If you are looking for a flavorful and creative meal, this is your place. A friend and I shared an appetizer of calamari. Their dipping sauce was a garlic butter with horseradish. I had their rockfish with spinach gnocchi and bacon. My friend had their Ahi tuna with Asian flavored noodles. Both dishes were cooked well and had a lot of flavor, but maybe too many flavors going on. There was always one flavor profile we didn't like in each dish, but that is a personal choice. It is expensive, but the meal was definitely not boring! read more

Am sad to say that after 30+ years as a very delighted customer of Duner's I will not be returning. The new ownership has not kept to the high standards of not only excellent food but excellent service. I was "met" (not greeted) by a inappropriately, (somewhat) dressed hostess who denied us an empty booth stating that if we wished to sit there we would need to leave within an hour. Things became progressively worse after being seated elsewhere to be jabbed by a nail protruding from the chair. Drinks arrived tasting more like water than cocktails. Our appetizer of fried oysters was undercooked; the marinated lamb chops were almost raw and overly seasoned with pepper. My partner's pan-seared tuna entrée was as he called it a B-C grade quality of food. His side of broccoli was over-salted to disguise it's lack of freshness. Gordon Ramsey would lose his mind here. The only saving grace was our waitress Becky who has been a loyal employee of over 20 years. Her professionalism and attention to her customers is outstanding. Oh, and to add my partner and I noticed the familiar faces of long-time customers leaving without the usual smiles. New owners...you bought a reputation not just a restaurant! read more

With Duner's, it's all about the food. This venerable Ivy restaurant does not boast an elegant dining room. The casual wait staff does not fawn over or pamper its guests. And the kitchen abstains from over-the-top trendy creative culinary endeavors. Instead, Duner's focuses - and delivers - on sourcing outstanding ingredients and skillfully preparing confident, delicious fine dining dishes. Open nightly for dinner from 5 'til 10, Duner's consists of a main dining room featuring booths along two walls and four-top tables in the middle. There's a smaller dining room to the right. The décor and place settings are somewhat plain and Spartan but its comfortable nonetheless. The menu is created daily based upon the kitchen's ingredients and whims of the chef. It typically consists of nearly a dozen choices of both appetizers ($8 to $9) and entrees ($19 to $26). Vegetarian and pasta dishes are always offered as well as sandwiches ($11). The challenge is choosing among the wonderfully tempting and deliciously composed dishes. On a recent experience, we struggled mightily to select our meal. From the appetizers, we narrowed it down to a short-list of choices that included house-made gnocchi, grilled scallops, steamed mussels and tempura soft shell crab. We decided on the grilled scallops which were served with a basil and lime cream sauce. The scallops were expertly prepared: sweet and plump, well seasoned and perfectly cooked to an ideal consistency. Sadly, too many kitchens destroy this delicate ingredient through overcooking or allowing the just-cooked scallops to sit too long on the plate before being served, resulting in something that's at-best dry or at-worst rubbery. The dish was served with a sublime sauce whose richness and slight hint of citrus nicely complimented the caramelized, salty outer surface of the scallop. The same dilemma faced us for our entrée selections. In the running were crabcakes, soft shell crabs, snapper and beef tenderloin. Our waitress offered that the chef excelled at fish, so that helped to slightly narrow it down for us. My dining companion chose the snapper which was flash-fried whole and beautifully presented surrounded by pepper sambal (or relish). We tend to grill fish whole, so taking the flesh off the bone was not disconcerting at all. The fish tasted very fresh and the simplicity of the preparation allowed the ingredient to stand alone. The relish, was arranged along the circumference of the plate in alternating palettes of red and yellow - a beautiful visual rendering of summer colors. I chose the soft shell crabs which were - hands down - the best soft shells I've ever had. First and foremost, they were incredibly fresh, lacking that "fishy" taste one often experiences with soft shells. That's because it's difficult to get really fresh ones: it requires timing and precision from waterman to processor, distributor and chef. To be sure, the little devils must be eaten within two days of crawling out of its hard shell. Duner's sourced these crabs brilliantly. Not only were the crabs fresh but they were also prepared beautifully. Expertly flash-fried, still-crisp and, mercifully, not the least bit oily. The only other place in Charlottesville that has mastered frying at this level of sophistication is Bang! (at least the last time we dined there). The crabs were served perched upon a warm "salad" consisting of potatoes, corn and avocado which was "dressed" with a creamy herb and bacon sauce. The dish had the dichotomic distinction of being both delicate and decadent. Truly outstanding. Duner's offers a nice selection of beer, wine and booze. A rose, offered by the glass, paired well with our selections and its light hue looked lovely in the glass. We completed the meal with espresso which was strong but thankfully lacked the obnoxious bitterness of some shots. Duner's does not accept reservations, so pick the day and time you visit carefully. Or, stop in, add your name to the list and order a drink at the bar, or wait outside and make friends with others seeking a table. Dress is casual - you'll see everything from suits and dresses to jeans, shorts golf shirts and sundresses. At Duner's the food does the talking. Bravo! One of our best meals of the year! read more

My boyfriend and I went up to Duner's during a weekend trip to the mountains. Our waitress was nice and our food was wonderful. I had the brisket and my boyfriend had the catfish and they were both delicious. The reason for 4 stars is that I wish the restaurant were less cramped and that they took reservations. But, at the end of the day, it was well worth the close quarters and the wait, and we'll be sure to return on our next trip! read more

We were in Charlottesville for a concert and wanted to try something new. We got there when it opened at 5:00 and stood outside freezing while they messed with the thermostat for 8 minutes. I know it was 8 minutes because they saw us clearly through the windows shivering in the cold. The restaurant is very dark and we watched as everyone used their cell phones to read the menu. The food was good. But not good enough to warrant the high prices. Way over priced. My duck was good. My husband had the filet, it was under seasoned and kind of bland. Wont recommend it or go back. read more

It all works for me. The drive toward the mountains and country, the setting, the quaint and slightly dated interior,the server's knowledge of the menu, and a menu that seems to have been written by a local writer named Grisham. Each description leaves you wondering how you can forsake this option for another. This was my first dinner of sweetbreads. Given the choices and the chef's delivery on them, you are encouraged to take risks, and you never regret them at Duners. Come early, plan on desert. Sweet memories of a flour-less chocolate torte cake linger in my culinary distance. Literally 29 years ago - a dinner date in 1986 as a student. If a memory of cake last that long it had to be good. Going back in the years between has not disappointed. read more

Spouse and I went there tonight. I had the duck and spouse had crab cakes. Neither were very good. Spouse said their cole slaw tasted like unseasoned cabbage. My duck was chewy and tough, even though the menu said it was supposed to have crispy skin. Yuck. For the two dinners plus half bottle of wine, we spent almost $100. I would have gotten a better meal at the Whole Foods buffet table. Very disappointing and I don't recommend. read more

If you have two to three hours for dinner, then this is a great place for mediocre food! At least an hour to an hour and a half wait for the main course. The included salad is three pieces of limp lettuce drowned in dressing. Impossible to hear anything without shouting. There is a lot better out there. read more

Fabulous restaurant and destination spot if you are in Charlottesville. The chef was very accommodating to my vegan diet and made a special entree for me. They were very busy on the night we were in and our waitress seemed a bit stressed but in the end it all worked out. read more

duners is ridiculous, so good. they don't take reservations, so be prepared to wait... its well worth it. i always get their wine and butter drenched bowl of muscles, served with their piping-hot homemade bread. all entrees come with a salad - so i always leaved stuffed, a bit tipsy, and very happy. they have great crab cakes, rack of lamb, fish dishes.... everything is good. also, be sure to try their icecream sandwich, its big enough to split! read more

We moved to crozet a little over a year ago and have wanted to try this place ever since. We finally had a chance this past weekend and were not disappointed. The service was excellent and food even better. I would recommend making reservations if possible as every seat was taken the entire time we were there. read more

Beyond doubt , the best food in town! My first time there was a serendipity, but the great service and food makes me go back again and again. looks pretty ordinary from outside, and the interior decor is also not very impressive. But the great daily menu is an all star. Calamari, rack of lamb and duck breast are the best I have ever had! read more

FABULOUS! I don't think it gets much better than this folks. The service is wonderful and the food is excellent! Just make sure you get there when they open at 5pm or you most likely will have to wait as they do not take reservations. They also make very good drinks. The apps are all stand out. Some to try are: mussels, calamari, and the pesto flat bread is out of this world! My rockfish was seared perfectly served over mushroom risotto. We all were very pleased with our fish dishes, tuna, salmon, rockfish, and crabcakes. 5 stars!!! read more

Food was fresh and good. I ordered the Rockfish and it was delicious. My husband didn't particularly enjoy his side of potatoes but his steak was good. Other dishes tried by our guests was duck which was not particularly very good and the other guest complained of over cooked steak. Overall a good experience and wonderful atmosphere. I am willing to go back and try it again. read more

Disappointing, to say the least! On the other hand, maybe Duners was having a very bad night. It has been several years since we been to Duners and we were looking forward to a great meal. We use to receive good value for our money. Not anymore! Prices are at the high end and food quality/cooking very low. Our fish was over cooked, the steak kind of tough. Salads were just OK. Again, maybe just a bad night in the kitchen. read more

One of the best restaurants around. Understated atmosphere, great food, wine and martinis. I've never been disappointed.

Don't be fooled by the ambience. Its all about the food here. Seriously the best meal that I've eaten this year. I got the tenderloin in the oyster reduction. Delicious. It came on a bed of scalloped potatoes. Unbelievable. read more

What an amazing restaurant, every time we come here we leave happy. It's a delightful experience I love to bring my wife on date night because their menu changes frequently and they always have something new. read more

We make sure to visit this place every year when we are visiting from California. Great food and wonderful service. Their menu has great options and everything has been fresh! Don't miss the dessert menu - so good! read more

I live up the road and I would have moved here for Duners. They have really great food with an interesting twist. The staff is consistent, which tells me about the company. The owner lives nearby and he lives for his restaurant. I can see why..if I got to eat like that I would never go too far. read more

Hardly a month passes without a visit for sit down or take out. The place has been around forever -- and the latest chef is adding some interesting flavors to the old standards - fair amount of both asian and latin flavors The menu is more of less the same each night -- crab cakes, Salmon, some white fish, trout, chicken, duck, pork chop, ribeye -- but 3 or 4 times a week the preparation is changed. Desserts are great and the nightly wine specials are usually a good bet Prices have gone up recently... No reservations, so be prepared to wait. Its worth it! read more

My husband and I really enjoyed our meal at Duner's. The appetizers were very good. We each ordered our own and we DEFINITELY should have just split one because they are enormous. Big enough for an entree. As a result I was a little full by the time my entree arrived. My husband loved his steak with blue cheese and garlic glaze. I had the Veal and pasta dish which was good but had a little too much parmesan for my taste. It made the dish a little gritty. The service was excellent and accommodating. We would return. read more

My out of town friend and I went twice this week, thoroughly enjoyed both meals. We had the halibut, the halibut lobster cakes one night and the halibut lobster cakes and the shrimp pasta (with bacon!) the second dinner. Yum! Every bite was amazing! Salad dressing, grits, entrees and desserts. Great stuff! Thanks! read more

This place is absolutely fantastic. For dinner, the three of us had grouper, veal scaloppini with pasta, mussels and lamb meatballs. Everything was superb. For dessert we had their locally famous ice cream sandwich and happily divided it three ways - it was huge. I guarantee that that it will be the best ice cream sandwich you've ever had! read more

I really don't want to review this restaurant. Becuase it is my favorite and I don't want you all to come and make it impossible for me to get in! Everything (I mean everything) is unbelievably delicious. read more

We had family and friends visiting from Houston, a big foodie town. We all had a great time at Duner's with wonderful service and amazing dishes. Everything we had was delicious - from soup, to appetizers, to salads, and main courses. They said, "We definitely have to come back here next time we are in Charlottesville." Thank you DUNER'S! read more

Been going to Duner's for 20+ years! Truth be told, it was one of the first places I learned to love and appreciate well prepared food (other than Mom's, of course!), so it's near and dear to my heart. It was the first place I'd ever had a duck breast that was cooked beautifully on the inside (not overdone), but with a perfectly rendered crispy , flavorful exterior. After another visit while driving through town this wknd, I can say not much has changed. Duner's is neither fancy nor complicated.. just come and enjoy.. we lingered for multiple courses over 3 hours (including the duck.. of course!). I was torn between a four and a five for them.. it really is a wonderful place for just about every reason, but maybe just a fuzz shy of the statement, "best EVER". Can I give them a four and a half? read more

It is our absolute favorite restaurant. The food is amazing from the fresh ingredients in the cocktails, to the wine selection, to the homemade bread and salad dressings to the quality cuts of meat, and superb seafood. The desserts made by their pastry chef are incredible, too. Bob, the owner, and his staff are awesome. Reservations are recommended and can be made through Open Table. read more

Duners is a Cville classic. We love this place for special occasions especially Mother's Day. The service is always excellent, the vibe is nice, the wine is great, the soft shell crab is to die for and their pasta dishes are always excellent. Don't pass on the bread because it's the best I've ever had in a restaurant! Thank you Duners for keeping it consistent! Don't ever change! read more

I have never ever had anything other than outstanding food at Duner's. The service is friendly efficient and attentive. The menu is varied and the ingredients are fresh and prepared to perfection. I have never been disappointed. read more

What a unique, homey, spot - a mix of country, new-age, chic, family vibe. An upscale diner at it's finest.

Hand's down best restaurant in Charlottesville. It has that sophisticated southern cooking that I miss so much when I'm away from home. If someone is visiting Cville I always take them here. I love the ambience as well - it's small and cozy but loud. It feels like you're eating dinner at your best friend's house! I don't think they take reservations, so it's a good idea to plan on having a drink at the bar while you're waiting for a table. read more

This is one of my most favorite restaurants. The food is always delicious and the service friendly. The rock fish is amazing!

Menu changes frequently, excellent food. Service is always fantastic. It fills up quickly so get there early.

My first time back since 1989...still a good choice 30 years later. Good service and atmosphere. We enjoyed the dumplings as a starter as well as the salad that comes with the food. For entrees, we ordered the grilled tuna and the grilled chicken. Both meals had great flavor. My criticisms are the wine by the glass list and the bread. The Cabernet I ordered did not match the quality of the meal, it was underwhelming. The bread was generic, I would have liked to see artisan bread. read more

Duners's has been our favorite restaurant in the Charlottesville area for over 20 years. The food is consistently superior and the variety outstanding. Very few restaurants can offer so many menu options and do them well, but Duners's is one. Service is always friendly with many of the servers having been on the staff for years. Bob, the proprietor, is usually on site which no doubt accounts for the consistency. Also Bob always has a variety of interesting selections on the wine list and is happy to make a recommendation. The only down side used to be long waits for a table due to Duners's popularity but now they take reservations which is a big plus. We heartedly recommend Duners's. read more

A restaurant that knows what it's doing. For the fine food and service, it is money well spent. The seafood is among the best for a central Va restaurant. Gets pretty packed so plan ahead. read more

This is my 87-year-old father's favorite restaurant, and on my occasional visits from Chicago over the last 20 years we always go there. This is really good food, no matter where you're from. Creative, consistent selections with sizable portions. The best indicator of quality is the fact that more than half the wait staff on any given night has been there for more than 15 years. My dad likes to eat early, and the place is typically full by 5:30pm. read more

I've been to Duner's three times and it's consistently one of the best meals I've had. Most recently, I went last night for my birthday with my boyfriend. We had a great viognier, the gnocchi appetizer, and two entrees. He got the bacon wrapped chicken breast and leg and I got the trout. Both were excellent, but the chicken was particularly good. If you like bacon, you will love that dish. I go back to Duner's every chance I get! read more

Duner's idea of "casual fine dining" is fine-dining prices for C+ food in an atmosphere that's a little too casual: utensils are placed directly on the tabletop (at least, in the booths), and the service is erratic. There are always staff on the floor--adding to the crowding--but few of them are waitstaff, so the servers are often overtaxed. They are not well trained, and some of them have an attitude. Every time we have eaten here, we have had to wait so long between the removal of the salad plates and the arrival of the entree that when it comes we're no longer hungry and no longer in a good mood. The entrees are not worth the long wait. The chef should pay less attention to fancy garnishes and sauces and more attention to the flavor, seasoning, and timing of the food. Tonight, for instance, my husband's veal scallopine had obviously been plated 10 minutes earlier and then reheated in the microwave. The veal was too hot to eat and the breading was soggy; the fettuccine was dried out. My fried catfish was in better shape but it was not crispy, as described, and the tasso-tomato-mustard vinaigrette did not go well with the fish or the grits. Neither the veal nor the catfish had been seasoned. Duner's management would do well to hire a consultant to show them how to correct the restaurant's shortcomings. read more