The Whiskey Jar

I absolutely love this place!! The bartenders were amazing. My wife and I were celebrating our 2 year anniversary and they gave us a complimentary first round! I had the smoked old fashioned and my wife had smoked apple mule and both were wonderful. My wife had the chicken sandwich with fries and it was so dam good lol I had the cheeseburger salad woth goat cheese ranch and it was simple but tasted wonderful. So many selections of burbon/whisky, scotch, and beer! The bathrooms were clean aswell as the restaurant. They have outside seating and there open late which it kinda turns into a little club vibe. I highly recommend to stop at this restaurant every time your at the downtown mall.

We went here for the live music. Special shout out to Matthew O'Donnell for the invigorating energy and amazing music. Spent hours in the place just for the music. Its mind blowing how many instruments he played! Its ljke a magician who gets out a different instrument every two minutes. Unexpectedly, the food was also quite nice. The vegetarian burger might feel slightly dry, but less so than most other american burgers. The hummus and veggies were great and healthy. Although, I wonder from the huge size of the veggies whether they are gmo. The hummus tho has a brilliant taste! Moreover, one of the most lively place in the downtown. Love it!

I've lived in Charlottesville for nearly five years and have been to The Whiskey Jar a handful of times. It never disappoints. Excellent cocktail menu, always excellent service and good food. Whenever I have out-of-town guests, I make sure they get the local flavor and Whiskey Jar is always on the itinerary.

The bourbon selection is pretty fantastic at the whiskey jar and the staff were great. We stopped in on the way through town and had a few local brews and had some dinner. On a recommendation from the server, I got the BLT and it was unquestionably the best one I’ve ever had. The kids had grilled cheese and they were also raving about it. We had to wait about 25 minutes to get a seat outside, but that’s probably because we showed up around 6pm on a Friday night. I’ll definitely stop here the next time I’m in Charlottesville.

I’ve been here before to go to the bar and enjoy live music, but didn’t realize they had an entire robust menu! On top of that, the food is excellent! Got the beet salad and it was very good! Going to try the chicken sandwich next and will update if I do.

Very cool vibe! Plus it has fantastic BBQ, amazing whiskey and craft beer choices and great service. Will definitely go back!

Good experience with attentive staff and decent food - nothing to write home about. The Wilson sandwich was tasty and the house salad was good (w/ shrimp). The drink were a bit strong for my taste.

Dining at The Whiskey Jar was an experience that left a lasting impression. From the moment of arrival, the welcoming atmosphere set the tone for a wonderful meal. The staff provided excellent service, attentive without being intrusive, friendly, and eager to ensure everything was perfect. Their genuine hospitality made the visit feel relaxed and personal, which is rare in many restaurants today. The real highlight, however, was the food. The menu showcased Southern-inspired flavors with a modern touch, and every bite delivered. The catfish sandwich stood out among the offerings it was perfectly cooked, lightly crisp on the outside, and tender within. The seasoning was on point, allowing the natural flavor of the catfish to shine through, complemented by fresh toppings and a soft, toasted bun. The side dishes were equally impressive, especially the fries, which were golden and perfectly salted. The overall dining experience felt both comfortable and elevated a blend of casual charm and culinary quality. The Whiskey Jar is the kind of place that invites you to linger a little longer, savoring the balance of good service, excellent food, and genuine Southern warmth. It’s definitely a spot worth revisiting.

5 ate for $117 before tip and including appetizer and no alcohol - smoked wings are absolutely on point! Nice service - speedy service - food out quick - Nice inside - bathroom one hole (2) total - homeless fella camped out over 20 minutes - hipster vibe around the whole place - Do Note: LARGE homeless population everywhere - businesses partly to blame for this for voting in local government that doesn't keep it cleaned up - wish we'd know that before coming but no one on Yelp mentioned that detail. Food solid - daytime place for us- to each his own

Last drink of the night. The Old Fashioned hit the spot. We sat outside and people watched while enjoying our time.

Came to this restaurant while touring Charlottesville with friends. We were at the restaurant an early dinner in the early afternoon. The restaurant was empty of customers and only a couple of guys at the bar. The waitress came to our table and took our drink order along with out food order. The drinks didn't arrive for about twenty minutes. After the delivery of the drinks, the waitress didn't return to our table to take a second or subsequent drink orders. Finally, the drinks arrived and we waited for the food. There are a lot of local craft beers on the list, along with a wide selection of whiskies. Would have been fun to try some, but we never really had service at out table. This bar is Irish themed and Irish folk music is played on the sound system, loudly. Not bad, but you do h a very to speak up during conversations. The food arrived and was ,"just okay". I had the fried chicken sandwich, my friends had the burger. My wife had the grilled chicken sandwich. All meals came with fries. The service needs to step up their game. It was not busy at all and the wait staff were more interesting in socializing with each other than tending to the customers. Also, the food was delivered warm, it probably had been sitting under a light for some time. This place has great potential, but changes in service staffs priorities need to happen. Not impressed with this place, but if you decide to give them a try, I hope your experiences are better than ours.

Was super excited to eat here.. fell pretty short. Everything was lukewarm, didn't seem seasoned well. Went with two other ppl and none of us rlly liked anything :((

This was the worst bar/restaurant of our entire trip! I'm not sure anyone in this place knows what they're doing. First things first there were two other guests in the entire bar. At least 8 employees that we saw. And it still took a good 15 minutes to get to us. Our waitress seemed to absolutely despise her job and loathe being there. She took our drink order, we waited. Then she finally took our food order. All apps. And only three of us in our party. We ordered the Alston's bbq Mac n cheese, smoked chicken wings, the pimento cheese platter, the hush puppies and biscuits, and the Brussels sprouts side, and the bbq nachos. 25 minutes later the waitress comes back with the pimento cheese and the hush puppies/biscuits. That's it. Another 25 minutes, nothing. We finally say something and she says "oh I thought I was forgetting something". By then we'd been there over an hour, got the two worst apps on the menu, and never even got our drinks refilled. All while 8 employees stood around twiddling their thumbs. Never again. Sad we were looking forward to this place. Absolute letdown.

We have been here twice and both times the food didn't taste good at all, our fried chicken had absolutely no flavor, and looked horrible. The waiter didnt even look at us once, and she was very rude during our time. The place was so loud inside that you have to yell to even have a small conversation! Would not recommend ever.

Great chicken wings, phenomenal chicken sandwich (up there with the best in all of cville), and apple pie whiskey is an absolute delight. Ambiance of this place is spectacular and outdoor seating is among the best on the downtown mall. Would absolutely recommend to a friend.

The live music was so good I had to stop for a bit on my way by. I didn't eat, but the food looked great. The whiskey selection was really impressive! Solid craft beer choices too. Really cool historic space and great service.

The restaurant is so cute and the food is amazing! I absolutely love the cornbread and have to get it every time. I'm also a huge fan of the blackened catfish. This past time I got the oyster poboy with the broccoli salad and both of those were so good.

Came highly reviewed when we were in town for wedding, and my lovely fiance and I were so glad we decided to have lunch and drinks here before the ceremony. Food was delicious - my po' boy was fantastic. Awesome beer list, including a number of local craft options I had never had or seen before. The cornbread side was worth traveling back for! My fiance enjoyed her salad, and next time we will go back for drinks and to hang. Great vibe, great spot. And obviously, an incredible whiskey selection! Love this place!

Was in Charlottesville, VA for a holiday and this was our first stop. They were decorated for the holidays and it gave a good cozy vibe! In terms of menu, they have a good selection of southern style foods with sandwiches and entrees. Their main thing is the whiskey and they have a large array to choose from! Had the Jar Salad for my meal that was delicious! It's rather medium sized and plenty filling! Our waitress was pretty attentive and answered our questions that we had as first-timers! Definitely recommend this spot!

My food was awesome! I got the hickory smoked wings tossed in peach chipotle. The next best thing was the live music. I was far enough away for it to not be annoying. The service was off, just a little bit, with too much time between check ins. Overall, I'd recommend.

One of my favorite places in Charlottesville their food is consistent and delicious!! The fried oyster po boy is one of my favorite things on the menu and it's fantastic...seasoned well, crispy oysters, nice ratio of bread to filling. 10/10! They also have an amazing selection of whisky and their ham biscuits and grits are divine

My favorite restaurant in Charlottesville. Great BBQ, great drinks, great vibes. I always get the pulled pork nachos!

Fabulous place to throw a private party! We hosted a Wedding Welcome Dinner here at the end of last month and could not have been more pleased with our choice! The staff was very accommodating, friendly to us as hosts and to our guestsm efficient, and energetic. Everything served was delicious; our guests were raving about the food.

The place was packed as there was a football game earlier, but service was still pretty good. The blackened catfish was very tasty and not too spicy for the Mrs and my shrimp and grits it just the right amount of kick. And there was a decent amount of shrimp as well as a large piece of catfish. Mint julep and upgraded old-fashioned were both very good, love the prune in the drink...... Glad we stopped here!

We were going to another place, never found it and ended up here. Very glad we did. The ambiance is off the charts. A very cool whiskey bar with live music on this night. The "band" was two guys one on keyboard, one on drums. They were awesome playing everything from soul music to billy Joel to Johnny cash. The interior has great high ceilings and is dominated by the bar and all the Whitley bottles. Service was good I saw another reviewer did not like the apple mule but I really enjoyed it. They have great mixed drinks and quite selection of whiskeys and bourbons. The food was b to b+ . I had the shrimp and grits. It was solid with 6 large shrimp and a nice sauce peppers and onions. My wife had the oyster po boy very good version and huge. The brownie for desert was excellent if you love chocolate try it

Slow moving. We sat at a table in the bar area and after 10 min of no one visiting our table some stools opened up so we moved to the bar. Another 5 before the bartender made it over to us and there were only a few people at the bar. New Bartender didn't think they had the cider which was listed as a special. So we decided to leave after our drinks and then an awesome female bartender showed up and was very helpful and got us the cider and 2 more whiskeys. We'll give them another try next time we are in town. Some of the whiskey is very reasonable. (Some is ridiculous but that's everywhere.)

The wait time sucked but hey. It was worth the wait. The transition from restaurant to full on bar is not that smooth but it is what it is for a college town. We were seated last and there were some bumps in the road. I'm not sure I would call this strip and grits but call me classic. It was good and have good flavor. The pork chop was under cooked. No surprise with the time of night but it's the first cover and the last cover you should make sure it's all right. The service was good although bumps in the road with the transition to the full on bar. But it was ok. It was good over all. Love the decor check out all the signs and maps. Cool spot.

Service was friendly and helpful! The food was really tasty, especially the Jar Cheeseburger and fries. The kids split a kids chicken tenders meal, and it was a hit! Would be a regular if we lived here!

Just stopped in for a sip after and long day in the sun. I will say that the staff and the deserts are the 5 star attraction here. Make sure to hit the happy our pricing.

Every time in C'Ville we make a point to stop in here for a fun evening of beverages, food, and live music. The food is good. The service is fantastic. They have a huge selection of Scottish Whiskey and other libations. We will be back, again.

Stopped by here for a drink with friends. Super lively, outgoing vibe here. We came on a Saturday, and they had live bands playing outside. Such fun, and a nice atmosphere. As the name implies, they have a super comprehensive whiskey menu. They have a build your own flight option to try various whiskeys that was a nice way to enjoy their menu. They also have some good local beer and cider options. Food looked decent as it went by, but we didn't order any on this visit. Service was efficient, and staff were friendly. A great stop for time out with friends.

Hit all the buttons!! The service (bar service) was great! Malaika is phenomenal and knows her bourbons!! Great food! We had the tomato sandwich and the chicken sandwich. Portions were straight on!! Just a lovely visit and highly recommended!

I went to Whiskey Jar once way back in the day, thought it was decent and I'd check it out later, and then the world came to a halt. Only recently I had the chance to try it again, and I loved it! The whiskeys are fantastic. I'm so impressed with the selection and the very knowledgeable staff. I really enjoyed getting a flight, where you could choose three whiskeys from the menu and try a small pour of each. And don't miss their happy hour, half off Virginia whiskeys on weekdays! The cocktails however, did not impress me as much. The apple pie mule was sort of an odd taste and the other cocktails I sipped from friends were just nothing special. I'd stick to the whiskeys here. The food impressed me as well. We got the hush puppy and biscuit appetizer, the blackened fish sandwich, a strawberry salad, mac and cheese, and broccoli salad. A full spread! All the food was great. The biscuits were savory and cheesy, the salad was flavorful and so fresh, and the mac and cheese was the perfect side to any meal. I really enjoyed the food here! Overall this is a really fun stop, and I recommend it to people looking for a good dinner downtown. I know I'll be stopping by again!

Hadn't been here in a decade and it didn't disappoint. Buddy had the trout, friend had the fried chicken and I had the ribs (with Mac and cheese and the best greens I may have ever had). All 3 very good. Add to that some bread pudding and apple cobbler (don't judge us) and the meal was nearly flawless. My only complaint is that I would have liked more mac and cheese. And the super busy waiter forgot to bring our biscuits but we added that item late. Live music, really good overall service, vwry.good food. No complaints.

From the drinks to the food everything was delicious and fresh. Service was fast and friendly. Absolutely awesome experience. Burger was juicy and delicious. Catfish Po Boy was fresh with an amazing Remoulade.

Local food Extensive whiskey selection (Beer available for YOU people) Knowledgeable staff Chill vibes

Visiting from out of town. Had a party of 6, and they were able to accommodate us right away. Service was friendly. Cocktails were excellent! Food was great! BBQ platters, corn bread, and wings were the favorites.

Fantastic music nights, great drinks and pretzels. First and foremost, I think of this place as a bar, not a restaurant. If you're looking for fantastic food, there are other options waiting for you to explore on the Downtown Mall. But if you're looking for great bar food, a wide drink selection, AND spectacular, weekly live music, The Whiskey Jar is a stellar option. Its ideal location right at the opposite end of the Downtown Mall (opposite of the Ting Pavilion) allows for there to be an optimal amount of seating for outside, live performances. The acoustics just work in this location. Even if you aren't looking for The Whiskey Jar, you will eventually be drawn to it by the lure of the local music performances. I didn't have a problem with the service in the restaurant. I've had their pretzel and it was better than average. Don't bother getting a burger here. The burgers are good, but, come on; Citizen Burger and Jack Brown's are in a different league and both are only a two-minute walk away. If you're looking for a place to have a good time with a friend group or family, The Whiskey Jar is a great option.

If you want to wait over 15 minutes after being seated and never see a waitress this is the place for you. It was also after the dinner rush and not that busy. Will not recommend to any one. 13 April 24 630 pm

Late lunch w fam on a busy Sat. Short staffed but they did their best to balance friendliness and getting people sat/served. Menu had a fine gastro-pub selection, making it a good spot even if not seeking libations. 2 chicken sandwiches, 1 burger, 1 salad. $85 for 4 meals/4 waters with tax and tip is reasonable. Kids raved over the chicken sandwiches; my burger was a great balance of fresh ingredients, texture, and taste. Wife's salad was average. All of us enjoyed their shoestring fries. 2 gender neutral bathrooms onsite; close, on-street parking can be a challenge on busy weekends but you'll be ok if you don't mind walking.

Food was so good. I got the 1/4 ribs with 2 sides and my husband got the whole trout. Very good portions and very tasty. The ribs fell off the bone and my husband finished his whole trout. My favorite was the brownie sundae with ice cream! Def recommend coming here. Our waitress was very nice as well!

This is our second time here. We got there on a Friday night probably five(ish) which was a good thing - by 6pm it was packed. We all got the chicken sandwich. It's a a must. Prices are what you would expect for being on the mall. Service was good. No complaints. Sorry no pics on this review. The company we were keeping kept us busy in conversation.

We picked the Whiskey Jar on random and it was such a great luck of the draw. It was quite delicious. Absolutely loved just looking up the menu on the phone. We are outdoors and our waiter was very attentive and pointed out his favorites on the menu which was helpful for me in my choosing process. The food was delicious!! They gave great portions. I'd definitely return!

Came here to grab a bite with a friend. I ordered the Fried Chicken Sandwich. It was really good and one of the best I've ever tasted. The chicken was crispy and cooked perfectly-- juicy on the inside. The pickles and green tomato provided a perfect balance of flavor and acidity to the fried chicken. In addition, the fries that came with the sandwich were decent. My friend ordered the Pulled Pork BBQ Sandwich. It was good but not amazing. Not the best pulled pork I've ever had, but the sandwich was good. The balance of flavors between the hickory smoked pork, vinegar BBQ, and side of coleslaw was nice. Overall, The Whiskey Jar has a good selection of classic southern food. The inside of the restaurant and the outdoor seating did not impress me compared to many of the other restaurants downtown. However, the Fried Chicken Sandwich was delicious and I'm looking forward to coming back to try the other dishes and the whiskey selection.

Came here to grab lunch with friends my fiancé i I were visiting. Service was ok. The waiter was nice had knowledge on the menu. Only complaint was he seemed to have forgotten a couple things until he walked over to the table he would remember to bring it. I wasn't sure if he was being the bartender and the waiter. After we left we realized we never got the oysters we order. Atmosphere: we sat outside due to Covid I am sure but good vibe overall tables had umbrellas to block the sun. Food: the food was on point. I never had trout before and it was amazing. My fiancé had the sandwich which was also very tasty. I would def come back for the sandwich.

I grabbed drinks here one evening. It was pretty cool. We just picked up a family meal of fried chicken. It was quite a bit of food for $55 bucks. The chicken's crust had a nice herb flavor that made it stand out from the many versions I've had in the past. The broccoli salad was good but I wish it had more dressing or mayo. I did not like the collard greens at all. They were the sweetest greens I've ever eaten. Maybe it's a preference thing, but I don't think greens should have nearly that much sugar. Maybe any sugar at all.

The first restaurant we tried in Charlottesville, they got our attention with a great outside band right on the downtown mall. Honestly the beat my expectations. I figured this would be average - but the food was well prepared and reasonably priced. Got a bunch of fired oysters in the app - perhaps a tad more breaded than i like - but well cooked and generous. Good beer and whisky selection. love the layout and outdoor -blended feel.

Fun place to have dinner out casual on the walking mall. Great burgers, pork barbecue and salads finally. Two sides of the restaurant, in regards to night life, live entertainment with bands on one side and a quieter section for groups or folk that want conversation. Everything from catfish, barbecue ribs to great burgers like the Crunch Burger. And an awesome selection of sides - I had the pulled pork player with baked beans and a broccolini salad - plenty and it was outstanding. Our group of 5 had a great time and our meals were exceptional.

Went for the restaurant week and this was one of the options for 3 course meal. Started off with really not great service until the manager took notice and was our waiter for us so very much appreciated. Loved the live music playing outside. Started off with hush puppies and garlic/cheese biscuit which were both super good, loved the sourgum sauce? It tasted like butter but with a hint of something more. The pulled pork with the sauce that came with it was really good but the sausage was dry. French fries were well seasoned and cooked. The desert was pretty good with the strawberry compote tasting super fresh. Would definitely come back for the atmosphere and biscuits.

Initially the 3.5 stars threw me for a bit as there's nothing I hate more than a disappointing meal out - well, I'm not sure why their rating is so low because we had the BEST random Tuesday date night dinner here yesterday! We ended up at the Whiskey Jar after trying to not go to our, admittedly delicious, constant choice place. I got their old fashioned, and it was hands-down one of the best I've ever had. I also got to taste the Manhattan with rye, and that was the bomb too! Each were $11 which is totally fair cocktail prices - but they do half off Virginia whiskeys m-f from 3-6pm, so we may try to catch that in the future. Our server was attentive and patient since it took me quite a while to decide what to order! I ended up going with the fried chicken sandwich, and let me tell you. DO IT! It was beyond delicious and had some type of brown sugar coating or some other magic that brought it to the next level. Their burger looked delish too...honestly, everything that came out of the kitchen looked really good, thus why it was so hard to choose! They had live music in the bar area, and it was just loud enough for us to hear it in the other dining area, but still be able to hold a conversation. Our time here was great and so was our server. We'll be back!

Rainy day but open inside. Amazing food. I had the Oyster Po Boy w/fries added a side of collard greens and cornbread (the best - don't forget to ask for extra sorghum). Dessert was Bourbon Bread Pudding. Looking forward to returning.

I don't want to be That Guy who only ever frequents the same places, over and over, when I travel, but I know I'm going to leave happy if I dine at the Whiskey Jar. I generally default to one of their burgers, which are as flavorful as you'd hope for. This last time around, I went rogue, and ordered the shrimp and grits. The shrimp were fresh, tender, lightly spiced (what, exactly, I can't say). Now, grits...more often than not in the past when I've encountered grits, it's like eating wallpaper paste. Here, they were buttery, nutty, such that I scraped every last bite off the plate. Likewise, the blackened catfish had some serious eat going on, and the smoked tomato gravy was a sublime compliment to that flavor. Sometimes there's live music in the front room/bar, which is just icing on the cake!

We had a nice late night meal here! The place is pretty small, so I definitely recommend getting your name on the list if you are trying to eat there on a Friday or Saturday night. The bar is crowded but fun, and they sometimes have live music. Our food was delicious, but the drinks were a little lacking. We ordered a variety of meal options and they were all very tasty.

5 stars for the staff! They were literally running to get through the dinner rush. Everyone was friendly, attentive, and helpful. I know it's hard right now with new protocols and the team there was rocking and rolling! 5 stars for the kick ass whiskey selection too! The food for us fell short and that's really why we came. I'd try it again though - prices were reasonable and the menu itself was rooted in southern cooking ( my wheelhouse). They offer things like shrimp and grits with a Smokey tomato gravy, country ham biscuits, chicken and dumpling soup, fried chicken, and BBQ. Menu is attached! I had the Brunswick stew with a ham biscuit. My partner had the smoked wings and chicken and dumpling soup. My stew was lacking flavor and was a 180 from any Brunswick I've ever had (grew up in NC and ate it a lot..)No corn, tomatoes, limas, no tangy flavor I'm use to. It was a small bowl of pulled pork and maybe some chicken (couldn't tell) with some black eyed peas. Next to no broth - just pulled meat. It was without flavor and the consistency was just not ok. The ham biscuit was beyond dry and no flavor there. It needed something to moisten it. The country ham inside was good though! Wings: the sauce was just awkward but maybe that's just their style of sauce? It tasted like ketchup and Buffalo sauce co-mingled or perhaps they used a chili sauce? The chicken and dumpling soup was a clear broth with gnocchi - not what we expected. The broth was good but that's where it ended. I love the whole menu concept and really want to try them again. I love southern food and love it with a twist too. Maybe it was an off night. It's in a great location and they have outdoor seating and a sizeable indoor area as well. The bourbon selection is incredible so definitely give it a try if you're a bourbon lover. The lighting outside was pleasant and soft and welcoming. We sat inside but I'd recommend trying to score one of those outdoor tables.

I wish I had checked yelp before coming. I can't comment too much as I ended up not staying for dinner. Maybe this best as a spot for gathering and drinking. I am not a whiskey drinker but I came as I saw this on a place for food and a former Co worker recommended it. I checked in on Yelp and saw it was 3 stars and that was concerning. I grew up w soul food so obviously I an picky. The service was friendly and nice which I do appreciate and it seems to be a good spots for friend gatherings. I decided to order a starter to determine if I'll get a full dinner. I order chicken and dumpling soup and it was basically chicken and gnocchi in broth. Pretty good but in no way was that chicken and dumplings. After that I decided I wouldn't eat a full meal due to further disappointment. Maybe this is more for coming to drink so if you like whiskey the drink selection looks varied and good.

We came to the whiskey jar for dinner while we were on vacation, and we really enjoyed ourselves. The food was good, and the whiskey was even better. All menu items were priced great! I got the catfish sandwich, and it was ok. It had a kinda fishy taste, but overall, it was good. I would definitely recommend the pork chop, I recommend that to my husband, and it was excellent. My friend got the shrimp and grits, and she loved it. Would definitely recommend it. We tried a bunch of different types of whiskey, and they were all good.

Kinda of disappointed. The food here was soooo delicious but the service was absolutely terrible. It was a Wednesday on a slow day and our waiter took 10 minute to ask if we wanted anything to drink. Then after he took our orders we asked for another drink and didn't see him for 20 minutes. Then i just went up to the bartender to ask her if she could make me a drink since that was the only way i could get it. She was super nice and gave it to me within 2 minutes. I'm not sure what happened but i really hope this was just an off night for the servers.