Food was delicious! A Southern take on local food. And I loved the grits. Wine list was a bit sparse and they were even out of some of the few they listed... Friendly staff and a nice table by the window. read more

We ate here only because it had 4 stars on Yelp. We were disappointed. The place was not busy; yet we waited over 30 minutes for our food. My husband had ribs, broccoli, and biscuits. I expected amazing biscuits since they were a side dish. I had never seen biscuits as a side. I got crab cakes, sweet potato fries, and mac/cheese. For the prices, the food was disappointing. The biscuits were no bigger than fifty cent pieces. The crab cakes were small. The mac/cheese had a white sauce that had an old taste to it. The ribs were good. Our meal came to $48.53 without tip and that is with water to drink. It was not worth this amount. I would not recommend this place. read more

Still great food at great prices! For those who haven't tried this restaurant... Shame on you.

We found this place awesome. The staff were very accommodating when we were looking for a warmer place to sit. The fried oysters tasted awesome, the collard greens and grits were amazing, tenderloin was great, and the desert tasted good as well. Servers were very attentive and polite, environment was very cozy and homely. read more

I went here for restaurant week the other evening and was not impressed. I had the fried green tomatoes as an appetizer, which was delicious, but unfortunately the only part of the meal I enjoyed. I ordered the NY strip steak for my main course, which was horribly over seasoned (all I could taste was pepper...not good), and the quality of the meat didn't match the price. The service was sub-par. The entire meal took 2.5 hours, and it wasn't because we wanted it to, it's because the waiter seemingly kept forgetting about us or the kitchen wasn't firing off plates quickly enough. I was given the wrong red wine and when I pointed it out to the waiter, instead of offering me another glass, he insisted I was wrong. Ok then, guess I'll just drink this wine that isn't the wine I ordered! Thank goodness I had good company or else the dinner would have been a complete bust! read more

Excellent food! Vegetarian and vegan friendly. Terrific seitan steak and all the sides we tried were tasty. Great atmosphere!

We met friends at Maya this Fall and had really good food, great service for a big group. Went back and had a more cozy experience in the bar area. Again, great food and great service in spite of a TV in the bar (sound muted.) Trout, brussel sprouts, greens, creamed spinach, NY Strip, grits and butternut squash soup were all hits with us. read more

Found this place on a road trip stop. Very glad with our decision! Very good atmosphere, good service, and great food. Started with the cheese fritters (which I highly recommend) and then had the ribs which were some of the best that I had ever had and definitely best I've had in the state. read more

The food is subpar for the price you pay. When we initially came in, I was brushed to the side by a waitress who didn't even bother to say excuse me. So much for southern hospitality... We were greeted by a male host, who is presumably the manager, based on a conversation I heard about him. He asked if we had a reservation, which we didn't, and of course they had limited seating (bar or patio). Which is fine. But I didn't really appreciate his tone that he was over burdened by us even coming in. We first asked for the patio, and he took his time to get menus and utensils (but who cares, since I didn't really mind). But then I saw spots at the end of the bar, and asked my husband if he wanted to just grab those spots. He said sure and when he tried to alert the manager, he just peaked out the corner of his eye and pretended to not hear us. Again, I just brushed it off but I was a little peeved at this point since another couple grabbed the seats we were about to take. Not a big deal, so on to dinner. We sat outside by the bushes and were feasted on by mosquitoes. The manager also was slowly making his way to closing the tent because it was chilly outside, but it took him an hour to even get the tent down. Heat would have been nice, but at least I had my coat. Anyway, we ordered pimento fritters and I got the Ginger Bomb cocktail. Both were decent, but I don't think the fritters were worth $8. They were okay, but kind of cold and filled with mostly air. How is that even possible. The menu selection wasn't impressive and at this point I just wanted something decent and flavorful. When it came to the entree I decided on crab cakes. The crab cakes were a mistake. The portion size was unimpressive and it took 40-45 minutes to get our food, which seemed like forever. I got two small crab cakes for $22. In terms of flavor and texture? I liken the texture to a soggy wet napkin and the flavor was very fishy. Almost ammoniated, which I find alarming. I took two bites and just decided to pass. I didn't ask for my money back because of how unapproachable the manager was and the waitress was super nice and I didn't want to put her or us in any awkward situation. I wouldn't count on having us come back. Update after a few hours: I've definitely gotten food poisoning from the dinner here. I strongly advise against the crab cakes. I only had two bites, and it was enough to make me sick. I felt nauseous after the first hour, hoping it would subside, but has gotten worse. read more

My husband and I traveled to Charlottesville for a Thanksgiving getaway. We searched online for a restaurant with a focus on local food for our Thanksgiving dinner. We read a lot about Maya online, and thought it would be a nice romantic choice. When we arrived, we were seated in a noisy area right by the entryway into the room (I had requested a quiet spot). Our server did not greet us for about ten minutes, and when she did, there was no "Happy Thanksgiving" or introduction. She took our drink orders briskly and asked if we were ready to order. We were, but only because we had been waiting so long. It felt as if we were at Applebee's. Our first course was brought out, and they had left the oysters (the most important part!) off my husband's plate. I had the shrimp and grits, which was okay, but nothing spectacular. For our second course, he had the traditional Thanksgiving meal (turkey, mashed potatoes, etc.) and I had the vegetarian option. Both meals were okay, but again, nothing to write home about. I asked for bread with our meal, but the answer from our server was that they didn't have bread. A bit strange we both thought since it was Thanksgiving, and it would be assumed that rolls or bread would be provided. After the dinner, they quickly brought dessert. My dessert was supposed to be a warm molasses cake, but it was served cold. My husband had the apple pie, also served cold, with a tiny dollop of ice cream. Again, the food was decent, but underwhelming and the portions were quite small (we are both slim people, so it's not as if we eat a ton). During dinner, our waitress checked on us maybe twice. We each wanted another glass of wine, but it was never even offered. Almost as soon as we were done with our last bite of dessert, the check was brought over. They had automatically added 20% gratuity to the check. We normally tip very well, and especially on a holiday, we would if we felt the service was good. However, this was the type of service that hardly deserved a generous tip. At one point, the manager spoke to the server over our table regarding the fact that they were out of apple pie. It seemed very rude to speak to her over our table while she was helping us. Overall, my husband and I felt that they did the bare minimum in all areas. The service was just okay, as was the food and the ambiance. We went to The Whiskey Jar for dinner the following night, and the food was delicious and the service was excellent and friendly. I would recommend trying them out if you are in the area. read more

Came during restaurant week. This place has some nice items but doesn't stick the landing. I started with the pimento fritters, they were great and the pimento was accentuated by, not competing with, the pepper jelly. Next came the trout. Well cooked but the skin had become soggy (perhaps sitting for too long?). The sides to the trout were chopped brussell sprouts and bacon that was ok and some kind of quinoa/dirty rice that was very dry. Closed out with the pineapple upside-down cake that seemed to be missing the pineapple. During dessert the chefs were telling a loud story that involved lots of cursing. Maybe they shouldn't have such a wide window to set the food out. The service was inattentive despite the largely empty dining room. I can see why it wasn't very full but given some more attention this place could be great. read more

Fantastic food in a rustic Virginia setting. Time it right and you can watch the sun set over the Blue ridge mountains.

My husband gave this restaurant high marks after attending a law school reunion party here. He took me there to eat tonight. Unfortunately, we had an awful experience. The service was horrible. One server told us he would bring us new forks after eating an appetizer. Our entree came and we had no forks. My sides and his entree were lukewarm. I wanted spicy vinegar and it never showed up, even though I was told that it was not a problem to bring. Our cornbread came cold with no butter. I'm use to great cornbread. It was the worst I've every had. NC BBQ joints on a bad day have a better recipe. We ordered a bottle of wine that was finally brought to the table mid way through the meal. We refused it. Our waiter was nonexistent and several different servers were attempting to wait on us. The waiter finally came back to try to apologize for the some of the problems. At that point it was too little too late. There are many good restaurants in C'ville. I look forward to going to others. read more

We had our rehearsal dinner at Maya - one of our best wedding decisions!!! Besides the food being phenomenal Johnson and his staff are exceptional!!! We changed our count, menu options and even the party location within the restaurant a few times, they were accommodating from start to finish! They responded quickly and efficiently to all our emails, addressed our concerns and more each and every time. They were truly a pleasure to work with!! Our 60 person rehearsal dinner was seamless!! Thank you Johnson and staff for your great work! read more

Avoid this place. Limited menu, slow service, high prices, small portions and the food is mediocre at best. The ambience is kind of nice and that's the only good thing I can say. read more

lovely lovely yummy food. i've been there twice. LOVE the macaroni side. the drinks are really delicious and the bartender was great to converse with.\ we got their special chili this one evening (it's not on the menu) when it was yucky and cold and wet outside. first, this portion size was awesome. second, it was just about the most perfect thing to have in that weather. not too salty, very flavorful. got the chicken once -- very soft and tender and juicy. then another time i went i got the tilapia from the tuesday $15 menu and it was also delicious! basically, everything i've had here was so yummy. my biggest and only complaint is parking is just... atrocious to find. read more

We visited Maya at the start of restaurant week. As expected, the service and meal were perfect. Maya has ben a favorite of ours for years and continues the tradition of excellence. read more

Excellent. Uniquely prepared cuisine with fine ingredients and imagination. Worth the wait for the food.

came with a group (including little kids) and sat outside to enjoy sunday brunch. amazing! highly recommend. i am truly still dreaming about the veggie potato cakes with smoked salmon and chive sour cream. the southern biscuits were divine as well. someone else got the steak and eggs over grits with crawfish gravy and raved. only complaint was that the bloody mary could've been more interesting! read more

We went to Maya for 9pm dinner since we stopped over to UVA. The food was delicious, had the fried oysters which were big. Dinner entrees were pork tenderloin, bbq ribs, chicken, & fried catfish, all delicious and tender not dry. We asked for corn bread but they were gone. The dessert was just ok for the chess pie which is dense. The place open late till 2am for late night hang out there are a couple of specials, like $5 hummus & $1.5 small Caesar salad with chicken I think. There is an open patio for big groups. Overall my family enjoyed the meals. Just wish there is easy free parking at night instead of paying at the metered parking lot. read more

The drinks are really yummy, strong and creative! I have lots of good memories coming here over the past years. The fish is my favorite.

I picked this place for dinner for me and my wife cry getaway weekend to Charlottesville based on the Yelp reviews. It definitely came through! We had reservations at 6:30, but they were gracious enough to allow us to be seated a little bit earlier so we can make a movie. The place wasn't really full at all when we got there but by the time we left it was totally packed. Very extensive drink menu with some great choices for beer wine cocktails pretty much anything you could want. We had the mushroom plates appetizer which was very interesting but also very good. I had the regular menu catfish which was absolutely delicious and my wife had the blackened salmon special which was also fantastic. Do yourself a favor and get the corn bread with butter and honey as a side. You won't regret it. Our server was absolutely outstanding! I wish I could remember his name so I could give him a shout out here, but unfortunately I can't. So glad we chose Maya amongst many great restaurants in Charlottesville. read more

Second time dining here, and still in love with the place. If the ambiance of the place doesn't get you, the amazing menu of local, fresh ingredients will! Our server Sarah E. Was spectacular; knowledgeable, quick, and friendly! We both loved our dishes, but I think my scallops were just incredible. I highly recommend this place, whether for a get together with friends, or a romantic night for two. I am looking forward to celebrating my anniversary there for many years to come!!! read more

Had my son's rehearsal dinner at Maya. Everything was perfect! We had delicious food, great service, and they even decorated the room just how I wanted with hand picked flowers and candles. Johnson was very helpful and responded promptly to all my questions in the weeks before. They made it effortless and stress free so that I could enjoy the evening with family and friends. All of my guests loved the dinner and atmosphere. Thank you, Maya! read more

Enjoyed every part our meal! The atmosphere was great, live music was wonderful, and the food was awesome. We will definitely be coming back. read more

Had my first meal in Charlottesville at Maya and I was impressed. The pimento fritters were amazing and my cornbread and catfish were dead on southern comfort. The drinks were generously poured and our server was fantastic. If I lived here I'd eat at Maya often. read more

We had dinner on our first night in Charlottesville. It was excellent. I had the trout (locally sourced) along with white cheddar stone ground grits and sugar snap peas with shallots. The food was perfectly seasoned and was southern food at its best. Hubby had the NY Strip and it was spot on. Dessert was a pineapple upside down cake. It had an interesting presentation and was on the small side for the price ($7) but it was worth it. Bill was $62 with no alcohol. Well worth it. read more

Great meal! Shrimp & Grits were to die for. Our server Hillary was so nice and helpful with the menu. She gave excellent recommendations, and helped my mom select the perfect wine. So glad we went here for our only night in Charlottesville! read more

I heart Maya. They have fun indoor and outdoor seating and are located smack in the middle of West Main street which is a nice place to walk around. The staff is nice and helpful, they have really nice cocktails (I like the Roger Rabbit, carrot juice and ginger based) but they do not have much beer on tap. If you don't mind beer in bottles than you are set. My favorite time to go to Maya is on $12 Tuesdays. They have a special menu which you can order from 3-4 main courses and then pick two sides from roughly 6 options. I personally think that's plenty of options for twelve bucks! I usually get the fried chicken, mac and cheese and collard greens. The fried chicken in a flattened breast and is super crispy- the gravy on it is fantastic, but they often don't give you enough of it! The mac and cheese is typically comforting, and the collard greens are my personal show stopper. I have found them to be slightly different every time I go but never a disappointment. They are cooked in vinegar and have a nice, meaty texture. Incredibly savory! read more

Maya offers quite a bit of gluten free options. I ordered the cornmeal catfish with brussel sprouts and sage carrots. The catfish was excellent! It tasted super fresh and was cooked to perfection. The sides were ok and could benefit from a heavier hand with seasonings but I would return anytime for some more great catfish! read more

Five stars in every dimension of dining and hospitality- really friendly and helpful in the phone, not just saccharine nice; unpretentious, attractive interior setup, and most importantly of all the food is excellent. We were amazed at the menu selection, wine and beer choices, food quality, flavor and presentation. The trout was perfect, the cornmeal fried oysters were excellent, and the ribs were the best I've ever had and that's saying a lot. Maya is one of those rare places that motivates me to write a review. They would stand out against anyplace; hope they are wildly successful but don't lose their soul. read more

Had a great dinner here tonight with my family. The atmosphere is simple --- exposed brick walls, polished wood--- a little noisy and kitchen is exposed. We split two apps --- fried oysters (fried perfectly in cornmeal) and fried green tomatoes --- perfect and sauce was tasty. Two of us had the trout --- Shenandoah --- pan fried in browned butter with capers -- a hit! Two of us had the chicken breast in ham gravy --- another winner. All entrees come with a choice of two sides ---- greens (vinegary and nice), hushpuppies (a little dry but good), buttermilk biscuts (nice!), and cornbread (dense and flavorful). We split a bottle wine and enjoyed coffee afterwards but were too stuffed for dessert. Friendly, attentive waitstaff. A little high for the area but good value. Definitely worth a visit ---- Southern upscale-downhome. read more

Good food -- nothing special -- but lousy service. I was in a group of 8, so I was prepared for things to be a bit slow. But it took 30 minutes to get a drink from time of order...and we waited one hour and 5 minutes for the meal to come. Inexcusable, especially for a Tuesday night. The mandatory 20% tip was the final insult -- after such abysmal service and ordinary food. read more

I've eaten here many times. The food is always very good, and the bartenders are superb, but I wish the menu changed more - every time I go I feel like I see the same thing. That said I do love the trout with brown butter, the bbq shrimp and grits, and the fried green tomatoes with pimiento cheese. My favorite place to eat here is at the bar! read more

This was a great evening on the patio with server Hillary. Great food, great service and a great bargain on a Tuesday (or Wednesday) night.next time in The area. read more

Absolutely my favorite in Charlottesville. The service is always great, as is the food. Their mac n' cheese is delicious! Lots of delicious entrees too, especially love their chicken dish. For an app, I recommend the fried green tomatoes and the pimento cheese fritters, YUM! Sit at the cozy bar, Ted is an awesome bartender! read more

My fiancé and I ate here and we liked it so much that we scheduled our rehearsal dinner hear. The waitstaff and management are extremely accommodating and friendly. Altogether, a five-star dining experience. read more

Very disappointed with our Mother's Day brunch. We arrived at 11:30 for our reservation and were looking forward to their fixed menu options. Our waitress started off by apologizing for taking so long to serve us--she was dealing with an issue on the patio. It appears that we were out of her section and it showed--we were an afterthought the entire morning. The restaurant had not finished service on our table by 1:20--and we had to leave to get to a concert--two hours to serve a fixed menu is a bit much. To top it all off--all of the food was lukewarm to cold. I give the place two stars because the menu was inventive and the food was good---but I would seriously stay away from this place for graduation or any other time when they might be busy--they cannot handle it. read more

I am all about giving a restaurant a chance - so after two different experiences, my review is in. First - Easter Brunch My mom was meeting my boyfriend for the first time, so the stakes were already high. He is quite a healthy eater so had not great expectations about filling him up. We each order one entree (waffles, eggs benedict, and an omelet), along with one side (shrimp & grits, fruit bowl, and meat platter). What we received was less than a child size portion of food that was just ehh. Needless to say we left very hungry and disappointed that we weren't getting a little bit more for our money. Nevertheless decided to give it another shot. Second - Restaurant Week Those unfamiliar with this event, it occurs twice a year in Charlottesville. Some select restaurants put together a small menu consisting of a few appetizers, entrees, and desserts. Each diner chooses one from each category, and the meal is either $16, $26, or $36 depending on the restaurant. Maya was a $26 one. Food - (1) For our appetizers we each picked - the BBQ wontons, fried green tomatoes, and the shrimp. All were very tasty but a little on the small side. (2) For entrees two of us ordered the blackened mahi-mahi and the other got the Coca-Cola chicken. The mahi was VERY blackened and honestly quite dry, although the side garnishes of watermelon and hominey were yummy. Same story with the chicken, pretty dry, garnishes were good. Last, but my favorite part, dessert. (3) Two of us ordered the bourbon chocolate torte and the other the lemon chess pie. Another flavor problem with the torte - when they said bourbon they weren't kidding, the alcoholic taste/burn was insane. I am a huge chocolate lover and am very sad to say I couldn't finish half of the dessert it was that intense. The chess pie was also nothing to write home about. Flavors were fine, berry compote was immensely lacking. All in all the food flavors were just too intense for us. Service - most of the wait staff was incredibly friendly, a few were a little awkward. My mom's and my meals kept getting switched as they were delivered by food runners and not our server, but that's not a huge deal. Atmosphere - we sat inside and it was a little noisy (just from people talking), but it wasn't a huge deal. They do have a great outdoor seating area which was popping and looked great! TLDR - food is overly seasoned or over cooked; atmosphere is noisy but good outdoor space; wait staff is friendly read more

We had my son's and (now) daughter-in-law's wedding rehearsal dinner party here a few days ago. It was held in the upstairs area which has exposed brick and lots of character. The food was delicious and the service excellent. I organized this party long-distance with the help of Maya's event coordinator, Johnson, and he could not have been nicer or more helpful. The food was exactly what we had ordered and the wait staff very attentive to our guests' drink orders. I highly recommend Maya! read more