My husband and I decided to eat here for our anniversary, and we were not disappointed! We both agreed. It was one of the best meals we have had had in a long time.. We appreciated the Prosecco and amuse boche. We both enjoyed a starter of the Autumn salad. My husband splurged on the Waygu which was cooked perfectly while I had the fish of the day which was salmon. Both were delicious. And we celebrated with a bottle of their Octagon wine which was amazing. I see several reviews mention poor service, however, I felt the service was very attentive. The restaurant is a little higher end, so I think if you were looking for a chatty steakhouse, style server , you are not going to get that. I would definitely eat here again. read more

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As newcomers to Virginia, my husband and I have been enjoying the many restaurants the Charlottesville region has to offer. We appreciate good food and great service, whether it comes from an all-night diner or a Michelin-starred restaurant, and we were really looking forward to dining at Palladio. Boy, were we disappointed. We arrived at 6:25 for a 6:30 reservation, and the door was locked. They don't open until 6:30 and it was no hardship to stand outside admiring the beautiful scenery on a warm evening, but I did wonder what would happen if it were raining. Do patrons wait in their cars? By 6:30 there were about 8 of us waiting, and a gentleman came to the door, unlocked it, and walked away. He didn't welcome us in, he didn't open the door, he didn't even look at us. Just unlocked it and walked away. Not much of a first impression. We all made our way inside and were quickly seated in a lovely room. Our server approached and took our wine orders. There was no introduction, no pleasantries, he didn't ask if we had any questions about the menu. No interaction at all except to ask for our orders. Three of us had the sparkling flight and one had the Octagon flight, and we had no complaints about the wine, which was very good. However, my husband asked our server to bring something, he acknowledged the request but never brought it. After repeating the request three separate times, we finally asked another server, and it was brought right away. She was the only friendly person we encountered the entire evening. The meal began with an amuse bouche of Turkish yogurt soup with melon, and it was excellent. In hindsight, probably my favorite bite of the evening. For the first course three of us had tomato gazpacho, which was very nice. For the Primi course we tried the housemade cavatelli, which was fine but did not blow us away. For the Secondi, two of us ordered the Wagyu filet. There was no mention on the menu of the size, which is unusual when ordering filet, but the dish appeared to be about 6 ounces. The meat itself was cooked as we'd requested, but the Octagon reduction it was served with was dried onto the plate, as if it had been sitting under a heat lamp. The steak was served with Swiss chard al sugo that was soggy, and the tomato sauce completely overpowered what little of the reduction we could taste. An extremely disappointing dish, especially at this price point. My husband had the bison, which was better than the beef. For dessert, we sampled the Affogato, the Stracciatella gelato, and the peach and blueberry cobbler. All of it was good but forgettable. At the end of the meal, they brought us small chocolate chip cookies and brownies - a nice touch, but rather dry and uninspired. All in all, an adequate meal in a beautiful location with service that was halfway between indifferent and surly. If the price point were moderate, I could overlook a lot, but when I'm paying over $200/person for dinner and wine, my expectations are high. I might go back to Barboursville Vineyards for the wine and the views, but I'll pass on dining at Palladio again. read more

Located at Barboursville winery this is overall a plesant dining experience. We were poured a glass of prosecco when seated and a served an amuse bouche after ordering which is a nice touch. Menu is Italian Style with Antipasti, Primi, Secondi, Contorni and Dolce Primi is primarily pasta dishes and could serve as a main course. Each course has a recommended wine pairing There is also a full wine menu Dishes were plated beautifully. Pasta is made in house. Our mains were ok, not spectaular which for the hype and cost, I was hoping for. Service is very attentive though it felt impersonal. What we ate: *BURRATA, POMODORI E PROSCITTO- 20 Local Caiman & Gin Fiz Tomato Salad Burrata & Balsamic Reduction House Made Grissini Wrapped with Prosciutto *CAVATELLI DI RICOTTA CON PESTO DI BRoccoLI- Freshly Made Ricotta Cavatelli Broccoli, Pecorino Toscano & Almond-Pinenut-Chili Pesto *CAPPELLETTI CON CARNE E FUNGHI - Classic Hat-Shaped Small Ravioli Filled with Roasted Veal, Mortadella, Chicken, Crescenza Parmigiano Reggiano & Madison Mushrooms Royal Trumpets Thyme-Butter Sauce *PARMIGIANA DI VERDURE - Baked Egsplant, Local Oyster Mushrooms, Malabar Spinach, Vidalia Onions Wisconsin Grand Cru, Buffalo Ricotta, Rosemary, Basil & Piennolo-Pomodoro *BISTECCA DI MANZO ALLA GRIGLIA- Grilled Grass-Fed Beef Hanger Steak Sautéed Chanterelle Mushrooms, Swiss Chard al Sugo & Mashed Yukon Gold Potatoes Rosemary-Cabernet Franc Reserve Reduction *Chocolate-Pecan Tart Madagascar Vanilla Bean Whipped Cream & Salted Caramel. My rating rationale + .75 Service + .75 Food~Taste/flavor/quality + 1 Presentation + 1 Atmosphere/vibe + 1 Value read more

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It's a shame that Palladio has maintained its stuffy interior when it's surrounded by the beautiful environs of the vineyards here. Come around sunset for a walk after dinner on the grounds, and you just might find a 3 star culinary experience paired with passable Virginia wine upgraded to 4. We shared the bucatini and ravioli. The bucatini was nicely al dente and in hindsight actually quite an elegant dish, with a small portion of burrata as a topping. In the moment, we preferred the ravioli served with local cherry tomatoes and a vibrant pesto. read more

Palladio Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Barboursville, Virginia

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I was really looking forward to spending my birthday at the Barboursville Winery - we came for the day and made reservations to have a fancy dinner at the restaurant here. I guess perhaps I had higher expectations given the price point and the ambiance. We were seated on time and received a small glass of champagne with an amuse-bouche. It took us some time to decide on what to order, and it clearly frustrated our wait-staff. I ended up going with the short rib ravioli and the field carrots. The ravioli was okay - but not amazing - and the carrots, although they looked pretty, were basically raw and inedible. The portions were small, so I was still hungry enough for some dessert - we got some fritters with ice cream. They were again, okay, but not amazing. Overall, it was really underwhelming. We'd indicated that we were celebrating my birthday and they did bring out a plate for us with two very stale cookies and a couple chocolate truffles. Again, not exactly the pampered experience I was hoping for given the amount of time it took to travel there, wait for the reservation, and the overall price of the meal. Service was what I'd call chilly - almost as if we weren't welcome in the space. Just not a great experience for me, and I most likely won't go back. The winery itself is lovely, I just won't eat here again - I'll go somewhere else nearby. read more

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Wonderful food, wine and service. A unique dining experience nestled in the Virginia Piedmont.

My mom and I go here for our birthdays every year because it's one of our favorite restaurants. The food is always phenomenal. I love the wild boar ragu and the fried oysters. And when they have the wagyu beef on special - oh my word!! And of course all the wine from Barboursville is excellent. The ambiance is elegant but relaxed and the staff are always very nice. read more

Palladio Restaurant - Affogato - Italian Near Me - Barboursville, Virginia

We ate here last night (7/19) as a birthday celebration for my husband. Before going, we read the reviews here on Yelp - I was laughing at what a mixed bag they were. Some reviews were glowing and praised the service and food, while others said the servers were arrogant and rude and the food was pedestrian at best. We decided to give it a shot anyway, and I am so, so glad we did. First, the atmosphere inside is lovely. The dining room is tastefully-done, beautiful, ambient noise is at the right level, it is cozy without tables being on top of each other, and is quite welcoming. Second, the staff was pleasant and genuinely seemed happy we were there and enjoying ourselves. They checked on us frequently without being annoying about it, and multiple servers helped with our table and always asked how everything was so far. Third, the food was fabulous. We received complimentary Prosecco and a small amuse bouche upon being seated, and then we ordered from the menu with the wine pairings suggested. All of the food was outstanding, portions were just right, and we left feeling full and happy. The complimentary birthday dessert was the topping on a wonderful meal!! All in all, would recommend. It is expensive, yes, but great for a special occasion. read more

Ambience: Two Stars Food: Three Stars Service: Four Stars Overall Value: Two Stars My friend and I decided to have a "treat yourself" luncheon at Palladio on May 23. The reservations were made long in advance and we drove from an hour away so we were both very much looking forward to it. First Course: My companion's beef carpaccio was served to her still frozen. She made this discovery by putting a fork full of frozen beef in her mouth which was unpleasant and not a great way to start the meal. My housemade pappardelle was leaden, slimy and glued together with starch. I'm not sure if the pasta wasn't allowed to dry properly before cooking or if it wasn't cooked in enough water but it wasn't nice to eat. It was also heavily tainted with a bitter flavor of burned garlic. I picked the whopping teaspoon of crabmeat out of it, ate what I could because I was hungry, and the rest went in the trash. We were asked several times "how is everything" but we were reluctant to complain or create a scene so we went on to the second course. Second Course: My companion's potato gnocci were gluey and chewy, just like the papardelle. It just wasn't good. My scallops were "ok" but I was disappointed that they were only average quality food service scallops and not the dry pack/dayboat scallops I would expect from a fine dining restaurant. I would describe the texture as mushy. They were seared on each side and raw in the middle. Scallops should be *just* cooked through to avoid toughness but these were as carelessly done as everything else we were served. It was clearly the chef's day off! Third course: Cheese for the dining companion, all of which were first quality cheeses served with house made condiments and local honey. The only complaint here would be the sample sized servings of each- the three together constituted a bare tablespoon (for $32). My affogato was great! It was the best part of my meal. Service: The captain is a food service veteran and good at his job. The second server was a little over the top, asking "how is everything tasting" like we were at TGIFridays. There were 3 servers on the floor and between them we were interrupted several times, which started to be annoying, Ambience: The dining room is very sad. The walls need paint, the furniture visibly needs to be refinished; the paintings are hanging crooked, the dowdy silk flowers and plants look like 1982 and, our tablecloth was crumpled and wrinkled. The whole experience was extremely disappointing. Our bill with wine was almost $400. I won't be running back. read more

The restaurant is part of Barboursville Vineyards and specializes in generally Northern Italian dishes paired with the Barboursville wine. Executive Chef Spencer Crawford is a true talent in making the most out of local ingredients, including veggies, herbs, and animals grown and raised on the property. Check out the website for special feast events https://www.bbvwine.com/our-restaurant Today we did the Easter lunch, which started with an amazing goat cheese tart. The crust was perfectly flaky and buttery with a nice toast. The goat cheese was salty and earthy, pairing well with the roasted beets and 2018 rose wine. Next up was gigli pasta. I had to look this one up https://www.the-pasta-project.com/gigli-or-campanelle-pasta/. The past was perfectly al dente. It came with peas and this killer lemon sauce. It was topped off with house made guanciale (cured pork jowl). The sauce cut through and brighten up the dish and the fattiness of the pork. They paired it with the sav blanc, which is a fine spring wine on its own, but brought out more of the citrus in the dish. Finally my wife went with the lamb chops and I had the salmon. Both were perfectly cooked. The lamb was medium rare and the salmon had super crispy skin, but the flesh was still juicy. The salmon came with fava beans and oyster mushrooms that both brought some earthiness to the flavor party. The lamb came with this awesome roasted garlic potato souffle that had a great cheesy flavor to it. Service was excellent. Just an all around great special holiday meal. read more

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Outstanding service, terrific quiet ambiance. Seems like one of the last restaurants left that has 5 star service and a dress code that people adhere to. We spent our daughter's graduation dinner from UVA there and couldn't have been more pleased! Servings were a little tiny but that's ok. Desserts were a knock out and the food was five stars. Thank you for making our evening so special. We will be back! read more

My husband and I have dined at Palladio (lunch, dinner, special dinners) a number of times over the years, with our most recent visit being from November 2020. For this visit, the Sous Chef had recently been promoted so it was the first time we were trying his food - and I have to say, we think the two meals we had recently - one lunch and one dinner - were on the higher end of other times we've dined there. I say this for two reasons - 1, I had the vegetable strudel for lunch, and as someone who doesn't really like vegetables, this dish was totally out of my comfort zone. But, it happened to feature the few vegetables I like (squash, onions, goat cheese), and the puff pastry was cooked to a lovely golden brown. It was absolutely delicious and extremely well-prepared. My husband had the cannelloni risotto with rabbit and it was also excellent. For our dinner on this Once thing I've noticed since the pandemic is the change in their wine list. They still offer recommended pairings, but there are also other wines available by the glass, which I don't remember from before...not sure if I didn't pay attention before, but nonetheless, it's nice to have more choices. The bread basket is always fresh and delicious - definitely take advantage of it and the two olive oils on the table (not going to lie - I wiped the bottles down with wipes before I touched them...hopefully they are being wiped down between diners). I've seen other reviews with rude service and sub-par food. My thoughts on that - I honestly think, at least based on this last visit, that the current chef is better than the previous chef. And at Palladio, in terms of food - you can't go wrong with the pastas. I've never had a pasta there I didn't enjoy. In terms of the service - it's true, it can be hit or miss. Some of the waiters there are older and can appear standoffish (although I've seen them converse pretty heavily with other tables - given where Barboursville is located, I suspect there are plenty of regulars that skew older and they probably know them well). Other servers are just fine. Alessandro, the Sommelier, is always good about explaining the wines if you ask. Overall, I've generally enjoyed my experiences there (I've experienced service issues and had a sub-par dish here and there) but I continue to frequent Palladio when I'm on vacation or visiting Barboursville. Overall, 4 stars - definitely very good. read more

The service was great but I would not recommend going hungry. The portions are small and VERY pricey. The food was decent but not nearly enough for the amount we paid. Wine was good, we bought 2 bottles-rose and Pinot Grigio. read more

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Skip Palladio and go to The Library where the wait staff is friendlier and the atmosphere is relaxed. We enjoyed the wine, but the food was a complete disappointment at Palladio. read more

Upscale and classy restaurant, yet it feels stuffy and not very welcoming. The staff is efficient yet not welcoming. They welcome you with a glass of complimentary bubbles, a good one. The portions are small. The prices are high even for lunch. The food is high quality, well made, yet just average outcome. The bread and olives plate is good. read more

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I've been dying to try Palladio since the first time visiting Barboursville Vineyards a couple years ago but could never get in for a reservation. It's quaint and charming inside - and the food was delicious. It's also my understanding that the menu does change frequently - which I love as well! Barboursville wine is unmatched, truly, and I would 10/10 go back! read more

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Palladio is absolutely worth the splurge! Each course is paired with a perfect wine for that choice so I highly recommend the wine pairing. Plus the sommelier is super knowledgeable and clearly delights in his job of introducing you to BBV's wines. This was my third time and the food was still excellent! I was absolutely delighted by the first course of white asparagus in anchovy sauce and burrata. And the second dish of sweet pea and ricotta ravioli floating in a butter garlic sauce was heaven. We were less impressed by our mains of veal and frittata, they both were just a bit underwhelming. But the wine pairings were perfect. The service seemed a little more casual this time around but still a delightful meal and perfect for a birthday celebration Tip: if you make an earlier reservation you can get a complimentary tasting in the tasting room. And let's be honest the wines are what make this place shine. FYI Uber will pick you up way out at the winery and and if you do the tasting and the pairings, I highly recommend so you can ride home with no worries. read more

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For the prices they charge, my husband and I were expecting Michelin quality food, as we have been lucky enough to have eaten at a few Michelin starred restaurants. It was so mediocre and pedestrian that we could not believe the prices they charged for mediocrity. The only good thing was the Amuse Bouche. That was delicious, and I thought it marked the beginning of a delicious meal, but I was very wrong. Each course was more disappointing than the previous. First we shared the mixed salad that was such an unappealing presentation with these big three hunks of lettuce with brown balsamic dressing on top. You eat with your eyes first, and that was not eye appealing at all. The dressing was also unevenly distributed so some parts had no dressing, and it was hard to eat. Who wants to have to saw at a salad course. And the Apple vinegar dust was tasteless. Don't waste your time making that, Chef My next course was lobster risotto. Although it was loaded with lobster, I couldn't taste any Parmesan cheese. All I could taste was fennel. I took off the silly fennel pollen that was on top. That was tasteless when eaten separately but the whole dish tasted like lobster with fennel - a strange and displeasing combination. I could have sworn they put a Pernod or fennel seeds in the dish, but I had them ask the chef and he said it was just the fennel pollen. I had immediately taken that all off, and when I tasted a strand by itself, it had no taste. But my whole risotto had such a strong fennel taste. And I love fennel - but it's too strong a taste for lobster and risotto. That's all I tasted. My husband had the papparadelle with boar Ragu. He called it pedestrian. I thought it was very greasy tasting. My second course was the fish of the day which was red something or other for $45. It was overcooked and the spinach timbale on the plate was absolutely tasteless and the lentils insipid. What a waste of $45! My husband had the pan seared chicken. It came to the table with burned skin which was unsightly. He said it was tender inside though, but he didn't care for the sautéed Swiss chard that accompanied it. We decided on no dessert, but they brought us a complimentary brownie bite each and an orange tartlet. Once again both were mediocre, but at least we didn't have to pay for it. We had lunch here maybe 10 years or so ago and really enjoyed it. Maybe there's a new chef. I have never given a Yelp review before, but had to on this place so that people would save themselves the effort and expense, and also so maybe the chef reads it and changes a few things. As far as the service goes, the gentleman with the beard who opened the door did not smile or welcome us or the other couple who was first in. He took that couple to their table and then a blonde woman with a British accent took our name and took us to our table. She was very welcoming and ended up being most kind, attentive and personable all evening. The other three male waiters lacked personality and were minimally attentive for a small dining room. We sat with our first course plates in front of us for quite a king time. The same waiter with the beard was helpful at one point when I waved him over and had a request for the chef. I am so sorry to not be calling anyone of the servers by their names, but no one told us their names as a waiter usually does. One last comment: in this rather pretentious restaurant, at least based on the prices on the menu, they allowed an 18 month old in the dining room. Although she was quiet in the beginning, there were some screams, as one would expect. We left before she probably got fully wound up. They should not allow children in a fine dining restaurant, at least not that age. It's a beautiful location and the dining room is lovely, but we will not be back. We love an elegant dining experience with great service, beautiful ambiance, and delicious food, and were so looking to tonight. We don't mind paying for a good meal, but I am sorry to say that in our humble opinions, this was not a good meal, and consequently not worth the price. read more

Overall the restaurant was average. However, considering the high prices it is below average. Inside seating cannot take advantage of the great outside views. The salad was good. All other items were solid. Servers were so so and not too friendly. read more

Disappointed with my anniversary dinner. Dinner was fine, not great, for $30+ a dish... I got the beef cheeks, which were fatty, husband got pheasant with foie Gras and was not impressed (was really just a chicken wing with some foie Gras sauce for $38). Wine was ok, I guess in Virginia it's good- in California for $30/glass you'll get great wine but maybe with few contenders you can charge more. Receipt was handwritten and when asked for itemized receipt they said they had been doing this for 20+ years (scary!)- pretty sure we were overcharged as they only brought two menus to calculate on our own...and at this point we were fed up with the back and forth asking for menu after menu, very annoyed with the whole payment exchange. For this price point I would not recommend, they may be the big dish in the small pond but do not go out of your way like we did!! read more

Our lunch experience at Palladio was mixed. We ordered several dishes (Risotto with mussels, sweet bread (aka pork medallions), shrimp cakes), 3 flight Octagon wines, and received complimentary bread with olives and their fantastic olive oil. The food and ambience were fantastic for Northern Italian cuisine. However, we were not served by one waiter, so we had to often waive down one of the three rotating waiters for service. One waiter,Mark, rudely said to me that I am not supposed to raise my hand when asking for service. I had done this because when I called him previous occasions, he would walk by and ignore me. Not what you would expect for a $190 lunch. Not recommended. read more

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The service was great, but the meal wasn't the quality we expected. The pork belly was 90% fat, the, the risotto was undercooked and chewy, the squab (a tiny wing and a leg) was chewy and dry. My husband enjoyed the calamari salad, but his ravioli was chewy, and the raw wine added at the table was off-putting and overly sharp (maybe too much was added)? My husband quite enjoyed the pork milanese. The wines were lovely but the price of 2 three course meals with wine was over $300 so I would have expected a better executed meal. The ambiance was very pleasant. I eat gluten-free, and I find it difficult to understand when an experienced chef doesn't offer or indicate specific gluten-free menu items. read more

Great food. Amazing service. Ambiance to boot. The restaurant is hosted in Barboursville Vineyard surrounded by beautiful views and history. Expensive but worth it. read more

Saturday was the second epic snow storm of the winter, but it didn't stop the PIC and I from enjoying lunch here. And the storm also didn't stop them from serving us, and serving us well. While the menu may have been more limited (only 2-3 choices per course, versus the normal 5-6), the service and quality of the food was not lacking at all. We got the full four courses, and wine pairings to go with each. For dessert I went for the cheese option and wasn't disappointed. There was a choice of 10 cheeses, and you got to pick 5 of them. It was certainly the best tasting and looking cheese plate I have ever had. The jam, honeys, and toasts that came with them left me more than happy. Certainly worth the drive from DC and the splurge. (Though I think 4 courses with wine pairs for 66 dollars is quite a deal). While it was beautiful in the snow, I would recommend waiting till spring and enjoying a day on the vinyard as well. read more

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We went for lunch. After a beautiful drive through the Virginia Pediment we arrived at the Winery. The restaurant has two small rooms decorated in a lovely country provincial style. The service is flawless and appropriate to a formal meal. I could rave poetically about the food but the pictures speak for themselves. You would be hard pressed to find a better meal south of NYC. read more

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My meal at Palladio was easily my most expensive meal in 2020. My meal at Palladio was also the best bargain I've enjoyed in 2020; as I was fully prepared to pay twice as much as the final bill's tally. Mark, Jill and the support servers were absolutely fantastic in every way; knowledgeable, smooth, and personable without being intrusive. Katie the maitre'd was a delight as she helped walk us through COVID accommodations and safety-ensuring adaptations. And each course of my meal was a stunningly emotional experience, with lovely flavorful oysters, a tantalizing lobster ravioli with zests of burgundy truffle mushroom, a perfectly medium rare Wagyu tenderloin served with a sumptuous vegetable medley, and one of the better apple pie's I've personally had topped with a scoop of decadent delicious cinnamon sorbet. And to top it all off, the wine pairing were extremely complementary, showing off the best of Barboursville's vineyards. My only regret on the day was that the gift shop sold out of the Tuscan olive oil that so excited us during the bread service. All in all, a meal and an experience to remember. It was both a thrill and a treasure to escape the confines of one's own home and kitchen and be inspired by what others are doing at all levels of service. Bravo. Keep up the outstanding work and stay safe. read more

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Some years ago, my wife and I went to Palladio for dinner. It was amazing. The food, the ambience, the wood fire--it was magnificent. Last night, we stayed at the 1804 Inn at the winery. The inn, a bed and breakfast on the winery grounds adjacent to the Barboursville ruins, was great. We ate at Palladio with a 7pm reservation. We were there for an hour+. Five tables were filled. We ordered the three-course meal and a bottle of cab franc. The meal opened with a sun choke purée with micro greens. Hot, creamy, smooth: it was a great start. The sparkling rosé was a great pairing. Then came the bread; cold, crumbly, and stale: not great. I had the charcuterie plate and she had the oysters with passion fruit sauce. The oysters were good, but the passion fruit was a strange combo that smothered the oyster. The charcuterie was hit or miss: the pate was solid, the salami/prosciutto was creamy but stale, and the fig/mustard/raisins were just on the plate. For the pasta course, I had squid ink linguine. The pasta was terrific; the roe on top was dry and crumbly like breadcrumbs. Flavor? Terrific. Execution? Meh. She had the gnocchi with fennel and pork. Without being too blunt, it was a mess. The dish looked like it was made with a can opener and a hot plate. For the entree course, she had a whole trout. The meat was perfect, but the overwhelming texture was gelatinous. I had the hanger steak. The meat was cooked perfectly. That said, it was cold...as were the mashed potatoes. The broccolini, cooked with garlic, tasted of burnt oil. We didn't order dessert. They brought a plate of cookies. The orange cake? Awesome. The brownie? So so. The oatmeal raisin cookie? Looked like an after thought. The service was terrific. Really, it was quite good. And, despite a really poor meal, I was happy to leave a 20% tip for the service. I hate to say it, but the overwhelming feeling was that the days of Palladio are numbered. The food wasn't great. The wood fire was traded for a gas log. Still, the service may yet save the day. This morning, we ate at the 1804 Inn for breakfast. Quiche, bacon, croissants, coffee, and yogurt. Best meal at Barboursville. read more

My wife and I arrived at Palladio at 11:55 for our 12-noon lunch reservation on Sunday. We thought arriving 5 minutes early for our reservation was the polite thing to do. Apparently, we were wrong. We found the door locked and no signs of life. Admittedly, the restaurant doesn't officially open until noon, but we were nonetheless surprised. At 12:01, I saw someone moving in the dining room. So, I knocked on the door to be sure they realized we were standing outside (in the midday heat). By then we had been joined by another party awaiting entry. At this point, a gentleman (the "host") opened the door while staring at me angrily and asked in a scolding tone whether I had rapped on his door. I said yes. He then told me the restaurant opens at 12! I simply said that that time had already passed. There were chairs in the entry / ante room (outside the dining room) where we could have been seated with the comfort of air conditioning for 5 minutes, while any final preparations in the dining room were made. In the end the food was good (especially our first two courses - mains were O.K. at best) and of course the wine was good also. The service from the various servers was friendly and efficient. Only the rudeness of the "host" to us (his guests) soured the whole event. Had the host even just signaled "1 minute please" through the window, I wouldn't have been bothered. The rudeness we were subjected to was inexcusable, particularly for an 'upper-tier' and fairly expensive restaurant. I've experienced more professional, accommodating, and polite hosts at the Waffle House. read more

Great restaurant with an amazing staff that is trained to perfect, made my friends wedding a dream wedding

We were really looking forward to dining at Pallido but it was a total letdown. It's just pretentious exorbitantly priced mediocre food. The service was still fine, and the wines for the pairings were good. We have been going to Palladio since Melissa Close-Hart was the chef and have always had a great meal, up until now. My wife had Insalata Invernale basic mixed greens and garnish you can get at the supermarket, I had fried oysters, which were ok, but bland, my daughter had Bagna Cauda pickled vegetables, small florets of white and purple cauliflower, baby bok choy, pickled onions it was ok, not work the price, they didn't even peel the carrots and the pickled baby bok choy felt gritty. My wife's Pansotti al Piccione was awful, the pasta was undercooked i.e. tough, the squab filling was tasteless and dry and there was no sauce, just some ravioli some oil, and some red strands of something. Avoid. I had the Pappardelle al Cinghiale Pappardelle pasta and wild boar ragu. tough undercooked pasta ribbons with some diced brown mystery meat and a couple of carrot slices, again no sauce, Avoid, My Daughter had Zuppa di Pesce. It was like no Zuppa di Pesce I've ever tasted, and I used to make it when I was a chef in an Italian restaurant. The broth tasted like cheap lobster bisque made with lobster base, The seafood was cooked ok. but it was uninspiring, perhaps it would have been better if it was at least served hot, not tepid/room temp. My wife's entre was Pesce Fresco del Giorno fish of the day, the sea scallops (Not U10s) were cooked perfectly but the Roasted Celery Root Purée was dry/pasty, My daughter and I had the Petto d'Anatra pan-seared duck breast, I don't know why they have an asterisk next to this on the menu because mine was cooked med well and daughters was cooked med. the Sweet Potato Millefeuille was just a rectangle of bland dry scalloped sweet potato, they couldn't even use a cookie cutter to make it a bit special. FYI, Duck breast should be cooked med rare at most and have crispy skin, ours was neither, and again no sauce, just some marinated raisins and some hammered greens. It's clear that the chef can't make sauces for his dishes. The cheese plate was nothing special I could probably get similar cheeses for half the price at HT and not know the difference. The berry sorbet was good. It also seems that celebrating your birthday there doesn't mean much to them, a plate with Happy Birthday written in chocolate and three cookies and three chocolate truffles was a bit of a letdown. Sadly, the food at Pallido has gone downhill since we were last there, especially when they charge so much for it. We did overhear one of the wait staff saying to another table that they hired a consultant to work with the chef because the chef had never been to Europe to learn to cook this food. I guess they don't have restaurants like Palladio in NH. Perhaps they are just resting on their laurels. For $500 the service and the wine can't save this formerly great restaurant. We won't be back. read more

Took some out of town friends here for lunch after a tour of Monticello. Had not been here since the pandemic. Gone is the free wine tasting before lunch. Gone is the fixed price lunch which was quite lovely and a very good value. Food and wine were still excellent but the price is quite high for lunch and the service was lackluster. Head waiter is quite grumpy and no one ever came to refill out water glasses which is very odd. Not sure we will be returning again which is sad since this used to be one of my favorites places in the Charlottesville area. read more

This is one of our absolute favorite places on earth. In fact, we love it so much that it's where my fiancé made us reservations for right after we got engaged. Their wine is to die for and their staff is always friendly. I'm a vegetarian and never have to worry that they'll not only have something I can eat but that it'll be delicious. read more

The tasting menu was mediocre quality and severely overpriced. Possibly the most overpriced meal I have ever eaten. The portions were so small I wasn't even full. And the server was a jerk. They had a mandatory 20% tip, which added insult to injury. I cannot even count the meals I have had for less than 100 dollars that were significantly better than this almost 400 dollar meal for 2. read more

Meh. I made reservations a month in advance, had reservations confirmed, and enjoyed all interactions with the very courteous and professional front desk staff. Dinner was subpar. The first dish (beets & goat cheese and autumn salad; no one is fooled by "D'Autonno") was lacking, but the second two (pappardelle ragu and sausage with beans) were truly undercooked, under seasoned, and not worth eating. What really earned this experience so few stars was the service. I've not been treated so negligently in ages. There was no explanation of the menu or pre fixe options, no explanation of the wine pairings (at a vineyard), no "two-bite checks" or any check-ins after courses were delivered, no water refills once we paid, no offers for drinks. Icing on the cake: picking up the check one minute after it was dropped off and then frowning and slamming it back down when he saw that no credit cards was inside. Double icing: picking up the signed checks while we were still at the table. This sort of cooking and service may fly in the 'burbs on a weeknight, but if they want to charge close-to-city prices, they need to learn how to either properly sear meats or deliver it with kindness -- preferably both. read more

My 5 girlfriends and I came here today for a special celebration lunch. Most of the food was wonderful and the wine pairings surprisingly good. BUT three of us had the grilled seitan vegetarian dish and we were literally S-A-W-I-N-G at the seitan with steak knives. It was virtually inedible---for a restaurant of this caliber, they should at least TEST the food before they send it out. Yuck. The last issue we had was a second male server literally threw our check over my shoulder, down onto the table, with no thanks, no have a good day, NOTHING. I spoke with the manager & he said he thought it was probably a misunderstanding, but all 6 of us saw it. It happened and it was extremely rude. Overall the 3 out of 4 courses were awesome & 3 out of 4 wines were very drinkable. Palladio makes themselves out to be this fabulous restaurant, but with one dish being inedible and that the manager (who is also the sommelier) not believing me about the server tossing our check over my shoulder is just wrong, unacceptable, and as a result, none of us will be going back, nor will be recommend the restaurant to friends, family, or others. read more

Fantastic (and expensive!) Lunch! Let me warn you: They don't have a drive-through window! This is for special occasions only, or for Charlottesville residents who are not paying off student loans. The food is wonderfully prepared, creative, tasty, and presented elegantly. Lunch is based on the number of "courses" you want, each course carrying the appropriate Italian name. Lunch for us (2 diners) was US$129.71 before tip. I did leave a very good tip because the service was outstanding. Four wait-persons assisted us at different times. All were courteous and efficient. Reservations should be made for lunch. Reservations are required for dinner. I highly recommend this restaurant, but (1) do not take the kids and (2) be prepared to take your time and enjoy each course and each wine. read more

Went there with high hopes for a pleasant experience but very disappointed by the food and the attitude of the head waiter who treats you with a disdain. The atmosphere and wine are good, but the quality of food is at best mediocre. The service is spotted, some waiters are good but generally non-accommodating and "no cannot do" attitude prevails. Will probably not go back read more

The service at this place has gone down hill Incredibly ... We came from New York to eat at this place ... service is really really bad ... restaurant manager should have a class in customer service ... never seen one this bad ... Very insulting .... can no longer order wine directly from the staff .. which is bizarre ... Service is NOT what it used to be ... sadly ... and this was a special place read more

I almost didn't go here because of the mixed reviews on Yelp. This is one of those times when I'm glad I went and made my own impressions, because this was one of the best meals I've ever had. The setting is quiet and intimate. The decor is charming and perfectly appropriate given the proximity to the ruins and the nearby 1804 Inn. Service was skilful and friendly. The entire meal lasted about 2.5 hours, so be prepared to relax and enjoy a four-course service. In case you're wondering, as we were, about the dress code, here it is: Jacket and tie are optional and not required. My husband wore dress pants and a button-down shirt, and I wore dress pants and a sweater. We were a-ok. The food was good all around. A couple of highlights were the ricotta-fruit filling in my ravioli and the cheese plate my husband ordered for dessert. He also got something that came with caramelized onions in a wine sauce, and those were awesome. There were a lot of nice touches throughout, as well, such as a complimentary serving of Brut, a delicious red-pepper-soup amuse, and some complimentary cookies at the end of the meal. One piece of advice: If you opt for the wine pairing, which results in 4 total glasses of wine per person, don't immediately beforehand go to a tasting at Barboursville, where you'll sample about 15 different wines. Unless, of course, you want to get completely sloshed. If that's your goal, this will certainly accomplish that. read more

We went there for lunch, and had a two-course with wine pairings. Beautiful place, awesome and beautifully presented food, we really enjoyed everything. I see complaints about the service, but our service was impeccable, very attentive and prompt. Truly can not think of anything to dislike. Will definitely be back again. read more