If you enjoy Turkish food this place is one of our favorites. It's been our kids' first choices…read moresince they were little and has remained as such into young adulthood. Service is good and ambiance simple. Worth a stop just off the downtown mall.

I tend to go here with family when we visit Charlottesville and have other things to do in town…read more(catch a UVA game, movie, etc.). Even when they were very busy, the wait for a seat is rather short. It's mainly four-top seats but they can push together tables as needed. There's music always playing and not a lot of padding to soften noise so I'd call the location "average" loud. Downtown Charlottesville doesn't really do free parking. You can park at the next corner in open parking to the left or paid parking to the right. But we're talking $2 or so, not a bank-breaking experience and with lots of shopping across the street it's worth staking out a spot and then walking the area. What I like: The food is tasty. The appetizers are solid. There's a large enough menu that you can always try something new. And the portions are ample enough to share. What I'm not so fond of: The waitstaff spend a lot of time at the front scrolling on their phones. They aren't too keen on refilling your drinks either. I say this as someone who has eaten here about a dozen times. Also, I don't normally mind cameras, but there are enough blinking lights on cameras to make it feel more like a jewelry store than a restaurant. That said, if you are not in a hurry, want some good food in solid portions, and plan to do some shopping or window shopping downtown, this has been my go-to place for years.

This is my second time here when we travel and I cant believe how much delicious food we get. The…read morechicken and vegetables are delicately seasoned and wonderful. Wish I could eat this everyday! Also great service.

Thursday, 5.15.2025. Lunch, Afghan Kabob. Charlottesville, VA. I had just had a medical procedure…read moreat the University of Virginia Hospital that resulted in following a liquids-only diet for the past 36 hours. My husband and I close this restaurant to break my fast. We were greeted quickly by the hostess who led us to booth seating, and gave us menus. There was no need though, as we had already spotted the all-you-can-eat buffet. We requested only water to go with our meals; she quickly brought a carafe of chilled water and two glasses. This is a generous buffet with many selections for a complete meal, from soup and salad to dessert. There was a good variety of both meat and vegetarian options. Our FAVORITES included the fresh mixed chickpea salad (the chick peas, cucumbers, tomato, onion, parsley); lamb curry (which featured tender boneless and tender meat); rice pilau with raisins and carrots; borani badenjan (eggplant curry. Tip: drizzle yogurt on this);; bamia (okra) curry; firnee milk pudding (dessert); and the addictive dooth pati chai (spiced milk tea). There were also some items that we didn't enjoy as much but were still good. For instance, the chicken kofta meatballs, while nicely spiced, were very dry. And, the nan bread was disappointing. (There were also many additional good choices on the buffet that are not listed here). The ambiance in the restaurant is comfortable, with many paintings and decorations from Afghanistan. Some tables are in a side room, ideal for small groups or privacy. We noticed, but didn't visit, a downstairs shop with Afghan carpets and other goods. Plus, there's a shop on the side that sells groceries. Parking is plentiful and free. The lunch buffet was $17.99 each, plus VA sales tax (6.3%), city meals tax (5.3%), credit card service free (3.5%), and tip (variable). There are cheaper options available if you order from the menu. We would return when next in Charlottesville.

Excellent in all ways. High-caliber ingredients- fresh and flavorful. Friendly staff. Bright and…read moreairy. Self-serve style locale but the vibe and decor was nice, clean and simple. Just slightly off-beaten path of main Mall street. Well worth the effort to find.

Otto Eats is amazing! If you're looking for a yummy and healthy Mediterranean option, this is the…read moreplace for you. It's right on the outskirts of Cville's downtown mall. If you park at Water St. Garage, the first hour is free and not too far a walk from here. You can build your own bowl or order one of their signature ones. I got the Mezzie bowl with chicken and adored every last bite. My best friend got the veggie bowl and loved it. We were singing with joy from these meals. It was the perfect post wedding weekend meal. The people who work here are beyond friendly and super attentive. They were always there when we needed anything (boxes, bathrooms, etc). It's a casual environment. There is plenty of seating to dine in or you can take-out. I love all the Turkish art on the walls and the garage doors that allow fresh air in. I highly recommend eating here.

I would say this is the best Mediterranean food I ever tried compared to all the expensive or local…read morechains. The service was very fast and the food was really good. I ordered a bread on side and it was the best pita bread I had. It came out of Owen hot and very good, and the individual components for shawarma were very good. They put pickle in between and the chicken was very good in quantity, it was wrapped in the pita which was freshly prepared. The overall experience was very good for food. I would definitely visit this place next time if I pass this town as a detour.

This place is buried off the street in a complex near the heart of the university. I ordered in…read moreadvance; it was a place you could eat inside or outside at, but nothing fancy and I was on the go so I was happy with my decision. The falafel wrap yielded a fairly tubular creation; adding hummus made it a bit messy as drippage would occur. The flavors were mild, but I did enjoy the hint of carmelization on the bread. I was a bit surprised that there were no fries on their limited menu; maybe that's fair enough to wherever they're from but falafel and fries is just such a classic combination to me. Regardless, a good meal but not the best one of this sort I've had in Charlottesville.

Great menu and great chef. Maybe the best Mediterranean meal we've ever had. Our appetizers,…read moremains, and desserts all had a sophisticated and interesting mix of flavors and textures. Service was very attentive and friendly.

We went during the last day of restaurant week, not how we would typically order as we generally…read moreshare but the food was great! Service and atmosphere were awesome.

This is my new favorite joint. Ordered the power steak bowl…read moreand it was delicious. I love all the elements combined together...I also ordered the spicy shawarma pita chips which were excellent. I definitely will continue to make my way through the menu.

Got d clean food ! Little pricy but that's the price for this type of food! Manager is awesome but…read morevery reserved! She works like a beast! Good team ! The spicy cilantro is not a stand alone dish! lol! Great heat and flavors! Use the app! We got ten dollars off! I will say tipping is an issue! It is made to order , but beverage and busing you are on your own! It's dealers choice! No ice but beverages are chilled! No lamb meatballs, sad face emoji!

Sticks is delicious, dependably great food. I love their small meal. I had their spring power bowl…read morelast night and it was one of the tastiest things I have ever eaten. Lovely people work there too.

First time at Sticks and thought the overall was pretty good, but was deserving of an A-OK…read morecategory. Ordering is at the counter. Service was excellent and very friendly. Price seemed a bit steep in my opinion. I had the chicken and beef kebobs which were the stronger parts of the meal. The pita bread was good, salad was fresh, but rice was meh and the egg plant was cold and pretty much not edible. I probably would not return with stronger options in town.