Delicious food, great service, beautiful ambiance. We arrived just before closing but still got seated and served without any rush which was wonderful. read more

AMBIANCE We came in with reservation for a dinner with friends one evening. The place is easy enough to get to and we found parking luckily on the street. We strolled in, gave our name for reservation, and were swiftly seated in the back of the restaurant behind the bar area. It was a comfortable setting for dinner with most of the dining room in a pleasantly quiet a bit dark in a warm way but good enough for conversation and relaxing atmosphere for chilling out. FOOD We started with the housemade rosemary focaccia bruschetta ($14), and were recommended to order two servings for our table of four... so we did. About 10 minutes later, the appetizer arrived and the focaccia was a nice way to begin the meal, and was surpised it wasn't pre-cut but it was fine to cut it at the table with the cheese and share...it tasted good but was not especially remarkable for what you'd expect (forgot to take a photo) For our entrées, we ordered the grilled branzino ($39)...a bit overly oily for me, the fish of the night ($39), coastal tagliatelle ($28), and spaghetti pomodoro ($23). The dishes were solid portion and generally enjoyable. I suppose I expected more of a WOW that I didn't get from the menu options or the service...probably didn't help we were seated next to a large and very loud group in the back. Overall, the food was fine and satisfying, though nothing stood out enough to make the meal especially memorable. We skipped dessert. SERVICE Service was acceptable and kept the meal moving, but it did not add much to the overall experience... Overall, this was an okay Italian spot with a comfortable ambiance and a solid selection of dishes, but it did not quite deliver the exceptional food or memorable experience expected from a well-raved restaurant that others had hyped up. I personally wouldn't visit this spot again in the area for Italian food, knowing that there are spots nearby with warmer service and more interesting menu options....so this rating is relative to those spots. read more

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Love this place. Second time back in maybe 2 years and I had to come back for the Peasant Beef & Pork Bolognese. Didn't disappoint, again! Our server was so nice. Food was great, so was the dessert. If I come back again, I'll be in for dinner. read more

Orzo was heaven to me. I had the salmon dish and it was cooked perfectly. Well seasoned, each bite melted in my mouth. My companions had the bolognese and the grilled New York steak and there was not a single complaint. They had a wonderful wine menu and a decent beer selection. Our server Stephen was phenomenal, extremely personable and attentive to our needs. It's a fairly dark restaurant, not loud, comfortable vibe. read more

Orzo Kitchen & Wine Bar - Grilled fish of the Night. - Wine Bars Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

My first restaurant post-move-in to Charlottesville, and it was FANTASTIC! I cannot recommend Orzo enough, and I'm already starting to feel the charm of Virginia. The food was delicious, and so was the atmosphere. Shoutout as well to our server, Stephen, who made the night quite enjoyable. A friendly face is always comforting when moving to a new city, so having a kind server who took the time to chat with us was great. Once we were seated, we started with the 2020 Artimino Poggilarca Super Tuscan. The price was reasonable relative to the quality of the wine. Orzo is an Italian restaurant, so why not go with a Super Tuscan, am I right? Next time I might splurge on the Super-Duper Tuscan, haha! Moving on to the food, we started with the halloumi and some bread. The halloumi was delicious, and we all particularly loved the sauce that accompanied it. Stephen mentioned they made it with ouzo, which I usually do not care for, but cooking it together with the other flavors in the sauce changed my mind! The bread, I believe, is freshly baked, and they serve it with great olive oil. Having family in Italy and close friends from Greece means I've enjoyed great olive oil and this was really good olive oil. For our mains, two of us had the Risotto D'Estate, one had the braised lamb, and another had the grilled fish. I do want to preface that the fish and the lamb were from their rotating "Passport Menu," which Stephen said changes every 4-6 weeks. Regardless, the quality of the dishes tells me that whatever they have on this changing part of the menu will be good no matter what. The fish was a light, delicate cod with the right amount of smokiness and earthiness. The vegetables that came with the dish were well seasoned and not too mushy either. The braised lamb was very tender, and the quality of the meat was clearly good. The accompanying sauce had great flavors. For the two of us who had the risotto, we were also very happy! This is the dish I had, and it was a lovely blend of flavors. The pistachios in it balanced out the salty/sour-ish (not the best word, but you'll know what I mean) flavor from the cheese in the dish. It was outstanding. Finally, we capped off the meal with a tiramisu, the chocolate pot de crème, and some limoncello. The limoncello, I should add, is made in-house and OH, that was a treat! I didn't try the tiramisu, but was told the creaminess was perfect. Some tiramisus can be too watery and the ladyfingers dry, but that was not the case here. Similarly, my pot de crème was to die for! I am a chocoholic and have been baking/making sweet treats for nearly a decade now, so I know a good dessert when I try one. The only thing they could add to their menu is espresso! They have regular coffee, but an espresso is really what I enjoy after dinner. Overall, we had a fabulous meal, and I cannot recommend Orzo enough. For my first culinary endeavor in my new home of Charlottesville, I could not be happier. Please check out Orzo and say hello to my new friend Stephen! read more

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I visit the area for business reasons and this restaurant is one of the closest to my hotel and, wow, what a surprise because the service was great, the food I had was wonderful. It was a Tuesday night and I sat at the bar, which I prefer as a business traveler, and I thoroughly enjoyed my drinks, food, and dessert. I had the bolognese and the budino for dessert. read more

Orzo Kitchen & Wine Bar - Bolognese - Wine Bars Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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We went during the last day of restaurant week, not how we would typically order as we generally share but the food was great! Service and atmosphere were awesome. read more

Outstanding dining experience! We were traveling through Charlottesville and "happened" into an amazing dinner. Our server Stephen helped us settle in and choose a delicious bruschetta appetizer. Pasta entrees were portioned perfectly and flavorful (bolognese and summer special)! We were seated at the back of the restaurant, so noise level was perfect. We will be back on our next trip! read more

Food 5/5 Service 5/5 I docked a star because it was soooo hot inside. I know it's summer but I was sweating and was very uncomfortable. I also docked a star because the drinks were weak. I had two martinis and didn't have anything close to a buzz. Spent 30 bucks on 2 cocktails for nothing. However, the food and service was excellent so I'd still return in a heartbeat! read more

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Amazing service. Our bartender was very attentive and quick to provide helpful recommendations on the menu. We came in without reservations and were able to get full service at the bar. It ended up being restaurant week so we participated in that. The hummus was super garlicky and really good. We also had the homemade tiramisu and pot of chocolate dessert which were rich and decadent. The pasta bolognese had great flavor we would get it again. The restaurant had cozy vibes and good lighting. I also had the chicken dish and lentil soup both of them were really good and flavorful id come again! My chicken was cooked perfectly also. read more

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I came in at 1600 on a random Tueday. The service was swift and the food followed suit. I ordered the Butternut Squash soup for an appetizer, AMAZING. For my entree I had their Braised Lamb Tagine which was okay. Tender, but I found the flavor lacking a bit. The ambience was nice and festive, I sat by a mini christmas tree at the bar, which was a nice touch of festiveness. read more

Orzo Kitchen & Wine Bar - Braised Lamb Tagine - Wine Bars Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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We made a reservation here while visiting the area. Turned out it is restaurant week-which was fantastic because we were able to taste several items w their pre-fixed menu. The prosciutto and melon and panzanella salad were delish! For entrees we had risotto, as well as the beef and pork bolognese. Both were superior. The tiramisu and olive oil cake were above average. Overall we loved the food and the wine selection here was extensive! Thanks to our server Steven for a great experience. read more

Meh... Food was average for all the pomp and circumstance. Owner was an odd duck, haughty and pompous with just a sliver of give a damn... A group of particular patrons were uppity, racist and dripping with entitlement. I had a boot and crutches and the gregarious southerners stood blocking my passage to our table and I had to pull out some fake southern charm to get passage. Blech... I shan't be returning... read more

Great menu and great chef. Maybe the best Mediterranean meal we've ever had. Our appetizers, mains, and desserts all had a sophisticated and interesting mix of flavors and textures. Service was very attentive and friendly. read more

I went to Orzo to celebrate Restaurant Week. The sommelier was very helpful and attentive. The Nebbiolo wine was an intense red, with minerality and fruit flavors in balance. I started my meal with the Muhammara. I've never had this dish before but I'm sold on the delicious Mediterranean flavor. This is a dip from roasted peppers and toasted almonds eaten with flatbread (pita). Very tasty dish with a veggie-flavor sauce with a slight and interesting taste of heat. My main dish was an Octopus Pasta dish. The seafood was lightly cooked with a grilled-type of flavor - a light smoky taste to draw out the octopus taste. For dessert, I had the Olive Oil & Rosemary Cake slice. I like the wonderful balance between the sweet and savory, with enough sweetness to call this dish a dessert. The rosemary flavor was lightly drawn out by the sugar to make a tasty treat. Overall, the restaurant has a dark and warm interior with tables nicely spread out to allow for personal conversations. The server, Libby, was positive, friendly and attentive. read more

Orzo Kitchen & Wine Bar - Wine Bars Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Every restaurant was closed OR had an interminable wait time. We happened by here, went in and were promptly seated. The patio area is lovely, the menu had many intriguing offerings, excellent bar menu and very laid back ambience. We agree we'd like to come back the next time I'm up that way for a visit. read more

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Went for restaurant week. Had the shaved fennel salad, beef and pork bolognese and the tiramisu. It was all so good and the service really elevates the experience. read more

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This is one of those spots I've been wanting to try for a while now so I'm really happy that one of my friend's love and excitement for their Hummus at Orzo is why we came here. Walking in on a Saturday evening, there were 3 of us without a reservation, but that didn't seem like an issue as we were seated almost immediately. The ambiance and aesthetics were nice! We all ordered our own entree, but we started off with the hummus which came with some nice warm bread. It wasn't pita bread so I was surprised, but it tasted really good. My friend was right about the hummus, it was definitely a hit! I can see why he will just go to Orzo sometimes for the hummus only. For my entree, I ordered the Saffron Risotto which can be tricky to make, but once again, a hit! Orzo really made it taste great and it was a perfect sized portion as well. I did not try and of the drinks or the desert this time around, but I look forward to trying these on my next visit! read more

Great service and ambiance! Bf and I wanted to try this place and overall had a good experience. Quality of food was amazing, but the only down side is that the portions seemed a bit small for the cost (but it was very filling!) Prosciutto bruschetta: can't go wrong with this! Crunchy bread, good presentation, really flavorful peasant beef and pork bolognese: great pasta texture and even spread of meat, flavorful, definitely my favorite of the night grilled fish: happened to be salmon, which was super tender. came with some tomato slices and potato, which was a great add on. really delicious, but wish there was a bit more fish for the cost riviera: me and bf thought it was okay, not too strong. warning that once it dilutes it tastes like cucumber water though! sangria: bf and i both preferred this over the riviera. cant go wrong with wine bases. on the sweeter side. lovely place for a date night or any fancier occasion! read more

Orzo Kitchen & Wine Bar - Prosciutto Bruschetta - Wine Bars Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Food was very interesting and good! Had a roasted eggplant salad. I had the swordfish for dinner and the presentation was beautiful. It was cooked perfectly. Service was great. Loved the cozy vibe of the place. read more

Went over the summer, sat outside. Other than the occasional loud car going by, it was a great experience. Food was good, waitress was helpful with all aspects of the meal. read more

If I could give more stars, I would. We shared the shaved zucchini salad, salmon Crudo, fish of the day and smoked pork tenderloin. That zucchini salad with lemon and sumac dressing was out of this world!! There was a texture to the dressing that made my mouth happy. The salmon was creamy and fresh. The fish had smoked eggplant with fresh corn and string beans that were amazing together. I didn't think we had room for any more food but the pork tenderloin had beluga lentils and was highly recommended by our server. One bite had us forgetting how full we were and we finished the whole plate. We live in Maryland but whenever we are passing through, we will be sure to stop in again. Thank you for a wonderful experience! read more

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Pasta was excellent! Freshly prepared and tasted great. The halloumi cheese was recommended and did not disappoint! They also have options for kids (tomato sauce or butter noodles with either ravioli or spaghetti). read more

Orzo Kitchen & Wine Bar - Peasant Beef & Pork Bolognese - Wine Bars Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Orzo is consistently one of the better restaurants in this area. It has been so good for so long that it's almost like an institution.. we have eaten there with friends. We have bought an entire company there for dinner and also use it for special occasions. The food and the service are great. We also like their passport menu where they change the selection at the top of the menu to reflect the cuisine of different countries each time -always wonderful. read more

The green gazpacho is in my top 3 favorite soups ever. They mention "cucumber, grapes, breadcrumbs, almonds, olive oil, sherry vinegar". The almonds are carmelized and toasty -- almost smoked. There's a parmasean-like super umami, then the olive oil drizzle is amazing. I thought grapes would be weird but they are little kisses of fruity sweetness against a garlicky, salty, tangy soup. Any gazpacho would have done well on a hot day, but I didn't expect this well. I've eaten here once before and the food was solid, maybe a bit pricey -- but this is second time, where I got takeout as a treat, and it was pretty great. What a pleasant surprise. Thanks, Orzo. read more

Orzo Kitchen & Wine Bar - Green gazpacho, Shaved Cabbage & Kale Salad, Peasant Beef & Pork Bolognese - Wine Bars Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Orzo is a tastefully decorated mediterranean restaurant with a heavy old world European vibe, leaning into the Italian and Greek roots. They use an open kitchen model so you can see virtually every single chef and prep area as they prepare. Almost nothing is held back. This is cool to view, but makes quite a bit of noise. I often struggled to hear my dining companion in the packed restaurant with so many patrons and employees talking and working throughout the evening. Lively but certainly not serene. The outdoor seating is a bit cramped with the restaurant so close to the street. Not much of a view from the front and the loud traffic makes it worse. Sitting inside was the right move. I was quite impressed by the food. The Lebanese Muhammara appetizer was rich and full of flavor, enhanced by fresh pita surely made in house and pliable both in the hand and the mouth. My salmon entree was well seared and flaked apart easily. The heirloom vegetables were soft and seasoned to a nice extent. My companion's steak was melt-in-your-mouth perfect which left me with entree envy. The portions were not very generous, which one would expect at higher end restaurants that emphasize quality over quantity. The end of our meal featured a chocolate cake with excellent texture and a rich ganache. Finger licking good. I would definitely recommend it to friends who value great food and pretty environs, just don't expect quiet, big portions, or a low cost meal. read more

One of those "I wish there was a 4.5" situations. Going with 4 for the price. The risotto and duck was incredible. The lamb and red pepper dip w/ pita bread was very good. The pasta w/ pork was flat out bad (no flavor, overcooked meat, could've cooked the pasta myself). The ambience/lighting was incredible. Overall, this gets a 4 for the prices, though I don't think in cville they're outrageous. read more

First we'll start with the good, the bartender was friendly and she look like she was pretty much on her game. I was a single diner so I knew I wasn't going to get a lot of attention. But I got a burnt appetizer, and she never checked back to see how my food was, so shame on her. She did take the appetizer off the bill, she's the only reason why they got two stars. What a shame cuz I was kind of excited to try a little bit of the food here in anticipation of bringing my husband to this restaurant, but there's plenty of other places to eat in Charlottesville, so I'll just spend my money elsewhere. read more

This place is both bar and a restaurant. Their baguette was excellent! Their food was decent too! I would definitely come back again read more

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Could not have asked for a more perfect place to host a dinner for my bachelorette party! Orzo went above and beyond making me and my guests feel special, and my guests could not stop raving about the food! The 5-star service began with Orzo allowing me to create a 3-course pre-fixe menu to help alleviate the stress of trying to split a bill between 12 people. They even printed the menus as placecards and allowed me to customize the heading, which was such a special touch. Our group was seated in a private loft area which made the dinner so intimate and special. Service was amazing, friendly, and attentive, which just added to making the night so special. The food was spectacular, and every single person was amazed at the quality--even the pickiest eaters loved their meals! Could not recommend Orzo more--they blew us all away. Thank you Orzo for making my night so special and memorable! read more

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I have to knock Orzo down a peg because I just feel like the food we've had recently hasn't been as good as it used to be. We came in recently for a date night, and noticed the food hasn't quite kept up. The grilled halloumi cheese appetizer was fabulous, but the entrees leave much to be desired. We had the lamb shank bourguignon and the grilled prime sirloin steak and unfortunately both were just meh. The lamb was cooked very well, but our overall impression was they were both pretty boring. The flavors were run of the mill. I will dream about the pork medallions I had last year - one of the best meals I've had. Until that comes back, the rest of their entrees seem to be good, but not great. The service continues to be fabulous, every time I've been our server has been great. I have noticed other reviews that have commented on the host being rude, and have noted this in interactions with other guests. My recommendation would be to make sure you have a reservation before coming in, and definitely show up on time - they seem picky. read more

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The food was spectacular. We had the lamb and risotto. They were seasoned to perfection. The ambience was active but not too noisy. The service by a waitress named Susan was professional and courteous. I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

Orzo Kitchen and Wine Bar earns 4-stars for its delightful service and welcoming ambience reminiscent of an Italian trattoria. The table shared, flavorful Halloumi garnished with roasted tomato and basil and the Lebanese Muhammara Dip (roasted red pepper & walnut) with za'atar flatbread, which stole the spotlight. For mains, they have a rotating menu of Mediterranean specialties, one if which was the Shawarma-Spiced Grilled Salmon paired with savory za'atar grilled sweet potatoes, creamy baba ghanoush, and tangy beet tzatziki. The Peasant Beef & Pork Bolognese, a cherished family recipe, added layers of taste and tradition to the meal. It's no surprise that this special has been on the menu for 20 years, as each bite exuded warmth and depth of flavor. read more

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Food is great, service is great, design is great. We went for Restaurant Week and the place was packed but still enough space for every table to feel independent. My favorite dish was the Red Pepper hummus and the Rosemary olive oil cake read more

First of all, we made a reservation for restaurant week. We were sat pretty fast upon arrival, water on our table, and waitress was ready to take our order when we were ready. Ambiance was date night vibes for my wife and I. Good first impression. Better impression: appetizers comes out within 5-10 mins after being ordered, in a packed-from-the-back-to-front of restaurant. Classic Minestrone Soup? Delicious. 18 Month Prosciutto di Parma Bruschetta? Freakin better than any bruschetta I've had in the past 2 years. Entrees were what stood out to me. Spaghetti pomodoro was just perfect. Balanced. Frequent hits of Basil touched the palate. Banger dish. Grilled Marinated Pork Tenderloin with whatever the hell dried cherry mostardo is (later I found out it's basically fruit and mustard), delicious. Oh and there's a hidden layer of smoked aioli. SMOKED AIOLI freakin smacked me in the face. The entire plate was cohesive af. Dessert. -Pot de creme: simple with two ingredients yet so so good. I'm going to attempt to recreate this at home. -Spanish Olive Oil & Rosemary Cake with the lemon curd. To die for. Bottom line: might be the best tasting restaurant I've been to in a long time, and that goes without saying I've been eating out on occasion. read more

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Delicious food, good service and nice atmosphere. We chose this for a Friday night on a girls' weekend trip and vibe felt just right. The pace is pretty slow, which was fine for our group. One reason this loses a star is two of us ordered cocktails that weren't great. I got the pasionaria, which is somewhat like a margarita with tequila, elderwater flower liquor and rimmed in harissa salt. I didn't like the salt at all and would have greatly preferred a simpler margarita. My friend got the ravello and she didn't like it. I took one sip and it jerked me back; I was expecting a strong lemon flavor but it was just like an alcohol burn without any pleasant flavor. Now, the peasant beef and pork bolognese was so good! The portion was smaller than I expected (all entree servings were), but it was rich and enough for me and I would definitely order again. For dessert, we shared a chocolate pot de creme and omg! Again, it looked pretty small to share at our table, but it was so rich. I think I made a verbal yum sound after each bite. read more

Orzo Kitchen & Wine Bar - Peasant Beef & Pork Bolognese - Wine Bars Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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We went for Cville restaurant week and they were so accommodating! We didn't have a chance to make reservations and they were really kind about us inquiring about a place at the bar. The food was delicious and a great value for restaurant week. The options on the menu were varied and all looked delicious. I would additionally give a special shout out to their incredible tiramisu. We hope to return! read more

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Excellent experience here. From the friendly wait staff to the relaxing patio atmosphere, this checks off all the boxes. I keep telling myself to branch out to different types of cuisine and I'm glad I branched out with this Mediterranean inspired fare. I took all the recommendations from the waiter (Nick I think his name was?) - the Pomelo cocktail, the lamb dish, and the Spanish olive oil & rosemary dessert. All *chefs kiss* delicious. I probably wouldn't have chosen any of these just by looking at the menu, but so glad it's what I ended with. Reservations are recommended - I grabbed one at 5:15 and it filled up pretty quick after I sat down. Just can't say enough good things about this place. read more

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My boyfriend and I came here for our anniversary when we visited Charlottesville. The restaurant is connected to a small local market and there is plenty of parking in the back. We really enjoyed our experience here. we didn't know what to expect but the server was very friendly and kind. We ordered the steamed mussels which were DELICIOUS! we loved the sauce so much we asked for bread to dip it in. The cocktails were also very good. I had the Rivera and my boyfriend had the pomelo. If you like fruity cocktails the pomelo is what I would recommend. For our food we ordered the peasant beef pasta and the red wine braised lamb. I expected the lamb to be lamb chops but came out a little different. But none the less it was VERY tender and very yummy. The pasta was also tasty. For ambiance I would give it a 4/5 For food I give it 4.3/5 Service I give it a 4/5 We would defiantly recommend this place for those who love both Italian and Mediterranean! read more

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So amazing from staff to food. Very clean restaurant with nice seating. The olive oil is super authentic and the chicken with potatoes was so tasty. We came as a huge group but they were super organized. I wish I got to try some of their authentic Mediterranean but it was definitely a place to go. Nice outdoor seating available as well. read more