Diners' Choice: Good for groups restaurants in Charlottesville

OpenTable

Updated 05 December 2024

Looking for restaurants that are great for groups in Charlottesville? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyses nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you book, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Black Cow Chophouse

4.9

4.9 (483)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

Charlottesville

About the restaurant

Black Cow Chophouse is Charlottesville's spot for steaks, chops, fine wines, modern & classic cocktails and fun times. We feature a huge daily selection of both dry-aged and non dry-aged local and nationally sourced beef, as well as pork, game and lamb cuts. Our beverage program is carefully crafted and our hospitality is second to none. For the budget conscious, visit during our daily happy hour from 4:30 to 6:00 for Charlottesville's best steak deal and discounted drinks.

Top review

LizVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Great food. Very very very delicious! Real food that feeds the soul. Service is great as well. Attention to detail and good ability to to serve courses in order and when table is ready. Small recommendations would be to fry foods in lard/tallow as opposed to seed oils. And as I age--I find the bar top tables and chairs to be uncomfortable; but there are lower chairs available--you may want to request them if bar top seating is uncomfortable. I never like paying fine dining prices and then being seated at a bar height table-but for this restaurant-- the food is so good I go with the seating flow! Highly recommend!

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4.8

4.8 (65)

$31 to $50

Regional American (Southern)

Orange

About the restaurant

Spoon & Spindle is located in historic Orange, Virginia in a nearly 100 year old silk mill. Spearheaded by Chef Zachary Andrews, Spoon & Spindle serves seasonal menus for brunch, lunch, & dinner as well as ever-updating craft cocktails, local wines, and unique beers. Our current menu includes fan favorites like the Cochon de Bon, a French Creole inspired dish. Our current Chef's Specials also include Steak Frites, Étouffée, Crawfish Fried Rice, and much more. Our popular brunch menu includes favorites like the Hangover Hash, Ham Benedict, Breakfast Fried Rice, Chicken & Waffles, and much, much more. Our unique menu, intimate dining room, and uber friendly staff keep our regulars coming back to see what we have on special each day.

Top review

Sharon

Dined 7 days ago

Once again the food and services were incredible! Our guests had the crab cake Benedict and the egg fried rice. My husband also had the egg fried rice I had grits with black angus beef. Each meal was fantastic!

Maya

4.7

4.7 (1505)

$31 to $50

Regional American (Southern)

Charlottesville

About the restaurant

Maya is now accepting reservations from 4:30-8:30 Monday through Saturday as well as curbside take out orders during the same hours. Please visit our homepage to see our updated selections daily. Please call if you require a reservation over 8 guests. Seating preferences will be honored based on volume and staffing.

Located in the center of Charlottesville Virginia’s Midtown, MAYA serves dinner 6 days a week. Our “made from scratch” menu is prepared daily in honor of the Old Southern Kitchen.

Top review

JoAnnVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Always delicious, always great service. Our favorite!

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Popular dish

Pimento Cheese Fritters

Hamiltons' At First & Main

4.7

4.7 (2328)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Charlottesville

About the restaurant

Contemporary Fine Dining in Charlottesville, Virginia Located in the heart of Charlottesville’s Downtown district, Hamiltons’ is the perfect spot for a delicious afternoon lunch or a romantic evening dinner. A cheerful, cozy atmosphere and attentive service ensure our guests enjoy an outstanding dining experience, be they Charlottesville natives, out-of-town visitors, or University students and staff. We also feature outdoor patio seating seasonally, providing our guests the opportunity to dine amidst the bustle of the Downtown Mall.

Top review

DeborahVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Always an excellent meal at Hamilton’s, our go-to restaurant on the downtown mall. The off-menu lobster ravioli was outstanding. Paul’s service is always impeccable.

Rapture

4.6

4.6 (221)

$30 and under

Regional American (Southern)

Charlottesville

About the restaurant

Rapture features playful, farm-to-table Southern cuisine in a swank-but-cozy atmosphere. We have outdoor dining, billiards tables, and live music several nights a week.

Top review

Michelle

Dined 3 days ago

Great food. Perfect for pre-show dinner (right next door to Paramount).

The Local

4.5

4.5 (2523)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Charlottesville

About the restaurant

UVA Graduation Weekend: May 17-19: Please see experience listed below

Come visit and experience The Local!

We believe everyone should experience meals that feature delicately prepared fresh local ingredients in a great atmosphere. In our corner of the world, everyone's a Local. EAT, DRINK, & BE LOCAL.

Note that when selecting outside, you will be in a covered area.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 7 days ago

Great as always!

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UVA Graduation Weekend

The Melting Pot - Charlottesville

4.4

4.4 (1222)

$31 to $50

Fondue

Charlottesville

About the restaurant

Here fondue becomes a memorable four-course dining experience, where you can really dip into something different. Enjoy a choice of four flavorful fondue cooking styles and a variety of tasty entrees, including tender beef, boneless breast of chicken, duck, lobster, shrimp, scallops, salmon and much more. All are available in many different combinations with a variety of special dipping sauces. Cheese fondues can be ordered separately and are included with the purchase of any combination dinner. Along with every entrée, you’ll get breads, savory vegetables, and even a choice of three different fresh salads. As if that’s not enough to whet your appetite, you’ll also love the Melting Pot’s wide selection of creamy, mouth-watering chocolate fondue desserts. In addition to the Melting Pot’s ever expanding fondue menu, there’s also a growing list of fine wines. So come, relax and dip into an exciting new experience at the Melting Pot.

Top review

TonyaVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Our server, Alexander the Great, was phenomenal! So friendly and sweet! We loved him! He was so attentive. Oh course the St Jude’s special meal was awesome, and helped go towards a great cause. The drinks were made well and very tasty. Great end to our day! We highly recommend it!

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Experience

Standard Reservation

Fig Bistro

4.3

4.3 (58)

$30 and under

Regional American (Southern)

Charlottesville

About the restaurant

Fig offers innovative southern cuisine with an emphasis on organic locally sourced product. Fig featuring vegan, vegetarian and gluten free dishes as well classic and creative New Orleans cocktails.

Top review

SusanVIP

Dined on 24 Nov 2024

After 3 years of going to multiple restaurants in Charlottesville, FIGhas become our go-to place for consistently GREAT food and service. Food Is Good.

matchbox Charlottesville

4.1

4.1 (197)

$30 and under

American

Charlottesville

About the restaurant

From its prime perch in The Shops at Stonefield, matchbox will delight neighborhood workers, visitors, and residents with a casual, welcoming spot for a quick weekday lunch, lively happy hour, bottomless weekend brunch, and dinner for both date nights and groups. Owned by Maurice Kelly, a technologist and former Navy Intelligence Officer turned restaurateur, Matchbox Charlottesville opens this winter, boasting artisanal pizzas, creative American bistro fare, and a come-as-you-are vibe.

A definitive element of the Matchbox dining experience is the custom pizza oven that fires up signature thin-crust pizzas within minutes, and its surrounding pizza bar that offers a front-row view of the action. The bar at Matchbox is a focal point of the dining experience.. Hand-painted murals from local artists add further context to the neighborhood, and bring in a touch of personality as well.

Top review

MaryVIP

Dined on 11 Oct 2024

We had a group of 8 in town for a football game. Matt was our server and did a great job. Three of us enjoyed a unique fig & black pepper old fashioned. Everyone’s food was delicious- fried shrimp, fish & chips, pizza, burgers (regular size & mini), salad, onion straws, salmon. We’ll remember it and hope to return.

The Ridley

4.1

4.1 (500)

$30 and under

Regional American (Southern)

Charlottesville

About the restaurant

The Ridley is THE destination for upscale-casual dining and fresh seafood offerings in Charlottesville, Virginia. Located within The Draftsmen boutique hotel, The Ridley combines convenience and accessibility with an unparalleled dining experience. As one of Charlottesville’s Black-owned restaurants, the concept pays homage to Dr. Walter N. Ridley, the first Black student to graduate from The University of Virginia and receive a graduate degree from any major, historically white public university in the South.

Top review

Ram

Dined on 12 Dec 2024

The Ridley offers a mix of strengths and little areas for improvement, but overall, it’s a spot worth visiting, especially for its warm atmosphere and accommodating service. As someone who isn’t a Southern food expert but is quickly becoming a fan, I found this experience enjoyable and eye-opening. The Skillet Cornbread is a standout dish—rich, flavorful, and perfectly baked. The ribeye is cooked to the requested doneness and absolutely delicious, while the lava cake is rich, decadent, and the perfect end to the meal. The Chef’s Seasonal Crème Brûlée is fantastic, with a satisfyingly crunchy crust and a delightful surprise at the bottom. Some dishes could use a bit more refinement. The Fried Wings in Phoenix Rub lack flavor, and while the chicken isn’t notably fresh, it thankfully doesn’t have an off taste. I’m looking forward to trying the maple BBQ rub next time for comparison. The gumbo is decent but not extraordinary, and the blackened salmon is unfortunately dry, which diminishes its potential. But then again, as someone who is not familiar with Southern Dish, they don’t taste bad, they just lack texture for them to be memorable. The service is impeccable. The staff is attentive and accommodating, with Lucas standing out for his professionalism and attentiveness. Their hospitality added to the enjoyment of our meal. The Ridley shines in its standout items and excellent service. It’s a place we’ll happily recommend to friends and family visiting the area. Looking forward to our next visit!

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Experience

Christmas Day Buffets at The Ridley!

Experience

New Year’s Menu at The Ridley ✨

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