A third review, after a long hiatus, with a large group. Busy busy on a Saturday night. And a few steps off from what a high end restaurant has or should manage. Some examples: -Before 7pm, the main entrée several of us has returned for was: 'we out of that'. How can a restaurant be out of its popular sought after steak be 'out' at the start of a Sat eve -the bartender seemed either overwhelmed or understaffed, and visibly relieved when, after 10min at the bar, near him, still unable to mix us two drinks, we cancelled and said we'd order at the table. And at the table, the arrival of drinks was... unhurried.. -never an offer of coffee or tea, just a single dessert delivered and done. There are other points, but this had a number of stumbles. At minimum, perhaps call ahead and make sure your intended menu item is available on the dining day- a defensive play to enhance success. Odd to say, but so. read more

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Their baguette was great! I liked the ambiance overall but the food was alright. The steak was a bit chewy but had flavors read more

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A popular spot for upscale dining! Cocktails were creative and fun. Ceviche was solid. The steak portions were a bit smaller than expected. Tbh the food itself is not very special, but the atmosphere and the interior design feel fancy and the location next to dairy market was excellent. read more

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A wonderful meal. Very surprised at how few people were in the restaurant, although it was a Thursday night. Everything was cooked to perfection and the staff was wonderful. They have music on Thursday nights and dance but that doesn't start until 9. Greatly enjoyed this restaurant. read more

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To start with the good. The food here is decent but the price makes it worse. The dining experience was pretty terrible. It took some time to get menus. And even more time to get water. The steak I ordered did not come with the right sauce, which is inexcusable for the price. We were not given steak knives and had to cut out steak with a butter knife. It took forever to get the check and be waited on at the bar. Wouldn't go back here nor would I recommend. read more

One of my favorites in Charlottesville! Everything I've tasted is so good. The grilled fish was my favorite. Love the food and the vibes here. Decorations are really cute and they have fun events like salsa nights. The servers are great too. read more

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Do you have any idea how good you have to be as a restaurant to force me to record an NBA Finals close out game...... So, this review is based on two visits, back to back, on a Thursday and Friday. First...Thursday. I was a little confused by the name....i often associated the words South and Central wit LA. Any fan of West Coast rap would think similarly as I do. But, I digress. Walking into the restaurant, you will immediately noticed the different decor and a "yes, I am hip" vibe. Some places try really hard to create this vibe and end up missing the mark terribly. When a place tries too hard it becomes obvious. This place nails it. The menu is not overly expansive. They seem to pick a few items and focus on doing them very well. Yet, there is enough variety to make sure that everyone can find something. For the appetizer we chose the grilled provolone. When the dish came out, it was right off of a "Top Chef" TV show challenge. The cheese was literally fire...and the bread was expertly seasoned and grilled. When a dish catches my palate the right way, I have to search on the web for a comparable recipe. I was AT THE TABLE looking for one I could make at home. The steak I ordered was a filet mignon. Mine was seasoned incredibly well. There is always a debate o we whether steak houses should season the meat. This steak answers that question. It was delicious. They give the diner a choice of sauces to go with. (They screwed up my friends steak temperature but re-fired a new one without question and took care of us accordingly). The asparagus was delicious also. The wine was great...the decor was great...the food was exceptional! At 9 or 9:30 PM on Thursday the place turns into a disco. No joke. You will have to figure that out on your own. On Friday, went back and had a burger. It was a top five burger experience ever for me. Juicy. Tasty. Enough of the right ingredients. I talked to the window expediter on the way out to let him know how great they are. This place is a must if you like steaks and great small plates. read more

South And Central - Filet mignon. - Latin American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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We love $10/$15 steak night at South and Central. It's affordable, flavorful and feels wonderful to go to a treat yourself restaurant and not feel like you're breaking the bank. We both got medium rare flank steak with a chimichurri sauce (this is so dangerously good) and a side of yucca fries. I love these meaty fries a lot more than potato! And if you love cheese like we do, you have got to get the grilled provoleta.. look at that PULL!! Service is polite and knowledgeable on the menu and wine pairings. The restaurant feels like Christmas. I don't know how to explain it but it's very cozy with pretty twinkling lights. read more

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Came here on a date and we decided to try their restaurant week menu. The restaurant is large, open, and spacious compared to most spots downtown. The food and cooking were awesome. The Pulpo Con Brasa (grilled octopus), Flank Steak, and Seared Rockfish tasted amazing. The octopus and flank steak were delicious and cooked perfectly. The rockfish was also seared perfectly to have a thin and flavorful crisp while maintaining a soft and juicy inside. The Lechuga Romana a la Parrilla (grilled baby romaine) was underwhelming. Although it tasted decent, the dish felt like two bites of lettuce covered in manchego and did not seem worth the price. I wish we ordered two plates of the octopus instead! For dessert we had the Alfajores. It consisted of a generous amount of dulce de leche sandwiched between two cookies. It was a simple and sweet desert-- good but not amazing. Overall, the food was cooked perfectly and tasted awesome. I highly recommend the grilled octopus, flank steak, and seared rockfish. I'm looking forward to coming back for these dishes and more. read more

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South and Central is one of my favorite restaurants in Charlottesville. The burger is my go-to, but I've yet to try a dish that I've disliked. The drinks are always top notch, and I love the decor and atmosphere as coral is one of my favorite colors. The bar might be my favorite area. read more

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Great spot with a Latin vibe. Area is nice with ample parking in lot next door. Seems like an affluent area. Lots of people out and good energy. Food had HUGE portions and was very tasty. Got a cool pork dish that was gluten free. Wine selection was also solid. read more

This food here is absolutely 5 stars. The decor looks like a fancy baby shower. The scallops appetizers were probably the best scallops I have ever eaten in my life. They had chunks of candied bacon in there but it was so savory at the same time. They were very pricy. 2 scallops were $22... but... would I get it again? Yes. The ceviche was interesting but delicious. The chip on top that you break apart was soft and stale a little bit but... with a fresh chip, that would have had a very high rating. They shrimp tacos, 10/10 the brisket dipping tacos, 10/10. The carrots had a flavor of something I've never had before and i want that again. Everyone at the table enjoyed their food. I wish I could have enjoyed my meal with them as well but they forgot me. When I asked the waitress where my food was, she told me I already got it. That was rude. They went back, found out the staff had thrown the ticket out because they thought they had everything made. They took it off the bill and made it to go but the biggest problem I had was that the manager just stood back and watched. Not once did he come over to apologize for their error. That poor customer service. For 6 of us, the bill was a little over $300. For an error that wasn't my fault, an apology could have been offered from management. Also, another thing that was kind of odd was that no one's food was bought out at the same time. One person got their meal then 10-15 mins later, the next person. We were there as a group. We wanted to eat together. read more

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Hands down, one of my new favorites! The service was spectacular and the ambiance very alluring with it's colorful decor. Although some items are bit pricey ie. The steaks, which don't come with any sides, the flavors are on point, meats very tender and well seasoned. Great location as it is attached to a fun little market with a variety of options; from bars, pizza joint, ice cream, cupcakes, Italian, Mediterranean, a coffee bar with a unique twist in its flavors and much more. read more

South And Central - Steak with chimichurri and chicken with plantain. - Latin American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Is restaurant exceded expectations. Everything was cooked to perfection and the service was absolutely spectacular. read more

South And Central - Decorations - Latin American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Always looking to try something new and on the lookout for a great steak, we gave this place a shot. First, most of the restaurants in town that profess to be of a certain ethnic origin, well the waitstaff and kitchen staff often reflects that, even in Virginia. I like the thought of eating a certain kind of food and my $$$ going into the community that style of food comes from. That is definitely not the case with this place. I get that is not important to many but I believe it is important the culture the money is being made off of, is getting money fed back into it, through its employees. It says South and Central American cuisine, but the employees scream white UVA students that have no idea about the culture this food represents. The owner calls this place his white whale, well his staff looks the part. Now on to the food. The appetizers were pretty good. We ordered the avocado salad and provoleta. The salad was great and the provoleta was good but difficult to eat. Then for the main course, we both ordered ribeyes and they were nice cuts of meat, had a great flavor and were cooked well. The sides are all à la carte and were a bit odd. My wife ordered grilled wild onions and I ordered esquites. The onions seemed a bit too charred and not much to them and the esquites is served cold, which I am not a fan of at all. We both got mixed drinks and I expect to taste the tequila in my margarita and there was not much there. This place was good but not for the price and not for the culture. If am just going to pay for a steak, Chop House in Harrisonburg, and Piedmont in Culpeper are both superior and at a fraction of the $$$. $240, tip included and we left feeling like we just had a regular ole steakhouse steak with leftover esquites, they pulled out of the fridge and served us. If you removed the central and South American names off the menu, you would just think it was another Virginia steakhouse. read more

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This dinner hit the spot. I got the 8 oz. ribeye with lobster tail. The meat was perfectly cooked and tender it's safe to say I devoured everything on my plate. To finish it off we got chocolate tres leches and alfajores also delicious and fulfilled my sweet tooth craving. The ambiance here was very nice. The restaurant has a really sleek, clean look to it! AlfajoresGrilled Steaks read more

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I came here with my parents who were visiting cville and the food and ambience was perfect! My steak was perfect and the sides were delicious. If you take any piece of advice, GET THE PROVOLETA! If you're a cheese and bread lover, you'll be in love. Thank me later. read more

South And Central - Latin American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

While staying downtown I walked to the Dairy Market one evening to give this place a try... First impression was that it was beautifully decorated and interesting! The staff was very friendly and helpful. I chose to sit at the bar and the bar is next to an open kitchen, which gives great views of the work being done in there! They have a very nice and unique menu and cocktail list here! The food all looked excellent and so did the drinks! I love a perfectly prepared caipirinha, so that's what I chose and they do a decent job with it! I saw yuca on the menu and really wanted it, but they said they were out on my visit, so I chose cauliflower instead and it was really nicely done! Had a perfect amount of robust spice and flavor! Too bad that I was only there to kill time before meeting coworkers elsewhere for dinner and I didn't want to eat too much, or I would most definitely have eaten dinner! I'll be back though and will enjoy dinner next time! Highly recommend giving them a try!! read more

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Stunning meal at South and Central. Was craving steak and was immediately sold when the server told us about the special: a 35 oz bison tomahawk. Cooked perfectly but massive, definitely to be shared between people! They paired it with five sauces that the chef chose and they were all fantastic. Also, the provoleta appetizer is a must. Beautiful setting and bachata night started as we were wrapping up, which made for a fun night! read more

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Drinks and food were delicious. The service did not feel rushed. A perfect spot for a girls night or a date night. read more

South And Central - This is the Paloma! - Latin American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Sooooo....where to start? Came here for our anniversary. Big mistake. Super loud especially because we sat near a large boisterous party. Almost asked to be moved to a different table that's how loud they were. Then find out that they are out of numerous dishes including the 2 appetizers I had been looking forward to trying. No salads or anything either. Drinks were good. Ordered ribeye and flank steak plus collard greens and fingerling potatoes. Steaks arrived with no sides. Halfway thru the steaks our collard greens arrived. Asked twice before potatoes arrived. Food was tasty. No complaints there. I don't even like collard greens and I thought they were good. Steak and potatoes delicious. Tons of flies unfortunately and we were eating inside. Our waiter was nice. Overall a lackluster anniversary experience. We will give it another shot and hope for a better experience. But I wouldn't recommend for an anniversary. Maybe a birthday dinner unless you want something romantic. If romantic is what you're after go elsewhere. read more

South And Central - Peacock drink - Latin American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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*Put a mental asterisk by the 4 stars because I finally got around to trying this place, but only for restaurant week! TLDR: I had heard a lot (too much?) about the steaks, but the real star of our meal was the seafood! Food: we both got the pulpo/grilled octopus for our appetizer and it was AMAZING. Perfect texture, lots of flavor, and we're both just huge fans of octopus. There was nothing bad about this, other than the fact that we both wanted more. For entrees, my husband got the flank steak, and I got the rockfish. Hot take, but the rockfish was objectively better than the steak, which was contrary to everything I had heard about the incredible steaks from this restaurant. The rockfish was tender, juicy, and packed a punch of flavor in each bite. The flank steak wasn't bad by any means and cooked right to medium rare but was a bit tough. It's definitely not the best steak I've ever had. For dessert, we both had the dulce de leche cookies which were a perfect little ending to the meal, simple and sweet with a great crunch and crumble to the cookie. The restaurant itself is so fresh and open on the inside. I love seeing an open kitchen and the bar is very inviting as well. Definitely a bit more upscale overall than your average dine in, but a great spot for date night and cocktails. The service was wonderful, from the hosts to the servers. Everyone was knowledgeable and friendly. read more

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This new restaurant is the star of the Dairy Market. Everything in the Dairy Market seems pretty new and South and Central is the only sit-down dining experience currently available. The service: From the hostess to the server, everyone was fantastic. Our water and wine glasses never went empty and servers who were not ours checked on us as they walked by. Plates and silverware were changed in-between appetizers and large plates. The food: - Anticucho (Grilled Beef Heart): 4/5 -Ceviche (mussels): 5/5 -Yucca Fries: 5/5 - Entrana (skirt steak): 5/5 -Rib-eye steak: 4.8/5 -Castillo de Cordero (lamb rib chops): 5/5 My favorites were the lamb rib chops and the ceviche. The ambiance: Perfect for a romantic date night or a fun girl's lunch or dinner, or a celebration with family. The volume is on the higher end due to the music and exciting vibe. Definitely a restaurant to wear that cute summer dress and wedges! They are still in the beginning stages of opening and working out kinks but they are doing a fantastic job. read more

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I've visited South and Central twice for dinner and have sampled most of the small plates and side dishes, which are universally excellent and unique. Even the dishes you don't expect to be remarkable will surprise you, like the wilted spinach in huancaina sauce (is the translation "heaven sauce"? it should be). The polenta: smoky and creamy. Baby romaine salad: artfully grilled and tender. My husband and I live only a couple blocks away, and we couldn't be happier to have this restaurant in our neighborhood. We hope it becomes a longtime mainstay of the Dairy Market building and we'll be visiting often, even if only for drinks or dessert. The service is warm and friendly, the atmosphere cheerful and laid back. read more

South And Central - Grilled octopus, wilted spinach, polenta - Latin American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Outstanding food and drink. Exciting menu. We enjoyed 32oz buffalo steak, mushrooms, appetizers, breads, sauces, wine and drink. Every piece of the meal was 100% perfect. Wine offering was superb. The best paired wine selections I've seen around town and authentic to menu. Service was over the top wonderful. Knowledgeable, attentive and charming waiter. Humble surroundings, beautiful people and proud Food ... my kind of restaurant. It was a pleasure to experience the rare restaurant that truly eared. Very very expensive. Parking is abundant and easy. They accommodate groups, reservations are a good idea. read more

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I was absolutely blown away by South and Central. I can't wait to go back. I highly recommend them. I cannot emphasize what a wonderful experience we had at South and Central. Joseph was attentive and ensured we had everything we needed. He and his staff were amazing. They were prompt, professional, and very friendly. The food is exceptional! You will be hard pressed to find better. It's just so unique. I loved that. My stew was fantastic. It was better then I expected. The pork was so tender it melted in your mouth and so did the black beans. The spinach was garden fresh. My daughter loved her burger but it was so big that she couldn't even eat 1/3 of it. She end up eating the almost 1/2 of it for dinner with the rest and of the yucca fries. My husband ate the rest at home. He was impressed. He is looking forward to going here in the future. The atmosphere is so relaxing and open. The restaurant is open concept. It's airy with plants and perfect for a gathering or just date night with your spouse. It was absolutely lovely for a Mommy and me luncheon. Joseph told me that the owner of South and Central owned other restaurants in town and I'm going to them next simply because this place was so good. Here they are: Whiskey Jar Revolutionary Soup Bebedoro Cafe Frank read more

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Great sit down option located in the Dairy Market if you wanted something more fancy. The restaurant is beautifully decorated with a gorgeous balloon arch that apparently changes every so often, and the place has a very cute: Instagrammable vibe. We sat at the bar for their happy hour and had a very attentive bartender and service. We were here on Monday, so opted to do the burger which was the special and enjoyed our happy hour margaritas. The burger was very juicy and super filling. The flavor was amazing highly recommend!! The margarita was beautifully made and very refreshing. They had a list of multiple different types of cocktails that also looked very good if I had the tolerance! Overall great place for a girls night/ date night/ week night. Can't wait to go back. read more

South And Central - Burger! - Latin American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

The food was great, the burger specials were delicious and inventive. The service was also pretty great though they seemed slightly under staffed for it being 1730. Live music played during the end of our meal and all in all it should have been a 5 star experience but unfortunately it was unbearably hot in the restaurant. It was hot outside, and inside there just wasn't enough air conditioning. It was uncomfortably warm to the point where my wife and I took relief in our trips to the restroom. MJ made some killer margaritas that helped with the heat though! Maybe another fan or something to circulate or just move the air would fix this; as for that being the only issue it's a great restaurant and you won't be disappointed read more

South And Central - Margaritas with my wife - Latin American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Tried South and Central for their $10 steak deal on Wednesdays. (Make a reservation, as there are a limited number of steaks!) We sat at the chef's table and the staff was very attentive. The provoleta was decadent, and the yucca fries were addicting. You can't beat this deal if you want a high quality steak for a great price. I also ordered a delicious margarita. The restaurant had a rustic, cozy ambience and the open kitchen design allows you to watch the chefs at work. I appreciate that they offer this weekly special, as I would not have tried this restaurant otherwise due to the high price point. read more

South And Central - Provoleta - Latin American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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The staff was rude, condescending and unprofessional. While the food was pretty good, we will not return because of the unwelcoming vibe.

I have never had food that left me speechless in a GOOD way but this meal did just that! All I can say is if you don't have a reservation made or have them penciled into to your schedule you're missing out on real food! That's my PSA! Thank you for coming to my TedTalk read more

South And Central - Latin American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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My friend and I visited here for lunch during burger week and we almost had the place to ourselves. Gorgeous ambiance and decor with lots of windows and a full size bar. They also have large tables and booths for special parties/events. It was a yummy burger with bacon, cheddar cheese, chipotle aioli, caramelized onions, chimmichurri on a brioche bun. We paid extra for the fries since it was burger week (you get the burger only for $8) but they were worth it! read more

South And Central - Ad - Latin American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Expensive but delicious. South and Central feels like a legitimate sit-down restaurant inside the Dairy Market which itself is a essentially a food court of local businesses instead of chains. Latin music played over the speakers for the duration of our visit, enhancing the atmosphere of the restaurant. We tried the grilled oyster mushrooms, wilted spinach, and provoleta. Everything was delicious. I was particularly surprised by the mushrooms because they were topped with a truffle sauce and I typically find truffle to be overpowering. However, the cook(s) did an excellent job at balancing the many flavors of the dish. I would recommend South and Central for a nice time. read more

My first stop in my Charlottesville burger week adventure, this was truly a treat and my first time going to South and Central. The decor itself along with a service already set South and Central apart, and the food lives up to the expectation. I'd describe their burger as a perfect burger - a great size, great seasoning, and even visually appealing. The onions and aioli really add a bit of zest to this dish. Their rosemary fries are delicious as well with a very flavorful hint of rosemary and a sauce that pairs very well with them. Looking forward to returning here for a special occasion! read more

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Went here last week for dinner - knocked my socks off! Food and service were fantastic, highly recommend!

Fantastic! Wonderful service! Thank you Aerial! Highly recommend the scallops, ceviche, Camarones and steak fritas!!! All phenomenal! Great space, roomy great for date or group. read more

Nice Ambiance. Provo let's was amazing, bread service good, and Lono Saltado well flavored. The macarrones had a little too much cumin for my liking but all of the food was generally good. Would come again and almost did the next day. read more

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Wonder flaming provolone cheese appetizer and Delicious perfectly cooked Flank Steak! Staff was friendly and my glass never went empty. Great for a date night. read more

South & Central has the best steak I've eaten in Charlottesville thus far. For pre-dinner cocktails, my friend and I both got a paloma and we agreed it was concocted perfectly. We started with the pulpo (octopus) appetizer, which was delicious and had a wonderful char to it. We split the 16 Oz ribeye, which was cooked to PERFECTION. It was huge, and we forced ourselves to finish because we didn't want to waste a single bite! The creamy polenta and wilted spinach were great pairings to complement the steak and round out the meal. The creamy polenta was to die for, I highly recommend it. Our waiter was attentive and friendly all night. This dinner will definitely leave a dent in the wallet, but is totally worth it. Great spot for a date night or fancy dinner out! read more

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My boyfriend and I stopped in here for the first time yesterday, not entirely sure what to expect. We got an app of the Provoleta and it had the most insane cheese pull I've ever experienced. The crispy bits were my absolute favorite, but combined with the bread it was just a fabulous way to begin. For our mains we both had steaks with the chimichurri sauce and it was unbelievable. The flavors we're perfectly balanced and a a certain smokiness really came through on the grilled steaks. It was phenomenal. Some of the best food I've had anywhere. It's not a quick in and out sort of restaurant so prepare so spend time, but the food is delicious and deserves to be savored so it's worth the time spent there. read more