Chose this restaurant for a Mother's Day dinner and it was a hit. The place is hip and inviting…read more Happy hour till 6 on a Sunday was an unexpected surprise. The service was excellent and the food was incredible. We had a full meal from drinks to appetizer to desert and it was all fabulous. I'd love to go back again and again to try everything on the menu. They also had beautiful outdoor seating which is mostly covered and looked really cool as well.

Mockingbird came highly recommended, so we arrived expecting a special dining experience for our…read moredaughter's 20th birthday. We even drove 3.5 hours to meet her there. We had 5:30pm reservations and were seated immediately. The host was warm, acknowledged the occasion, and honored my request for a quieter table by placing us in a bay-window nook. Unfortunately, that's where the positives ended. The space echoed so badly we could barely hear each other, and the setting sun combined with the AC being accidentally turned off made the area feel like a sauna. Our water glasses were filled within minutes, so we thought service would be smooth. Instead, we sat for another 15 minutes before anyone greeted us--while a table seated after us was helped promptly and served at a noticeably faster pace. I understand large parties require attention (there was a group of 10-12 nearby), but as a former server myself, I've never allowed smaller tables to feel forgotten. When our server, Lucian (sp?), finally arrived, we immediately placed drink and appetizer orders because we were already starving. The appetizers came out about 20 minutes later--still before our drinks. The brussels sprouts were excellent and worth the wait. The biscuit basket was good, though the butter-to-biscuit ratio felt off, and the apple butter was surprisingly delicious. Our entrées didn't arrive until at least 45 minutes after that. The pacing was simply poor, and we consistently felt like an afterthought. While our server was polite, he didn't initiate conversation, offer suggestions, mention happy hour, or acknowledge our daughter's birthday. He didn't even suggest dessert. Meanwhile, the six-top behind us--seated well after we were--was wrapping up their meal as ours was just being served. The food presentation was beautiful. The pot roast, however, was underwhelming. It lacked seasoning and sauce, and the vegetables were forgettable--very few potatoes, no carrots. "Not your normal pot roast" was accurate, but not in a good way. The shrimp and grits were excellent, with great seasoning and a flavorful sauce. The salmon was moist and well-prepared, though it still had a few scales on the end of the filet. Once we finished eating, we again waited for our server to return. We eventually had to wave him down for boxes and again to request the check. Parking in the back was convenient early in the evening, though I imagine it becomes difficult later. Would we return? Unfortunately, probably not. We've been treated better, served more efficiently, and appreciated more fully at other restaurants--including one almost directly across the street. What we hoped would be a memorable celebration ended up feeling ho-hum at a high price--too high for the experience we received.

Riverside Lunch is tucked away in Charlottesville and definitely worth the stop! Three generations…read moreof the same family working here, an awesome atmosphere, and a place that really hasn't changed much over the years. They still have Popeye playing in the corner, which is such a cool touch. The place has been here since 1935, and I love coming up here for a great burger! Definitely a little piece of history worth checking out.

We got single patties because we were eating all day but I needed to have a burger here. The…read morereviews just looked too good. I wish I had been hungrier because the burger was as good as I imagined. Soft bun, fried pickles on the side and a basket of onion rings topped with a seasonal cider and I was in heaven. Service was fast and our waitress was super friendly and helpful. We loved walking into the bar and getting a table right away. There were some larger groups in there so we got lucky for sure.

The staff was awesome and great with our kids, the food was amazing, the drinks were great. We got…read morethe Apple Bourbon Chicken with slaw and sweet potato fries which were all great in flavor. The kids shared a coal miner which the barbecue was sweet and the bacon&burger was cooked perfectly. I ordered the Stumble down mac&cheese and it was the perfect amount of pepper jack and cream. We are from FAR away, but would definitely come back!

mmmm so yummy. was craving a steak and they delivered. ribs? un poco dry. but the steak was so…read moreFREAKING good ugh. our server was very prompt and kind. shout out to all the UVa students out there!!! Great vibes in the place, but be warned, if you sit near the door it will blow a breeze at you when it opens and it will be cold

My son picked this place. The place is very small, maybe four tables. It's really a one man…read moreoperation with some help to clear tables. Each meal is cooked by Shaun who is especially nice, friendly, and puts love into each dish he prepares. You can tell. Just take a breath when you walk in and take it in. Service is good, but like I said - its a one man operation so just be patience. The Fried Chicken and Devil Eggs are EXCELLENT. We would go back. Keep up the good job Shaun. Nicely done.

Came here to grab a bite with friends. The inside is very casual. The food was good and the…read moreportions were great for the price. I tried the Babyback Ribs and Fried Chicken Soul Sandwiches. The Babyback Ribs were really good. The ribs are taken off the bone for the soul sandwich and plated on slices of potato rolls. The Fried Chicken was good but not the best I've had in Charlottesville. I would have liked the outside to be crispier. The cornbread that comes with the order was also good. It was not traditional cornbread-- it tasted like carrot cake corn bread. The Mac and Cheese was a little too overcooked for my liking. However, for the meat sandwich and two sides were a large portion and cost 12 dollars which was awesome. Overall, Soul Food Joint is a charming locally owned soul food place downtown. It wasn't the best fried chicken or barbecue that I've had in Charlottesville, however the food was good and the portions were great for the price.

Cool local spot. The bartender was on the spot with cold beer and they were open on thanksgiving…read more!! Also Pet friendly!

I was pleasantly pleased stopping by this restaurant today. I was with a wedding party and was…read morelooking for a place to eat and drink after midnight and they accommodated us. A good time was had by all.

The staff were very accommodating and the food was good. They gave us delicious drink…read morerecommendations.

Came in with a couple of friends on a Saturday evening and we were seated right away. The ambiance…read moreis lively with things on the wall to keep my eyes wandering. Our server was nice and attentive. The reason for the 3 stars is the food, it's average. I'll speak to the plates I tried, which were the Po Boy and the Red Snapper plate. Neither of those dishes stood out, where I could taste delight while eating them. I didn't feel they were made with love, moreso this is what it is. Another friend ordered the rib platter, which the meal was big in size, they could finish it.

Loved this place! It was our first time and wanted a local place to eat!…read more Was greeted by the sweetest woman when we walked in! Food was good and service was good!! Would recommend!

Total hole in the wall that does not get enough hype or recognition. This is in the same genre of…read morerestaurant/menu offerings as the Korner Restaurant and Riverside - so expect no frills, simple, easy and casual. Their burgers are no joke. They do a great job. Prices are low and it is easy to order everything and understand their menu. The Philly cheesesteak might be the best from local cville restaurants (sorry, nothing is touching my Jersey Mikes chipotle cheesesteak). If I were to get a local cheesesteak, this would probably be my pick. Overall the food here is cheap and tasty. Would be back.

Food was outstanding, especially the broccoli, chicken, steak & scallion pancake!…read moreServers were competent; food was delivered promptly! Would definitely go back!

Amazing! I apologize since I totally forgot to take a pic of all the delicious food I had. I got…read morethe bourbon cocktail to start but thought it was too sweet. Started with beet salad, carrots and the oysters. Wow! All so good! Next we got the hanger steak and the fish, we actually ended up ordering another steak because it was that good!!! The potato's underneath was crunchy and soft. Flavors of all the food were 10/10!

Love this place ! Mom and pop all the way ! They care very much about what they do ! Chicken…read moresandwich was unusable to me . Hard shell but chicken cooked perfectly . The owner addressed the problem . They really appreciate feed back ! Pizza alway perfect ! Beer paired well ! Best home town feel !

Four of us grabbed dinner at Dr Ho's Humble Pie this past Friday after we got situated at our…read moreweekend getaway in the area. We weren't sure what this restaurant would be like, since we drove through a dark and narrow road to get there. Much to our surprise, this was a full sit-down experience, and we had to wait 30-40 minutes to be seated. We decided to share the TRIPLE THREAT COMBO! (49.99) which comes with cheesy garlic bread (their signature!), one large salad, and one large specialty pizza. This was a lot of food, and we had enough leftovers to feed another mouth and half. THE FAT AND SASSY Their menu claims that this is the "best garlic cheese bread ever". And indeed it was because I wolfed down seven pieces of that bread within 15 minutes. I love that this was practically a pizza -- round pizza dough topped generously with cheddar and whole cloves of roasted garlic. The cheesy grease and pungent aromatic flavors exploded in my mouth. After seven pieces, I knew I had to stop because there was other food to come. CAESAR SALAD This was a typical Caesar salad with above average Caesar dressing, but there was just way too much of it mixed in. Besides that, pretty solid! I would ask for the dressing on the side in the future. THE HEAVY HAND This is Dr Ho's version of the Meat Lovers pizza, which was topped generously with sopressata, capicola, Italian sausage, and other ingredients like shaved onions, mushroom, and variety of cheeses. We got this one because we wanted more protein, but unfortunately, with the amount of cured meat that was slathered on, it was overbearingly salty. After my first slice of pizza, I started taking meat off my slice because it was too much. Overall, 3.5/5, but bumping to a 4/5 because we were pretty sure we would have had a better experience if we chose a different pizza. Still, I'm happy we got to try a restaurant in the Charlottesville area that is popular and well-loved by locals. Also, fantastic pricing with honestly the best cheesy garlic bread I've ever had. I would recommend getting here ASAP especially during the weekends because they don't take reservations or call ahead orders for dine in.

Please Ignore The Following Reviews:…read more 1. People who have not tried the food. The chicken is not dried out, it is crispy, savory, and delicious. The sides are all excellent. If you arrived late or near closing time, I suggest you come around lunch time. Leaving a negative review because you couldn't or wouldn't eat here is problematic to places that work hard to put out a quality product. 2. People who don't enjoy chicken. Yes, people have told me they don't like Brown's because they don't eat meat. Great. 3. People disgusted with its location. Yes, it's in a gas station. That is part of this location's appeal; it's a genuine hole in the wall. The food tastes great and they wouldn't be allowed to operate if they were dirty, which, in my opinion, they aren't. 4. People irritated at how a manager is speaking to a customer. I get it, this can irritate me, too. But 1 star? Get out of town. I've been going here for years, and the old and new management has been nothing but kind to the people I've seen order. This, along with Wayside Chicken and Mel's Cafe, is some of the absolute best fried chicken in Charlottesville. Best of all, it's affordable! Please support this place, spread the word, and learn what the hype it all about.

Somebody reach out to Michael Stern. His Roadfood review is sorely out of date. The business is…read morestill there, but it's no longer owned by the Brown family. Some other family runs it. The chicken is edible, but not memorable. The pieces are pretty small as well. Not worth a detour.