A cute place to hang out as a family, friends, on a date. I enjoyed a yummy vegan chocolate bar…read morefrom Mulberry and Spring and some hot tea. please give this business some love as it deserves.

This is our favorite place to be on a nice day and spend sometime relaxing at one of their outdoor…read moretables. We usually get their big board (charcuterie) and pair it with one of their wines. Never been disappointed by the food quality or amazing service. Has been and will continue to be our favorite place in Charlottesville's Downtown Mall.

As a four-time visitor, I've found that while the food here is consistently flavorful and…read moreinventive, the value proposition remains a mixed bag. This is particularly true for the wine program; for a venue with such a massive retail selection, the curated menu feels surprisingly stingy. I had high hopes for their Cheese Board, but unfortunately, it mirrored my general experience here: great flavors, questionable value. The Highlights: The presentation on the bamboo board is lovely. The bread was exceptionally fresh and flavorful, and the fruit accompaniments; Persimmon, guava, grapes, and strawberry, offered a bright, acidic contrast that paired well with the selections. The Letdowns: Zero Transparency: The cheeses weren't listed on the menu, and the server didn't offer any information on what was being served. Half the joy of a professional board is the "story" knowing the origins and profiles. We were left entirely in the dark. The "Bread-to-Cheese" Ratio: Most of the selections were hard cheeses, and the two soft cheeses provided were literally the size of a quarter. Every sample was sliced remarkably thin. While the bread portion was generous, there wasn't nearly enough cheese or fruit to sustain it. It felt less like a cheese service and more like a bread board with a cheese garnish. Bottom Line: The Crush Pad clearly has access to great ingredients, but the portions should be more than "tastes." I want to love this place, but the value for the price just isn't quite there.

There is elegance and comfort to be found in Crush Pad Wines, in the downtown mall in…read moreCharlottesville. They have an excellent wine selection with a knowledgeable staff to back up any questions you ask. I did not expect there to be a full kitchen, and was pleasantly surprised at the quality of food we ordered. The Mushroom Crostinis in particular played into the refined vibe the entire bar was giving off. A fun stop for a quick glass of wine, or a seated meal that will be accompanied by excellent taste.

Husband and I went here for dinner during our first night in Charlottesville. The pizza had great…read moretextures- thin crust on the bottom but bready at the edge, and the right amount of cheese and spicy sausage topping. We each got a pizza and were able to finish both since we were starving. We loved the pizza scissors! Our server was prompt, and we felt lucky to be seated right away on a Wednesday night. Their connecting bar was having a concert outside, with what felt like hundreds of people in attendance. We also learned that we could park in the industrial warehouse lot next door since it was after 5 PM. We'll be back!

SERVICE We came in on a rainy evening and were told the…read morewait might be about 45 minutes...and no space to wait indoors so we sat outside in the covered patio and they came by to let us order drinks as we waited. Thankfully, got the drink and were called in early about 15 minutes into the wait. That little surprise made things start off on a good note. Once inside, we sat at the bar since there weren't tables available and we were HUNGRY and cold! Even with the weather and a busy crowd, everything felt smooth and relaxed. AMBIANCE The place was small and cozy with a warm vibe that instantly made us forget the rain outside! The cool shallot-shaped lamps over the bar gave off soft light, making the whole space feel super calm and inviting. Sitting at the bar felt right choice for us for our first time -- close enough to the energy of the restaurant and people watching and seeing the pizzas get made but still comfortable! There's a soft buzz but cozy enough to chat and just feel at home. FOOD We ordered the Abruzzo pizza with beef and pork meatballs, fiore di latte, San Marzano tomato, basil, and pecorino. It was hearty and rich but still balanced. We also wanted to try the Prosciutto pizza, which was not the favorite but still good. The San Marzano tomato sauce for the Abruzzo was the star of the show. We were sad we didn't order another pizza with the tomato sauce to switch it up but oh well, another time right?! Loved the floppiness, the tomato sauce flavor, and the crust! Have to love the scissor-plate idea -- very clever and so easy. And size of these personal small-sized pizzas perfect for 2 people so we could have room for dessert and not have leftovers! We finished with the Zeppole "donuts" which were fried ricotta donuts tossed in cinnamon sugar with a hint of lemon (which I LOVED the lemon here and cinnamon sugar worked perfectly!). They were light, warm, crispy and just what you want at the end of a meal. The food was delicious, though definitely on the pricier side ($16-$18 each for the small pizzas, $9 for dessert. Still, everything felt thoughtful and worth it for the quality!

High end creative food with a not pretentious vibe. The miso maple salmon and the grilled pork chop…read morewith hominy and crimini shrooms are my fav mains. Multiple layers of flavor and all the right textures. Visually appealing on the plate as well. Solid cocktail list here. I'm a big fan that they go old school with a hot toddy. The applejack brandy added to that is a nice touch. Service is excellent here. Prices reasonable given the quality of the dishes. Will be back the next time I'm in town for sure. Take out orders here https://orders.cake.net/11301553 Reservations via Resy.

Walking up this place has great ambiance, perfect for a first date. The indoor seating was closed…read morebut the outdoor seating was great. The menu was quite promising. Ordered a cucumber chamomile gin and tonic, which left something to be desired. We started with the blackberry salad which on the menu said it also included avocado but there was none on the salad-despite this the salad was great. Our mains were good but not great. The biggest issue I found here was despite our server being very nice while ordering she NEVER checked in on us after anything arrived, never refilled waters either. So although she was nice the service was not good as there were times we wanted to order something else and one of the entrees didn't arrive as it was ordered but our server never checked in. All things considered I think I would only come here to grab a salad or appetizer.

I visited Ethos with my husband recently for a weekend lunch and had the best time!…read more Atmosphere: A very quaint and beautifully decorated wine bar vibe on the inside and a lovely patio with cute bistro lights on the outside. Everything was very chic and created a very charming afternoon. I loved all the little details like the cute glassware for drinks and individual glass teapots. Service: Everyone is so warm and welcoming here! Immediately felt like home and also attended to in every detail. Food and drink: Last but not least the food and drink here are so standout!! I'm a big tea lover and can spot high quality teas, and ethos selection does not disappoint. I had the hibiscus tea and mmm so good, and so good for you. Finally, the star of the show, the burger!! Yum! Truly best burger ever. It was so gourmet, with crispy edges, amazing sauce and a real juice to it. This place is the perfect place for a date or girls catch up over a delicious burger + tea/ wine! Can't wait to come back to try more things on the menu and 10/10 recommend the burger paired with a drink! Mm!

This is a completely adorable hidden gem for both wine and small bites. I hung out at the bar and…read morewent with the "Bartenders Choice" and was served a really interesting trio of wines that normally I'd have never tried but am happy to sample. Good service - check. I also loved the grilled cheese with a side of beans. I can't remember what they were, but dang they were tasty. It all went down well with a glass of local sparkling wine. I'd happily return.

A private dinner amidst endless bottles and endless knowledge of all wine. A wine store with…read morethousands. We tasted several reds and whites, all unique choices new to my palate. And double decanted reds, so ready to drink and fully open. The proprietor has a seemingly bottomless command of wines, vintages, palates, and the wine business. Our group had three options of entrees, duck, sirloin, and a wild-caught salmon. I saw nearly all plates cleaned. Certainly, the salmon was perfect, and a far (flavorful) cut above the typical farmed salmon we eat regularly. He was right to call it out as their pièce de resistance. And yes, a chocolate mousse that looked remarkably like... well, judge for yourself....

Came in here kindly and un-obnoxiously during posted business hours and couldn't even get the…read morecurmudgeon owner (Bill) to look up at me. He was not warm or friendly, just asked me what I wanted - wouldn't even give me the respect to look up from his computer screen. He didn't HAVE what I wanted but I would've been totally open to local suggestions. Was ready to spend money (as I always am on wine!) but totally reconsidered after the way I was treated. My mother had been a customer for decades so I never would have expected this. Well, he lost meand my loyal mother too.

Love this place. Second time back in maybe 2 years and I had to come back for the Peasant Beef &…read morePork Bolognese. Didn't disappoint, again! Our server was so nice. Food was great, so was the dessert. If I come back again, I'll be in for dinner.

AMBIANCE We came in with reservation for a dinner with…read morefriends one evening. The place is easy enough to get to and we found parking luckily on the street. We strolled in, gave our name for reservation, and were swiftly seated in the back of the restaurant behind the bar area. It was a comfortable setting for dinner with most of the dining room in a pleasantly quiet a bit dark in a warm way but good enough for conversation and relaxing atmosphere for chilling out. FOOD We started with the housemade rosemary focaccia bruschetta ($14), and were recommended to order two servings for our table of four... so we did. About 10 minutes later, the appetizer arrived and the focaccia was a nice way to begin the meal, and was surpised it wasn't pre-cut but it was fine to cut it at the table with the cheese and share...it tasted good but was not especially remarkable for what you'd expect (forgot to take a photo) For our entrées, we ordered the grilled branzino ($39)...a bit overly oily for me, the fish of the night ($39), coastal tagliatelle ($28), and spaghetti pomodoro ($23). The dishes were solid portion and generally enjoyable. I suppose I expected more of a WOW that I didn't get from the menu options or the service...probably didn't help we were seated next to a large and very loud group in the back. Overall, the food was fine and satisfying, though nothing stood out enough to make the meal especially memorable. We skipped dessert. SERVICE Service was acceptable and kept the meal moving, but it did not add much to the overall experience... Overall, this was an okay Italian spot with a comfortable ambiance and a solid selection of dishes, but it did not quite deliver the exceptional food or memorable experience expected from a well-raved restaurant that others had hyped up. I personally wouldn't visit this spot again in the area for Italian food, knowing that there are spots nearby with warmer service and more interesting menu options....so this rating is relative to those spots.

We randomly came upon this restaurant late at night after a Friday night concert. Only to realize…read morethe place was closing in 30 ish minutes. Upon learning that information we decided not to order any entrees, just desserts. The food was okay. The pricing of this place is insane. Service certainly didn't dictate this level of ambiance. But I would try it again. Hard to give it a full 5 stars when the food was just okay. But the drinks were excellent.

Tonight we had a party of 4 and they squeezed us in. We started with the Caesar salad , onion soup…read moreand calamari. All were excellent. For supper we had the salmon chicken and squash risotto. The chicken Marsala was great the salmon was good. The risotto was meh. Then we had the fried banana bread and vanilla ice cream. Wow get this!! Crem brûlée and raspberry mouse all good banana bread was outstanding. For a place that was established in 1996 I have to hand it to them for doing so well.

1st - Tavola is a nice venue. Quaint but spacious and comfortable…read more They stay open late and put no pressure to hurry. We arrived about 9 pm and were seated promptly. The 3 meals that we ordered were very tasty and served considerately with salads first and then the mains. Not all at once like so many places are prone to do. Bad Knock 1- Any quality establishment should offer Bread for the Table but Tavola charges extra for bread. Strange practice for a pricey menu. Bad Knock 2 - While we were greeted nicely on arrival our server was quite Curt and a bit Short with us during the ordering. This just makes for an uneasiness during the meal. Bad Knock 3 - This one borders almost as Unethical. Tavola has a policy of Adding a Mandatory 20% Gratuity to ALL CHECKS. Regardless of party size, solo diner or large party. When questioned, the server noted that it is stated on the menu. ( in fine print ). This practice seems very questionable and Tavoli should make the fact more obvious before the customer orders. JUST ANOTHER ODDITY for what otherwise seems like a quality establishment.

First of all, love the fact that they have a cocktail area where you can drink and have light…read moresnacks while you wait for your table. Their drinks were one of the best cocktails I've had. Food was good but the portions were on the smaller side. We were shocked that their branzino was only a filet instead of a whole fish. For the prices charged, we expected leftovers and we did not have any

Yes.... yes are you allowed to go into the Code Building. Once you walk through the doors you will…read morebe greeted by a great bar! The name is familiar because they are the sister spot of Milli Coffee Roasters. When I was there I had a GREAT belgian beer. They have a wide variety of things on tap and bottled beer as well. Is wine more your thing? They have that too. Coffee and espresso? Yup, you are in luck. They even have a great space to enjoy your drink in the lobby of the Code Building. Next time you are on the Downtown Mall, give it a shot.

This coffee shop is located in the gorgeous new CODE building at the end of the downtown mall. It…read morecan be found as soon as you enter the main entrance and has a sophisticated but approachable feeling to it. The baristas are behind a small counter to the right when you walk in and you can either get it to go out sit in the spacious community area. I ordered a hot coffee and sat on the couch to relax and enjoy! They have pastries and also wine/happy hour later in the day which I'll be back for!