Hamiltons' At First & Main

4.8

2349 Reviews

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Make a reservation

2 people

Jan 15, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 22 times today

Good for special occasions
Charming
Neighborhood gem

Contemporary Fine Dining in Charlottesville, Virginia Located in the heart of Charlottesville’s Downtown district, Hamiltons’ is the perfect spot for a delicious afternoon lunch or a romantic evening dinner. A cheerful, cozy atmosphere and attentive service ensure our guests enjoy an outstanding dining experience, be they Charlottesville natives, out-of-town visitors, or University students and staff. We also feature outdoor patio seating seasonally, providing our guests the opportunity to dine amidst the bustle of the Downtown Mall.

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Contemporary American, American
Hours of operation
Brunch Sun 11:00 am–2:00 pm Lunch Wed–Sat 11:30 am–2:30 pm Dinner Tue–Sat 4:00 pm–8:00 pm
Phone number
(434) 295-6649
Website
http://www.hamiltonsrestaurant.com/home.html
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Business Casual
Executive chef
Hunter Harding

Location
101 West Main Street, Charlottesville, VA 22902
Neighborhood
Charlottesville
Cross street
1st Street
Parking details
None
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

Popular dishes

Vegetarian Soup of the Day$6.00
ask your server or give us a phone call to find out the soup du jour
- Cup$6.00
- Bowl$9.00
Blue Crab and Corn Chowder$9.00
with bacon and chives
- Cup$9.00
- Bowl$12.00
Meadows Pride Farm Lamb Meatballs$13.00
in harissa sauce with crumbled feta
Crispy Fried Oysters$14.00
with a sweet cabbage slaw and Tobasco aioli
P.E.I. Mussels$15.00
steamed mussels in a vermouth broth with baguette
Stuffed Shiitake Mushrooms$13.00
with spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, local chèvre, Parmigiano Reggiano and chili oil

Salads

House Salad Vinaigrette$7.00
with house ginger-soy dressing, cucumbers, and tomatoes
Mixed Greens$10.00
with cornmeal-crusted goat cheese, spiced Virginia pecans, sun-dried tomatoes and ancho chili vinaigrette
- HALF$10.00
- WHOLE$14.00
Fried Calamari$19.00
tossed in an herb dressing with marinated tomatoes and olives, pickled pepperoncinis, and arugula

Entrees

Shrimp and Grits$31.00
shrimp poached in chardonnay and lemon with Woodson's Mill creamy grits, smoked Roma tomato confit, and fresh arugula
Vegetarian "Blue Plate" Special$24.00
ask your server for today's special
Fish of the Day$31.00
Pan seared Rainbow Trout with Creole wild rice, saffron stewed Hakurei turnips, and an ancho aioli
- Market Price$31.00
Pan-Roasted Jumbo Lump Crabcakes$36.00
over herbed basmati rice with sauteed spinach, and remoulade
Wild Mushroom and Herb Ravioli$30.00
with Italian sausage bolognese and shaved parmesan
Polyface Farm Pan Roasted Chicken Breast$32.00
with roasted butternut squash purée, honey glazed brussel sprouts, and a maple vinaigrette
Grilled Local Dry-Aged Beef Tenderloin$42.00
with New York sharp cheddar and red potato gratin, roasted broccolini, housemade steak sauce and crispy leeks
Grilled Bone-in Pork Chop$32.00
with bacon braised green cabbage, crispy parsnip ribbons, and local apple butter

Desserts

Gearharts Fine Chocolate Flourless Chocolate Torte$9.00
Pumpkin Pot de Crème$8.00
with cinnamon streusel
Trio of Granitas in a Brandysnap Cup$7.00
Mini Local Apple Pie$9.00
with Caramel Sauce
Local Vanilla Ice Cream$6.00

What 2,349 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8

4.8 based on recent ratings

4.8Food
4.8Service
4.7Ambience
4.6Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Virginia
Contemporary American
Charlottesville
Best Overall
Charlottesville
Best Service
Charlottesville
Best Ambiance
Charlottesville
Best Value
Charlottesville
Good for groups
Charlottesville
Healthy
Charlottesville
Neighborhood gem
Charlottesville
Great for fine wines
Charlottesville
Great for outdoor dining
Charlottesville
Good for special occasions
Charlottesville
Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Hamiltons' At First & Main offers a delightful dining experience with "superb food and service" and a "calm and relaxed atmosphere." Known for its exceptional crab cakes and vegetarian specials, the restaurant delivers consistently "delicious" meals. The staff is "attentive and accommodating," making it a "go-to" choice in Charlottesville.

2,349 Reviews

R
Richard
VIP
Richmond
17 reviews
5.0
17 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Love Hamiltons, especially for Brunch. Start with the ham biscuits. They always have an excellent vegetarian soup too. I enjoyed the plump fried oyster salad, my wife had the quiche special and a friend had the eggs Benedict with smoked salmon. All of us were very happy with our choices. We must also mention the superb espresso martinis. Perfect way to start a Sunday.
Is this helpful?
F
Frederick
Richmond
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We four were celebrating two anniversaries, and received a special greeting from the kitchen staff on our desserts.
Is this helpful?
R
Rebecca
County Durham
10 reviews
5.0
10 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great dinner, great service in a space that seemed very private. Can’t wait to return!
Is this helpful?
E
Elice
New Mexico
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Such a delicious restaurant for a special occasion! Nice waitstaff, great table (we were seated next to a window where we could see the foot traffic on the mall), good food from cocktails to dessert. My favorite place to have an affogato. A bit pricey so my husband and I save it for a treat, this time it was our 50th anniversary. Couldn’t have had a nicer time.
Is this helpful?
C
Christopher
Richmond
34 reviews
5.0
34 reviews
Dined 6 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
A cold winter night at Hamiltons with friends. Very nice experience, good service from Damion and Paul. Had live guitar player which was nice touch. Good selection of food and attentive staff.
Is this helpful?
P
Peter
VIP
Raleigh
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Love this place. Early weeknights are intimate meals. Wife and I both had crab cakes. Agreed it may be some of the best crab cakes we have had. Paired really nicely with rice, spinach and sauce. One of best entrees in C’ville…..
Is this helpful?
R
Rosemarie
Richmond
14 reviews
5.0
14 reviews
Dined on January 5, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great place for brunch! We loved our meals and the service was wonderful.
Is this helpful?
J
Joakim
Dublin
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 3, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Great food and service. Calm and relaxed atmosphere.
Is this helpful?
L
Laura
Richmond
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 2, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Had a wonderful experience. While technically no "kids" menu, we were able to order a lunch sized entree for our child which was perfect. Wait staff super accommodating and friendly. Always love the vegetarian blue plate special.
Is this helpful?
M
Monica
VIP
Richmond
12 reviews
4.0
12 reviews
Dined on January 1, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
Our party of 6 enjoyed a lovely New Year's Eve prix fixe supper here. I especially enjoyed the beef tenderloin and the scallops. We appreciated the free glasses of champagne since our table was not ready, and we understood the need for the automatic 20% gratuity, but we were surprised that the gratuity was based on the AFTER tax total, not the subtotal--come on, management should know better. Not a big deal, but a little insulting since our subtotal as a couple was well over $300.
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FAQs

Hamiltons' At First & Main offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (434) 295-6649.

Hamiltons' At First & Main is rated 4.8 stars by 2349 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Jan 15, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 22 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Hamiltons' At First & Main

101 West Main Street, Charlottesville, VA 22902

Dining areas

Additional information

Cross street
1st Street
Neighborhood
Charlottesville
Hours of operation
Brunch Sun 11:00 am–2:00 pm Lunch Wed–Sat 11:30 am–2:30 pm Dinner Tue–Sat 4:00 pm–8:00 pm
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Contemporary American, American
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Business Casual
Parking details
None
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Hunter Harding
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.hamiltonsrestaurant.com/home.html
Phone number
(434) 295-6649

Hamiltons' At First & Main

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

100 Virginia Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day

50 Virginia Restaurants to Connect In For Mother's Day

Fried Oyster Salad

Shrimp and Grits

Blue Crab and Corn Chowder

Soup, etc.

Vegetarian Soup of the Day$6.00

Blue Crab and Corn Chowder$9.00

Meadows Pride Farm Lamb Meatballs$13.00

Crispy Fried Oysters$14.00

P.E.I. Mussels$15.00

Stuffed Shiitake Mushrooms$13.00

Salads

House Salad Vinaigrette$7.00

Mixed Greens$10.00

Fried Calamari$19.00

Entrees

Shrimp and Grits$31.00

Vegetarian "Blue Plate" Special$24.00

Fish of the Day$31.00

Pan-Roasted Jumbo Lump Crabcakes$36.00

Wild Mushroom and Herb Ravioli$30.00

Polyface Farm Pan Roasted Chicken Breast$32.00

Grilled Local Dry-Aged Beef Tenderloin$42.00

Grilled Bone-in Pork Chop$32.00

Desserts

Gearharts Fine Chocolate Flourless Chocolate Torte$9.00

Pumpkin Pot de Crème$8.00

Trio of Granitas in a Brandysnap Cup$7.00

Mini Local Apple Pie$9.00

Local Vanilla Ice Cream$6.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

Does Hamiltons' At First & Main offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Hamiltons' At First & Main restaurant rated?

Is Hamiltons' At First & Main currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

Featured in

100 Virginia Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day

50 Virginia Restaurants to Connect In For Mother's Day