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My best friend and I hiked Humpback Rock this past weekend. We were looked for a filling meal after the hike and were craving burgers. Citizen Burger has been here a while, I remember coming with my best friend years ago when she went to UVA. It has very 2010s millennial burger joint vibes in a nostalgic way. I love the variety of choices they have. Know it's not a cheap spot. But it also feels like they have almost every topping option known to man. Our server was incredibly sweet. He was attentive and took our orders quickly. The seating is awkward here. The two person tables indoors are right in the middle of the restaurant and while there is enough space to move, it feels a little in the way. The music was also a bit too loud. They have seating outdoors that we probably should've taken. They have cute specials here. There were St. Patrick's day menu specials we saw. My best friend ended up getting the steakhouse and fries and ate the entire thing. I built my own burger (which beware cost adds up quickly). I got beef, bacon, garlic aioli, cheddar, iceberg, tomato, and avocado. It was all quite yummy. It was a bit pricey and overstimulating, but I would still go back if I was in the area looking for a burger.
My friends and I came here for dinner on a Friday night after hanging out at Fridays After Five. We got seated right away inside, outside there would be a wait. They weren't too busy inside. There was bar seating and then seating in the booths or at tables. Good casual burger bar. For drinks I did a mojito which wasn't bad and my one friend got the Serenity cocktail. I built my own burger and had it cooked pink with lettuce, tomato, and a fried egg as my toppings. It was delicious and the hand cut fries were SO good! I ate every bite. My one friend did the mini and my other friend did the grilled cheese. I would for sure come back!
Food was unreal! Fast and delicious. Attention to detail. Definitely specializes in burgers. Love that it's all grass fed and local. It got the Citizen burger and the fries were great. We got the shishito peppers and beet salad for an appetizer. Very happy. Service was great. We watched the World Cup while enjoying a great meal.
Stopped before going to a concert. The restaurant was packed but we were seated quickly. The industrial decor in the restaurant is very fun. We loved their extensive drink menu, serving several local beers and ciders. I had the Little Blue. Man oh man it was delicious. But the real star of the show was the onion rings. Beer battered and friend to perfection, they melt in your mouth. I gave a four stars because the service was just ok. I think we saw our server 3 times- when she took our order, brought our food, and when she brought her check. But the food was so out of this world, it was worth it.
This is a 4 star burger place. Not 5 stars. 3 would be a little unfair. This place could win the award for having the best looking burgers. They look tremendous. Massive. I wish they tasted as good as they looked. They tasted good. Just not "life changing". Maybe it's missing some seasoning. Not sure. Good service. Nice atmosphere. Great location. Love that they offer indoor and outdoor seating.
Smack dab in the center of the Charlottesville downtown mall stands Citizen Burger Bar. Sit inside. But better to grab an outdoor table if weather permits. Great people watching. Great for pets. Oh, and did I mention the food? We split a wedge salad. Nicely sized. Our server, Hollan, had the presence to bring the salad with two plates. Then, we went with the Swiss mushroom burger. We ordered it medium, with gluten free potato roll (yes, there's an upcharge) and their "special sauce" on the side. And that's exactly what he delivered with a huge side of fries. And of course, two plates and a sharp knife. My ice tea was kept filled. Service was attentive without being annoying. Particularly impressive, as Citizen Burger Bar is hopping. Downtown CVille has a lot going for it and CBB is a big part of it.
The biggest bowl of truffle fries I've ever had! Really appreciated the waitress telling us how big it would be - so we were able to skip the fries with our burgers. Burgers were delish too! Plus, a great drink menu! We enjoyed the patio dining on a nice spring night!
Citizen Burger in Charlottesville delivered an uneven experience, with lackluster service and underwhelming food that did not live up to its strong reputation in town. Service * Service felt subpar, as basic items like napkins and flatware were not brought proactively and had to be requested, which detracted from the overall experience. * Given that the restaurant positions itself as a popular downtown burger spot, the inattentiveness from the staff fell short of expectations for this type of venue. Food quality * The initial iceberg lettuce was anemic and limp, suggesting poor quality control leaving the kitchen, though the replacement was green, crisp, and much more in line with what a premium burger bar should serve. * The burger itself did not have much flavor, and the bun was dry, which is disappointing considering the restaurant emphasizes high-quality, grass-fed beef and local buns on its menu and marketing. Overall impression While Citizen Burger is often promoted as one of Charlottesville's go-to burger spots, the combination of inattentive service and mediocre execution on a simple burger made this visit underwhelming.
I have decided to give this place a new review. Per usual the food is spectacular. I have to say they make the absolute best onion rings I have ever tried. An absolute must on their menu. Love sitting outside at this venue. If you are ever around for cvilles Fridays after 5 this is the best location to enjoy a meal.
75 for two burgers ! Not worth it ! Great service , great food and great atmosphere ! No mistakes But $75 for two hamburgers !
I was on a mission to find the best burger in Charlottesville, and Citizen Burger Bar came up as the top pick--and wow, it absolutely lived up to the hype. Everything about our visit was fantastic. The star of the show was the Citizen Burger itself: stacked with fresh, flavorful ingredients and topped off with a crispy fried pickle that was a delicious surprise. I swapped out the fries for onion rings, and it was totally worth it--perfectly crispy and packed with flavor. The location couldn't be better--right in the heart of downtown Charlottesville, on the pedestrian mall full of charm, energy, and people-watching. It really captures the vibe of the town and the university. One huge bonus: they're extremely dog-friendly. They brought out a big bowl of cold water for our two pups without us even asking--such a thoughtful touch! My wife ordered the beet salad and loved every bite. We also appreciated the cold bottle of water left at the table to keep our glasses topped off--small detail, but it made the whole experience feel that much more relaxed and attentive. From start to finish, this was one of the most enjoyable dining experiences we've had in a while. Great food, awesome atmosphere, and top-notch service. Highly recommend--easily a five-star spot!
The most important thing, the food, was fantastic. Local and grass fed beef with flavor is what you'll get. If you'd like to lose some weight, you just might being that it didn't feel like any air conditioning was on, nor any air circulation inside. I would recommend sitting on the outdoor patio. I would eat here again since the food was so good. We sat at the bar and our bartender was great but was dealing with many people which attributed to a slight delay in service but we weren't overly bothered by that.
I found Citizen Burger Bar on one of those "Best burgers in every state list" and usually I am very skeptical because I think places pay to be on them sometimes. Well, if there is a better burger in Virginia, send me a message I want to go on my next visit. Citizen Burger has a bunch of principles that they proudly display all over the place including above the toilet. All of those principles are great but wouldn't mean a thing if it didn't taste good. My buddy and I split some fried pickles which are the spear shaped kind and were solid. Then I ordered a Steakhouse burger and onion rings. Holy Shitballs the burger was good. A brioche bun (my favorite of the hamburger buns because of smashablity), cheddar, bacon, onion straws and bbq sauce. All of the toppings were great, but it could have just been bread and burger, and it still would have been delicious. The beer selection was large, I forgot how many were on tap, but I got a local IPA. The service was great as was the atmosphere. I will definitely come back the next time I am in Charlottesville. read more
Let me start off by saying I don't give five stars often. We walked up to the hostess and requested a table outside on a beautiful April day. Luckily they had one table available. The waiter was quick to take our order the house salad with grilled chicken. It was fresh,delicious and filled with the perfect about of topping. The chicken was favorable and the honey mustard dressing was spot on. About $20 and worth every penny. My husband ordered a cheese burger 1/2 pound juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside. He mentioned one of the best burgers he's ever had. He also ordered buttered fried onion rings. He also claimed they were cooked to perfection. If you're looking for good food with amazing service this is your place. read more
The ten (10) Citizen burger principles are simple (and considered excellent): 1. 100% local grass-fed, grass-finished beef 2. Grassfed beef looks red - so they sell them by color 3. Offer fire-cooked and flat-top burgers 4. Provide ingredients from farmers who treat employees, animals and the environment with respect 5. Custom grilled cheese sandwiches 6. In-house, hand-cut fries made daily 7. Buns locally baked and made/delivered fresh every day 8. Vegetarians are welcome ( the salads are great) 9. Bar staff are wise and love to suggest either a local draft beer, a custom cocktail or a nice glass of red wine 10. They believe in good food, cold drinks and common ground. read more
My best friend and I hiked Humpback Rock this past weekend. We were looked for a filling meal after the hike and were craving burgers. Citizen Burger has been here a while, I remember coming with my best friend years ago when she went to UVA. It has very 2010s millennial burger joint vibes in a nostalgic way. I love the variety of choices they have. Know it's not a cheap spot. But it also feels like they have almost every topping option known to man. Our server was incredibly sweet. He was attentive and took our orders quickly. The seating is awkward here. The two person tables indoors are right in the middle of the restaurant and while there is enough space to move, it feels a little in the way. The music was also a bit too loud. They have seating outdoors that we probably should've taken. They have cute specials here. There were St. Patrick's day menu specials we saw. My best friend ended up getting the steakhouse and fries and ate the entire thing. I built my own burger (which beware cost adds up quickly). I got beef, bacon, garlic aioli, cheddar, iceberg, tomato, and avocado. It was all quite yummy. It was a bit pricey and overstimulating, but I would still go back if I was in the area looking for a burger. read more
My friends and I came here for dinner on a Friday night after hanging out at Fridays After Five. We got seated right away inside, outside there would be a wait. They weren't too busy inside. There was bar seating and then seating in the booths or at tables. Good casual burger bar. For drinks I did a mojito which wasn't bad and my one friend got the Serenity cocktail. I built my own burger and had it cooked pink with lettuce, tomato, and a fried egg as my toppings. It was delicious and the hand cut fries were SO good! I ate every bite. My one friend did the mini and my other friend did the grilled cheese. I would for sure come back! read more
3 months ago
Food was unreal! Fast and delicious. Attention to detail. Definitely specializes in burgers. Love that it's all grass fed and local. It got the Citizen burger and the fries were great. We got the shishito peppers and beet salad for an appetizer. Very happy. Service was great. We watched the World Cup while enjoying a great meal. read more
5 days ago
7 months ago
Stopped before going to a concert. The restaurant was packed but we were seated quickly. The industrial decor in the restaurant is very fun. We loved their extensive drink menu, serving several local beers and ciders. I had the Little Blue. Man oh man it was delicious. But the real star of the show was the onion rings. Beer battered and friend to perfection, they melt in your mouth. I gave a four stars because the service was just ok. I think we saw our server 3 times- when she took our order, brought our food, and when she brought her check. But the food was so out of this world, it was worth it. read more
This is a 4 star burger place. Not 5 stars. 3 would be a little unfair. This place could win the award for having the best looking burgers. They look tremendous. Massive. I wish they tasted as good as they looked. They tasted good. Just not "life changing". Maybe it's missing some seasoning. Not sure. Good service. Nice atmosphere. Great location. Love that they offer indoor and outdoor seating. read more
Smack dab in the center of the Charlottesville downtown mall stands Citizen Burger Bar. Sit inside. But better to grab an outdoor table if weather permits. Great people watching. Great for pets. Oh, and did I mention the food? We split a wedge salad. Nicely sized. Our server, Hollan, had the presence to bring the salad with two plates. Then, we went with the Swiss mushroom burger. We ordered it medium, with gluten free potato roll (yes, there's an upcharge) and their "special sauce" on the side. And that's exactly what he delivered with a huge side of fries. And of course, two plates and a sharp knife. My ice tea was kept filled. Service was attentive without being annoying. Particularly impressive, as Citizen Burger Bar is hopping. Downtown CVille has a lot going for it and CBB is a big part of it. read more
1 day ago
1 month ago
The biggest bowl of truffle fries I've ever had! Really appreciated the waitress telling us how big it would be - so we were able to skip the fries with our burgers. Burgers were delish too! Plus, a great drink menu! We enjoyed the patio dining on a nice spring night! read more
9 months ago
Citizen Burger in Charlottesville delivered an uneven experience, with lackluster service and underwhelming food that did not live up to its strong reputation in town. Service * Service felt subpar, as basic items like napkins and flatware were not brought proactively and had to be requested, which detracted from the overall experience. * Given that the restaurant positions itself as a popular downtown burger spot, the inattentiveness from the staff fell short of expectations for this type of venue. Food quality * The initial iceberg lettuce was anemic and limp, suggesting poor quality control leaving the kitchen, though the replacement was green, crisp, and much more in line with what a premium burger bar should serve. * The burger itself did not have much flavor, and the bun was dry, which is disappointing considering the restaurant emphasizes high-quality, grass-fed beef and local buns on its menu and marketing. Overall impression While Citizen Burger is often promoted as one of Charlottesville's go-to burger spots, the combination of inattentive service and mediocre execution on a simple burger made this visit underwhelming. read more
I have decided to give this place a new review. Per usual the food is spectacular. I have to say they make the absolute best onion rings I have ever tried. An absolute must on their menu. Love sitting outside at this venue. If you are ever around for cvilles Fridays after 5 this is the best location to enjoy a meal. read more
7 months ago
75 for two burgers ! Not worth it ! Great service , great food and great atmosphere ! No mistakes But $75 for two hamburgers ! read more
3 months ago
Obvious attention to detail on food quality and plating. We ordered the chicken breat custom burger with sweet potato fried (amazinly crunchy) and Almost Vegan (pictured) with truffle fried. Very happy with quality, service and atmosphere (we dined outside). read more
I was on a mission to find the best burger in Charlottesville, and Citizen Burger Bar came up as the top pick--and wow, it absolutely lived up to the hype. Everything about our visit was fantastic. The star of the show was the Citizen Burger itself: stacked with fresh, flavorful ingredients and topped off with a crispy fried pickle that was a delicious surprise. I swapped out the fries for onion rings, and it was totally worth it--perfectly crispy and packed with flavor. The location couldn't be better--right in the heart of downtown Charlottesville, on the pedestrian mall full of charm, energy, and people-watching. It really captures the vibe of the town and the university. One huge bonus: they're extremely dog-friendly. They brought out a big bowl of cold water for our two pups without us even asking--such a thoughtful touch! My wife ordered the beet salad and loved every bite. We also appreciated the cold bottle of water left at the table to keep our glasses topped off--small detail, but it made the whole experience feel that much more relaxed and attentive. From start to finish, this was one of the most enjoyable dining experiences we've had in a while. Great food, awesome atmosphere, and top-notch service. Highly recommend--easily a five-star spot! read more
The most important thing, the food, was fantastic. Local and grass fed beef with flavor is what you'll get. If you'd like to lose some weight, you just might being that it didn't feel like any air conditioning was on, nor any air circulation inside. I would recommend sitting on the outdoor patio. I would eat here again since the food was so good. We sat at the bar and our bartender was great but was dealing with many people which attributed to a slight delay in service but we weren't overly bothered by that. read more
Huge burgers! Great service and atmosphere. Started with the fried pickles - delicious! Got the southern burger for dinner. The Pimento cheese was good, but I wish it wasn't so cold on my burger. Everyone else enjoyed their burgers too. Will be back when I return to Cville! read more
7 months ago
Such incredible food and even better service! Shoutout to my guy Hollan for being so kind and helpful! My wallet isn't happy with me but my stomach definitely is :) also great playlist! read more
4 months ago
2 months ago
9 months ago
Absolutely fantastic burger, maybe the best I've ever had! Thick, juicy, and cooked perfectly. Staff is friendly and speedy too. Highly recommend read more
Found ourselves in Charlottesville, Virginia on a road trip. It was a Tuesday so a lot of places were closed, but this burger bar was open and by 6:30 PM it was packed! There is a large bar, a good amount of seating, and a few window seats, which is where we ended up right before the rush! The service was friendly and it's always fun to strike up a conversation when they ask if you've been there before. We ordered the southern burger and the executive burger with fries and a salad. The burgers were fantastic and what you would expect from a burger bar, slightly higher quality meat and hearty! The fries were perfection, crispy and seasoned on the outside soft on the inside. I also ordered the love potion number five cocktail, and I'm usually good with a high level of spice, however, I found this to be even too spicy for me. Instant heartburn. Overall, this was an enjoyable stop on our road trip! Paid parking lot parking around the strip within walking distance. read more
Nice burger place in historic downtown C'Ville. The hostess sat us immediately, whereupon I commenced to try their beer menu. Nick was a fantastic server. He was all over it. To eat I ordered their Citizen Burger and fries, both were awesome. The fries were hot and a great blend of crispy on the outside and soft and warm on the inside, with just the right amount of salt or flavor. The burger slinger cooked it just like I had asked at medium rare. The weekday dinner crowd wasn't too bad. The beer was good and Nick's selections were on point for a Texan tasting the local brews. My buddy's turkey burger was just as good. She didn't meddle much with it. Solid burgers, great beer, awesome staff. read more
2 months ago
Awesome Burger spot @ the Downtown Mall in Charlottesville VA. Inside & outdoor seating. Great sports bar feel w/ one of a kind selection of Burgers, Sandwiches, Apps & Toppings - plus a huge variety of beers/drinks w/ local options. I sat at the bar & was greet promptly by the bartender - Jules. She didn't smile much but even though I wasn't drinking, she still made sure I was well taken care of which doesn't always happen at other spots. I was eating light tonight, so I ordered the house salad. Kinda pricey at $12 but was large enough for 2 people (see pic). I also ordered the home favorite Grilled Cheese. It was packed w/ 3 different specialty cheeses & arugula on a sunflower wheat. So amazing I forgot to take a pic All in all, I will definitely swing back by the next time I'm in town & try one of those specialty Burgers read more
10 months ago
Burgers were amazing!' We loved the sweet potato fries and it had a huge patio area so our dog was allowed to come too which was super convenient after a trail run with her in the mountains. Definitely recommend this place if you want a good burger! read more
4 months ago
3 months ago
6 months ago
2 years ago
Last month, my husband and I visited Citizen Burger for the second time, and it did not disappoint us. It was just as good as our first visit about two years ago. This time, we started with the crispy fried pickles, which are somewhat different from those at other restaurants because they serve them cut in half. They were delicious! My husband ordered the Citizen Burger, which comes with a variety of flavors, including black onion, garlic aioli, and a fried pickle on top. Be warned: it is a big burger! I opted for the Steakhouse Burger, which features tasty cheddar cheese, bacon, and onion straws. I substituted the brioche bun with lettuce to make it a little healthier. I loved it! As if the burgers weren't big enough, they are served with hand-cut Citizen fries. I appreciate that everything we had was freshly made. I recommend this place. read more
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