Incredible. Must try for vegans and lovers of Oaxacan food. Parking can be tough but worth it. Such a cute spot. A bit pricy but, again, worth it. read more

One of my top restaurants in Charlottesville. How often do you see a Oaxacan Mexican restaurant?? The tamale is my favorite, but I also love the mole negro con carne Most dishes have a vegetarian alternative. Don't sleep on their cocktail menu either, they (at least used to) have an excellent sangria. Service is friendly and quick! There is very little seating inside, but tons on the patio which is a nice opportunity to sit outside in Belmont. Usually there's street parking around. read more

I traveled to Oaxaca back in 2018. I haven't had traditional Oaxacan food in so long, so when I found out about Conmole, I was ecstatic to try. The mole was really good, and the server was so kind. We sat outside in the covered, heated patio. I hope to come again to try more of their menu! read more

Conmole - Mexican Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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We got two different mole: pork (pictured) and chicken. The staff was super friendly, which we were not expecting given how many rules the website seems to have. The mole were both tasty but were a little salty for my taste read more

Conmole - Mexican Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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ENFRIJOLADAS are ridiculously good. Mezcaltini is so smooth. Tres leches is amazing. Service was on point. This place is a must. read more

Conmole - Mezcaltini - Mexican Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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For me, it's all about the mole'. The Mole Negro delivered on rich, dark and deep layered flavors that coated your tongue. I dream about this mole. It's a bit pricey to go all the time, but it's well worth it. I don't drink so I'm seriously there just to eat the food. It will take a long time before I try anything else because it's just that good and special. read more

Great food, great service and great vibe. Best mole I've had outside of Mexico. All-star dishes include the carnitas and the pulpo. Both are perfectly cooked and packed with flavor. Spicing is there, but not overpowering. The point is flavor not showing off max capsaicin. Drinks list is short but solid. Same with the overall menu. This is about quality not all-you can eat corp Tex-Mex big box. Apps: Reservations via Resy (recommended as this place is super popular). Limited (No Take out Fridays and Saturdays) online takeout orders via Toast. read more

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The food was tasty but a single empanada for $12 is laughable after being told the size was "sharable." The real offensive part was that as soon as we each took our last bite of food, the waiter removed our very recently emptied plates and, while we still had full cocktails in front of us, placed the bill on the table. We ignored the check and talked and drank our cocktails. After 1.5 hours being in the restaurant, someone came to our table and said we needed to pay the bill because the next reservation needed the table. WTF? I've NEVER in a lifetime of dining out been asked to leave an establishment because they wanted to give the table to someone else. The real kicker was that there were at least two dozen empty tables in their outdoor covered seating section. If they want to pretend this is tapas, the clock enforcer should probably visit Barcelona to see how dining works. This is not a place i will return to. I don't like paying sit-down restaurant prices but being asked to leave while I'm still sipping my cocktail. Nope. read more

We had a terrific dinner at Conmole last night. The halibut ceviche special was so fresh and tasty. We then split the mole guajillo with pork ribs and the pulpo for dinner. The food was excellent and the service was terrific. I appreciated that the dishes came out of the kitchen sequentially. My margarita was very good, smooth. We sat outside and were impressed that every table has a personal fan overhead, keeping the air moving even in summer. read more

Conmole - Pulpo - Mexican Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

I am not a huge mole person, but I wondered if that was just because I've not had it done right. Or because this sauce is usually offered with non-vegetarian meals. This restaurant offered a potential solution to both issues, so I figured I'd give it a try. The neighborhood is quite cramped, and the restaurant itself has a smallish feel with only one bathroom. It was busy on a warm summer evening, but the only question was whether I would get a table outdoors or in. Indoors, it turned out. Their menu is mostly based around mole but does have a few other flavors, and most of them are available "no carne". Unlike a lot of Mexican food, the cuisine here was not built around dairy at all; some menu items listed a dusting of cheese on top but this was a place that was used to handling special dietary needs and it would not be hard to get a satisfying vegan meal here. Even though I'm not a cauliflower person, I still had enough choices that I had to think, and ended up settling on a black mole with corn cakes, green beans, and avocado. This freed me up to get a mushroom empanada as an appetizer. The empanada was flaky to the extreme and I was surprised it was only one, but the flavors were interesting and I appreciated the local mushrooms. The main attraction was more impressive. The sauce had a hint of chocolate, but it wasn't weird or overwhelming, and spicy, nutty flavors shone through, which worked very well with the corn cakes. It was the kind of thing that makes you think about licking the plate. A pomegranate agua fresca was sparkly and delivered a flavor kick. Not seeing a ton of dessert options open in Charlottesville, I went for a mango berry coconut dessert which had nice fresh berries but oddly not quite as much of a mango flavor as I'd hoped. It's on the pricey side for a casual restaurant, but the cuisine was both redolent of another culture but also distinctively local, and worth coming for. read more

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Conmole has quickly become one of my favorite restaurants in Charlottesville. I feel like the word "gem" can be overused with regard to restaurants, but it's an apt term in this case. It's so unique in both its food and its service model--this is not your average Mexican restaurant. Their Oaxacan cuisine is absolutely delicious, and the way that they serve shareable smaller plates one by one is refreshing and allows you to try different things but not get too full or end up ordering too much food (you can always add more!). Every server I've met has been knowledgeable, friendly, and excited to explain the dishes, especially to those who are trying something new. It's also in the Belmont neighborhood, which is relatively close to the downtown mall, but still hidden away enough that it doesn't feel as crowded or busy. Parking is easy on nearby side streets with just a short walk. I brought my super-introverted vegetarian husband there for Valentine's Day last night. While he isn't one to dine out at all and is often disappointed by limited vegetarian options (or options that just seem like a lazy afterthought), he does love Mexican food, especially if they include flavorful hot sauces. Conmole has a plethora of choices for him, and they're even happy to alter most meat dishes when possible. They also ask about allergies and preferences up front (a practice that all restaurants should really adopt.) We ordered three existing vegetarian choices: the mushroom empanada, the "calabaza" (grilled zucchini with chipotle cream cheese, roasted pumpkin seeds, queso fresco, and mint), and the cauliflower mole guajillo, plus agua fresca (I've tried all three--the hibiscus is my favorite!) and flan for dessert. My husband doesn't even like mushrooms or onions, and he loved the empanada, in part due to dipping it in a special chile de árbol hot sauce that the waiter offered him instead of the cilantro crema (he has the unfortunate cilantro soap gene, but hot sauce is 100% his thing). The sauce was clearly made in house fresh, just like everything else; it took time to come out, and it didn't just burn your face off--it was spicy, but it actually had a ton of flavor, so it didn't miss the mark like others often do when they just focus on heat. The "calabaza" was fantastic and a really interesting combination of flavors and textures. I'm pretty food adventurous, but the mix of chipotle cream cheese and mint sounded a little strange even to me. It definitely won me over, though--I'm sorry that I questioned it! Everything we ordered was incredible, but the standout for me had to be the mole guajillo. I wanted to drink the remaining sauce from the dish after we were done, and I overheard the table next to us requesting theirs to go (and the waiter hinting that they should reheat it alongside a fried egg, which sounded absolutely amazing). If you're afraid of the idea of mole because it's been drilled into your head that it's some weird savory chocolate sauce, this is your sign to forget what you think you know and visit conmole to re-learn what mole is and can be. There are many mole choices on their menu, as the name implies, and you shouldn't leave without tasting at least one of them. We were both pleasantly full with the three dishes (I took my flan to go), and my husband loved the whole experience, which is not a small feat for a dining establishment to achieve in his world. We will most definitely be back! read more

What kind of Mexican joint doesn't have chips and salsa? LOL probably the most disappointing news of my day. Cute little restaurant with a small indoor dining space, but a much bigger outdoor covered area. With the limited menu options, we decided to start with the Empanada (con carne). That's right, a single empanada for $12. A bit excessive after spending a couple of weeks in South America enjoying all the empanadas i wanted. It was a good empanada, like many others that I've tried. Our party of two also shared the Calamares la Mexicana and Mole Negro con carne. The Calamares was cooked with rice and had a lot of flavor. The Chicken Mole Negro was pretty standard for mole. The chicken was very tender and went well with the mole and side of rice. Service was fast and friendly. Still slightly upset about the lack of chips and salsa. read more

Probably the best Mexican food I have ever had. Super nice outdoor dining area and great waiter. The Mole Negro con Pollo was so good and the side of rice was the best rice I have ever had. Great drinks too! read more

Conmole - Mole Negro with chicken, rice - Mexican Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Chef offers a number of takes on mole with meat, poultry, seafood, and vegetables. Food is delicious. Server was friendly, professional, and helpful with descriptions of different dishes. Portion size was good, blue corn tortillas served with many dishes. Food presentation enhances the dinning experience. Make no mistake- Conmole is unapologetically not a chips and salsa on every table traditional Tex-mex place. This is a dining experience focused on mole dishes prepared perfectly. Excellent meal, good cocktails, fun evening out! read more

The best Mexican food in Charlottesville, but certainly not great Mexican food. Pricey for the quality.

I really enjoyed Conmole. We had drinks and my friend and I split the carne asada. Really flavorful, tender cut and prepared medium which is how I like it. We sat in the heated enclosed patio and it was 30 outside. Never noticed. Super comfortable. read more

I came here with a friend, and we tried the Margarita, Chicken Tamale, Coliflor, Ceviche, and Chicken Mole. I thought all the entrees were tasty and cooked well. My favorites were their Ceviche and the Chicken Mole, and I would definitely order these again in a heartbeat.   The classic margarita was good but not amazing. It was tasty but not strong enough to my liking. And in my opinion, there are better tasting margs for cheaper in Charlottesville. It wasn't bad but it also wasn't the best margarita I've ever had.   The Chicken Tamale was good. It was very comforting. The tamale was perfectly cooked, had a nice mild spice level, and was moist inside.   The Coliflor was good too. The sauce leaned on the sour and acidic side. I wasn't a fan of the slight sourness, but my friend really liked it. And I appreciate the carefully constructed flavor profile of the dish. I liked how the acidic sauce cut through the fattiness of the egg.   The Ceviche was really bright and refreshing. It had the perfect acidity. Super delicious.   The Chicken Mole was amazing. I could take a bath in the sauce. I liked that the dish had a nice balance between sweet and bitter. And the chicken was cooked perfectly.   Overall, Conmole was amazing and everything I tried tasted great. I can't wait to come back and try the other items on their menu. read more

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The mole dishes were excellent and the margaritas were delicious. Great service and a cute outdoor patio. Will definitely return.

Went back AGAIN...with friends. Food was great. Server seemed to be annoyed by something. Told us the restaurant was family style and then encouraged us to order like 10 dishes. That's crazy. We each got one entree and called it a night. Food was great as usual but the vibe was off tonight. Still highly recommended. Dinner for five plus four drinks was $229 with the mandatory 20% gratuity. read more

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This is our favorite dinner spot in Charlottesville! Every time we visit I make sure to get a reservation! Amazing customer service, food and ambience. read more

The food is amazing. I love the concept of a restaurant that's focused on mole...we tried a couple different types and loved all of them. Great options for our group which leans vegetarian/pescatarian. Margaritas were also delicious. The chef/owner was walking around all evening and was super friendly and personable. It was cool to have a chance to talk to him for a bit, he's obviously very passionate about his food and it shows. I have mixed feelings about the service...the chef was clearly awesome and our waitress was very sweet and helpful. Meanwhile, the hostess kindly offered to accommodate us at an indoor table but then did a complete Jekyll and Hyde and FREAKED when we sat down I guess before she had completely finished cleaning the table off (looked clean to us?!). She then threw our dishes at us and stormed away. I still have whiplash lol. It was too bad because everything else was so great and it stinks that one sour grape had to bring down our opinion of the entire establishment. read more

Yesterday I went to Conmole at around 5pm. All tables were available. I asked two friendly waiters if it was alright if I had a brief 20 minute call on my laptop. It was an important job interview. They said no problem and even turned the music volume down a bit since there were no other guests. I ordered something to drink. Halfway through the interview, another waiter (even though I had already given a heads up that I was in an important call) rudely kicked me out of the restaurant with 0 warning for being too "loud" and bothering the other customers. There was just one other couple and over 20 tables free. I was literally having a conversation, not being loud at all, a simple chat just instead of with a physical person with my screen. It was a terrible experience, I had to apologize to the person on the call, and finish my call sitting outside the restaurant at 30 degrees. This is the first time I ever file a complaint, but I wrote to them and they didn't answer back. read more

Incredible food, empanadas, entrees and desert! The margaritas were so refreshing and perfectly made! The Pipian Verde was amazing!!! Total Blue Zone goodness with a sassy personality! My three friends also loved their dishes! read more

Conmole - Pipian Verde - Mexican Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Fortunately, we HAVE had the opportunity to dine AUTHENTIC Oaxac's- both in the State of Oaxaca and in Mexico City. Conmole is NOT serving authentic Oaxacan food by any means. Conmole is an embarrassment to both Oaxcan and Mexican food, a poor if not disgraceful imitation of Mole, its flavor and its origin. Conmole tries to copy Enrique Olivera's Michelin Star Pujol's food with devastating results. YES! the prices are up there but the food is NOT worth eating. The manager -server- owners have the audacity to serve a store-bought Chocolate sheet cake served with diluted evaporated milk and called it a "TRES LECHES CAKE", who do they think they are fooling.? This "joint" is in the middle of an "up and coming" Belmont neighborhood -- with new money, whose habitants may be fooled once (but not twice). Inside was too loud, so we opted to sit on the patio... regardless of teh "heaters", it was cold and not pleasant. The tent with its uncomfortable metal chairs and patio are not to be desired, - and to add an arrogant manager and server! (whose attitude and demeanor is not characteristic of the grand hospitality of the Mexican people! Once can eat better food at the Old Fuel Gas Station. Do not waste your time, money -- read more

Overall great place. Ideal for tables of 2-4!. Tapas style options. Great for sharing. Great drinks.

Holy Mole! Mole makes it to C'ville. There is, still, every reason for every Molifarian pilgrim to make their travels to the Blue Iguana, some time again in the distant future (and new reality) to dine at that Palace of Mole. But who knows when that'll be. So we have Conmole, (neé Comal), in the compact shack of a past-life BBQ joint. It's pretty, narrow, and cozy. We caught it for three dishes-- cauliflower with green mole, shrimp tacos, and a brown mole over chicken legs. I'd say these made a perfect troika, but the clear ling was the Bird. That brown mole was fabulous- cinnamony, chocolatey, piquant, missing only more bread to soak up after the chicken was gone. Do Not Miss that Dish. We are in strange times, when restaurants, slim margin business already, will struggle for survival as we hunker down in our home igloos. I am rooting hard for this restaurant to survive. read more

Conmole - Over my shoulder on a quiet early saturday - Mexican Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

The food and service were quite good, but is it really appropriate to be allowing a filming crew to use your space on a busy Saturday evening? A crew for a very well known "reality" TV series about strangers potentially getting married within a short amount of time was present outside. While sitting inside, we could see what appeared to be a producer and an assistant going to table and asking people to sign release forms. Once we read what the show was, I said no. And the production assistant seemed surprised that the form mentioned the show specifically! I would imagine the restaurant was getting some sort of benefit here, but what about us? A billion-dollar company couldn't be bothered to cover a few dinners in exchange for the use of several faces on TV? read more

Authentic Cozy Just go Go Go Serve tortillas with all dishes though and in a tortillera :) read more

Conmole - Chicken mole negro - Mexican Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Amazing! My grandmother, who is Mexican, was visiting. I was nervous because usually she spends the meal talking about how her x is better than their x. Not the case here! She says she will direct anyone passing by the area straight to Conmole. My favorite dish by far was the carnitas served with blue corn tortillas. I don't think I've ever had pork prepared a better way. Heads up: everything is served family style unless you say otherwise (better that way, so you get to try everything!) read more

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Amazing food!! And when I mean amazing I mean that you need to order the carnitas! Pomegranate margarita was very good too! Fun Mexican spot with friendly service and lots of dishes to share. Would be perfect for a date or to come with a group of friends. I would definitely come back! It's nice that they have indoor and outdoor seating. Parking can be tough in this area as there are a few restaurants and only really street parking. read more

Conmole - Mexican Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

We have been to Conmole twice now and each time it was amazing! We had our waitress (also amazing) help pick out our meal and she picked out such great food! This is fabulous Southern Mexican - not the crud you get with dog food beans and unlimited chips and salsa. If you want that, don't eat at Conmole. If you want authentic food, deep in flavor and depth, eat here! You will not be disappointed. The review that said "you have to like Mole" could not be further from the truth. We dined with two others each time we were there and not one dish contained "mole". read more

We planned a family reunion weekend to celebrate our patriarch's 85th birthday. He and his wife love visiting Oaxaca, so the menu at CONMOLE was a perfect match. Sometimes things look good on paper, but the reality doesn't live up. Conmole looked perfect on paper - and the whole experience was even better. Benos was easy to work with in planning, and accommodating to several dietary issues. But most of all, the food was AMAZING!! The tamales, empañadas, avocado relleno, and ceviche were out of this world! The portions were beyond generous too, and the cocktails terrific! If life brings me back to Cville, Conmole will be top of the list! read more

OMG! Everything is so delicious! Visiting from CA where we have an abundance of Mexican restaurants from which to choose - this place far exceeded our expectations. Standouts: - Empanada - Carne Asada - Chicken Mole And, on top of the great food, the service was tremendous as well! read more

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My husband and I stumbled upon Comal during their soft opening a few weeks ago and are excited to see where this new local small plates Mexican restaurant will go as they get more established! We met the owner who was spoke with such love and passion for the food, and when you taste it, I can see why. It is definitely pricey for the portion size , but the food is cooked well. I believe the menu is intended to change based on the season, and we shared 4 plates and a dessert. Our favorites were 1) the carne asada - perfectly cooked medium rare with delicious homemade corn tortillas and 2) the fish tacos which were topped with very fresh pico de gallo. I found the shrimp to be a little too salty for my taste and the mole to be average. For dessert, we had tres leches which was a great way to end the meal; it was different from other tres leches I've had before in that it was presented in a parfait style. We will definitely come back when looking for a fancy dinner date and they're more established! read more

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Conmole serves deliciously authentic Oaxacan dishes. Halibut ceviche was delicious. We also sampled an empanada, followed by chicken mole and a delicious hanger steak dish. all delicious. we took home the leftover mole sauce from our chicken dish. The margarita and Mojito were also delicious. read more

What a treat! I went to Mexico City earlier this year, and have been craving that style of food. Conmole did not disappoint! We did the Conmole package with the pork tamale, chicken empanada, and the mole negro. We also added on the scallop ceviche. Ordering online was easy and it was ready right on time. When I went to pick up the food, I realized it was an ENORMOUS quantity. We ended up having everything but the rice and chicken mole for dinner, and then had the leftovers for lunch the following day. Getting 4 portions out of one order is never bad. The ceviche was fresh and delish, and the tamale and empanada were both very savory. We were also pleasantly surprised with how good the coliflor was! The mole definitely reminded me of the mole I had in CDMX, with an almost chocolate flavor. I can be a little snobby about food, especially coming from a big city, but this place can hold its own with the best of the DC restaurants. Will definitely be back! read more

Conmole - Mexican Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

The flavors here are amazing! We finally had a chance to check the restaurant that made The Best Thing I Ate All Year on Charlottesville 29 three separate times. The place is tiny, so we emailed that morning to get on the list but also went early at 5:15 to get ahead of any rush. To drink we had Mexicos which were full of fresh mint and lots of flavor. To eat, we started with the weekly special items of pulpo (octopus) and cauliflower with green mole. Both were amazing. For dinner I had the shrimp with black bean mole and he had the pork ribs with red mole. I cannot explain how good the moles are here. And I say that plural because there were so many different versions!! Instead of dessert we opted for a savory mushroom empanada instead. It did not disappoint. My one critique would be that my shrimp didn't come with rice or bread to sop up that black bean mole, but that's literally the only thing I can pretend to complain about. read more

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Delicious food! Conmole has limited seating inside and outside, so having a reservation is a must. We visited in the winter and sat inside and were a little chilly because the front door opened with regularity as the waitstaff delivered food and drinks to outdoor tables. We split an order of the picaditos, empanadas no carne, and enfrijoladas no carne. Everything we tried was delicious with a nice warmth from the spice without being overpowering. I would happily recommend Conmole to anyone. read more

If you like Mole, which translates to sauce in the language of the Aztecs, then this is the place for you. This is their specialty. Anything you get will come with mole. That was the case when we've eaten there. The establishment's hype is that it serves authentic Oaxacan food. The place is small, so most of the tables are outside in a tent with patio with heaters. Be sure to make a reservation and reserve it with a credit card. We've been a few times with friends who will be graduating UVA and with parents. It has been hit or miss. Tastes are repetitive. The portions we were told are family style but, they're more personal style. The margs are OK. There's wine too but we didn't try it. Someone's had the nerve to ask about chips and salsa and the server was not amused. When she left to place the order, someone else, a man, came and said something too. We were at the end of the table and didn't hear. There was a bit of tension and some commentary.. Because who doesn't want to be condescended to and made to feel like a philistine when they ask for a common item, served everywhere, except at an overpriced Mexican joint in a college town. The service has at times been friendly and sometimes not so much. There were six of us and we spent at least $50-$60 per person not including drinks, tax and tip. We were asked to leave after 2 hours to accommodate another reservation. Regardless we very much enjoyed the experience. read more

The food was hit or miss, and mostly overpriced. The mole dish was good, but the tamales were watery and mushy. A $5.00 side of vegetables was tasty, but small. The margaritas were great - maybe even worth the price! No complaints on the service! read more