Tried the Apricot Manhattan and Apple of my Eye cocktails and didn't like the taste of either. Biscuits were good but nothing to write home about in this town. The Crispy Brussels Sprouts were tasty and a good portion for a shared plate. I did not like the trout in the Crab Stuffed Trout because it was fishy, but the accoutrements were nice. The Chicken Fried Steak was comforting. The Chocolate-Bourbon Pecan Pie was decent and had a nice presentation. Not a bad restaurant but not my first choice for southern comfort in the area. read more

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Restaurant week in Charlottesville and we thought we would check out Mockingbird! We didn't have reservations, but there was plenty of room at the bar, which we never mind. Pre-fix menu with great choices! For apps, we chose a goat cheese salad and New Orleans inspired Buffalo Shrimp! Absolutely delicious and, with the shrimp, the small scallop shaped fried grits were great! For our mains, we chose the beef stew and southern fried chicken quarter. The chicken was fall off the bone tender with a sweet, honey fried breading. The beef stew had some spice, but was delicious! Mashed potatoes and collared greens with the chicken that were oh so good!! For dessert we both chose banana pudding and it was fantastic! Excellent drink choices too. Allie was very attentive and super friendly! She actually noticed my wife drip something on her shirt sleeve and offered a tide pen! A great experience, we'll be back! read more

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The food is fantastic! The vibes are amazing. The service is atrocious. Great dinner and drinks. However, our server and the entire wait staff could not have seemed more disinterested and annoyed. Service was beyond slow and staff was not friendly. I'd go back for the food again if they get better staff. read more

Original dinner plans were for the Loft across the street from Mockingbird but unfortunately they were booked, my bad for not making reservations. However as the hostess shared our misfortune the Loft owner immediately said let me walk across the street to see if I can get you in at Mockingbird. Well it worked and our party of 4 had a fantastic experience. Food, service and hospitality was first class. Thank you Loft owner! read more

The ambiance is great. We had decent service and the portions were generous. I did think things were generally over salted. They had twists on Southern Comfort food that were unique but I was expecting something closer to traditional so wished I'd ordered a different entree and dessert. The banana pudding had lots of vanilla wafers but not enough bananas to balance them. I get banana pudding for the pudding portion not for cookies! My son's entree was fabulous. And he would like to return for the brussel sprouts that were crispy fried and quite yummy. Huge portion too. read more

The food was absolutely delicious. We got appetizers, meals & desserts & each was better than the last. Service was great & it's a really cool spot for dinner! read more

Exquisite southern food! We ordered a lot of food because everything on the menu was something we had to try. Of course, we had to get the fried tomatoes and Brussels sprouts to start us off, then I got the vegetarian meatloaf with a side of cheesy grits. The Brussels sprouts were so good, even for Brussels sprouts, and the cheesy grits were heavenly! I now consider myself a lover of grits, which I had always had a sneaking suspicion I would be and Mockingbird has helped confirm. It's a really lovely restaurant with lots of options, and for the meat-avoiders. Highly suggest! read more

Mockingbird - Fried tomatoes - Southern Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

First time going living in the neighborhood. We got 2 catfish entree's and one pork chop entree. The catfish was meh too much coating that fell off. The pork chop was dry and tough. The biscuits were ok just dry. The drinks were good. Not that great of service. We never got our water refilled either. read more

We had the chance to drop by this lovely spot on a last minute detour when heading back from our Shenandoah trip. Love it and would like to return to try out more of the food again. Duck , risotto and pork were all on point and wonderfully and comfortably balanced which was perfect for a chilli fall evening. It was perfect and delightful! read more

Mockingbird - Southern Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Great food, service. Amazing art on the walls that the owner made. Would go back anytime. GF friendly.

This is a large space with legends at the helm. The service was fine. We ate outside. I had great company for the meal. We had a great time but the meal even the simplest of the efforts were not great. The wedge salad is swimming in its sauce. The special watermelon and cucumber gazpacho is really a garlic cold soup with barely a hint of the named veggies in it. The Brussel sprouts are worthy of slightly over charred. Even the basket of biscuits- slightly heavy not nearly the flakiness I anticipated and why five? There are three of us sharing- I don't know maybe I'm particular. The banana pudding was good. The Mississippi mud pie was not (how do you make that not good for two chocolate lovers? The chocolate was bitter but not in a dark chocolate way). It's a great space with a lot of potential. read more

Mockingbird - Mocktail. Yum - Southern Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Friendly servers but our food was not so special. My medium rare 10oz ribeye had a lot of gristle and was not as tender as I'd expect for the price ($32) and my wife's crusted pork chop were tough. The biscuits were good but for $9, there should be ten, not five. This was the second but last time we eat here. read more

I shared a bunch of appetizers with some friends and each of them were delicious!! I especially loved the biscuit basket and the brussel sprouts were soooo crispy and flavorful. Loved their special pride drink, the pink pony club spritz! So much fun. Ambience is top tier, and they have a parking lot which makes it even better especially since parking in that neighborhood can be tough. Can't wait to visit again! read more

My new favorite restaurant in Charlottesville. Not only was the food and service excellent, but they have parking behind their building, which if you know the Belmont section is a great benefit. My wife and I took a friend on New Years Eve and it our first visit. Our reservation was handled perfectly, and we were sat as soon as we arrived. They do have a small bar should you have a wait. Our waitress was extremely knowledgeable about both the menu and the wine list. She pointed out that although they are known for the Southern cooking, she also directed us to a couple of highly recommended specials. Our guest chose the Chicken & Waffles, and my wife had a salad and the Brussel sprout appetizer. I had the pan seared scallops that were one of the specials. Everything was perfectly done and all three of us were happy with what we chose. The waitress and other staff were very attentive and none of our water glasses ever reached half empty before being refilled. They had some amazing looking deserts, but we passed and had a second drink which was delivered quickly by the bartender herself. Very happy, and this will certainly keep me coming back to the Belmont area. I strongly recommend if you haven't been there to give it a try. read more

My girlfriend and I decided to try mockingbird for our two year anniversary and it surely was an amazing decision. Entering the restaurant the ambiance was incredible with the beautiful exposed brick and open bar and dining room and we were greeted by our excellent server (who's name was Sasha) and ordered our appetizers the biscuits were incredible and definitely a must try as well as the Brussel sprouts that were glazed in a honey chipotle sauce. For the entree we got the bison hanger steak which was incredible and the veggie pot pie which was delicious! Finally we had dessert and decided to try the pecan pie and it was perfectly indulgent and a chefs kiss to end the night! read more

Mockingbird - Bourbon pecan pie - Southern Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Love love love this place!!! Not only were they accommodating when we didn't have a reservation, the food was amazing. The decor is beautiful without being pretentious. This was a new restaurant for us but am so glad that we had the opportunity to try it. We had the fried green tomatoes, hanger steak and salmon!! Delicious and such unique blends of flavors. Don't skip dessert! That night was Oreo Crunch ice cream. We did that with the pound cake. Just do it!! The service was wonderful as well. Natalie was so personable and the entire team worked well together to ensure that everyone's water was topped off and that no one needed anything. Kudos! read more

Cracker Barrels new competition. Totally unimpressive experience. Shrimp and grits was over-spiced to mask sitting around for hours getting soggy. Chicken fried steak was grizzlier than Cracker Barrel's. Mashed potatoes were watery. Crab stuffed trout was like drinking the sauce smothering what We thought would taste like crab and/or trout... reminiscent of the last service of catered wedding food. Veggies thawed frozen. On the positive side "very positive" service excellent, desert yummy (pecan chocolate pie) and biscuits were great - tasted like Biscuit World Recipe. Portions are very small - especially appetizers. Overall an insult to Southern cooking and worth 1/3 the cost. Clearly, a Yankee in the kitchen with no respect for Southern food. Save your money. Buy three jars of sauce (Remoulade, Balsamic Glaze, Creole) and chug each with a different Biscuit World breakfast sandwich.... read more

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Tasty Southern food! We visited Mockingbird on a Saturday night and it was busy but there were tables available. The staff is quick to refill your water when your glass approaches a state of emptiness, so we were well hydrated. The design of the restaurant features of a mix of exposed brick and ceiling and wood floors and wood tabletops. We split the crawfish beignets, mac and cheese, brussels sprouts, and shrimp and grits. The brussels sprouts were tender and well-flavored with a welcome hint of spice. The beignets were delicious and served with an ample quantity of a delectable Dijon mustard-heavy dipping sauce. The mac and cheese was so rich and decadent that I could feel my arteries clogging with every bite. The shrimp and grits were as good as it gets with a perfect ratio of sauce, meat, and grits. Overall, I was Mockingbird has tasty food, and I would recommend them. read more

We went to Mockingbird for their Wednesday Date Night which I hope they continue doing because it's such a good deal and makes Wednesdays a special treat your self night. Our food was so delicious for our first time there. We got the baked feta, which was a little too sweet for a starter but I still liked it. We got the fried pork chop and the grilled bison hanger steak. The portions were plentiful and the steak was perfectly cooked medium rare. The garlic mashed potatoes were the best I've ever had. Dessert was a bourbon chocolate pecan pie which I thought was a little too sweet but the whipped cream helped out. I'd love to try their baked mac and cheese and shrimp and grits next time! read more

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Came for a relaxed double date and enjoyed the ambiance and service. The cocktails were a bit hit or miss. Our server said that the Front Porch Cooler was their most popular cocktail but it was bland and unimpressive. Much better was the Bee's Knees so I'd recommend that if you enjoy cocktails! The food was delicious and reasonably priced for the portion sizes. I tried the biscuit basket, fried okra, shrimp and grits, and fish special of the day - would recommend any of them! read more

The building itself is super cool and very spacious. People were super friendly and welcoming. Both entrees were delicious, but big winner was the biscuits! Overall space felt like the Local mixed with Duners, and food was a bit more refined version of Maya. Hoping they do a brunch eventually. read more

Mockingbird - Swordfish special - Southern Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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We went out to Mockingbird to celebrate my wife's birthday. We made early reservations, so it wasn't super crowded. Coming in I got the same Junction vibe, which I was a fan of. We were greeted and checked in upon entering. Within a few minutes we were at our table inside. It was a beautiful day, but we preferred to sit inside where it was a bit more subdued. We ordered the bread basket for the appetizer and it was VERY good. My favorite was the pepper jam. It had just enough spice to keep me coming back. I ordered the pot roast which was great. A ton of flavor in every bite. It was piled on top of mashed potatoes and green beans. Everything went well together. I chuckled when the waitress brought out a steak knife. There was no knife needed. The pot roast just pulled apart. The blue cheese with the potatoes was a nice touch. My wife got the shrimp and grits which she enjoyed. She said the sauce had some heat on the backend and the sausage helped to round out the dish. Overall a great experience and would love to bring guests back there in the future. Maybe next time we will enjoy an evening outside. read more

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The food was lovely, well presented and delicious. The service was terrific, and the atmosphere was comforting and lovely.

Walked in on a Thursday night without reservation and they quickly found us a spot. Service was 5 star by itself and the food did not disappoint. My wife had pot roast that you cut with your fork and I had the best, fresh wedge salad I have ever had! I then had the shrimp and grits and would order it again! Overall, it was a great dining experience. read more

Visited this lovely restaurant for dinner and we weren't disappointed the pork belly appetizer was absolutely divine, the BBQ chicken were delish, be sure to get some biscuits hang back and enjoy the great ambience and friendly staff. read more

Very rarely do I send a dish back untouched- until Mockingbird's Crawfish Po Boy. The crawfish was mushy, over coated and I counted 11 minuscule pieces only. I challenge anyone to try to eat this sandwich with pile of arugula on top By the time you have it forked - all the tiny chunks of crawfish are lost. On top of it - no taste, just general mushiness. Had their signature cocktail- Tequila Mockingbird- honestly it tasted mouldy and not tequila like. Service was efficient but nothing to write home about. Wait staff did not seem to be happy to help you. I had great expectations but they were shattered. read more

The food was really good and I love that they have gluten-free options. I prefer gluten-free but chose the shrimp & grits - which is not. Having never had this before, I enjoyed the dish very much. My husband the bison hangar steak and LOVED it. We had to have dessert and I was very pleased to find the banana pudding had a gluten-free option. This is one of my favorite desserts but I won't eat it often because of the Nilla Wafers - thank you Mockingbird for having this option! For a beverage, I only drank water, but the staff was very attentive and refilled my glass every time it was half-full. My husband had a peanut butter porter, and was very glad as he likes dark beers. Decor is very cute - brick building with an old Pepsi ad painted on the wall in one room. read more

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My wife and I were in town from the LA area and were looking for some food that would represent the area. Weighed some options and chose Mockingbird. We were not disappointed. Staff was excellent, food was delicious, the restaurant has a great look inside. read more

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My husband and I went here for our anniversary. The restaurant has a really nice ambience. We had the brussel sprouts appetizer which was delicious. Our meals were the two specials of the day. The fish was seasoned really well and the steak was very tender. We also had some drinks which were delicious. Overall would recommend trying this place out. read more

Mockingbird - Blackened catfish that was the fish of the day - Southern Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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They just opened up July 20th. So it's fairly new and interested to see how they do. You first enter from the side door. Serves was amazing. My water didn't sit empty nor low for long before someone filled it up. They def were on top of it. The entire menu looked so delicious I wanted to order everything. We ordered several things but to start off I got the tequila mockingbird. It was good but felt that juices didn't pop in flavor so it seemed water down so maybe the flavor was just lacking and the spice wasn't really there. But the refresher drink they offered was on point. They have daily specials which I wanted them all but settled for the main menu. Started off with the po'boy, brussel sprouts and Mac and cheese. Po'boy was delicious the flavors meshed well. The crispy Brussels were good but a sweet touch of maybe dried cranberries would have been a nice touch with the walnuts and sauce. The Mac and cheese was perfect until you reached the bottom half it was lacking cheese but a lot of butter at the bottom. Then our mains came. I had ordered the grilled marinated bison hanger beef. It was cooked perfectly the dish was good but was really caught off guard with the pickled greens that had a spice kick to it. That flavor with the Demi glaze was a bit much together. Also the menu didn't say pickled greens but slow cooked greens. We also ordered the chicken and waffles which was amazing but having boneless chicken would have been a little better touch. The place feels like an elegant country restaurant which fits the style of the place with the food. I def can't wait to try it out again because everything on the menu looked delicious! I seriously wanted to order more! Will def go back from the shrimp and grits. Oh I almost forgot the bread biscuits I LOVED the three options to put on your bread; pepper jelly (heaven) apple butter and I think it was honey butter. The biscuits just fall apart in your mouth. Omg the best with pepper jelly! read more

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While we genuinely enjoyed our food some of the sauces/gravy/flavors felt repetitive and overwhelmed the flavors of the dishes. For example, my husband said he couldn't have eaten an entire pot roast meal as the onion gravy was on everything and every bite tasted the same. The white sauce on the chicken, while good, covered everything drowning out the other flavors. My husband really enjoyed his steak special (coca cola rosemary steak). I thought the pot roast was very tender. We all loved the biscuit appetizer. Where we sat was a little loud and it was hard to hear each other but we were also near a huge table of 20+ people. Our waitress was super nice. I had a dirty martini and glass of wine and both were delightful. Our kids didn't see enough on the menu to peak their interests. We would go back but we'd leave our kids at home. read more

Went for dinner in a group of 4. After reading Yelp reviews we were really looking forward to a chefy Southern meal, but were very disappointed. The service was ok but not super friendly, nice decor, atmosphere very nice and subdued. The music wasn't too loud, which is always appreciated. Now for the food - Appetizers: fried green tomatoes were mushy, greasy and under-seasoned; Brussels sprouts were greasy and underseasoned; Biscuit basket - I've baked better biscuits from a tube. They were cold, dry, not flaky and had very little flavor. The apple butter was overly spiced and tasted like a pumpkin spice candle. Onto the entrees - chicken and waffles - chicken was greasy yet dry inside, asked for waffle extra crispy but it was served in a pool of overly-sweet maple sauce, ruining the texture of the waffle. Pot Roast was meh. Goat's cheese salad was overdressed and included cooked carrot slices!? Side of grits was inedibly salty. The only tasty thing we got was the curried potato soup. Of course, we skipped dessert. I'm hoping there was a rookie cook on the line, but this seems like too big a fail to be the fault of one bad egg in the kitchen. I won't give it a second try. read more

I visited Charlottesville for the very first time to visit one of my best friends. She took us and a group of friends here. The service and the food were phenomenal! I had the vegan meatloaf and it was over the top delicious. The ambience was incredible and I will 100% go back the next time I'm in town. Thank you all at The Mockingbird for this epic foodie experience. read more

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Definitely recommend it! Food was high quality and delicious. We loved the crispy Brussels sprouts and enjoyed the chicken and waffles and fish of the day. The banana banana pudding desert was also good. We don't live on the area but wish we did so we could go back often read more

Mockingbird - Banana pudding - Southern Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

After living in Charlottesville for two years, I think I can say that the fried green tomatoes at Mockingbird are the best dish I've ever had in this town. And that's saying a lot, given how many excellent restaurants we have here. You just have to try them. One of those dishes that's like nothing else. Drinks at Mockingbird with fried green tomatoes to share would be a 100% fantastic first date idea. If you don't get a second date out of that, I can't help you. read more

Mockingbird - Mouth-watering fried green tomatoes. I would go back in a heartbeat just for this dish. And order two. - Southern Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Here I am again writing a review for this restaurant because the food was just that bad. I've tried 4 dishes here(first time I tried for my curiosity), second time was for a staff dinner so I didn't willingly choose this establishment. I ordered the glazed salmon and it was a mish mosh of flavors that did not go together. The salmon was covered in fruit and a fruit glaze. It was terrible. The vegetables were okay. My friend ordered the pot roast and it was bland. The mashed potatoes were not flavorful in the slightest. It just lacked any sort of taste that is worthy of an expensive dining experience. For the second time in a row, the Mockingbird has left me disappointed and hungry. Please don't waste your money here, go across the street to the Local. read more

A great place for a fabulous dinner out. A very warm and inviting atmosphere inside, as it was a bit chilly for dining al fresco. The food was exceptional. We had the shrimp and grits, pot roast, and a basket of biscuits. The owner, Melissa, visited our table for a chat, and we loved the story about her grandmother and her biscuit recipe. our waitress, Natalie, was friendly, and provided excellent service with a smile. Dessert was banana pudding for my husband, and pound cake with peach/ginger ice cream for me. Everything was top notch. Looking forward to our next visit. read more

Good southern food, eclectic atmosphere, attentive servers. Started with the fried okra - very generous serving. For the entree we had the pork chop with potatoes and cabbage and had to have a side of collard greens. Finished our meal with the Mississippi mud dessert. read more

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OMG such a great meal and cute place. My family and I are on vacation in Charlottesville and came here for dinner. We all loved our dinner and dessert! The brussel sprouts are to die for. So good that we ordered a second one. I had the vegan "meatloaf" and it was amazing. We also had the salmon and the pork tenderloin which they thoroughly enjoyed! Oh and the fried okra was also amazing! The best I've ever had! We split the banana pudding and the Mississippi mud pie and I don't even have words for how good they are! Now, our server....Nathaniel! To say he is the best is putting it mildly! Such a sweet guy with the greatest personality! If you are lucky enough to have him as your server, you won't be disappointed. He totally added to the enjoyment of the evening! If I could give 10 stars I would!! Can't wait to come back here!! read more

We heard about how amazing the food was and decided to come for date night. It was even better than we imagined. There are multiple vegetarian options. The portion sizes are perfect. Staff members were friendly and provided recommendations for us. The drinks were as tasty as they sounded. They were light and not too sweet. I can't say enough good things about our experience. We will be back! read more

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