Intimate restaurant, in what feels like a restored barn, with absolutely amazing food…read more I came here with my fiance for valentines day, and we had a fantastic experience. Everything was to notch, from our very friendly and attentive server to all 3 courses of the pre-fix valentines day menu.

Celebrated Valentine's Day here with my husband and it was EVERYTHING. We each chose something…read moredifferent and shared each dish. The restaurant was dark and moody creating a perfect romantic atmosphere. Our server was attentive and helpful. 1st course: Butter Poached Maine Lobster- melts in your mouth. Perfect consistency. The secret sauce made it perfect. The flavors were complex and I couldn't figure out what they put in it to make the sauce because they all blended so well. Roasted Maine Scallops: I have never cared for scallops. These had the best texture - the perfect amount of fluffy and firm. They were buttery and delicious. The capers topped on it added a little something extra without overwhelming the flavor of the scallop. 2nd course: Steak Chinois: steak was tender and cooked to perfection (went medium) the ginger sauce gave it so much flavor. The potato's were smooth and savory and melded well with the steak. The flavors combined complimented each other so well. Grilled Double Rack of Lamb: was very tender too. My first bite had too much red sauce and was a bit overwhelming after having just finished the steak chinois. However, I mixed with the potatoes and lightly dipped in red sauce and then the flavor was an explosion in my mouth. 3rd course: Vanilla crème brûlée with rasberries- literally perfect. Can't even put into words. You must get it. Bittersweet chocolate Brioche bread pudding -bread was warm, raspberries were cold, and pudding was an added extra. *chefs kiss.

I have been to the local twice both with very large groups. Both times it has been a private event…read morefor 50+ people. They do a fantastic job with large groups. Both times we had the entire upstairs reserved with a select menu. At my most recent event diners had three choices. Meatloaf, salmon or mushroom pasta. The diners in my area all choose meatloaf or salmon. Both looked great! Thank you for accommodating a large party and your great servers and kitchen!

Came here for our daughter's 25th birthday. we did have reservations and everything went smoothly…read more our server Claudia was very accommodating. We ordered as appetizers the Crab soup, Crispy Shrimp and the Bison tostada. The crab soup and the Shrimps were exquisite . The bison tostada was so so. For main course we ordered the Crab pasta , Bison short rib and the NY strip steak, all were excellent. for deserts we had the. bread pudding and the crème brûlée cheesecake. Once again everything was delicious..

Nestled in the heart of Belmont, Mas is hands down one of the top restaurants for me. It resembles…read moreCharlottesville: filled with warmth, hearty, a community affair with locally grown and sourced food, tapas meant to be shared. If you are looking for a lively atmosphere for a date night or a night out with friends, Mas tapas is for you! The staff here is incredible; helpful with their selections and operates like a family. When introducing others to Charlottesville, this is my go to. I cannot even begin to unpack the vibrancy of the food. Anything with aioli is a hit! It's a reminder of the strength of the Charlottesville food scene. It glows with that warm, golden-hour energy -- the hum of conversation, the clink of glasses, the scent of garlic and olive oil drifting through the air. Every dish feels like a small act of intention. The ultimate real pleasure is the rhythm of the place: tapas arriving slowly enough to savor, fast enough to keep you leaning in for more; an atmosphere that manages to feel both lively and deeply relaxed. It's the true peak: a simplicity and richness; a love note in the shape of a restaurant. Must try: - Gambas à la Parilla - Datil Con Tocino -queso con marmelada -ensalada Lechuga -papas bravas

Celebratory dinner and Mas came up on a couple of "best restaurants" searches. This place was…read moreterrific. High end tapas...a little pricey, but also worth the price -- unique and creative dishes. The plates came in two sizes -- the regular tapas style and one that is a double portion for double the price. Menu is typewritten and presumably changes with frequency; we enjoyed the carne asada, lamb sliders, bacon wrapped dates, guisado, and a few others -- all delicious. Nice cocktail menu and some interesting (and unusual) wines on the list, both by the glass and by the bottle. The room is surprisingly informal -- bare brick walls, loud music, hip servers in t-shirts - so probably not the place for a business dinner. But for a splurge social occasion and a group that is good sharing food...five stars.

We visited the restaurant from out of town on occasion of our daughter's graduation from UVA. A $90…read moreprice fixed menu with a mandatory 20% gratuity regardless of party size...that's a lot, but perhaps not excessive if the food service and ambience merits a $90 per person three course meal. In this instance, it did not. The service was remarkably slow especially for a fixed menu. The waiter repeatedly apologized for the slow service but did nothing remedy the situation. Including not refilling water glasses during the long waits. We were a party of five and only one person was happy with all three of her courses. Whether or not the customer is in alignment with the chef is often a crapshoot, that is not my principal complaint. My complaint is the ambience and the service sorely lacked from what one would it expect for $90 a plate. There were sporting events on various television screens and patrons at the bar could've been mistaken for "Larry the cable guy". Now don't get me wrong, I like Larry the cable guy as much as the next person but if I'm paying $700 for a celebratory dinner for five people I don't wanna eat next to him in a sleeveless flannel shirt and trucker hat. Couple the diminished ambience with the remarkably slow service and color me dissatisfied. Their day-to-day service may be fine but the special occasion should be avoided. We will not be going back

Zocalo has been our go-to for celebrations for a very long time. Big party after our wedding 10…read moreyears ago, birthdays, etc. Last night, a big group of us got together to celebrate my wife's 60th birthday and Zocalo delivered once again. Our servers were super nice, attentive, and accommodating. They really made the evening special. I had the NY Strip, which was done just right. It was between that and the scallops, which are always great. My wife had an incredible halibut special. The fish was cooked perfectly and all the other elements of our dishes were very tasty. A few in the group had the shrimp risotto which is also an excellent dish. We'll be back (many more times); not just because Zocalo holds a special place in our hearts, but also because the food is delicious, the service is impeccable, and the atmosphere fits us well. We're already looking forward to the next time!

Lovely interior with couches and fireplaces, so beautiful. The food was exceptional. Bone marrow…read morewith escargot - yes, put more of my favorite things together please! The halibut was the star dish for me. Great dessert too. We had a lot of things on the menu and nothing disappointed.

The atomosphere is nice ,historic buikdung but small iverpriced portions of bad food ,the worst…read moresopused gormet food i have ever had and i have traveldd the world .

We recently had dinner at Sal's Caffe Italia and really enjoyed our experience. The interior is so…read morewarm and charming, with a cozy, old-school Italian feel. You can tell this place has been part of the community for a long time. I loved seeing the photos of the owners and family on the walls--it adds such a personal touch and makes the restaurant feel special. We started with the Caesar salad and bruschetta, and both were delicious. For our main course, we shared the spaghetti and meatballs. The portion was generous, perfect for sharing, and the flavors were exactly what you hope for from a family-run Italian restaurant. For dessert, we shared the cheesecake, which was a great way to end the meal. Our server was attentive, friendly, and made sure we had everything we needed throughout the evening. The outdoor seating area looked very charming as well, but it was a hot evening, so we opted to sit inside. Overall, a lovely dinner in a welcoming atmosphere. We'll definitely be back.

Sal's is an adorable Italian restaurant located on the Charlottesville pedestrian mall. They offer…read moredining inside and outside. The inside felt like an intimate New York restaurant. Portions are large enough to share, which is exactly what a couple seated next to us did for their appetizer and meal. Otherwise, you likely will be taking home what's left on your plate. Happy hour offers $3 off house cocktails, $8 glass of house wine, and $13 for a half carafe of house wine. Great deals! The staff are friendly and helpful.

What a delightful spot for dinner and a drink or just a drink. It's a tad hard to find since it is…read morein an alley, but once you find it, you're in for a very special evening.

One of my favorite spots for a date night in Charlottesville. It's a small place, but we've been…read morelucky enough to grab a couple of seats at the bar most times we've stopped in. Cocktails are rotating and seasonal, but one of my all time favorites was the peach whiskey sour made with local peaches, and a coconut jasmine (gin?) drink that was the Dealer's Choice option. For a light app, I really enjoy the goat cheese and fennel. The ambiance is cozy and upscale, and the staff is incredibly attentive and knowledgable.

This place is somewhere in the range of unimpressive to disappointing…read more We were seated then promptly ignored. No waters, no wine list. We just sat there. Even heard the staff person who seated us say to a co-worker "don't forget about the table in the window." Asked for the wine list and ordered a bottle which sat sweating in plain sight on the bar while we ate our salads. My chicken dish was cold when it got to me. I sent it back and got a do-over plate of the same order. The re-do was better, but my judgement was clouded by that point. My fellow diners felt their entrees were decent, but that the bread was really the best part of the meal. I left wondering how and why this place survives. The whole operation feels like it just wants to nod off to sleep. Maybe a Thursday night is slow? Maybe outside of the school year there's a lull at this place? Those are the benefit of the doubt questions I want to ask in their defense. But ultimately I feel like this place seems to keep going out of some sort of "but we're a restaurant" obligation. Won't return; don't recommend.

On my quest to try every single Italian establishment in Charlottesville somehow I missed this gem…read more The food here was spectacular. I thoroughly enjoyed every part of my meal. The ambiance of the location was that of an upscale Italian eatery. The perfect spot to celebrate a big accomplishment or fancy date night dinner. Our server was something to behold. He waited in every table in the room. It was super crowded but he took time at each table to make the customers feel welcomed. Will definitely add this to the list of must try spots in Cville.