We tried to get a table for dinner on a Friday night at 6:30 pm without a reservation and were told there were no tables for the rest of the night. We went on the website and saw it said reservation required, but no one told us this when we asked if there were any tables. Made a reservation online for 8 pm and returned. We were seated inside and forgotten. Had to ask someone if we would have a server soon. The young man was very friendly and apologetic and took our order even though he wasn't our server. The food was delicious-my husband said it was the best steak he's ever had. We were forgotten again and a bus person noticed and got us our check. Our server did check on us a couple times and was apologetic and said it was a chaotic night. Giving this place a 3 star rating due to service which is a shame since everyone (aside from the woman who flat out turned us away at 6:30) was very nice. read more

Amazing food! Outside dining And great service . I was really impressed how well they handled the COVID-19 crisis . Felt safe for our whole meal read more

My friend and I were visiting for the weekend I Charlottesville, and did a yelp search, finding this quiet but awesome gem. We got some of the seafood dishes, and were impressed with the flavor combos, and well thought out service. Overall great dining experience considering COVID 19 has changed so much! Work definitely come back for more! The oysters were amazing! read more

Maya - Fried Cornmeal Crusted Fried Oysters - Southern Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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We went with a large group, and our service was great. There's only one vegetarian option for entrees, which was disappointing. The macaroni was great, but the cornbread was super dry and the collard greens weren't the best. I'd recommend it for large groups since it can accommodate them, but I wouldn't hurry to go back otherwise. read more

Delicious menu, professional service. Arrive early if you want to take advantage of their excellent happy hour - bar seating only!

I visited Maya with my family during Charlottesville's restaurant week for my mom's birthday, and we had a great experience! I should start out by saying I haven't had the chance to eat at Maya when they weren't offering the restaurant week promotion, but my parents had and were excited to return. Since it was restaurant week, we got three courses for $39. Most of the menu was southern-leaning with some modern twists. For appetizers, I got fried clams with remoulade, and my family tried the ribs and zucchini noodles with pesto. Our entrees were split evenly between the steak and game hen, and then for dessert, a few of us tried the s'mores mousse while others got the pineapple cake. Everything tasted excellent and seemed to be very thoughtfully prepared. Sometimes, restaurant week menus can feel a little rushed but that was certainly not the case here. I tried a gin cocktail that was also quite good, and my sister had a vodka lemonade cocktail that she really enjoyed. Our server was friendly and gladly provided some suggestions when we asked her for menu recommendations; she clearly knew a lot about what the kitchen was offering. She checked up on us frequently and brought out our food and the check quickly. We didn't interact with many other employees besides her and the host, but everyone seemed to be pretty nice and efficient at their jobs. The restaurant week cost was maybe a little more expensive than it would be to just order a few appetizers and desserts to share alongside individual entrees, but the quality of the meal certainly made it worth it. We'll definitely return to Maya in the future for other special occasions! read more

Went for dinner with my 79 y/o mother and they asked me if I had reservations and I said no. They said they only had available the bar with full service. The stool at the bar were so high it was going to be impossible for my 4'11" mother to seat there and the lady was fine with that, didn't say wait time will be 45 minutes, an hour - she wanted us out of there as soon as possible. I truly believe MAYA Restaurant didn't want to serve these Latinas ladies. read more

This place was amazing and service was great! Everything was amazing except mushroom risotto was not amazing but still good everything else made it well worth the trip! read more

My husband and I did not make a reservation for dinner so we waited at the bar until a table was open. The bartender working that night was actually the GM and it was extremely friendly and a pleasure to talk to. We finished our drinks and got a table. I'll keep the review short. Everything was slow. Mind you, this was a Wednesday night. The waiter was slow to take our first drink order. The food was slow in coming out. The food was decent, but lacked flavor. We had the scallops, Mac n cheese and Brussels sprouts. Regardless of our experience, I am always appreciative of hospitality workers. On my way out, I said " thank you ! Have a great night! to the tall gentlemen with glasses that was the host/food runner and after I walked through the door he mocked me as I exited. I know this because my husband was several steps behind me and heard him. So I won't be returning to this establishment and supporting a business that mocks its patrons. read more

So I have been here three times. I keep waiting for the great wow experience, but this time I was just so underwhelmed I had to review. First, make the doorway inviting instead of making people search for it, and then get rid of the crappy looking velvet curtain you have to push out of the way to get in. Trying to keep out the cold? Upgrade to double doors or something, but make it more attractive! The drink menu is extensive. Pricey, but lots to choose from. When the drinks came, my beer was delivered in the bottle, with no offer of a glass. THAT lacks class. Delivered and left, and not all that cold. The menu looks great, until you see the prices. But then you think, well this should be something special! So we ordered, a little disappointed that salad wasn't a side choice. A side salad was on the "specials" menu and would have been an additional $8. Hmmm. OK, so then we wondered when the bread comes...NEVER. What kind of (expensive) restaurant doesn't bring bread to the table?! Service was slow, ie it took at least 30 -40 minutes for dinner to come. My catfish was tasty, the grits nothing special, and the broccoli overcooked and over seasoned. The presentation of some of the meals was like a home-cooked meal, three piles of food. I mean look at the pics on this site, it's nothing special, and every entree was over $20, most over $24. For that price, I expected a more appetizing presentation. Yeah, I know, it's southern. But that doesn't mean backyard. PS the place was cold. Half our table had to put on their coats. Upside, our waitress was very good. Can't fault her for the overpriced food. In my opinion, Charlottesville thinks they are a foody town, but I don't think most of the people reviewing have eaten at REALLY good restaurants. I've been living here for 9 years, and have found very few places that can combine excellent service with deliciously prepared food at a reasonable price. Maya was a disappointment that I won't be experiencing again. read more

The Maya might have two of the best appetizers in Charlottesville. The pimento cheese fritters and the friend green tomatoes were nothing short of spectacular. The fritters are worth going to the restaurant for. I had the trout and it was cooked perfectly. I'm not really a trout person but the waiter recommended it and he was dead on. My wife wanted the ribs but the waiter talked her into salmon cakes. We convinced him to still bring a sampling of the ribs which the chef was gracious enough to do. The salmon cakes were not the most flavorful but the ribs were very good. The peanut butter pie was also delightful, but the blackberry cobbler may have been one of the top 5 desserts I've ever eaten. read more

Highly recommend sitting at the bar. The pimento cheese fritters and fried oysters were great. Ted, the bartender, was super friendly and accommodating. The happy hour deals are clutch. The ribs were falling off the bone. Plus, there were some cool regulars there to guide us on our journey read more

My sister and I had an exceptional meal at Maya. She had the fried oysters and loved them. I had an absolutely massive pepper steak, perfectly cooked. I'll be back! read more

We had a really great dinner at Maya. Excellent hush puppies to start then we got ribs and fried catfish. The catfish was amazing and I would highly recommend. Ribs were great also but not as great as the catfish. You can't go wrong ordering the biscuits and potato hash as sides either. Finished off with ice cream which was excellent. The ambiance was pretty casual so it was a nice comfortable dinner. read more

Really enjoyed the Smokey the Bee cocktail and the Fried Green Tomatoes! The Shrimp and Grits was out of this world! Service was great too. I'll definitely be back. read more

Dishonest business, but good food. They wouldn't honor gift cards that were from Dab for Good Bingo, hosted by Random Row Brewery for charity. If they're going to donate gift cards for a promo during this charity, they should have the common decency to honor them. Charity Bingo should ban their contributions. read more

Well prepared wholesome southern style meals at a reasonable price. Granted the hipster place down the block will be slightly more impressive with their plating and use of menu lingo, but Maya as some great food, is more relaxed, slightly more affordable, and certainly worth stopping by. We started with coupled canned local beers. I always prefer draft beers, but at least they have a nice selection of local and domestic cans/bottles at good price($5-6). We split the spinach salad with goat cheese, almond, cranberry, and bacon. It was tasty and good size, but not anything unique or impressive. Similarly the side order of biscuits weren't overly memorable, however the honey and butter they came with certainly helped add some deliciousness. Both our entrees were quite tasty. She had the pan fried local trout and I got the pork tenderloin. The trout was wonderfully cooked with nice crispy skin, super tender on the inside, and had a delicious caper butter sauce. The tenderloin was phenomenal. The mixture of ancho pepper rub, crispy slaw and a sweet sauce was perfect with the pork. We had a great mix of the sides and the clear winner (in my mind) were the cheddar grits. Her brussel sprout salad and broccoli both seemed under seasoned and kinda boring. The collars were super vinegary, but served hot and still enjoyable. read more

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I was in town and decided to stop by . I sat at the bar and had an amazing experience . Lisa the bartender was great And the food was amazing I ended up taking her advice and ordering the trout and Sprouts. Normally that's not my style. But it tasted amazing Best dinner I've had in along time Also the bar was very clean Pics do not do this place justice read more

Maya - Southern Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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A great restaurant in Charlottesville! And the service was great too. We got the local trout, the hanger steak and the ribs. You get to pick 2 sides with your entree! The Mac and cheese is delicious and cheesy! Highly recommend this restaurant read more

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This was one of the best places to eat in cville IMHO. the food appetizer was oysters: great pork tenderloin-excellent catfish-excellent pecan pie-excellent the boy got a mixed drink which was delicious , per him. i dont recall the name of it ambiance we sat outside , they have some odd seating arrangements but it added to the 'charm' of the meal service excellent, no issues price very reasonable for what we got parking street, find a free spot! overall yes! if im in the area again, i would eat here for sure. they arent many 'wow' restaurants in cville but this was definitely the top of the top for me read more

One of my favorite restaurants in Charlottesville! I visit this place at least once a month. I love all of the side dishes and could honestly eat those as my meal ( I love their mac and cheese and mashed potatoes). The seafood has always been fresh and the catfish has never disappointed me. I never have trouble getting a table and the service is always fantastic. If you can't think of a place to go in Charlottesville, swing by Maya! read more

We went here tonight since we were in town for family weekend. We had reservations and were seated right away. The good news was that our service was good and our waitress was attentive and cordial. Our food was tasty, but the problem was the sides were cold and my beef was rare even though I asked for medium well. My husband and daughter sent their food back because it was just too cold to eat and when it came back out it was still cold! They did take the appetizers off the check. I'm not sure if we'd return given the number of other restaurants we want to try in C'ville. read more

Come here on Tuesdays for the awesome dinner deal!! My husband and I shared the skirt steak with sides of mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese. We also ordered a side of Brussels sprouts on the side (on special during happy hour at the bar)! Everything was absolutely delicious. These are some of my favorite Brussels sprouts and they have a generous portion of bacon in them. Steak was cooked perfectly. There are many drink deals as well and although they don't have draught beers they have a healthy selection of bottles. For happy hour they have a nice selection of snacks as well that are all great. Bartender and service is awesome. Street parking can be hit or miss. read more

We rolled into town and used yelp to find this place. We needed a special meal for my husband's birthday and we were only in town for a night. We knew we wanted to take food out and eat at a park nearby, so we ordered from here. We split a steak, which was a little cold by the time we got it, but that makes sense in this strange world of takeout food during Covid. The steak wasn't terribly large and came with a decent sauce. We ordered the fried oysters, which were super delicious! Even more surprisingly delicious? The fried green tomatoes!! These were so perfect. Not greasy or anything and the spicy aioli was so yummy. Our sides were the mac & cheese, which was white cheddar and super creamy. Our second side was cornbread, which was a little dry and we didn't have any butter or honey or anything with it. The star of the show was the peanut butter fluff pie we had. It came with a side of honey, which was a little strange. So now as I am typing this, I'm wondering if that side of honey was actually for the cornbread? It was in with the pie so we had already eaten the cornbread. The pie also came with a side of whip cream. It really didn't need any sides. It stood on its own. It was delicious and fluffy and peanut butter-y. We would go back. We hope to do so on the other side of Covid, because I imagine eating inside would have been grand! read more

Let me just say in the beginning why I only gave 3 stars. I found the fish to be just OK, my macaroni and cheese was no better than boxed macaroni and cheese, and the collard greens were nothing to write home about; over boiled in water with not much flavor. Will all that being said, there are still quite a few good points and that follows in my review! read more

Indigo was a fantastic server. She was attentive and had a great attitude which really made the experience even more enjoyable. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was perfect for date night. read more

Stopped by for a drink and a meal when I was in Charlottesville a couple of weeks ago. The ambience was warm and inviting and I decided to stop in. Decent beer selection (all bottles, none on tap) and a menu that has something for everyone. Some lighter fare, as well as some heartier Southern dishes. I had the trout, which apparently is very popular, with a side of brussel sprouts and the biscuit. They were all very good, and the biscuit was on the denser side (relative to fluffier). The bartender was great, and we chatted about how Charlottesville has changed over the years. The have a nice patio space with plenty of seating. Will definitely drop by again! read more

My friend and I went to Maya for their Tuesday $12 specials. The meal comes with two side dishes which was a plus. I got tilapia with sweet potato fries and green beans and my friend got New York Strips with mashed potatoes and green beans. Overall, everything was a little salty but they were all tasty. It was a nice restaurant considering the price deal. I recommend going for Tuesdays for their specials. read more

Maya - Blackened tilapia with sweet potato fries and green beans. - Southern Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Great drinks, great bartender! My husband and I spent over 2 hrs at the bar here and really enjoyed the ambiance and overall experience!

Based on the spectacular reviews on Yelp, we decided to have dinner at Maya on our first night in Charlottesville. Unfortunately, we were very disappointed with the food. The restaurant seemed very promising, as the outdoor patio was bustling with activity. The interior of the restaurant is a bit dark (or some would say, "cozy"), and we were seated at a table upstairs. There were a few other tables with patrons, with a particularly rowdy group who obviously had a bit too much to drink. They were singing and talking so loudly that as they left, even our server muttered, "good riddance!". While Maya bills itself as a Southern restaurant, there was definitely no soul to their food. We ordered the Pan Seared Crab Cakes, which were served with a jicama, red cabbage, and candied ginger slaw, and chose buttermilk biscuits and brussel sprouts as sides. While the crab cakes and brussel sprouts were quite tasty, the biscuits were a major letdown. Even in the dim lighting, the biscuits were pasty white (I call them "albino biscuits), and were very dense, not light and fluffy at all - fail! We also ordered the Certified Angus New York Strip paired with the cornbread and whipped potatoes. As with our first entree, the steak itself was fine, but the sides were quite lackluster. The cornbread can be best described as a tasteless yellow brick, and the whipped potatoes could have used a bit more butter. We were both shocked at how poor their Southern side dishes were. We decided to pass on dessert, due to the mediocre food we had just tasted. Our experience at Maya was underwhelming and we won't be returning. read more

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I have had the pleasure of dining at Maya a handful of times and always on Tuesdays. They have a great $12 special menu on Tuesdays, where they offer a choice of four different entrees and two sides. I have always had no problem finding a table either inside or outside on the patio in the warmer months. The service has been okay, some times better than others. I have mostly stuck to the twelve dollar menu, but I did try the pimento cheese fritters on a visit, and you shouldn't pass them up! On the twelve dollar menu, I most often go with the blackened tilapia, which has always been very flavorful and moist. I have also tried the chicken fried chicken, which is fantastic, but I wish they would give you more ham gravy! For sides, I always go with the collard greens and the sauteed green beans--both are excellent! Maya is a very nice budget-friendly date night or night out with friends on Tuesdays! read more

Maya - Twelve Dollar Tuesday Menu: Chicken fried chicken, collard greens, and green beans - Southern Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

For our first night in Charlottesville, I made reservations here for myself and my husband. Since we're still in Covid world, sat outside on their patio where tables were well spaced apart. Despite the heat, our meal was actually very comfortable! I ordered their Femme Fatale cocktail to start which was deadly- large and delicious! Next up, we ordered the fried green tomatoes and pimento cheese fritters because you can never get enough fried food haha. Both were very good- I especially liked the pepper jelly on the fritters. By the time dinner rolled around, however, I was so full I could barely eat it! I ordered the ribs with a side of cornbread and grits. All entrees come with two sides and this is where the good southern cooking comes into play. The ribs were fall-off-the-bone good. Even though I was stuffed I managed to plow through half of them (large rack). Grits were just OK, in my opinion, but the cornbread was perfect. Overall, we had a great time! read more

Maya - green tomatoes & pimento cheese fritters. - Southern Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

I came here on a school-related event and was excited to try this place out. First, I wouldn't really consider this southern food, it is at best an upscale fusion of it. I personally prefer good ol' real southern food. We had the cheese fritters as a starter (get them, they are AMAZING), a trout with brussel sprouts, grits and corn bread. The fish was nice and I liked the brussel sprouts, although instead of keeping them whole fried they take it a part (Which I found a bit odd). Grits were nice and so was the corn bread. For dessert, I had the chocolate cake which was good but a bit dry. I would've preferred to go with the cheesecake next time. All in all, I think this place is nice to try out (which is why the four star review) but it isn't my favorite place in Charlottesville and not sure I could justify paying what was charged based on my experience. read more

Came here last night. Overall? Not impressed. I walk in and the place is kind of small, but hey, nice and close atmosphere yes? Close enough to sell the other people's food while you're still waiting for yours... It took us 2 and a half hours to eat dinner here... The name itself, "Maya," made me think we were in for some delicious South/Central American food... Well it was South American alright... South(ern) American! Not quite what I was expecting. But food is food... and food can be quite delicious. So I started with a mixed greens salad with spiced walnuts, dried apricots, and a sherry shallot vinaigrette. Nice and fresh. The flavors complement each other very well. Got the cornmeal tilapia with house tartar. Sides of root vegetable stack and hush puppies. Some lovely interesting flavors on the veggies. BUT. Um.... where were my hush puppies???? Lemme count... one fish... one veggie side... where's my second side dish dammit? The tilapia was nice and crispy. Could have used more tartar sauce though, the fish was... fishy. not fresh. For dessert: Pecan pie. I was expecting a lot... flavor was good, but it was such a thin piece of pie... the pecans dominated and the crust was hard... a really dry piece of pie that broke apart in my fork. All in all, ok food but I wouldn't come back. read more

More refined version of Southern comfort food with a Cville twist, as menus are seasonal and ingredients are locally sourced. Entrees - I've eaten here a couple times, once in the winter and once recently in the summer. Both times I ordered an exceptional entrée special (not listed on the regular menu) - lamb and duck. Both meats were cooked to perfection - tender and juicy. Duck is my all-time fav so I preferred that, and I was so happy that skin was crispy. Sides - Sooo many side options - love that entrees come with two for variety. I was into the creamy mac & cheese and snappy green beans & almonds, but not so much into the very vinegary collards and the super sweet glazed carrots. Drinks - Tons of fun choices for both cocktails and mocktails, which I don't see too often. Appreciated that there was more to offer for those who wanted to quench their thirst without the alcohol. I would love to return to do the $12 Tuesday menu. read more

Maya - Dinner special - duck with cherry sauce, along with sides of collard greens and Brussels sprouts - Southern Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

The hubby and I had dinner here last night. We ordered the deep fried cornmeal oysters. We highly recommend it. The sauce it comes with has a real kick to it. You won't taste it at first, then it creeps up on you and KICKS your taste buds! So good! Hubby ordered the NY steak medium-well which came with two sides. He chose mac n cheese and sweet potato fries. It had a drizzle of sauce and was very good. He really liked it! I blinked and his plate was empty - like that - that good! I ordered the cornmeal breaded pork chops, which was the special for the night. It came with two sides as well (as all their dinner entrees do). My sides were sautéed green beans and toasted almonds and sautéed zucchini. The server added a bit of fresh ground pepper on everything. The pork chop was surprisingly good. I don't think I've ever liked pork chops this much. The sides were fresh and went well with the chops. We were too full for dessert. If we ordered one, I was eyeing the buttermilk pound cake with rhubarb jam, fresh strawberries and whipped cream. See? I remembered what it was called and I didn't even get to try it! Sounded delish. Great restaurant. Good food. Nice vibe. Friendly service. A must try - take it from us who are just visiting from the San Francisco Bay Area. It's no wonder we're Yelpers! ;D read more

Maya - Deep-fried cornmeal oysters. It's delicious! The sauce it comes with is very good - has a kick to it! - Southern Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Obsessed. We ventured from our resort in gordonsville to find a nice restaurant. We got here and I picked a random place off of the internet that looked yummy, and man was this good! We got this incredible femme fatale martini, and pimento pop overs which were seriously phenomenal, they had this pepper jelly that was insanely good, who would've thought!? My husband got crab cakes, sprouts, and grits. I got ribs, Mac n cheese, and a buttermilk biscuit. It was so good, authentic southern cuisine! As northerns that have moved to the Deep South, we know our way around good southern food and this is the real deal. And the bar menu is beyond awesome! They do daily specials, and are so creative with their menu. I'm a fan, hope to come back some day! read more

Maya - Femme fatale (sp) - Southern Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Everything about this place was phenomenal. The bartender was so friendly, the happy hour specials were unreal, and the atmosphere was perfect! Just order the pimento cheese fritters and you will be in food heaven. The ribs were some of the best we had ever enjoyed and the portion they provided at the happy hour price was impressive. We are from up north but if we ever return to Charlottesville, this will be our first stop! read more

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I've always passed by this restaurant on the way to downtown but never had the chance to go. I finally tried it and was not disappointed. I got the vegan entree (crispy seitan) and was pleasantly surprised. It had both a squishy and crispy texture with a mushroom glaze that complemented the dish perfectly. For my two sides, I got the Brussels sprouts and cornbread - the Brussels sprouts were absolutely incredible, very crispy and seasoned perfectly. The cornbread was pretty good, though it was drier than I'd have liked. Overall, a very filling, solid meal. read more

This place is amazing. The food is spectacular- I had the chicken with potatoes and collard greens. And I had one of the best cocktails of my life - the spicy femme fatale. The service is fantastic as well. Can't recommend this place enough. read more

Maya - Southern Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia