The Ridley

Southern restaurant (US) · Charlottesville

The Ridley

Southern restaurant (US) · Charlottesville

1

1106 W Main St, Charlottesville, VA 22903

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Highlights

Southern classics, deviled eggs, shrimp & grits, great drinks  

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1106 W Main St, Charlottesville, VA 22903 Get directions

theridleyva.com
@theridleyva

$30–50 · Menu

Reserve

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1106 W Main St, Charlottesville, VA 22903 Get directions

+1 434 984 8010
theridleyva.com
@theridleyva

$30–50 · Menu

Reserve

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Oct 10, 2025

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The Best Restaurants for Dining Out in Charlottesville, Virginia | Eater DC

"Situated inside the Draftsman Hotel, The Ridley is immersed in history, especially that of its namesake, Dr. Walter N. Ridley, “the first Black student to graduate from The University of Virginia and receive a graduate degree from any major historically white public university in the South.” The Ridley’s lunch and dinner menus feature riffs on Southern classics, including deviled eggs, cajun oysters, and shrimp and grits." - Stephanie Ganz

https://dc.eater.com/maps/best-bars-restaurants-bakeries-charlottesville-dining-guide
View Postcard for The Ridley

Rob G

Google
We ate both dinner and breakfast here. Two excellent meals! And the service was great! One server, Gail, was a UVA student, engaging and attentive and smart. The supervisor, Twanda, checked on us as we were eating breakfast. We got into a discussion about grits, and upon learning my wife's view of them, RAN into the kitchen to bring her a small bowl of the Ridley's. She has now become a grits fan. My omelet, big enough to feed two, was just cooked to perfection. One item to change . . . the bar's signature Old Fashioned is made with Jim Beam . . . I told the bartender they needed to up their game, and she completely agreed . . . I had Knob Creek in mine. In any case, don't miss a visit here!

Isabel Lindsey

Google
My husband and I were scoping out new brunch places and the Ridley is by far the best weve been to in charlottesville. Honor was our server and he was very attentive and sweet. The food and cocktails are some of the best I have ever had. Definitely recommend coming here if you’re ever in the area. Its worth it!

Nichole Wilder-Brown

Google
It was our first visit there and a nice experience. The host and waitress made us welcome and answered all questions. We look forward to returning when back in that area.

Ram Chico

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

Antoine Covington

Google
Celebrated our 23rd anniversary at the Ridley. Everything was amazing, waiter, Edward was a young man and amazing! He was very patient with us as we figured out our order. Only downside was the greens were spicy (please remove the spicy element.. because the flavor was great!) and our friends didn’t like the deviled eggs. My salmon pasta was simply divine!!!! My husband’s lamb shank was tender and very good. My friend’s husband had the chicken and waffles and he loved it. Great place to eat and we will be back!!!! Atmosphere was elegant and perfect for our anniversary dinner. Great service, meal and ambience!!! Thank you!! ❤️❤️❤️ )

Chris P

Google
Not worth the money. Fried green tomatoes were undercooked and under-seasoned, cold on the inside with wet batter and hard exterior. Not worth $17. Pasta had brittle texture and the sauce was really loose. Flavor was good, but the dish was worth maybe $15-18. not the $29 we paid. It goes for $23 total with just chicken or sausage, but we got both and paid extra. Not even close to worth it. Deviled eggs were really good, but basic. Just egg yolk and mayo for filling with a sprinkle of chives and candied bacon on top. Very good flavor, but it was $10 for two eggs (four halves). On the plus side, servers were great and atmosphere was really nice. Fancy with jazz music and open bay door with cool breeze coming in; however, I would not return due to food quality and high price.

Patricia Redmond

Google
Food was good but nothing to rave over. Crab cake was fresh. But the plate was a bit cluttered with sauteed vegetables. No sauce for the crab cake. My friend enjoyed the shrimp and grits. Staff was attentive and nice

Cathryne Whitten

Google
We met family here for Father's Day. It had been chosen entirely because it was the midway point for us all. We had no prior recommendations but what a lovely surprise! The design is very pleasing with lots of windows and open spaces and the food was wonderful! We had everything from steak to grits to French toast and beyond. The cocktails were creative and delicious. Our server could not hands been nicer. We all ended up hugging her when we left! There is valet parking available which prices out at $5 after getting your ticket stamped. Highly recommend this place!
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Maralyn H.

Yelp
The restaurant is conveniently located at the Draftsman Hotel, a 10minute walk from the Rotunda at University of Virginia. Our table servers were lovely. Prices were similar to big-city hotel prices, probably a little higher than some in the area. Food quality and quantity were excellent. Servers were attentive and friendly. Very clean, too.
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Kim W.

Yelp
The experience began by waiting for 10 + minutes for someone to acknowledge us. I watched as the servers whispered about who was going to wait on us. Charlotte was chosen and she had an attitude the entire time. The food was horrible and slow to arrive. The cornbread was blah. The deviled eggs were also blah. Our entrees were supposed to be "blackened", but arrived burned, instead. Wr ended up getting them removed from the bill, but the process was difficult and they made it seem like we were the problem. We should have just eaten inedible food and liked it. Our server was upset that we complained about it. The service should have been better. We observed them all goofing off, in a group, instead of waiting on people. I would warn people not to go here. The food and service are awful. Marriott should have them removed. It is a black eye for the company. I expect so much more.
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Kevin S.

Yelp
Pretty good food; very very slow service & kitchen. We came for the Christmas day prix fixe, and our 3:30 reservation took until almost 7. Considering the last seating was at 5, I felt awful for the staff. We had intended to order a bottle of wine with dinner, and after-dinner cocktails, but when our pre-meal cocktails (an old fashioned and a straight whiskey - not exactly rocket science) took a half hour we decided to skip having any further drinks. The portions are large - a little too big for a high end coursed meal - but the food was good. Salmon was well cooked, but a little under-salted; the pasta was excellent. I want to love this place - an upscale black-owned restaurant - but a meal shouldn't take four hours, especially a holiday meal with a limited menu, unless I'm choosing to take my time.
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Daniel V.

Yelp
Ordered the Poy boy and Nashville hot per the waitresses recommendation and both were tasty. Both not too big, decent portions. The Nashville chicken sandwich had a little sweetness to it. They make their ranch in house so you gotta have it to dip your fries in. It's a really nice vibe, a lot of sunlight inside, great place to get friends together for brunch. They have a bar with a couple tvs that's separate from the main dining area too if you want to catch a game and have a beer or cocktail. Also several outdoor tables, perfect if the weather is nice.
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Justin N.

Yelp
Had dinner here and tried the restaurant week menu-- three courses for $35. I thought the deal was great! The food wasn't the best I've ever had but I thought it was good for the price. The inside of the restaurant is spacious and similar to a lot of newer hotel restaurants/ bars. For the first course, I tried the Fried Green Tomatoes. These were tasty and I would get these again. For the second course, I ordered the Bourbon Street Pasta with Blackened Salmon. The pasta was overcooked, but the blackened salmon was perfectly cooked. For the third course, the Creme Brulee was good, but I wasn't a fan of the cinnamon they added to it. I appreciate that the Ridley is Black-owned and pays homage to Dr. Walter Ridley, the first Black student to graduate from UVA. I'm interested in coming back to try the other dishes on the menu.
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Savannah H.

Yelp
Came here in a weird afternoon lull as UVA Hospital visitors and sat at the bar for a late lunch but both both and interior are well designed. Good selection of wine and good happy hour. The golden beet salad with steak was phenomenal (some might not like the well done cook on the steak but it was perfect for me). Our bartender could have used a barback or second bartender but she held with own with a big pre wedding crowd. Would go back!
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Andi W.

Yelp
First off our server David was amazing! I got their martini but with gin and for the second one he made me a pomegranate martini that was so good I could have gotten 10 of them! I also had their deviled eggs that had candied bacon on top so of course they were amazing and a great little bite to have while sipping on cocktails. Def glad we stopped in before heading up to our room for the night.
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Mrst W.

Yelp
Was really disappointed the food was not what we expected. The appetizers were good and the drinks were good as well. The entrees were not as flavorful like we thought
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Serena X.

Yelp
First off, just want to say we had great service here. Our waiter was attentive and gave us wonderful wine and appetizer suggestions. The skillet cornbread and Brussels sprouts were delicious. However, I ordered the salmon with white beans for the main course, and it was unfortunately disappointing. The salmon was and beans were alright, but lacked flavor. The peas seemed undercooked and almost crispy? I also got a cheesecake for dessert to share, and it was nothing special, and not quite as rich as I would typically expect for cheesecake. I did appreciate how it wasn't too sweet. Overall would give them more of 2.5 - extremely pricy for the lack of quality.
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Rich G.

Yelp
Dinner here with the fam. Convenient to UVA. Nice interior. Quiet. Fast and friendly service. My wife went with vegetarian options. I tried the duck confit gnocchi. Older daughter had salmon and youngest daughter had mac and cheese. Starters were corn bread and brussels sprouts. All good. Small wine list.

Joe S.

Yelp
Not worth what they are charging. Terrible service. Food and drinks were meh. Ambiance is nice The hostess kindly sat us down and brought us water, which communicated that our server may have been busy. She also took our drink order so we didn't have to wait that long. Drinks came to us not too long after. But a different server brought the drink, dropped it off without saying a single word. (Not the type of service at this level of restaurant) The actual server came maybe 5min after we got our drink. We ordered a oysters, Rockefeller oysters and the fried green tomatoes. Held off on entrees to see what we were feeling after the apps. They took forever; waited about 25-30min. Had to ask where our food was, gave ourselves a 10min countdown before we were gonna leave. They could've just brought the raw oysters and told us they were backed up. We would've been fine if they communicated. We ordered another round of drinks which was bland. Food was meh/bland.
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Jonathan W.

Yelp
Really good food, nice chill atmosphere and great service. Definitely recommend if you're near "the corner".

Ron T.

Yelp
I hate to waste any more time with this restaurant. If you were my friend and you told me you wanted to go out for an evening that it is not absolutely highjacked by horrendous service at a restaurant where no one NO ONE seemed invested in the establishment or your experience. I would say keep looking and avoid The Ripley. Period
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Emma E.

Yelp
I've been into the Ridley a few times and the food and service have been amazing! There are a couple of good servers I've had but Angela was definitely the best. She did a fantastic job! As for food, the fried Brussels sprout appetizer is amazing and we all liked it. Cornbread is pretty good as well. It is pricey but honestly not anymore than most places in cville at this point. Portions are very generous. For dinner, I've had the shrimp and grits and they are AMAZING. I've not had anything in cville that even comes close. The gravy is so good. I also really like the pork chop and the fried green tomatoes. There isn't a ton of options if you are a vegan or vegetarian, just as a heads up. The drinks are also really great, they have a really large selection of wine by the glass and bottle, and the cocktails are quality. There is a good amount of beer available too. I haven't noticed too many local people in here, it seems like mostly out of towners but it is a great spot for cville folks who haven't been yet. Just as a heads up, parking can get REALLY rough as it's on Main Street - you'll have to figure this out yourself. It sounds like the Draftsman Hotel (which the Ridley shares a building with) has a valet service but I'm not sure the cost. Otherwise, you'll have to fend for yourself on Main Street. Well worth it, dining room is clean, service is friendly and food was delicious. Would definitely recommend!

L M.

Yelp
The food was just okay. Staff was very sweet though and the place is very clean. Probably wouldn't go back:/
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Val T.

Yelp
I love the fact they donate some of their profits to good causes. The food is pretty typical for an upscale hotel restaurant.
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Denise G.

Yelp
We were hesitant to try The Ridley due to some reviews, but went anyway to see for ourselves. WOW! This place is fantastic! We had no issues with service, our food was delicious and the atmosphere was perfect for a romantic dinner. We dined on a weekday night, so the place wasn't busy and our server was very attentive. The oysters Rockefeller and Brussels sprouts were amazing. We also had the shrimp and grits and braised lamb shank. Both were massive portions and cooked perfectly. The lamb was so tender it fell off the bone. We will absolutely be back when we find ourselves in C'Ville again.
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Derek L.

Yelp
Came here to celebrate a birthday and we had a great time. This place isn't high end luxury but has that boujee feeling to it. In terms of food, the salmon was great. Don't get me wrong about that. Cooked perfectly and the rice and chickpeas were a great pair. However it tasted and looked very lackluster and generic. For 28$, my pallet just wasn't satisfied.
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Mike R.

Yelp
We had a nice dinner at the Ridley. Service was great. We've been in the Charlottesville area for about a decade and it was nice to have another option. Nice setting near UVa.

David R.

Yelp
First time here. Ordered the ribs and they came out cold like they were just pulled from a refrigerator. Sent them back and after quote of a bit of a wait the server brought a new order out that appeared to be overly microwaved and chewy. Can't blame the server as he tried hard but the food was awful. Will never come back.
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Lincoln T.

Yelp
The Ridley is a moderately fancy establishment a little ways from the Charlottesville corner. The prices are high, but the food is pretty good. I tried the shrimp and grits, which were tastefully seasoned and very filling.
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David A.

Yelp
Great atmosphere, coupled with decent food (albeit cold), wrapped up in inexperienced service, and washed down with horrendous drinks - David A. I really try to avoid bad or even mid star reviews. But my family and I are in town to celebrate a wedding and wanted to try The Ridley out for dinner. We were able to make a reservation on open table for a Friday night at the time we wanted which was great. We were seated right away, and greeted with water and our waitress fairly quickly. Hurriedly, she said she would be right back to take our drink order... at least 20 minutes later, we finally make eye contact and she rushes over and verbatim says "I'm so sorry, I completely forgot about you" .... yikes! At this point we've wised up to what's going on and luckily knew to put our drink and dinner orders at the same time. We get the food before our drinks, never a good sign... my lobster roll was okay, but the fries were cold. Dad's burger was good, cooked how he likes but nothing special, his fries were warm. Mom's salad was good, but needed pepper, it took another 10 minutes to get our waitress to come back for something simple. Finally, our drinks were made and brought out over 1/2 way through dinner (this is about 30 minutes after we've ordered them). Again, our waitress rushes over "I'm sorry for the delay, our bartenders are terrible" sets the drinks down and then rushes off to God knows where, because she wasn't checking on other tables either. The thing I'd been looking forward to after a long day of travel was their Old Fashioned (my favorite and go to cocktail), presentation was good but the drink was unfortunately mixed terribly, took one sip and didn't touch the drink after. For $21 you expect it to at least taste correct. Another 15 minutes or so after we've finished our meal we have to flag her down yet again to get our check. Another table locally was waiting to pay their bill for at least 20-25 minutes for her to come back. Overall, the experience was a letdown and I feel like with a different and more experienced waitress the meal and experience could have been salvaged.
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Angela R.

Yelp
Came to the Ridley for food and drinks the night before the JMU (Go Dukes) & UVA game with my cousin and her college roommate. What an amazing atmosphere and service by Twanda was stellar! I didn't get a chance to take pics of the food cause we were a bit hungry. We had the deviled eggs, brussell sprouts, corn bread, Cobb salad with chicken & Cajun pasta with blackened salmon. Drinks were superb- and one margarita was enough for me!!! We ran into some folks (celebrating a wedding) who were kindred spirits and enjoyed great conversation. I'd definitely come back here the next time I'm in Charlottesville!
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Synphane G.

Yelp
The Ridley was great that night! I loved the classic aesthetic of the place. The service was amazing! I wish I remembered my servers name because she was really sweet. Lastly the food CHILE...so flavorful. I'm not vegetarian but I don't regret ordering the fried green tomatoes as my entree. I also tried the shrimp po boy and oysters Rockefeller, both tasty dishes. I had 2 drinks, the pomegranate blossom and the Dr. Ridley's Legacy, both were good, but I would definitely do back repeatedly for the latter.
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Jessi S.

Yelp
The Ridley is always taking good care of their healthcare workers! On Mondays, they have drink specials with ID and just recently I received a 50% off coupon to use. I have been here for late night drinks before, it's a really nice vibe to sit out on the patio and people watch the college kids walk by. I tried their chicken biscuit on brunch and it was delicious! The chicken was fried perfectly, the salty sauce was yummy, and their biscuit was huge and didn't crumble under the pressure. The poached egg, unfortunately, was cooked hard, so it didn't spill over my dish as I liked. This dish is about $20, so it is definitely on the pricier side- I probably would never have gone to eat here if I didn't have the discount!
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Jim L.

Yelp
We came to C'ville for a long weekend getaway for my wife for Mothers Day. I have read reviews on The Ridley on several different platforms and they seem to be good to very good. I dug a little deeper and a lot of those reviews were at the bar, which makes sense. We came in and it was like a ghost town, but everything took 20 minutes. Drinks, order, food, check, check receipt....the servers were nice enough, but lacked direction. The food was NOT good. My chicken biscuit breakfast was fried within an inch of its life. The avocado toast my wife had was ok, but the poached eggs were slimy. My daughters French toast was the best part of the meal. I would not come back here. Nice enough people terrible food.

Mandira S.

Yelp
The food...fantastic...best cornbread ever ! Great decor ! Superb service by Angela Thank you Julie for helping us celebrate our second marriage anniversary And Chef S in the pink !....you were amazing ! We is coming back ! Mandira & Chris
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Dave F.

Yelp
In town with a work group, we had a large party totaling 18 people for dinner on 2/21/23. We were told The Ridley could accommodate, but we were given a special shortened menu, with limited selections. Each person was responsible for their dinner, state per diem rules. The location from our hotel was walking distance..perfect location. The ambiance was very nice. A few of us arrived early and had an adult beverage prior to dinner. Very nice and relaxing at the bar. Our large group arrived and was seated at two separate tables, with two completely different servers. So basically they broke us up into a party of 8? Which was surprising to me. So tell me why do we need to order from shortened menu, with a party of 8? Servers wouldn't budge, even though we were now a party of 8 people, with 1 check for each group. Keep in mind we had 2 separate servers. Pretty disappointed with this process. Overall the food was average, nice portions. Our server was less than stellar, took along time to get our drinks to table and to take our order. I haf th cajun pasta and added blackened chicken. Food came, and the chicken was not blackened at all. Server made a comment it had sear marks..? Our other group had some food cooking temp issues with chicken. Our group had to insist with their server it wasnt prepared to proper cooking temp and chicken had visible signs of red colors. The dish was Sent back to finish cooking and after 30 minutes passed the food came back out. By this time every person in the party had finished eating. This person was very upset and her server did nothing to make it right. I'm being very generous with a 2 star rating. I feel the setup for out group was not right..the service was less than adequate and the food prices for this lack of food options, quality and service was horrific. The Ridley was very disappointing for the amount of money being spent by their customers. Thank You Dave F....very sad customer!
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Jay M.

Yelp
I an in town for work and staying at the attached Marriott The food here is very good. And pricing is great (I figured it would be Marriott pricing but surprise, its not) Great bourbon selection (had my faves so, thats great for me) My server Sarah (with an H) was great even when busy she kept organized. She is also a good reference for other pubs and such. I enjoyed my breakfasts as well (included w my Titanium status) I will be back!! Thanks All :)
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Kesia J.

Yelp
We had a reservation for 6pm but we're very thankful they were able to accommodate us an hour early. The staff was very friendly and the food was tasty. My only complaint is that our server only came to the table to take our order and drop our food. She never checked to see if everything was okay or if we needed water. This would've been more understandable had the restaurant been busy but we were 1 of only a few tables there at 5pm. Definitely worth a visit but I hope the feedback is received and they try to be a bit more attentive.
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Stewart L.

Yelp
Wow. What a disappointment. This was in our hotel and we made a reservation the night we arrived. Restaurant was dead. Kind of cold decor. The staff was young and inexperienced. Seemed like they were missing management. Food was a MAJOR disappointment. Brussel sprouts that seem to have been cooked earlier in the day and reheated. Shrimp and grits that were overly spicy and curdled. No creamy here. Cobb salad that was tasteless. Cornbread that was dense and undercooked. Again. Clearly precooked and reheated - or not reheated as the case may be. I usually avoid bad reviews, but this restaurant is on many top 10 lists. It should NOT BE. Sorry Ridley.
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Sarah C.

Yelp
Delicious options and Ellie wonderful service! I added salmon to my beet salad - wow such a perfect pairing. The salmon was cooked perfectly with a crisp top. My prospective college student sob gobbled up his chicken and waffle and added this to the pro list for why UVA is a good choice. My cousin had the penne pasta which was cooked perfectly with a light sauce which left her satisfied without pasta guilt!
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Leslie V.

Yelp
The bar is attached to the Draftsman Hotel - The Ridley? I would NOT recommend. 1. We sat at a high top and the guy (I refuse to call him a bartender) looked at us. I said, Do you need us to come up and order? He shook his head Yes. 2. My husband walked up to order and I said our table needs a wipedown. He gave a dry rag to my husband to give to me. 3. Then my husband asked about a dark beer for me and he handed him a bottle of the only one they had. (I guess so we could decide??) I said yes, that'll be great and we ordered. My husband came over to sit down and the guy called him over to come and get his drink. (There are 4 other people in this entire bar) My hubby said, "This is pretty hard on your tip."He just stared at him. 4. We are excited about returning the kindnesses by showing him how it actually affects his tip. (We are only having one drink, obviously!) I texted my daughter, who lives here and works at the UVA Cancer Center. This was her reply: I've been there once and had the EXACT same experience. I went with like 4 or 5 colleagues after work and we all said we would never go there again. And we all spread the news about the Ridley. Pretty dumb of them because they're right next to the hospital so it would be a great spot but their service is awful and down right rude. Enough said.

Kelly D.

Yelp
Horrible service, poor management, cold food. Very disappointing!!! There are so many wonderful restaurants in Charlottesville!! Avoid this one!!
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Andy N.

Yelp
The Ridley was always on my list to try. And it did not disappoint. While a bit pricy, you get everything that you pay for. The flavors are explosive in every aspect. Presentation was phenomenal. And this is an incredible place to treat yourself every once-in-a-while. I can not rave about this place enough. It was absolutely delicious, and I look forward to coming back and trying their other items.
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John V.

Yelp
We had high expectations for this restaurant, but found it was hit or miss depending on the dish... Oysters were ok, but found lots of small shell pieces and a bit gritty. The old fashioned included pomegranate juice, which added a sweet flavor, but wasn't our favorite. Cornbread was good & sharable size. The shrimp and grits... spot on and would bring us back! The burger was fine and the fries were tasty. The service was a little off tonight. Nice people, but had to ask for our server a couple of times.

David S.

Yelp
Cold food, one step down from Denny's. Not an experienced service staff. Ambiance was fine but overall extremely disappointing.
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Matt F.

Yelp
As others have said, Sarah is the star of Ridley, her charm and mixology prowess are most impressive. Her drinks sparkle, unlike the mediocre fare and service that somewhat dims Ridley's overall shine. A visit is warranted for her alone - a true gem in an otherwise ordinary restaurant experience.
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Jessica W.

Yelp
The bartender, Sarah, is great! After a few not-so-great encounters at this restaurant, she was a refreshing personality who provided great service!! Definitely promote!

Chuck P.

Yelp
The food was good and the service was great. Sarah was our server and she was very attentive and gave us some good suggestions to include brunch cocktail choices. Had the Cobb salad with grilled shrimp and crispy brussel sprouts. The salad was just the right size and tasted great. The brussel sprouts were good but a little sweet. Recommend this place for brunch and cocktails.

Charles S.

Yelp
The Ridley provides the room service for the Draftsman hotel. I called them directly and ordered a Caesar salad and a rib-eye, substitute asparagus for potatoes - pretty standard order. The woman who took my order was nice, which is half the reason for the second star. I got a gruff return call about 10 minutes later from some guy. First question: "Did you order room service?" Yes, I did. "We are completely out of steaks, do you want anything else?" Um you have like 5 entrees, how can you be out of one? His answer: "Well, everything is fresh." OK, makes no sense, they don't require advance prep just having them on hand, but whatever. I asked for crab cakes instead. He didn't respond, just hung up on me. The food actually did arrive about 20 minutes later, but it was stone cold, the crab cake had so little crab it was more like a biscuit, no flavor, and there was no asparagus in sight. The Caesar was worse than prepackaged salad, tasteless. The woman who delivered my order was nice too, which is the other half of the reason for the second star. In sum, food is horrible, and something must be really off with management to get that phone call I did. Avoid.
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Jessica M.

Yelp
The Ridley will always have a special place in our hearts and our stomachs we've been coming here for a couple of years now and they honestly never disappoint. The menu has changed a bit over time and as much as i miss some of the old dishes, the new items are just as delicious. I highly recommend the crab cakes. Almost all crab lump meat, very little filler, and seasoned to perfection. And if you have room for dessert, the bread pudding is out of this world!
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Christine F.

Yelp
My husband and I were excited about trying out this restaurant. It's really nice inside so I had high hopes. I have food sensitivities so when I asked if my pork chop could be cooked with olive oil, the server had to go to the kitchen and ask. She came back and said their olive oil was 90% soybean oil. I cannot tolerate soy. I asked her again to check to see if there was any real olive oil in the restaurant. She checked again and said no. Apparently, they only use cheap vegetable oils, which are inflammatory to me. I understand many restaurants use cheap oil, but I've never been to a restaurant this nice that had ZERO real olive oil. Every time we eat out at a nice place, I always ask for olive oil. I've never had a problem. I'm not sure what the Ridley is doing but they should try cooking with quality oils that make food taste better. My husband and I walked out.
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Kelli G.

Yelp
Came in town for a bachelorette trip and stopped in for brunch! Lots of drinks on tap to choose from, not pictured is a delicious sour I got! I'm a big deviled eggs gal so we got those for the table. I had French toast with bacon on the side and it was delicious.
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Tom M.

Yelp
Was not a very desirable dining experience. First off, we pulled into the Valet parking, and they told us that parking was for hotel guests only, and that we would have to find a parking garage which was a couple blocks away. That's crap. He did show us a lot across the way which was sketchy at best. Next we checked in with the hostess and as we were walking to our table she asked if we wouldn't mind sharing a menu. Really.....out of menu's. She seated us at a small table and we asked if we could have the table near the window so we can keep an eye on the lot where our car was parked. The floor manager came by and said that that table was reserved and people had reservations and were waiting. I said, we had reservations too, and she (Kim is her name) rudely insisted that we take our table because the other table was reserved. At that point we almost walked out...We opted to at least try the cuisine. After a few minutes, the server finally came, by that time we had all our choices made. I ordered the Ribeye and my wife ordered the Crab Cakes. (all different than online menu) My wife orders a white wine with her entrée and I ordered a Cabernet Sauvignon with mine. She got her White and I also received a white. As she was scurrying away I called her back and told her I ordered a red. She said let me check to see what you ordered. Really....I know what I ordered and a cab is a red. She came back and said the Bartender made the mistake. The food did come a little over 10 minutes from order (we had a timer going) which was impressive. My wife said the crab cakes were pretty good and my ribeye was good, not great and a restaurant of this caliber ought to be. The steak was on top the mashed potatoes and asparagus and when I went to cut the steak and the mashed potatoes oozed out from under the steak and all the steak juice was in the potatoes which I would rather pool on the place to swab my bites in. In summary, sounds like the restaurant is for guests only, based on no parking for outsiders. Kim the floor manager is rude and there were not enough menu's. Food was good, not great, which a restaurant of this caliber should present. By the way, at the time we were leaving, nobody was ever seated at the table by the window we requested. They merged it with another table which STILL, nobody was sitting at when we left. So Kim lied to us! No reservations for a small table. We will never return!
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J E.

Yelp
While staying in C'ville I came here one evening for an appetizer and a couple of drinks. I sat at the bar and was immediately given menus, though I wasn't greeted. The bartender seemed to be pre-occupied much of the time, but was attentive once I got his attention. They have an interesting menu and also offer cocktails ad wine. The food I saw others get was really nice looking and my brussel sprouts were excellent! The cocktail he made me was really good too. Prices are ok, a little on the high side. I did like the vibe here, seems like a great place to hang with friends or come for a date. I'd return.

Joshua Y.

Yelp
Brunch For basic eaters with a desire to feel upscale. Unique menu items: No Ambiance: 3.5 out of 5 Service: 3 of 5 What would Gordon Ramsay say: " #%!* Pathetic attempt at cooking classic dishes." Price for food quality: 1 of 5 There is nothing on this menu that stands out as unique. Nothing about the food seemed freshly made, which can be fine for some people. Seeing as this place is attached to a hotel, it makes sense why everything comes prepackaged and then assembled. If you are an experienced eater desiring uniqueness and flavor, this isn't for you. If you want to impress your friends who don't get out much or want to be off the hook for picking the restaurant for outings, this is for you.

Sarah R.

Yelp
Great food and service!! Went in for late lunch and the vibe was perfect. It's a very nice place that gets great natural light and has a chill ambiance. Walking distance from UVA. The french fries were amazing, and the Three Notch'd Ridley beer was incredible! I told all of my friends about the Ridley IPA. We absolutely adored our server, Anna. Super bubbly and energetic. She was friendly, attentive, and prompt. Will be going back for sure!
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Caitlin C.

Yelp
Such a gem! We had a brunch reservation, but were happily seated early! Wonderful atmosphere, live piano music and outstanding service! The chef checked on every patron to ensure they were pleased with their meal, and the waitstaff was so attentive and friendly! The quality of food blew me away and the price point was incredibly reasonable!
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Dina L.

Yelp
The Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich. Outstanding! So yummy and juicy. All white meat! Try it