Diners' Choice: Neighborhood gem restaurants in Charlottesville

OpenTable

Updated September 05, 2024

Looking for the best restaurants that are the best neighborhood gems 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!

Public Fish & Oyster

4.8

4.8 (2531)

$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

wine4foodievip

Dined on Sep 3, 2024

Great food & service (Alex) as always!

Black Cow Chophouse

4.8

4.8 (422)

$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. We take our food

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 4 days ago

We both loved our first visit to Black Cow. Service was wonderful, loved sitting on the patio and watching the people/cars go by, and the food was absolutely amazing! I had the ribeye, my wife had the NY strip, and we shared red potatoes and spinach sides. 😋 Would definitely go back again.

Spoon & Spindle

4.8

4.8 (47)

$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 Zachary Andrews, Spoon & Spindle serves seasonal menus for brunch, lunch, & dinner as well as ever-updating craft cocktails, local wines, and unique beers. Our current menu includes fan favorites like the Quail Lewis, a Manchester Farms quail dish honoring Chef Edna Lewis and her contributions to southern cuisine. Our current Chef's Specials also include Beef Wellington, Southern Fish & Chips, soul-warming Pot Pie Skillet, and much more. Our popular brunch menu includes favorites like the Hangover Hash, Biscuit Benedict, Breakfast Burritos, Chocolate Cremeux Crepes, and much, much more. 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

Morganvip

Dined on Aug 30, 2024

The best place to eat in the area by far. The noodle dish and the short ribs are especially good.

Hamiltons' At First & Main

4.7

4.7 (2265)

$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

Laura

Dined 4 days ago

Great service! Excellent server who was informative and fun. The food - vegetarian spring rolls then beef tenderloin with asparagus & mashed potatoes - was outstanding, as always. This is one dish they always hit out of the park. Great wine list, as well, with quite reasonable prices and a friendly pour.

Discover more

Blue Crab and Corn Chowder

Duners Restaurant

4.7

4.7 (2136)

$31 to $50

American

Charlottesville

About the restaurant

Duner's, brought to you by Ten Course Hospitality, is a casual fine dining restaurant located five miles west of Charlottesville in the village of Ivy, Virginia. Our menu changes daily, allowing our chefs to use the best ingredients seasonally available. We have an extensive wine list, a full bar and a very experienced service staff. Established in 1983, our goal has always been to serve great food in a warm and friendly atmosphere. Our portions are generous, our ingredients are the finest and we want everyone who walks in the door to become a regular customer!

Top review

Doug

Dined 6 days ago

Great drinks, exquisite food served by a friendly experienced staff. We had a completely beautiful time and were treated like old friends! I cannot wait to go back!!

Discover more

Popular dish

Pan Seared Beef Tenderloin

4.7

4.7 (133)

$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

Judi

Dined 4 days ago

Enjoyed the food-not much crab in crab soup, but good flavor. Spinach salad was ample and tasty. Large party next to us made it somewhat difficult to talk

Discover more

Experience

Sunday Sauce!

Maya

4.6

4.6 (1467)

$31 to $50

Southern

Charlottesville

About the restaurant

Maya is now accepting reservations from 4:30-8:30 Monday through Saturday as well as curbside take out orders during the same hours. Please visit our homepage to see our updated selections daily. Please call if you require a reservation over 8 guests. Seating preferences will be honored based on volume and staffing.

Located in the center of Charlottesville Virginia’s Midtown, MAYA serves dinner 6 days a week. Our “made from scratch” menu is prepared daily in honor of the Old Southern Kitchen.

Top review

Leigh

Dined on Sep 3, 2024

The food was divine. We had tables outside as nothing else inside was available- it was a little cool. The decor outside could be much better to match the standard of the food. Pork ribs were tender and succulent and the vegetables beans and mashed potatoes so beautifully cooked and seasoned. I left nothing on my plate!

Discover more

Popular dish

Pimento Cheese Fritters

4.6

4.6 (2463)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Charlottesville

About the restaurant

UVA Graduation Weekend: May 17-19: Please see experience listed below

Come visit and experience The Local!

We believe everyone should experience meals that feature delicately prepared fresh local ingredients in a great atmosphere. In our corner of the world, everyone's a Local. EAT, DRINK, & BE LOCAL.

Note that when selecting outside, you will be in a covered area.

Top review

Mary

Dined 3 days ago

We visited The Local upon its opening on a Sunday at 5pm. We dined outside where the street was quiet and the music at just the right volume to enjoy but not interfere with conversation. The meatloaf and tenderloin entrees were exceptional. We finished with peach cheesecake and a brownie sundae which perfectly completed our delicious meal. We were so excited to have found this restaurant and recommend it highly.

Discover more

UVA Graduation Weekend

Cafe Frank

4.6

4.6 (292)

$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

Lisavip

Dined 4 days ago

Always the best food and service. Delicious soup last night. Thank you!

Rapture

4.5

4.5 (215)

$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

Gabrielle

Dined on Aug 16, 2024

This restaurant was a pleasant surprise. We picked it for its gluten free options and proximity to a wedding welcome party we were attending after dinner, but it ended up being such a great dining experience! We ate outside for a great ambience and people-watching on the downtown Charlottesville pedestrian mall. The staff was very accommodating to our one year old, who loved his fish and chips kid meal. We also had the gumbo and the tofu banh mi sandwich—both so good! And maybe it’s just cause we hail from Colorado, but the iced tea was amazing. Highly recommend.

Explore Diners' Choice best of Charlottesville

Explore more Diners' Choice lists