I made a reservation one month ago for this restaurant and was excited to experience the southern cuisine. We were seated in the bar area at a dirty table. About 10 minutes after seating we were greeted by our bartender/server who said " sorry, usually they let us know if they seat these tables." Certainly didn't make us feel welcome and it felt like our seating was an afterthought despite me making this reservation weeks in advance. The jalepeno cornbread was fine. I wish I could tell you how any of the other food was... but after 45 minutes of sitting and not placing our entree order we lost hope and flagged down the bartender to pay our bill. What a disappointment to a highly anticipated weekend in Charlottesville. Would not recommend. read more

Recently visited the Ridley. The service was great! She was knowledgeable about the menu and could give recommendations. For starters, we ordered Brussel sprouts, deviled eggs, snapper bites, and jalapeño cornbread. Everything comes out in a small cast iron skillet except the fish bites. The fish bites include fried carrots and zucchini. Would definitely recommend. The cornbread is amazing! The texture melts in your mouth. Similar to a cake. The Brussel sprouts are topped with bacon and shaved almonds. If going for dinner right at 5, give yourself enough time to find parking. The parking there is $5. We were late for our reservation, but when I called they were very understanding. We parked on the street. The shrimp and grits were great! They were cooked just right. The shrimp were very large! It's a large portion. I originally asked for Bleu cheese when I ordered a salad. The salad came with ranch. The waitress quickly remedied this and bought a different dish. If you're in the area and looking for southern cuisine, I recommend trying. read more

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Decided to drive to Charlottesville for a girls trip and stopped in at the Ridley for dinner had the opportunity of meeting a worker there by the name of Savannah she was so polite, helpful explained, cheerful smile, and very polite was great. Having conversation with her. She definitely will make us decide to wanna come back. read more

Delicious options and Ellie wonderful service! I added salmon to my beet salad - wow such a perfect pairing. The salmon was cooked perfectly with a crisp top. My prospective college student sob gobbled up his chicken and waffle and added this to the pro list for why UVA is a good choice. My cousin had the penne pasta which was cooked perfectly with a light sauce which left her satisfied without pasta guilt! read more

The Ridley was always on my list to try. And it did not disappoint. While a bit pricy, you get everything that you pay for. The flavors are explosive in every aspect. Presentation was phenomenal. And this is an incredible place to treat yourself every once-in-a-while. I can not rave about this place enough. It was absolutely delicious, and I look forward to coming back and trying their other items. read more

The Ridley - Rib-eye - Southern Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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This restaurant is in an amazing area and has some really good history with all the restaurant got started. Parking was a pain. There's a parking garage directly behind the restaurant, but it's only for the hospital and we wouldn't have known that because the machine let us grab a ticket, but there was a guy that asked if we had an appointment lol. Then there's also a sign that says "restaurant parking" right up the street, butttt there is no parking lol it's all permit parking. So we found parking called (I think) "14 street garage", it was a 3-5 mins walk, not horrible at all. We weren't here for Sunday brunch, and didn't need a reservation. But it may be best to make one online if you have a big party. The staff was so friendly and they were all wearing mask. It was very clean and the decor was on point. The price point of the food is steep, so plan on spending money. It's very worth it though. We got deviled eggs, which I think was around eight dollars. Shrimp and grits which was $28! And French toast which was $16. We both had alcoholic drinks and ended up spending $86 (before tip) for two of us. But the food is so worth it. The flavors are amazing!! If you're a Natty Bo fan, they serve it here. I was very excited haha read more

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Shoulda went somewhere else, but it was across the street from the Courtyard Marriott and had a large crowd dining outside. Sat at the bar and looked at eh menu for 5-10 minutes with nothing looking good. Settled on a Grilled Chicken sandwich and swapped the fries for collard greens. Sandwich came with Mayo on it... Disgusting . Scraped off what I could and tried to eat it as I was hungry. Absolutely zero seasoning -no salt, no pepper, nothing. I don't even think it was grilled. Tried a bit of the collards and they were old and really shredded up. I love hot sauce, but someone had added some to this to cover how old they were. A 20oz Miller Lite (that smelled like a dirty dish towel) and a crappy chicken sandwich was $37. Run anywhere but here. read more

We had a reservation for 6pm but we're very thankful they were able to accommodate us an hour early. The staff was very friendly and the food was tasty. My only complaint is that our server only came to the table to take our order and drop our food. She never checked to see if everything was okay or if we needed water. This would've been more understandable had the restaurant been busy but we were 1 of only a few tables there at 5pm. Definitely worth a visit but I hope the feedback is received and they try to be a bit more attentive. read more

The Ridley is a moderately fancy establishment a little ways from the Charlottesville corner. The prices are high, but the food is pretty good. I tried the shrimp and grits, which were tastefully seasoned and very filling. read more

Update. The name has changed, but the game is the same. I reviewed three years ago as "Renewal," and now as "The Ridley." I realize that there has been a pandemic and that hiring/staffing/training are extremely challenging. But once again, if you're charging $100 for a meal, the standards are higher than that of Chili's, which by the way, is a far superior option. (Jokes aside, your money is better spent at C and O, Bizou, Crush pad, Ivy Inn, Tavola, Local, Tavern and Grocery, Bebedero, etc. etc.) Opening moment. I'm standing with my party of 15 are the host stand. A server (not eventually our server) informed me: "Get out of the way!" No please, no apology, no grace. By the way, the restaurant was completely empty at this point, and all other "nice" Charlottesville restaurants were entirely booked. I should have clued in at this point... The wine, beer and cocktails: Great, no complaints. The food. Two plates of RAW oysters came out that were *hot* to the touch. I've never seen this in all my years... I ordered steak frites (medium). The steak was bland, over-cooked and tasteless. The fries were mushy as if in a soup. I didn't know this dish could be so mishandled. My dinner mates had similar experiences with their entrees, and we tried to smile and enjoy the evening nonetheless. The decor and the outdoor seating are still fantastic. read more

After staying at the Draftsman, my friends and I travelled downstairs to restaurant connected to the lobby, The Ridley. It's safe to say that we're glad that we did. Their lemon drop martini's are to die for and paired perfectly with my steak caesar salad. My friend also thoroughly enjoyed the turkey club. Great ambiance and staff. Definitely will be returning when visiting again! read more

The Ridley - Turkey Club - Southern Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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We stayed at The Draftsman hotel which is attached to The Ridley. We had breakfast each morning we were there and dinner on Christmas Eve. Food and service were quite good. Staff were very friendly, professional and welcoming. All ingredients were fresh and presentation was visually appealing. Loved the small touch of real whipped butter at breakfast. Makes spreading on toast much wasie All in all a good experience. read more

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The restaurant was clean and the staff were very friendly. That is the only thing good about this place! WAY OVER PRICED FOOD! We paid 70 for 2 chicken dinners. The chicken was burnt and the serving sizes were small. One biscuit and a small portion of sweet potatoes and 2 stalks of asparagus. If you like spicy burnt food. Eat here. Could have gotten better food and cheaper food at Canes. No wonder the dining room was empty. Should have taken that as a sign. read more

Great food and service!! Went in for late lunch and the vibe was perfect. It's a very nice place that gets great natural light and has a chill ambiance. Walking distance from UVA. The french fries were amazing, and the Three Notch'd Ridley beer was incredible! I told all of my friends about the Ridley IPA. We absolutely adored our server, Anna. Super bubbly and energetic. She was friendly, attentive, and prompt. Will be going back for sure! read more

Another wonderful dinner experience. The service was wonderful from the start to the finish. The food was very good. We started with deviled eggs which were awesome. My nephew had Burger and fries and just loved it. I enjoyed the shrimp and grits which were different than normal, but were very good. It seemed to hint more towards the Cajun side than the Southern.. The sauce was dark and little more spicy. Great drinks and decent beer options. Some nice Southern style dessert options. We had the brownies which were wonderful. Overall it was a very tasty experience with great service and great environments. I will return. read more

Decent food. We sat at booth and had dinner at the Ridley on a Saturday night. The Ridley has TVs everywhere giving it the feel of an upscale sports bar. I tried the fried brussels sprouts (without the nuts), the scallops, and the cauliflower steak. The brussels sprouts were excellent and could not have been prepared much better. The scallops were tasty and seemed fresh but were very overcooked (the chef may have been distracted while cooking them). The cauliflower steak itself was tough, but not unappetizing. The fixings for the cauliflower steak were delicious however. Overall, the Ridley was pretty hit-or-miss for me as a dining experience. i don't think the Ridley is a bad restaurant, but there are certainly better options in Charlottesville. read more

As others have said, Sarah is the star of Ridley, her charm and mixology prowess are most impressive. Her drinks sparkle, unlike the mediocre fare and service that somewhat dims Ridley's overall shine. A visit is warranted for her alone - a true gem in an otherwise ordinary restaurant experience. read more

The bartender, Sarah, is great! After a few not-so-great encounters at this restaurant, she was a refreshing personality who provided great service!! Definitely promote! read more

The food was good and the service was great. Sarah was our server and she was very attentive and gave us some good suggestions to include brunch cocktail choices. Had the Cobb salad with grilled shrimp and crispy brussel sprouts. The salad was just the right size and tasted great. The brussel sprouts were good but a little sweet. Recommend this place for brunch and cocktails. read more

This review is heavily influenced by the price they charge for the food you're served. If this was an inexpensive restaurant, then the service and quality would be passable. However, nearly $100 for two people for dinner and the food was pretty sub-par. There's so many restaurants in the area with better food at a fraction of the price and significantly better service that it's hard to justify coming here. Beautiful restaurant that unfortunately doesn't have the quality or service to match. If you're staying at the attached hotel, take a walk a couple blocks in any direction and have a much better meal at a far lower price. read more

New owners really need to step up. Disappointed in Saturday brunch. Menu incorrect on at least one item. Slow service. Below average food: French toast not as menu states at all. Gumbo shrimp still had shells on them. Bloody Mary tasted of Old Bay and nothing else. read more

What an unexpected great meal at The Ridley! Although, the star of the show (unfortunately not pictured): the wings! I did not have any expectations so I was amazed. It has the absolute perfect crispy outer crust. The wings were so tender and delicious. We were in the mood for brunch. The french toast was the fluffiest and thickest I've seen. It has an interesting flavor because it is cereal crusted but I really enjoyed it! The strawberries were a great compliment. It was a really big meal which is enough for 2 people. If you eat slow it might get a little soggy and cold which is less enjoyable. The crab cake Benedict was also a great and filling meal. It wasn't as crabby as I thought it would be. But that was a perfect balance. The Ridley is located under a hotel, and so the atmosphere is an upper-end establishment. read more

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Love the atmosphere at The Ridley! Food is good but a bit pricey. The shrimp and grits are my favorite but if I'm just stopping in for drinks with friends then the cornbread is the perfect size to share. Sarah at the bar is so sweet and I love when she's there when I come in. Definitely give the restaurant a try! read more

The food was just okay. Staff was very sweet though and the place is very clean. Probably wouldn't go back:/

Food and service was great. Sarah was awesome and made sure everything was great. I will be back.

When in Charlottesville, this is my go to bar for an excellent drink and great service. Sarah, my fav bartender makes an incredible Grand Margarita and Old Fashioned. Always a friendly smile and a quick chat. Outdoor seating right on Main St if you like to relax and people watch. Be back soon Sarah, have me a drink waiting!! read more

The Ridley - Margarita Grand - Southern Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

This restaurant was amazing! We had fantastic service, everyone was very nice and accommodating. Our food was very very good. One of the best meals we have had in a long time. My husband had the Tomahawk steak and brussel sprouts. I tasted it and it was delicious. The steak melted in your mouth. I had the scallops with the crisp spicy grit cake and chow chow. I will dream about that meal it was that good. We did have reservations and at first it wasn't busy but it dis get more crowded when our dinner was almost over. I would def go here again. Highly recommend! read more

The Ridley - Scallops with spicy grit cake and chow chow! - Southern Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Review for drinks only: Enjoyed sitting at their light and airy bar (even on a cloudy, rainy day!) to watch some sports and enjoy a few drinks. For how expensive the food menu looks, I was happy to find a $8 pinot noir, which was very easy drinking. It was an enjoyable place to waste a few hours. read more

First time here. Ordered the ribs and they came out cold like they were just pulled from a refrigerator. Sent them back and after quote of a bit of a wait the server brought a new order out that appeared to be overly microwaved and chewy. Can't blame the server as he tried hard but the food was awful. Will never come back. read more

This restaurant was such a great find during our stay outside of Charlottesville! Amazing food, super courteous staff and a great atmosphere. I would recommend this place to anyone in the area. Our table split some of the tomahawk steak and it was cooked perfectly!! Would suggest the mac n' cheese and any of their apps as well. The owners were so kind and down to earth. Love this place! read more

The Ridley - Tomahawk - Southern Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

I enjoyed an excellent brunch a few Sundays ago and will return. The selection is bountiful with basic breakfast choices to entrees. They offer signature cocktails to accompany the deliciousness The Ridley Bruch has in store for you!! I highly recommend the Jalapeno Cornbread, French Toast, and a Mimosa for starters! read more

The Ridley - Brunch, Ridley style! - Southern Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

This food was very good. The pasta was awesome an our waitress was sooooo nice not sure her name. (Blonde hair) she made me an my moms bday so special. I would suggest the cornbread as a starter but don't share it lol. read more

The Ridley - Southern Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

I went here on Valentine's Day as it was one of the only places with reservations still available. It EXCEEDED my expectations. The food quality was great and the service was wonderful. In addition, the live music made it very fun to have dinner here. I would definitely recommend this for a nice night out. read more

1st time dining there. Service was great (thanks, Brandon). Drinks were strong (another plus) considering they're a little pricey. Brussel sprouts were very tasty! My Nashville Hot chicken sandwich had all the flavor and crispiness I wanted but the chicken itself was tough and rubbery. Hard to eat. Mashed potatoes were lacking flavor and texture seemed like they maybe sat out too long or under a hot lamp? Even so, I definitely want to try a meal there again as the atmosphere is gorgeous. read more

Called down from my room during a meeting needing a drink and Sarah(spelling?) was quick to the rescue and brought it promptly to my room!!! The drink was delicious. Thanks The Ridley and thanks Sarah(again spelling?)! read more

I was fortunate enough to have Sarah as my bartender/waitress and she was excellent. I asked her to make a different drink after I didn't care much for the menu one, and also had her heat up my gumbo after the waiter brought it barely warm. Not only was the gumbo excellent, the cornbread was delicious too! Super tasty food and I'd definitely recommend this place. She was attentive, quick and friendly! Great place overall! read more

I took my husband out to dinner for his birthday. We had such a great time. The atmosphere was lovely. Our server, Morgan, was top notch and did not skip a beat when it came to making sure that we were happy with our dining experience. And our bartender, TJ, was so professional and knowledgeable about our choice in Tequila for shots. My husband was very pleased. The food was delicious and the portions were big. There was no disappointment at all in our visit to the Ridley. My husband says that he wants to visit again soon. I agree! Bon Appetit! read more

Great atmosphere, fantastic service Chicken and biscuits, eggs Benedict, avocado toast, pork sausage, and Mac and cheese are all great options. Nice and close to the UVA grounds. Our go to place if we're not sure where to eat. read more

I stopped by for mimosas a few weeks ago with my husband and friends, the experience was great. Today was a completely different story altogether. I am staying here overnight and went down to the restaurant for a quick salad and a glass of wine. I waited at the hostess stand for several minutes and a young lady who was a server came up to the stand and asked me what I'd like to order, which was very odd. I asked her if I could be seated and she took me to a table. I then told her that I was ready so I ordered a glass of wine and a wedge salad then asked for a glass of water because I'm very thirsty. Then, I waited....another woman came out to bring me my salad, which was delicious. I told her that I had not gotten my water or glass of wine. She apologized and said that my wine would be comped, which was very thoughtful. I ate my salad and waited for 10 minutes to ask for my check, the server never came out of the kitchen. I asked another server if he would tell my server that I went out to the bar area with my wine and I'd like my check. I finished my glass of wine and still no server. I finally found her and asked her for my check. I did let her know that I was not satisfied with the service and she apologized. My take, don't come to eat at 2:15pm because you will be ignored. Sad, this is a beautiful hotel but I doubt that I'd ever eat here again. I gave 2 stars based on my last visit to the bar and that my salad was good. read more

We will never dine here again - the only thing the Ridley has going for it is the ambiance. It is a really nice looking restaurant - but this is not a quality restaurant at all. The service was honestly despicable. I will note we had a party of 10, but even the small tables around us were complaining, and the restaurant was not even busy. The bad service was very clearly an ongoing issue and unrelated to our party size. Our server was extremely slow and never bothered to ask if we wanted refills. The kitchen was also bad. Everyone's meals came out at different times, and took forever. We were there just over two hours but not because we were leisurely enjoying our meals - over half our table got salads and two others got sandwiches and one set of ribs. While I could understand the ribs taking some time, they were actually the first out of the kitchen. One salad didn't even come until after everyone else had finished. I personally got a Caesar salad with steak cooked med rare. The steak was more well done and the salad wasn't even tossed and the dressing tasted like it had gone bad. Also of note, several people got the same salad, but they came out looking completely different. For example - two people got the beet salad but one came out in a large bowl and had goat cheese and other little bits but the other was on a small side plate without any cheese or anything. Same with the Caesar salads - all the plates were different. By the end, we could not wait to leave. For an Autograph Collection hotel, this restaurant was an absolute miss. Save your time while in Cville and avoid the Ridley - there are plenty of wonderful restaurants with solid service and great food! read more