I was walking around downtown and looking for something good to eat, I walked past this restaurant a couple of times before I ultimately chose to come and have lunch here. The menu outside the restaurant helped me a lot in my decision. I went with the mushroom and Swiss burger( medium rare) and it was pretty good. Nothing super fancy and straight to the point. Good portion (burger size) for the price you pay. I was sat immediately when I walked in and the waitress checked on me often. Fast water refills and condiments when asked for them. I was in and out for lunch in no time. A good burger spot to come and check out. Not many choices for food in this downtown area but this a good one! read more

Good food and ample servings. The mini was actually the size of a regular burger at other places. Good service by our waiter, Mike. There are multiple TV screens around the restaurant with sports and a couple of other channels playing. read more

The food was better than I expected from what I heard from others and other reviews. We were here a little after the lunch rush and before dinner rush so the mood was very relaxing and not even loud. The only negative was Jules. We sat at the bar, and she was barely friendly, never checked on us, and seemed very short. read more

Citizen Burger Bar - Chicken make your own - Burgers Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Situated in Downtown Charlottesville abound with a multitude of restaurants/fun shops to satisfy your shopping itch / curious mind you will find Citizen Burger Bar. You can create your own burger or go with one of their menu staples. After carefully studying the menu we opted for Citizen Burger's marquee burger, "The Citizen Burger", donning the name of their restaurant. Citizen Burger - This burger did not disappoint. You can order the burger, red, pink, or no pink. I like it when a burger joint respects that burgers should not be overcooked and keeps it simple. We ordered the no pink burger and it still retained a tremendous amount of flavor. Ingredients - 100% grassfed beef, McClure swiss, black onion, garlic aioli, iceberg, tomato, CB brioche, fried pickle. Fries - Not soft and mushy but crisp and addicting like most fries. I try not to order fries too often as whatever portion size is given to me if fries are good I will finish them. These were no different but luckily I was dining with my girlfriend who split the burger and fries with me. Did not leave the restaurant feeling overly stuffed and was very happy with the entree, restaurant, and dining location. Trifecta! As always people SYOY!!! read more

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

The burger was super delicious and the staff were super nice and friendly!! Sat inside and AC wasn't too cold, kinda just right! 10/10 recommend to anyone whose craving a burger and needs to get out of the sun! read more

Citizen Burger Bar - American Classic - Burgers Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Food is good. Service is ok at best. They get overwhelmed very quickly. Atmosphere is also ok, music is fine. All all good place but not the best. read more

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

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Food was low key flavor less and it took forever. I got it Togo and it was late on a Sunday but I ate the fries hot, and those fries needed sum love, a lil s&p go a long way. I'm not even a big salt on everything person but can it taste like something? lol read more

Very good burger. Attentive staff. Outdoor seating was nice. Decent fries. I really liked how the burger was put together. Great toppings, nice size. My daughter got the citizens sauce on her burger, and she liked it. The only negatives were the tribe of homeless people that were loitering by the seating area. They weren't bothering anyone, but there was some odd behavior going on. The burger was grass fed, and I understand that it is healthier, but I felt like the burger would have been a 10 instead of a 7 if there was more marbling in the beef. Still a nice experience bonding with my future Cavalier! read more

To be honest we went to Citizen Burger because we were looking for a place to see an out of market NFL game on a Sunday afternoon. It did not disappoint in this regard, but we were *delighted* to discover the food as well!! grass fed beef, all the farm to table features, excellent list of craft beers, extensive bar, great service. Great meal. I had the Mushroom burger and a side of onion rings (best onion rings I've ever had!). My wife had some fried pickles and truffle fries with Parmesan. If I lived in Charlottesville this would be a "go to" for me. One of the better burger venues I've been to this year - read more

Citizen Burger Bar - Beer-Battered Onion Rings and Wild Mushroom & Swiss Burger. Best onion rings I've had! - Burgers Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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This place is overhyped and overpriced. $16 for a burger and fries. The burger was un-seasoned and not juicy at all despite being red (even though I ordered pink). The fries were bland and just tasted like potato chips. Wouldn't recommend. They do have an extensive beer menu though. Service wasn't too bad, but it wasn't good, either. read more

Lots of topping to put in the burger, but sadly the lack of seasonings slightly ruin it. You receive a decent size burger Also the burger and the toppings are overpriced for the flavor. You can't have the burger cooked to medium-well. read more

The staff is nice and the ambiance is fun. My bf and I stopped here for appetizers and drinks. We weren't fans of the cocktails or the cheese fries. The fries were overcooked and nothing about the cheese fries was amazing. It's just shredded colby jack cheese and jalapeños overtop of overcooked fries. The fries were difficult to pull apart, no cheese pull. We could have made this at home, better, and cheaper. read more

We had a good time at Citizen Burger Bar. We were seated quickly in the middle aisle, which wasn't as crowded being in the crosshairs of patrons and staff walking back and forth as we expected. It's a classic feeling bar/restaurant. My boyfriend and I both ordered the citizens burger, which was very tasty and piled high. And we did not expected the fried pickle on the burger to be a full pickle spear, which was really fun. read more

Citizen Burger Bar - Citizen Burger with fried pickle on top - Burgers Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Very good food and beer. Our waitress was very attentive even though it was super busy and we had to wait for a table. Great food, good portions. The only complaint would be that we waited 20 mins and right when we were called up a party just showed up and were automatically seated before us, we had to wait for them to be seated first even though we'd been waiting and they hadn't waited at all. Aside from that, wonderful experience with good craft beers as well. read more

Citizen Burger Bar - Little Bleu - Burgers Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

We usually like this place. The fries alone are worth the trip. But this time the service was pretty questionable. We had a few requests, like no onions on one burger, and then onion straws on another, and both were ignored. Requested a take out box twice and finally just went to counter and got one ourselves. The music was so loud that we could barely hear ourselves talk which meant a less than happy dining experience. Hopefully it will improve next time! read more

I got there fairly late into the evening rush and asked for a table for 6 outside. They told me that they can only offer a 4 top and a 2 top next to each other (no 6 top tables at all that we could see), or we can sit inside together. I chose inside, so we get inside and the place is blazing hot. I am actively fanning myself when the host says "oh yeah, I forgot to tell you the AC is broken." No big deal, we move outside to the 4 top and the 2 top next to each other. We push the tables together before a very rude and condescending manager lady comes out and explains to us that store policy prevents them from placing tables together. It wouldn't have been an issue if she had an ounce of kindness in her voice instead of a condescending tone and language. It then took us over 30 minutes to order, and we had to flag our server down to place the order in the first place. The shishito peppers and drinks were good. The burger was okay. Fries were subpar. Such a shame/: read more

Citizen burger is where ground beef goes pro. This is one of the best burgers in the South and if you ask anyone around Charlottesville where to eat this will likely be at the top of the list. Located in the pedestrian mall downtown it's perfectly positioned to start a night. They've done a great job preserving the brick and original materials on the interior. Of course the burger is the star. I've heard some reviews that it's under seasoned. I agree. And it should be. If doesn't need seasoning. The plain burger off the grill would be great. They use quality meats (or claim to and they taste good) and fire grill them right there. It's a perfect charred ground beef flavor. I ordered the steak house burger so that ground beef paired with crispy onions, bbq sauce, and a great bun to make quite a few delicious bites. The beer selection pairs well with the renovated downtown vibe and delicious burger. I thought I remembered them having a more elaborate beer menu, but it's been a few years. I was certainly able to find a couple locals I'd never tried before. read more

Citizen Burger Bar - Steakhouse burger and fries - Burgers Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Overall Taste and Cost This place was a good burger spot. The price made sense for the portion sizes given. There was so much food, I wasn't able to finish everything. The onion rings were the biggest l've ever seen. I will say the onions could have been just a tidbit smaller for my liking. The fries were the best thing I ordered. The burger however was extremely dry (kinda my fault for asking for well done!). I just couldn't eat it, it was the driest well done burger I have ever tried. Location & Aesthetic This place was located in a downtown "mall" like area. There were so many other places surrounding it. There was a nice outside seating area in front of the building. There were plenty of seats also located inside. Because it's similar to an outdoor mall the parking/ trying to find a park was a little difficult. Service was okay. Overall this is a place I would recommend and try again. Recommended read more

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The absolutely best burger in Cville! The number of toppings you can get on there is astounding. The French fries are nice and crunchy. The cb sauce taste like a mix of Mayo and ketchup Here's a tip: for more garlic aioli ask for it on the side instead of on the burger-they'll give you a whole scoop of it read more

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Nice burger place on main street in Charlottesville. Good selection of burgers and beers. Burgers were very tasty! Liked the family friendly atmosphere and the option to site outside. Would definitely return! read more

We ate here on a Monday night, and it was packed, which is always a good sign when trying a new restaurant. However, because it was so busy, the service was kinda slow. The burgers were definitely worth the wait. I ordered an American Classic burger with sweet potato fries, and it was great! read more

Citizen Burger Bar - American Classic Burger Sweet Potato Fries - Burgers Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

This is our go-to place when we're craving a really juicy, flavorful burger. They have several great signature options (my favorite is the steakhouse) as well as a section that allows you to create your own burger (which includes non-meat options). Service is always very prompt and pleasant. The place seems well-run, and staff seem happy. (Hope that's true!) It's a more casual, trendy vibe - last time I went, they played different sports games on the bar tvs with jazz music in the background, which was pleasant. Overall, this is a really great spot! read more

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

During my visit, Citizen Burger Bar is chill and doesn't feel stuffy. With plenty of seating available, I sit at the bar. Customer service is good; a very kind employee is very accommodating and helps me navigate a Vegan option well. I'm not really able to eat food out of a fryer though the fries are cut in house and taste like they receive a light frying more so than a deep frying. The salad tastes amazing (I eat a little before and after the Kinda Vegan Burger [which has a Vegan version with Vegan cheese]): I'm a huge fan of Balsamic Vinaigrette. I like the Vegan Kinda Vegan Burger though the burger starts crushing (perhaps because of my vice-like-grip from me not trying to let go of such a burger ). Overall, the meal is tasty. The establishment takes different forms of payment. read more

Citizen Burger Bar - Vegan Kinda Vegan - Burgers Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

I'm visiting Charlottesville for three days and on my list of restaurants and bars to visit is the Citizen Burger Bar. It's right on the main drag...the Downtown Mall on Main Street, a busy, very popular pedestrian walkway lined with shops, restaurants, breweries, and bars. I like the layout. Booths along the right side wall, and the bar along the left side wall. Also something that's very appealing to me whenever I see it, is an open kitchen, and here it's just past the bar. There are several TVs all on sports of course, the bar is very well appointed with a serious selection of liquors, and beers. My bartender/server was Ian, very outgoing and full of good information about the menu offerings and the ingredients that go into them. As much as possible is sourced locally for them. For my appetizer I went with a basket of onion rings, just turned out to be a very good choice. They were sat in front of me less than four minutes after I ordered them. No runts. All good-sized rings, perfectly cooked and hot!! As most places do they offered a house ranch dressing as a dipping sauce, but where most places these days are going with a Southwest sauce, Citizen Burger Bar goes with a housemade sweet BBQ sauce which was actually very good and a welcome change. For my Burger, I went with their namesake Citizen Burger. A large patty with just enough char, Swiss cheese, grilled onions, lettuce, tomato, and a garlic aioli, on a brioche bun. I substituted sweet potato fries for regular french fries, and I'm glad I did....the serving of fries is huge. The burger was huge and could have been a meal by itself without the fries. It was absolutely perfect, In fact there was so much food, I had to get a carry box to take back to my hotel for an evening snack. Through all of this, Ian was perfect. As I've stated in other reviews I like a server who is attentive yet not overbearing in being that way. Ian fit the bill perfectly. Thanks, good sir!! I can highly recommend Citizen Burger Bar, it pushes all the right buttons. read more

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These burgers are probably the best burgers in Charlottesville ngl. Burgers usually don't impress me. It takes a lot for me to be like "WOW!" But these ones did. I ordered the Citizen Burger with bacon and hand-cut citizen fries and split fried pickles for around $23 total. The burger is so fresh that it's astonishing. You can taste the quality of ingredients they use and how the flavors all mesh well together. The beef melts in your mouth and is extremely fresh. The bun is nice and soft and the toppings compliment the burger very nicely. My only caveat would be that the garlic aioli became more overwhelming the more I ate it. It started to make the burger less appetizing and was too much for me as I wanted a different sauce like sriracha mayo or any other burger sauce available. Additionally, the fries were way too salty--almost as if they oversalted them on purpose to make you full and sick of food. They were good but just overseasoned. I would ask them if they could go light on the salt. Overall, a fantastic burger joint that is the best in Charlottesville. Nothing will ever top this place for burgers, and for a late-night outing with friends or family, this place is a definite must. read more

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Came in here for dinner with some friends and ordered some beers, burgers and the shishito pepper appetizer. The customer service was great. They were super friendly and explained the menu very well. You get to customize your burger to the way you want it. The beef is 100% grass fed, or if you don't do beef, they have other great subs like chicken or plant based. The Shishito pepper appi6was delicious with a great dipping sauce. The decor is beautiful inside but there is also outdoor seating great for your furry friend. The beers were great. My executive burger, however, had the hardest melted slice of cheese I've ever eaten. The egg was overcooked, the pork belly was not seasoned and was luke warm, maybe previously cooked, and my burger had so much sauce that it fell apart. I would not recommend this $20 burger. My friend said their burgers taste pretty good. Overall, great customer service, Shishito peppers were delicious and beers were refreshing. read more

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Food quality is high and love that the beef is grassfed. The service was just very slow. They were packed so it might have been a function of being shorthanded. read more

Service was great and there's a really nice beer menu but the food was not that good. Our table started with onion rings as a shared appetizer. They were large and seemed homemade but had no flavor unless you dipped them in one of the sauces (which were tasty). Seriously, no sprinkle of salt, nothing, and really dark (overcooked?). They were just carriers for the sauce. As for the burgers everyone said the same thing- tasty but so messy things were sliding apart and separating. Also, the fries were similar to the o-rings; bland and very dark but we weren't sure if all fried items were served that way intentionally or just overcooked today. Everyone left food on their plates mostly because the sandwiches were hard to eat and the fries just weren't that good. Again, the service was great on a busy weekend afternoon but the food was far from impressive or worth the price. read more

Very reasonably priced burger place. The burgers are really good and the vegan burger was good also. Burger and fries were really fresh. Good service. We sat in the outdoor section for dinner- Dog friendly so we were able to bring the pooch. Would return. read more

I was in Charlottesville for one night only and was given a list of places to try by locals. I'm so glad I went with Citizen Burger Bar. The restaurant is kind of a dive bar but they have TV's and music. I went with a classic American Burger and it was delicious, and devoured. It came with a side of fries and a got the Beale's Peach Tea pale ale. It was a great combination. My waiter was super friendly and welcoming. I wish I caught his name but he was tall with glasses and we talked about the Windjammer in Charleston, SC where I'm from. Overall, great experience and wish I could have stayed in town longer to try more places. read more

I loved Citizen Burger! It's right in the heart of Downtown Charlottesville so the location is perfect. Indoor and outdoor seating us available. The cocktail menu had a good variety and they were all very creative. I went with the Citizen Burger and loved it! My whole meal was delicious and our server was great. The vibe inside was pretty cool-an upscale burger joint/sports bar. Fun place for a Friday night! I believe they have happy hour specials, but we were there after they ended. Definitely would recommend to a friend! read more

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Great spot for a quick lunch or craft brew! I stopped in for a quick lunch and the place was packed! For $12 they offer a "Mini of the Day" special aka "The M.O.D." which includes a mini craft burger with fries and a soft drink. Their burgers and dairy products are sourced locally from farmers and small vendors in the Charlottesville area. The bar and table seating offer great views of TVs from just about every seat for game days. My burger was great and service was pretty fast considering how busy it was when I first arrived! The M.O.D. during my Thursday lunch had locally sourced Pimento cheese and red onion with barbecue sauce. Everything was great! read more

Citizen Burger Bar - The M.O.D. (mini of the day); w/ Red Onion & Pimento Cheese - Burgers Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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The concept is there. But the execution is a little off. Took over an hour to get our burgers which weren't hot. But that's probably due to the staff being spread incredibly thin. read more

After visiting Ashland and Montpellier, we decided to check out Citizens Burger, and boy, those burgers are huge. Make sure you are hungry before diving in this place. I had the Citizens Burger with blue cheese (extra) and it was delicious the first few bites and it got overwhelming because the burger was on the big side. This is not a complaint on because I was aware that this place is known for that. A 3.5 for me, not for anything bad but because I still believe in my no. 1 burger, and until one tops that, 3 to 4 remains... read more

Citizen Burger Bar - Burgers Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Came here for dinner with a friend. Every time I'm downtown for dinner, I always notice that CBB is packed. The burgers were good but not amazing. I like that all the ingredients are fresh and locally sourced. I also really like the fresh-made and hand-cut French fries-- they tasted great. The inside of the restaurant has an industrial and casual bar atmosphere. And they also have a good amount of outdoor seating. We shared an order of the Beer-Battered Onion Rings. The portion of the onion rings was large and could satisfy at least four people. The onion rings themselves were standard, and they were accompanied by basic barbecue and ranch dipping sauces. The American Classic lived up to its name. It tasted like a classic and well-prepared American cheeseburger-- good but not amazing. The Citizen Burger was more delectable than the American Classic in my opinion. The black onion and garlic aioli made it stand out a little bit more as a signature burger. But like the American Classic, it was just good and not amazing. I appreciated the branding on the bun of the burger. Overall, Citizen Burger is a solid burger spot in Charlottesville. The portions for everything were great and I left feeling full. I recommend making reservations in advanced for the weekend or being prepared to wait for a table. read more

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

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They didn't know a concert was playing 1/2 block down at the Jefferson and were not prepared. Kitchen did a good job but there was only bartender at a very long bust bar. Hamburger and chicken sandwich were very good, perfect rings and fries. Outside staff was very good, appreciated everyone's patience. read more

I got the mushroom and Swiss burger which was HUGE. Got it as a lettuce wrap with fries. The lettuce wrap was legit like half a head of lettuce - which I was happy about because it was able to hold the burger. Burger was cooked to my liking and was tasty. The fries would have been so much better had they been freshly fried. Service was not as attentive as it could have been since it was busy. Not a bad stop for a burger - at all. read more

Citizen Burger Bar - Shroom & Swiss lettuce wrap - Burgers Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Let me preface with the fact that I haven't been able to eat beef since 2015, and yet I keep coming back here. I have been going to Citizen burger for 9 years and they have not skimped on quality or radically changed the menu in all this time. Before my allergy, I indulged in their beef burgers (so tender), but I have had both their veggie, turkey, and chicken options and have loved every meal I've had here. The turkey burger is well-seasoned and never dry (I've had a lot of turkey burgers in my life). The fries are delightful and are not too greasy with the perfect amount of salt. If you're a pickle fan, the fried pickles are spears and not chips, so they are the ideal fried pickle form. Servers are always nice, they do not take reservations so be conscientious if going at a busy time. read more

Citizen Burger Bar - giant Crispy Fried Pickles and local beer - Burgers Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

A very nice burger bar in downtown Charlottesville Virginia. It's definitely geared towards the college crowd, this is a UVA town , so it's loud and they have multiple tv screens by the bar showing the games. They have a nice beer (craft) and cocktail menu. We were hungry and ordered a Caesar salad and the Onion Rings. They came out quick and both were devoured by me and my son. I ordered the People's Burger and it was stacked high, maybe too high. It was cooked perfectly and seasoned just right. I had to eat it with a knife and fork. Overall it is a really cool place on the mall in downtown Charlottesville. At this time they do have outdoor seating. read more

Citizen Burger Bar - People' Burger - Burgers Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Great burgers. It's been a few years since we've been here. It has changed -- and that's a good thing. Food is great. Service is nice. Fried pickles are amazing. read more

Citizen Burger Bar - Southern burger and sweet potato fries - Burgers Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia