4. Restaurants

Commonwealth Restaurant & Skybar

422 E Main St, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
  • (434) 202-7728
  • Store is closed

Commonwealth Restaurant & Skybar 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 )

  • Flora L.

    For brunch: I've had their dinner before multiple times but it was my first time trying Sunday brunch. Their brunch is served all day on sunday. I got the eggs benedict and my friend ordered omelette. Pros: Fast seating Elegant interior with patio seating Affordable beverages (mimosas we're $5) Food were not too salty, not too sweet Yummy fried potatoes! Cons: Mid-range price for food ($10-18) I wouldn't say it was the best eggs benedict I've tasted. I recommend this place if you're looking for a date night. For skybar: Their drinks are average. All of their cocktails are $8. They're on the sweeter side. The rooftop is similar to those in Clarendon or DC bars. Tips: use downstairs bathroom if you're sober. Rooftop ones can be filthy later into the night.

    (4)

  • Karen R.

    Dinner review update! Finally got back to try dinner (yes waiting 2 wks was a long time lol)! We arrived around 6:45pm and were hoping to dine at the rooftop bar. After venturing upstairs (it's first come seating), my handsome date and I found all of the tables occupied. So, we went back downstairs and were sat on the patio. It was a little humid out but overall comfortable. The service: Just the right pace. We both liked that there was a slow progression of the courses. It's nice to be able to savor each course and take your time and chat with your company. The food: Well thought out. I ordered the roasted chicken and he ordered the scallops. He loved his dish. I also enjoyed mine (especially the crispy skin!), though I don't think I read the description of what flavors accompanied it, and it just wasn't exactly what I was in the mood for - However, it was still a great dish. The manager (Rich) came around a couple times and we ended up chatting with him for a little bit. It was great talking with him and getting to know more about the restaurant and the surrounding of area. Great time again. Definitely becoming one of my favorites!

    (4)

  • Liz F.

    So I'm looking at the hours for Skybar on Yelp now and it doesn't look like Skybar opens until 5:30 on Saturday? WHOOPS. This past weekend we showed up around 11 am and grabbed a table on the deck (strategically in front of the fan). When we walked in we were the only group and no one said anything about it being closed so I had no idea until just now! However, we came her on a whim to spend a few hours before getting ready for a wedding and to celebrate a birthday! We ordered a few beers and decided to kick back and relax. Our waiter was extremely attentive and made sure that we had plenty of water (it was a hot one) and kept our beer orders coming! When we told him it was one of the girl's birthday he insisted on buying any of the drinks she ordered! We ended up staying for maybe three hours? During our time there we also ordered some snacks to hold us over. NOTE: They have a limited menu on the rooftop deck. We tried the fried oysters, which were good. They were served with a lemon aioli and that was an excellent addition. I think the reason they weren't fantastic was because it was so hot and we ordered a hot appetizer... the fault is with our decision making skills.. We also had a charcuterie plate that was extremely tasty. We tried three cheese and two meats that we let our waiter pick for us. The plate came with strawberries, grapes, and pickles, which were great additions! I would certainly order that again if I come back to Skybar!

    (4)

  • Allison W.

    Had an unbelievably good brunch experience here while visiting a friend at UVa. We arrived a few minutes before they opened on the Sunday of graduation weekend and were seated immediately. Compared to DC brunch prices, the dishes here are an absolute steal. Loved the pork belly benedict, crawfish and boursin omelette, and fried green tomatoes. Highly recommend!!

    (5)

  • Cody Y.

    A really trendy rooftop bar serving some excellent, if pricey, cocktails and regional beers. I came to Skybar with a group of friends and immediately saw why this place was so popular with the slightly-older-than-college-age demographic. Outdoor rooftop bars are always popular (they're legion in DC), and couple that with a generous space, a full bar with TVs, and some heat lamps and you're guaranteed a fun crowd. They also offer some interesting cocktail options ($8): Ginger Buck - Jim Beam, Ginger Beer, Shrub Midnight Moon - Rumchata, Root Beer Red Riding Hood - Absolut Orient Apple, Domaine De Canton, Cranberry Golden Shandy - Goldschlager, Bold Rock Cider Big Easy - Southern Comfort, Apple Cider, Ango Bitters, Served Hot or Cold Dakota - Gosling's Rum, Apple Cider, Biters & Shurb, Served Hot or Cold We had the Midnight Moon and the Golden Shandy. The Midnight Moon tasted like a root beer float, and the Golden Shandy tasted like cider with a shot of fireball. Both were very good drinks, with the Midnight Moon taking the first prize.

    (4)

  • Matthew M.

    Came here for a late dinner Friday night (8:15pm) and was seated immediately. Several of the apps looked quite good, but we skipped that and shot straight for the scallops plate and the grilled pork flat iron plate. Both were amazing--the scallops were seared to perfection and came with large slices of pork belly (heaven in your mouth) all on top of a sweet potato mash. The grilled pork flat iron plate was a much larger serving than I thought it would be--it came on top of a perfectly paired butternut squash purée with tons of brussel sprouts included throughout. Feel bad that it seems others didn't get the level of service they were looking for--I had an incredible time here.

    (5)

  • Tom P.

    Pros: good food, not too loud, decent bar, good service, trendy atmosphere Cons: no reservations

    (4)

  • Brian K.

    Great spot with a big city feel and we loved the rooftop bar. Sadly, we were running late for a concert and only got to partake in some adult libations, we enjoyed the crisp fall night and drank to we couldn't drink anymore (that just meant our time ran out, not that we drank till we sank). I want to try this place again with the wife so we can eat the food that I have heard great things about.

    (5)

  • Brian C.

    The Skybar was okay. Blasting 90's heavy metal in the middle of a Saturday with a lot of families upstairs-- it fit the sound the staff was looking for, but not the feel of the restaurant or their clientele. The drinks weren't terrible, but they didn't get any of us excited either.

    (2)

  • Kristin L.

    I give the Skybar four stars--pretty cool views and a nice, open space overlooking the mall--but man, the food downstairs at the Commonwealth was just not good. Between the seven of us, we tried a little of everything, and I think the only passable dish of them all was the duck. I wish I had better things to say about this restaurant, as it seemed to have potential but missed the mark--by a wide berth.

    (3)

  • Eric L.

    Bad martini pour in a tiny glass. Overpriced. Waitress was not good.

    (1)

  • Ryan P.

    My wife and 3 kids are from out of town. We were reluctant to dine here due to the three stars. I am so glad we did. My wife had the chicken and said it was the best she's had. My daughters (12 and 10) thoroughly enjoyed the sky burger and cilantro rice. Little man (6) had the kids sliders and loved it. I forgot, we had the special empenada (chicken cheese sweet potato) and it was amazing - We've had red pepper hummus 3 meals in a row and it was by fire the best here. My meal, the pork special with coconut mango sticky rice was out of this world. The pork was succulent and my kids would not stop asking me for more. Definitely go here. Fairly decent wine list too. Five star!

    (5)

  • Carolyn F.

    My boyfriend and I were in town and stumbled upon this restaurant. Luckily, we got in right before the Friday dinner rush. We sat outside, despite the slight drizzle, and it was terrific. Frank, our server, was knowledgable and attentive, without being intrusive. The wine and beer selection is great. We both really enjoyed our entrees. When we went inside, the place was packed--noisy and bustling. I'm glad we got a spot outside. We'll come back the next time we're in Charlottesville.

    (5)

  • Esther G.

    The bottom of my eggs benedict plate had two broken egg shells. However, that wasn't a complete deal breaker. They handled it pretty professionally and gave me 50% off my meal. The benedict itself is a choice of asparagus, portobello mushroom, chorizo or pork belly that's served on brioche toast with hollandaise and fried potatoes. The pork belly was rather tough, and kind of ruined it, and that was the deal breaker. I wish I would've gotten the asparagus (another girl at our table got it and she liked it) or the mushroom. The fried potatoes were a bit too charred in some spots and a lot saltier for my taste. All in all, a bit of an uninspiring visit.

    (2)

  • Justin J.

    All of the food we ordered was great. Loved the bread pudding most of all. Sky bar was really cool. Great place to hang out. Wife loved the place. Place felt like a trendy NYC foodie restaurant but without the pressure of being a foodie in a NYC restaurant.

    (5)

  • Stevan J.

    Outstanding brunch. Each and every one of my brunch party of seven loved their entree! Location: A Service: B+ Food quality: A+ Clientele / ambiance: A- (love the old school music! Price (you get what you pay for): A- Overall: A- Check it out

    (4)

  • Nikita P.

    I planned a girls trip to Charlottesville with our last stop being here for dinner. One of my friends fell off the railing on the patio. None of the staff helped and the waitress actually said that it happens all the time and then tried to keep taking our order!! If it happens all the time then something should be changed to make it safer for their guest. After that incident she told one of the other girls ( not the girl who fell) that she (the girl who fell) was not going to be served because she was too drunk. What bs! We had to ask the manager to come over and explain and he said that what's happened happened and he will comp our drinks and appetizers but other than that he doesn't know what to do. Wow.... the level of incompetence was very surprising. Especially since they make it seem like they are a classy place. I cant review the food because we left after the "manager" couldn't even muster up the courage to sorry for what happened to my friend. Luckily Charlottesville is filled with amazing restaurants so we dined somewhere else and had a great time.

    (1)

  • Katie S.

    We came here for my birthday dinner on Friday night and I was very pleased with the overall experience. We were seated immediately (without a reservation) and I was happy to see the windows removed so we could enjoy the open air feeling without having to wait for a table on the roof. Our server was great, he greeted us immediately and helped us pick wines to go with the appetizers we wanted. We started with the oysters and pork belly and were very happy with both. For entrees, my husband and bff selected the scallops, and her boyfriend and I both ordered the duck confit. Tip: If you are ever torn between the two entrees (as I actually was) I would say go scallops. The skin wasn't crispy enough for my liking and the duck meat was a little dry, but my husband's food was out of this world! After dinner we each had coffee, bff and I had the adult version-which was heavenly, while the boys had the boring normal version (they said theirs was good too even though I teased them about it) and we split a butterscotch pudding. Our server very sweetly brought it out with a candle and four spoons and said it was on him. I really enjoyed the atmosphere here and the food, I would totally come back for dinner or drinks, or both next time I am in C-ville.

    (4)

  • Elisa G.

    Located in a very nice corner with tables outside it is an attractive spot for the summer. I would give 3.5 stars if I could but I can't :-) Anyway, I think that the food is OK, but the prices are higher than what they should be for the quality of the food that you get. We ordered the charcuterie with speak, chorizo and lomo. The meats were good, nothing was special though and it was 17$. I thought it was a little overprices given the portion. Then, we took a buck entree to share. Definitely a large portion but not good or great. The duck was not properly cooked in my opinion and the apple sauce was too sweet and overwhelming. Then, we took the toffee pudding cake with vanilla icecream to share. It was big but he bottom of the cake was burnt and not good. Not worth the calories!!!! Try something else on the desserts menu if you go there. Overall ok, but walk aroung, i guess you can find better value for your money.

    (3)

  • Robert H.

    Friday May 8th my family and I were seated to try to have dinner here, the hostess was nice and seated us on the patio, the restaurant was about half filled at the time. We were give menus and water and then preceded to sit and wait for service for over 15 minutes at which time we walked out and went to another resultant a few doors down, Rapture, where we shared a bottle of wine and had a wonderful meal. I did not understand why we were ignored as we were dressed appropriately and are a pretty normal bunch, in either case we took our pocket books to another restaurant where we had a nice time and will most likely dine again. All in all, if we like a restaurant we always go back, too bad they lost their chance earn our present and future business.

    (1)

  • Meredith V.

    Classy restaurant downstairs; shit show upstairs. We came here on Valentines night for some drinks. We went upstairs first because the downstairs was packed but it was a very basic, college scene (beer and drafty). We eventually moved to the bar downstairs and that was a better scene. Nicely crafted cocktails and friendly bartenders. We tried to come back for dinner on Sunday but it was closed. Nice place overall.

    (4)

  • Agnes L.

    Disclaimer: My review is a bit mixed, as I've done drinks only at the Skybar and brunch only at Commonwealth underneath. At night - Four to five star range As pretty much the only rooftop bar in Cville, it attracts a night life. However, as a prior reviewer laughingly described it's not very high off the ground and doesn't really offer a view (better to go hiking in the nearby mountainside for that). But I have to say: When it's nice weather, this is one of the best places to sit outside for drinks in Cville, lounging in the comfy couch areas. It also helps that there are restrooms upstairs and downstairs. The bar carries some local brews on draft and will make a couple special cocktails on a weekly basis for a decent price. And I really want to return for the $1 oyster happy hour special on Wednesday! The morning after - Three to four star range Commonwealth touts its $11 or less menu for brunch, which seemed like a steal, especially considering the ambiance of the place. Seated in our half-moon booth, facing the street, we could feel the breeze and sunshine as the inside blurred with the outside with the windows/doors wide open. The food was a little lackluster though. I ordered an omelet with boursin cheese, shallots, shrimp and asparagus that came with a side of fried potatoes. The omelet was a bit too salty and the shrimp was a bit overcooked/tough and tiny in size. I would have also preferred the eggs to be fluffier. The creaminess of the boursin and the tender asparagus saved the dish though, and I ended up still eating it all as I was starving. The fried potatoes looked like fingerling, which I don't see that often, and they were just the right crispiness yet slightly mashed. Unfortunately, one of my friends found broken egg shell in her eggs benedict. The upside to this: The manager gave her 50 percent off on her bill. That is the mark of a quality restaurant. But keep in mind that if you're in a group and this happens, a split check takes the discount away. We did end up having to talk to the manager again to reimburse the overcharged credit card.

    (3)

  • Laurie B.

    Fabulous brunch! Perfect setting, great food and great service! What a great day for brunch on the downtown mall!

    (5)

  • Ashley G.

    Hard to leave much of a review. They were very helpful when we asked to see a menu, unsure if where we wanted to eat. The restaurant seemed older but updated and maintained decently enough. They have a banquet room across the way to accommodate very large parties which I thought was awesome. They have outside seeing, appeared to have a full bar, and a decent selection of entrees. Appears worth a visit when you're looking for a romantic evening. (For a younger hip crowd. )

    (4)

  • Marie M.

    Apps- shrimp tempura. The shrimp were huge! Perfect portion. Soup- mushroom, scallop bisque, amazing! Perfect for a cold/ rainy day. Wine, The Simple Life, Pinot Life. Seriously, my favorite wine. Going to be ordering it online. The price is a little jacked up at the restaurant, but worth it. I modified my order. I ordered the scallops with the scalloped cheese potatoes and broccoli. The scallops were cooking perfectly! A perfect amount of grill and taste. Cute restaurant and perfect for date nights, girls nights, first dates! We will go back. The rooftop is a cool place to go when it is warm out!

    (4)

  • Michael M.

    Staff was very friendly plus knew their menu very well. Our food didn't have any singular flavor dominate the meal; rather, delicious complimented the sides and our wine. Would recommend.

    (5)

  • Puny P.

    came here for drinks at Skybar and again for post-dinner drinks & dessert. enjoyed both visits and curious to come back for a full meal. nice decor inside and everyone was nice and courteous.

    (4)

  • Michaela B.

    Went up to the sky bar since the weather was nice; however, it took a little while to receive our menus and waters after we asked for them. I was there with a friend and while we got two drink menus, they only gave us one food menu. Inconvenient, but not the worst thing. I got the fried chicken fettuccine, which was very delicious. The drink menu looked great and I got the Summer Breeze (I think that's what it was called) cocktail, which was amazing if you like sweet drinks. It tasted like an orange dreamsicle. I would come back to try more of the drinks and food. Overall, a solid experience.

    (4)

  • John H.

    I confess this is my favorite hangout. Would have received 5 stars if they had a pilsner beer on the menu... Hard to Imagine but true. Bring me back old Europe and 400 years of great pilsners. Till then I'm enjoying their wine menu. Oh yea... Met love of my life here. Late night packed with lovely ladies looking for Mr Good Enough for Tonight.

    (4)

  • Joy G.

    LOL at "skybar." You're one story higher than the ground floor! +1 for the very strong pours the two times I've been here. The first time was a gin and tonic that tasted like 99% gin and maybe a drop of tonic, and the second time was a mint julep where the bartender spent five minutes calibrating the perfect ratio of bourbon and mint. And stroking a mint leaf against the rim, which I thought was odd at first, but now I'm going to do that to all my drinks from now on. +1 for dat ahi tuna tartar only the chef didn't cut the tuna into clean chunks so there were still strings of tendon and veins flopping about on the plate. Didn't make a difference in the end because I was still gobbling it down like a fiend and I liked the big nubs of avocado and cucumber. +1 for the fig jam that's served on the cheese board. I ended up just eating it plain out of the little cup and I usually hate figs. If I had to pick one thing that was lacking with the cheese board, it was not enough toasted bread to go with the cheese and at some point, you gotta look slightly askance at yourself when you're just slathering the fig jam on the cheese and getting cheese crumbs all over yourself. This may also seem hypocritical coming from someone who has an unhealthy obsession with ridiculously large portions (one of my favorite pastimes is to watch back episodes of Man v. Food and stare jealously at Adam Richman shoveling down a tire-sized pizza), but I do grudgingly appreciate that Commonwealth serves smaller plates with some modicum of presentation and refrains from overfeeding its customers. Food comas can get old after awhile, especially when you need to fit into a brand new pair of skinny jeans.

    (4)

  • Angela H.

    With only a few hours to explore C'ville, in the middle of a two day work trip, I was meandering the streets after an excellent dinner at Fig Bistro, when I caught the sound of live acoustic jams, pouring from an open rooftop bar that was Commonwealth Skybar. Little to my knowledge, the night was only starting here with a beer and catching highlights on the USA/Germany World Cup soccer game. Thinking this was it, my extremely good looking bartender Dave and I got into conversation and before I could stop it, the rest of the evening turned into a spontaneous adventure to at least 5 more bars in the area, meeting lots of friendly folks and drinking lots of bourbon and/or Tequila (oops). . . But I digress from my review of Skybar. . Any place with live music - win. Any place on a rooftop - big win, especially on a nice summer night. Any place with local vibes, local beers and great service - win, win, win. (Cannot speak for the food, but I'm sure that's a win too; next time.) To Commonwealth, thanks for the start of a very memorable first time in your town. You can expect to see me again.

    (5)

  • Sharon X C.

    This review is solely for brunch: I decided to spend my birthday brunch here and the atmosphere is definitely pretty cool/hip. The waitress was quick at filling our water, but the food took quite a bit. Not only did it take some time, it came out cold :/ Now I know that I am very picky with food temperature, but there's honestly nothing worse than eating cold eggs. The biscuit with gravy on it was good, but again it was a bit cold. My mother got some sort of seafood benedict and said it was good, but again nothing spectacular. I think the food has great potential to taste great if only they could figure out how to serve their food a bit warmer... Definitely would like to check this place out for drinks/going out sometime though!

    (3)

  • Marie P.

    Lovely restaurant setting. Horrible service, mediocre (at best) food. I would come again for drinks and a cheese plate at the bar, but nothing else. First time here was for dinner with a group of friends. It was spring time, but the menu was still very fall in offerings. I wasn't drinking, but the waiter questioned if I was sure that I didn't really want some wine and brought a glass out for me just in case. Waiters, please don't do this--you never know why someone is not drinking alcohol. Recommend a good mocktail instead! Second time was for brunch. I'm pretty understanding that when things are busy, service might be a bit slow. This went beyond that though--we were seated quickly, but it was at least 10 minutes before anyone checked on us at all. Another 5+ minutes to get a cup of coffee, and cream came another 2 minutes after that. The other couple that was seated and ordered well after us received their meal before us. Our food came out luke warm, incorrectly prepared, and without things like S & P for potatoes, butter for the biscuits, etc. Our coffee refills were taken off for the mistake in food prep. Thanks for trying, but I didn't expect a charge for a small cup of drip coffee to begin with for Sunday brunch. I could have made a much better meal at home.

    (2)

  • Brandy H.

    Pretty good restaurant. My husband and I wanted to go to South Street brewery/brewpub to eat on Sunday May 25th but they were closed. So, we just walked around until we found someplace both of us would be happy with. We ended up at Commonwealth because they were offering brunch. I ordered a Bloody Mary and the daily Frittata special, and the husband ordered the steak and egg daily special. The food was good, though on the bland side. The service was just okay. My Bloody Mary and my husband's beer didn't make it to us until about 10 minutes after we ordered them....our food almost came out before the drinks. It was okay, probably would not visit again, unless I actually lived there and checked out the evening bar scene.

    (3)

  • Michele D.

    This was my first time as a guest in the dining section & it was perfect! We were celebrating my daughters 21st birthday & in had a short time to eat before we had to be somewhere else nearby. We got there at 5:30 when the doors opened so we didn't have to wait at all. The waitress caught on right away that we had a birthday girl in our group & was terrific throughout our dining experience. We opted for multiple apps to share along with each of us getting a side salad & some cocktails. We loved everything we got & if we weren't pressed for time, may have even ordered up a few more apps. The apps were a good size - easy to share and kept us full! The mussels are to die for! Ask for extra bread, you'll be glad you did to soak up all the yummy juice from the mussels! The ahi tuna comes with freshly made warm tortillas that are outta this world Delish. The chicken empanadas were good too as was the warm bread they bring. The grilled salad with beets rocks! 5 stars were earned since our waitress brought a candle lit dessert & we didn't even ask or it :) fantastic menu, great options for vegan, gluten free. I can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Pete S.

    Thankfully this was a great experience at the best possible time, my wife's birthday dinner. We arrived Friday evening with friends and were seated "indoors" immediately. Being a perfect summer night it was nice to find out that "indoors" actually was a open air table next to the street, a great mix of inside and out! We started with oysters and pork belly for all, and I'm not sure which was best as both are amazing! I ordered sea scallops and my wife the duck confit for dinner. I'm a tough critic of scallops as I often order them and cook them at home, but these were excellent! The scallops had a great sear and the mushroom risotto could not have been better cooked or seasoned. My wife was quite happy with her duck, but after she tasted the scallops she mentioned that I had made the better choice. We finished the evening with coffee and their homemade butterscotch pudding. Finally a place with a good cup of coffee! Really good! By the end of the night I was so happy that this was a great place for a special dinner. Great food, service and ambiance, I will recommend and definitely return again!

    (5)

  • Tiffany C.

    I left Commonwealth with a bit of a sour taste in my mouth because of my first and only experience here. The food here is truly mediocre and they charge exorbitant prices. The ambiance is perfectly fine - there's a nice woodsy backdrop with flickering exposed lights - but the food is almost terrible. I ate from each part of the menu so I feel I can comment on that. Drinks - Passable. I had some of my cousin's ginger alcoholic drink (forgot the name, oops) and you couldn't even taste the alcohol. It was basically water. Appetizers - Fried mussels were NOT good. I had a few because I was starving and I regretted it instantly. They were salty and very fishy - no additional flavor whatsoever. We also got the buffalo burrata which was super disappointing because it wasn't even burrata. I feel like we got shafted and someone dumped a lump of mozzarella on the plate instead. Burrata is supposed to be thick and creamy with an almost ice cream-like consistency. This was NOT, and did not have the full-bodied flavor that I usually love. I didn't know it was possible to mess up on this one. Entrees - I shared the duck with my mom and also had my sister's tuna + paella. The tuna was a lot better than the duck, which was both tough and spicy but without any "good" spicy flavor. Just kind of overwhelming. The tuna was really meh and the paella was even more so. It's like they knew how to present it properly but nobody told them about how to season a dish so it just came out flat. Dessert - The ONLY highlight of this meal, it was an espresso pot de creme. I definitely wouldn't have ordered dessert after this series of disasters but Yelp offered a free one for checking in and this seemed the most attractive option. Perfectly rich and fluffy, I liked it a lot, even though the raspberry on top was significantly wilted :/ NOT coming back here ever, the service was super slow and it was way too expensive for the amount and dreadfully cooked food. Booooo.

    (1)

  • Todd B.

    Amazing space. Great service. Average wine list. Some dishes will blow you away, others are average.

    (3)

  • Tom H.

    Worst experience in Charlottesville, I've never been so offended as a potential customer. Don't remember them checking the underage girls' IDs

    (1)

  • Jody C.

    I've tried three times to like this restaurant, unfortunately it's just not to be. I was impressed the first time, the charcuterie selection is a unique offering in the US and was quite good, especially when paired with a decent wine. Trips two and three were progressively worse, the food mediocre at best and prices hiked beyond reasonable for the quality. I began the meal tonight with an empanada special, normally a favorite choice of mine. I can't say I've ever had a bad one before, but I've seldom had any Latin dish that was lifeless before tonight. The corn batter was great and fried to perfection, but the filling another story. Canned refried beans come to mind. The roasted chicken appeared to have come from a Cornish hen, was fatty and terribly salty. The accompanying green beans were limp and flavorless, reminiscent of over-microwaved leftovers. The highlight of the meal, sadly, was the tiny complementary appetizer, about 4 white beans and kalamata olives. The staff is the standout, friendly and attentive, there when you need them, out of the way when you don't. The atmosphere and sky bar are great. Management needs to work out just where to take this place, and if it's a quality restaurant they're after upgrade from line cook to chef. There are many great restaurants in Charlottesville, I'll make the rounds at least once before giving this place another chance to impress.

    (3)

  • Karisa D.

    *******This review is just for Skybar******* While visiting UVA, my friends took me to Downtown mall. Skybar was our second and final stop. I asked if Charlottesville had a rooftop bar and this was their answer. The crowd at Skybar was older (not the I just turned 21 crowd which was nice). Really chill vibe and I liked the setup of Skybar's rooftop bar. Mix of high top tables and chairs and couches. Drinks were good and the bartenders knew how to mix a tasty concoction of a cocktail. Classy way to start or end your night in Charlottesville.

    (4)

  • Larry R.

    We were in Charlottesville for the weekend, and Commonwealth was recommended to us by a local for Friday night. The food, service and atmosphere were all exceptional. In fact, it was so good that we not only at there on Friday night, but went back again on Saturday night. The samosa appetizer was very good, and the firecracker shrimp was incredible. Perfectly cooked shrimp, with excellent flavor. And despite the name, not at all "hot." The duck confit entree was also very good. The sea bass and the scallops were among the best we've ever had. Perfectly seasoned, perfectly cooked, with incredible balance to the flavors on the plate. For dessert, we had the chocolate bread pudding with the marshmallow pana cotta. It was so good that we had it again the second night! The beer and wine selection was quite good, particularly the local beers on tap. Finally, the service bears mentioning in particular. Every member of the service team was attentive, without hovering. Our server Sophie was knowledgable, friendly, and as skilled as any I've had in even the finest restaurants in DC or New York. In fact, we gladly waited for a table on Saturday night to ensure we had her again as our server. If you are in Charlottesville, and haven't tried Commonwealth, I'd suggest you do.

    (5)

  • Gia M.

    This is a review for Skybar only, which I visited for dinner-- although it's clearly meant as more of a drinks location-- and I had a great time. We got a spot by the edge of the deck and people-watched from above. I was impressed with the local breweries represented on the menu and also love that the food menu is locally sourced. I didn't order anything to drink, but I really enjoyed the burger I ordered-- melted brie, arugula, and carmelized onions. The burger was juicy and messy and cooked perfectly to order. The fries that arrived along with my burger had a good crunch and flavor as well. So yummy! Definitely check this place out-- and if you check-in here, you get an offer for free dessert (although I think it's only good for Commonwealth downstairs, because Skybar doesn't offer dessert).

    (4)

  • Joann B.

    The Skybar is a good place to relax with some drinks and friends. It would have been perfect if there had been some misting machines up there for the incredibly hot weather, but this did not detract from the overall experience. Our bartender and server was Matt. He did a great job with our drinks and our small food order of cheese & charcuterie and the free dessert (compliments of a yelp check-in!). The cheese and charcuterie were a little bit on the small side for 2 cheeses and 3 meats, but it was all good. We had two goat cheeses and Spanish chorizo, duck sausage, and boar sausage. The platter also came with grapes, apples, mini pickles, and two types of chutneys/jams. The chocolate pot de creme wasn't really anything to rave about - but it was free, so we shouldn't be complaining! We can see ourselves returning here for another happy hour. :)

    (3)

  • Seth R.

    A better bar than restaurant, though the food is quite good--just not that memorable. Bartenders are great, but the Skybar can get a bit "fratty" at times.

    (3)

  • Sam T.

    The food was great. The server was great. The manager was incredibly rude and condescending. The environment was stuffy and pretentious. I wouldnt go back just for the principle. I can grill my own steak just fine.

    (2)

  • Cat B.

    I went to Skybar for brunch. It was pretty good. I wouldn't describe anything as remarkable at Skybar. The service was okay, and they have a cute space. The brunch food itself was just unremarkable. The egg dish I got was good but it didn't stand out to me later.

    (3)

  • Jay L.

    Great place, food, drinks, great people. I can't wait until next weekend!

    (5)

  • Jing L.

    Came here starving after spending over an hour at another restaurant without food (see my review for Tavola). This is entirely the opposite of what we experienced in the other place. Service is superb. After hearing our horrid story, the waiter assured us that we'd be fed fast and well. And he delivered. We got our empanada right away (and steaming hot!) -- Very nice empanada by the way. Pork belly was superb! We highly recommend. Tuna tartar and lamb stew were very very tasty as well. They also do a decent martini. Outdoor seating is in a quiet small alley. Very pleasant for a summer evening.

    (5)

  • Kelley T.

    Food was delicious and our server was great. The manager, however, made us feel immediately unwelcome. Overall pretentious vibe. Won't be back.

    (2)

  • Emily T.

    I wanted to like this restaurant, because it is such a fun bar to visit, but the food was not impressive at all. The atmosphere is great, I love the decor and the open-air seating by the windows. Our server was also attentive and the food came out quickly. However, I could not get beyond the food to give this a better rating. I had the seasonal salad with arugala, pear and hazelnuts. There was all of 2 slices of pear and a huge plate of arugla...not a balanced taste at all. For my entree I ordered the Ribeye cooked medium rare, which came with roasted potatoes and asparagus. The steak was almost well done and was extremely salty. Everything on my plate was over-salted. The asparagus was over-cooked and stringy, and there was nothing special about the potatoes. Very disappointed with my meal and would not go back here for food ever again.

    (2)

  • Dan P.

    Great food, great service. Within 4 minutes of sitting down I had a fantastic drink an in twelve minutes delicious scallops for me and an unbelievable rib eye was there for my wife. I love this place!

    (5)

  • M K.

    This is for sky bar only. I did not go to the restaurant. I love the idea of a bar being on the roof, and my friend and I had so much fun talking to someone who was on the ground. The music was ok, but not really what I'd consider "bar music" more like restaurant background music. As someone else said the menu did not have much on it so I had to think of other drinks I like. I asked the bar tender w/ the blonde hair if he could make me a cosmopolitan. He made a fantastic one, so it should have been on the menu with more Drinks. So overall the place was ok, and it was nice there was no cover. So if you're close to it I'd say go ahead and go, but I wouldn't make a long trip to get there.

    (3)

  • Ajay R.

    Probably about as good as it gets for eating in Charlottesville, but that isn't saying much. This was our best dining experience in the area, but it was way over priced for what it was. I can't even remember what I had (it was that memorable), even after looking at the menu again. Probably the lamb? A place like this would be out of business in NYC within a month, or they'd have to charge way less, but I guess they can get away with it there. Go to Charlottesville for the history and the scenery, not for the food.

    (3)

  • Lisa M.

    One of my favorite restaurants in Charlottesville. We've been here about six times and have never been disappointed. Love the booths downstairs - and love the sky bar when the weather is nice (and it isn't too crowded). Great for meat and seafood lovers! The menu changes but if you can get pork or bison - do it!! End with the Gearharts chocolate plate.

    (4)

  • Ben R.

    I have been here twice and they are a very good restaurant. The ambiance and service is top notch, there is no question that this place strives to be an excellent restaurant experience. Pork chops were excellent and very succulent. The skirt steak is very good and tender as well. My wife enjoyed the polenta. There is a good wine and beer selection and there is an extensive porto/dessert wine menu as well. They used to only offer the bar food menu upstairs and not mix and match, but recently I was told they offer the full menu on both levels. The happy hour upstairs is very good and competitively priced. I would make this a necessary stop on any short trip to Charlottesville.

    (4)

  • Kristin L.

    I went here with some friends and I ordered a chargrilled skirt steak. Friends ordered pork chop and jambalaya. None of the dishes were great. Mediocre at best. I ordered my steak Medium rare and it came back well done. I had to send it back and it came back medium. They need to how to learn to cook a steak. Let's start with the basics. The jambalaya costs around $25 and only has three small pieces of shrimp. Completely overpriced for a bowl of rice in a tomato base. The side dishes are probably the best thing that you receive with your meal. Cassava fries were good. The cabbage that came with the pork chop was also good. However it is not saying much when the highlight of the dish is cabbage and french fries. Will I return? Never. Not for those prices.

    (2)

  • Ashlee H.

    Super tasty food, cool space, great management!! Came for brunch, veggie Benedict and burger. Tons of flavor and interesting veggies in the Benedict, come on flat bread which is a nice change. Burger was delish, moist, perfectly cooked. A few little things went wrong - server mess ups and such - nothing big at all and we weren't complaining. The manager came up to our table and apologized for there mess up and said brunch was on him. Totally unnecessary but VERY appreciated! Will definitely return and would love to try dinner!!

    (5)

  • Gabe A.

    This is a very impressive restaurant. The service is unbeatable, the food is memorable weeks after experiencing it and the atmosphere/decor bold and contemporary. Speaking with our waitress afterwords I got a sense that the owners , managers and team have a very close and respectful relationship, and it shows. I was lucky enough to get to sample almost every appetizer, entrée and desert and can't really decide on specific favorites because they were all that good. Great experience.

    (5)

  • Roxie G.

    Great restaurant and bar in downtown Charlottesville. Tried their empanadas as an appetizer and they were ok. For my entree had the shirk steak and it was wonderful and plentiful. The rooftop bar was very chic but we could not find a chair or a spot to order a drink at the bar so we had to go somewhere else for a drink. Tip would be get there early so you can get a table upstairs before the crowds roll in.

    (4)

  • Belinda C.

    **Skybar** We were in town for our anniversary and popped into the Skybar for a cocktail. Love the rooftop setup. There are some hightops and loungey booths. Solid service and the bartenders know their way around a tasty custom cocktail. Would def. go back and would like to try the restaurant next time as well!

    (4)

  • Andrey K.

    Good drink selection of drinks at the bar but the bartenders and the shift manager are ignorant and not friendly.

    (2)

  • Greg T.

    The Skybar was really cool. They had heaters going so it was a perfect Temp. Matt the bartender was very helpful with suggestions on places to go and things to do.

    (4)

  • Matthew F.

    Commonwealth is probably my favorite restaurant in C-ville. The food is the same locally sourced, new American style that's all over town, but it's executed terrifically. The highest and best use of this place is as a date spot, especially when the weather's nice and they open up the glass wall and side patio. The smallish dining room makes big group dinners tricky to impossible. The policy of not accepting reservations is a double edged sword. This place is hardly a hidden gem, so expect to wait on Friday and Saturday nights. This is my go-to recommendation when people visit. If you find yourself walking the mall looking for dinner, order the sea bass with shrimp etouffee, and thank me later.

    (4)

  • Laura M.

    Came to Commonwealth for an employment-related dinner and, for the most part, enjoyed the experience. They placed a group of about 8 of us around a small-ish circular table, which got a little cramped, though. I felt like the selection was limited - nothing on the menu particularly caught my eye as something that I really wanted, although I enjoyed the food I eventually settled on. The servers were very attentive and kept our drinks full. Everything was cooked well and was flavorful. It was a little pricey for the offered selection, though. Also, I have been to Skybar quite a few times when the weather is nicer. They have decent prices on mixed drinks and usually a good turnout. The rooftop area is really nice, and they close it off with plastic sheets and turn on heaters when it's too chilly outside.

    (3)

  • Barrett H.

    Overall, it's overrated. I've eaten downstairs at the restaurant once and had drinks upstairs at the skybar all other times--usually once a week or so. I almost feel bad for the restaurant. They try to be so trendy and cool, but it just doesn't really work. Flank steak, seriously? It's like a food network show with the menu--pseudo-fanciness with common and somewhat obscure items. Definitely over-priced for my taste. The downstairs is usually patronized by couples and groups in their 40's and 50's with the occasional younger group at the bar. If this were the only part of the establishment, I would give it a 2 out of 5. The skybar upstairs is a whole different animal. Sunday through Thursday nights are usually not very crowded. Friday night is always packed. Saturday has a decent amount of people, but much more reasonable than Friday. There is a mix of college students, yuppies, and married couples in their 30's and 40's. Typically, you'll see people dressing semi-formal (jacket/collared shirt for men or dress for women). It's about the same type of crowd you get at Blue Light. Also, they don't have Captain Morgan. You have to settle for Kraken if you want a similar spiced rum. It's just not the same to me. On Fridays, space is an issue, to the point where you cannot order a drink. They usually have a second station set up for beer, but it doesn't help out much. People crowd the bar and walkway, making it difficult to move around and mingle. There are two single bathrooms, which a line forms at that I've seen go back as many as 15 people. I never understand why some women go in pairs of two when there is a single toilet. They're either doing lines of coke, or getting down in there. Either way, it's annoying. On any given night, there is likely to be a lame bachelorette party or two (usually from out of town--so they say). Tiaras and sashes are common. They will most likely order a few drinks, stand around and talk, and then leave to go dance at The Box or The X-Lounge. The place's redeeming qualities are its location, newness (somewhat warn off), and lack of low-end hipsters.

    (3)

  • Tammy M.

    Walking along Main Street on a cold March Sunday, most places were serving delicious sounding brunch menus, but we were on the look out for more of a lunch-y meal. Commonwealth had salads and sandwiches, so we stepped in out of the weather into this trendy looking bar/restaurant. The hostess gave us a very odd look when we came in, waited a moment, and then asked us unpleasantly (almost sarcastically), "Two for brunch?" It felt as if we were intruders and had failed to give the requisite password. I should note that we were not wearing outlandish clothing, and were well groomed, so the entire interaction could not have been due to something about our appearance. After that strange interaction, to which I replied a simple, "Yes," our server treated us very well and we had an excellent experience with the rest of the staff. I ordered the Commonwealth Salad with chicken. The flavors were very nice, and the meat was tender and not dry. The salad was low on avocado, and other toppings, though. My friend ordered a steak sandwich, which looked small. His fries were delicious! He also ordered a Bloody Maria, but he didn't like the flavor of it. Overall, the atmosphere is very nice, the service depends on who you interact with, and the food and drinks are pretty good, but not excellent.

    (3)

  • Katherine M.

    I hadn't heard many great things about this place, however the restaurant and bar are always packed. Most of what I'd heard was along the lines of "not all its cracked up to be" or "good, but not worth the money". We had dinner here a few weeks ago for our first anniversary. We brought a special bottle of wine with us and the manager graciously waived the $15 corking fee. I had low expectations, but our dinner was fantastic. Despite the tastiness of the meal, I'm not sure its the kind of place you "crave!" Our server was extremely friendly, and the atmosphere was hip, yet cozy. The Skybar was fun and not the singles-on-parade I was expecting. The atmosphere was pretty laid back, and the view was great for people watching. I wish they offered a wider selection of beer, but otherwise no complaints. Try: Brazilian Moqueca or Sautéed Creole Redfish

    (4)

  • E M.

    Favorite upscale restaurant in town. Every time I've been I've had something different and it's been amazing! Service is outstanding and the Sky Bar is great for before and after dinner drinks.

    (5)

  • Hart G.

    Great atmosphere and hands down the friendliest staff in C-ville. Didn't eat here unfortunately but uber nice place. I'll eat here next time.

    (5)

  • Rebecca B.

    Everything about this place is wonderful. The ambiance is wonderful, the food, the service... all of it. It was a perfect place to enjoy a lovely evening away from the kids with my husband to celebrate our anniversary. I had the portobello steak, my husband had the sirloin. Best food we've BOTH had in AGES! Not many places can do both vegan and omni food well. This place is AMAZING! It's pricey but worth the splurge!

    (5)

  • Frederick A.

    I know I'm a little late but last night was my first time visiting the new addition to charlottesville. We were a lil early for dinner so we headed up stairs to have a drink and our bartender made the best dirty martini I ever had, so we were excited and the night off to a great start. The service was quick and crisp just as well as the delicious as the sky bar salad. It just better with each dinner i had the red fish and my friends duck was deee-licious. Then onto dessert that chocolate plate to us a a very and place. Great service, Great value and Great staff oh Great food all the ingredients for a successful business.

    (5)

  • Travis P.

    We just went here for a couple of drinks and had an ok time. We didn't have anything to eat, so I can't rate the food. The rooftop has a very nice setting and they have a great selection of beer and other drinks. However, the service was a little slow, and there was a bit of a pretentious atmosphere. It wasn't terrible, but it was like a "we were lucky to be served" attitude and it wasn't even that crowded yet.

    (3)

  • Fewd E.

    (10/21/2011): I would prefer to give this a 2.5 stars... actually, I mean it deserved 2.5 stars, but I wish it deserved 5. I chose 3 over 2 because the place itself is so damn cool and what they are reaching for has the chance of brilliance. Ambiance was a 7! Only in Cville is the "Sky" reached on the 2nd floor, but it a cool bar and scene. Places to sit or stand comfortably. Been up there more than once and the service seems all good or all bad. Easily worked out by some yelling, firing or tutoring the badtenders. Restaurant: Waited and waited and waited. It's new, so hard to figure out what to tell people on timing, but missed it by 40 minutes. Grand total wait time was 2 hrs, 10 minutes. Got us up to walk over... and then had to say, "oh, it isn't clean yet, hold on just a sec." Only the astute bar manager picked up on our long delay and our patience with it. He poured a glass of free bubbles and acknowledged the miscalculation. The two hottie, but not smartie hosts didn't even register our waning mood, fatigue and low blood sugar. Chit chat about nails and hair substituted for awareness of other humans. That's ok, the beautiful dining room with walls that open to the outside made up for some of it. Trendy and chic (in good way) that stops just shy of pretentious and showy. Service: Guy was a rookie, obviously. Too bad; didn't have great personality either due to birth, parents or just anxiety. Couldn't pick up on subtly, like the leftover food... which, in my book, deserves a question about its adequacy. He didn't ask, I didn't tell. Again, this guy is good enough to be trainable, but not good enough to take pooped patrons into excited eaters. And like SO MANY DODO HEADS, he held the water glasses by the rim... so sick of that detail, but who wants his fingers on my lips... not me. FOOD: Amuse: peppers and sun dried tomatoes in oil. Fine, but so simple it hinted at effortless. Pop them in ramekin, splash oil and serve. Don't even bother with a plate or anything to use besides fingers... (sarcasm intended). So, 4 of 5 dishes (3 apps, 2 meals due to famish) ordered had rocket greens. I like rocket greens for their bitter, arugula like flavor. I don't like them as the main garnish on 80% of plates. Wait for it.... they were not even dressed on 3 plates.... Ew, rocket greens are mean when eaten without something on them. Entrees had some really nice choices. Flank steak ... I like that notion of poor man's steak at fine dine place at reasonable price. And they nailed it! The mushrooms on top were also good. I'd had enough rockets so I left them to the side. The other entree (I've already forgotten, but I think pork) was nicely cooked and served with so-so potatoes and, ..... NO rocket greens.... yippee. But nothing else from the garden either... booo hoo. I *might try it again in 6 mos to a year IF I have friends who say they had a better experience and I can wait less than an hour. I *might not though. The frustrating part about potential vs. actual. I WILL drink on the roof and eat some of the nice food served up there on bar menu... did a lot of looking at it while waiting.

    (3)

  • Valarie G.

    This review is just for the skybar. It is a great spot to people-watch Main Street, and the cocktails are great. I had some cinnamon-Bourbon mix that was awesome. The service was fun and friendly, if not super fast and the food was above average. A little pricey but a great roof-top atmosphere and probably my favorite Main Street hangout.

    (4)

  • Bonnie P.

    This new addition to the downtown mall provides a restaurant with an upscale, city-like vibe. I only am giving three stars for this review because we didn't try any of the mains. I'll update next time I go back (if necessary). Pros - The space is very cool - dark wood, good bar space with a good selection of drafts and hard liquor. An interesting list of specialty cocktails. Wine list not great (see Cons). - The food was really good. We shared two vegetarian appetizers and shared a large salad. A lot of food for not much money. Cons - Like many other Ch'ville restaurants, there is almost no local wine on the menu. C'mon, restauranteurs - you pay a lot of attention to farm-to-table practices; why don't you do the same with the wines? (Yes, I know, a lot of Ch'ville wines are awful. But there are a few that are pretty good and a couple that are *excellent*. Let's share the locavore love, eh?) Just Meh - Our waiter was great till the end when the bill came and it had other people's food and drinks on it. He fixed it immediately when we pointed it out, but c'mon - aren't you supposed to check these things before bringing the check to the table?

    (3)

  • Laura C.

    A large group of us went to dinner on Friday nite, and I can't say enough about the excellent food and outstanding service! Our server knew everything about the menu and could answer all our questions about the wine selections. The large table for 8 is perfectly sized so that everyone can join in with the conversation. We were lucky to get this table as Commonwealth does not take reservations! I would have given this restaurant 5 stars, however, for the third visit, I have had the worst cocktail ever! Do they use any liquor in their drinks? Our server this evening very graciously fetched me a new drink after realizing I was not happy...2nd cocktail was 100% better (because the server got it from the bartender perhaps?!)...Our first visit for drinks was at the Skybar.....again, watery drinks and a bartender with an attitude (which is so common in Charlottesville!) My advice, stay downstairs and enjoy one of the best dinners you will experience on the downtown Mall - also, stick with the wine!!

    (4)

  • Lauren T.

    I just had drinks in the roof top Skybar and the location was amazing. You look right over the downtown mall area of Charlottesville. Great couches to sit in if your feet get sore like mine did!

    (4)

  • M B.

    Very tasty food with good portions. The service was excellent and they had an interesting selection of beer and cocktails. The Skybar was a nice place to spend a summer evening. I'll be coming here if I pass through Charlottesville again.

    (4)

  • Anna W.

    I went upstairs to try the Skybar, and was really impressed. We were seated promptly and our waitress made sure that all our needs were met. When I told her that I am a vegetarian, she made sure to bring up the downstairs menu and then went over each item that was vegetarian, or could be made vegetarian. I ended up asking them to make a vegetarian sandwich, which they happily did.

    (4)

  • Gabrielle C.

    My husband and I came here on the Saturday of MLK weekend and could not have had a better experience. Even the things that could have been perceived as negatives, such as the fact that they don't take reservations and we had to wait about 40 minutes for a table, somehow added to the not too hipster-y charm of this place. Since they don't really take reservations, everyone is in the same "I know I'm going to have to wait" boat, and so there are no haughty, annoyed expressions killing the vibe at the bar. Also, the bartender who served us during our wait just happened to make the best Old Fashioned my husband or I have ever tasted. I had a delicious Carmeniere, which is something I don't think I've ever seen offered by the glass. Once we were seated, the service was impeccable and the food was superb. Having recently reintroduced seafood back into my diet after two years of vegetarianism, I took a risk and shared the Firecracker prawns with my husband for an appetizer, and ordered the sea scallops for dinner. The prawns were gargantuan, and obviously fresh, and the scallops practically melted in my mouth. No rubbery crap here. Just delicious, perfectly prepared, fresh and inventive fare. To make our dining experience even better, our server told us right away that there was only one filet mignon special left, and allowed my husband to reserve it even before we placed our dinner order. Now THAT is service. Dessert was a rich, decadent coconut custard. I can't say enough good things about this place. GO here, and know it's well worth the 40 minute wait.

    (5)

  • Jingwei W.

    One of my favorite in Charlottesville. We went to the sky bar, the food was ok but great view

    (4)

  • Richard S.

    This is more of a 3.5 review, but I'll round up since this is a new place. I had some mixed feelings about this place. I did enjoy the atmosphere and the food, but I felt as though it fell short in both. The service was a little awkward and we'd occasionally get that kind of service where it's too much when we don't need it, and nonexistent when we do. However, they were pretty nice and I'll just presume it's because they haven't been open that long. The ambience is quite nice though. As for the food, I must say I was pretty impressed with their appetizers. The diver scallops with chorizo was a real treat for a starter, as well as the lobster crab cakes (tasted like a beautiful Thanksgiving stuffing, except with seafood). Their soup, however, was pretty off... could've used a lot more seasoning. The entrees were.... interesting. Everything was cooked very well and overall was well seasoned, so technique and such is all there. However, I feel as though in terms of value it wasn't something I was exactly pleased to pay for. I've paid just as much for meals that have given me more dimensionality and flavor profiles. I was particularly sad that the grilled lamb only came with a grilled lamb and the minted peas; felt as though the dish was lacking in depth. One dish that did stand out for me was the duck. Bluntly, that was some real fucking good duck. I'd pay for that any day.

    (4)

  • K D.

    Subpar salad with limp, old lettuce,canned mandarin slices, zero dressing and nothing fresh on it. Over priced. Decent place for drinks, great atmosphere, nice staff. Don't come here for the food.

    (2)

  • Alvin H.

    After a long day wine tasting around Charlottesville, my gf and I decided to come here for dinner. It was a bitterly cold night and we were seated promptly in the warm and cozy atmosphere of this restaurant. I was feeling almost sick with a headache (too much wine...) and asked for some warm water. This came almost immediately, which helped me feel better. The restaurant supports local farms and uses their produce. For an appetizer we ordered the Ginger Braised Pulled Pork. This was well balanced and quite tasty, although I did not taste much ginger. My girlfriend ordered the Pasilla Pepper Glazed Chicken Roulade and I got the Grilled Skirt Steak w/ Sauteed Peppers &Onions. One word can describe both of these dishes: Yum. The tender chicken was stuffed with savory rice, peppers, onions, and tomatoes and cut into bite size portions. The steak was cooked to specification and served atop seasoned wedge-cut fries. Although I enjoyed both meals, the steak dish did get a bit heavy toward the end and I had a bit of trouble finishing it. The pricing point is a moderately high for the quantity of food in my opinion. The waiter did also disappear for a bit as we waited for him to ask about dessert (did not get any). Although a bit pricey, I would definitely come back to try more food if I'm in the area.

    (4)

  • Albert L.

    My wife and I liked this place the first time we ate here, but the second time my wife was not impressed with the food. I'm sure we wil visit again this spring or summer.

    (3)

  • Olivia M.

    We go to Commonwealth about twice a month and have never had a bad meal here. We have taken other couples there several times and everyone has been happy with their choices. I particularly like the Commonwealth Salad with grilled shrimp on top, it is wonderful as a full meal (it is a bit expensive with the shrimp, but it is currently my favorite salad in town). For starters try the fritters (local cheese) or the sea scallops! My boyfriend gets the skirt steak every time we go, which is delicious. Also, if you like peanut butter you have to get the PB dessert. I think what really makes it stand out is their high quality service. I am never worried to take guests or relatives there because I know that the staff is friendly and professional. We've had Adrienne work with us several times and she is a blast! Funny and attentive but not overbearing. They let you enjoy your perfectly cooked meal while making sure everything is running smoothly. Also, the interior designer should be complemented. The look is simple, modern and clearly well thought out. This restaurant has more style than most in C'ville.

    (5)

  • Rune H.

    3 stars on this reviewer's absolute scale of awesome international dining, 4 relative to what's available in Charlottesville. Heavy investment on training, operations, and decor lead to a dining experience that lets the customer focus on the simple yet delicious menu of fish, meats and cheeses. Cool local flair worth a visit.

    (4)

  • Sky Jack M.

    I have to start with a small caveat: the first time I came to the bar with plans to eat at the restaurant, and we got such horrible service, we decided otherwise; however the head chef sent us a personal message after we complained via email, and he really worked hard to get us back in. They went above and beyond any expectations in such a situation. I'm a restaurant owner and I wish I had as much patience and understanding as Chef Alex did. He got to the bottom of what had happened almost immediately and took steps to make sure it never happened again. The second time we came was on a Sunday. I'm vegan and my wife is vegetarian, and we basically said, "three courses chef's choice." Many restaurants would balk, but the kitchen totally stepped up. Plus, the service was impeccable and understanding. We started with cocktails which were wonderfully described and wonderfully crafted and delivered. Then, we ordered a carafe of wine, but then asked for a pairing for the next course, and it was perfectly paired with our meals. The salad and appetizers blew us away. The main was pretty good, but when I asked the kitchen to spice it up, and my wife asked to have hers kept warm, they actually made us two whole new entrees, and they were spot on. Talk about service there! Above and beyond is all I have to say. After dinner, they carry Fernet, and no one in the area does. I explained what Fernando is and they totally accommodated me. My wife had Bärenjager. Holy crap! Chef Alex took us for a tour to show us the operation and even sat and had a glass with us. I was touched by his sense of service and his enthusiasm for his restaurant. I haven't even gotten to décor yet. It was perfect. I love the local workmanship and I wish my restaurant could look more like it. The table tops are local wood, locally crafted. The windows were made by local artisans for that space. The lighting is predominantly reclaimed telephone pole glass buffers. So cool. I love this place, and I'm so glad I was able to have the second chance to really get what they are trying to do there.

    (5)

  • chris c.

    I was going to give 4 stars, but the scallops make it 5. Nice staff, wonderful scallops and the peanut butter mouse is worth busting my diet!

    (5)

  • Lulu P.

    Waste of $150! The average drink price is $10. Some mixed drinks are $15 and nothing to write home about. I ordered a martini and it came in a juice glass and was barely 3oz. I bartended for years so that was unbelievable to me that they would serve that and charge $10! The food is way overpriced and not that great. The bartenders are unfriendly and never seem to crack a smile. I'm from NYC and this place would be a laughing stock there.

    (1)

  • Joshua N.

    Overpriced. Rude service. Terrible experience. We came with a large group and they informed us only when they bombarded us with the check that they would be unwilling to split it. At all. Spoke to the manager and he blew us off. they made the baby cry and told us never to be such irresponsible parents. Never ever ever go there. Ever. Oh yeah and the food is average. Great job refilling the water though.

    (1)

  • Emmy M.

    This was an amazing experience, from beginning to end. We ate downstairs in Commonwealth, which had excellent ambiance and some of the most professional waitstaff I've encountered since moving to Virginia. My party included people with food allergies, which the kitchen handled without a problem and never made an issue about it at all. The waiter knew his wines, and his suggestions were always spot on -- the Virginia wines were especially fine and I'm glad we gave it a chance. We had the cheese plate to start, which was an excellent selection, and I personally ate the tamarind duck. The duck was phenomenal, well-prepared and well-paired with the yucca and blue potatoes on the plate, and the presentation was really beautiful. My fellow diners reported the scallop and chorizo appetizer being lovely, the lobster and salt cod cakes solid and pleasant, and the Brazilian seafood special also excellent. Overall, it was some extremely solid food in a pleasant setting. The price tag corresponds to the quality of the food, and the portions are bang on. Would repeat again, any time.

    (5)

  • Sam K.

    This is an awesome restaurant. Great service, excellent wines and the food we had was absolutely to die for. We started by sharing a cheese plate and salad. Loved it. The cilantro salad dressing was absolutely perfect. The main of redfish with shrimp was awesome. Best blackened fish I have ever had. But so far we haven't even talked about the best part of our meal. The curried chick peas was absolutely to die (twice) for. What a great place and I would highly recommend it.

    (5)

  • David O.

    Best meal out since we moved to town 12 years ago. Thank you Adrienne!

    (5)

  • Shannon W.

    We ate in the restaurant downstairs, then had a drink upstairs in the skybar. The food was amazing - we sampled a lot of appetizers and sides. I would most recommend the pulled pork on yam croquettes. Great flavor with a surprisingly smoky finish. The curry chickpeas were my favorite side (a little on the spicy side but that's great in my book). We also tried all of the desserts, and I was really surprised to find that they were all fantastic (which is usually not the case - dessert seems to be a restaurant afterthought in Charlottesville). The triple chocolate cake was moist and chocolatey and perfectly sized. This is going to be my new go-to spot for drinks and dessert. The service was great and the atmosphere was really cool but laid back, and it seemed like a good mix of crowd especially in the rooftop bar. I will definitely be coming back!

    (5)

  • Dan d.

    We came across this place in a scenic pedestrian mall. Unfortunately, lively area + college town + weekend = long wait for a table. If you have the opportunity to get reservations though, I highly recommend Commonwealth for the food and setting.

    (4)

  • W. E.

    For a small and unassuming town, Charlottesville, has a solid gourmand reputation, and amongst the many long-standing successful restaurants, The Commonwealth, after only a week or so of opening has left an impressive mark. The memorable dining experience at the CWealth begins with the service. You walk in the door and you feel like you are at home - your sister could very well be your server because that is how personable, approachable, and awesome the servers at CWealth will be. Expect nothing but the best. As far as food goes, you really can't go wrong, however I would HIGHLY recommend the skirt steak - well prepared, good flavor, cooked to the right temperature, and HUGE portions served over the most delicious yuca fries ( a nice compliment to the head chef's south american roots). You get it all! The scallops are also some of the most delectable, succulent sea creatures I have ever tasted and I LOVE how they are served with a salty chorizo, again way to merge the sea and land flavors. Well done! I can go on and on and on, but I will stop here because I urge you to sample the menu yourself and discover the unique and tasty flavors of the cwealth. WAIT, how could I forget the brillance of the mixologist behind the bar. You must not shy away from their signature cocktails - if you love tequila as much as I do, go for the estancia, if not they offer a variety of cocktails that should float everyone's boat. You will not be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Evi D.

    We stopped by here when we were here for a weekend in Charlottesville. Although it was still a little early for dinner (a little before 5) we popped our heads into Skybar. It was fairly empty (this was the weekend before classes started), so there was plenty of space to sit at the bar. While we were there (about 2 hours) the place definitely filled up, but it wasn't too crowded. We ordered some beers (I liked how there were some local ones) and some snacks. The cheese/meat plate and the truffle fries. Both were very good to snack on, watch some TV, relaxed. The bartenders were great- letting us try some of the beers prior to ordering them, and we didn't feel rushed. Since this was winter, I'd love to come back here in the spring/summer/fall when the deck is opened up.

    (4)

  • Desiree A.

    I am giving this 4 stars for the atmosphere and it's a new place. I love eating outside so the sky-bar is perfect for me. The service upstairs was mediocre at best. I actually went 2 days in a row and had the same experience both days. We sat on the couches upstairs and the service was so lackluster we actually had to go up to the bar to order(night 1 party if 3, night 2 party of 7). The argentinian malbec was good but the amount poured was inconsistent. I will be going back but if the experience is similar I think it will be the last time.

    (4)

  • Dave H.

    This place is a welcome addition to the east side of the mall. We have been there a few times for drinks, but finally got around to dinner last night. Overall, a solid "B". The Good: Great looking menu, with the sort of flavors you don't see a lot of in Charlottesville. Lots of credit for trying something new in what is a pretty traditional town. We ordered a large skybar salad, the charcuterie plate and the wild board chops. All in all, everything was very tasty, if not mind blowing. The not so good: It's expensive. Not crazy expensive, but on par with C&O, Zocalo, Brookville and the other "nice" restaurants in the immediate vicinity. Unfortunately, I'm not sure it's better than those places. Other quibbles include paying $19 for a delicious but extremely scant charcuterie plate--maybe 1 oz of meat total, 4 or 5 crackers and a teaspoon of some kind of olive spread--and a wine list with nothing under $30 a bottle. So, again, a nice place that I would recommend to people, but not before cautioning them to not expect a cheap night out.

    (3)

  • Michelle B.

    I haven't eaten here, but I had two very fine cocktails at the restaurant bar. It wasn't too busy when I was there, so I started chatting to the mixologist, who I believe is one of the owners. Sometimes I feel the need to try the contents of these gorgeous bottles which are usually high up or towards the back of the shelves. I inquired about Canton, and about this new gin infused with something gourmet (I forget what it is now) and he invented two drinks for me on the spot, with even more obscure spirits and ingredients added. It was fun watching the creative process. I'm not as intrigued by the Skybar. Reminds me a bit of the Gansevoort Hotel in NYC, and the scene there is a bit pick-up. It seems like they just have normal beer and rail drinks too.

    (4)

  • Lisa S.

    A great new addition to the Downtown Mall scene. I would consider it as a "go to" spot for my out of town guests and special occasions. It has an upscale, chic, funky vibe - makes me feel like I am in a big city. The retractable walls open the room to the outdoor walking mall and seating area, and the rooftop sky bar is a brilliant design feature. The food is interesting, creative and delicious...as are the tasty and innovative cocktails. A must visit for downtown diners!

    (5)

  • Jim M.

    Went there for my wife's birthday as the place was highly recommended by friends. It was... just OK. Service was appropriate and the salads were quite good. Cocktails were sufficient. Ordered the skirt steak which was fair at best. Topings were tasty, however. But the dish was entirely overpriced for what it was. Also had a side of chickpeas in a curry sauce which was quite good and and a side of emandas that were sweet but with little character. $100 bucks with tip and I doubt I'll return. Too many other fantastic places on the downtown mall to choose from.

    (2)

  • R Z.

    Stopped by for drinks at the upstairs sky bar; great ambiance, attentive bartenders, and lively (but not annoying) crowd. Good local beer selection (including a few Blue Mountain selections) and signature cocktails. I tried the Apples to Apples -- yum! We also ordered some bar food; all very good. While the cocktails were surprisingly pricy (same price as DC? Really?), the experience was exactly what we wanted and I would certainly go back for dinner.

    (4)

  • Molly S.

    This place is awesome! I haven't eaten there, but went for drinks around 10pm. The roof was crowded, but still very comfortable. It took a while before we were allowed up (it was at capacity), but we were able to wait comfortably in one of the round booths downstairs. Even without the skybar, this is a great addition do the Cville night life. It feels young, trendy, and cosmopolitan. I love it. And our waitress was a-mazing!!!

    (5)

  • brian g.

    I went in for a few drinks before a show a little way down the mall, and I really like the rooftop bar. I wish there was time for dinner when I was there. It was pretty busy, and I caught a glimpse of the busy kitchen staff through the window on our way out. The cocktails were great, booze selection was good, and the bartenders were friendly. Can't wait to go back for dinner.

    (4)

  • Erikka C.

    I haven't eaten here but am very excited about this place. My husband and I had drinks on the rooftop last night, and it's an excellent spot to people watch. So glad it's finally open!

    (4)

  • Joseph W.

    I have had the pleasure of eating at Commonwealth Restaurant several times in the past few months and every experience has been fantastic. I first went on opening weekend to see what the Skybar had to offer and then came back on subsequent visits with family and with business associates. When dining in the restaurant I have experienced timely service (evening on opening weekend!) with a very nice selection of beverages and food. Heading upstairs I found myself immediately at home in the open air with friendly and attentive bartenders. Speaking of which, the bartenders are some of THE BEST that I've met in town. There are very few places where you can walk up to the bar and say "I feel like something refreshing with gin" and get an amazing cocktail made from scratch that you've never had before. Finally, I'm really happy to see that they've added the boar chop to the menu full time because I had it as a special a while ago and was blown away. Everything here is well worth the price.

    (5)

  • Katy W.

    I usually don't write reviews, but my experience at Commonwealth was worth noting. Hands down, one of the best meals I have ever had. I'm in town on business and stopped Miller's Bar to grab a drink after work. The staff there was great and "Jenna" recommended Commonwealth/Skybar. I am glad she did! The atmosphere was exactly what I was looking for and "Matty P" behind the bar was great! He recommended the right drinks, suggested the chowder and pork chop and all of it was incredible. Highly recommend! :)

    (5)

  • Bryan P.

    red bean burger was solid but not substantial enough for 10 bucks. the cassava fries were pretty doggone good, though.

    (3)

  • Jo K.

    Seated quickly and at our table of choice. Had a great waiter. Knowledgeable about the food sources, beer descriptions, etc. Not pushy and didn't forget anything. Manager was attentive, clearing plates at the right time. Hadn't been to C'ville in 10 years or so, so unaware that it is a new (7 weeks, I think) place. Couldn't tell by the staff. Everything was timed well, delivered quickly, really cool ambiance, no complaints. Well, two small shortcomings: the arugula had a pretty salty dressing, but I guess it's just a garnish anyway. And the Bread pudding was very dry, even after we let all the ice cream melt into it. Good taste, though. Had the empanadas, which were perfect, and needed a more fitting garnish than salsa. Had the house salad, which was nice, if not beautiful. The Grilled shrimp app was great, as was the Chick pea dish. And the soup that night (caramelized apple and cabbage) was really tasty. All the other tables seemed to be having a really great night as well, so it seems like the place will do well over time, as long as they retain the staff! They were all so pleasant, from the hostesses, to the water/bus girl(?), waiters, etc..

    (4)

  • B R.

    Fourth time eating at Commonwealth. We've been away for awhile but it was every bit as good as I remembered from previous visits. Went on a Wednesday evening so it was buzzing but not packed. Sat down right away and had drinks in about 3 minutes. Our waitress was excellent and the food was inspired. The shrimp appetizer was fantastic - my wife is from Charleston SC where they know their shrimp - and she loves this appetizer. Porkchop was outstanding. She had the Australian Sea Bass special which was perfect. I see others have hit Commonwealth on off nights and been disappointed. I'm always very wary of new, relatively pricey places in Charlottesville - they almost always disappoint either initially or over time. But Commonwealth continues to impress. And the atmosphere and the vibe upstairs at the bar is fantastic. Why aren't there more rooftop bars in the works? The Downtown Mall should be filled with them. You watch, when Spring comes - we're all going to be demanding more outdoor restaurant rooftop venues like this.

    (5)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :5:30 pm - 10:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : No
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : No
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : No
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Trendy
    Noise Level : Average
    Good For Dancing : No
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Happy Hour : Yes
    Best Nights : Wed, Fri, Sat
    Coat Check : Yes
    Smoking : No
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : Free
    Has TV : Yes
    Dogs Allowed : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : Yes

Commonwealth Restaurant & Skybar

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