Stopped in here for a late lunch on a Saturday afternoon with a group of 5. The place was a little busy but not packed. We were sat quickly but after that service was very slow and we barely saw our waitress. The food was great, I tried the mini smash burger with fries and both were flavorful and the perfect amount of food! As long as you have time to wait, this is a great place to stop in for a yummy burger! read more

everything was burnt, my son never got his lemonade that we paid for, I never got my sweetener, the fries did not have any seasoning, the onion rings were burnt and greasy, the burgers fell apart, and the atmosphere was not desirable. I would not recommend. read more

Such a fun restaurant! Location & atmosphere: The downtown mall area is so great and it definitely adds to the experience here! The restaurant is somewhat narrow but goes back so far. They have really large booths that are great for big groups but you still feel like you have your own space! Drinks/ food I got a bold rock IPA (local to cville). the cocktails are a little pricy at $14 but the beers and ciders are around $6/8. I got the citizen burger with sweet potato fries ($2 upcharge). Good burger but was a little messy and difficult to eat (the bun fell apart before I was finished with it). But overall good flavor and pretty good fries. My friend was gluten free, and they have a gluten free bun available for $2 up-charge. They were unable to make the fries gluten free because of cross contamination with the oil, but she was able to get a side salad; they didn't have any other gf side options than that. Not the best burger and fries I've ever had, but I really like this place for the atmosphere! read more

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

The service was great, all the servers were very nice. We loved the music playing, good playlist to whoever put it on. I got the grilled cheese- It was okay. It fell apart so maybe next time I try different bread instead of whole grain and there was a cheese in there that wasn't fully melted, just not the best. I upgraded to sweet potato fries (not pictured) and those were AWESOME with the garlic aioli dipping side. My husband got the chicken and he said it was very good and the fries were crispy. Overall I definitely suggest trying it out. We will be going back, I'll just be trying something different. read more

Citizen Burger Bar - Grilled Cheese #1 - Burgers Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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The only problem with YELP is the search function. For instance, I'll try to find a place that serves a chocolate malt and the results have to be sifted with a fine tooth comb. Lots of places that don't even serve shakes come up. Citizen burger was intriguing, with a significant volume of good reviews. The folks up front were very friendly. The place has the feel of an old pub. Ordered the steakhouse burger, onion rings and a lager. The burger was amazing. While tall, the bun was substantial enough to support the pile of ground beef, bacon, cheese and shoestring onions. The onion rings were unlike anything I've had before. Not coarse but smooth batter. The onions were done perfectly and surprisingly juicy. Beer was cold and refreshing. Bathrooms very clean as I washed up. Lots of screens, most above the bar. Natalie took my order quickly and efficiently. She checked on me regularly. Another great find. Thanks Yelp! Oh - even better! On my way out I let one of the hosts know I'd found the place through Yelp as I was in search of a chocolate malt. I asked, "Do you even have shakes?" "No. But right across the way at Chaps, you may find one. And there is another place nearby (I didn't catch the name of the business) it has a lot of old fashioned items." Very helpful recommendation. I did indeed have a great chocolate malt at Chaps! Thank you, Citizen Burger Bar! read more

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The food was actually edible guess it or not and you're never gonna believe this but the food actually tasted like food! Five stars much appreciate read more

We were so thankful to find this large, buzzy burger spot with plenty of TVs on the Downtown Mall to watch some March Madness! We had just eaten dinner, so we didn't order any food (though everything the people around us were eating looked delish), but they had a great list of beers on tap, and the bartender was super attentive and welcoming. Would absolutely come back to try their burgers and enjoy the atmosphere! read more

Citizen Burger Bar - Burgers Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

This is the second time I've been to this place and both times it disappointed - for the same reason. The bun for the burger falls apart so no matter how hard you try, you're eating the last bites of the burger with a fork. Also, the fries come in little tiny pieces - it's like they fall apart in the fryer. Pretty underwhelming place to have a burger read more

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 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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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

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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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

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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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

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

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

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

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

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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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

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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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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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

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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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 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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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

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

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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