13 Best Italian Restaurants in Charlottesville

“Highly recommend this restaurant! The house salad was the best salad I’d ever had. The cocktails are wonderful; the tender even accommodated my special request. The entrees were sumptuous; we got the Italian sausage pasta and the salmon. We travel through Charlottesville twice a year and dine here on our way up and back each year. It’s my favorite part of our trip. Service is excellent.“

“What an incredible little restaurant. I still can’t believe we happened across it! My boyfriend and I live in DC and eat out quite frequently, and Tavola topped some Michelin star restaurants we’ve tried. We were blown away by the kindness and knowledge of the sommelier and staff, the generosity and talent of the kitchen, and the overall atmosphere and ambiance. Every dish was on point, every service mark was hit, and I could write paragraphs about the wine recommendations. I would rate it more than five stars if I could. Huge thank you to Clay, Caleb, Kendall and everyone else we met for making our night so memorable. If you’re thinking about opening another location I vote DC!“

“Amazing. Everything. Food, wine, service, ambiance, dessert. Just go.“

“There isn’t much to say. I’m sitting in the parking lot and just took a bite of the crispy Mortadela… this is nothing short of AMAZING! Whenever work takes me to Charlottesville, this is an absolute must each trip. Thanks for having my dinner covered tonight with the grocery section. See yall next week!“

“Oh my goodness! People! Get in here! Hands down! The very best pizza I have ever had in Charlottesville, Virginia. The authenticity, the flavor, the freshness, the delicious taste, the crispy yet chewable texture, the attention that was given in making our delicious pie far exceeded our expectations. 5 star customer service! Don’t miss out on this deliciousness!“

“For a pre anniversary dinner , I chose Vivace and glad I did. Service was a little slow as was the kitchen but that made for a relaxed and enjoyable, romantic atmosphere. Our server Tim was friendly and courteous even if was a bit confused at times. Many tempting choices on the menu but after conferring we opted to share a bottle of San Pelligrino ( I don’t drink and drive ) , the house salad ( home made Gorgonzola dressing was delicious!) and the Veal Picatta. Fantastic presentation and flavor ; tender and tasty veal and the crusty warm Italian bread kept us occupied while waiting for our meal. All in all a wonderful experience and very reasonable prices for such good quality as well. Highly recommended.“

“Great diner for breakfast and lunch. Friendly and prompt service. Food was delicious and reasonably priced. Sweet tea was really good also. Be sure to try the homemade cookies. Close to UVA medical facilities, & wheelchair accessible.“

“Authentic Italian food! Our waitress Modesta was amazing! Best meal we have had while visiting the area!“

“My husband and I are visiting Charlottesville for the third time but this time is more special as we found this place! What a gem!
I love small but very thought through menu that has everything we need, kale salad is amazing, my husband doesn’t eat meat but the menu offers plenty meatless options( creamy pasta is his favorite).
We were able to have couple pasta/ pizza dinners at home that we enjoyed a lot thanks to this place. Definitely will be back, and wish for them to open a restaurant soon:)“

“Great service, excellent flavors and choices!! Pizza was so flavorful and amazing!!“

“Amazing!!!!!!! The vodka rigatoni is to die for!“

“We have been ordering from Fabio’s once a week during my pregnancy and it has been amazing each and every time! We normally don’t order out much so it’s been a huge treat. What impresses me most is that the menu is so wide (perfect for whatever you’re craving- pregnant or not 🤣) and everything from the pizza to the wings to the subs to the desserts and the crispy well seasoned fries has been fantastic. The food always arrives quickly, fresh and hot!! Thank you for being a weekly highlight.“

“Excellent!!! Great food and people!“