You ever meet someone who takes something easy and then over complicates life and adds too much or does too much and lacks the fundamentals to do the right thing and just go back to the basics? Well, that's this place and I'll explain to you why. I've really noticed a drop off in quality in food since the pandemic and this place is no different. My favorite thing to eat is a Buffalo Chicken Sandwich, and it's so basic, and so incredibly easy to attempt that I order it because even the lowest of IQs can assert a level of competence and complete the endevour. This sandwich was too complicated, and it's an unnecessary "BIG BITE!" With nearly a gallon of sauce on it which isn't very spicy, and Jesus it's messy. My fingers smelled of Buffalo sauce for two days after eating here. They do go to pound town on this chicken breast and make it into two thin chicken patties, which I assume are pan fried and lack adequate seasoning. This is a gourmet sandwich in terms of price, and it neared the $18 mark. Virginia has California prices, so I guess the market warrants that price for a sub par sandwich. Can't imagine the price of a good one. Like all things, the price really matters and the beer is standard military issue so I wouldn't just go for the beer. Just because supply chains are limited and labor is sparse you simply can't make a bad product for that price. 4.5/10 If you are going to a UVA game and are looking for food I would forego it, but their beer isn't bad. Make sure you wear a mask, because the staff requested them. read more

Kardinal Hall - Chicken Sandwich - Beer Gardens Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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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Ordered a pretzel to go with beer cheese. The pretzel was extremely salty. I had to try and take off a lot of it just cause there was WAYY too much. The beer cheese was meh. It just wasn't cheesy enough and there wasn't much of it. To pay $3 extra for that little was not worth it. All in all, would not recommend the pretzel and cheese, especially for $12 :/ read more

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

An outdoor beer hall type place. Picnic tables set up with proper spacing. Orders are made at one spot. Result was a very long line with one person taking orders. It was annoying as many patrons simply got on line then started inspecting the menu. You had to get up from your table give your order then wait for it to arrive. We ordered kielbasa and bratwurst. My wife's meal came fairly quickly mine was very late. On the good side the food was delicious and we both enjoyed the pretzel roll that the sausages came in. My fries were a bit soggy even after I asked for them to be made crispy. Don't plan on eating at the same time. I used my 15% yelp credit. Yay. We say Food "a", Service "c", ambiance "b", value "b". 2 suggestions would be to figure out the service line in the kitchen or hire another line chef. Second, have at least two order stations this will help end the long line problem and prevent folks from standing around near each other. Mark & Nancy. read more

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

Passing through Charlottesville, I stopped for lunch in this intriguing, but industrial looking building. I walked into the bar to place my food order, and to my surprise, observed multiple large-screen TV's blaring right-wing propaganda from Fox "news" (This should have been a tell-tale sign). But I was hungry and pressed for time, so I decided to eat outside and not be exposed to that garbage. My bratwurst was tasteless and the fries well over-cooked, though the Marzen beer was just fine. I was there to have lunch. Not to be exposed to right-wing extremist rhetoric. Terrible atmosphere.....What are they thinking? Never again, and I'll tell my friends. read more

Kardinal Hall - Outside beer garden - Beer Gardens Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

It's a place to get beer. It has some sticky tables inside, and it has some less sticky tables outside beside a bocci court. It has food, not great food, but it's greasy and it comes out of the kitchen at some point after you order it. It pairs well with lots of beer (not a lot of beers- just want to make sure you read that right). Things to note: if you like the taste of old fryer oil- this is the joint. Get the garlic fries, it's a well-featured flavor. Also, just play along when the server pretends to ask how you'd like your burger cooked- it's a game they play to see if you notice that every burger gets cooked to whatever the line feels like cooking. There's a few upsides to Kardinal Hall, including the Thai Restaurant located right outside the front door (convenient, especially if you want good food after your visit to Kardinal Hall, or before it, or instead of it), as well as the bike shop (in case you want a beer and greasy fries while you are waiting for your bike to get tuned up). read more

Rustic restaurant conveniently located near UVA. It has a very industrial feel and plenty of outdoor seating, prime location for when it warms up to bring your dogs, cats, or hamsters to hang outside. My friend and I visited and as soon as we saw the menu, we had to get poutine. Whoever thought to put gravy and cheese curds on fries was a genius. the ratio was pretty good and their local beers are quite good. They also have a pretty decent collection of board games and a pingpong table to keep you occupied. You can also reserve a large room in case you want to have a party. Definitely worth the stop and visit if you're in the area. Simple menu and not too overwhelming. read more

Kardinal Hall - Beer Gardens Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

If you are going with a big family or group of friends a great place to accommodate lots of people and find something for everyone. If you are going for a date, look somewhere else, the raw garlic on the fries and chaotic layout and serving style will make for some awkward moments. read more

Kardinal Hall - Butternut squash soup and mushroom burger - half eaten - Beer Gardens Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Not sure how this hasn't been reviewed yet. Need a good beer and a place to chill with friends? Kardinal Hall is your spot. Plenty of room to spread out. They have bar seating, regular indoor seating, outdoor seating, and enclosed outdoor seating. Truly something for everyone. In the warmer weather they have two great bocce ball courts outside as well. The place is hopping when it warms up. We try to hit up happy hour. There is $1 off pints, $2 off liters, and $6 pretzels and beer cheese. This time I had 3 Floyds, but previously have had everything from The Veil to Maine Beer Company. It's the only place I've ever had Dinner on tap. Stop in and grab a pint, get some poutine or hand ground sausage. You won't be disappointed. read more

Admittedly, I don't know what to say other than this place is relatively average. However, I do appreciate their creativity during COVID. In particular, they posted their menu via QR code and have abundant, socially distanced outdoor seating options with heat lamps spaced throughout the patio. With the winter coming and stricter restrictions pending for the state of Virginia, I'm not sure I would be comfortable dining inside. Nonetheless, the staff is always friendly and the restaurant is always packed. The bocce ball pit and outdoor lights certainly helps give the place a more elegant, quirky vibe (which attracts customers). Not to mention, beers on tap! You can bring your furry dog too. As for the food, I ordered the bocce balls (essentially deep fried cheese curds, or miniature mozzarella sticks in essence). They were abundant and came accompanied with marinara sauce. Nothing fancy, but then again, who goes to Kardinal Hall for class? For our main course, we ordered the eggplant parm (comes on a brioche bun) with slaw and a portobello burger with fries and organic ketchup. They have a ton of sauces, by the way. I'm including some noteworthy highlights: garlic aioli, bacon aioli (woah!), ranch, and various forms of ketchup and mustard. The fries were served hot and fresh! No complaints here. I did make a reservation for a birthday party, but no accommodations were made... bummer! But at least check-in includes a 15% coupon. Not a bad deal, huh? read more

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Food was adequate. I think (hope? pray?) it'd be better a few beers in. The beer menu was great, but the food was overcooked and under-flavored. And the competing noise of the TVs and music bouncing around in the uninsulated space was disorienting. The staff never came back to enquire whether the "medium" burgers were burnt to the carbonaceous crusts they were. read more

Kardinal Hall - Kids' sliders - Beer Gardens Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

I'm not a big beer person but I liked the wide selection of beers. The burger was mediocre and overpriced. read more

Kardinal Hall - Beer Gardens Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Loved the atmosphere. Inside had a lot of tables and a bar. Outside had bocce ball and a bar and more tables. They had a bookcase full of board game (fun!). Food was awesome. read more

Love going here for a fun night out with friends when we want to drink and play board games! Their drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) are always yummy. I love sipping on The Herbie, but the star of the show is the PRETZEL (10000000 stars for it) with yummy beer cheese and mustard!! So worth it!! I'd eat that pretzel every day if I could. read more

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

Rudest work staff and bartenders ever. Poured a Stout beer that was 90% foam and after waiting 15 minutes it only delivered a half beer. We had a private room but no wait staff. Had to stand in a very long single file line at the bar to order drinks and beer. read more

This has to be my favorite German place I have ever been too, every time I visit my family I always stop by. The space is big in the inside as well as the outside. They have outdoor games and plenty of indoor board games to play. The staff is always friendly and inviting! Recently I went in October so they had Octoberfest specials with the big steins which i loved. I have tried the bratwurst, cheese plate, and meat plate which were all very good! This place is perfect to grab good beer and food and hang around with friends and play games! read more

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

Atmosphere and staff are great! Calamari was perfect. Burgers were very good but VERY GREASY. Will be back to try more stuff:)

I've been to Kardinal Hall many times before and have always enjoyed the beer and ambiance, but after being disparaged and mistreated by the owner, I will not be returning. For some context, the medical and law schools at UVA were hosting a mixer at Kardinal Hall the night of this interaction, and the students planning the event significantly underestimated the number of guests. When I arrived, the owner (who was standing at the entrance) told me and the one person in front of me that they were over capacity and were not letting anyone else in due to the fire hazard. Recounting the events that followed: - The woman in front of me mentions to the owner that she walked there and isn't sure what she should do while she waits. He offers to let her in on the condition that she give him her ID while she is inside (as they were out of drinking glasses and didn't want more people ordering drinks) - I try to give him my ID as well and he says I cannot go inside, noting that this was a "favor" for the other guest "because she was stranded" - I tell him that I walked here from Fry's Spring (45 minutes away). He immediately replies "so you can walk back then" (mind you, it was now dark outside and I am a woman) and insists that the situation is "not the same" - While I continue to wait, he lets in another person who arrives because she tells him that she has friends waiting at a table inside - The owner then suggests that I text my friends who are inside so that they can leave with me - After about 15 minutes of waiting, a few people exit, and a waitress comes over to let me know that I can finally go in (not a word from the owner himself who was standing right next to me guarding the entrance) I understand that Kardinal Hall was in a difficult position, but the owner's baseless differential treatment of customers is unacceptable. If you're going to have a policy, it should apply to everyone equally. I'm not sure if he was on some weird power trip or what, but whatever the case, he is certainly not a good person. There are many other great restaurants and breweries in Charlottesville that are owned by wonderful people. Support them instead. read more

Kardinal Hall - Great place for beer, owned by a not-so-great person - Beer Gardens Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

We have always loved going to KH but tonight was not a good night. First, the portions were tiny. I got the sweet potato and Brussels sprout salad and it barely covered the bottom of the dish. Second, the kid meals are ridiculously expensive. My oldest wanted Mac & cheese; it cost $9 which is the same as the adult portion! Related, my youngest wanted grilled cheese (only $4). Neither come with a fruit or vegetable so I paid $5 for a side of applesauce which is beyond absurd. Lastly, I feel like the tap list has deteriorated over time. We found a few good and new beers to try, but overall the selection is not what it was a year plus ago. Overall they need to work this all out because they should be doing way better than what I have described. read more

Kardinal Hall - Brats and beer! - Beer Gardens Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

They've updated their outdoor space considerably in the last couple of years, covered seating and space for bocce ball. First come first serve seating. Has its own parking (what seems like a rarity in Charlottesville). You order food and drink at the bar and your food is brought out to your table. Quick service, good for a large group with no reservation. Food is a good selection of German inspired bar foods. read more

I have been here so many times, I can't believe I have never written a review before. The atmosphere is fun, sports on the TVs, games to play, etc. The pretzel is great, they changed it recently and the pretzel was good but stick with the mustard and skip the beer cheese. It's an extra $3 and not worth it. The brussel sprouts appetizer was delicious!! Tons of beers and the bartenders are super helpful, if you tell them what you typically enjoy they can help you find the right one for you. Love the patio in the warmer weather. read more

Great place to grab a beer outside, or large inside hall. Large selection of craft beer, on tap and bottles. Decent food as well. Poutine is pretty good, not Canada but hits the spot. read more

Good food, good beer selection. Their default tip setting is 20% and up, way too high for someone doing the most basic bar job of taking an order, turning around to fill it, and handing it off. No one deserves 20% tip for the most basic bartender job. Staff closed the louvers over the garden and watched as water poured down on our pregnant friend and didn't say anything. We brought it up to a different staff member who kind of apologized and then walked off. Brought it up again to the person who originally did it and she pretended like she didn't see it or knew what happened. Not a bad spot, ruined by terrible staff read more

When Kardinal opened a few years ago, I was so happy because it was the first few restaurants in Charlottesville with ample outdoor seating, and good poutine! I really enjoy their keilbasa , especially my favorite kasekrainer! I always add sautéed mushrooms and onions. Don't forget their amazing fries plus garlic aioli dip - must have. Also let's not forget this is a beer hall - so I've heard great things about their beer selection, but I'm not a beer guy so I wouldn't be the best gauge. I appreciate the board games they have ready to play and the number of TVs they have so I could come watch my favorite EPL game or UVA basketball game. Definitely a go-to! read more

This is a great beer garden and restaurant in the heart of Charlottesville. It's a perfect location for any group gathering, sports watching, or enjoying the large outdoor area. The interior is spacious, comfortable with long bench tables for big groups or regular seating for smaller parties, and equipped with a large bar and side counter where you go up to order food. A nice new feature they have is smartphone ordering of drinks from your table, so you don't have to wait up at the bar to get your drinks. The food is German-esque and hearty. You can order a big plate of fries and dipping sauces from a huge list of sauce options, as well as other favorites like their Bavarian pretzel (which was incredibly soft, buttery, and perfectly salty), sandwiches and burgers, and brunch on weekends. I only give it 4 stars because it gets absolutely packed during gametimes and service can be a bit slow during peak times - we had our order of fries forgotten about and had to ask about them 45 minutes later, after which they were promptly delivered. Other than that, it's a great weekend spot for food and drink and hanging out! read more

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It's a meh place. Food is substandard, even for bar standards. Overall the who atmosphere is a drab.

This is a great place to hangout and grab a drink. There are a lot of picnic tables inside as well as a huge bar. It is open inside with exposed ceiling so it feels very spacious. There are a lot of TVs for watching sports. Outside is great for when it's warm. They have lights strung up and there are bocce courts which is really fun. They have $1 off pints during happy hour and discounted food. The food is really good and I particularly like the pretzel. It melts in your mouth and the cheese that goes with it is super flavorful. I wouldn't go for the poutine though, as someone from Canada it's just not up to my standards and will give you a false sense of what poutine should be. However, everything else I've had here is great and there is a huge variety in the beer and cocktails so you can't go wrong here. If you're curious about a drink ask and they will give you a taste! Everyone is super friendly here and wants you to have a great experience. Kardinal Hall is great for groups and I will definitely be back. read more

Kardinal Hall - Bocce courts! - Beer Gardens Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Atmosphere- Nice outside, live band, picnic tables, tons of games to play. Service- Good, not exceptional. One of the bartenders was realy nice. Food- So the burger toppings really confused me. They were listed above the burgers with no price next to them and when I asked I was told most toppings were free or $1 most, but when I got the check the 2 toppings I chose (cheese and mushrooms) were $1 and $2..bummer.I also had a stomach ache after eating my meal. The large fries for $6 seemed a little pricey for the small amount recieved, but they were good tasting. I don't like bad surprises when I get my check so I left a little bummed about that but overall it was a cool bar with an added bonus of being a walkable distance to the downtown area. read more

Kardinal Hall - Leftover pretzel. - Beer Gardens Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Hubby and I watched the World Cup here with our French friends and it was awesome! This place was packed to the gills and the owner still managed to make rounds and chat with guests new and old. Our server was new (I think this might have been her first weekend) and she did great! Sure things took some time but this place was way, way full of a lot of excited folks of guests young and old ready for a battle of the ages. While I only had a little to eat and drink hubby and I agree when we are back in the area we will visit again. read more

It's a marker of my stage in life that it has taken me years to make it to this excellent beer hall. With the UVA students gone for the summer, we decided a visit with our 3 young children wouldn't be a terrible undertaking. Parking was easy and the space is awesome! Loved how large both the indoor and outdoor areas were and we had a really fun time learning how to play bocce ball from the "resident expert". The kiddos played jenga and we were able to enjoy an excellent lunch (15% off with yelp check in!) on a beautiful day. Highly recommend! read more

Had the gazpacho soup, chicken nachos, pretzel with beer cheese and some meat balls. Good food. Beer did not disappoint,

Review for drinks only: Cozied up to the bar here for a few post dinner drinks. The servers were all super friendly and they have a large and diverse offering of beer. They also have some draft wines which is an interesting idea. Lots of varying seating inside and out and some large TVs. They should do an oktoberfest here (maybe they do, we aren't locals)! read more

I came here with friends while visiting Charlottesville and this is my favorite place I tried in that time. Everything from the ambiance, to food and drink, to service was perfect. Ordering at the bar was easy and the bartender was friendly in helping me decide on a beer. I also placed an order for steamed mussels. My friends and I decided to sit in the beautiful outside area which was open and clean. Our food came out quickly right to our table. The mussels were fantastic, very flavorful. If I had any complaint it might be the portion size of mussels but it's probably just they tasted so good I wanted more! The sauce they were in was incredible. It also came with a side of frites which were perfectly cooked and delicious. Overall I had a great experience here and I am looking forward to coming back when I return to Charlottesville! read more

Kardinal Hall - Delicious mussels and frites - Beer Gardens Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

This was our first night exploring in Charlottesville and we decided to end it by eating and drinking at Kardinal Hall. When you walk in, you first get into line to order food and drinks and open a tab. There are a lot of places to sit and it is set up like a beer hall where you mingle with other patrons. We went ahead and got some German lagers (which were delicious) and got the pretzel and nachos as an app to share at our table. The pretzel itself was tasty and fresh but the mustard was not the German mustard I am use to (the type that cleans your sinuses) and the beer chest was okay. The Nachos were tasty but interesting for a German hall. They were your traditional nachos with chicken, avocado, cheese, beans, etc. We ended up splitting a JÄGERSCHNITZEL for our entree. This is where Kardinal Hall fell flat for me. The spatzle had spinach in it ,which was odd to me and did not taste good, the braised cabbage was meh, and overall the schnitzel was okay. Overall was a little disappointed with the entrees and food options. read more

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

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We had never been before, but we are trying all the Charlottesville local spots that are offering takeout during COVID-19 and tonight we opted for Kardinal Hall. First, what an efficient system! When they called to confirm my payment information, I got an order number which correlated with the pickup spot where I could grab my bag at the time they noted on the call. No contact needed. I ordered the Beer Hall Burger and fries (even asked for a side of garlic aioli and they added it!) and a Beef Philly with fries for my husband. The food was really great, even after a 10 minute drive home after pickup. Overall we really enjoyed it and can't wait to order again. More importantly, we can't wait to give Kardinal Hall our business when it's time for a full reopening. read more

Loved this place. Where to begin? I had the bratwurst which was very tasty and tender. One of the best I've had. Wife had the watermelon salad which she really liked. We both devoured the frites which were comparable to those we've had in Belgium. Loved the dipping sauce options also. Add on a great draft beer selection, spacious dining areas both inside and outside, super friendly and attentive service, and you have an experience that's tough to top for casual eating and drinking. Our only regret was we didn't have an opportunity to go back during our stay. Definitely worth checking out on your visit to Charlottesville. read more

Kardinal Hall - Watermelon salad, bratwurst and frites - Beer Gardens Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Oktoberfest is on! Had their special Sauerkraut Soup to start and it was tasty. (Forgot to photo) Also tried their off-the-cob Mexican Street Corn with garlic aioli, lime & parm topping. Steamed mussels were a nicely steamed in a garlic wine sauce. The krapfen was a first for me and didn't disappoint! Doughy inside with crusty outside. The staff were all masked, but not required by customers. Indoor and outdoor patio seating options. Draft beer list is posted on untapped. read more

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Awesome space, great beer selection, and even better food. Wine selection's a little lacking but it's cool. Their price point is steep my glass of wine was $12, crazy land. read more

Nice. Lots of good beers on tap. Ordering @ bar can be daunting. Do yourself a favor and order at the table by using the "GoTab" sticker attached to each table. Now for the food: Pretzel appetizer was a little over cooked and mostly hard instead of soft and hot. We purchased the cheese and found it smokey. My Kaserkrainer was good and had nice spices. I added carmelized onions and sauerkraut. It hit the spot! My wife's grilled chicken and avacado sandwichp off the 'special' menu was ok. The chicken was grilled a bit too long and was hard rather than juicy. It had pickled onions and of course, avacado, a nice ed pairing. read more