Ten is the highest quality sushi in town, and they'll make you pay for it! Gotta love a place where they import the fish from Hawaii and Japan! The best entree I had there was an Ono with black sesame sauce, which was exquisitie. It tasted just like the fish my husband and I got on our honeymoon from the local fish market, it was unbelievable! The sauce was so tasty that we ate it with whatever other food we had on the table, I have to admit! The decor is lovely and I always feel compelled to dress very nicely because of the atmosphere. It seems like the place to celebrate instead of just grabbing some sushi on a weeknight. read more

Good sushi. App portions are quite small as a side note and I wasn't super impressed with the raw scallop appetizer. Alternatively, the salad and rolls are huge! 2 rolls are more than enough for one person. I recommend the Kani Avocado and Tiger Roll. House salad is also nice. Prices are pretty high for c-ville, but it's definitely one of the more upscale places I've seen around the area. Note: the restaurant is upstairs! I made the mistake of going in the place below. read more

Wildly over-priced and very hoity-toity atmosphere, but great sushi. The seaweed salad is really good, though they try too much with the strange light underneath the dish to make it look more neon-like. The shrimp tempura is also worth a try (if you are not on a budget) as they are tender and crisp with a delicious sauce. Definitely one of those splurge places. read more

I ate here a couple weeks ago while driving through Charlottesville with my girlfriend. We settled on the upstairs dining room, and were beyond impressed with the service and the atmosphere. The atmosphere was much like a Miami lounge - clean lines, contrasting colors, electro lounge music playing in the background. The server we had - she was amazing. She offered many good suggestions and was very attentive to us (which was great, because I wanted to get back to Richmond before the sun came up). The food was great, but this is where it gets docked a star. They serve "tapas-style Japanese and sushi." Between the two of us, we had 2 rolls of sushi and 2 satay (one chicken, one beef), and I had a Japanese Espresso Stout (which was delightful, to say the least). Everything was very, very good - very flavorful, everything was spot on. However, for a meal that didn't completely fill us up (we went for gelato nearby afterwards), it still cost me $50+tip. While it was pricey, I could see why it was - I had a great experience and some great food. However, I didn't really plan on spending that much on dinner that evening. Will I go back? Definitely. But I'll have to make sure I have some extra funds in my wallet. read more

What an amazing meal!!! Ten was definitely the best sushi I have had in Charlottesville. This restaurant is Manhattan quality right here in central Virginia and the prices are justified by the extraordinary flavors & atmosphere. The restaurant and bar are beautiful and the service was superb. Our server Jack provided one of the best experiences in a long time and his recommendations were spot on. I am still thinking about the tempura calamari which had a perfectly spicy Korean sauce & all of the raw fish was of the highest quality and freshness. This is it for me, this is my sushi spot from now on...I can't say enough good things about my experience here at Ten. read more

I've read the negative reviews below, and as a west-coast sushi snob myself I can see where they're coming from. However, I had a spectacular time and a great meal. If I lived in Charlottesville I'd spend a fair portion of my hard-earned money here (although this visit I was lucky enough to have someone else paying for me, which I will someday repay in kind). Ambiance does count, for me, and found it quite lovely. I really like the space. Ginger Pear martini: two thumbs up. Well, one. Two thumbs up would mean I wasn't holding it, and we can't have that. I (and 3 of the other 5 in our party) had the tasting menu, so as far as sushi goes I only had 3 pieces. But those were very nice pieces indeed. The other 7 (I think?) courses were incredibly tasty, well-portioned, well-planned, and overall well-executed. read more

I absolutely love going here. We save it for special occasions because it's pricey, but I've never had any kind of disappointment from this place. Food and drinks are always wonderful and service is always great. read more

I want to start off by stating my hesitance in writing this review, because the food was good. Like, really good. And it's so easy to get bogged down in nit-picky details that a reader would read this and say "oh I'm not going there!" And I don't want that to happen. So let me preface this with a recommendation in favor of Ten. It's a great restaurant, with a wonderfully trendy atmosphere, and is definitely an "occasion" place. Go to treat yourself. Ten, meaning Heaven, is located closer to the sky than anything else on the downtown mall - situated above the Blue Light Grill. Charlottesville has finally entered the arena of celebritylite chefs with Chef Bryan Emperor (a pretty damn imposing name), who comes from New York restaurant Nobu. It's a big name to live up to, and Emperor is unquestionably influenced by his mentor's style - a blend of Japanese traditional and modern flavors. The menu has a few appetizers, a few tempura, and some entrees including such 'traditional' hits as lamb chops, chilean bass, etc. So if your really going for Japanese dishes (as I was), stick to the Kushiyaki - the only authentic thing for miles. Especially if you're looking for the cheaper meal option, this is your best bet. A list of around 8 different skewers give a nice variety, and each has a unique, distinct flavor. But Ten is a sushi place! Shouldn't you go for the fish? To be honest, I had only a few pieces and while they were delicious, they were 1) nothing to write (blog) about and 2) outrageously priced. Some even had what I could only describe as dandilion greens (although I'm sure they weren't) that had a bitter bite to them. I've been assured this is fairly traditional - that it is actually Japanese Basil - but not with so much that it overpowers the fish itself. The real way is to have a bite of the leaf as a palate cleanser, not killer. And what about the omakase? It is a substantial amount of fish for the price, but nearly everyone in our party that ordered it went for Christians Pizza afterwards. The end result is that the cost of food at Ten is so outrageously prohibitive, it quickly becomes a wonderful place for appetizers. read more

I went in for restaurant week, and my expectations were muted. I came away really impressed. I got a salad for the first course, which was fine, but the 3 piece omakase and tuna tataki were both excellent, very fresh, very well-prepared. The alcohol list is varied and pretty high-quality; while they don't have a huge beer list, they have five or six varieties of Hitachino Nest (get the XH or the White Ale, the best Japanese beers I've had). You can also get Starr Hill or the usual Japanese beer suspects. I'd happily go back, but the comments here make me wonder if I caught the restaurant on a good night. read more

The quality of fish here is good. Mixed drinks were great. Dining area is very small so not a great place for a large group. We sat at the sushi bar but was a bit disappointed because the sushi chief wasn't so talkative. The price is through the roof!! My friend and I shared an order of fried calamari and seaweed salad, one order of the chef's sashimi (the medium size), and two martinis. The bill was just a little under $100. I will probably return again for special occasions. Definitely paying extra for the atmosphere. If you don't care for fancy decor, you can find same quality of food at the other sushi place in York Place for almost half the price. read more

Coming from the perspective of someone from Las Vegas, accustomed to sushi there, in LA, and Japan itself, Ten is just alright. In a sense, it's not their fault, theres only so much Charlottesville restaurants can do not being immediately connected to any big cities receiving fish imports. For their means, they do a great job, the tuna always tastes fine, but I've had some others that have been chewy or fishy. They are also rather expensive because they do do the best they can to bring in fish. It is the only place I would ever go to get sushi in Charlottesville, but still couldn't bring myself to do it often. Decent cocktail selection! Love the lychee. read more

Came here on a Saturday night. Loved the ambiance, very cute place. Friendly service. We ordered the edamame (really good appetizer) and the shrimp tempura (which was amazing/super juicy shrimp lightly fried). We Got three sushi rolls. Dragon, Japanese beef (really tender yummy beef) and unagi sansho. Honestly the rolls were mediocre/I've had better. The beef one was the best. We also made a reservation in advance. It is on the pricier side esp the sushi rolls read more

Whoa! The skewers were soo great I ate three! We also had some amazing lobster tempura that was only $16 for a full portion. Great prices, beautiful ambiance and a luxurious feel to a quality dining experience on the downtown mall in Charlottesville. A must try location in my book. read more

If you are among America's one-percenters or a wannabe, this restaurant will probably fit your needs. The atmosphere is pretentious, the portions scant, and the servers are slow and poorly trained. If you're dining with friends be aware they don't offer separate checks. If you want to pay for just your meal, bring a calculator and cash for your friends. The quality and taste of the food is good, but $50 for a 6oz tenderloin is nuts. With better lighting, larger type on the menu and younger eyes, I might not have made that costly mistake. I travel and have dined at several very nice Sushi restaurants from NYC to San Francisco, all of which were better dining experiences and value. We made two trips with this visit; our first, and our last. read more

This place is without a doubt a favorite of mine. Great cocktails, great food, and service that is fine-dining without being uppity or rehearsed. The calamari is so delicious, and the menu has quite the variety of dishes. I always just ask the server to pick one of their favorites in addition to what is ordered. That way I always end up trying something new, and am never let down by their choices. It can be pricey but it's worth the money if you enjoy eating out. read more

Amazing amazing amazing. Ten has incredible atmosphere, it's a super cool restaurant, they play awesome music and the bar is awesome. The sushi is fresh, but the portions are small and expensive (be warned.) I recommended trying the lobster tempura (it's one of my favorite dishes I've EVER had.) The meat skewers are great, the Chesapeake roll and fatty tuna are my favorite rolls. This is an awesome place to grab a bite, it's hip but also very elegant. Try it! read more

Ten - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Came in for a quick dinner right when they opened for the evening since I was headed out of town straight after. I decided to go with a light meal and ordered the udon soup and the shrimp tempura roll. The soup was very authentic with deliciously thick flour noodles and a flavorful broth. The tempura roll was also very good but the tempura shrimp could have been of higher quality. My friends who went to UVA for undergrad love this place. It provides a nice change of atmosphere compared to the typical cheap and easy restaurants students frequent. read more

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I've been a sushi eater for quite some time now, and I have to admit that TEN has some of the best quality fish that I've ever had. I've had plenty of sushi experiences in my lifetime, and I do believe that TEN is definetly a place to be reckoned with. TEN prides itself on it's Toro selection, my favorite fish, as it is the most delectable part of the tuna-the fatty belly portion. TEN usually has 3 grades of Toro available, which is flown in once a week from Hawaii or California. TEN also has some great cooked food: Kobe beef served atop hot lava rocks, along with several types of seafood tempura, as well as premium skewers of fine chicken, or seafood. One disappointment that I do have is the lack of dessert options. Mind you that most sushi establishments do not, but I have seen a trend of sushi restaurants moving to at least 3 different options. Also be prepared to spend some money here, but living in the area, it is so worth the expense. I often take clients here to dine, and spend a considerable amount of time here personally as well. read more

Had reservations (party of 3). Given the worst table in the place. Unwilling to relocate the table to a better location (open tables all over). read more

Fantastic food. Great service. Socially distanced tables, masks required. Would definitely go back!

Can be great, but can be disappointing too, and either which way will be pricey. Therefore, order their "Square One" sake and enjoy it no matter what! The fish is indeed quite fresh, and the chef is creative so even if he misses occasionally, it is still an adventure for your tongue! read more

Only had drinks, but they were fabulous. The lychee martini was just phenomenal. The seating at the bar is limited, so we sat on the couches, only downside was having to slide past other couples to squeeze into the back corner, it the bar has a great vibe. I'd return to this place. read more

Excellent food, excellent service, excellent atmosphere, excellent drinks! Went here during my visit home with some friends for dinner and we had a great time. We were there for 3 hours!! I have always wanted to go, having heard how great and vegetarian friendly the place is. We ordered lots of food off the menu - vegetarian sushi, edamame, seaweed salad, fried avocado, etc. and then the chef made a few other special dishes for me and another girl (I'm vegan, she's vegetarian) to give us more options. We had a tofu and mushroom dish which was amazing. Those mushrooms were excellent. Some veggie tempera with vegan dip, fried eggplant sticks with vegan dip, green beans and walnuts, etc. He also made a special chicken dish for the meat eaters and my sister ordered butter fish sushi because that's her favorite. We all had around 3-4 various drinks. All 3 of my drinks were delicious - Mandarin Ginger, a bubbly drink with a flower in it, and another plain bubbly drink. Everyone liked their drinks ranging from bubbly's to martinis. The decor of the place is super cool, we all kept looking up at the ceiling and hanging lights. Our server (young women) was really good and attentive, we never had to wait long for anything. Everybody was also very friendly, including the chefs in the kitchen (I went back to thank them for making such great food). I think my experience was great because the place is great but also because I got such special attention and extra vegan food. Had I gone by myself and not had such a great chef I think I would have been disappointed by the limited # of vegetarian / vegan options on their menu. I really appreciate the chef making more food for me, and such excellent and creative dishes. They should put more on their menu since I know they can do it! I really wanted soup but both soups had either a fish or chicken stock to them. Bummer! But I'm super glad the server knew the ingredients that well, I love trained waitstaff!! Thank you so much Monty for being such a great chef and making me those special dishes, delicious!! I will definitely come back and tell my friends/family. read more

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Plusses +A bit more upscale atmosphere compared to the rest of Charlottesville +Waygu beef sushi - incredibly tender, flavorful and original +Freshly shaved wasabi (not the mushy/neon green paste) and pickled ginger (not the canned/jarred type) Minuses -Service has been slow both times I've visited -Pricier than other sushi places in the area read more

Well I just called to ask what precautions they had taken to allow indoor dining during the pandemic, and the manager hung up on me (or whomever answered the phone) as soon as I asked the question! I guess they haven't taken any! read more

SO EXPENSIVE but the food is just okay. Had the spicy toro roll, wagyu beef roll, uni sushi, tiger roll, and poke don bowl, for check that ended up being over $100...so you know this place is pricey and (tries) to be more "upscale" than other run-of-the-mill sushi places. All of the ingredients used were very nice but they weren't put together well. Poke don bowl was very tiring to eat in that after one bite it all tasted the same, very salty and soy-sauce-like. However the tuna used was delicious! I had high expectations for the wagyu beef roll but it was just...meh. Beef arrived kind of cold on top of the roll, not sure if this was meant to be this way or a mistake from the kitchen. Beef itself was very tender but it was seasoned so basically; tasted like beef teriyaki kind of. Uni and spicy toro sushi were my favorite parts of the meal. Uni could have tasted a little brinier but I have a soft spot for all uni... In short, the food was just OK. But the atmosphere, decor, and service were all very nice read more

The atmosphere inside is wonderful, the bar with its senor response is quite neat and the sake selection is pretty good. I was not impressed with the food however. Ok, for charlottesville, the sushi is good - as with all the other food, the ingredients were excellent, the food prep was just ok. I wish they could do better. In sushi it's all about the nigiri preparation - rolls are easy (even I can do them passably). What I got was gunkan-maki (warship-style) where the fish sit on top of the rice rolled around with the nori. The beef was also over-cooked - good meat should never be overcooked. Overall the experience was good - I would prefer it as a drinks and light snack place than a dinner place however. I've had better sushi in town. read more

Fave sushi place we've tried in Cville so far, really love it. A little out of our price range for any ol' day, but it's my top choice for special occasions. :) Very nice atmosphere, and I love the location. A great way to spend time in the downtown mall. The food is DELICIOUS, and with a pretty presentation. read more

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If they hadn't lost our reservation I'd give this place 5 stars. We sat at the bar, and had fantastic service from the bartender and the food runner, and the food was excellent. The tempura dishes were wonderful, avocado tempura was quite good, but our favorite was the lobster tempura. Also had the chefs special sushi rolls, received an assortment of excellent seafood, and had some unique but great steak rolls as well. The mixed drinks are fabulous too. We will be back. Might just head straight to the bar and forget about getting a table! read more

Love! Been coming here for years. Their food and cocktails are amazing. I do wish there were more vegan and vegetarian options. Specifically veggie options with protein. There's a lot that can be done with tofu! Please consider it. read more

I don't often leave reviews. But TEN committed attempted manslaughter tonight, so I felt the need to write a small note in response. My wife and I booked a table for two for Restaurant Week. We were explicit on the reservation about her severe, anaphylaxis-inducing allergy to both peanuts and tree nuts. We reminded the waiter of the allergy when we arrived, and asked that every dish be checked with the chef to make sure there were no nuts. (I'm free from any such restrictions, but it's a Japanese restaurant, so of course we wanted to share, and in any event, I wasn't interested in ruining a date night by rendering myself unable to kiss my wife). First course arrives: beef tartare roll, and very pretty ahi tuna with avocado...and pine nuts. Not listed on the menu, but literally covering the entire dish. I called the waiter over and noted the nuts on the plate. He immediately apologized. We asked if he had actually checked dishes with the chef, and he admitted that while he might have done so for my wife's order, he didn't do so for mine. I ordered a different appetizer and he left. I admit, we probably should've just picked up and left at that point. We were feeling really uncertain about whether this place was taking her food allergy seriously. And no disrespect to any of my friends with intolerances to gluten or dairy (restaurants should take that shit seriously as well) but a nut allergy is life-and-death stuff. But we had this date planned, and it was already 8 pm, so we decided the best course of action was to ask to see the manager. A few minutes after I inquired at the host station, the manager shambles to our table. "Hi." A blank stare. I thought, ok, maybe they didn't tell him what happened, and so I explained about my wife's allergy and the dish with the nuts. More blank stare. I said, "hey, we're not trying to get anyone in trouble, and we're not looking for a handout, we just wanna be sure you're not gonna bring anything else out of the kitchen with nuts in it. It could kill my wife." The entire response: "Only use nuts on the salads and that dish. You're fine. I guess I'll double check." We never saw him again. The waiter gave us a discount essentially amounting to 20% off. Which, again, I'm not here to quibble about. Too many people think one mistake by a server entitles them to a free supper. But I really just don't think this place took at all seriously their obligation to serve food that was safe for their customers. Which should be a baseline thing for any spot taking your money in exchange for a bite to eat, whether it's a greasy spoon or (in this case) an expensive fine-dining spot. And so we won't go back, and we recommend that you skip it as well. read more

Easily the best restaurant in cville. Yes it is overpriced and the atmosphere is not always stellar but if you want good sushi this is the way to go read more

This place is hands down AMAZING. First off, the ambience is very cool and trendy but welcoming and cozy at the same time. Our service was excellent too. The staff was friendly and extremely knowledgeable about every item on the menu, including a variety of sakes. And then the food. WOW. Honestly the sushi melted in your mouth. And get the sea bass. One of the best dishes I've ever had. I'll dream of this place and can't wait to come back. read more

I've been to a number of sushi restaurants in Cville, and Ten certainly has the classy atmosphere and the food was great to boot. My wife and I started at the bar with cocktails as we waited for a seat, and within 10 mins we were seated. Music was good and the place wasn't too loud. read more

The snow crab rice is definitely my fav. It's $20 or $22 I couldn't remember... but it's worth it since it's very fulfilling. The service is good, too. I like going there when I feel like something a little fancier. read more

Craving sushi and having lived in Charlottesville for over two years and not found a decent sushi restaurant yet, I took a risk and wondered into Ten. The place: hoppin'. Apparently everyone knew about this well kept secret and hadn't told me. I experimented with the sashimi. .. Fresh, tasty, and phenomenal! I tried the menu's "oh toro" (super rich marbled tuna), the sake (salmon), the hamachi (yellowtail), and the tako (streamed octopus). The tuna was seriously melt-in-your-mouth delicious!! I partnered the sashimi with av fabulously cloudy saki called "Dreamy Clouds" or something of the sort (pretty neutral and reminiscent flavor hints of a Mudslide), an appetizer of a perky and fresh seaweed salad, and a side of rice. Ended with the "Coffee & donuts" dessert. My experience was topped off and made better with the servers Alexander "Alex" & Katherine. Awesome atmosphere, wonderful food. Will DEFINITELY be back! :] read more

Ten - The quaint place setting with a Saki sidekick. :] - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Finding Ten was very lucky. I was in Charlottesville for a show and had no clue where to eat. The lady at my hotel gave me a bunch of cards for local eateries but when I checked most of them out they didn't really seem that intriguing. Ten shared a card with some other restaurant whose name I have forgotten and which didn't interest me and I was tired of walking and I was getting pretty hungry so I just figured I'd give it a try. The restaurant is upstairs in an older building. It has big windows and they've put mirrors on the ceiling which not only reflect the street but also the dozens of candle sconces on the walls. The lights are pretty low (too low for food photographs) but this gave it an "intimate" vibe as opposed to an "I can't read my menu" vibe. I was led to a comfortable booth by an attentive host and in short order my waiter brought over menus and water. I started off with a Yuzu daiquiri (delicious) and some avocado tempura. Now, generally speaking, I believe that cooking avocado is a crime against nature. Ten's avocado tempura manages blend a perfectly done tempura outside with a barely warm and richly creamy avocado inside. It is accompanied by a flavored mayonnaise dressing that is very good. The tempura would be fine on its own though. For dinner I had the Poke Don, which is essentially tarted up tekka donburi. It was fabulous. The tuna was fresh and very tender and perfectly marinated. It was accompanied by chunks of avocado (I don't think it's possible to have too much avocado, do you?), pickled ginger, wasabi, and of course, rice. There was just enough of everything. All this awesomeness was accompanied by a glass of Junmai Daiginjo "Nothingness". I do not claim to be a sake expert but I found this to be an exceptional glass of wine. In any case, it went perfectly with my tekkadon. You might think that after all this avocado and fish and rice I'd be stuffed but they had donuts on the dessert menu so I made room. Well, beignets. Beignets flavored with orange and ginger. I wasn't interested in the vietnamese coffee shake they usually come with so I just had the donuts with a glass of delicately sweet plum wine. Yeah. Sometimes life doesn't suck. Every moment I was in this place was pleasant. The music was low key but interesting enough that I looked it up on an app on my phone. The ambience was calm and inviting. My waiter was pleasant and very helpful with suggestions about food and drink. The food and drink were delicious. It is expensive but it is well worth it to have such a nice dining experience. I really do hope I have an opportunity to come back some time. read more

We selected the restaurant week menu of shrimp tempura, spicy tuna rolls and the steak. Katherine was our waitress and took such good care of us. We let her select a flight of saki for us to try. My favorite was the Rihaku " Dreamy Clouds". My first filet tasted wonderful but was not a very good cut. I mentioned it to her and they prepared another and it was perfect. They didn't have them during restaurant week but if you go try the beignets they are amazing. Great date night. read more

Ten has incredible sushi. It is on the more expensive side, however it is noticeably worth it. I've enjoyed various rolls from Ten and they are always spot on (also the avocado tempura!). The atmosphere is awesome and provides a nice "city" vibe. The fish is fresh, the ginger is honestly the best tasting ginger I've had, there is a wide variety of options for Sake, and the staff is always friendly and welcoming. You really can't go wrong. read more

The sushi here is above reproach and honestly 5/5 stars. The only reason I have given this restaurant 3/5 would be due to our server and staff at Ten. He was rude, overly chatty, and honestly ruined our Valentines evening at Ten. His know-it-all mentality, pushy behavior, and obvious I-am-too-good-to-be-a-waiter self importance left a lot to be desired for the evening. The hostess was not much better as she didn't smile, greet us, or have a kind word as we entered or left the building. If the sushi had not been phenomenal, I couldn't have imagined paying high prices here with such terrible service. read more