Chang Thai

•$$$

What an experience. By myself on business. Bar was full, or so I thought! Danny cleared a spot and…read morehad me seated in less than a minute. Which is also why, unfortunately I don't have pictures. This place is so on point with service. Danny making the drinks and his oyster shucker getting it done quickly to the back of the house bringing out my lobster bisque. Oysters were spot on. But the bisque. One of the best flavors. To Danny's credit I asked about the clam chowder or the bisque. He said they were both great but very different. Off his description I chose the bisque. OMG! With my issues I need to be safe and this was so good. The food, the environment, but most importantly the service was great. If you are here, sit at the bar and hope that Danny's there and in charge. He gets it.

Small restaurant with ample sitting outside. We did not have reservations but able to get outdoor…read moreseating. It is under a tent with fan blowing for hot weather. I got the clam chowder to start. I was not use to the sourness of the chowder. It was like someone squeezed too much lemon into the chowder. Not a lot of clams either. I would not say that is a New England Calm Chowder. For entrees, we got the Rockfish and fried oyster Po' Boy. The only miss on the Rockfish is the corn. They were not sweet at all so do not match well with the clams. The fried oysters Po' Boy has a generous portion of oyster and fries. The dipping sauce was really good with the fries. Only miss is the pickle onions is really sour. To end the night, we had the key lime pie. It is a good ending to the night. Interestingly, I had sour tasting in all my food.

Inside

Crispy Fried Fresh Calamari

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PFO Bloody Mary

Piers Seafood & Grill

4.0(22 reviews)

1.1 mi

Happy to have another seafood boil restaurant in C'ville, especially after Red Crab closed. I'm…read morehappy to report that this restaurant is actually BETTER than Red Crab was, with lot of delicious options. We got an order of crab fries, a boil bag, a fried oyster basket, shrimp po boy, and grilled chicken with rice and vegetables. Everything was delicious and the service was great! A fun spot for a special occasion - though you need to make sure you wear the bib aprons! Decor is still the same as when it was Plaza Azteca, but it works!

Hidden gem in Charlottesville. Was here in vacation and craved a seafood boil. Super impressed with…read morethe food we ordered. Reasonable prices for what you get. Ordered the family boil, Cajun pasta with chicken, and shrimp po' boy with Cajun fries. Everything was delicious. We compare to west coast boils and this was excellent! Servers were kind and helpful. Place was clean and comfor

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The Ridley

Flew to Charlottesville, Va from California, visiting my father. I had dinner at The Ridley this…read morepast weekend and had a wonderful time. Food was amazing. Lamb chops were cooked perfectly, the cornbread was so moist and flavorful, and the grits were the best I've ever had. Service was attentive and genuine. Angela, our server, was the best. I recommend The Ridley to everyone. Alexa R.

The restaurant had a nice ambiance and everyone was friendly. We came for drinks, but the bar was…read morefull, so we sat at a table. The food was okay.

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Mariscos El Barco

4.0(68 reviews)

An exceptional dinner. The subtle addition of lime in what…read morewe ordered made the difference. A need to "go back to" place. Couldn't have been more pleased.

ambiance 4 stars. service 3.5 stars. food 3 stars. drinks 3 stars. bathrooms (toilets that don't…read moreflush, sinks that don't work, ought to put them out of business) 1 star. Two 5-yr-olds running around stealing food from our table, 1 star. We won't be back.

Bar area

Ceviche & Margaritas

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Margarita

The Alley Light

4.3(346 reviews)

1.8 mi

I live in Los Angeles and dine out frequently. Visiting Charlottesville to see my son who is an…read moreathlete at UVA and I wanted to take him to a "nice" dinner after a big competitive day. First of all, I love the speakeasy style "alley" entrance of this restaurant. No signage and you'll walk right by the alley if you're not careful. Very cool. Second, once you're inside, the custom cocktails are amazing and the food is delicious. You order "tapa style" for the table to share and it all comes out as it may. I like that a lot, and it keeps dinner engaging and interesting. I enjoyed the chorizo and chickpea crostini, as well as mushroom crêpe and the beef tenderloin. My son's favorite dish was the pork belly. The simple salad had a tangy vinaigrette and was refreshing. Instead of cauliflower augratin, I was really envisioning a cauliflower scallop (potato) style dish, which I think Chef should consider. I feel if the cauliflower was scalloped and integrated with the cheese and cream in a way that would melt in your mouth, it would be more delectable. this was my second time here and I would come back again and again. I really love this place. Five star experience!

One of my favorite spots for a date night in Charlottesville. It's a small place, but we've been…read morelucky enough to grab a couple of seats at the bar most times we've stopped in. Cocktails are rotating and seasonal, but one of my all time favorites was the peach whiskey sour made with local peaches, and a coconut jasmine (gin?) drink that was the Dealer's Choice option. For a light app, I really enjoy the goat cheese and fennel. The ambiance is cozy and upscale, and the staff is incredibly attentive and knowledgable.

Tiny and stunning room.

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Grapefruit and Guava Soda and 1890 Absinthe Martini

Smyrna

4.7(124 reviews)

Went tonight with my daughter who is a total foodie! The…read moreservice was very personal with our server knowing every detail. The managing partner also came by our table very casually and friendly- I just googled their bios and its very interesting. So I wasn't sure I would like everything we ordered- I only wanted the beet salad. It was amazing!!!!!!! We also had the dip trio which I liked the hummus best with yummy bread. My daughter, her friend and her mom LOVED the calamari and said it was light and delicious. Lamb kebob was tasty. Desert chocoholic was scrumptious and the lemon granita was light and interesting with homemade cotton candy that we laughed looked like ratchet barbie hair but tasted so light. Absolutely delicious!

The good: The Manti dumplings, service, and cocktails…read more The bad: The market fish. Stay away from it. Worst fish and shrimp I've never had.

Bar

Meyer Lemon Granita (with strawberries and Turkish cotton candy)

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Manti Dumplings

Diilishus Fish & Chik'n

4.2(6 reviews)

Wish I Could Give More Than 5 Stars About a month ago, I…read morestopped in after picking up my mom from the train and ended up ordering wing dings and catfish -- and. Hands down, the best I've ever had. Everything was fresh, seasoned perfectly, and had that homemade touch that you just don't get everywhere. I told the owner right then and there I'd leave a review because the service was just as good as the food. We ended up talking for close to an hour -- he was genuinely kind, super humble, and clearly cares about both the food he makes and the people who walk through his door. It felt less like a restaurant visit and more like catching up with an old friend. If you're ever in the area, do yourself a favor and stop by. This place is the real deal -- good people, great food, and an experience worth sharing.

Dillishus fried chicken! Juicy, thoroughly cooked with a tasty and crunchy skin. Very nice people…read more I didn't try any of the sides, but I will next time.

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Orzo Kitchen & Wine Bar

4.2(413 reviews)

1.7 mi

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.

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Sedona Taphouse

4.0(863 reviews)

0.5 mi

Locally owned & operated

Gluten-free friendly

Really appreciated their expansive GF menu. Prices are high…read morebut quality is good. Service is attentive.

Food and service was great! Burger was juicy, the chicken parm was tasty. Server was super nice and…read morevery prompt, we never had to wait on anything. Restaurant itself was clean and comfortable. We'll definitely stop in again!

Allegash white from the tap

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Maya

4.1(411 reviews)

This was our second visit to Maya, and it continues to deliver…read more The meals are well thought out and tasty! The staff is incredibly polite, friendly, and knowledgeable. We are in a booth in the bar area this time. The sound was chill with guests relaxing at the bar engaging in conversations. We arrived before 6 pm and were able to order the $20 fried chicken dinner. It was like a country fried chicken with ham gravy and two sides. Very tasty and definitely a full size meal. We also had the trout, which was the thickest piece of trout I've ever had, and it was perfectly prepared. It also came with two sides, and I ordered the shaved brussel sprouts and roasted fingerling potatoes. Terrific!! Maya is a must do.

Great local restaurant serving southern cuisine in Charlottesville! The food was delicious and I…read morereally enjoyed the appetizers - especially the fried green tomatoes. I wished there were slightly more carrots on the heirloom carrots appetizer but I liked it overall. For entree, I got the cornmeal crusted fried oysters with my choice of 2 sides (Brussels sprouts and broccoli) - it was exactly what I wanted after a days hike at Shenandoah. The waitstaff were friendly and we were able to sit out on the patio since it waa nice early summer day. If I'm ever in Charlottesville Virginia again, I can't wait to come back here!

Things to do in Charlottesville

Pear jam cheesecake

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Anita S.

4 years ago

My new favorite place! Have been three times and tried something new each time. Delicious! Highly recommend. Very pleasant space and all three times was served quickly. read more

Luis C.

4 years ago

We stopped by on our way back from thrifting and the food was delicious. Highly recommend.

Chang Thai - thai - Updated September 2026

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Had a wonderful time at Monsoon Siam for dinner a few nights ago. The weather was lovely so we…read moredefinitely enjoyed dining in the patio area. Food and service were great, recommend making a reservation as it gets quite busy even on a weeknight. Plenty of vegetarian options, so I was in food heaven. I tried the SPICY CRISPY SEITAN BASIL, which did have a kick from the jalapeños, but was delicious and had plenty of fresh veggies. My husband enjoyed his panang curry dish and our friends tried the drunken noodles with chicken and beef. Food did take a while, but it was busy both outside and inside so we'll sort the wait.

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Excellent atmosphere, I love the art work on the walls and the dim lighting. As for the food, the…read morecrab fried rice was delicious and my boyfriend loved his pineapple rice with beef, too. Good sized portions. The custard was delicious. Server was attentive and pleasant as well. Would dine again!

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I had never experienced a bad pad Thai--until yesterday. The emptiness of this establishment…read moreshould've been a sign but I went in trusting my fellow Yelpers. Big mistake. I left with less money but the same amount of hunger because this food was just not good. The sauce in the pad Thai was vinegary and tasted anything but "fresh". More like store bought. The chicken was few and far between and just bland. The spring rolls were edible but could've been cooked a little longer. Service was prompt and friendly but I honestly question the glowing reviews because there was nothing authentic or remotely tasty about this meal. Hard miss for me.

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