order. On the plus side, the manager was lovely when my FIL told them he was unhappy with his meal, and she comped us the price of it. Ambience was fine -- modern, spacious, airy. We were sad that the service and food was so disappointing.

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5. L

   Local

   Washington DC

   1 review

   3.0

   1 review

   Dined on June 5, 2022

   overall3food4service2ambience2

   Good food, inexperienced servers, loud, paid parking if close or minimal street parking a couple blocks away.

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6. MB

   MaryB

   Indiana

   6 reviews

   5.0

   6 reviews

   Dined on June 4, 2022

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Splendid!!!! Fried Green tomatoes entree was divine. Highly recommend.

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7. MK

   MeganK

   Chicago

   8 reviews

   vip
   5.0

   8 reviews

   Dined on June 1, 2022

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Fantastic food and great service. I generally avoid hotel restaurants but this is a must visit - especially for the cornbread.

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8. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Washington DC

   3 reviews

   4.0

   3 reviews

   Dined on May 28, 2022

   overall4food4service4ambience4

   We sat outside, great weather. Didn't realize it was connected to a hotel. Service, food and drinks were good.

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9. S

   Stumo65

   Washington DC

   35 reviews

   vip
   4.0

   35 reviews

   Dined on May 27, 2022

   overall4food4service3ambience5

   Nice atmosphere at this hotel restaurant near UVA. Steak, salmon and burger all were cooked as requested and dinners were enjoyable with solid wine, beer and cocktail options.

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10. GK

    GaryK

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 25, 2022

    overall4food5service4ambience2

    The Ridley offers a casual dining atmosphere with upscale menu items. My wife and I enjoyed an appetizer of deviled eggs, followed by an order of steak frites and pork chop for entrees. I also ordered a side dish of grits with my meal, which were outstanding and large enough to serve as a meal in itself! The meals were exquisite, comparable to a 5-star restaurant, and we would definitely return to sample other menu options. The service was timely and friendly. We found the restaurant to be noisy, however, and we felt our business casual attire was somewhat overdressed for this venue.

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11. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Philadelphia

    20 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    20 reviews

    Dined on May 22, 2022

    overall3food3service3ambience3

    Overall lackluster

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12. DB

    DrBColwellAdams

    Richmond

    12 reviews

    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on May 20, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Enjoyed the experience—both ambiance and food. Please ask staff to volunteer information about Dr. Ridley. Thank you!

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13. AM

    AugustoM

    Miami

    19 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    19 reviews

    Dined on May 18, 2022

    overall3food4service3ambience3

    Ok. Food good. Extremly weak in the desserts menu.

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14. FN

    FridayNightDiners

    E. Tennessee

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on May 14, 2022

    overall5food5service4ambience4

    We recently had dinner at The Ridley and had a great experience. The food was very well prepared, and the jalapeño cornbread was amazing. The menu has a nice selection of items. Our party of four all tried different things (shrimp and grits, pork chop, scallops and salmon) and gave excellent reviews. Our server Nassir was attentive and paced our meal nicely. The decor is very well done and includes very interesting information about Dr. Walter N. Ridley, the first Black student to graduate from The University of Virginia and receive a graduate degree from any major historically white public university in the South. We will definitely be back when we're in the Charlottesville area.

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15. SW

    SWinston

    Richmond

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 13, 2022

    overall4food3service4ambience5

    I've been to The Ridley twice, for brunch and breakfast. The brunch meal was excellent! Food was hot, presentation was lovely and the Chef even came out to ask how everything was. The breakfast was average. My omelet needed a bit more seasoning -- salt in particular, but different herbs or spices would have helped tremendously.

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16. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Miami

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 9, 2022

    overall1food1service4ambience2

    Food was not good at all.

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17. SA

    SpicyAyKAY

    Richmond

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on May 8, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Good experience! Good food, good service, convenient valet for 5$!

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18. F

    Flipfoodie

    Western NC

    8 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on May 8, 2022

    overall3food3service3ambience2

    Went for Mother’s Day brunch and menu was just so so. Could have gone to any place in Charlottesville and had the same options. Nothing great…

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19. E

    Erinn

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 8, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    I treated my mother to brunch at The Ridley. We had THE BEST dining experience ever in life. The team worked so well together and you could tell that the running of the restaurant is a very well-oiled machine. The server was attentive, and the food was hot and came out quickly. Our drinks were refreshed regularly and we were checked on numerous times while dining. I'd also like to mention the hospitality of the manager on duty. He was gracious to us and even held the door for us at our departure. I will definitely visit again and I highly recommend paying a visit!

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20. J

    Jennifer

    Washington DC

    6 reviews

    4.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on May 8, 2022

    overall4food5service5ambience5

    It was good but for the price we paid was a little too much in our honest opinion. Amount of food we got were small— eggs were a bit runny inside. . Hmm. But staff and everything else was amazing!

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21. LW

    LindaW

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 6, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    The service was excellent. We were quickly seated and served. Food was great! The decor is lovely.

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22. MB

    MimiB

    Vancouver

    13 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on May 1, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Loved this restaurant. Food was good and our waitress was very attentive.

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23. DO

    DivaO

    Richmond

    36 reviews

    4.0

    36 reviews

    Dined on May 1, 2022

    overall4food4service4ambience4

    One of my favorite brunch places. The spinach Omlet is very good so is their style of French Toast!

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24. LA

    LkAck

    Richmond

    26 reviews

    3.0

    26 reviews

    Dined on April 30, 2022

    overall3food3service4ambience4

    Had high hopes for this restaurant. Overall, good. But, there were drawbacks. The service was so fast, we received our entrees before we finished our salads. There was no decaf coffee and the regular I ordered wasn't even hot. Food was good, but basic. No salt or pepper on table and I could have used it. The service was very personable and efficient. Biggest complaint by far: Parking. There was none, short of $10 valet through the hotel. Tried the 11th St. garage, but was turned away. On street took 10 minutes of looking, until we got lucky two blocks away. Just for the latter point alone, I'm afraid we won't be running back any time soon.

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25. M

    Mayoplan

    New England

    126 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    126 reviews

    Dined on April 25, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Great evening. The bar menu was interesting, and the service at the bar was so good, we stayed for dinner. The dinner was great, Baked Chicken and Steak Frites (w/chimichurri) The wine list was just OK. For a restaurant in the middle of wine country, there was WAY too much overpriced mass produced California wines on the menu. Other than that, it was a lovely evening on a quiet evening.

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26. DF

    DouglasF

    Washington DC

    10 reviews

    vip
    1.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on April 24, 2022

    overall1food1service1ambience1

    Made Sunday brunch reservations for a visit with our UVA student. Reserved an outdoor table because we were traveling with our pet. Upon arrival, we were informed that the outdoor seating was closed because of staff call-offs. Obviously, we could not dine indoors with the pet, and the manager would not make an exception on the outdoor seating because "other patrons would ask why they couldn't eat outside too." All other restaurants in this category were long-since booked, so we essentially ended up eating fast food. Very bad judgment call by the Ridley manager, who could have made our day but instead got it off to a really bad start because he couldn't be bothered to think a bit outside the box. We won't be back.

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27. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 23, 2022

    overall4food5service5ambience5

    Great dinner while visiting our student. The Chef even came around & asked how things were.

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28. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 22, 2022

    overall4food4service4ambience4

    Was nice to sit outside the Brussels and truffle fries and grits were delish!!

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29. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 22, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    great service and delicious food. would definitely go again!

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30. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    21 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    21 reviews

    Dined on April 21, 2022

    overall4food4service4ambience4

    Visit to son , very good . Good vibe

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31. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 19, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Visiting UVA

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32. CF

    ChrisF

    Philadelphia

    3 reviews

    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on April 18, 2022

    overall3food3service3ambience3

    Not enough people working the breakfast service.

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33. ME

    MELINDAA

    San Francisco

    8 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on April 18, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    RIcky our server was excellent. Food was wonderful. Had a great time!

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34. LO

    LeslieO

    New York Area

    4 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on April 17, 2022

    overall5food5service4ambience4

    We had brunch there for Easter and the food was really good. Everyone tried something different and everyone loved it.

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35. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Richmond

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on April 17, 2022

    overall4food4service5ambience5

    Easter brunch…service was wonderful, responsive and friendly. The food was typical brunch well prepared and presented. First time dining at Ridley and would definitely return. Spacious and warm space

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36. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 10, 2022

    overall2food4service1ambience5

    The hostess was rude.

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37. LJ

    LeeJ

    Washington DC

    5 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on April 10, 2022

    overall4food4service1ambience5

    The food is pretty good but the service is lacking. Great atmosphere, comfortable seating, good bar selections. If the service improves it could be one of the top places is Charlottesville.

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38. A

    Abbsuper

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 10, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Not too many choices for vegetarians and vegans but I would still recommend it because it has a very friendly atmosphere and great cocktails!

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39. UV

    UVAGrad

    Washington DC

    22 reviews

    4.0

    22 reviews

    Dined on April 10, 2022

    overall4food4service4ambience4

    Great breakfast. Great dining areas.

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40. BD

    BigD

    Richmond

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on April 9, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Great service, great meal. The restaurant was able to accommodate our group even though they could not ‘find’ my reservation. Very nice place, we will be back.

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