I think this place is worth trying out. The portion sizes are decent, burgers are more then plenty and sides are plenty as well. They have large fry bowls for appetizers which are a great for sharing. The staff is friendly. Definitely a place to try. read more

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Carry out order review-(does not include a review of the interior or wait staff). CBB is a great place for a burger on Main Street in Charlottesville. We called to place our order, which included two custom burgers. Person on the phone was patient. Food didn't take too long to be ready and was well packaged. The quality of the burgers is high. They were cooked to our liking-mine medium well and hubby's medium rare. We thoroughly enjoyed our large, juicy burgers. Didn't try the fries, but I hear they are delicious. read more

Solid spot on the downtown mall to grab a burger and watch the game at the bar! Burgers were delicious and reasonably priced. Great selection of beers, ciders, etc. on draft. I came here on a Thrusday night with my fiance to watch football and had no problem getting a seat. Can't speak for other nights if you need a reservation or not. Overall, super chill vibes and would recommend for anyone trying to go out and watch sports in Charlottesville. read more

Saturday early afternoon (2:00) and there was a ~20 minute wait...they texted us when our table for 7 was available so we could walk the pedestrian mall while waiting. Great Castro-pub vibe just 5min from UVA campus. The burgers are really good! I had an 8oz. With sautéed mushrooms and onions with a side of onion rings. Cooked perfectly "pink". An array of burgers were ordered by the group and everyone enjoyed them thoroughly. For the kids they offer a 3oz or 6oz. "Double" which worked out perfectly for them...still a hefty burger that an adult cold enjoy. We'd definitely return. read more

Citizen Burger Bar - The burger bar baby! - Burgers Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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I love Citizen Burger! Primarily for its vibe and consistency - whenever I am downtown, or now in the Dairy Market, I know that I can rely on Citizen for a good meal. I usually order the fries and a grilled cheese. The fries are some of my favorite in Charlottesville with perfect seasoning and great sauce. The grilled cheese, however, isn't my favorite since the bread isn't really what I'd choose and doesn't do the delicious description any justice. But despite that, the energy and atmosphere is undeniable and I always know what to expect when coming here. read more

Took a friend from out of town in and as always the service was great, the food was delicious, and since they were on a wait they used the bar tables at the front and sat us there. It was perfect and my friend loved her first citizen burger! read more

Everyone and everything was amazing. Servers were attentive though it was so busy. The food was so amazing. I mention this place from time to time when someone wants a good place to eat. The restrooms were also clean and accommodating. read more

This is one of the BEST burger restaurants I have ever been to! The atmosphere was casual and relaxing. Our server was very attentive. When the food came, I was amazed at how good my burger looked! Not only was it juicy and absolutely amazing, but they donate to their local food community with the purchase! Cold beer, good music, and amazing food. I will be back! read more

Citizen Burger Bar - Public Burger - Burgers Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

We had been driving all morning to get to Charlottesville; drove to the Mall to eat lunch. We decided to try Citizen and were glad we did. We ate outside and our server, Mike, took our order right away. We shared the 1/2 lb. burger and we were filled up. The locally grown beef and the bun from the neighborhood bakery made a very delicious sandwich. We recommend Citizen Burger. read more

Have been here several times. Each time worse than the last. Will not go back. The burgers are always served mostly raw even if you ask and emphasize you want medium to well done. NO WAITER HAS EVER GOTTEN MY ORDER RIGHT. It's like they're anxious to get going and don't listen. I know everyone is short-staffed, but how hard is it to write MEDIUM on the order and NO ONIONS? Seriously. It's not rocket science. They are always short-staffed and turnover and service is bad and wait times and service are long and miserable. The bread was stale two of three times. Overpriced, and if you dine alone, forget getting any kind of service once your meal is delivered. Smells great, onion rings are great, fries are okay, but the dining experience itself ruins what might be a decent meal. read more

Burgers and fries were excellent. I like the booths. The beer selection was great. Great waiter

Ask fellow cville resident what the best burger place in town is and most will say citizen burger. I however wasn't as impressed by what they had to offer. I thought they were good but nothing out of the ordinary. They are reasonably sized and priced which makes it an attractive spot for a lot of the university students. Their fried pickles are good in that it's literally a fried whole pickle and not chips. read more

It's noisy and seems like it's always crowded so expect to wait for a table. It will be worth it. Burgers are great. Cooked nicely on brioche bun. Appetizer of Shishito Peppers and Fried Pickles are both great. If there's one downer it's the French Fries. A bit limp and soggy. Still, the burgers are worth the trip. Beer and wine menu is short but still has lots of good options. Prices are a bit high but appropriate for the food quality and service. If you're in Charlottesville and on the Downtown Mall and are looking for a good place to eat then give Citizen Burger a try. read more

Great service and customizable burgers. Good drink menu which offers a lot of craft beers as well.

Hamburgers are a way I judge a good restaurant. Every place has one, but not everyone should. Further, toppings can't hide bad beef- no matter how hard you try. We had two- the executive and a make your own. Both were flavorful and the toppings are amazing. The meat? The meat is local, grass fed, antibiotic free yumminess. However, it wasn't as juicy as I would have liked it. It needs more fat, was overworked, or over cooked (I ordered pink.) The toppings added so much luscious juice that it was masked, but the meat needs more ooze. The burgers were a 3. The sweet potato fries were amazing. My husband's normal fries were also delicious and well seasoned. We also ordered the beet salad which was phenomenal. If you like beets, get it. Share it. Love the yumminess of beets, candied pecans, apples and blueberries. It's big. We shared. It made me feel slightly less guilty about the burger I was about to eat! I might have given this restaurant 3 stars, but our service was exceptional. Service is important and this service deserved at least one extra star. I would have given 5 easily if the burger had been juicier. 4.5 is probably the most accurate. Worth a stop for sure. *tip- for lunch, get there around 11:30 or be prepared to wait! read more

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I always get the Hamburger Classic and it is very good, cooked perfectly (med.rare). Fries are divine!! Shishitos yummy (but too greasy for my taste). My only issue is that when I go there I am sure to have gained ten pounds in one sitting. But then that's my problem, not theirs. Just be prepared to not eat for a week either before you go or after. In the meantime throw caution to the wind and enjoy the All American great grease meal. Chow down! read more

The food was delicious. the salads were huge and very flavorful. the blue cheese could have been a little stronger . The burgers were cooked very well , we all had the beef ones. the additions we're so plentiful and made them taste great. The service was ultra attentive even though it was a busy night . all in all a very pleasant dining experience. read more

At the end of the day, $14.34 for a burger, fries, and a glass of water strikes me as too much (that's a $13 "classic" burger with tax). Yes, the quality of the meat is super. Yes, there was nearly 1/2 a pound of meat in the burger, and it was lovingly prepared on a brioche bun. Yes, the lettuce and slice of tomato were freshly cut. And yes, it was Tillamook cheese. I loved the fact that the fries were hand cut this morning, and fried in all-peanut oil. My server was friendly, the place was clean. But no, I'm not so overawed by the burger to go back. Sorry CB fans, but it isn't 5 stars in my estimation. $13 wasn't the cheapest option (see photos of the menu) of all the burgers offered, but if you want that custom burger on a bun with cheese, you will be headed to that price pretty quickly. read more

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Great Burger Restaurant hands down! The sweet potato fries.. AWESOME! Truffle Fries... AWESOME! Executive Burger... AWESOME! read more

Citizen Burger Bar - Burgers Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Once again, I want to start by saying that I am a pescetarian so the review is not for the burgers with meat. I ordered the Kinda Vegan burger again as I did last time, however the beet vegan patty was replaced by another non-beef patty made by a local place. The beet patty was still available, but I decided to try the new one. I got the Kinda Vegan burger as is according to the menu and it came out stacked high with toppings. I picked up the burger as one usually does and it just started to fall apart. It had too much on it to try and eat as a burger. I ended up cutting the burger and as my wife said it turned into to be a burger salad. Again, my previous review still stands, the bun is way too thick. The burger itself was good and the toppings were also good, but again it wasn't a burger you could eat as a burger which was disappointing. As far as the service we experienced exactly the opposite of the last visit, which was great the last time. The first issue was that he accidentally knocked over our water bottle which we up righted pretty quickly so not to spill too much water. However, it did spill enough water that it required cleanup. He never brought anything to clean it up, not even more napkins. When he did ask us if we needed anything or how we were doing, he did it while flying by to do something else. I don't think he even stopped at the table, just ran by. I'm keeping the rating as a 3 because my friends did say the burgers were good. read more

A but if letdown from previous visit. Truffle fries with aoli were best part of meal. Citizen burger was difficult to eat with tomato, lettuce, and sautéed onions maybe because bun was tough. read more

We had a great meal on MLK day, we got there around 12:30 didn't have to wait long for a table. tPros: local soured food, amazing fries Cons: finding parking , 2 person tables are small Would recommend and would go again!! read more

Citizen Burger Bar - Burgers Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Excellent burger and service. All four of us ordered different burgers. The fries are a hit as well. Nice environment inside. Next time we may eat outside in the mall area. read more

Came into citizen burger for a bite on a Monday. It is not understatement that citizen burger has one of the best quality/tasting burgers in Charlottesville while providing a lively environment and friendly serving staff. Parking is a bit difficult given that it is located in the downtown mall, however the area surrounding is very nice and upscale. Upon walking in the UVa game was on and there is a nice bar area. The food was delicious. I ordered the chicken burger which was served with fries. I had trouble finishing everything so I would recommend just getting an entree. I will definitely be coming back for excellent service and food! read more

Citizen Burger Bar - Menu - Burgers Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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First visit to Citizen Burger. Ordered the batter fried onion rings. The onion rings still had the skin on them. The fries were over cooked and the burger was okay. Not impressed. Service was good though. read more

Citizen Burger Bar - Onion rings cooked with the onion peel still on it. - Burgers Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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I happen to stop in CV on the way home, Worst experience I've had at a restaurant in a long time. Served luke-warm water the whole time, I don't know if that's for everybody, but on a hot summer day that isn't refreshing. My biggest concern was the server Ryan. Had a bad temper and when I explained how the grilled cheese was a cheese sandwich instead, not cooked. And the onion rings taste like water, he had an attitude thinking I wanted just a free meal but that was not the case. Went inside to pay and he told me we should tip well for taking 6$ off the meal. Do not go here if you want to be treated respectfully. Classic modern style restaurant, nothing special read more

I am a small business dude and try to support when I can. It's been really tough. I am probably going to have to stay in until I find acceptable service after this. We should have left as soon as we were seated when I saw ketchup on a menu. Ok it happens, it's a busy Saturday night. Check out my review of the Richmond location. Needless to say my wife got ketchup on her white sweater/blouse thing. When we got our burgers, they were cold. Maybe we got burgers that someone sent back??? My wife says that she got a small frozen pattie, like from McDonald's. Which was weird. I got a dried out, cold burger. Whatever lack of moisture was in them, was made up in the onion rings that weren't drained out of the fryer. That they forgot to put seasoning in the batter. So imagine flour batter with no seasoning. I would rate 1 but we absolutely love the place in Richmond. Ya are garbage after I told you the menu were dirty. Ya didn't even come back to clean the table. Which subsequently ruined my wife's blouse. I noticed the same level of dissatisfaction throughout the packed house. If you're a tourist visiting Charlottesville to see the leaves, do not go here. Make a reservation somewhere bc it'll cost about the same. Here's a better tip, put out a sign for us next time. read more

Wish there was a zero star option for Citizen Burger. Food was uncooked, and the waiter did not care. Lousy food, and poor service. Will not be back. So many options on the downtown mall, don't waste your money here. I'm generous with my reviews, history will confirm - but this needed to be shared. read more

Citizen Burger Bar - Would you eat this? - Burgers Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

I came here to meet a friend during their Happy Hour, then decided to stay for dinner. I ordered the stout off the menu (unclear the name) and it was absolutely delicious. The bartender was super friendly and helpful, allowing me to try different drinks off the menu and suggesting a few after understanding a better gauge of my taste. I will say, I was rather disappointed to note there was a significant lack of Bold Rock beverages. As someone who is coming from out of town, I would have been really excited to be served a cool glass of anything Bold Rock. I went to school in the area and that beverage is one of the things I miss most about the area. I am also a huge fan of the ambiance here, it resembles a wide, open, and almost industrial look with exposed brick and a very clear view of the orders coming hot out of the kitchen. Later, I created my own burger and tacked on the regular fries. The burger came with a huge pickle and traditional CB branding. The burger itself was delicious; I selected the multigrain bread and found that to be a lot in quantity. The ratio was a bit off but once I removed the top bun, the bread complemented the meat quite nicely. The fries here are amazing and are one of the dishes I will consistently order. The regular fries are great, the truffle fries are indulgent if that's the mood you are in. Next time: I'll stick to making my own burger, might try to bring my own Bold Rock or go somewhere after that has it, and select a different bread selection! read more

I actually ate here twice while in town for some training. The first time, I sat at the bar and the service was abysmal. Through no fault of his own, the bartender was swamped trying to get drinks to the wait staff as well as service a good sized bar crowd. So while he was nice and actually comped me a side order of fries, they really need to staff up (I realize it was during COVID but still) and management needs to be more aware. The food was just OK - I had the beet salad the first time around and it was delicious but a very small portion, certainly not a full meal by any stretch. The second time I had the veggie burger and it was a mess. The patty fell apart, the toppings were all over the place and the entire experience was pretty bad. I guess they don't get many non-meat eaters so it's no big thing. Either way, I like the ambiance and the decor, they just need to fix a few things with their service. read more

We arrived in town late one night and the restaurant was recommended for being open a bit later and for the food. My wife had an enormous salad and my burger was cooked exactly to order. There is a great selection of beers and the staff was excellent. read more

My husband and I ate here the other day. Their outdoor seating was full pretty much the minute they opened for lunch. At first we were told we'd have to wait about 20 min, but a space opened up and they hurried to accommodate us right away. So that was nice! The outdoor seating was a little close for my taste. The service was very good. Our waitress was friendly and fairly quick, despite it being busy. I ordered the Citizen Burger and a glass of rosé. My burger was good. And the rosé was ok. But, my husband had the Steakhouse Burger and raved about it! He said it was the best burger he's had in a long time, possibly ever! I was kind of jealous, as I felt mine was decent but just your typical bistro type burger. I'm having that Steakhouse burger next time. Haha He also got the Victory Sour Monkey beer which we both loved. They had a good beer selection both on tap and in bottles/cans. read more

I've been going to Citizen for about seven years now, and I keep coming back though it's been inconsistent. If you eat meat and cheese, it's good - try the truffle fries! The bacon! If you don't, it's less good. The fries are crispy and salty and kind of soft in a just-so way, and are served in a parchment paper silver cup situation. The most recent time I went with a friend and my partner. We ordered a chicken sandwich and onion rings, the mini burger of the day, and the vegan burger with vegan cheese/bun, lettuce, tomato, and truffle fries. The chicken sandwich was grilled which was unexpected and somewhat dry and not flavorful. The onion rings were cornmeal based, it seemed, and I left them behind though I'm an onion ring fiend. The fries were the best part. Citizen has a lovely outdoor patio and nice indoor ambience. Lots of local beer/drinks if you drink alcohol. I give Citizen four stars because it's generally good and good customer service on average, and a popular Cville restaurant. I'd recommend adding the Impossible or Beyond burger to the menu as an option, though it's nice to support the local No-Bull burger. Otherwise it's a bit of no-person's-land for vegans. read more

Stopped in before 21 Pilots concert, pretty packed, but seated quickly by an energetic and welcoming host. Waiter was there almost immediately, he explained the menu, answered all our questions patiently. We had a lot, have to make sure we get it right. I have to say we got it right, probably one of the best burgers I have ever had the pleasure of biting into, it was a mouthful for sure and messy, but soooooo good. The burger was cooked to perfection, the meat was delicious, and the toppings with the brioche bun just rounded this burger out to complete Zen. The pickle on the side was great, only complaint was the fries were lukewarm, but after taking a bite of the burger, forgot about the fries- in fact one of the rare times that I actually left most of the fries untouched. Next time (definitely a next time) will probably skip the fries & just roll with the Burger !!! read more

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Citizen burger was pretty good! The steakhouse burger was very juicy especially with the nice crispy touch to it from the bacon. I had truffle fries in addition to this. Honestly, the truffle fries were around 11 bucks, and not really worth. Fries were dry and the cheese was okay. The best thing I had at this place was the key lime pie for dessert. Looked like any other pie, but WOW the flavor really bursted and coated my mouth. Honestly the best key lime pie I've had. Apparently they receive the pies from a local farmers market vendor. May go again to this place but we'll see. Worth going to for at least a first timer. read more

Citizen Burger Bar - Burgers Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

This is my favorite burger joint in Charlottesville! This place hits the spot when I want a hearty burger to indulge on. Citizen Burger isn't your usual burger joint- it's modern and classy. I love the vibe of the restaurant and the decor. It's a mesh of a bar and a nice restaurant. This is a great place to go with a few friends. I wouldn't recommend going with a huge group because it'll take forever to get seated since the restaurant is always busy during prime dinner time and the seating is pretty limited for the high demand. I got the citizen burger and subbed in sweet potato fries (for a small fee). The citizen burger is a classic burger that you can't go wrong with. The beef is the best part of the dish. It's well seasoned and cooked to your liking. I usually get medium well and they cook it perfectly. The burger also comes with a pickle on the side. If you're here for the first time, I'd highly recommend ordering this burger! Citizen burger also has the best sweet potato fries ever. The fries are steak cut- they're super crispy and absolutely delicious. The sea salt on the fries complement the sweetness of the fries well. Citizen burger also has a great selection of alcoholic beverages. I came here on Cinco de Mayo and shared a jalapeño cucumber margarita with a friend. The drink was pretty good. It was sweet with a hint of spiciness from the jalapeño. Definitely check this place out if you're in Charlottesville! read more

Citizen Burger Bar - citizen burger with a side of sweet potato fries! - Burgers Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

I visited with my husband and father-in-law. Overall great food and great service! We thoroughly enjoyed our visit. We got onion rings as an appetizer that were amazing -- super crisp with lots of flavor, and burgers and salad the chicken on my salad was so tender that I didn't even need a knife to cut it. The waiter was super attentive and checked on us often. read more

Citizen proved to create a delicious, fresh burger made to order exactly how we wanted it. If you are not really into burgers, they do have other options, but also- note that this place really is all about the burger. We came during the summer and they were not extremely busy due to COVID. We enjoyed the location and quality of our meal. Prices are okay, especially for a more upscale burger bar (think casual urban vibe). Service was attentive and helpful. If you are in to big, thick, customizable burgers with quite the variety of topics- be sure to check out Citizens! read more

Citizen Burger Bar - Burgers Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

So good! The burgers were huge and were absolutely perfect. The meat was cooked exactly how it should be, toppings were plentiful and flavors were perfect. Burgers came with delicious hand cut fries and there were plenty of them. The service was friendly, restrooms were clean and atmosphere was great. Would love to come back again! read more

Woohoo this place is good! It's conveniently located on the downtown mall, which also makes it poppin. The wait was 45 minutes at 7:30pm on a Saturday -worth it- so we killed some time at another nearby bar (the wait ended up actually being an hour). We were sat right by the window and got to see the remaining peasants waiting to get seated as well. We immediately ordered the shishito pepper appetizer since we were starving and a round of beers. The food came out fast! We were left waiting for our drinks halfway through the app. Service in general was a bit slow, but they were clearly busy and our waitress had a section inside AND outside so she was running back and forth. As for the burgers, I was so excited mine came out PERFECTLY cooked- I felt like I found the pot o gold in beef land! I got the people's burger which was hefty and delicious. I'd love to try the burger with pork belly, but $21 for a burger seemed pretty steep! read more

Citizen Burger Bar - Burgers Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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