4. Restaurants

C & O Restaurant

515 E Water St, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
  • (434) 971-7044
  • Store is closed

C & O Restaurant Menu

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Visit below restaurant in Charlottesville for healthy meals suggestion.

Chili’s ( 100 Zan Rd )

Visit below restaurant in Charlottesville for healthy meals suggestion.

Chili’s ( 100 Zan Rd )

  • Valentina D.

    Charlottesville, Virginia is a very charming town full of very good restaurants--but why am I surprised? C'ville's most famous resident, Mr. Thomas Jefferson, was a foodie and I am sure would have been an elite Yelper had he been around to join the food blog revolution. C&O was for me a bright highlight of a very good bunch of restaurants (granted, my hilarious and charming companions also had a lot to do with the success of the evening...). Quaint without being haughty or twee, comfortable, and most importantly delicious, it's the kind of place that would become my favorite hangout if I lived in C'ville. Located in a neighborhood of 19th century brick buildings and cobblestoned streets, C&O is at the terminus of a pleasant pedestrian mall (down some steps--it can be hard to find for a non-local). A small wooden gate led us into a tiny courtyard, which in turn led us into the foyer of a 100-plus year old building. Like many buildings in this town, the interior had been lovingly preserved: wide-planked pine floors, gleaming brass fixtures, exposed pinkish-red brick walls. The hostess led us down a creaky flight of stairs to an intimate dining room with a large bar running along one side and maybe eight white-linen topped tables along another. It was late-ish, and close to closing hour, but we never felt rushed throughout the meal, nor did the other friendly mix of locals and fellow conference attendees. Service was excellent and prompt; the waiter knew his stuff, and he offered tastes of the wines in which we were interested, even though we were only getting glasses. The bread with fresh artichoke spread was absolutely delicious and I had to stop myself from grabbing for seconds. When the food came it was clear that the chef prided themselves on absolute freshness (I found out later that most of the meat and produce used in this and other restaurants around C'ville are local and organic). It was my first time eating rabbit sausage and my guilt at chomping down on Peter Rabbit and his extended family was immense. I can't help it, folks, I'm from the era of darling anthropomorphized forest creatures and can't totally buy into the whole "but you wear leather shoes!" excuse...plus I have yet to find a pair of rabbit-leather boots. In any case this bunny gave up his life for a good cause: the meat was savory and a bit spicy, with just the right ratio of fat-to-lean. The purple potato mash was another perfect blend of lumpy and smooth, and the braised fennel bits were absolute heaven. My companions loved their entrees of risotto and locally farmed rainbow trout, and they indulged in desserts--a huge slice of dark chocolate cake with a molten lava crust. I had the Irish coffee instead; it was a drizzly night and apprently this was one of their signature drinks. It was great, made with bourbon instead of whiskey, and a perfect nightcap for the evening.

    (4)

  • Eric M.

    I only ate in the bar, which is a great little historic find. The full menu in the bar was perfect for a casual client dinner. Excellent food. I got there early and had a really interesting conversation with the bartender. Knows his music and drinks. This is a staple for client dinners.

    (4)

  • Ashli M.

    Went here for restaurant week. It was my first time eating dinner at C&O (I do love their late night bar, but had never ordered food). The waitstaff were very nice, but I was disappointed in the food. Like a previous reviewer, I had the braised pork arepa and thought it was terrible. The arepa should have been served fresh from the griddle, but it was actually a little cooler than lukewarm...yuck. The pork was flavorless, although the pickled onions and ricotta were good. Overall meh. I had the veggie tart for an entree, served with a pistachio pesto. Overall the flavor was great....and the pesto was phenomenal. However, again, this had been sitting around for too long, and wasn't heated through. I hit an ice-cold spot in the middle. Also, the kale filling in the tart was a little tough. The leaves were whole, and perhaps chopping the kale would have helped. It was difficult to achieve a good bite including the kale, the tart crust, and the pesto. It was messy and had an unpleasant texture. The dessert was fine, but didn't blow me away. I had the blueberry and apple cobbler. This mediocre offering was the best part of the meal. The meal had potential, but it seemed like they were serving us leftovers.

    (2)

  • Bob P.

    Had the tenderloin, was great. Service was just a little slow but made up for it in friendliness and competence. Waitress even went to the trouble of finding out exactly what several ingredients in a dish were, out of mutual curiousity. Local ingredients, hand-written menus, interesting ambiance, great local beers, good stuff.

    (4)

  • Beth K.

    On of my favorite dining atmospheres. I came here for Restaurant with a friend and was not disappointed in the least. A great spot for a special occasion with friends and family.

    (4)

  • K K.

    Always excellent food. Late night menu after 10:30 in the bar (best bar in town) is excellent. Wonderful atmosphere. Liz tends bar on Sunday nights and makes a mean everything, especially rootbeer floats.

    (5)

  • Will S.

    Without doubt the best restaurant in town. After living in Charlottesville for 6 years, this is the only restaurant that will be missed. The menu changes with the season and is always delicious. Great wine list and atmosphere. You can't beat sitting on the patio in the summer with a glass of wine and good friends.

    (5)

  • R C.

    I ate here today and would love to come back if I'm ever in the area. There is just no way I can complain about this restaurant. Great food, wonderful atmosphere, caring service. I had the artichoke pati and Steak Chinoise, every bite was wonderful.

    (4)

  • Kristin G.

    Down on the edge of the Downtown Mall, a romantic dinner destination with its dimly lit dining rooms...very cozy. A bit pricey, but worth it. The service is very friendly. The food was delicious (amazing rack of lamb)! Good Greyhounds. There's a bar downstairs, but I've never been; heard it's good.

    (5)

  • T D.

    We were passing through Charlottesville and haphazardly landed in this great spot. It was a beautiful night and the outdoor seating added an extra element to the already romantic atmosphere. The waitstaff were exceptionally hospitable--they even went out of their way to help us identify a last-minute place to stay in town (despite the busy holiday weekend). We started dinner with the foie gras and pork rillette appetizers. The foie gras was delicious, smooth and sweet. The pork rillette was served on a flour tortilla wrap and was a bit too cold for my liking (definitely not room temperature). Then we shared the steak chinoise which was seasoned perfectly and served over creamy mashed potatoes and with a side of flavorful asparagus. Great meal and will definitely be back next time I'm in town. Would have given 5-stars if it were not for the pork rillete, but would look forward to trying anything else on the menu. There is a parking lot available to C&O customers across the street from the restaurant, but it may be full on a busy night. Finding parking in that area proved a little challenging for the out of town guest, but the experience was definitely worth the parking inconvenience.

    (4)

  • SprkyJoey S.

    Probably one of the best restaurants in C'ville. The food is outstanding. And for C'ville, the service is actually pretty decent. What's great about this place is the a) ambiance and b) prices. It's romantic and cozy, and a great place to bring some of your best pals! I recommend the downstairs seating and the outdoor seating as well. A little reminiscent of NYC, which in my book, is always a good thing.

    (5)

  • Dan T.

    In town for work. Everyone recommended this place. Dining room has lots of personality. Our server was friendly and made good suggestions for wine/food. The food was excellent. The appetizers and sides we tried were the mushrooms, steak tartare (special), lobster salad and carpaccio. All were amazing but the tartare especially. Entrees were great too and the chocolate torte was my favorite. Next time I'm down here this will be a must stop. Incidentally I unknowingly are their food at a wedding this past October and remember that being great food as well!

    (5)

  • Cory M.

    Not for picky eaters!! We came to C&O with high expectations based on the local recommendations. We were very disappointed. The menu was very affluent and we give compliments to the chef for choosing so many pairing but there wasn't enough. We only had 5 entrées to choose from and really wanted more. I ordered the pork belly which I know is typically fatty but this thing was all fat. Sure, sacrifice some fat for the good heart center, right? Not when it is 5 ounces! I only had 3 good hearty bites of meat. It came with shrimp, which I was excited about, until it came out to the table. I received 3 pieces of tiny shrimp on the side. Pasta salad was included but that came in a small side dish normally used for dipping sauces. I was so unhappy and very hungry when I left. We were expecting much more, both in options and portions. I did enjoy the service and atmosphere, however. They do have nice wine and beer options plus some great cocktails. I would definitely come back for the drinks but will never order food from here again.

    (2)

  • Carlos I.

    I only get a handful of $50 meals, so my standard for those 50 bucks is pretty high. I was very excited to check out C and O this evening. I love French cuisine. I love wine and fresh baked bread with butter. That course of this evening's meal did not disappoint. When I first visit a restaurant, I make it a priority to order their signature dishes. Tonight I had their famous vegetable soup and I ordered the Steak Chinoise medium rare. The soup was not bad, but it didn't inspire me. The steak was even less inspirational. I found that I was struggling very hard to discover it's flavor. Over all the flavors were relatively mild. Not at all exciting.

    (3)

  • Jaeau O.

    Went here for restaurant week with a couple of friends. This was actually my first time and its been recommended by a lot of my friends. As soon as you walk in you can already sense the rustic feel of the place. The restaurant has its own character and it's complimented by the friendly staff and amazing food. The advantage of going with a group of people is being able to order almost everything on the menu and trying it. I had ordered the shaved pork loin, roasted scallops, and peach melba. The pork loin was just a tad bit salty for me. Scallops were perfect though. I wish I had ordered the chocolate mousse for dessert instead of the peach melba but that's okay I got to try a sample of it from my friend. Overall, the experience met my expectations. It was an enjoyable dinner and definitely recommend it!

    (4)

  • Elizabeth M.

    Delicious, fantastic, wonderful environment. This restaurant has so much character. It's very picturesque. The food is scrumptious - Duck Wellington, lamb, New York strip. Mm we would come back all the way from VA Beach for this experience. Wait staff is attentive and professional.

    (5)

  • Mike B.

    Cool little place downtown. A bit pricey I guess for the area, after all it is a college town. I sat downstairs at the bar and ate, the inside of the place is very cool, it had a speakeasy type feel to it. The food was pretty good, I had a steak and it came out great. All of the food was gooood, just not great. Still I am glad I went and gave it a try, I just was not blown away.

    (4)

  • Flora L.

    My friend and I came to C&O for Farm to Table Restaurant Week. As much as we were excited to try thus restaurant, we were a little disappointed by the food. The appetizer we got was rabbit dish. The mushroom was very fresh and highlighted the taste of the fettuccine. However, as a former vegetarian for 2 years, the meat smelled and tasted too strong for me. The main dish featured chicken with asparagus. The chicken was wrapped in ham - not a good combination. Also the white sauce killed the freshness of the chicken. Finally the dessert. I got raspberry frisk. Too sweet and chuncky. I would not come back again and would not recommend to friends. But then again, keep in mind that I came here for the restaurant week.

    (2)

  • Brittany B.

    Atmosphere is great but it's a little overpriced. You have to catch them on their drink specials...otherwise it's about $10 for a glass of house wine. Their tacos are awesome but extremely spicy (the menu doesn't tell you that).

    (3)

  • Carol G.

    This was the highlight of our vacation week dining on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Great ambiance, rustic reclaimed chic. Our salads and oyster chowder were wonderful. Our entrees of beef tenderloin and local trout were also delicious. The desert menu all sounded great. Ours was an ice cream blend, sorry I can't remember the name. Our server mentioned the chef had previously been associated with the Clifton Inn and Keswick. Cudos for a great dining experience.

    (5)

  • Agnes L.

    Now that my husband (fellow Yelper Michal F.) and I have lived in Cville for a year, we know what our fav spots are: We came back to C&O for another special occasion - my birthday dinner. The setting is perfect for a date night as the ambiance is quiet, cozy and dimly lit. Plus, they tried to leave a few empty tables around us and other couples for privacy. Side note: Definitely call in advance for reservations, as they get booked and we had to take an earlier dinner. We again ordered Beef Carpaccio as an appetizer, and it was just as I remembered it from the year before: High-quality meat with fresh arugula, salty parm and a crunchy hashed potato. For our entrees: I got Bass with crab, while Michal got the Ribeye Steak with mushrooms and potatoes. Both were hearty, generous, filling and flavorful dishes. The fish was incredibly fork tender, yet had a crisp sear on the outside - cooked to perfection. The steak was cooked as Michal asked, medium rare, with his fav veggie that reminds him of his childhood in the woods of his grandfather's farm. We happily traded plates mid-meal to complete our own "Surf and Turf." Dessert - Enjoyed a divine Marscapone Cheesecake. It was tiny but rich. I appreciated how there was no crust and just "filling." The server put a little candle in the middle for me to blow out - nice touch! Still need to return for the Late Night menu, as I'm curious how it compares.

    (5)

  • Maura U.

    My preference for restaurants was completely met at this location in Charlottesville. Quaint, with sincere attention to detail and quality, the restaurant has many different, smaller rooms in which to dine. We were situated in the first room, which was akin to a corridor that sat 5 small tables. My group took up three of them, so it seemed like the whole room was ours. The hostess and waiter were extremely knowledgeable and we're happy to offer honest and excited reviews of each of the appetizers or meals. We ordered a special appetizer that combined parmesan reggiano with prosciutto and shaved white truffles - melt in your mouth delicious! We had had a larger lunch, so all but one of us ordered a combination of appetizers instead of an entree, the price between which was comparable. My selections were the trout and butternut squash tortellini. I highly enjoyed the trout, mostly because of the combination of elements (beets, greens, cheese). The tortellini was savory, but I felt it was too thick of a pasta for such a light filling. It was cooked aldente, which made it a bit tough. All other dishes around the table were much enjoyed. Ambience made this delightful spot one of my favorite spots of the trip.

    (5)

  • Jennifer A.

    We did not check the prices prior to choosing this place. The signage outside makes you think you are entering a bar & grill type place. The inside is extremely rustic. Nice atmosphere, white table cloths, etc. good was outstanding and service and staff were great. The reason for the 3 stars is the quantity of food for the price. They serve the entree with no sides and then you order "table sides". Having experience with an establishment like Ruth's Chris or Maggiano's, when you order sides you expect to get enough to feed the whole table. Each side was enough for one person. The steaks were a good portion as well as the lamb, however the halibut for $34 was quite the disappointment. So, would we come back again? Probably yes with no kids and would only order steak to feel like we got our money's worth.

    (3)

  • Dar C.

    I was so excited to spend a lovely weekend in Charlottesville for my anniversary. After reading so many rave reviews we were excited to try C&O. We were seated in the outdoor section in the back and it was truly lovely. The waitress was nice but very absent-minded and somewhat ignored us (note: only exception was when our cocktail glass was nearly empty, then she was around). There was a table of four that was seated well after us (almost 45 min) and they received their food and left before we even got our main course. Keep in mind, this was after we ordered everything at once not long after we were seated. We also shared that we were celebrating our anniversary and there was no mention of it later. The food was delicious but I think the service killed the experience. For the price-point and the positive reviews I would have seriously expected better. I've had numerous friends visit Charlottesville and they have asked for my recommendation and I have always shared that it might be worth it to check out another highly-rated place if you don't want to spend all night waiting for service.

    (2)

  • Doobly D.

    Nice atmosphere, good food, presentation, and advice. I thought the appetizers and desserts were much better than the main course (salmon) which was fairly standard. Even the good stuff was really just good in terms of standard-to-be-expected flavors. Didn't spot much creativity on the menu. Would definitely go back, but nothing deserving of an absolute five stars.

    (4)

  • Patricia B.

    Had a great meal in the Bistro with fresh and local veggies and other local farm products. Nice wine list and attentive staff. A little noisy but still enjoyable.

    (4)

  • Stephen P.

    After living in Charlottesville for 5 years I can definitely say that C & O is my favorite restaurant in town. I am never disappointed.

    (5)

  • Ruoxi C.

    My favorite restaurant in Charlottesville before Bizou and MAS. My best friend and I went on a Wednesday night during TomTom fest Farm to Table Restaurant Week. Perfect girls' night with exceptional service and great food with considerable value.

    (5)

  • Belal E.

    It doesn't get much better these this. For starters we had beef tartare, carpaccio, wild mushrooms, lobster salad, and the cheese plate. The beef tartare was amazing. Probably the best I've ever had. The wild mushrooms was my number one favorite thing I had all night and that's hard to believe since I'm such a meat lover. The carpaccio and lobster salad were really good also. I had the steak chinoise which was very good. The only complaint was that it was a little chewy. We had a party of 6 and everyone was very very pleased with all their dishes. This will be a must visit every time I'm down in Charlottesville.

    (5)

  • Benjamin T.

    Been a few times and always happy with the experience. Whichever room you're sitting in is always a good time--though for a younger crowd recommend the lower room with the bar as there is a little more relaxed feel. In my most recent visit we started off with a special--the lobster risotto which was to die for and followed up by getting the strip. Kind of like there old Cuban steak which was a staple but it tastes like the same marinade and was delicious all the same. Homemade desserts left us almost in a food coma. Good wine list but it's fun to do cocktails--try some freshly squeezed greyhounds "goose hounds" or screwdrivers--delicious, very easy to drink which always makes dinner more fun. Service friendly and knowledgable as well. Would definitely recommend.

    (5)

  • Maureen F.

    Delicious!! We got the steak chinoise and the lamb and absolutely loved both. The fettuccine crab appetizer is also a must.

    (5)

  • John D.

    My brother and I wandered through the downtown mall on vacation. We happened upon this place and were so glad we found it. So very cool. Great ambience at every level. Though we settled on the oldest basement venue. We shared a three cheese plate and the steak Chinoise. Both were amazingly delicious. Will definitely return.

    (5)

  • Brie F.

    Great food, great atmosphere. The wait staff was perfection. Get the cheese plate!

    (5)

  • aaaaa b.

    We had an excellent meal! It was an adorable place. We were seated right on time and the service was great. We were visiting from out of town and would love to go back.

    (5)

  • Andy Q.

    The food was delicious and the service was great. We knew it would be expensive for graduation weekend. But the server misrepresented the wine price several times and the mandatory tip was calculated on food, drinks AND tax. Just a bit insane but didn't want to ruin the dinner by arguing with the waitress. All in all, not worth the shaft.

    (2)

  • Kim K.

    Our engagement dinner this evening at C&O was very special, memorable and romantic thanks to an incredible staff, food and ambiance! We felt very welcomed by the entire staff and the food & wine was divine! Definitely will be regular patrons to this lovely establishment. Thank you! Dr. Kim and Sharon Kelly-Katz. :)

    (5)

  • Tom P.

    What new can I say that others haven't already said? Quiet rustic ambience. Good contemporary American food. Attentive service.

    (4)

  • Chesapeake R.

    Dinner would have been 4 or 4.5 stars (excellent quality but quick and small portions) but real gem is bar downstairs. We went down for an after-dinner drink and stayed for 4! Crowd was local and fun, and bartender was attentive and friendly.

    (5)

  • Danielle M.

    The restaurant is beautiful and has a great vibe to it. My waitress was extremely attentive and personable but our food was lacking at best. I had the NY strip and the meat was barely room temperature and bland. The beef carpaccio was DROWNING in mayonnaise and the steak chinoise was a very fatty cut of meat with an overwhelming ginger sauce. Out of four entrees only 1 was served hot. For a $200 dinner I expected a delicious meal and was disappointed. Its a shame because the space is beautiful and has great potential.

    (3)

  • Han V.

    The old building gives a quaint, homey setting to your meal. Unfortunately, my group didn't feel very welcomed by the waitstaff here. We felt like they snubbed us for the entire time we were there. We were probably the youngest group in the place and I think they just wanted us to get out of there. As for their food--- it was all overpriced for average tasting food. I thought my beef was pretty tough and bland. My other friends were not wowed by their dishes either and it was a shame to spend $25+ on a dissatisfying meal. Food: 2.5 Value: 2 Service: 2.5 Overall: 2

    (2)

  • Kimya P.

    Amazing - everything from service to food to atmosphere. A little over $100 before tip for two appetizers, two entrees, and four cocktails. Great value for high-quality ingredients and delicious flavors. For our appetizers, we had the boston lettuce salad with pommery mustard dressing and the buffalo mozzarella which came with mushrooms and greens. For our entrees, my partner ordered the steak chinoise (the forkful of steak and mashed potatoes dipped in the ginger sauce more or less melted in my mouth!) and I had the lamb and gnocchi (my mouth waters just remembering the complex flavor combinations of this dish). I would not hesitate to order all of these again. Of the drinks, my favorite was their hot toddy made with black tea, bourbon, and plenty of cloves! C&O is a tiny three story restaurant located off the downtown mall. The ambiance is romantic and classic (dark wood and brick walls, dim lighting, waiters and staff are dressed in black and looking good). I would not hesitate to recommend the experience to locals and visitors - it was a perfect (and delicious) evening out!

    (5)

  • Jason B.

    Beautiful atmosphere, great ambiance. Service was top notch! The food was excellent. I highly recommend the trout. Thanks for giving us a beautiful anniversary!

    (5)

  • sydney t.

    best restaurant in charlottesville. ricotta gnocchi with duck confit is simply ridiculous. Love all of their pastas and meat is always cooked to perfection. Sticky toffee pudding is delightful. eaten there about 20 times over the last 6 years and always fantastic.

    (5)

  • Seth R.

    Good restaurant with three levels, each with a completely different aesthetic. Top floor is all white, very formal. Middle floor is more rustic. Lower level is the bar, quirky and hipster and awesome: that's where you want to be.

    (4)

  • J H.

    Charlottesville has now many restaurants to choose from, not like in the 70's when the c and o opened. The ambience is always nice, service varies, but then Dinner is not supposed to be rushed. My last meal there was fair, the portions fine, but all the sauces were a bit off, a little flat, a little sour, a bit too cloying thin. I suspect it was just an off night for I would go again, I especially love the downstairs rooms for their warmth and flair.

    (3)

  • Belinda C.

    The hubs and I headed out of town for a short jaunt to Charlottesville for our anniversary. Since it was a special trip, we wanted to commemorate it with a special meal. I did a little homework and picked C&O. I expected more, especially for the price tag, from C&O. Everything started out well with a friendly and unexpected "Happy Anniversary!" from the hostess. So, I was hopeful we were going to have a memorable experience. We started with the cheese plate. My husband had the lamb chops and I ordered the Rag Mountain trout. We finished with the Coupe Maison and chocolate bread pudding. I enjoyed a really nice glass of a dry rose cava. The bread served at the table was bland and clunky. The service was good, but nothing remarkable. The cheese plate offered a variety of local cheeses with apple butter, crackers and slices of green apple served alongside. I think this was my favorite part of the meal. We tried a local goats cheese (was similar to a hard feta), manchego and cheddar. All were tasty. There were other options for brie and blue cheese lovers as well. Each of our entrees were $27 a piece and the portions were tiny. Don't get me wrong. I'm not a buffet regular where I think mountains of food are the only acceptable portion size. I'm a big fan of appropriate portions so you're able to enjoy a wide variety from the menu and leave feeling sated, not stuffed. I think for what is offered, the entrees are definitely overpriced. In addition to small portions and being overpriced, the potato rosti that came with my trout was a disaster. Soggy in the middle, burned on the outside. The beets were supposed to be roasted and they were fairly raw. On the upside, the trout was amazing! It was light, crisp, melted in my mouth and the only thing I ate for dinner beyond cheese. Dessert was ok. The Coupe Maison was a simple sundae served in an oversized wine goblet. The bread pudding was tasty and I could tell, made with a good quality chocolate. It tasted like a very moist chocolate cake. All in all, I think C&O could do better for $140 on a special occasion. Generally an overall average experience.

    (3)

  • Jack L.

    At first glance, the restaurant seemed sketchy but, once we got inside, the atmosphere was completely different. The service was spectacular, the food was great, the atmosphere was older but sophisticated. I would definitely come back.

    (5)

  • Rick B.

    Quirky establishment (so ignore the seemingly unkempt exterior!) in downtown's Warehouse District, split across 6 differently themed rooms. Service good and knowledgeable on wine. For myself I had a Squash soup with lardons and paprika, followed by Steak Chinoise on bed of scallion mash with asparagus and rich sauce. Both well prepared, presented and tasty. I'd also have to commend the local (Virginian) sparkling wine I sampled (I like to try unusual / local offerings if available): Thibaut-Jannisson "TJ" 100% Chardonnay - a very convincing and quaffable Chardonnay expression.

    (4)

  • Jennifer M.

    ****4.5 stars*** When better to stuff my face at places on my to go list than during Restaurant Week? C&O has been on my to go list of popular, high-rated dining experiences for a while now. C&O is located at the end of the downtown mall a little past the Melting Pot in an antiquated building with what looks to be boarded up doors or windows or something in the front. When you enter, there is a small (by small I mean that it can fit 8-10 people) reception area with a fireplace. Beyond that, there is a dining space that looks like a long, narrow hallway. If you look closer though, you'll see that it is in fact a tiny room with a few tables cleverly reflected in a wall mirror. There is a bar off to another side room and an upstairs seating area as well. While C&O definitely qualifies as fine dining, it aims to provide a comfortable atmosphere in it's traditional Virginia setting. Service was stellar and friendly (and thankful in one event) when I called several times on the phone as well as during our dinner. To start, I had the arepa with braised pork, ricotta cheese, and pickled onions. This was an app that blew me away. The ricotta was housemade and not overpowering. The braised shredded pork was flavorful and tender. And I really liked the pickled red onions. Everything came together well on the arepa, a thick corn flour tortilla/bread, which may have been a little too thick as it tended to overpower some of the ingredients on top with its doughiness. I had the bistro steak with sauce bordelaise. I do not think the cut of steak selected for the dish did it justice. Bistro steak tends to be soft on the outside but sinewy on the inside. However this cut of bistro steak may have been a little more sinewy than usual (only reason for 4.5 stars). Even with medium rare to avoid any toughness, I had a hard time cutting (much less chewing) this steak. As did others of my group. The outside had a nice smokey, seared flavor and went wonderfully with the red wine sauce and mashed potatoes (very flavorful with skin, the best kind of mashed potatoes) and some garlic sauteed asparagus (which were very fresh and young). For dessert: the yummy Chocolate Pot de Creme. By this time, I was extremely full but I didn't want this excellent dessert to go to waste. It was not a rich chocolate and it had hints of cinnamon and/or nutmeg that made it unique and tasty. Other notes: Crab and polenta looked tempting. Linguine with littleneck clams were housemade with beautiful coloring and thickness, served with whole large clam and not those dinky ones that come in canned soups. Creme brulee had beautiful looking and tasting caramelization, however the layer of custard itself was very thin. Cobblers came out piping hot and looked delicious.

    (5)

  • John C.

    Don't let the old Pepsi sign out front fool you, it has a nice ambiance inside with good food and service. We enjoyed and would go back.

    (4)

  • Kelsey S.

    I've come here twice from DC and have always had a great experience. The C&O is special because there is definitely something for everyone. I've been here with some younger folks who come here for a nice fancy cocktail and also with friend's parents. The decor is put together and warm-- the backyard patio is especially nice. The staff is welcoming and unpretentious. When I had dinner, I got the steak chinoise. Our server was talking up the sauce and it totally lived up to the hype. It was also a perfect medium rare. For dessert, we got the chocolate tart with sea salt caramel ice cream. Not too sweet or decadent-- it was the perfect way to finish our meal.

    (5)

  • V A.

    My husband and I were in town so we decided to give this restaurant a try. Turned out to be a great decision! The service was great...lovely server tonight. We had a Truffled Parmesano Ravioli appetizer, which was delicious. The bread they make tastes like a cross between bread and a biscuit...sooo yummy. My husband's entree was the Steak Chinois with Gruyere Mashed Potatoes and he couldn't get enough of it. The sauce was amazing!!! I had the Roast Chicken with Pan Dripping Risotto, which was amazing too. As a sweet note, we ordered the Warm Chocolate Tart, which is served with a Peanut Nugget Ice Cream and caramel. I would definitely return for the excellent food, service and ambiance. Too bad we're from out if town!

    (5)

  • Spike D.

    Loved the food and the local sourcing. Service was very good. Fun decor / setting (old diner/bar). Seating was a little tight in the downstairs area (coulda been five stars with more elbow room). Appetizer Pozole with duck chicharones. Very good. Like a spicy chili with corn and little bits of crunchy duck. Mains - Vegetarian sampler: gnocchi was great; butternut squash with pistachio was excellent; ravioli and falafel thingy, just okay. - Duck confit with noodles and broccoli, very good. Dessert Chocolate brioche pudding, extraordinary.

    (4)

  • Mary T.

    We had not been to the C&O in awhile. We used to come for an after dinner drink and dessert (whatever chocolate choice of course) in the bar downstairs. Intimate setting: cozy in the winter and they open the shutters in the summer. Younger crowd tthan we remember. We had dinner this time: the trout was awesome, bibb lettuce salad - don't know why it was so good, but it was. I did not get to taste the smoked trout appetizer because my date finished it so fast. Dependably great food, service and a special atmosphere.

    (5)

  • Andrew B.

    One of the worst dining experiences I have had in Charlottesville. The waitstaff was not friendly, forgetful, and looked annoyed at life the entire time - they weren't even busy. The food was a bit over priced for the quality and portion. The servers couldn't even describe the dishes for me without eye rolls. The environment is cozy and warm, however, that's about all your getting. The desserts are also fabulous!

    (2)

  • Willa B.

    I love C & O. The main floor is a little too hush-hush fancy for my liking, but probably wildly romantic for a date. The back patio is gorgeous and one of the best places to be outside in Charlottesville. Buy my heart lies with the downstairs. I LOVE IT. If you are looking for what you typically think of in a 'fancy restaurant' don't go downstairs. I don't remember if there are white linnen table clothes, although I highly doubt it, but there's certainly no stuffiness. It's cozy with bunches of tables, and old school wooden bar, old photographs and wood walls. Its warm, inviting, often a little more boisterous than upstairs, but it has never been really loud in my experience. The tables ARE close together, so if that worries you, then... um... go elsewhere? But don't go elsewhere. Stay. Eat, drink and be merry. It'll cost you a pretty penny, but it will be wroth it.

    (5)

  • Gregg E.

    The Bomb. I've eaten in a lot of places all over world and have been in the food industry in various forms, so I'm not a pushover for a 5-star rating. I'm mean I rarely use exclamation points because I believe them overly florid and cliche. Let's just say I'm not naturally a gusher. This was one of best meals I've had in decades. Chef's imagination, and his ability to pull off some very interesting ideas, it was exciting. I'm not talking just taste or ingredients, I'm talking about a unique vision that came from Chef's head through his fingers and onto a plate of food. Awesome. Maybe we hit him on a good night but by god, I will never forget the food. The vibe in the bar is great and the dining area is cool, service is friendly and efficient. A great experience all the way around.

    (5)

  • Benny R.

    I finally had a chance to visit the C&O on a recent trip to Charlottesville. The atmosphere of this famed Charlottesville restaurant was great; the staff very friendly and welcoming; and my meal was quite good. If Yelp allowed for half stars, this review would be 4.5. The only reason it's not 5 stars, is that from purely the food standpoint, the quality on my visit was very good, but not great.

    (4)

  • L P.

    I was hoping to host a dinner for my wedding party at this restaurant. I made an appointment to meet with Dave, the owner, about two or three weeks in advance. I spoke with him on the phone in detail about how many people I wanted to host, my dates, etc. He set a 6pm meeting with me followed by a 6:30pm dinner reservation so we could try their food. When my fiancee and I showed up (from out of town) we were told that Dave was on vacation and the entire restaurant was booked for a wedding so our "dinner reservation" didn't exist. We will not be going back.

    (2)

  • Dave W.

    This place came highly recommended - both from our hotel concierge, numerous pieces of printed material and many comments from people in the area. I can tell you, however, to ignore your first impression of the place - an old Pepsi sing hangs on the front of an older brick building, paint peeling from an old sign on the wall as well. There was a film festival going on the weekend we were in town but we stopped in on a Friday to see if we could get a table somehow (everyone told us it would be impossible and they were right). The owner, David Simpson, was kind enough to give us a guided tour of the premises - up, down and outside. Everywhere we looked people seemed to be having a great time. We decided to try again before we left town. Sunday night - we're in! David wasn't there but the hostess couldn't have been nicer and we were quickly seated in the downstairs dining room, which is also the bar. Appetizers consisted of a House Salad for Carol and Local Chicken Soup with White Beans, topped with Chimichurri (fabulous). Entrees consisted of Blackened Alaska Salmon served with a sauteed potato/clam cake and buerre blanc. I had the Cuban Strip Steak with red onion Marmalade. Both entrees were excellent and the leftovers were nonexistent. Can't remember the wine we had with dinner but dessert for me consisted of a glass of Eades 17yr old Single Malt Speyside Scotch. Wonderful place, great atmosphere and ambiance coupled with extremely attentive and outgoing staff.

    (4)

  • Garry M.

    This was not our first time at C&O but was the first since the new ownership took over. In general, it is a nice place, interesting and charming decor. We had a table in the bar area downstairs which was OK (but not great)..it was so dark we could not read the menu! My wife did ask for, and promptly received, a candle, which helped. The waitress was very pleasant and attentive. Foodwise, in general the menu is rather limited, we thought, although what was offered looked appealing. My wife had the Steak Chinoise and thought it was delicious, albeit significantly overpriced for a flank steak over mashed potatoes meal. I had two appetizers - Oyster Chowder which was delicious and a local mushroom/pasta cream sauce dish that was good but only warm (not hot), with no "Wow" factor. Gereral impression : food is good but very overpriced, menu is somewhat limited but mostly well done from what we could tell. Staff was attentive and friendly. I would not recommend dining in the bar area downstairs...dark and somewhat cramped. Value for your dining dollars? Go elsewhere....the new owners have not, so far, maintained the standards established by the previous owners.

    (2)

  • Jennifer F.

    This is the first time I've ever written a review , and I was hoping this would of been a positive one , especially since everyone raved about it on this site. The reason for even getting two stars was because I will say this places atmosphere is awesome . Everything is so antique and the table setting is very simple yet rustic . Now onto the service . Well we were sat it the back in a corner . And no lie or exaggeration we were greeted 15 minutes later . With an awkward hello , and straight to do u have any questions about the menu . Umm yea how about your name.... Or welcome to c&o . So we ordered drinks and before we decided on dinner he said " bread will be out in a few " and walked away. Well the wine tasted old and my boyfriends beer ..... Omg the most disgusting beer I've ever had . And then the bread showed up 10 min after that . Which is when he again asked " do we have any questions " took our order and walked away . Regardless my boyfriend and I were trying to make the best of it and have a nice romantic dinner before he deploys . Which meant we decided to spend our last dinner, for a weekend getaway , here . And were extremely disappointed . As for the food . I got the lamb shoulder , which I will say was delish!!!! I wish I knew it was being served as a stew but regardless it really was amazing . My boyfriend got the duck and he really enjoyed it as well . I tried it and thought the duck was a little cold but the flavour was defiantly there . Service was horrible and it sucks this amazing place that has so much beauty has such a horrible staff.

    (2)

  • Heather C.

    I was lucky enough to be invited here as a guest for a rehearsal dinner. The upstairs private room was very sweet and intimate for our party. The food was okay. I've definitely had better steaks, but I'm a Texas girl and we're hard to impress. Everyone in the party had a great time and our waitstaff was super attentive and always refilling water and wine. The location is great, right on the strip. One little downfall is having to wait a while to use the ladies room as there are only two stalls in the whole restaurant. Solid restaurant with excellent waitstaff.

    (4)

  • Anna B.

    Great menu, with a creative twist on traditional continental fare. I love the Southern atmosphere of the small, quaint, yet elegant building. The decor is cozy, unlike many upscale dining options in Charlottesville, which seem to opt for a more modern feel. The service is excellent, the wine list extensive, and I am still craving the blackened Alaskan salmon served atop a bed of mashed potatoes, with a creamy beurre blanc sauce and asparagus that I had. I recommend the cheese plate, and the creme brulee. A must visit location for those living in Charlottesville. Perfect for a romantic evening, or the conclusion of a fun day of site-seeing for those visiting Charlottesville.

    (5)

  • Jeremy B.

    Delicious food and great atmosphere inside. However the outside of the building looked run down.

    (4)

  • K D.

    Ate downstairs. Outstanding staff, food, and atmosphere. Spices are unique and just perfect. Highly recommend. A little pricey, but well worth it

    (5)

  • Michelle B.

    Probably my favorite restaurant in C-ville. It's a very relaxing, intimate and quiet place to have a meal. The restaurant is split into three levels of an old warehouse or factory. Each level is an intimate room covered in salvaged wood paneling. No music, no TVs, soft lighting-- you can actually have a conversation with another person. What a concept. The waitstaff are soft-spoken and relaxed but highly proficient. It was wonderful to come here after a highly stressful day of meetings, and linger over a glass of wine. The food was excellent. The menu descriptions are pretty modest, so at first I wasn't attracted to any particular entree-- nothing leapt out at me as especially interesting. (But then again, it was a relaxing menu to read. No trendy foams or curious, clashing ingredients. No ee cummings style word puzzles.) But the trout and my boyfriend's steak were extremely interesting to eat. I would guess that the chef works in the french culinary tradition, but there were different international notes and perhaps some locavore ingredients thrown in for good measure. Side dishes were very reasonable and well-prepared. I'm sure I would have been happy grazing off the appetizer menu but just sampled the artichoke pate, which was very tasty and came ringed with olives, pickles and buttery baguette toasts, as it would have with the traditional liver pate.

    (5)

  • Elizabeth F.

    This is my favorite place in Charlottesville. I have always loved eating here so much that C&O catered my wedding a few years back (Dave Simpson and company are absolute masters at event management). This place has the whole package - exceptional food, exceptional service and atmosphere. I especially enjoy sitting downstairs with the bar.

    (5)

  • Steve V.

    Exposed brick, old bar, spicy cuban steak... all makes for a wonderful experience. Romantic too; I actually went here for prom over a decade ago too with a group of 10 plus, which was a great experience. I've always enjoyed the service and food. The renovations are great. The drinks can be watered down though. Overall - A-OK. You'll be happy you went here.

    (3)

  • Chrissy F.

    C&O Restaurant was the perfect choice for my recent wedding. One of the primary reasons we chose C&O was because they are a restaurant first, and the quality/presentation of our food was important so we didn't want a quantity driven caterer. From our first meeting with C&O we felt like we had found a great match. The owners are obviously very experienced in the catering arena and were able to provide us advice and guidance on planning our wedding. They acted as so much more than just a traditional caterer, they advised us on pacing and scheduling of the day, handled all of the rental equipment (tables, chairs, etc) and acted as our de facto wedding coordinators on the day of. I can't say enough positive things about how professional the entire staff was. Now, the most important part, the food was OUTSTANDING. We wanted a family style meal that wasn't the typical chicken and beef, and C&O executed it perfectly. Our entire menu is listed below, and I cannot tell you how many compliments I received from guests about how delicious the food was. Everything was prepared on-site, using local ingredients where possible, and it felt like having a wonderful meal at a great restaurant, not "wedding food". We probably won't have need for a large-scale catering option like this again, but we look forward to eating at C&O again anytime we are in Charlottesville. Our Wedding Menu: Cocktail Hour Appetizers * Smoked dates wrapped in apple smoked bacon * Butternut squash shooters with cayenne cheddar wafers * Petit BLTea sandwiches * A stationary cheese board Seated Family Style Dinner * Baby arugula and Gem lettuces, candied pumpkin seeds, golden beets, Granny Smith apples and goat cheese with a Champagne vinaigrette * Berkshire pork tenderloin with apple cider gravy, oven roasted Yukon Gold and Garnet sweet potato fries, grilled Cymlins with roasted red peppers and caramelized onions * Grilled Atlantic salmon with a tamarind, shitake, shallot and candied ginger salsa, Green beans sautéed with VA maple syrup butter, Asparagus and scallion risotto * Silver queen corn pudding * Rustic Breads with butter

    (5)

  • Lisa G.

    I WANT to like it. I just don't. Overrated... and not much on the menu that I actually WANT to eat.

    (2)

  • Molly S.

    This is stil my favorite restaurant in Charlottesville. The food speaks for itself. Everything is absolutely delicious and the menu changes constantly. The ambiance is easily one of its best features, which is saying a lot given how good the food is. Between the bistro downstairs, the outside patio, and the mezzanine dining room with its quaint and rustic charm, you can find whatever you're looking for at C & O. I.just.can't.get.enough!

    (5)

  • Nicole O.

    - - - April 18th, 2009 Our sorority's social chair planned the dinner/event (mostly just dinner since the restaurant's projector was broken), and since our chapter is at UVA, we were a little limited in terms of options (aka Charlottesville). She decided

    (1)

  • Charlotte T.

    You feel taken care of the entire meal. Top drawer! Awesome place to go for any occasion. My favorite restaurant in Charlottesville for the last 25 years!

    (5)

  • S M.

    Yummy scallops. Got the appetizer up sized as an entree. They were perfectly cooked and covered with a beautifully done sauce Provençal. Ate upstairs, not the most comfortable room but overall a very nice experience

    (3)

  • Ann B.

    On our Monticello getaway weekend, we popped into C&O based on the Yelp reviews. Being Saturday night, I think we got lucky. We got a seat in the bar downstairs and the place filled up quickly after that. Since we we had a late lunch, we decided to go with starters and desserts. We had the jumbo marinated lump crab, smoked dates and the artichoke pate. All good but the smoked dates really stood out. For dessert we had the Coupe Maison (ice cream with almonds, whipped cream and chocolate sauce) and the apple cobbler. Again, all good stuff. My only caution - avoid the parking lot if you have a car larger than a MINI. When the lot filled up, I didn't have enough turning radius if I pulled out straight. I couldn't get out of my parking space until after the car beside me left. And she couldn't get out until the car beside her left. So either find another place to park or back into the space.

    (3)

  • Valarie G.

    Ok just came for the bar so this is a bar review only. Really cute spot in the basement with a great drink menu at decent prices. Great ambiance. That being said..the service sucked and it took forever to get our drinks. The hostess said there was no room for us when there were obviously open tables so we just sat ourselves anyway. Not sure why it took forever to make 3 of the exact same uncomplicated sazerac but oh well...

    (3)

  • L L.

    So sad. The food was phenomenal, my first time there and I thought I'd have nothing but a good experience after a long day visiting Charlottesville on business The food is the reason for the 2 stars (it could have been a 4/5). But DON'T GO TO O&C if you don't want an earful of offensive conversation between the regular patrons and the bartender. I endured loud unending proclamations about gay marriage being "just like marrying my dog or my brother, what's next?" and the bartender joked loudly, "I'm going to go out and marry a rock." it went on and on, and my food experience soured. I'm not naive: I know there are people out there who want to dehumanize and hate our gay family members, friends, neighbors, teachers, and service providers all around us every day, but I don't need to listen to that. I myself am not gay, but homophobic slurs have no place in a public restaurant, encouraged by the staff. I tipped very little (and wrote a short note explaining why). I'll never go back :(

    (2)

  • Katherine M.

    After hearing so many wonderful things about this place, perhaps my expectations were too high, and I was destined for disappointment. Fours stars ain't bad, but I was hoping for five. Our meal was very good - smoked dates and blackened salmon (beurre blanc was killer) get 4 stars at minimum. The baked trout was a little uninspiring, and the pickled onions were overpowering. Creme brulee was creamy, and the perfect size - strawberry garnish was unnecessary though, and made it seem a little less, I don't know, professional. The atmosphere is very Cville, and seemed especially cozy on a cold winter's night. I'm looking forward to going back and trying some of the vegetarian and Indian dishes on the menu.

    (4)

  • Olivia J.

    We eat at the C&O pretty often, sometimes just the two of us, sometimes with with out-of-town guests. We especially enjoy taking European guests to the C&O, to show them that American food is perfectly delicious. Besides, it is a comfortable place to eat, drink, converse, and leave happy. One of my favorite features is the Late Night Menu. This is the one place in town that we can reliably get a great meal after arriving on the midnight plane, every night of the week. The Late Night menu is small but perfect, and not nearly as expensive as the regular dinner menu. Another favorite feature is the wine menu, which lists the best local wines along with great wines from elsewhere in the US and all over the world. Yet another favorite feature is that the restaurant has 4 distinctly different seating areas, spread throughout the 100+ year-old, quirky building. But my favorite feature is the fact that the food is always good. Always. This is not a restaurant for students or for the budget-conscious, nor for people who judge restaurants by the quantity of food on the plate. Be sure to order an appetizer as well as a main course, and you might want to order a dessert to share. You will leave satisfied and in a good mood. Oh yes, and be sure to take a book of C&O matches with you.

    (5)

  • H J.

    The downstairs bar area is one of my absolute favorite places in the world to eat. It's just really cool and inviting. The food is the same (great!) anywhere in the restaurant but the upstairs decor is too stuffy for me.

    (5)

  • Chris V.

    Great selection of wines. We had the House Made Rabbit Boudin Blanc and the Steak Chinoise. The Chinoise seems to be a popular choice, at least that's what we were told. The rabbit wasn't so great, but maybe we're not rabbit people. The Steak Chinoise was great though. Really tender steak. The whole place had a great vibe, really what made it worth it. A place I would recommend and go back to.

    (4)

  • Steve V.

    We go here for our dinner before the theater at Live Arts and for special occasions. We've also brought our visitors here for a very nice dinner. Don't let the Pepsi sign fool you, this is fine white linen dining. I've had most every entree on the menu, and never been disappointed, while my wife is enamored by the steak chinoise. A well selected wine list caps a lovely evening each time we have dined here.

    (5)

  • Judah L.

    Great staff, very attentive and the food was served in a timely fashion. Cool atmosphere. Steak was rare, and I asked for it medium. Salad was over priced and nothing special. Bread was heavenly, great beers on tap. Dessert were good, albeit rather small. Overall, I will stick with Fossetts when I want a fine dining experience.

    (3)

  • Kathryn R.

    Looked forward to dining here for a while, but I accidentally made my reservations during restaurant week. Good parts: the polenta/crab and the pork arepa as appetizers. Both inventive, very good, well seasoned - what I expected from C&O. Other highlight was the berry cobbler-warm, comforting. Wait and service staff-excellent. Nice selection of wine and beer. Bad parts: How do you screw up bread and butter? Not sure but they did. Temperature and texture were ok, but I've never had such tasteless bread 'n butter. Just add some salt and sugar! Entrees - the steak and chicken - very underwhelming. Only difference between the two entrees were the seasonings, but it might as well been the same dish. Creme brulee was undercooked and really disappointed me because I've had it before. I wan't to like C&O more but maybe I have to go back during non-restaurant week.

    (2)

  • Jay S.

    Solid food. My friend and I went for restaurant week. I'll post photos soon. For appetizers I got the arepa with pork, which was good, but it could have been SO MUCH BETTER if it had been served warm/hot. It was room temperature. My friend got the crab meat with polenta, and it was a very good choice. I had a taste, and it was very very good! For the main dish linguine, you could tell it was handmade, and it was delicious! I can't quite describe the taste, but it was a good pick. A bit oily. My friend got the bistro steak. She asked for medium rare, and the brought it out rare, so she was very surprised. She commented that the potatoes and asparagus that came with the meal were a bit plain. I tried a bit of her steak, the sauce was good, but the meat was very chewy, and it was hard to eat. The portions for the main dish were a nice size though! For dessert I got chocolate pot de creme, which was good. Maybe I'm a bit biased because I was very very full when the dessert came, but I didn't think it was all that. My friend got the cobbler though, and it came out fresh from the oven it seemed! I had a taste, and it was clear that she had picked very right! Overall, it was all very solid food. Staff was very friendly, and nice. Good ambiance. Food came out quick. A lovely window view! I wish they had heated up the arepa before they served it, but other than that, I'm pretty satisfied. I think I ate too much though, and now I have a bit of indigestion... :(

    (4)

  • John E.

    My wife and I went for restaurant week, and 3 of the six things we ordered were fantastic: the mussels, the toasted soda bread, and chocolate praline torte. The two entrees, the mahi and the polenta cake, and the other dessert, the creme brulee were fine, but on the whole disappointing. One could easily have a five-star meal here; perhaps Restaurant Week is not the time to go here. The ambiance is excellent, the staff is attentive to a fault, and the drink list is extensive and reasonable.

    (4)

  • Lisa N.

    I've heard great things about C&O before trying it because of its great reviews, but I was quite disappointed. I'm not sure if it's because of what I ordered or if they had an off day, but my dish was unusual in a bad way. I had the lamb (I'm not sure if it's still offered) but it did not appeal to me visually or taste-wise. My boyfriend ordered the steak chinoise which was just so-so, but better than my dish. The inside is small and kind of arranged awkwardly (long and narrow with a separate upstairs). Parking was tricky and service was just decent. Overall, I will not be returning.

    (2)

  • Richard S.

    Quite delicious, though I'm more impressed at the atmosphere and the feel I get whenever I eat here. The service is wonderful and the ambience is very homey while the food is comforting and a tad sophisticated. I would categorize this as a place I would bring my friends to have fun, especially with their late night offerings, over a place I would bring to impress a date.

    (4)

  • Pui Ying S.

    This place is super cute and has a nice rustic feel to it. It has actually a very small dining area and if you go as a couple, get the "love table", it's a little long table and you both sit on the same side. We ate downstairs where the bar was and had just appetizers. The service was very good and attentive. The bread was warm, crusty on the outside and chewy on the inside. The artichoke pate was delicious and had lots of pickles, olives, and croutons. The squash soup was creamy, peppery. A+. They do catering and also have two large rooms that are for private parties. Look on the website they are very charming. The decor is rustic, but the clientele is a little older and not as "hip".

    (4)

  • Atul A.

    This has to be one of the worst over-rated restaurants I have ever been to. First off the menu is unnecessarily difficult to read since it's written is a cursive style as the restaurant tries to project a classical European feel. As for the contents of the menu ... weak! There was nothing I wanted to eat. Finally, my wife and I settled on the Trout, which was the absolute worst veil piece of fish I have put into my mouth! I have never had anything so deprived of taste and flavor. The "chef" basically slit the fish and stuck a little rosemary into its gut and boiled it. Then he/she opened a can of chickpeas and mixed it with some tomatoes and used it as a side - the chickpeas were cold and severely under-cooked. After that disaster we had some hopes that the desert would redeem our experience. The bread pudding was decent but my wife's crème brulee was mediocre. The service also left a lot to be desired. We were not asked how our meal was and we did not appreciate our waiter bringing the check right in the middle of eating desert without asking if we wanted anything else. All in all this place is grossly OVERATED and I would avoid it!

    (1)

  • Diane N.

    This is my go to restaurant. The food is always good and the atmosphere feels like home. There is a cozy bar downstairs where they have been serving dinners for 30 years. There is also a pleasant enclosed porch for a comfortable dinner with friends. And now there is an outdoors area for summertime. After hours they have a short menu which makes it a good late night stop. A friendly wait staff always has good recommendations from their wine list. They take reservations which is a good thing, especially on Friday and Saturday night. I must say that most of the time I order their Steak Chinoise. It is perfectly flavored and served with garlic mash potatoes. With the sauce from the steak, it is the essence of comfort food. I also really enjoy their seafood selections and the vegetable soup is a long time favorite.

    (5)

  • Sarah T.

    I called 3 weeks in advance to make a reservation for dinner as a surprise for my husband. They only had 5:30 and 9:30 which didn't work for us but they said we could walk in and get a table downstairs. They said they didn't take reservations for that area but we should be able to get a table, and we might have to wait a little while. When we were on our way to the restaurant, I called to say we were coming and would like to eat downstairs and asked if there was a list we could put our name on. The young girl was very nice and said they only took names as people walked in and they were full at that moment but it looked like some tables were finishing up so we should be able to sit down shortly after we got there. When I walked in and said we would like to eat downstairs, another girl looked at me and smiled and said there were no tables available. I was so confused and said, ok...I literally just called 5 minutes ago and somebody that sounded very similar to you told me we could come and wait for a table. She told me again, there were no tables. I asked if we could go to the bar and wait for a table to open up and she told me we could sit on the bench in front of the restaurant where people check in and they would bring us a cocktail...ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? So, after I repeated that I had literally just gotten off the phone with somebody she told me that the customers with reservations took priority in getting those tables. Well...I didn't make a reservation because I wanted to sit in the bar downstairs and was told repeatedly that you couldn't make reservations for that area!!!!! She and another girl just stared at me blankly with fake smiles and said they didn't know what to tell me. I have been to C&O before and it was great...this experience has turned me off of it forever though. Get some more intelligent staff that know what they are talking about!

    (1)

  • James A.

    Start to finish we had a great experience- It was restaurant week, they were booked, as everyone was, but the owner seated us immediately at the bar. Friendly bartender took a quick order and food was out and tasting delicious in less that 10 minutes. We were checked on multiple times and the food was exactly as described even by the bartender who's job, I'm assuming, isn't to memorize every item on the menu, let alone the restaurant week menu. and in response to Nicole O.'s review; you sound like you were headed in there just SEARCHING for something to dislike. A prix fixe menu is sort of a pain in the ass to just come up with and furnish, ESPECIALLY when you're paying 38.00 for food. That's just you being ridiculous and wanting to be pampered for nothing in return. ...*buuuurrrrn -update 5 minutes later; Yeah Nicole, girl, I just read your full review; Please lady, like you complain about everything from the croutons to the effing Pepsi sign, judging by your friends smiling faces they most definitely shared the same miserable experience and didn't mind hearing you complain the whole time.

    (5)

  • Chris F.

    If I could only eat at one place in Charlottesville again, I would choose C&O. It's a very historic location with great atmosphere and ambiance and very friendly and knowledgeable service. The menu is handwritten and photocopied, original and unique courses. There's a French influence with traditional Virginian/New Southern food, I get the feeling Tom Jefferson would love this place, and if his ghost haunts Monticello, it probably comes down here for a bottle of wine and quail. I have had the trout with a cornbread rub, jasmine rice and esparagus. I have also had the espresso-rubbed beef tenderloin that is delicious. Unfortunately, it's not the best of either I've ever had, so C&O just narrowly missed its fifth star.

    (4)

  • Eugene W.

    A small quiet restaurant down the block from the downtown mall. This is one of the better restaurants in C-Ville. It has three different seating areas but the main restaurant only holds around 20 people with 4 tables. It has a nice a low light setting. The servers are very friendly and knowledgeable. They have an excellent selection of wine including wine from a number of local vineyards. The food is amazing and I highly recommend the Cuban Skirt Steak ($25). All the deserts are amazing. For a busy night would consider calling to make reservations to avoid missing out on this excellent cuisine.

    (5)

  • Thomas T.

    Charming, cozy, and downright cool factor comes to mind as you are transported back to the 19th century where the copper platted door ledge are malleted in place, stairs that squeak of welcoming creaks, menus that are hand written in calligraphy no less, and a wonderful and helpful staff! I had the pleasure of dinning at this fine establishment at a recent work dinner with a group of 20. The menu was creative fairing from the standard american fair to the almost pretentious steak nicoise - which i had, and let me tell you, it was delish! but then again, can't go wrong with a NY strip steak, shell steak, or short loin for those epicureans reading this.... The wine selection was amazingly diverse covering local varietals to those from Napa, Central Coast, Italy, and of course France. I was quite surprised that they had a Saddleback cab sauv, which i quickly ordered a bottle - needless to say it was the last Saddleback they had that night. Those who were lucky :)) to sit at my table and tasted this wine was overwhelmed by the nose and structure, yet softness it had. And i must say, the wine prices are very good!!! Overall an experience to remember, both the freshness in quality, creativity in their plating, professionalism with the staff, and that je ne sais quoi cool factor of eating in a place that would make Thomas Jefferson extremely proud of his home town.

    (4)

  • Daniel B.

    An excellent dining experience which the four of us enjoyed thoroughly. Food was creative and well presented but without being fussy. The potato encrusted avocado main course was an excellent appetizer for the table. I particularly enjoyed the Cuban steak, even though I do not think of Cuban food as being as spicy as this dish was. Nonetheless, I very much enjoyed it. The apple Betty was a nice ending to the meal.

    (5)

  • Paula O.

    Ate upstairs for my first visit to C & O. The first wine we ordered was not available, so we chose another, which was a white Merlot from Switzerland. This turned out to be one of the better parts of the meal, as a whole. My dining partner and I ordered three appetizers to share: the flatbread with taleggio, arugula, and bacon; spinach salad with citrus and Maytag bleu cheese; and mascarpone stuffed dates. Of the three, the dates were by far the most intense, in terms of flavor, and quite rich. The spinach salad was lackluster, and the flatbread was awkward to eat. Anything with bacon is delicious, but the flatbread wasn't cut properly, and the bacon was not cut into lardons, but long slabs, making this hazardous to your wardrobe. My partner ordered the steak au poivre, and I ordered the porchetta with quinoa. I sampled the steak, which was fine, cooked to order, and tender. The porchetta was extremely dry, and virtually inedible. The quinoa might as well have been sawdust for what flavor it had. For dessert, I had the chocolate praline cake, and my partner had the glorified ice cream sundae with almonds. This was the second best part of the meal. The cake was very rich, dark chocolate, with a delightful crunch. I ate the entire slice! (I was still hungry since I didn't eat most of my entree). Overall, this was a real let-down. The atmosphere was dull and the area was decorated very sparely. For the price of the food, I cannot even consider putting up more than 2 stars. I can easily cook steak au poivre at home with mashed potatoes and asparagus, and it costs less than half of the menu price. Nothing in the decor, the service, or what I ordered could make up for that. A real disappointment.

    (2)

  • Brie K.

    This was my choice for my fancy birthday meal. I read a lot about this place in the Hook for Restaurant Week (didn't get reservations in time though, d'oh!) so I wanted to try it on an occasion when I could justify how expensive the meal would be. As so many other Yelpers have noted, the decor is cozy and charming, perfect for fun, intimate conversation. The service was excellent and our waitress was very helpful with wine selections, although she wasn't able to pair a wine with my meal choice. The biggest disappointment of the night was the lack of Barramundi. In perusing the menu online ahead of time, I was super excited to see that this was a restaurant that served the latest fish craze. On the way into the restaurant, I spotted a little slip of paper on the hostess podium that said "86 Barramundi." My heart sank. Luckily, the beef tenderloin that I ordered was delicious, with the added bonus of ramp foam, one dish made out of two things I had only heard about on Top Chef combined! The pickled cactus salad was waaaaay too salty and briny than I could stand, and I can eat a whole cornichon in one bite with delight. Perhaps I should have had only a very small bite with a large bite of beef, in retrospect. The dandelion green salad had an incredible dressing, although the cheese was a little less firm than it should have been, perhaps because my salad was prepared and dressed before the artichoke pate that my sister-in-law ordered was ready. Overall I enjoyed the experience immensely because of the company and the setting, and the food was pretty good too.

    (4)

  • Elizabeth M.

    Great place for drinks, but they really don't like to split checks.

    (4)

  • Jeremy H.

    Fantastic food, great service. Plus the building is really cool looking.

    (5)

  • Leigh Anna T.

    I've been to C&O twice now. Both times I ordered the Steak Chinoise. Both times it was delicious, but the first time it was more so. Honestly, I will probably order this, because it is so good, every time I visit and will have no other recommendations to make. The only reason I am giving it 4 stars instead of 5 is because of the disparity in my visits. On the first visit, I sat in the basement (quite quaint) and my steak was superb. The second time, I sat on the second floor (no ambiance) and my steak was good but not great. But I will most certainly be back.

    (4)

  • K K.

    Food was fantastic. Bartender was a plus. Unique atmosphere. A must go if visiting Charlottesville.

    (4)

  • Michelle A.

    I've been to C&O four times now and have been underwhelmed. I love the atmosphere with the smaller, intimate rooms. And the food is usually solid (and supportive of local farms). But the service has been inconsistent, and I think that there is better food at this same price point at other restaurants (e.g. L'etoile, Fleurie, etc.). That said, I enjoy the late-night menu; it's nothing creative, but it's good and a nice change of pace for a relaxed evening.

    (3)

  • Alex L.

    Perfect Place!! The owner Dave Simpson was the perfect host. We had a long drive (~ 8 hrs), and no food since breakfast. When we arrived at C&O (decision made by great reviews on Yelp), there was a 35-45 minute wait. The owner said hi to us, I explained we read rave reviews on Yelp and were starving and exicited to be there. He was so kind, he brought us drinks while standing by the host desk and found (made available) a table for us within 10 minutes. The food was outstanding; dates, tenderloin, whole trout, dessert all were wonderful. We also met Elaine and she was a perfect hostess. The building has so much history, the perfect plave for a memorable dinner. Thank you Dave!!!!

    (5)

  • Dominic L.

    This is my second time coming to C&O. I came here yesterday for my frd's bday. Food was good, but not the best. I ordered the Scallop Mousseline for appetizer and Veal's liver for entree. The appetizer was great! Highly recommended and have set a high bar for the main dish to come. In which, the Veal's liver is very disappointing. It was suppose to be pan seared, but tasted like deep fried. Thus, I didn't order desserts to avoid further disappointments. A restaurant like this should have mastered the entrees they offer, but this is not the case for C&O. Wine selection is fabulous. They got a lot of awards for their wine...but not so for their food. I guess that tells us something. However, they were not able to find me the wine i would like. But kindly enough, they gave me another pricier wine thats from the same region at the original price. The atmosphere s great. There is this outside patio area that is pretty and garden-like. Upstairs area are more private and formal. Downstairs are more cozy with the bar next to you. Should make your reservation stating where you wanna be seated. Overall, it is still you should check out when you are in town.

    (4)

  • Matt R.

    In all fairness, it's been a couple of years since I've dined here, but this was hands-down my favorite restaurant in C-ville when I lived there. The food, service and attention to detail was a cute above, while never feeling obsequious, overly concerned with status or full of itself. The locale is wonderful- the woodwork on the entrance and exterior is both rugged and beautiful, and the inside is very cozy- especially the downstairs. I've eaten here during a really bad summer drought (so bad nobody in C-ville was allowed to use real silverware or china, and everything was done on paper plates), and STILL this place was amazing. I'd highly recommend it to anyone come through the area.

    (5)

  • Jennifer S.

    Amazing atmosphere and the food! Oh the food! I had an original preparation of duck that I've never had before. Reminded us of the Depuy Canal House ( depuycanalhouse.net ) in upstate New York. It's worth the extra $ for a special dining experience.

    (5)

  • Lindsay D.

    Eh! I've heard SO much about this restaurant but was a bit disappointed. My husband and I went back in September to celebrate our anniversary. The service wasn't that great nor was the food. Maybe we just didn't order the right things, so I thought I'd give it another try. Last Wednesday, we went back. Again, our server just wasn't fantastic. When you go to a place that gets as much attention as this one does, you think she'd be a little more excited to do her job. The food this time was a bit tastier, but that all went right out the window when I got food poisoning from the Mussels. I'm sure it was just a fluke and I'm sure that's not common for the food they serve. I called a day later to see if anyone had the same issue. The first time, the lady answered, she hung up. The second time, she didn't answer and I was sent to Voicemail. I left a message for the owner, but never heard back. I'm disappointed since I hear so many great things about this place. I don't think I'll be back anytime in the near future. There are MANY other great restaurants here, save yourself the trouble and check them out.

    (1)

  • P K.

    Based on 4-5 visits, the food has always been consistently excellent. On the most recent visit, several hiccups. I wonder if staff may have been on summer vacation. Most importantly, the pacing was *extremely* slow. Entrees arrived approximately 80 minutes after we were seated (I wasn't watching the time, but there was a 30+ minute gap between appetizers and entrees). When asked, the waiter said they were extremely busy. IMHO a restaurant of this quality should not seat more people than the kitchen and wait staff can accommodate at one time. We had a reservation in this case, but on the times I've dropped in, I would rather be turned away than seated and receive an uneven dining experience. The service is a touch uneven--this past time, we had a waiter who may have been rather inexperienced. DIshes sat uncleared for ~15 minutes, etc. He also didn't check in as the wait between courses stretched on. Other staff covered a bit but not as smoothly as one would like. Overall, the food here is excellent and creative. C&O remains my go-to place for a nice and interesting restaurant in Charlottesville. However, the service is less reliable than I'd like. If recent experiences become representative, we will unfortunately have to look elsewhere.

    (4)

  • Seio O.

    Went there on the restaurant week. Heard it was one of the oldest restaurant that have a high reputation so tried it. nice outside garden looking area, the downstair, which i heard used to be a smoke room, was very cozy. citrus champagne vinaigrette that was used for the salad was very refreshing and good. gnocchi was good too. the roasted chicken was lil disappointing. There was nothing special to it. the steak chinoise was great. the steak was very very tender and well seasoned. peach and blue berry cabbler was decent. overall not a bad restaurant, but did not quiet live up to its reputation... well maybe its because I went on restaurant week...

    (4)

  • Joseph W.

    I've been to C&O several times since living in Charlottesville and each time tends to be hit or miss. The service is almost always spot on; once, we were treated to the most perfectly chilled bottle of wine when the sommelier returned to the table several times to check on the wine temperature as it was chilling in an ice bucket. Unfortunately, the food tends to be either "good" or "really good" but never "amazing." On our most recent trip I ordered the Mahi Mahi and my wife ordered the Bistro Steak. The fish was fine, but I won't order it again because it didn't leave me wanting more. Unfortunately, the steak came out on the very rare side of medium rare and was tough rather than tender. I don't know why we keep going back when there are other restaurants that are more consistent, but I know we're likely to go again when one of us says "oh, how about C&O?"

    (3)

  • Jessica P.

    This restaurant is sort of like eating at an organic farm (which I've done a few times) but where there is a really really good chef at the helm. My husband and I ordered some sort of fish which was well prepared, though he didn't care for the spicy tomato sauce on top. The chickpeas were SO flavorful with their onions and whatever else was in them...and it was served with mushrooms that tasted like marinated cheese, they were so yummy! The wine was good. The atmosphere is very charming, staff are friendly and attentive, and the owner even gave us a tour when we arrived to early (opened from 5PM-2AM the night we came). I would give this 5 stars except my husband wasn't as excited as I was, and sometimes I prefer a little more "richness" - aka, cream, butter - on things than just farm fresh. But if you like very well done fresh, healthy ingredients YOU WILL LOVE THIS PLACE.

    (4)

  • Ferm B.

    The service was good, but the food was just plain. Nothing that stood out for a restaurant that got good reviews. I probably won't eat here again. There are better places for a better price in Charlottesville.

    (3)

  • laura k.

    First really bad Experience here. Never sit on the mesanine. Don't order the veggie plate.

    (2)

  • Felix Y.

    First - the ambience is nice, and I like the fact that the restaurant has its own private parking lot. It's also a bit further out from the main thoroughfare which makes parking easier. Service is attentive and unobtrusive overall - nothing to complain about there. Onto the appetizers: The foie gras terrine was wonderful - smooth, proper texture without the typical "gamey" taste of cheaper foie gras. The grilled quail was also very tender, but it was over-grilled (some parts almost burnt) and also combined with too heavy a sauce, both of which led to a heavy, over-cooked taste. For the entree, the veal cheeks were tender and decently flavored, but were not extraordinarily interesting. They could have also gone a bit lighter on the sauce. The steak chinnoise had huge potential, but was poorly put together. First of all, it had way too much meat; second, the flavor again was too heavy-handed; and third, the steak strips were half-drowned / buried in the mashed potatoes. The whole time I was eating it, the dish just felt heavy and overdone. Dessert: The banana tart was well-done, but there was this mango thing (can't remember the name now) that turned out to be just a huge chunk of mango ice-cream in a ramekin - nothing interesting at all. On a scale of 1 to 10, we gave this a 7 to 7.5, with some particular dishes (such as the foie gras and the banana tart) garnering an 8.5. The restaurant tries hard, but the most important take-away point for us was that the chef is too heavy-handed in his approach, and needs to hold back his sauces and flavor a bit while letting the natural flavors of the ingredients come through.

    (3)

  • W. W.

    Interested in checking out the new chef so we booked dinner for our anniversary. Have dined here a couple of times a year for last 18 years. Love the atmosphere and the restaurant holds some great memories from the 70's. Was not impressed at all. Our waitress was attentive and cordial but was very unprofessional when queried as to whether there were any specials. Her response: " I would have told you if there were." Really! Caesar salad was nothing special, the local greens with a local cheese, pecans and apples very nice. Husband ordered the pasta with wild mushrooms entree which was very good but the portion size was more like a first course. The Rag Mtn trout was lacking in flavor although the lentils and creamed spinach accompanying it were good. The ice cream with chocolate sauce and toasted almonds my husband ordered was about what you'd expect from a Holiday Inn banquet. We did not find much new about the menu while glad to see some of the old favorites. We went expecting to try some new dishes though and were very disappointed. I can't imagine that Dave Simpson would be happy to see what his successor has done.

    (2)

  • Sarah C.

    The 5 stars are for the bread pudding...best dessert in town!

    (5)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :5:00 pm - 10:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : No
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Private Lot
    Bike Parking : No
    Wheelchair Accessible : No
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Intimate
    Noise Level : Quiet
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : Yes

C & O Restaurant

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