The spring menu was awesome! We had yummy German pretzels with beer cheese and wings . Both prepared excellently! My niece and nephew (in law) had steak and salad which they declared delicious and tender. I had poutine- wonderful! The cheese curds were salty and nicely melted, fries crispy and gravy nicely seasoned. Add the fun atmosphere and friendly staff - resulting in a lovely meal and evening!! read more

Kardinal Hall hits that perfect Charlottesville sweet spot: great food, great beer, great people, and a space that feels both fun and thoughtfully designed. My Wahoo daughter brought me here during Family Weekend, and now I totally get why this place is a UVA favorite. The building itself is part of a beautifully restored historic industrial complex off Preston Avenue. It's an adaptive-reuse space (formerly part of the old Coca-Cola bottling works), and the design keeps that industrial character alive: tall ceilings, exposed materials, and a layout that feels open, social, and easygoing. The outdoor area is especially smartly done. They've got roll-down fabric walls and overhead heat lamps that keep the patio comfortable even when the temperature dips. It's basically an all-weather beer-garden vibe, and it works. Here's how our meal went down: * Shared starter: the Jumbo Bavarian Pretzel. Warm, soft, perfectly salted, and killer with both the mustard and the cheese sauce. * My entrée: the Local Steak Salad -- gorgeous presentation, tender grass-fed beef, and those pickled turnips, radish slices, and greens in herb buttermilk dressing absolutely tied it together. * My daughter's entrée: Bratwurst, which disappeared quickly, so that tells you what you need to know. Service setup is counter-service for food with table drop-off, and drinks are ordered directly at the bar. It's efficient, friendly, and gives the whole place an easygoing "European beer hall meets Charlottesville neighborhood spot" feel. Kardinal Hall is one of those places where good food, good architecture, and good energy all line up. If you're in town -- especially visiting UVA -- this is a must-stop. read more

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We hosted our wedding welcome event at Kardinal Hall and could not have been happier with the experience. We worked closely with Chrissy, who helped us plan everything in advance. She was responsive, thoughtful, and really listened to what we wanted. She helped us with layout, timing, food selections, how to use the patio space, and even made sure the mic setup for speeches went smoothly. It honestly felt like she was thinking two steps ahead for us the entire time. Lily was both our bartender and also someone we coordinated with in advance, and she was amazing. Such great energy, friendly with all of our guests, and incredibly efficient at the bar. Multiple people commented on how great she was. The food and drinks were fantastic. We did a variety of appetizers and mains, and our guests raved about everything. The staff made sure trays were consistently replenished and there was more than enough food, which we really appreciated. They also handled dietary preferences that we shared ahead of time and clearly labeled everything, so guests with restrictions felt comfortable and included. We had a partial outdoor patio buyout, and the space was perfect for our group of around 70. Kardinal Hall also allowed us to bring in our own personal touches, which helped the event feel really special and personal to us. Overall, the staff, the food, the service, and the atmosphere all came together to make the night exactly what we hoped it would be. Hosting our welcome event at Kardinal Hall was one of the best decisions we made for our wedding weekend. Highly recommend. read more

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GREAT food/appetizers/drinks for our whole group! Staff were friendly and both the patio and establishment were clean.

Cannot say anything about the food, but the one beer my husband tried he liked. Large venue with tons of seating inside and lots of seating outside. Large bar inside and also quite a few TVs to catch a game. Also very large tables to accommodate groups. Service was good and friendly. Love that they also have a lot of games you can play! read more

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Fairly complete menu with a number of German inspired dishes. I had a veggie burger with side mixed green salad. Delicious. Service was attentive and friendly. 24 beers on tap including a number of local brews. Full service bar. Seating is bar, booths, high tops and a large covered outdoor area. Ample parking on site. Bathrooms were clean and well stocked. read more

Kardinal Hall - Pilsner - Beer Gardens Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Great beer selection. Bartenders are fabulous. Sausages are good. Entrees are outstanding.

Amazing beer selection which you can get to go. We didn't sit down for food, but came over to pick up to-go beer after we had some decent beer down the street at Rockfish, but they didn't have the beers we were interested in to-go. The can/bottle list at Kardinal is extensive and they have it all listed on Untappd, so it's easy to figure out what you'd like and they'll get it for you. The had almost everything we were interested in and there's a discount (I think 30%) for take-out since you're not sitting down. read more

The jaegerschnitzel is very delicious. This dish is enough for two to share. I love the buttery green pasta. I paired this with a Hefeweizen. I love the outdoor eating space. A great place for large groups to gather read more

Kardinal Hall - Jaegerschnitzel - Beer Gardens Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Enjoyed the beer and burgers but do yourself a favor and don't get the salmon salad. This is the normal "portion" according to them. read more

Kardinal Hall - Salmonette salad - Beer Gardens Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Every time I go to Kardinal Hall I can expect a delicious meal always leaving satisfied and happy. The service is fast, and the workers are friendly. I always get my appetizers and french fries within seconds of sitting down. My go to orders are the brussels sprouts, fries, and all of their salads with either chicken or steak added. Definitely a must hit spot in Charlottesville. read more

We initially were interested in coming to Kardinal Hall because, as an Untapped venue, we could see that they have an excellent draft beer list. But, even with this great list, I have become a bigger fan of the food! We have been here three times in the last couple of months. This is more than any other restaurant in the C'Ville area! On our first vistit, Schweety and I shared the Sausage platter. On the second, we shared the Pretzel plate from the brunch menu. They both have so many "little extras" that make the plates special, mustard, pickled items, sauces.... YUMMM On my third visit, I met a friend for lunch and we had salads on the patio. Again, its all the little touches that finish the plate make the dishes exceptional. I love, love, love eating here!!!! Though you order at the bar, all the staff I have interacted with have been outstanding. Thanks for all you do! read more

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Great beer! A huge space for large groups. Bartender Hank is on point. I'll definitely be swinging back next time I'm in cville! read more

Kardinal Hall - Parkway Get Bent IPA - Beer Gardens Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

We enjoyed hanging out at Kardinal Hall during our visit to Charlottesville! It was very crowded, but the staff had a good system with drink orders in the front and food orders in the back. We got a few West Coast IPAs (very good) and a jumbo pretzel with beer cheese (the pretzel was good - nicely salted, a tad greasy for my taste, and the beer cheese was okay - not a ton of flavor). We sat outside for a bit and enjoyed playing some of their card games/watching people play bocce, then we moved inside to the bar to watch some basketball (was glad they had plenty of TVs for March Madness!). The bartender was particularly friendly and welcoming. Good spot overall - would come back! read more

Kardinal Hall - Jumbo Bavarian Pretzel - Beer Gardens Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Nice eats in a relaxed beer hall. Selection for brews was extensive and lots of local options to choose from. Food was good, pretty tight and short menu (on a Sunday), and service was really quick and quick to clean up, so tables were nice and clear and lots of available space when people left. Chill place to come with a group, whether inside or outside, the vibes were pleasant and the food was tasty. read more

Good Food Good Service Good Scene Great for Large Group Patio is Great................. read more

Vibes: 20/10, when we came on Sunday evening, there was also live music! It was so lovely. They have plenty of board games for you to play with your group. Plenty of parkings, there are even EV chargers! We brought our dog and sat out in the patio. Food: 9/10, brussels sprouts were incredible! We each got bratwurst, vegetarian bratwurst and the hot chicken sandwich which we all enjoyed very much. They even have local sauerkraut!! The creme brulee was insane, so so creamy!! Drink: we got 2 beers, a Pumpkin Porter and a Plumpricot Sour, both were very good! read more

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I wanted to come back and update this review I left years ago. I've now been a regular at Kardinal for quite a bit and gotten to know the great team, and the dedicated changes they're making to the place, and have loved seeing them! The food is honestly night and day - so much better now. I grabbed a grilled cheese and tomato soup winter special the other day and absolutely loved it, and I really appreciate seeing them innovate with the menu. The drink selection just keeps getting better as well. They now have some great NAs alongside their huge taps, and they have great cocktails to choose from. The brunch is quite good too, I particularly enjoy the French toast we tried. Overall, I love to see businesses in Cville work hard and get better, and it's been great seeing Kardinal grow. Great place to hang with friends, watch a game, or just hang out at the bar and chat with the awesome staff! read more

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Had a great experience at Kardinal -- my four year old got a grilled cheese I was truly jealous of. Great games selection, too. A perfect spot to get together with friends and spend a few hours drinking and snacking. read more

Their food is delicious! I ordered schnitzel and pretzel they were both great! Outdoor seating is great for groups too! read more

Kardinal Hall - Beer Gardens Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Great Food and Friendly staff with plenty of indoor seating (with Big Screen TV's) and even more outdoor seating. The spinach spatzel and Kielbasa were outstanding! read more

Kardinal Hall - View of the Bocce Court. - Beer Gardens Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

A return after a long..... peri-Covid absence. And the outdoor roofed deck, and a trees within, and a super Sunday afternoon jazz quintet-- just a killer update. A flugelhorn player, and they did Birdland. Chuck and Maynard would be pleased. Brie burger was solid, as was the slaw. I miss the old chile spiced chicken sausages. Tempted by the trout or brat next time. And the beers-- endless. read more

I have been here twice. I have not ever gotten food. The first time I went with a friend, we sat outside, and he ordered drinks at the bar. I drank the drinks. I went back by myself.... I wanted to try the bar food and maybe have a drink at the bar. I was given a menu by someone, maybe another customer?... and the bar tender proceeded to ignore me. I raised my hand at one point to maybe ask a question. I got shushed by the bartender, and he told me he's busy and will be with me shortly. I had already been there well over 25 minutes. AND, the bar was not crowded, nor the inside or outside seating. Needless to say. I left. Probably won't go back, maybe I need to take a man to order for me??! read more

I love the atmosphere here, very fun for a large group, with both indoor and outdoor seating. There was a live band Thursday evening when I went as well! I got the Bavarian pretzel as an appetizer to share, and a Chicken Caesar salad. The mustard was strong but fresh, and cheese sauce was surprisingly mild. The chicken was quite dry, but salad was fine nonetheless. My friends got the burgers, and the fries were amazing. Would come here again for a group event and gathering, especially with the abundant beer selection. read more

Kardinal Hall - Jumbo Bavarian Pretzel - Beer Gardens Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

We arrived on Saturday at 3 and it was hopping. The staff was friendly, but you do need to understand the process there. You order drinks at the bar and then order food at a separate counter. We fumbled around a bit to figure out the processes. Fun environment with a trendy type of seating(wooden). It's family friendly and loud, so we had no issues with a toddler. . There is a definite emphasis on the bar and drinking. It's a college town so to be expected. We all loved the brussel sprouts appetizer. This was our favorite part of the meal along with the fries with sea salt and garlic. Superb bar food, if this is the standard. If German food is what you are anticipating, it isn't what I know as authentic. Brats were meh , but the pretzel buns were the highlight. The sauerkraut on top of the brats isn't what I expected pickled with a vinegary punch, it's a fresher kraut variety. If you want to drink, have food options and eat German-ish this is a good option. read more

Kardinal Hall - Brat with no toppings. - Beer Gardens Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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We went to the Kardinal Hall on Saturday for the first time and definitely will be going back. I ordered the pretzel with beer cheese, which typically I'm not a fan of beer in anything because I feel like sometimes it overpowers the other flavors, but it was delicious. My husband got the spicy kielbasa with a side of fries and it looked and tasted amazing (he cut off a piece for me haha). The menu had various other options that looked good and portion sizes were large enough to keep you full for a while. There are a lot of beer choices and various others like wine and sodas. My soda was a little flat tasting but it was fine. The staff are all really nice and the overall atmosphere was welcoming. I liked the fact that they have board games that you can choose from and play at your table. read more

Kardinal Hall - Pretzel and beer cheese - Beer Gardens Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Great beer selection and the food coming out of the kitchen looked amazing. We sat at the bar and had a view to the open kitchen so we saw a lot of dishes go by. We already had dinner at the black cow and just came in to watch football and tennis. Wish we were hungry cuz the fries and burgers looked Yummy. Only criticism, it was FREEZING! Hey look around, when your customers are all sitting with their arms crossed and your team Members have to wear hoodies you have the AC to F@&$? Cold. read more

WIDE beer selection, but also a decent mix of ciders and cocktails. Their food is excellent. We most enjoy their seasonal salads and the brussel sprouts! Unlike a traditional restaurant, you do order your drinks and food from a central location. If you prefer a waiter, I'd suggest sitting at the bar - the bartenders will be happy to take your order and serve you there as well! We love the vibes here. It's vibrant and energetic, but also a place to kick back and enjoy a beer and some good food! read more

Food delicious, drinks plentiful to choose from. Very helpful service and attentive. Great music and Game Center.

Great place to go after a crowded game day. They had tons of seating which was awesome for big groups. The counter style ordering makes it easy for groups and families too. Lots of TVs up in here to watch the games. Great vibes and lots of unique foods. The german shnitzels were epic and the miso crème brûlée was super random but great. Huge bar selection and lots of tap too. They were swamped with people when we came in but the food still came pretty quickly and the service was amazing through and through. Felt like we were in a classy barn bar with next level food that was unexpected for a brewery. Will definitely be back! read more

Kardinal Hall - Waiting for our food!! - Beer Gardens Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

**added tip without permission** I paid using Apple Pay. I went to grab my beer and immediately realized that I forgot to sign the bill. I saw the manager close out the transaction. I went back to my table to check my online statement, and the bartender/manager had added a 20% tip without my permission. I confronted the manager about, who immediately deflected blame and gaslit me. read more

I absolutely love kardinal hall. Tons of seating, both indoors and outdoors. Amazing beer selection. Awesome menu that changes seasonally. I have two complaints, which don't even begin to detract from the 5 star rating. This place is so popular that sometimes (often) the parking lot isn't big enough. Also most recently,I got the poutine with vegetarian gravy. All individual parts were okay, but my stomach was not not happy afterwards. Considering this is the only place I know of with veggie gravy, though, that barely rates. All in all, a great time and awesome food and beer. read more

Kardinal Hall - Poutine with veggie gravy. - Beer Gardens Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

A great place for any occasion. This was one of my favorite places to have visited on our trip to Charlottesville. We ate, we drank, we watched the game. Kardinal Hall is a good sized place with plenty of seating options, both outside and inside. I love the long tables, perfect for large groups, foodies, and board game lovers. With multiple televisions, you'll never miss a second of whatever game you want to watch. We enjoyed some Brussels sprouts as well as a couple of pretzels. Both were good, but the sprouts could have used a bit more seasoning. The spicy ketchup was awesome though. For drinks, I did a diablo something or other. It was ok. I changed things up to an Octoberfest for the second round. Of note, they ran out of ginger everything -- ginger beer, ginger ale, ginger everything. Fiance doesn't drink much other than ginger cocktails so that was a bummer. I'd really love to come back in the future, but will be sure to bring a sweater. The place was surprisingly cold. Like really cold. read more

I ordered the Kasekrainer and I will have to say, that is one of the best wieners I have ever had in my mouth. I also ordered the wings as an appetizer I did not love them. I ordered them extra crispy and they far from that. The fries were great also and the beer was pretty good, so we will ignore the wing failure. read more

Kardinal Hall - Kasekrainer - Beer Gardens Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Wonderful Bar I've always loved visiting Kardinal Hall. It has a little bit of something for everyone. Jacob, one of the bartenders, is incredibly friendly and you get the vibe that everyone that works there gets along fantastically. They have a great selection of drinks to choose from. I recommend grabbing some of their fries and just doing a taste test of every one of their sauces. The amount of homemade sauces is impressive! I, myself, enjoy their sriracha ketchup. I'll upload more photos of the food on subsequent visits. For now, just know that this is a wonderful place for drinks with friends. If you come here with a group and don't know what to do, they have the largest assortment of board games I've seen anywhere in Charlottesville. You just won't find anything like Kardinal Hall anywhere else in town. read more

Kardinal Hall - Créme brulee - Beer Gardens Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Shocked I haven't yet written a review, as Kardinal Hall is a great staple for group meet-ups/casual drinks/evening hang-outs. They have a good happy hour from 3-6 on weekdays, a huge beer list (but also a full bar!), and some tasty snacks. Their soft pretzel is one of my favorites in the area: well-cooked, fluffy, and a delicious fresh-baked aroma. The patio is spacious and lit nicely to set a chill ambience. Bocce is always fun with friends, and you can get a free set of balls by turning in your ID as collateral. They also have lots of other board games etc for playing inside or out. Inside they have plenty of TVs, so it's also a great spot to go to watch the game. I've always received good, smiling service from the folks behind the bar, the folks who deliver the food, and the manager. Will keep returning and suggest you check it out, too! read more

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Definitely a popular spot for social gathering. It was really nice to be able to bring our dog to the outdoor seating, and everyone treated her nicely :-). The food was ok. Not a ton of flavor and probably not the top reason to come here. I dislike the way the restaurant takes orders. I had to leave the table and go to three different stands inside to place my order (food/payment, non-alcoholic drinks, alcoholic drinks). This is probably more efficient for the restaurant but took me away from the people I was there to see and hang out with. read more

Fun environment to get drinks with friends. There's a good variety of games to choose from for the table. The food was okay and on the more expensive end. My sausage was drier than I would have liked and the toppings were messily placed on top so it wasn't the easiest thing to eat. I ate mine deconstructed. The lettuce for the salad wasn't cut up so it was just big pieces of greens. The blood orange dressing was tasty however. I tried some of my friend's poutine fries which I found to be overly salty. I would recommend just coming for drinks and games. read more

Kardinal Hall - Kielbasa - Beer Gardens Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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It doesn't matter when you go, this is always a fun spot. The beer selection is enormous, and the food has never left me disappointed. Kardinal hall has an expansive outdoor seating area with heaters for when the weather is nice, but also plenty of room inside. The only downside about this place is that I always spend way more than I'm anticipating. The food is definitely pricey for what it is (burgers, brats) and so pair that with a few beers and a casual afternoon or evening definitely gets expensive. So just keep an eye on what you're ordering if you're trying to be budget conscious - it adds up quick! read more

Kardinal Hall - Beer Gardens Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

I was visiting the area for a concert, and my friend and I stumbled upon this place. It had an excellent selection of beer and the bartenders were very informative and helpful when choosing the right beer for us. I was not hungry, but my friend got a huge chicken sandwich that smelled and looked delicious. Additionally, they have a bookshelf of games, so my friend and I were able to drink beer, have some food, and play some cards games, too. Overall, atmosphere is a busy yet casual beer hall. I will definitely return to this place next time I am in the area. read more