Up the steps from the Amtrak station, you'll spot a neon "Get in Here" sign welcoming delicious margaritas and Tex-Mex food on Main Street. I visited for Thursday evening dinner with a friend, and thoroughly enjoyed my meal. I ordered the Thai Chicken Burrito, and it was a very filling portion. The prices were affordable for the meal, particularly drinks at the bar. My favorite aspect was their sauces, and one had an excellent and really spicy kick. Service was also great, and was attentive in checking on us and refilling our water throughout the meal. There's reserved parking spots for those driving that are located in the alley behind the restaurant itself. I'd recommend this space as a spot for casual dining and if you need a quick bite after a long train ride (like mine!). read more

Continental Divide - Thai Chicken Burrito: grilled chicken, stir-fried cabbage, vegetables, ancho peanut sauce - Mexican Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

We got the Santa Fe enchiladas and carnitas tacos. Both were good, carnitas were particularly delicious and huge portions as well! Service was a bit slow but it was also really busy (full house 15 minutes after opening on a weeknight!). Only complaint was that it was quite loud and hard to talk while there. read more

I have trouble with a business that gives you the middle finger upon entering. Their "too busy, too loud, too bad" mantra is cute, but the too loud is an understatement. My answer to them is...I'm too unimpressed to return. read more

Food was delish! Service w/ a smile. Fun atmosphere--loud but lots of energy for a mid-week night. Going back! read more

Came here with friends to sip on margaritas and grab dinner. We came on a Wednesday night at 6 pm and the restaurant was packed. All the seats at the bar were taken and there were people waiting for a table by the door.   I tried the House Margarita, Side Chips with Guacamole, Carnitas Tacos, Beef Tacos, and the Santa Fe Enchilada. The House Margarita was so good. It's definitely really strong, so I don't recommend doing what I did and drinking it on an empty stomach before eating-- they really hit me as I hadn't eaten since 9 am that day! The Carnitas Tacos were really good and my favorite dish of the night. The pork had a nice crispy texture, and the tacos were tasty and had a great balance of flavors with the seasoned pork, lime, and queso fresco. I would definitely get it again. I thought that the other dishes were standard. Good but not amazing Tex-Mex. I plan to come back for the margs, carnitas, and to try the other items on the menu. read more

See all

One of my favorite places in town! Definitely expect to wait unless you get there at opening, but it is always worth it. I have never been disappointed by their quesadilla of the day, and the nachos are incredible. I have food allergies and they have always been helpful and accommodating during each of my visits. read more

Continental Divide - Two quesadillas and nachos - Mexican Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

The best loud crowded place you've ever been. The staff are AMAZING and gave us some wonderful food. I got the tuna tostada and it was perfectly crispy and the tuna was tender and flavorful. The drinks are amazing and the people are even better. read more

See all

The neon sign instructs you to "Get In Here" and it would behoove you to follow its directions!  Continental Divide is one of my favorite spots in Charlottesville. I haven't been back in some time, but I was relieved that the Tex-Mex grub is still fab, the house margaritas ($7.50) are still divine, and the servers are still cool. And the space is still snug. They do seat small parties in the giant booths though. Going early is often a wise idea.  I don't think you can really go wrong with anything on the menu, like the Santa Fe enchiladas ($12.50), a phenomenal slurry of chicken, cheese, sauce, and tortillas. The infamous pumpkin muffin comes as a side, along with rice and beans.  The only thing I didn't like previously was that smoking was allowed but now it's not so hooray. And parking can sometimes be a hassle though a space usually turns up somewhere not too far away after minimal searching. There's certainly a reason why the Divide has been around since 1994! read more

Little and unassuming from the outside, it packs a punch on the inside. Large stone bar, and maybe ten booths/tables? Bar seating is first come, first serve, but to get a table, expect a wait and your whole party needs to be present. House margs are strong and the bartender is quick. Keep in mind this place gets packed but staff size doesn't change so they keep it little frills with the drink menu. Food is wonderful and portions are substantial. Prices are fair. Had the bean and cheese burrito and it came with a pumpkin muffin and rice, I didn't know I needed a pumpkin muffin with a burrito but I absolutely do! They have homemade hot sauces that are also delicious. read more

Hidden behind unassuming cinder-block walls, a folded paper menu with tape that's barely hanging on, and a green neon sign, saying "Get In Here" is Continental Divide. The food there is decent. I got the Santa Fe Enchilada and it was pretty filling. The real gold lies in their margaritas though. Like the aggressive sign, the alcohol menu is assertive in its wide range of tequilas. My friends and I tried the house brand. And holy sh*t Continental Divide's margaritas are the best in Charlottesville. They were so good that I just had to order another one. All I have to remember what happened after my second drink was a blurry picture that looks like it was taken on an iPhone 2. Safe to say, I had a gooddd night. read more

Continental Divide - Mexican Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

A small restaurant with big tastes! This place had a variety of options in the menu and the Thai chicken burrito was the best! Highly recommend the margs. We waited a while on a Thursday night for a seat but the food was worth the wait. read more

Continental Divide - Chicken Fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

See all

Continental Divide was an okay Tex-Amex option in downtown Charlottesville, VA. As vegetarians, we modified the Santa Fe Enchiladas by removing the chicken and replacing it with spinach, mushrooms, or beans! Each of the dishes had their own distinct taste and was definitely different relative to other traditional Tex-Med spots. I recommend giving it a try out of completeness, but it's nothing special. read more

See all

From the moment you step inside, you'll notice the bustling and casual atmosphere of Continental Divide. It's charming interior, loyal customers, and energetic waiters make it one of Charlottesville's classics. We tried their carnitas tacos and chicken fajitas. The carnitas had a great crispness and char to them and were decently flavorful. The tacos were also loaded with meat and toppings. The chicken in the fajitas were seasoned well and the meat was cooked perfectly moist. I also really enjoyed their house guac that came with the fajitas. We got to try their "danger" and "wait a minute" hot sauces. Danger was way too spicy for me as someone who can usually handle some spice. Wait a minute wasn't that spicy to me at all but had a yummy fruity flavor to it that went well with my fajitas. read more

Continental Divide - Carnitas Tacos and Chicken Fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

This place has consistently great food, awesome service and is a Charlottesville staple! One place I could send anyone and they always remember the food. Definitely one of my favorite spots in town! I always get the Santa Fe enchiladas and red hot blues. But the specials are always bomb.com Cocktails are always on point as well. read more

Not much DIVIDING between me and the food at this place. My friend and I randomly found this place and fell in love. So the next time we were in town we had to visit. Definitely a low key place, but the nachos were some of the best I've had. They gave us different sauces and hot sauces to try with it. They also made some bomb Jalepennño margs read more

Continental Divide - Mexican Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Great bar with fantastic margaritas. Excellent Mexican dishes. Nachos to die for. Always crowded but worth it. Expect to wait.

The food was very good and tasty, but the noise levels are really challenging. It is definitely a step up from the usual Mexican type restaurant, but again prepared to have to yell across the table to enjoy conversation with your friends. read more

This was my second time dining at Continental divide and I really enjoyed both times. Their margaritas are the best I've had so far! I got chicken fajitas and my friend got soup and platter. Their chicken was very well marinated and guacamole was great! The atmosphere is a bit casual though. But I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone. read more

Continental Divide - Chicken fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

See all

What's not to like? The noise you say? Haha-too bad! That's part of the charm. This place has remained a Cville fave for many years and it's because the food is great and never changes. No frills, no silly hipster spins on a classic. My faves are the spinach enchiladas, the nachos & the tuna w crema but everything is good. You can't go wrong. I love that the entrees come w a pumpkin muffin-yummmm read more

This place is between a 3.5 to 4 for me. I look the atmosphere and the food is good. This time I went with a group of 7 and we squeezed into a booth since their seating is limited. I got the tuna tostada which was cooked rare. The goat cheese and chips really made the dish as the tuna was just decent. I also tried my bf's quesadilla and it was THE BEST quesadilla I've ever tried. I just had a regular margarita and it was good but nothing special. read more

I've died and went to heaven. My search is finally over. I have found the best Mexican food in Cville. I'm my heart is happy that I have finally found good Mexican food just when I was gonna give up my search. I started off my visit with a Margarita and boy it did not disappoint. It was so good I had two. But after two I prob should have just had one bc boy those creep up ok you so quickly. Def going back for a few more of those bad boys. Then on deck was the nachos. Omg omg omg!!! It was a big plate def a shareable item. The guac was even breath taking because finding good avocados and good gauc is also hard to find here. It was a great mixture of beans, cheese, jalapeños, pico de Gallo all evenly balanced. And last but not least the pecan bar was so tasty, and I couldn't put my fork down. The serves was on point, the atmosphere was dimly light perfect for a date night. I can not wait to come back and try out more food items but everything looks so delicious. Continental divide... YOU WIN!!! Also GET THE SAUCES!!!!! read more

See all

5 Stars for food (if you order the right food), 2 for service. Let me start with the good: We started with the black bean nachos, which were pretty good but lacking in size- between the 7 of us, we each got only a few chips. I ordered the Santa Fe enchiladas, which is apparently the most popular item. They were delicious and filling, and the pumpkin muffin on the side was a nice treat. My friend ordered the vegetarian enchiladas, but it was clear they were not as delectable; they had skimped on the sauce and all I could taste was a mouthful of spinach. My other friends reported that they enjoyed their beef tacos, which seemed to come on ordinary store-bought tortillas. Really? If you're not going to give us free chips and salsa, you've got to at least home make your tortillas. However, I'm not going to dock the rating because I didn't eat the tacos. The initial greeting we got was quite unwelcoming. I was celebrating my birthday with my six friends and asked what the wait time would be and received an "I don't know." Okay, fair enough, but the hostess then proceeded to sneakily talk to the couple in front of us. There apparently is a rule that you have to have your whole party with you to be seated, and the couple kept insisting that the other members of their party were on the way. The hostess acted like they were in on a secret and seated half of the party. Meanwhile, I was trying to communicate with her that our party, who had been waiting for a while, would be happy to squeeze into one booth, but I was given a rude look that signaled "I don't have time for you." Our waitress was a lot better, but the checks took forever to come out. Overall I would go back with a small party- this restaurant's size matches it's service. read more

Continental Divide - Santa Fe enchiladas with a pumpkin miffin - Mexican Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

See all

My boyfriend and I go here all the time. Their nachos are fantastic, margaritas delicious, and prices on point. Had one rude waitress last time we went but that was very unusual, generally the staff are very friendly. read more

Continental Divide - Chili nachos - Mexican Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

First time here and I will definitely be back. The place is noisy and crowded, but the service was great and everything I tried was delicious. Highly recommend the Santa Fe Enchilada! They also have an extensive list of tequilas accompanied by prices that are hard to beat. read more

Continental Divide - Santa Fe Enchilada and Cabo Wabo Reposado - Mexican Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

I love this place but .... embarrassing when I bring my whole family over and it's closed again. I came on Black Friday and they were closed I get it it's a holiday weekend but when yelp and google and everything else say your opened. I used to come all the time before Covid but now they are closed more than they're open read more

That's it, I have to do it. I have to give it 5 stars. The Santa Fe enchiladas were some of the best I've ever had and the accompanying pumpkin muffin was perfect; it was dense, had real weight to it, was moist, and full of flavor. The enchiladas were perfectly spicy (which is to say, medium spice). The side of beans and rice was fairly lame though since it lacked any interesting flavors; it was really just seemingly plain rice and black beans. My partner got the quesadilla and it was phenomenal too. She was able to pull a stronger for cheese out of it that was ~2 feet long. The tortilla was also very well done with a slight crispiness to it. Overall, this place is too good to leave at only 4 stars. It's perhaps a "basic" place in the sense it isn't innovating or doing anything outside of the box, but it's execution is nearly flawless. Well done. read more

Outside: don't bother looking for a giant Continental Divide sign, because you won't find one, and before you know it, you've wound up somewhere in the Downtown Mall, wandering desolately in search of some good nachos. Instead, look for the wash of hazy neon blue, the words swimming up before you eyes, "Get In Here" and get inside, because those beloved wooden booths are about to be filled up fast with people who know that fantastic restaurants are born, not made. This one's in the same strip as a prissy French place and a pawn shop, surrounded by auto garages and an Amtrak station. This one's not going to scream its name at you. This one really is a local joint, past the mob of undergrads and the Corner, and if you're lucky to find it or be with people who like adventure and stepping into dark unnamed restaurants, then you'll want to come by and come by often. I've always loved the idea of a speakeasy, because you step outside in a cold dark night with a purpose in finding a place that won't do you the honor of announcing itself. No, you're going to have to ask the People Who Know Things, you'll have to look for telephone booths and unmarked doors and shadows of people inside, so Continental Divide, never put up an awning with CD on it. There are enough loyal customers, enough people who love the deceptively strong margaritas and tuna tostadas and kind waitresses, enough people who appreciate the no-bullshit printed on the menus**, to live without such a sign. **People with babies please step outside. The baby is cute but the baby is also screaming its tiny head off. read more

I love this place, although I do not go as often as I would like. This place is not all that easy to spot from the street, so look for the green neon "Get In Here" sign in their front window. Once inside, it is easy to see what makes this place so much fun (their slogan is "Too Small, Too Crowded, Too Loud, Too Bad!"). They have many nice items on the menu, and my favorites are the Texas Hummus (made from black eyed peas) and their Quesadilla del Dia (with the filling usually involving carmelized onion). Their bar features a huge selection of top shelf tequillas. So their margaritas are always made from scratch (no mixes) and quite delicious. read more

The food was pretty good, but i didn't think the experience was all that great the host seemed completely unhappy with being there. i don't like the obnoxious vibe i get from it either. there's a tshirt that says "too small. too noisy. too crowded. too bad" and on the menu it says "come on-don't even think about asking for separate checks". what is so hard about separate checks? just write 1 check per person. it's also a little too dim for my liking read more

My mom was a patient in ICU at UVA Medical Center and I wanted a place to eat in walking distance. Multiple nurses told me about the Continental Divide and said it was a must try. My daughter and I went on a Sunday night and sat at the bar because the tables were occupied. The bartender was very knowledgable and friendly. The food was spot on! I don't usually like salsa but this had a little kick to it and was good. My daughter ordered the Santa Fe Enchilada and I got the Carnitas. Another first for me was the Pumpkin muffin. I dipped mine in the spicy Enchilada sauce and it was amazing! A small menu, which I believe makes it so good. Stick with a few things and do them right, and this place does just that! read more

Continental Divide - Santa Fe Enchilada with Pumpkin Muffin - Mexican Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

See all

Have been here several times and always leave satisfied! My most recent visit was this past Tuesday around 9:30. Despite the late arrival, our server was extremely friendly! She had great recommendations for both food and drinks. I had one of the House Special margaritas and split the Red Hot Blues appetizer. Both were so great! For the main meal I had the beef tacos and my friend had the pork tacos. Both were delicious and super filling! If you're looking for great, authentic margaritas and tasty food, this is the spot! read more

Doesn't work for groups of six or more. The wait staff was a little "out of it". Our nachos were burnt, yes burnt. The food was decent, but they ran out of rice. So I had two tacos and a spoonful of beans for $14. No thanks. read more

Continental Divide - Mexican Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

See all

Only problem really was even finding the place. I walked by it about 2 times until I asked some people who walked out of the place. It's located next to L'etoile under a tan, unmarked awning and darkish windows. Got the Red Hot Blues as an appetizer. Basically spicy cheesy nachos topped with jalapenos and goat cheese. No skimping here on the toppings. Yum. Entree was the Tuna Tostada. Loved the two sauces that mingled harmoniously on my dish. One was orange, the other was green. Lovely with the crispy tostada tortilas. "Sushi-grade" tuna was ok but not too great. Kind of overcooked for my taste, making it tougher and dryer around the outside. Kind of bland, making the yummy sauces a necessity. Portions and price are pretty decent. I would definitely come back again. read more

First time dine here. Place was packed, we got to stand in line for table. We finally got table, we got 2 of our friends line up for us. We ordered a must ordered appetizers called red and blue nachos(it has goat cheese as well), and for my entree i had pork carnitas. Absolutely loved it!!!! read more

See all

Tasty food and strong margaritas. Continental divide always seems to be packed (and thus takes no reservations), but dining here is definitely worth the wait. The margarita menu gives you a choice of 40-50 tequila options to form the base of the margarita and then you can choose either the "regular" or the "special". I ordered the special and it was the strongest margarita I have ever received from a restaurant but it was still tasty even if you're not a huge tequila fan. I ordered the Red Hot Blues as an appetizer and the spinach and mushroom enchiladas as my entree. Both dishes were absolutely delicious. The Red Hot Blues came with actual melted cheese instead of a weird cheese sauce like some restaurants choose. The enchiladas were tasty and ostensibly "healthy". Maybe? I felt good after eating them anyway. I would highly recommend Continental Divide. There are clear reasons as to why it is so popular. read more

This is a place you have to know exists to find it - the only signage is a green neon sign with the words "Get In Here" on it. It is small so you will have to wait a while on weekends to get in. The Mexican food here is pretty good, but not amazing. I'm never blown away by any food here but it is consistent. The drinks, however, are super good and I would definitely recommend a margarita. The service is great here and everyone is super friendly. I would probably choose to go to a different Mexican restaurant instead, but this is a great option for drinks. If you're going to eat here I would recommend the carnitas tacos though! read more

The reviews about the service here really threw me off because I read them before going here and tried to prepare myself. But the rude vibe others noted was non-existent. Granted, we sat at the bar and only conversed with the bartender and it wasn't a hopping weekend, but still, they made a good impression on me. Even despite the fact that there's absolutely no signage outside. (Side note: I wish that wasn't a "thing" right now, not identifying your business.) The tequila list is long and varied. There were cheap ones for $5 and others that exceeded $20. Not feeling particularly adventurous, I went with an on-the-rocks Patron margarita. It was strong but not overwhelming in a way that was actually a turn-off -- you want to be able to actually enjoy your strong drink. We also checked out the food menu, and there were many that sounded pretty good. I nibbled on my friend's Texas hummus with tortilla chips -- pretty standard hummus -- that was good with the margarita. read more

Finding this restaurant was akin to a scavenger hunt but one well worth it. The restaurant's name is not found above your typical awning but rather it is hand written in small green script directly on the brick outside the doorway. Note: there is also a neon sign that simply says "Get in here!" You'll also find the daily specials printed and tacked in a straight forward manner with masking tape right above it. All of this cloak and dagger business definitely piqued my interest. My friends and I gathered here for our weekly dinner and we were delighted to find that this hidden alcove has great grub. Our group ordered the nacho dish with black beans, pork tacos, beef tacos, and the Santa Fe enchiladas with pumpkin muffin. Let me start backwards: the pumpkin muffin was a bizarre side choice but incredible in a "I taste like sentimental fall holidays and warm gatherings around a bonfire with crisp October air and a mug of cider" kind of way. As a group, we demolished that muffin within minutes. The nachos with black beans were a flavorful menagerie of chess, jalapeños, black beans, and nachos. The pork and beef tacos were good, extremely flavorful pulled meat without the typical assault of unnecessary spice. It had a pleasant natural meaty flavor as a result of marination and tender pulling. The corn salsa was a nice subtle additive to the already succulent meat. The side dishes were a mix of black beans and rice and came in a pretty fair sized serving. The Santa Fe enchilada with chicken was traditionally crafted with sauces and cheese, but the real surprise factor was the quality of the meat. The chicken was actually tender and not stringy or dry like a majority of places that serve enchiladas. Bravo, Continental Divide, you did your protein justice. The ambiance was nice barring the incredibly loud and boisterous group sitting in the booth directly behind ours. It was rather unfortunate considering their conversation volume was overpowering everyone else in the restaurant. We were basically screaming at each other toward the end of the meal. Even our waitress joked that she would give us ear plugs if they had 'em. The very least, the staff here is nice and good humored. The general consensus was positive and that we'd definitely be back! read more

See all

Continental Divide is by far my favorite Mexican place in Cville! It is Tex Mex, not authentic,but it is still awesome. You would never notice this place from the street because it is pretty close to the bridge, and they just have a neon sign in the window that says, "Get In Here". Even though it seems like a hidden gem, people know about it and love it. For that reason, be prepared for a wait. You can leave and come back, and upon your return, you'll be first on the list. We opted to do that because it's not very spacious. We grabbed a drink at the Cville-ian Brewing Company just down the street, and when we returned, they were able to seat us within five minutes. They have a fairly large selection of tequila and a small beer list. I have gotten both--the house margarita is pretty good. As other Yelpers have recommended, the Red Hot Blues are awesome! This place loves goat cheese, and I love them for that. Every time I have been there, I've ordered the bean and cheese burrito. It is plenty of food to eat one for dinner and to save the second for lunch the next day. I especially love when it has lots of mushrooms! The dish comes with rice and a pumpkin muffin, which I like to eat as dessert. It seems really random, but it totally complements this dish. I can't say enough good things about Continental Divide, if you haven't been yet, you must "Get in there!" soon! read more

See all

This is a go-to for date night! It's a small place and it would be nigh impossible to tolerate the wait for a party of more than 2 (often over an hour wait on weekends and no reservations taken). The Red Hot Blues appetizer is to die for, and the special margaritas are always great because you can pick what kind of tequila to have in it! It's generally crowded and a bit dark inside, so know that the ambiance is a bit more casual and rugged (like the real continental divide!) read more