Diners' Choice: Neighborhood gem restaurants in Charlottesville

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for the best restaurants that are the best neighborhood gems in Charlottesville? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

C&O

4.8

4.8 (848)

$50 and over

American

Charlottesville

About the restaurant

Dinner is served in our mezzanine, bistro and upstairs dining rooms, Tuesday through Saturday.
Reservations are for dinner only, please. Bar seats operate on a first come, first serve basis, and cannot be reserved.
We cannot accommodate parties larger than 10. Due to the layout of our restaurant, we are unable to accommodate pets on our patio.

Top review

MarkVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Our first visit to C&O in several years. It used to be one of our favorite C'ville restaurants and, after yesterday's dinner, that ranking hasn't changed. A spectacular meal. A great selection of expertly-prepared starters ("Did someone say 'sweetbreads'?") and mains. Creative cocktails and a well-constructed (and fairly priced) wine list. And an outstanding waiter who has worked at C&O for over 2 decades - a professional that makes a dinner at C&O the type of fine dining, yet relaxed, experienced that it is.

Discover more

Popular dish

Tenderloin of Beef

Popular dish

Duck Confit and Ricotta Gnocchi

Popular dish

Pan Roasted Scallops

Spoon & Spindle

4.8

4.8 (65)

$31 to $50

Southern

Orange

About the restaurant

Spoon & Spindle is located in historic Orange, Virginia in a nearly 100 year old silk mill. Spearheaded by Chef Zachary Andrews, Spoon & Spindle serves seasonal menus for brunch, lunch, & dinner as well as ever-updating craft cocktails, local wines, and unique beers. Our current menu includes fan favorites like the Cochon de Bon, a French Creole inspired dish. Our current Chef's Specials also include Steak Frites, Étouffée, Crawfish Fried Rice, and much more. Our popular brunch menu includes favorites like the Hangover Hash, Ham Benedict, Breakfast Fried Rice, Chicken & Waffles, and much, much more. Our unique menu, intimate dining room, and uber friendly staff keep our regulars coming back to see what we have on special each day.

Top review

Sharon

Dined 7 days ago

Once again the food and services were incredible! Our guests had the crab cake Benedict and the egg fried rice. My husband also had the egg fried rice I had grits with black angus beef. Each meal was fantastic!

Maya

4.7

4.7 (1505)

$31 to $50

Southern

Charlottesville

About the restaurant

Maya is now accepting reservations from 4:30-8:30 Monday through Saturday as well as curbside take out orders during the same hours. Please visit our homepage to see our updated selections daily. Please call if you require a reservation over 8 guests. Seating preferences will be honored based on volume and staffing.

Located in the center of Charlottesville Virginia’s Midtown, MAYA serves dinner 6 days a week. Our “made from scratch” menu is prepared daily in honor of the Old Southern Kitchen.

Top review

KeriAn

Dined 3 days ago

When everyone at your table is trying to decide which part of their meals they loved best (apps, entrees, sides) you know the food was amazing!

Discover more

Popular dish

Pimento Cheese Fritters

4.7

4.7 (2205)

$31 to $50

American

Charlottesville

About the restaurant

Duner's, brought to you by Ten Course Hospitality, is a casual fine dining restaurant located five miles west of Charlottesville in the village of Ivy, Virginia. Our menu changes daily, allowing our chefs to use the best ingredients seasonally available. We have an extensive wine list, a full bar and a very experienced service staff. Established in 1983, our goal has always been to serve great food in a warm and friendly atmosphere. Our portions are generous, our ingredients are the finest and we want everyone who walks in the door to become a regular customer!

Top review

Phil

Dined 1 day ago

Excellent dinner to celebrate a birthday! All meals were delicious especially the Brussels sprouts! Wow what flavor! Great service and a great evening!

Discover more

Popular dish

Pan Seared Beef Tenderloin

4.6

4.6 (221)

$30 and under

Southern

Charlottesville

About the restaurant

Rapture features playful, farm-to-table Southern cuisine in a swank-but-cozy atmosphere. We have outdoor dining, billiards tables, and live music several nights a week.

Top review

Michelle

Dined 3 days ago

Great food. Perfect for pre-show dinner (right next door to Paramount).

The Local

4.5

4.5 (2523)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Charlottesville

About the restaurant

UVA Graduation Weekend: May 17-19: Please see experience listed below

Come visit and experience The Local!

We believe everyone should experience meals that feature delicately prepared fresh local ingredients in a great atmosphere. In our corner of the world, everyone's a Local. EAT, DRINK, & BE LOCAL.

Note that when selecting outside, you will be in a covered area.

Top review

Beth

Dined 7 days ago

Excellent food! Excellent service I like how they have servers for clear dedicated spaces

Discover more

UVA Graduation Weekend

Forked on Main

4.4

4.4 (150)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Orange

About the restaurant

Forked on Main is a casual contemporary eatery, located in the historic Sparks building on Main Street in Orange, VA. Walk in the door and you’re instantly faced with the hostess stand and a decision – a fork in the road. Take a right and you enter a light-filled dining room that can seat couples, families or even private parties. Take a left, and you’re ensconced in the lounge, perfect for a casual mid-day coffee, a happy hour drink with co-workers or a night out on Main Street with friends.

Top review

pablo

Dined 2 days ago

Had a great dinner reasonably priced. And walked over to the bar for drinks dessert and live music overall great experience

Discover more

4.4

4.4 (94)

$30 and under

Pub

Charlottesville

About the restaurant

The Good Sport delivers classic tavern fare, local craft beer and a sense of familiarity in a warm and relaxed setting – the perfect pre- and post-game spot, or a reprise after a long workday. This gathering place serves up comforting classics, such as Wagyu Brisket Slider with hydro watercress, fresh grated horseradish crème and shaved onion, along with a classic Fried Chicken Sandwich, with kimchi slaw, chili crisp mayo and pickled cucumbers. A large selection of signature cocktails, as well as whiskeys, local wines, and other spirits rounds out the bar experience. Valet parking is available, free for the first two hours with validation. Street parking is also available without a permit after 5pm daily and on the weekends.

Top review

Andrea

Dined on Oct 31, 2024

Smash burger and fries were both fabulous!! Service was great.

Fig Bistro

4.3

4.3 (58)

$30 and under

Southern

Charlottesville

About the restaurant

Fig offers innovative southern cuisine with an emphasis on organic locally sourced product. Fig featuring vegan, vegetarian and gluten free dishes as well classic and creative New Orleans cocktails.

Top review

SusanVIP

Dined on Nov 24, 2024

After 3 years of going to multiple restaurants in Charlottesville, FIGhas become our go-to place for consistently GREAT food and service. Food Is Good.

matchbox Charlottesville

4.1

4.1 (197)

$30 and under

American

Charlottesville

About the restaurant

From its prime perch in The Shops at Stonefield, matchbox will delight neighborhood workers, visitors, and residents with a casual, welcoming spot for a quick weekday lunch, lively happy hour, bottomless weekend brunch, and dinner for both date nights and groups. Owned by Maurice Kelly, a technologist and former Navy Intelligence Officer turned restaurateur, Matchbox Charlottesville opens this winter, boasting artisanal pizzas, creative American bistro fare, and a come-as-you-are vibe.

A definitive element of the Matchbox dining experience is the custom pizza oven that fires up signature thin-crust pizzas within minutes, and its surrounding pizza bar that offers a front-row view of the action. The bar at Matchbox is a focal point of the dining experience.. Hand-painted murals from local artists add further context to the neighborhood, and bring in a touch of personality as well.

Top review

MaryVIP

Dined on Oct 11, 2024

We had a group of 8 in town for a football game. Matt was our server and did a great job. Three of us enjoyed a unique fig & black pepper old fashioned. Everyone’s food was delicious- fried shrimp, fish & chips, pizza, burgers (regular size & mini), salad, onion straws, salmon. We’ll remember it and hope to return.

Explore Diners' Choice best of Charlottesville

Explore more Diners' Choice lists