Petit Pois Restaurant

French restaurant · Charlottesville

Petit Pois Restaurant

French restaurant · Charlottesville

1

201 E Main St, Charlottesville, VA 22902

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Petit Pois Restaurant by null
Petit Pois Restaurant by null
Petit Pois Restaurant by null
Petit Pois Restaurant by null
Petit Pois Restaurant by null
Petit Pois Restaurant by null
Petit Pois Restaurant by null
Petit Pois Restaurant by null
Petit Pois Restaurant by null
Petit Pois Restaurant by null
Petit Pois Restaurant by null
Petit Pois Restaurant by null
Petit Pois Restaurant by null
Petit Pois Restaurant by null
Petit Pois Restaurant by null
Petit Pois Restaurant by null
Petit Pois Restaurant by null
Petit Pois Restaurant by null
Petit Pois Restaurant by null
Petit Pois Restaurant by null
Petit Pois Restaurant by null
Petit Pois Restaurant by null
Petit Pois Restaurant by null
Petit Pois Restaurant by null
Petit Pois Restaurant by null
Petit Pois Restaurant by null
Petit Pois Restaurant by null
Petit Pois Restaurant by null
Petit Pois Restaurant by null
Petit Pois Restaurant by null
Petit Pois Restaurant by null
Petit Pois Restaurant by null
Petit Pois Restaurant by null
Petit Pois Restaurant by null
Petit Pois Restaurant by null
Petit Pois Restaurant by null
Petit Pois Restaurant by null
Petit Pois Restaurant by null
Petit Pois Restaurant by null
Petit Pois Restaurant by null
Petit Pois Restaurant by null
Petit Pois Restaurant by null
Petit Pois Restaurant by null
Petit Pois Restaurant by null
Petit Pois Restaurant by null

Highlights

Discover a charming bistro vibe at Petit Pois, where locally sourced French dishes and engaging service make for a delightful dining experience on a shaded patio.  

Featured in Eater
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201 E Main St, Charlottesville, VA 22902 Get directions

petitpoisrestaurant.com
@petitpoiscville

$$$$$$ · Menu

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201 E Main St, Charlottesville, VA 22902 Get directions

+1 434 979 7647
petitpoisrestaurant.com
@petitpoiscville

$$$$$$ · Menu

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dine in
takeout
delivery
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reservations
outdoor seating

Last updated

Mar 4, 2025

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@eater

"Pull up a chair on Petit Pois’ charming shady patio for a lunch that transports diners to France with dishes like P.E.I. mussels in butter, white wine, and garlic and skate wing with roasted potatoes, green beans, and tomato. Open for lunch and dinner in Charlottesville’s downtown mall, this is the perfect place to gather with friends who share your interest in a midday bottle of rosé. For an even more elegant variation on the theme, visit sister restaurant Fleurie, just a block away." - Stephanie Ganz, Tim Ebner

The Best Restaurants for Dining Out in Charlottesville, Virginia - Eater DC
View Postcard for Petit Pois Restaurant

Chris Taylor

Google
Visited the city with some friends and got dinner here. The staff were very engaging and fun and we enjoyed chatting with them about the menu. The food was great. I enjoyed the soup and pork. The pork was good but I liked everyone else's food a little more. Had a really nice time and would definitely go back.

Brinn Garcia-Mcghee

Google
Lovely outdoor seating with yummy food and wine options! We started with the beet salad and then got two entrees. The burger was nothing special but the risotto was delicious. Then we ended with amazing beignets. Overall, the ambience was great but the food and beverage took a long time to come out and we had to remind the staff about orders we had out in on multiple occasions

K. R. Maharaj

Google
The staff at Petit Pois made my day trip to Charlottesville an even better one with their spectacular service. They accommodated my friend and I despite being largely booked and didn't rush us, even though we didn't have much time until our train. Absolutely recommended a visit for a lovely meal, and even lovelier service.

Courtney Elliott

Google
We had a wonderful work lunch here! The staff was very friendly and observant- we never had to ask for refills on our beverages! A few of our colleagues have food allergies and the wait staff/kitchen staff were very accommodating of these. The food was fresh and plated nicely- also, the patio is lovely on a nice day!

Brian Kirst

Google
Sat outside for lunch and had a great experience. Great service, really good food and nice outdoor seating. We came without a reservation on a blustery Friday afternoon and the staff was great about rearranging tables to make us comfortable. I would probably recommend reservations because it's a very small seating area indoors but the food is definitely worth it.

David Lorenzo

Google
A small slice of the French countryside in Charlottesville. We had a delightful time in Petit Pois. From the delicious food to the extremely friendly service, and to the quaint, homey ambiance we felt like we were in a bistro in France. It was a place that reminds you that a meal is not just food but an entire experience. Just a tip to make a reservation if you plan a weekend meal there. The place is not too big so it gets full quickly. Highly suggest the French Onion Soup, Crab Cake, and the Coq au Vin. Desserts too are incredible. The only dish with some room for improvement are the mussels. They were quite small and lacked some flavor. But otherwise a wonderful experience.

Rodrigo Viana de Avila

Google
Petit Pois is an absolute gem—a small, charming restaurant that effortlessly combines the coziness of a casual dinner spot with the finesse and taste of French cuisine. Its intimate setting sets the stage for a delightful dining experience. The menu reflects the mastery of French culinary artistry, offering dishes that are as tasteful as they are beautifully presented. Whether seeking a relaxed evening or a taste of refined French flavors, Petit Pois delivers both with finesse.

John Scott

Google
This place is a gem, and I am so glad we found it! The food was absolutely fantastic (the chicken liver mousse was sublime), and the prices were very reasonable, especially for such a high-quality meal. The atmosphere was cozy and relaxing. The service was spot on perfect. This will be a must place for us to eat next time we are in town.

Laura K.

Yelp
We walked into this adorable French boutique restaurant and met Brandon our waiter. He was super friendly, accommodating and went above and beyond to make our first experience spectacular. We started with custom mocktails that were fabulous, mine was a citrus ginger flair and my friends a lime mint sparkling experience. Then we wanted everything on the menu, but decided to get three things and split them. We had a lovely beet, goat cheese arugula salad with a lovely citrus vinaigrette. The beets were perfect and the dressing was divine. Then we had split the house burger with Swiss and onions and the house rosemary fries which were delectable, crispy and seasoned to perfection. He even split the plate so we could keep it neat and didn't have to replace ourselves. Then we split the crab cake and it too was awesome. The corn coulis was amazing the crab was really meaty crab with an excellent but light flavor and I saw a hint of mustard seed. We then saw the table next to us endulge in profiteroles, and had to split those as well. Brandon and Lindsey were amazing and I would highly recommend for a casual dining experience outdoors in downtown Charlottesville. The fountains and greenery outside was relaxing and I almost felt I was at a French bistro in a side street of Paris. I will be back again. (My pictures do not do the experience or food justice.)

Jen S.

Yelp
We came here on a busy Wednesday for lunch and were greeted and seated outside right away. You can sit inside too but it was a gorgeous day out. Seats were comfortable and had umbrellas with shade and beautiful flowering plants of all sizes around the courtyard. Our server was fantastic and we ordered libations first and then our main sides. My trout was so tasty, I could have ate 3 more since the filet was really small. My parents had the crab cake and said it was amazing too. Bathrooms were clean and I can't wait to go back to try something new!

Rob G.

Yelp
Great food from this bistro. Our server, Molly was great and accommodating. They have some good risotto dishes on the lunch menu. Space inside the restaurant is a little tight so we sat outside. Outside was ok until the sun changed position and our party started to get hot. Next door restaurant was playing continuous Samba music, which through no fault of PP did dampen the ambience a little.

Ann K.

Yelp
When did C'ville become such a foodie town?! What a fantastic dinner we had at Petite Pois! We had an early 5pm reservation before seeing Dave Matthews and we sat next to another couple who had the same plan. My friend has a dairy and gluten allergy and they were able to accommodate her beautifully. We shared the beet salad with the goat cheese on the side (for me), trout amandine (made with olive oil instead of butter), and crab cake. Our meal was perfect. I would order all of these dishes again! The service was wonderful. We parked in the lot just around the corner. Just an overall delightful meal!

Mat G.

Yelp
Saturday night, gorgeous weather, and patio dining in charming Charlottesville! Quite the winning combination! I ordered their lobster & shrimp bisque which was quite nice! A little on the salty side but was nice. Then came the entree of their Coq au Vin which I paired with a French Syrah. Ohhh their Coq au Vin was some delightful chicken! Prepared perfectly and it was just the right amount of juiciness and saturated with flavor. For dessert, I indulged in beignets that were excellent! My waitress was very pleasant and helpful in coordinating me picking up the bill for my table. 5/5 all around!

Joshua J.

Yelp
We came for our anniversary and this place was awesome! It's very small inside so make a reservation ahead of time! The coq au vin was devine, French onion soup was delicious and the beignets were the perfect ending to a lovely meal.

Melanie B.

Yelp
The service and the food is good but I could'nt see any actual French food on the menu except the coq au vin...

Jojeth D.

Yelp
We had a wonderful Valentine's date night at Peti Pois. They helped me surprise my fiancée with flowers I ordered and prepared it on our table before we arrive. All of the staff are easy to talk to and food never disappoints us. My fiancée loved the Lamb Pastilla and I enjoyed their hanger steak and Mussels. Peti pois is definitely a gem in Charlottesville.

Emily J.

Yelp
A girlfriend and I were visiting Charlottesville and wandering around the downtown area on a Friday night. It was a perfect night outside so we decided to try one of the restaurants with outdoor seating- Petit Pois looked great! We snagged a table outside and proceeded to have a most wonderful experience. Our server, Hector, was super attentive and gave us the best suggestions. We decided to share several appetizers because they all sounded so good- best decision ever! We had the smoked salmon, burrata and peppers, shrimp and grits, and crispy brussel sprouts. They were all absolutely fantastic- each dish was generously sized (we should have only ordered 2-3 dishes) and tasted fantastic. We each also enjoyed a handcrafted beverage which made everything even a bit better. Definitely recommend.

Christy B.

Yelp
Overall- food was good but nothing blew us away. Went here bc we wanted French food, but there wasn't a lot of French on the menu. We asked to be seated outside and we're accommodated immediately around 630 p Pm on a Friday night. $13 - The lobster shrimp bisque was quite tasty and not overly salted like they usually are. There was 1 shrimp cut into 5 pieces at the bottom of the bowl. It's be better with some lobster meat if they want to include the 1 shrimp. Otherwise, the flavors were there. $13 - The beet, pistachio, goat cheese and orange salad was ok. Good, not the east I've had. $29 - Crab cake entree. Sizable portion with whole mustard seed in it atop a tiny bit of wilted spinach and sweet corn. $26 - Trout Almandine. So. Much. Fish. It was like a whole filet. The skin was perfectly crispy with a healthy portion of sliced almonds in capers. The green beans were nicely cooked and not mushy (but not crisp either which is my preference). Only thing missing was some citrus.

Heather N.

Yelp
We made a reservation for dinner here to celebrate my wife's birthday at 7:45pm. We arrived and were given the choice to sit inside or out- we chose to sit on the patio to enjoy the ambiance of downtown Charlottesville. We ordered wine and an old fashioned and were about three sips in before our server was "just letting us know" the kitchen closes at 8. This was our first time visiting and didn't realize we would be on a time crunch having been offered a reservation at 7:45pm. He ultimately gave us the speech "if it were up to me you could wait but the kitchen staff gets upset". It was whatever. We knew what we wanted to eat we just weren't quite ready to order. I should mention that my wife's old fashioned was mostly watered down tasting. She orders these at dinner all the time and it was just not up to standards. See photo. We shared the coq au vin which seemed to be just about the only authentic French item on the menu. I was a little disappointed in that. There were no specials. Our meal was tasty. They have definitely perfected this dish and the portion was huge (glad we split it). All in all we would maybe try this place again but it's low on the priority list.

Kathleen B.

Yelp
Lovely service, delicious first courses and entrees. Nice to have bread service. Cozy spot.

Charles L.

Yelp
I had been here for dinner years ago and liked it quite a bit, so invited a guest speaker and colleagues for the meal after. You can only reserve a table inside so we did that, but when we got there we found that more people were outside. There were 9 of us and they gave us a long table against a corner, making it hard to get up and sit down. The servers were cheery but there were moments of confusion. Also the food was decent but not as hot as most of us would like.

Cat O.

Yelp
Every dish was absolutely delicious. Straight forward food but prepared really well and very flavorful without being over powering. Service was lovely, atmosphere was cute and romantic, will 100% be coming back!!

Adam T.

Yelp
We came here for our anniversary. Had two hours until we needed to leave, which we thought would be sufficient. Drinks and appetizers delivered within 30 mins. After an hour, we wondered about the status of our crabcake and risotto. We gave it a little longer, and then asked when parties who had arrived well after us were served. "The food should be ready in just a few minutes." Then another 20 mins passed, and I informed our waitress that if the food arrived within 10 mins, we would need it in a box. Beyond that, we would need to leave. Another worried, neighboring table received their dinners. "Hmm...that looks like what I ordered," I thought. After a few more minutes, the manager delivered something. But sadly, it wasn't our food, but rather some disappointing news. Our order was lost. It was never prepared. And it wouldn't be prepared, not in the remaining time. So they comped our drinks, my fairly tasty pea soup, and the nice tomato salad. Very disappointing, not enough of a sincere apology from the waitress, and a promise from me that I will not be back.

Samantha H.

Yelp
This is nestled in a bit of a shadowy corner of downtown, so it never caught my eye, so I am glad I found reviews online that led me here! It was easy to get seated on Saturday lunchtime, and we chose to sit outdoors (we ended up being chilly because it was blustery and out of the sun but the warm food helped). Between four people, we decided to go family-style with the appetizers of French onion soup, lamb mergeuz soup, and gnocchi. Due to an accident, we got the shrimp risotto (uncharged that we got to keep), and it ended up being one of the best apps. The lamb mergeuz soup was delectable, very unique in flavor and well-balanced in my opinion, bringing a good earthy meaty taste alongside the tender beans and carrots. The French onion soup was done well. While the risotto looked like it had been sitting out for a moment (a bit congealed looking), it tasted phenomenal and was the best risotto I've ever had. It was not overly cheesy or buttery, just perfectly creamy held up by some of the flavor of shrimp. The gnocchi ended up being the weakest app; while the gnocchi were so tender and pillowy, the flavors were confusing, dominated by salt and strangely mingling tangy, herby, and nutty flavors. I personally ordered the crab cake and loved my choice. Without excess breading, the crab cake was satisfying and had an excellent flavor including notes of citrus and mustard(?) that went great with the sweet creamed corn -- I was indifferent about the spinach. The appetizer portions are very generous! I was so satisfied by this meal and would love to come back again to try other menu items and see how it changes seasonally!

Jennifer M.

Yelp
It's raining. Ok, drizzling. People still eating outside all over the downtown mall. We walk up and down looking at menus and accommodations. Petit Pois was the perfect choice for the drizzly Friday night. The outdoor tented seating was great for our still anxious about eating out because of COVID. He had the bisque and I had the beet salad. Both were great. I had gnocchi - a vegetarian meal. So good. I'm not a huge gnocchi person so there may have been too many gnocchi still it was yummy and filling. He had the pan fried trout and green beans. I was able to have a bite and I agree it was worthy of another trip! Also we skipped dessert but the neighboring tables did not and now I have to have some chocolate mouse and beignets. Confident that you'll have a great meal if you choose Petit Pois.

Emily S.

Yelp
Had dinner here this past Friday night. The trout entree is amazing. It's quite a big portion, actually. Lobster bisque was good. A little salty, I thought. It's very rich. This was definitely a decadent meal. The service was pretty good. It's a cute little intimate spot that's worth checking out. We thought the prices were fair for being a nicer quality restaurant. Good location.

Findmefood O.

Yelp
This is a small, intimate restaurant with great service. Unfortunately, I forget the name of our waiter (younger, African-American guy) but he was awesome despite the fact that I think he was the only one working the room aside from the young bus boy and hostess. The food, drink/wine menus were nice. We especially enjoyed the beet salad, French onion soup and the burger. The vegetarian gnocchi were average, which cost them a star. We didn't leave any room for dessert.

Krista R.

Yelp
I didn't know this place even existed. The food was excellent. The Brussel sprouts were cooked perfectly the flavor was delicious. The kale salad was lacking the cheese it supposedly came with I asked for more because I literally didn't see any. The crab cake with cream of corn and spinach was AMAZING!!!! My friends got the shrimp risotto and it literally had 3 shrimp on it. They were disappointed. The server was okay took a while to get drinks, water, refills. I think I saw our server three times for drink order, food order and check. Never came back to ask how things were etc. Some other guy was attending to our table more than our waiter. The menu online vs in house was different along with the prices. Was a little disappointed when I had my mind set on one thing to find out it's not on the menu. The menu online said the carb cake is $22 yet I was charged $29. Might want to update the menu online to reflect the menu when you sit down.

Lauren H.

Yelp
I have been here before and has a fine meal with good service. However, last night I had one of the worst dining experiences of my life. We sit down and are forgotten. Eventually someone comes to take our order and we ask for some bread. Once again, they forget about us, and 45 minutes later the manager comes over to tell us that they lost our order. At this point we're mad. Eventually our appetizers come out, half assed and horrible. Our meals arrive and the crab cake was actually inedible and flavorless. It was not a good experience, however, they knew they severely messed up and only charged us half price.

Emily Y.

Yelp
I got the salmon and my boyfriend got the coq a vin, both were tasty. Portions are good sized, I find that I tend to walk out less than full at a lot of nice restaurants, so being unable to finish my meal here was definitely a plus. Prices fair for the food and portion. However, the space is small, especially in the corner alcove that we were seated in. It seemed to be located under the stairs as the roof was slanted, and two tables were in what could not have been more than 7 feet of space. Service was decent, our server was friendly. Overall maybe would rate 5 stars if we sat elsewhere

Susan B.

Yelp
Run to Petit Pois, don't walk! I was here 17 months ago and remember how amazing it was for lunch. I returned today with the same friend and trust me it was every bit as good. The brussel sprouts are the best in Virginia. The Trout Almondine is again, incredible. The beignets are good as well but the food! The service was excellent as well. I am rarely this satisfied.

Minsu K.

Yelp
I'm definitely going back. The food was wonderful. We had the mussels, chicken liver and hanger steak. All of which was delicious. Good portions Good price point and fantastic taste.

J. G.

Yelp
A most delightful evening at Petit Pois! We had dinner on the patio surrounded by roses and listening to the gentle sounds of the waterfall and the muted strains of live jazz music from down the street. The coq au vin was delicious and our waiter, Logan, was polite and attentive. Great atmosphere, good food and outstanding service. Can't wait to go back!

Cassie P.

Yelp
There's something special about Main Street in downtown Charlottesville and the wide array of dining options is certainly part of that! On one particular evening, I was in the mood for some French food and landed at Petit Pois. I was alone and opted to sit outside on the patio where the hostess gave me a hightop table close to the action. I ordered mussels, French onion soup, and a glass of wine. Overall, it was a-ok but didn't leave me wanting to come back for more. I was particularly letdown by the French Onion Soup. Not sure if it wasn't hot enough or what, but the cheese was a strange texture and I found it all rather bland. The mussels were more flavorful but didn't have a ton of broth to soak up with the bread which is usually the best part! I don't know if it was because I was by myself, but the service could've also been better. I was there for a full meal but found the waitress to be inattentive and she didn't let me know of specials which I ended up overhearing her tell neighboring tables later on in my meal... It was my first time at the restaurant so a little more warmth would be appreciated and I would've also probably got dessert but didn't want to overstay my welcome. The nice patio, people watching, and wine made up for some of the misses. I wouldn't completely discount returning here in the future to maybe try some other dishes, but I wouldn't come back alone.

J H.

Yelp
My husband and I have eaten here several times while visiting Charlottesville. The service is excellent. The food is wonderful. We have had most of their dishes. Their menu changes frequently. Before COVID we did a special that included an appetizer, entree, and dessert. It was incredible. My husband didn't like their coq au vin. He loved everything else. He loves their scallops and risotto. Their soups are fantastic. Their salads are amazing.

Cindy D.

Yelp
Incredibly delicious food, ambiance, service and music. I would recommend!C'est magnifique!

Giovanni L.

Yelp
The shrimp risotto was incredibly rich in flavor, and the service was overall good as they were attentive before you needed to ask. The tables don't get assigned one waiter so it's multiple people coming to your table which is alright, but I prefer one specific person. The food was amazing though!

Lonny F.

Yelp
The food here is below average. Not terrible. The only thing French about this place is the few French words they have on their signage in the bathroom. Gnocchi is Italian. Service is cafe style. For example. They give you a plate with 4 forks, 4 knives and 4 napkins for you to spread out. That's ok. If you charge prices for a cheap cafe.

Val C.

Yelp
I went here with my boyfriend to celebrate my birthday. The food was delicious--he got the crabcake and I ended up with the shrimp risotto (more on this later). The risotto was actually an appetizer but at $12 it's a super good deal as it's almost entree-sized. It was decadent and I could taste the parmesan in every bite! I tried a bit of my boyfriend's dish too--the crabcake was a little dry for my taste but overall the dish was good and he seemed to enjoy it a lot. The service, on the other hand, was a disaster. As in, there was no service. Our server was the only employee working the front of house (there wasn't even a separate host/hostess) and had probably around 10 tables to cover. When we arrived, we waited for about 5 minutes to be seated by the server, which was fine, although the restaurant wasn't crowded at that point so that was a bit odd. I ordered the butternut squash risotto, but in our server's hurry I guess she put in the wrong order and that's how I ended up with an appetizer instead of an entree (although as I said earlier it was excellent so not a huge deal). Our server was nearly running from one table to the next the entire time we were dining, which was stressful to watch and honestly a bit distracting. We were not asked how our meal was once nor were our water glasses refilled despite being empty for 3/4 of the time we were there. Even getting our server's attention for the check was difficult because she would dash inside before we could catch her. Overall, the food was fantastic but this was probably the worst service I've had at a restaurant. Petit Pois should think about hiring extra staff or redistributing employee tasks, as they seem to be placing unmanageable responsibilities on their current staff.

Carrie H.

Yelp
We stopped in feeling like a French meal after falling in love with Lafayette while touring Monticello. It was a perfect little restaurant! I ordered a cute cocktail & waitress made a Shirley Temple for my daughter. We ordered smoked salmon appetizer that was delicious. I got trout for dinner & skin was crispy to perfection & a lot so I shared it. My daughter got Butternut Squag Risotto & ate every bite. It was everything we hoped for & waitress was very friendly & didn't rush us at all

Richard L.

Yelp
Meh. Nothing special. Visited on 7/13/2022. Three of us ordered fish and it was cook perfectly; however the sauces and sides failed to deliver.

Angel H.

Yelp
Loved Petit Pois! Excellent food, great service, and romantic atmosphere. The indoor seating is limited, but there's plenty of tables outside in the patio. The servers were attentive and friendly. Always asked if we wanted more bread and refilled our waters frequently! Service was also pretty fast. The wine was fantastic! I got the Rosé Merlot 2016 and it was delicious. Fragrant but not too sweet- has a nice refreshing feel to it! The arugula salad was amazing. The dressing was perfect and so was the amount of shaved parmesan cheese. The pine nuts also added a really nice flavor. I got the Lamb Ragout and liked it a lot. The potato gnocchi was chewy and the smoked lamb was juicy and tender. The sauce was amazing! It was rich but not too greasy or salty and it paired so well with the gnocchi. My boyfriend got the steak and frites and really enjoyed it too! The steak was perfect medium- the outside was crunchy and the inside was super soft and juicy. A great place to get dinner! The restaurant has such an intimate, romantic feel to it and the piano jazz music they play is great. People are well dressed and the servers are awesome. My only complaint is that they do not validate parking.

Michele M.

Yelp
Came in (at admittedly a slightly off hour; about 2pm) after seeing the shrimp risotto billed as a lunch special and was delighted! I accompanied it with a light Elderflower soda which has a lovely brisk sensation to it and went along nicely as a light compliment to the very creamy and delicious risotto. The staff was really attentive without being overwhelming or pushy. Can't recommend this place enough! :) I also got a white chocolate ganache as a dessert; delightful and flavorful, a nice compliment and means to end an already wonderful meal.

Elizabeth M.

Yelp
I'll start with the service at Petit Pois is amazing, they made ordering takeout so easy! The butternut squash risotto was fantastic, but the chicken and basmati rice was a bit underwhelming and lacked some spice. Other than that, the pickup order was easy to place and COVID precaution-friendly. Might have to try again soon.

Nick G.

Yelp
We'll... what to say. This used to be one of our favorite restaurants but tonight we found out how badly they suffered with the pandemic. The wine was fine. The beet and feta salad that my wife ordered, asking our waitress to kindly check that it was arugula free, as she is 911 allergic to it, duly arrived... almost completely arugula! A replacement eventually arrived with kale (the waitress told us it would be Romaine!) and some tiny little cubes of processed, very un-Greek feta. I ordered the burger, medium rare, only to be told that it only came 'pink or not pink'. I chose the pink version. When it arrived it was... grey, soggy, tasteless maybe related to a cow but not to a burger. I asked the waitress if she thought it was 'pink or not pink' and she agreed it was not pink and said sh'e'd get another one that would be, indeed, pink. She muttered something about 'sous vide' and the flag went up... so the replacement burger arrived and it was... grey, soggy, and equally tasteless. What a waste of cow; and plastic bags; and everyone's time! We won't be back in a hurry.

C C.

Yelp
Visited the Carter Orchard and decided to eat lunch at Petit Pois as the menu was interesting. We had mussels, soft shell crab and coq au vin. The bread and butter came and the butterwaswarm and whipped which was really nice and delicious the mussels and soft shell crab were very good and the coq au vin was a little gamely but pretty good.

Meg N.

Yelp
I spent a summer in Paris and this place is just as phenomenal! I went for restaurant week and got a 3 course meal for $29. I would definitely make reservations since the place is small and intimate. For starters I got the bone marrow and braised oxtail- very rich dish. For my main, I got the Bouillabaisse- seafood was tender and the sauce was decadent! For dessert, I got the flan- average. Would recommend this place for a fancy date!

Courtney H.

Yelp
A hidden gem of Charlottesville. Not many people know about it, but those who do know it's one of the best spots in Cville. Very quaint and cute in the inside with only a few tables. The chicken coco au vin dish is so tender and a classic- I am always tempted to re-order it rather than try something new. That's what I would recommend you must have when going here for the first time.

S C.

Yelp
What a consistently delightful petit bistrot in Charlottesville! The food served here is bursting with freshness. The servers are charming, helpful and not overbearing. Here you know you're eating close to local gardeners, farmers and butchers. The dishes are classically excellent. Just take as a simple example...a green salad...at Petit Pois it's so delicious, very French. The salad greens jump at you with goodness; the salad is served with goat cheese & toasted pine nuts, the dressing is wonderfully subtle. That's just for a starter. The soups are yummy and so is one of my favs, the house smoked salmon with potato cake. The mussels marinière are spot on classic and divine. And you've never ever tasted such amazing Brussels sprouts! In the summer the owner often brings in his own home grown tomatoes! Some classic main courses here are the trout amandine which is addictive...you'll order it again & again, the coq au vin in the French style...super comfort food, the crab cakes have a lot of crab, and the hanger steak is tender and absolutely delicious! Don't miss the shoe string French fries....cooked perfectly. There's a superb selection of wines and lots of fun cocktails. They serve three perfect desserts which are all fantabulous. Petit Pois is my favorite Cville restaurant. I'm sure you'll love it too! (Reserve if eating inside...!)

Rita P.

Yelp
Simply delicious! I would recommend for a nice evening out or cool date night. The food is fresh, inventive, French, colorful and unique. Sit on the patio or inside, you'll enjoy you're time at Petit Pois.

Lillian F.

Yelp
had a delightful lunch on a beautiful day in Charlottesville. loved the spring pea soup and heirloom tomatoes, trout.

Lila P.

Yelp
The specials we ordered were way better than the entrees listed on the menu. From the menu entrees, we got linguine bolognese, gnocci w/vegetables, and smoked lamb. The pasta noodles were soft, lamb was a bit gamey, and the gnocchi with the sauce was bland. They all just tasted flavorless. However, the specials were on the other side of the spectrum. The crab cakes dish were seasoned while the pork tenderloin special was tender and juciy. Why the difference? I have no idea. So if I come back next time, I would ask for the specials and order those dishes.

Phil T.

Yelp
Tonight we had another fabulous meal for our 37th wedding anniversary. Sophie you're a fantastic server. Thank you so much for your kindness. We couldn't have had anyone more wonderful to serve us tonight.

Lily W.

Yelp
Wow, must try the mussels. They melt in your mouth and the sauce is delicious. The Skate is light and crispy. Highly recommend.

Jacob S.

Yelp
The food we had was great, flavorful, well-seasoned. I was a fan of the Lamb Ragout Gnocchi, especially its sauce, even though the lamb was cooked in a way I was not expecting (cubed and a little dry, when I was expecting shredded and moist). I kept wishing for more bread to soak up the sauces of my party's other dishes. They did allow our dog to hang out with us which is a huge plus. It was also not terribly expensive for dinner, around $150 for four people with a bottle of wine. The only reason it's not a 5 star review was because of the service. It was pretty slow for a Friday night (outside seating full, indoor restaurant empty), but the wait staff still forgot things we asked for and did not check in with our table often enough.

Cameron S.

Yelp
Had a nice dinner here the other night. Everything was good but didn't wow me. Service was better than most restaurants these days with the staffing issues. Personally for a fancy dinner I prefer tavola, marigold, or one of the other restaurants around town

Ryan K.

Yelp
Great brunch on the Downtown mall! I ordered the smoked salmon tart. I enjoyed everything about this dish: the potatoes, the cream cheese, the salmon, and the greens. The brunch prices were very reasonable relative to the portion size. I would highly recommend Petit Pois for brunch.

John S.

Yelp
Best lunch in Charlottesville Hands Down. I come here quite a lot and every dish that I have tried has left me satisfied. Big fan of the trout and the butternut squash risotto. The prices relative to other restaurants of similar quality in the area are insane. I wish they were open on Mondays... The staff are friendly and always welcome me into the restaurant, I can't say the same for other places.