Southern Crescent Galley and Bar

Southern Crescent is such a hidden gem in Charlottesville. The patio is the perfect place to sit and unwind, and the food and drinks were delicious. The oysters were especially good! It’s an easy, laid-back spot for a great date night.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Southern Crescent nails it with great Louisiana-style food served in a laid-back, loungey atmosphere. The mixed drinks and beer menu are on point — plenty of solid choices whether you're craving something strong or just want to sip and chill.

Big bonus: it's dog-friendly! Our server was incredibly kind and even made sure my friend’s pup was taken care of. That’s the kind of Southern hospitality you love to see.

Just a heads-up — there’s a lot of fried goodness on the menu. Gallbladders, proceed with caution. But honestly? Totally worth it. I’d come back in a heartbeat.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Sadly my first time here I won’t be back. Food was not good. I met my friends here and the waitress was attentive in the beginning but it went down hill from there. When it got busier she checked on us but we had to wait longer times than normal for the everything.

I ordered the raw oysters and although they were fresh, there was a lot of dirt and shells in them. I was disappointed because it was the first time my friend tried one. She couldn’t even get enjoy it because of the sand.

Our order came out all at different times even though we ordered our entrees at the same time. I waited a long time for my second drink and ended up cancelling it when the waitress told me after 10 minutes it was next in line. My friend ordered the Alligator bites which I’ve had in New Orleans and it there was no alligator meat. It was mostly dough.

I own a business and when I mentioned to the waitress that there was hardly any meat she didn’t even acknowledge what I said. This was after we paid the bill and to just let her know that we didn’t like it and why. She didn’t seem to care.

Maybe this was an off night, but I don’t think I will be back.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 1

Service: 3

Best oyster Po' Boy ever! Great cajun vibe and decor inside and out! Great service and this will be my new hangout. Highly recommended.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

What a wonderful place! The food is remarkably good AND authentic N'awlins style. Highly recommend the Conch Fritters (reputed to be an aphrodisiac), the Oyster Po' Boy, and literally everything else on the menu. Plus, the drinks are fantastic — including one of the best Vieux Carré cocktails I have ever enjoyed. Every single one of the staff we encountered were top-notch — friendly, knowledgeable, helpful, and terrific. The ambience may not be for everyone — it's like you're back in New Orleans on a warm summer night, lots of outdoor seating, indoor seating, and semi-outdoor seating with a patio roof overhead (highly recommended). A great place to connect with friends and family. Can't really fathom what set the few bad reviewers off. I guess if you're looking for a posh NYC type place, maybe you'd be better off staying up there. But if you just like great food, a relaxing atmosphere, and truly delightful people to help your evening along, ladies and gentlemen, this is your place.

Went for a drink on a Saturday night before dinner. We both had hurricanes, they were very good and we got happy hour pricing! We sat inside at the bar because it was chilly and the vibe is top notch.

Went back and had full dinner, drinks and dessert this time. Great drinks and really nice atmosphere when the weather is perfect to sit outside. The food is also very good. The beignet was very dense and was not exactly like the ones you get in New Orleans but it was still amazing as a dessert on its own without the comparison.

Great ambiance but after 3 tries and one bartender on a holiday weekend, they still couldn’t get the right drink and even made us feel bad for asking! Would not recommend.

It's Friday night should have known better than to come here. The place was not packed. All the other restaurants adjacent to this one were packed with customers. Aesthetically, at first the vibe is old creole French Louisiana, buts is a run down old house. We sat outside, the metal furniture is rusted; doesn't work when you wearing light colored pants. We didn't see any rats, like other customers mentioned. The service was lacking big time. No enthusiasm to ask if you want a refill. Staff member was drinking as we could smell alcohol on them and could see them drinking behind the bar. We were not given napkins, had to ask. No plates to eat appetizers on. No utensils. Had to wave them down to get the entree order and then the check. There was only 3 couples there so not crowded. Water in carafe was luke warm. The table was sticky, so sticky my phone stuck to it... Yuck! The menu is lacking items from the online menu. We ordered the gator bites, not good. It was pureed ingredients. Don't know if there was actual meat in them. Ordered the oyster and shrimp po boy. It came with 2 tiny hush puppies. See photo. Oysters tasted like gritty mud. The batter could not mask it. French bread was soft which was the only plus, but the entire sandwich fell apart. As many reviews say the taste is bland and that is very true. No spice, no taste. Definitely not Creole inspired cuisine.

Overall, the experience has good and bad. They have really good cocktail. I got the lost lake. It is a mixture of pineapple, passionfruit, and lime. Low-key best ever. The service was also nice. The food was OK mediocre and pricey. The gumbo mug was $10 even though it was tiny. My friend got there po boy sandwich, they only got two hush puppies as the side???

Definitely try the gumbo ! It's the real deal.

Southern Crescent is a fun and underrated spot in Belmont! They have a great happy hour and so many fun spots to sit and enjoy your drinks and food (cozy inside, patio, backyard with fire pits). We love the HH oysters as well! Friendly and attentive service makes this a must-stop spot in Cville.

Food, jambalaya was really good. We will return to try more.

One of our favorite spots in town! Delicious NOLA inspired cuisine (the gumbo is the best!) and great cocktails and staff.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

This place has a great vibe! The gumbo and Crawfish pot pie are fantastic.

I would have given this place a 5 star review I truly would have but I just can’t get past the ending of my visit… my husband and I finally got a kid free evening and had a date night on October 12th. We decided to try the southern crescent and I was thoroughly impressed!! It’s a chill setting with a wonderful outside seating area and a great place for a date night! The food was absolutely amazing! Especially the alligator bites!!!! other than having to go up to the bar to order I loved everything about this place!!!
HOWEVER… As my husband and I were waiting on our dessert to come out … a rat comes crawling out of the kitchen, obviously dying from poison buuut when eating… that’s the LAST thing you really want to see. The bartender/waitress and man from the kitchen who I assumed was the owner acted like it was absolutely no big deal at all! Never even moved to remove the rat from the dining area after we canceled our dessert and asked for our check to leave. Won’t be returning.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 5

Service: 3