Hadn't eaten at Aberdeen Barn in a number of years. We were surprised when we arrived to find the…read moreparking lot full. Found the interior to be nicely decorated. A bit on the manly side with a lot of sports memorabilia. Dress was very casual. Service was top notch. Waiters were all male and middle aged or slightly older. My wife and I shared a 14 oz ribeye steak. It was well prepared and had great flavor. We thought it was a bit pricey , but that's the direction restaurant prices are going In today's economy. The baked potato side that we selected was excellent.

This was our second anniversary dinner. More so would like to just commemorate this event with a…read morereview. Aberdeen barn will forever be a luxury eat out experience for me. Prices are high, food is excellent, and service has always been one of my favorites in the entire town. If this place was more affordable I would go more often. But I guess that would take away its special appeal.

I have been to the local twice both with very large groups. Both times it has been a private event…read morefor 50+ people. They do a fantastic job with large groups. Both times we had the entire upstairs reserved with a select menu. At my most recent event diners had three choices. Meatloaf, salmon or mushroom pasta. The diners in my area all choose meatloaf or salmon. Both looked great! Thank you for accommodating a large party and your great servers and kitchen!

Came here for our daughter's 25th birthday. we did have reservations and everything went smoothly…read more our server Claudia was very accommodating. We ordered as appetizers the Crab soup, Crispy Shrimp and the Bison tostada. The crab soup and the Shrimps were exquisite . The bison tostada was so so. For main course we ordered the Crab pasta , Bison short rib and the NY strip steak, all were excellent. for deserts we had the. bread pudding and the crème brûlée cheesecake. Once again everything was delicious..

Zocalo has been our go-to for celebrations for a very long time. Big party after our wedding 10…read moreyears ago, birthdays, etc. Last night, a big group of us got together to celebrate my wife's 60th birthday and Zocalo delivered once again. Our servers were super nice, attentive, and accommodating. They really made the evening special. I had the NY Strip, which was done just right. It was between that and the scallops, which are always great. My wife had an incredible halibut special. The fish was cooked perfectly and all the other elements of our dishes were very tasty. A few in the group had the shrimp risotto which is also an excellent dish. We'll be back (many more times); not just because Zocalo holds a special place in our hearts, but also because the food is delicious, the service is impeccable, and the atmosphere fits us well. We're already looking forward to the next time!

We visited the restaurant from out of town on occasion of our daughter's graduation from UVA. A $90…read moreprice fixed menu with a mandatory 20% gratuity regardless of party size...that's a lot, but perhaps not excessive if the food service and ambience merits a $90 per person three course meal. In this instance, it did not. The service was remarkably slow especially for a fixed menu. The waiter repeatedly apologized for the slow service but did nothing remedy the situation. Including not refilling water glasses during the long waits. We were a party of five and only one person was happy with all three of her courses. Whether or not the customer is in alignment with the chef is often a crapshoot, that is not my principal complaint. My complaint is the ambience and the service sorely lacked from what one would it expect for $90 a plate. There were sporting events on various television screens and patrons at the bar could've been mistaken for "Larry the cable guy". Now don't get me wrong, I like Larry the cable guy as much as the next person but if I'm paying $700 for a celebratory dinner for five people I don't wanna eat next to him in a sleeveless flannel shirt and trucker hat. Couple the diminished ambience with the remarkably slow service and color me dissatisfied. Their day-to-day service may be fine but the special occasion should be avoided. We will not be going back

I can't say enough about the food and care coming from this team of people. The historic and quirky…read morerestaurant has many great spaces, but I also hired them to cater my son's wedding and rehearsal dinner and was blown away by the level of service, attention to detail and care on both nights. Steaks, crab cakes, great appetizers, beautiful food and attention to dietary restrictions with very personalized service. When I'm back in Charlottesville, I know where I'm heading for dinner!

Intimate restaurant, in what feels like a restored barn, with absolutely amazing food…read more I came here with my fiance for valentines day, and we had a fantastic experience. Everything was to notch, from our very friendly and attentive server to all 3 courses of the pre-fix valentines day menu.

Nestled in the heart of Belmont, Mas is hands down one of the top restaurants for me. It resembles…read moreCharlottesville: filled with warmth, hearty, a community affair with locally grown and sourced food, tapas meant to be shared. If you are looking for a lively atmosphere for a date night or a night out with friends, Mas tapas is for you! The staff here is incredible; helpful with their selections and operates like a family. When introducing others to Charlottesville, this is my go to. I cannot even begin to unpack the vibrancy of the food. Anything with aioli is a hit! It's a reminder of the strength of the Charlottesville food scene. It glows with that warm, golden-hour energy -- the hum of conversation, the clink of glasses, the scent of garlic and olive oil drifting through the air. Every dish feels like a small act of intention. The ultimate real pleasure is the rhythm of the place: tapas arriving slowly enough to savor, fast enough to keep you leaning in for more; an atmosphere that manages to feel both lively and deeply relaxed. It's the true peak: a simplicity and richness; a love note in the shape of a restaurant. Must try: - Gambas à la Parilla - Datil Con Tocino -queso con marmelada -ensalada Lechuga -papas bravas

Celebratory dinner and Mas came up on a couple of "best restaurants" searches. This place was…read moreterrific. High end tapas...a little pricey, but also worth the price -- unique and creative dishes. The plates came in two sizes -- the regular tapas style and one that is a double portion for double the price. Menu is typewritten and presumably changes with frequency; we enjoyed the carne asada, lamb sliders, bacon wrapped dates, guisado, and a few others -- all delicious. Nice cocktail menu and some interesting (and unusual) wines on the list, both by the glass and by the bottle. The room is surprisingly informal -- bare brick walls, loud music, hip servers in t-shirts - so probably not the place for a business dinner. But for a splurge social occasion and a group that is good sharing food...five stars.

Cafe Frank is a little gem on the downtown mall. Superb cocktails, delicious and beautifully…read morepresented food and a friendly, attentive staff. The atmosphere is informal and relaxed. Great for a date.

Friends of mine have been raving about here for years. I finally had the chance to stop by and it…read moredidn't disappoint. I sat in the outdoor area on a nice day, with live music playing down the street. My server was quick to chat me up and give recommendations. I went with the mussels and a glass of happy hour wine. The wine was OK, but the mussels (and that broth!) were great. I'd have given it 4 stars, if not for the very attentive server. Totally worth a revisit.

What a great place that begins a few feet before you get to the door and the staff have opened it…read morefor you. When dining here, I enjoy the superbly prepared food, a very high level of attention and a cozy, classy and quaint atmosphere. The restaurant is small but the food taste is large. Before I describe my courses, there were many bonus bites, starting with an amuse bouche and then other small and wonderful taste surprises between the courses. Had the small, bite-size food gifts been a full course, I would have been quite content. For example, one plate of small tasty delights had 5 items to enjoy. That little dishes included quail egg, beet, steak tartar, stuffed corn cakes, avocado mousse and corn jam and some creamy pistachio. There was also the delicate and frothy egg yolk with a ginger and carrot salad. I was also given a surprise small portion of delectable soup, which was root vegetable-based with a truffle cream dollop on top. I enjoyed the carrot and rich parsnip flavors in that soup. Of course, there was some fresh warm bread with a yummy, garlicky butter. i had a glass of champagne whcih had a light, clean grassy taste with an nice acidic bitterness. My three courses on the Prix Fixe menu started with the Tagliatelle aux fruits de mer parfumee a la truffle. This seafood pasta dish, with a truffle accent, was a wonderful balance between the earthy flavor and the slightly sweet and perfectly-seared scallops. The next course was a Bourride de fruits de mer. This dish is a seafood stew in a tomato soup. As usual, the flavor combination is so sublime and so interesting on the tongue. The soup arrived with a slice of flavorful garlic bread, perched above the bowl which was holding fresh seafood on the surface. The final course was La bombe au chocolat. This is a rich dark chocolate and raspberry mousse in a deep hot chocolate sauce. Of course, the chef was so kind in sending out another bonus dish with a type of of kouign-amann, a wonderfully tasty lime tart and yummy chocolate truffles in the center. What a spectacular experience!

Our dinner at Fleurie was absolutely flawless. As someone dining with a friend who has Celiac…read moredisease, I cannot praise the kitchen enough for their incredible accommodation. They made her feel completely safe and included by providing an experience just as elevated and refined as the standard menu. ​We began with a beautiful progression of hors d'oeuvres and a silky lobster bisque, followed by perfectly seared scallops. For the main courses, the venison was tender and masterfully seasoned, while the lobster was a delicate and buttery triumph. ​The in-between courses really set this restaurant apart. We loved the thoughtful amuse-bouche to start and the chocolate pre-dessert that served as the perfect bridge to our final courses. We finished with a dramatic Chocolate Bomb and a classic Grand Marnier Crème Brûlée, followed by a lovely plate of mignardises to close the evening. ​Fleurie is the gold standard for French dining in Charlottesville. It is intimate, professional, and genuinely caring about dietary needs. This is a must-visit for any special occasion.

This hidden in plain sight gem is a Charlottesville must. From the moment you walk-in, you are…read moretransported to a magical experience that will charm you with every step. The drinks (Drops of Jupiter, what?!?!?) are so beautiful, fresh and fabulous that you'll wish you could have more than is advised. The crab toast will literally change your life! Fried chicken, hot sauce and radish salad that reminds you that you are IN THE GLORIOUS South, paired with the sommelier's choice of champagne is otherworldly. The grand finale: PRUNE cake (I know, I know BUT trust me) is atop the list of most divine dessert experiences of my life. The very best part though, are the humans taking care of you during your visit. Rebecca was positively radiant in her attention to our experience and made our night one we will be talking about for years to come. This sweet little romantic spot has all the ingredients for a special night out. Treat yourself, you're worth it!

Those of us who've had the privilege of traveling to actual "foodie" cities know that…read moreCharlottesville has been trying to join that list for quite some time. While there are a few scattered gems, most restaurants fall short of being particularly memorable. Aster hasn't even been open for half a year, and they're already meeting and exceeding expectations. From the moment you walk in, you can feel the difference. The space is small but thoughtfully laid out with comfortable seating and a cozy, relatively quiet, upscale (but not pretentious) vibe. The team is welcoming and knowledgeable, and they are happy to discuss dishes with you and share in the enthusiasm for the things that are currently offered. If you're a fan of craft cocktails, you're in good hands; the staples are there, but they have more creative, thought-provoking options than most other bar menus in this area. The chefs very obviously love what they do, because it comes across to the diners in what they create, first visually, then tasted; they put a significant amount of thought and care into the ingredients that they use, what they prepare with them, and how they plate and present each item. Aster is *easily* the best new restaurant in Charlottesville on every level, and we are lucky to have them. We can't wait to see what you do next as the seasons change!