Duner's is one of the 'most recommended' restaurants I've seen in Cville as we make our culinary tour thru the city with our UVA student. We make an early 5pm resy and there is a line of folks in the parking lot waiting to enter...great sign! It's not a huge restaurant but there is a secondary porch area which was opened during the pandemic so it looks like the space has doubled. It's a quaint and cozy feel and everyone is friendly and inviting. The menu isn't huge but there's a good selection of beef, fish, chicken dishes. The Crispy Brussel Sprouts app was very tasty..had a nice kick to it with good flavor. The Halibut, creamy Shrimp & Sausage Pasta and the Coq au Vin were all very enjoyable. Fresh ingredients and just good solid dishes all around. What we really enjoyed was the Coconut Cake with fresh berries. Wow, fluffy cake with a nice berry sauce and fresh whipped cream. One of the best coconut cakes we've had. Been very impressed with the Charlottesville food scene and Duner's didn't disappoint. read more

Duner's Restaurant - Halibut, Creamy Shrimp & Italian Sausage Pasta, Cow au Vin - New American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Food, vibes, and service were all top-notch! A little on the fancier side so perfect spot for date night. read more

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Had to come back and say Duner's is still delicious. The Brussels/spinach mix is still the best. But this time I tried the beef stew soup option...so so good!!! Would totally order that again. read more

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Went here for a dinner with six people on a Friday night (our brother and sister-in-law treated us!). What a cute spot this is. Lots of people dressed up and looking really nice, and the interior had a really cozy, southern, classic feel. From what I understand, they change their menu frequently, but also keep some flagships on the menu. For me, I tried their grilled pork chops with brussel sprouts and sweet potato. I don't think I'd ever had such a thick-cut pork chop on the bone - the flavor was really nice (had a nice, smokey chipotle BBQ-like sauce). The sides were nothing spectacular but both solid sides. My husband got the crab cake (his death row / last meal order) and he wasn't overly impressed unfortunately. Overall, I thought the food was very solid but nothing was mind-blowing. For a nice, more upscale dinner, this is a good option in the Charlottesville area. read more

Duner's Restaurant - Crab Cakes - New American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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We had an early dinner. Our server, Sasha, was fantastic - attentive, but not hovering, and very knowledgeable about the food on the menu. We ordered the Rainbow Trout Stuffed with Oysters & Spinach, Basmati Rice, Shallot & Caper Brown Butter and also the Duck Breast with Malibu Carrots, Risotto, and Red Wine Gastrique. The risotto was not to my liking (too much cheese) so it was replaced with mashed potatoes, which were very flavorful and delicious. For dessert we shared the Flourless Chocolate Cake which was served with whipped cream, and crème anglaise with a raspberry sauce - loved this dessert. read more

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Our airbnb hostess recommended this place and it was so good! Everything was exceptional. I loved the halibut the best.

Good quality food but overpriced. Loves the Brussel sprouts appetiser, and loves the rockfish entree. Coconut cake was very tasty. Good service, nice atmosphere. One can do better for the money in Charlottesville. read more

Let me start by saying I USED to love this place! I would eat here as a student at UVA for very special occasions and always had fond memories. However, we returned recently after many years and the experience was very disappointing. Our waitress forgot about us for long stretches of time and the meal dragged on and on as if we were forgotten. We had our children with us (12 and 9) who are used to eating out and are very patient but we still had to approach the waitress and ask for our orders to be taken. And even then, after ordering it took them 30+ minutes to bring out their food....and we're talking buttered noodles with some parmesan cheese since they didn't have any child friendly options. I had to ask our waitress to please check and bring their food ASAP and when it did arrive it was cold! It was just a series of service errors....culminating in like a 3+ hour meal for 2 just courses. Ridiculous. The food does taste good but they gotta get their service game together. Maybe the server was new but it just felt like she wasn't sensitive to our needs at all. And then, what's really shady is that AFTER we left, I get an Open Table email that our reservation (which I had personally checked in for with the host) was miraculously cancelled. I emailed the restaurant and they had no response. I think it's because they didn't want us being able to leave a bad Open Table review. I doubt we'll go back...which is sad for me because it always had a special place in my heart. read more

Came here for dinner and had a great meal. The complimentary bread was super soft and warm. I couldn't pass up on having some of it with the delicious butter. Our party of 2 started with the bruschetta, which comes as one big piece. It was full of flavor in every bite. I had the crab cakes and substituted the mashed potatoes for French fries. I especially loved dipping the crab cakes and fries in the tartar sauce. Fried crab cakes were good, but I think they would have been better baked or steamed. Service was fast and friendly. It was a full house on a Wednesday night, so I highly recommend making reservations. Décor here is pretty basic, but great service and food quality. One thing they could improve on is getting some lighting out in the parking lot. It's pitch black on there at night. read more

Duner's Restaurant - Crab cakes - New American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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A local eatery. Sorry to say. Ok food. Not special enough for the prices. Nice staff. Service was good. read more

Food was awesome. We both had seafood. Fresh and tasty. Service was very professional. Ambiance was very pleasant.

Service was very great. Food was not bad but not crowd stopping. The coconut cake was my favorite thing about the meal. Fried oysters were good flavor but they dont give you a whole lot. Steak was juicy but not tender. Pasta wasn't bad, lacked some flavor. Egg rolls has 1 sliver of duck meat and that's it. read more

This restaurant is phenomenal. The service is top-tier and the food is EXCELLENT. I came here after my law school graduation and Matt, along with the other staff, went out of their way to make sure I felt celebrated throughout the whole night. Our waitress (Kayla) explained in detail every dish we had questions on (she clearly does her homework!) and was very attentive. It was so hard to choose what to order because everything sounded phenomenal. Many people at the table ordered different items and everyone LOVED what they got--you can't go wrong with any menu item here! The ambiance is also very special--almost akin to a home-cooked meal in someone's cozy dining room. 100/10 experience. read more

My now husband went here for his graduation dinner many moons ago so we decided to go back on our mini-moon. No acknowledgment about our wedding which was a little sad. The bread here is awesome. He rated it in the top ten he's ever had and even brought some home. They change the menu frequently which is cool. They had a mushroom soup the day we went which was delicious. We tried the Brussel sprout side which was ok. It had like a soupy texture. For entrees I went with the mussels. The broth was good but a lot of the mussels didn't open like 7 or more. I mentioned it and they were nice enough to take it off the bill which I appreciated. My husband had a shrimp pasta that was really really good. He thought it was the best meal of the trip. I think it's worth going back. read more

Stopped into this cozy restaurant for an appetizer to go. I ordered a lovely fig appetizer that had lavender tones.... The goat cheese had a sweetness to it... The figs were absolutely amazing and fresh and the staff, while I waited, were very friendly and cordial read more

Duner's Restaurant - To go fig appetizer With goat cheese and blackberries - New American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

I've heard about this place for years and finally made a reservation to celebrate our wedding anniversary. The space itself isn't very impressive as an older, somewhat cramped building. All of the food we ordered was delicious (though on the heavy side). However, the cocktails were not very good- especially for their price point. Service was excellent and bumps this review up to 4 stars! read more

We came to Duner's for the first time tonight and would definitely come back here again because everything was amazing. I will say that the decor kind of threw me off because I was expecting something more of a fancy dinner vibe based on pictures but honestly it wasn't a big deal that it was more of a cozy vibe. I would describe it additionally as a casual but nice restaurant if that makes sense. Aside from that, everyone was really nice, service was great, food and drink choices were not overwhelming and everything sounds amazing, and they have a great bar. For dinner we had the beef tenderloin, jumbo crab cakes, and a side of carrots. All of it was cooked to absolute perfection and the flavors all meshed well together. I'm a big crab cake person and loved them when I tried a bite from my husband. I opted for the tenderloin tonight though. We finished off with a flourless chocolate cake for dessert and off we went. I definitely recommend coming here and trying all of their amazing food. read more

Duner's Restaurant - Beef tenderloin and local carrot side - New American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Unfortunately my dinner and my friend's dinner were at best mediocre and we were very disappointed as it is an expensive restaurant.. We do plan to go back to assure ourselves it was just a bad night and not the new normal. My curry was bland and I had to send it back to be reheated and my friend's fish dinner was just ok. The staff was great, friendly and helpful and professional. read more

Overall a very nice meal. The restaurant was completely full, but we had a reservation. and were seated without any wait. Service was very warm, prompt and quite attentive service and the food was good. We started with the fried oysters which were very good . . . lightly breaded, hot from the fryer, and nice remoulade sauce. My wife had the crab cakes which were also very good with a very good slaw and I had the grilled salmon with a giant ricotta and ravioli and a relish of sun dried tomatoes and artichoke. I asked for the salmon to be medium rare and unfortunately it was medium to medium well done, so a little disappointing but the ravioli and relish was very good. Quite honestly the star of the meal was desert - chocolate peanut butter torte with a cashew and pecan crust and some creme anglaise - it was truly outstanding. Only other wish is that it weren't so loud. We were in the "side room" and so it was a bit quieter than the main dining room, but we still had to talk very loud to hear one another however this has always been the case at Duner's read more

Over priced. Plain nothing special food. We prefer ethnic interesting food. This is just southern

Ever since new owners took over, a couple of years ago, the food has become mediocre. never changing the menu makes more money than an ever changing menu of excellence. the wait staff are wonderful and the mixed drinks are tasty, however. I ordered fettuccine with sausage and shrimp but there was NO SAUSAGE to be found! This is clearly unacceptable and is indicative of the new Duners, or whatever new moniker they will use. read more

This place used to be the place to go decades ago. Now it is terrible and the service has gone downhill fast. Did they change ownership lately? Something happened because I cannot recommend this place to anyone. read more

I have heard about Duner's for years now, but had not made the visit. We'll, for my wife's birthday, I got reservations and we went. Wow, what an incredible experience. First, ambience and pleasantry of staff was spot on. We were guided to our seats, provided water and menus. Extensive wine menu. Excellent food menu with lots of choices. I was having a hard time deciding between 5 or 6 dishes! The waiter brought yummy bread and butter and was so professional and nice, but gave a comfortable feel. They have plenty of beers, but only Stella on tap...classy and delicious. We chose shrimp egg rolls as an app, then meatloaf and pan seared ahi tuna as our mains. All was prepared perfectly and so good!! Then, we chose the triple chocolate cheesecake and candy cane ice cream sandwich for dessert - a perfect way to top off a splendid meal! We highly recommend and will be back!! #deitzeatz read more

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Let's start with atmosphere. As I walked into Duners I intuitively knew that we chose the perfect restaurant for an exceptional celebratory meal. Our server Kayla was very professional, sweet, and provided top tier service. The manager Matt worked fervently, with such great enthusiasm to ensure we had an amazing experience. He has preeminent sommelier skills, and provided amazing glasses of local wine! read more

Always good food and great service. Look forward every time we go for a special occasion.

Duner's is pretty good. 4/5 for the Charlottesville fine dining scene. Everything you have will be good to great food-wise. Great beef tenderloin. Cocktails will be uninspired but classically alright. Alley Light makes Duner's effort look like cocktails made by children, but it's a good attempt. The wine list is stellar, however. That's what you drink here. All in all, it's worth recommending. The patio is the way to go. Plus for the drive, the bread is great. read more

My husband and I returned to Duner's after a several year hiatus. We were pleased to see not much has changed on the interior. The atmosphere was still very neighborhood friendly. The food was very good. We started with mussels and they were excellent (as always). My husband had the tenderloin steak and I had the crab cake, with finished with a piece of coconut cake. It was all excellent! The one issue we had was the service. We were seated immediately and it took 10 minutes for our waitress to even acknowledge us. The restaurant was not busy. She tried to rush us through ordering while we just wanted to start with a glass of wine. That took another 10 minutes. She ignored us most of the rest of the evening unless she wanted to put our order in. The hostess seemed to provide more service than our waitress as she saw we were being ignored. Bottom line- food was great, atmosphere was fun, service needs some work. read more

Fantastic haven't been to Duners for years and wished we had! It was fantastic! Went for our 20th anniversary. Amazing Halibut dish, partner got incredible salmon dish also had the halibut tostada appetizer equally fabulous. Great service lovely ambience and easy parking! read more

I was treated here for my birthday and absolutely loved all the dishes. It was a cold February day and we were seated in the outdoor, but heated, tent. It.was.still.chilly. We ordered extra wine to keep warm. Our waitress wasn't the most knowledgeable about the menu, so she wasn't very helpful with recommendations. We also got the vibe she was as cold to us as the temperature. Besides that, the fried oysters were delicious, and easily shareable amongst the 4 of us. I got the lamb rack and was pleased. However, the best dish was the fried flounder- also beautifully presented on the dish. We didn't want our night to end there, so we got dessert: the flourless chocolate cake. A great way to end our meal. read more

Tasty American food. Duner's styles itself as a fine dining experience with white tablecloths and candles at every table and soft, slow music playing over the speakers. I ordered the crispy Brussels sprouts and stuffed zucchini. Before our appetizer arrived, we were served piping hot bread with cold butter on the side. The bread tasted like it had been frozen, but we were offered additional bread two times (we accepted once). The Brussels sprouts had an excellent combination of flavors. The zucchini was delicious with perfectly cooked tofu and was served on a bed of lemony greens. Overall, I had a nice time at Duner's and would recommend them for dinner. read more

After so many years (decades, really) finally ate here. Hit it on a Sunday night. Was hoping for a bit more but excellent fare, service and atmosphere. Oysters to start, very good Fish excellent. Duck very tasty. Wine selection nicely offered. Dessert was also great.. I wish I could give 4.5...but was just missing that extra touch to make it perfect. So 4 it is. I will be back. read more

W whine knows this is a gem. Locals love it as one of the few fine dining options out of town. Great menu and service. Cozy atmosphere.

Still the very best of Charlottesville. Enjoyed the Shad Roe ... yes they have it in. FANTASTIC preparation. Drinks fabulous and a chocolate dessert tart that rocked. Can't wait until soft shell season in a few weeks. read more

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I have heard so many great things about Duner's and have had multiple wonderful experiences myself-- and had not; this would be a one star review. My recent experience was the most disappointing 'Fine dining' experience I've ever had. To start, they have completely gutted the bold and broad menu. So many unique dishes have been removed that were a Duner's staple. We started with the fried oysters and they were fine, nothing spectacular but they were good. For my entree we had the halibut and the duck. The Halibut was so dry it was crumbling, the polenta did not taste fresh nor had much flavoring. The duck ($40) and compliments were a complete disappointment. The duck tasted boiled and to top it off it was smothered in a strawberry topping that tasted like jarred smuckers jam. The potatoes were boiled and un-seasoned. To end on a good note our server was fantastic, and has served me before. I don't enjoy writing poor reviews and frankly I only write them in hopes that it will provide insight for areas of improvement. However, with the money that was spent and the quality (or lack there of) that was delivered I won't be back. read more

Overrated... great a decade ago Service is slow & food off a steam table is overcooked read more

Love this place. Food is delicious and service is great. Sometimes it's a little loud but always worth it.

Helpful advice on food choices. Excellent quality. Friendly people. Took pictures for our celebration

Food was good, but clearly had been sitting under a food warmer, so the risotto was crusty and warm but not hot. This restaurant is always busy so the service is slow. It feels like a country diner and very cold. We needed to put on jackets to stay warm. Glad I tried it, but probably won't return. read more

Food was fine. Service below average. Ambiance was average. I considered it overpriced though. read more

I am so happy I finally got around to try Duner's and it didn't disappoint! We started with two of their old fashioned's. Drinks were solid - nothing to write home about. We got the steamed mussels as our appetizer and they were delicious - especially with their house bread to soak up all the garlic-creamy sauce. For entrees, we got the seared duck breast and the grilled tuna. Both were amazing! The duck breast and risotto were perfectly cooked and serve with a delicious savory but tart and sweet raspberry and balsamic glaze. The grilled tuna was seared just right with lovely grill flavors and a nice rare center. It was served on a bed of sushi rice and topped with a citrus slaw. Portions were huge and our server was quick and so friendly. Hope to come back soon! read more

Duner's Restaurant - Grilled tuna with sushi rice, citrus slaw - New American Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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