What a lovely and charming restaurant! Dined this evening with my family during our stay in…read moreCharlottesville and everything was really great. We began with very well crafted cocktails and I had the most delightful mocktail, an Unlit Gimlet; so bright and fresh and the pink peppercorn garnish was the perfect counter to the sweet. Food from beginning to end was fabulous. Servings sizes were filling and just right and not overly huge. So enjoyed our pastas from the Bolognese, the Carbonara, the Raucci, and the Primaverili (a perfect bite of spring green). Of the four, our table's favorite was the capellini gamberi Raucci but I wouldn't hesitate to order any of our selections. Sides of roasted fennel with oranges (the best fennel I've had) and the cauliflower were beautifully done. Appetizers enjoyed were the Roman artichokes, bread and olive oil, and olives. We ended the evening with the chèvre cheesecake, affogato and espressos. Service was professional, yet friendly and very welcoming. Thank you for an unforgettable evening!

We went to tavola tonight for my partners birthday and overall we had a good time and would be…read moreback. Between us, we did 3 cocktails, 2 apps, 2 entrees and 2 desserts and the bill came to about $220 tax and tip included. The restaurant had their main door closed (maybe they always do?) so we entered through a narrow back alley entrance into their bar. Parking is kinda tough. We did arrive a few mins early to our reservation and watched a table of 2 and 4 get seated before us which was a bit frustrating (it seemed like the host knew them and maybe they were given preference). Additionally, despite the reservation saying it was for my partners birthday it was not mentioned while we were being sat or by our server during our meal. Other restaurants in town (particularly Orzo and C&O) are really good about noticing these reservation notes and ensuring they are acknowledged. Both restaurants have also provided complimentary dessert or champagne and so it was a bit of a bummer it seemed to not be noticed at all. The ambiance was also much louder than we expected. Unfortunately we got sat next to 4 very drunk rowdy women which can't be helped but we could hardly hear each other over how loud the room was. The vibe was more of a nice dinner out with friends than romantic intimate dinner we hoped for. The music was upbeat and funky. Not a bad thing just maybe a misfit for what we were hoping for this evening. I haven't been here before so it might have been nicer to be sat in a quieter corner since it was just the two of us (not sure if that would have been possible). Our server Ginger was nice. She did provide a list of special for the evening which we ordered a few of. Food wise, tavola, in my opinion, certainly beats mockingbird or the local which are its two neighboring restaurants I've been to. It's actually not even a close comparison the food is significantly better imo. For starters we had the fried artichoke in aioli. Delicious - 5/5. Only problem was there wasn't more of it! The bread was from alb baking co and was served with olive oil. It was fine. Not the best bread or oil I've had. For drinks we had the alpine air (gin, pear, lemon, rosemary I think) and some pear cocktail (pear simple, Tito's, maybe pear liqueur?). My partner had an espresso martini with dessert. All cocktails were 5/5. Very good. For entrees we had the duck rotini and the pork special with collard greens and potatos au gratin. The rotini duck was interesting. I liked the flavor profile of duck, cocoa (in the pasta), pickled chiles and mushroom. I did feel like the flavor combination was so rich I wish they would have been a little more bold with the cocoa flavor. To be honest, it got lost and was completely overpowered by the mushroom flavor in the sauce. The sauce itself felt more of like a butter and fell a bit flat. The duck was chopped into small pieces and I just felt like the execution of this dish didn't do the ingredients justice. I wish they had done a braised duck breast in maybe a cocoa-orange sauce as I thought the cocoa duck combination was quite smart. I felt like the pasta version of these flavors just fell a bit flat and ended up feeling a bit bland as the mushroom was the only prominent note. Overall, I'd give this a 3/5. Neither of us were wowed by it but I think the flavors are ambitious and interesting. The pork on the other hand was fabulous. The pork was cooked perfectly in what felt like a wine reduction and was incredibly tender, no knife needed. The potatoes au gratin were a tad on the underdone side and had a bit more bite than maybe I expected but the flavor with the caramelized onion on top was fabulous. The collard greens are some of the best I've ever had. I love collard greens and am quite picky and these were amazing. I wanted a whole plate of them. 5/5. We ordered Brussels and pancetta on the side and this was also a 5/5. Very good. For dessert we had the tiramisu and the cheese plate. The tiramisu, frankly, was a 2/5. The lady fingers were totally soaking and the dessert was actually just a wet blob. The texture was just not good. The cheese plate was fine, 3/5. It was served with grilled crostini, cherries and candied walnuts. The cheeses themselves were a soft maybe goat cheese, what felt like pepper jack, and then two hard cheeses similar to Parmesan. None of them were particularly flavorful or compelling. I wish the plate had been served with some sort of jelly or sweet spread to accompany the cheeses as I felt the bread nut cheese combo was a bit too dry. Overall, I would say the main foods we had were very good and I think next time we may try their more traditional italian pastas like the carbonara or the bucatini. Overall I think the food here is very good and we would be back.

Delicious hole in the wall, fresh Italian pasta takeout window. I have tried the ravioli, pesto…read morepasta, pizza, and kale salad. I loved it all. It tasted fresh and delicious. I'll definitely be back!

IF you are looking for a good pasta spot, this is the place to go!…read more Hidden in a small window on the side of the street is Luce! Through the window you can order with the cooks and your order will come out super fast. The workers were honestly so friendly and they made sure to carefully stuff all of the food into the box. As for the food itself, I got a Bolo and honestly it had my jaw on the floor! It was one of the best Pasta place i've ever been to and I honestly would come again!

Husband and I went here for dinner during our first night in Charlottesville. The pizza had great…read moretextures- thin crust on the bottom but bready at the edge, and the right amount of cheese and spicy sausage topping. We each got a pizza and were able to finish both since we were starving. We loved the pizza scissors! Our server was prompt, and we felt lucky to be seated right away on a Wednesday night. Their connecting bar was having a concert outside, with what felt like hundreds of people in attendance. We also learned that we could park in the industrial warehouse lot next door since it was after 5 PM. We'll be back!

SERVICE We came in on a rainy evening and were told the…read morewait might be about 45 minutes...and no space to wait indoors so we sat outside in the covered patio and they came by to let us order drinks as we waited. Thankfully, got the drink and were called in early about 15 minutes into the wait. That little surprise made things start off on a good note. Once inside, we sat at the bar since there weren't tables available and we were HUNGRY and cold! Even with the weather and a busy crowd, everything felt smooth and relaxed. AMBIANCE The place was small and cozy with a warm vibe that instantly made us forget the rain outside! The cool shallot-shaped lamps over the bar gave off soft light, making the whole space feel super calm and inviting. Sitting at the bar felt right choice for us for our first time -- close enough to the energy of the restaurant and people watching and seeing the pizzas get made but still comfortable! There's a soft buzz but cozy enough to chat and just feel at home. FOOD We ordered the Abruzzo pizza with beef and pork meatballs, fiore di latte, San Marzano tomato, basil, and pecorino. It was hearty and rich but still balanced. We also wanted to try the Prosciutto pizza, which was not the favorite but still good. The San Marzano tomato sauce for the Abruzzo was the star of the show. We were sad we didn't order another pizza with the tomato sauce to switch it up but oh well, another time right?! Loved the floppiness, the tomato sauce flavor, and the crust! Have to love the scissor-plate idea -- very clever and so easy. And size of these personal small-sized pizzas perfect for 2 people so we could have room for dessert and not have leftovers! We finished with the Zeppole "donuts" which were fried ricotta donuts tossed in cinnamon sugar with a hint of lemon (which I LOVED the lemon here and cinnamon sugar worked perfectly!). They were light, warm, crispy and just what you want at the end of a meal. The food was delicious, though definitely on the pricier side ($16-$18 each for the small pizzas, $9 for dessert. Still, everything felt thoughtful and worth it for the quality!

SERVICE Rolled in on a late night for a spontaneous date and…read morewas told the wait would be about 45 minutes since we didn't have a reservation. About a few minutes after purring our names down, we were told it could be shorter since some parties cancelled their reservation! AMBIANCE We were seated upstairs in a small table in the middle of the dining room. It was a cute candlelit and homey and cozy spot...the booths upstairs seemed to be able to fit 6 or so and it was somewhat loud later in the night due to some nearby folks on their second or third round of drinks. Once seated our waitress served us water and bread which was slightly warmed. We decided to each order a salad and try the pasta dishes but no sides to save room for dessert! FOOD Our salads came pretty quickly and were good portioned for the price in this economy. The spinach salad with goat cheese, beets and the walnut candied crunch were quite tasty and the Caesar was solid too. Nothing amazing but served as fresh appetizer/starters for us. 10-15 minutes later our pasta dishes arrived. The spaghetti bowl was massive and the bolognese was also a huge portion! The meatballs were hefty and well seasoned. While a bit oily for my taste and in leftover form, the bolognese dish was delicious! Loved the house made tagliatelle with the thick handmade bounce texture and beefy tomato sauce. Definitely too much food for us so we got a takeout box and took half home. The tiramisu was well portioned, fluffy and airy and the ladyfingers were not oversoaked and there wasn't as bold of an espresso flavor as I liked but definitely one of the better spots in this area. OVERALL Totally would return for next date night and way better valued than Tavola. Loved the pasta dishes way more here and the tiramisu was at least much more authentic in my opinion. Only taking off a star since our service was definitely way slower than expected after asking for more water and the check. But overall cute and solid through and though.

Disappointed in the decline in service and quality. We've been a patron of Vivace for a long time,…read morebut have really seen a significant fall off in the last year or so - especially regarding service. Our most recent dinner there was slow and inattentive. Dishes were forgotten and did not arrive, and the ones that came were lukewarm at best. No one cleared plates and no one checked on our satisfaction with our meals. Expect an experience that leans heavily on the long time reputation of the place and less on the current quality of the food and service.

Food is great, service is great, design is great. We went for Restaurant Week and the place was…read morepacked but still enough space for every table to feel independent. My favorite dish was the Red Pepper hummus and the Rosemary olive oil cake

Went over the summer, sat outside. Other than the occasional loud car going by, it was a great…read moreexperience. Food was good, waitress was helpful with all aspects of the meal.

One word... EXCEPTIONAL! I've never been so excited to leave a review…read more Vinny, the owner, sets the bar for service, hospitality, and overall quality. He is attentive, generous, and ensures everyone's needs are met above expectation. He has a sense of humor as well that makes you forget he's the owner and want him to join you for dinner. Now the food... absolutely delicious! The mashed potatoes, butter chicken, curry, limoncello cake, spanish coffee, etc etc etc! Everything was so delicious, I didn't take any pictures, I lived in the experience! The staff were amazing as well. Always on it with refills, clearing the table, ensuring you have the best time. This is now a for sure stop when we visit the area. Add Vinny and the Fiorano team to your dining list!

Amazing. Period. You come here and you found a jewel in this area. Amazing food..the Indian and…read moreItalian, seriously, so good it catches you off guard! The owner Vinny and chef Mike are amazing...they treat you like a family member. Can't wait to come back!!

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

This local Italian gem exceeded every expectation. The ambiance was warm and welcoming, making it…read moreeasy to relax and truly enjoy the experience without ever feeling rushed. You can taste the quality in every bite -- from the locally sourced meats to the fresh, thoughtfully prepared dishes. The calamari was hands down the best I've ever had -- lightly breaded and perfectly cooked so you could actually taste the seafood. Our table ordered the Seafood Pappardelle, Carne Carmello, Chicken, and Manicotti, and every dish was exceptional. Each entrée comes with a house salad and their spectacular homemade dressing, which honestly could be a star on its own. The whole experience felt like eating in a friend's home rather than a restaurant. Incredible food, fair pricing, and genuine hospitality. Highly recommend!

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

Mushroom ravioli was excellent, pink sauce was lacking substance…read more First Bourbon drink was served in martini glass no ice; second one was served properly and was much better.