As a four-time visitor, I've found that while the food here is consistently flavorful and…read moreinventive, the value proposition remains a mixed bag. This is particularly true for the wine program; for a venue with such a massive retail selection, the curated menu feels surprisingly stingy. I had high hopes for their Cheese Board, but unfortunately, it mirrored my general experience here: great flavors, questionable value. The Highlights: The presentation on the bamboo board is lovely. The bread was exceptionally fresh and flavorful, and the fruit accompaniments; Persimmon, guava, grapes, and strawberry, offered a bright, acidic contrast that paired well with the selections. The Letdowns: Zero Transparency: The cheeses weren't listed on the menu, and the server didn't offer any information on what was being served. Half the joy of a professional board is the "story" knowing the origins and profiles. We were left entirely in the dark. The "Bread-to-Cheese" Ratio: Most of the selections were hard cheeses, and the two soft cheeses provided were literally the size of a quarter. Every sample was sliced remarkably thin. While the bread portion was generous, there wasn't nearly enough cheese or fruit to sustain it. It felt less like a cheese service and more like a bread board with a cheese garnish. Bottom Line: The Crush Pad clearly has access to great ingredients, but the portions should be more than "tastes." I want to love this place, but the value for the price just isn't quite there.

There is elegance and comfort to be found in Crush Pad Wines, in the downtown mall in…read moreCharlottesville. They have an excellent wine selection with a knowledgeable staff to back up any questions you ask. I did not expect there to be a full kitchen, and was pleasantly surprised at the quality of food we ordered. The Mushroom Crostinis in particular played into the refined vibe the entire bar was giving off. A fun stop for a quick glass of wine, or a seated meal that will be accompanied by excellent taste.

Husband and I went here for dinner during our first night in Charlottesville. The pizza had great…read moretextures- thin crust on the bottom but bready at the edge, and the right amount of cheese and spicy sausage topping. We each got a pizza and were able to finish both since we were starving. We loved the pizza scissors! Our server was prompt, and we felt lucky to be seated right away on a Wednesday night. Their connecting bar was having a concert outside, with what felt like hundreds of people in attendance. We also learned that we could park in the industrial warehouse lot next door since it was after 5 PM. We'll be back!

SERVICE We came in on a rainy evening and were told the…read morewait might be about 45 minutes...and no space to wait indoors so we sat outside in the covered patio and they came by to let us order drinks as we waited. Thankfully, got the drink and were called in early about 15 minutes into the wait. That little surprise made things start off on a good note. Once inside, we sat at the bar since there weren't tables available and we were HUNGRY and cold! Even with the weather and a busy crowd, everything felt smooth and relaxed. AMBIANCE The place was small and cozy with a warm vibe that instantly made us forget the rain outside! The cool shallot-shaped lamps over the bar gave off soft light, making the whole space feel super calm and inviting. Sitting at the bar felt right choice for us for our first time -- close enough to the energy of the restaurant and people watching and seeing the pizzas get made but still comfortable! There's a soft buzz but cozy enough to chat and just feel at home. FOOD We ordered the Abruzzo pizza with beef and pork meatballs, fiore di latte, San Marzano tomato, basil, and pecorino. It was hearty and rich but still balanced. We also wanted to try the Prosciutto pizza, which was not the favorite but still good. The San Marzano tomato sauce for the Abruzzo was the star of the show. We were sad we didn't order another pizza with the tomato sauce to switch it up but oh well, another time right?! Loved the floppiness, the tomato sauce flavor, and the crust! Have to love the scissor-plate idea -- very clever and so easy. And size of these personal small-sized pizzas perfect for 2 people so we could have room for dessert and not have leftovers! We finished with the Zeppole "donuts" which were fried ricotta donuts tossed in cinnamon sugar with a hint of lemon (which I LOVED the lemon here and cinnamon sugar worked perfectly!). They were light, warm, crispy and just what you want at the end of a meal. The food was delicious, though definitely on the pricier side ($16-$18 each for the small pizzas, $9 for dessert. Still, everything felt thoughtful and worth it for the quality!

High end creative food with a not pretentious vibe. The miso maple salmon and the grilled pork chop…read morewith hominy and crimini shrooms are my fav mains. Multiple layers of flavor and all the right textures. Visually appealing on the plate as well. Solid cocktail list here. I'm a big fan that they go old school with a hot toddy. The applejack brandy added to that is a nice touch. Service is excellent here. Prices reasonable given the quality of the dishes. Will be back the next time I'm in town for sure. Take out orders here https://orders.cake.net/11301553 Reservations via Resy.

Walking up this place has great ambiance, perfect for a first date. The indoor seating was closed…read morebut the outdoor seating was great. The menu was quite promising. Ordered a cucumber chamomile gin and tonic, which left something to be desired. We started with the blackberry salad which on the menu said it also included avocado but there was none on the salad-despite this the salad was great. Our mains were good but not great. The biggest issue I found here was despite our server being very nice while ordering she NEVER checked in on us after anything arrived, never refilled waters either. So although she was nice the service was not good as there were times we wanted to order something else and one of the entrees didn't arrive as it was ordered but our server never checked in. All things considered I think I would only come here to grab a salad or appetizer.

I visited Ethos with my husband recently for a weekend lunch and had the best time!…read more Atmosphere: A very quaint and beautifully decorated wine bar vibe on the inside and a lovely patio with cute bistro lights on the outside. Everything was very chic and created a very charming afternoon. I loved all the little details like the cute glassware for drinks and individual glass teapots. Service: Everyone is so warm and welcoming here! Immediately felt like home and also attended to in every detail. Food and drink: Last but not least the food and drink here are so standout!! I'm a big tea lover and can spot high quality teas, and ethos selection does not disappoint. I had the hibiscus tea and mmm so good, and so good for you. Finally, the star of the show, the burger!! Yum! Truly best burger ever. It was so gourmet, with crispy edges, amazing sauce and a real juice to it. This place is the perfect place for a date or girls catch up over a delicious burger + tea/ wine! Can't wait to come back to try more things on the menu and 10/10 recommend the burger paired with a drink! Mm!

We came in from DC for the omakase experience and I can't recommend it enough. All of the food and…read moretheir pairings were delicious with inventive flavor profiles I've never experienced before. We also felt that we got a really good amount of food for a great price. The inside and patio were incredibly charming alongside warm staff. The chef Kendall was a standout, explaining each dish and drink. The omakase menu was vegetarian and non alcoholic, but I would recommend to anyone!

A private dinner amidst endless bottles and endless knowledge of all wine. A wine store with…read morethousands. We tasted several reds and whites, all unique choices new to my palate. And double decanted reds, so ready to drink and fully open. The proprietor has a seemingly bottomless command of wines, vintages, palates, and the wine business. Our group had three options of entrees, duck, sirloin, and a wild-caught salmon. I saw nearly all plates cleaned. Certainly, the salmon was perfect, and a far (flavorful) cut above the typical farmed salmon we eat regularly. He was right to call it out as their pièce de resistance. And yes, a chocolate mousse that looked remarkably like... well, judge for yourself....

Came in here kindly and un-obnoxiously during posted business hours and couldn't even get the…read morecurmudgeon owner (Bill) to look up at me. He was not warm or friendly, just asked me what I wanted - wouldn't even give me the respect to look up from his computer screen. He didn't HAVE what I wanted but I would've been totally open to local suggestions. Was ready to spend money (as I always am on wine!) but totally reconsidered after the way I was treated. My mother had been a customer for decades so I never would have expected this. Well, he lost meand my loyal mother too.

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

Orzo was heaven to me. I had the salmon dish and it was cooked perfectly. Well seasoned, each bite…read moremelted 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.

We randomly came upon this restaurant late at night after a Friday night concert. Only to realize…read morethe place was closing in 30 ish minutes. Upon learning that information we decided not to order any entrees, just desserts. The food was okay. The pricing of this place is insane. Service certainly didn't dictate this level of ambiance. But I would try it again. Hard to give it a full 5 stars when the food was just okay. But the drinks were excellent.

Tonight we had a party of 4 and they squeezed us in. We started with the Caesar salad , onion soup…read moreand calamari. All were excellent. For supper we had the salmon chicken and squash risotto. The chicken Marsala was great the salmon was good. The risotto was meh. Then we had the fried banana bread and vanilla ice cream. Wow get this!! Crem brûlée and raspberry mouse all good banana bread was outstanding. For a place that was established in 1996 I have to hand it to them for doing so well.

What a lovely and charming restaurant! Dined this evening with my family during our stay in…read moreCharlottesville and everything was really great. We began with very well crafted cocktails and I had the most delightful mocktail, an Unlit Gimlet; so bright and fresh and the pink peppercorn garnish was the perfect counter to the sweet. Food from beginning to end was fabulous. Servings sizes were filling and just right and not overly huge. So enjoyed our pastas from the Bolognese, the Carbonara, the Raucci, and the Primaverili (a perfect bite of spring green). Of the four, our table's favorite was the capellini gamberi Raucci but I wouldn't hesitate to order any of our selections. Sides of roasted fennel with oranges (the best fennel I've had) and the cauliflower were beautifully done. Appetizers enjoyed were the Roman artichokes, bread and olive oil, and olives. We ended the evening with the chèvre cheesecake, affogato and espressos. Service was professional, yet friendly and very welcoming. Thank you for an unforgettable evening!

First of all, love the fact that they have a cocktail area where you can drink and have light…read moresnacks while you wait for your table. Their drinks were one of the best cocktails I've had. Food was good but the portions were on the smaller side. We were shocked that their branzino was only a filet instead of a whole fish. For the prices charged, we expected leftovers and we did not have any