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Food - The Ridley, Charlottesville, VA

The Ridley

4.1 (657)
$30 and under
Southern
1106 W Main St, Charlottesville, VA 22903-2822

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A photo of The Ridley restaurant

The Ridley

4.1
$30 and under
Southern
Charlottesville

Make a reservation

2 people
11:30 PM
Booked 10 times today

About this restaurant

  • Great for outdoor dining
  • Lively
  • Great for brunch
The Ridley is THE destination for upscale-casual dining and fresh seafood offerings in Charlottesville, Virginia. Located within The Draftsmen boutique hotel, The Ridley combines convenience and accessibility with an unparalleled dining experience. As one of Charlottesville’s Black-owned restaurants, the concept pays homage to 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.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Southern, Seafood
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Thu, Sun 7:00 am–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 7:00 am–12:00 am
  • Phone number
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Robert Anglin
  • Neighborhood
    Charlottesville
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Entertainment, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Late Night, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wine

Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at The Ridley.

4.1

4.1
(657)
  • 4.0Food
  • 4.2Service
  • 4.3Ambience
  • 3.9Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Charlottesville

    Hot spot

  • Charlottesville

    Great for outdoor dining

  • Charlottesville

    Lively

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Ridley offers "wonderful service" and "excellent food" in a "cool vibe" atmosphere. Highlights include "amazing shrimp and grits," "outstanding oysters," and a historical ambiance honoring Dr. Ridley. While some dishes are pricey, standout items like the "cornbread skillet" and "truffle fries" make it worth a visit.
657 Reviews
  1. Diana Gold

    Philadelphia5 reviews

    3.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    The restaurant tried to accommodate an allergy but didn't know the ingredients of items made offsite. We were one of the only tables there and yet my food didn't come to me hot. If you have time to go elsewhere, I'd recommend doing so.

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  2. steven

    Chicago2 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on October 27, 2026

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food was very good. Wines were really quite expensive.

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  3. Deb

    New York City6 reviews

    2.0

    Dined on October 25, 2026

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Dishes came served cold. French toast pieces are too thin- feels like simply eating soft bread. No trick soft rich eggy center. Sausage dry and omelet bland and overcooked. Best item is skillet cornbread.

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  4. pamela Gold

    Richmond3 reviews

    1.0

    Dined on October 24, 2026

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 2
    We had a terrible experience at the Ridley during our visit for UVA Parent's Weekend. We expected the restaurant to be busy. We waited about 15 minutes in a long line at the host stand even though we had reservations. ,The dinner for 3 people took nearly 2 1/2 hours and we waited an absurd amount of time throughout the whole meal. It took over an hour to get 2 appetizers and a salad even though we ordered them when the waitress came to get our drink order. One of the appetizers was cold (deviled eggs) so there was no cooking needed. The other appetizer was supposed to be the bang bang shrimp. There were three shrimp and three other fried items under the shrimp that were not shaped like shrimp. We tried one of them and it had a fishy taste. We told the waitress and she said she didn't know what it was either and guessed it may be the cod bites. I don't know if they ran out of the shrimp but it was unacceptable to replace it with something else and not tell us. It was 'hiding' under the shrimp so I feel like it was intentionally trying to be passed off as shrimp. Then, we waited another 50 minutes for our 2 dinners (burger and steak) and salad. Tables that were seated after us received their meals before ours. We had to wave to the waitress to get refills on waters and drinks. We had to wave again to get the bill after she passed us four times without even checking on us. We had every intention of getting dessert when we first got there but after the length of time and how long everything was taken we changed our minds. We did tell the waitress we were very disappointed with the service and she gave us a 10% off coupon. We had paid over $180 for the dinner and I just don't know for that price if we would ever go back to give it a second chance.

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  5. Brad Gold

    Richmond4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 18, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful service by Katherin. All our meals were excellent. Had a great time!

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  6. Gianna Gold

    Philadelphia2 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on October 11, 2026

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 4
    Food was good but expensive. We loved the cornbread skillet and I really liked the gumbo, but a cup of it for $10 is crazy. The kitchen was also incredibly slow.

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  7. Shelly

    Greensboro2 reviews

    2.0

    Dined on October 11, 2026

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    Parking was impossible even on a Sunday, unless you want to pay for Valet parking. Coffee was cold, was not offered a refill. One poached egg was undercooked, the other poached egg was overcooked. French toast was burnt on one side. Music was too loud for a brunch meal. Will not return.

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  8. Mike

    Richmond10 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 10, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Celebrating my birthday in the area and booked dinner here. The restaurant was really nice, the staff were friendly and attentive and the food was outstanding. Couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Highly recommend!

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  9. Brenda

    Richmond1 review

    5.0

    Dined on October 4, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The good was excellent! Loved the tribute wall to Dr. Ridley. I highly recommend!

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  10. Dexter

    Washington DC6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on September 28, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The staff and service was great. The food was excellent and my father enjoyed his birthday dinner. Thank you.

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Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Southern, Seafood
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Thu, Sun 7:00 am–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 7:00 am–12:00 am
  • Phone number
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Robert Anglin
  • Neighborhood
    Charlottesville
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Entertainment, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Late Night, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wine

FAQs

Casual Dress, relaxed, come-as-you-are attire is appropriate for dining at The Ridley.

Yes, The Ridley offers outdoor seating: guests mention sitting outside and there are a few street-side tables and a patio-like area that reviewers have enjoyed for people-watching.

The Ridley often fills up for big local events and peak visits, guests said it was “extremely busy” during the National College Lacrosse Championships and have described other visits as “overly busy.” Conversely, some diners have reported quick seating on a Sunday visit, so quieter pockets do occur.

The Ridley (inside The Draftsman boutique hotel) feels warm and inviting with a light, airy dining room that opens toward the street; guests praise its pleasant atmosphere, music, and welcoming hotel-adjacent setting.

The Ridley is especially worth a morning or brunch visit, guests praise its breakfast and brunch offerings, and one guest noted a Sunday visit with quick seating and good service.

Yes, dogs are welcome on the patio; one guest reported their dog sat at a high-top table on a leash and staff even brought a bowl of water.

Yes, The Ridley is recommended for date night: guests praise its pleasant ambience and called it a "HUGE hit for Date Night, " alongside standout dishes like ribeye and lamb shank.

Some entrees arrive generously sized, guests specifically note a very large lamb shank and a shrimp & grits portion described as big enough to save for later.

Weekends are ideal for brunch, Saturday and Sunday visits get the most praise for the brunch offerings and friendly service.

How FAQ content is generated

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Virginia
  4. Charlottesville
  5. Charlottesville

Make a reservation

A photo of The Ridley restaurant

The Ridley

4.1
$30 and under
Southern
Charlottesville

Make a reservation

2 people
11:30 PM
Booked 10 times today
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