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Hamiltons' at First & Main

101 W Main St, Charlottesville, VA 22902-5031
434-295-6649
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Price range: $5 - $34
Cuisines: American
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Restaurant details
Good for: Romantic
Dining options: Lunch Spot, Dinner, Reservations
Description: Located in the heart of Charlottesville’s Downtown district, Hamiltons’ is the perfect spot for a delicious afternoon lunch or a romantic evening dinner. A cheerful, cozy atmosphere and attentive service ensure our guests enjoy an outstanding dining experience, be they Charlottesville natives, out-of-town visitors, or University students and staff. We also feature outdoor patio seating seasonally, providing our guests the opportunity to dine amidst the bustle of the Downtown Mall. Our Staff Kate and Bill Hamilton opened the restaurant’s doors in February 1996. Today, talented Chef de Cuisine Curtis Shaver brings a distinctive flare to the exciting, contemporary American cuisine for which Hamiltons’ is known. In addition to overseeing Hamiltons’ award winning wine list, General Manager and Partner Daniel Page directs a staff renowned for its congeniality and professionalism. Music at Hamiltons’ Every Saturday and Wednesday night from about 7-10 p.m, Hamiltons’ hosts the live jazz stylings of guitarist Peter Richardson and clarinetist Dave Kannensohn. Their album “Saturday Nights at Hamiltons’” features American and Latin jazz favorites.
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143 reviews from our community

83% Recommend
    85
    34
    15
    9
    0
Rating summary
    Food
    Service
    Value
    Atmosphere
Date Rating
Daytona Beach
Senior Contributor
29 reviews 29 reviews
25 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 12 cities Reviews in 12 cities
9 helpful votes 9 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 16 June 2013 NEW

Hamilton's has been a long time favorite. Their culinary creativity is exceptional and they keep adding and creating new things to make you want to come back. Whether outside on the mall, or inside, service is great. Save room for dessert!

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Appleton, Wisconsin
Contributor
19 reviews 19 reviews
4 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 6 cities Reviews in 6 cities
7 helpful votes 7 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 12 June 2013 NEW

While in Charlottesville, my husband and I treated ourselves to a special meal each day. After a long day of sightseeing, we ended up in the historic downtown mall area. It was a hard choice to make as to where to eat, but we decided on Hamilton's at First and Main. The interior of the restaurant was a mix of... More

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See 4 more reviews by JBlomberg for Charlottesville
Keswick, Virginia
Senior Contributor
21 reviews 21 reviews
14 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 6 cities Reviews in 6 cities
4 helpful votes 4 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 9 June 2013

Hamilton's is one the "better" C'ville restaurants (I'm a local). The service is superb, the food excellent and it's THE place to take a potential client to seal the deal.

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See 14 more reviews by Tom G for Charlottesville
Charlottesville, Virginia
Top Contributor
74 reviews 74 reviews
60 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 16 cities Reviews in 16 cities
22 helpful votes 22 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 5 June 2013

Hamilton's is great food. I will be the first to admin that the prices are quite high for the amount of food you get but that's generally how upscale restaurant do things. I have been to Hamiltons for many lunches and several dinners. The service is pretty good but be aware, if you have an hour for lunch then you... More

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See 38 more reviews by TomCat27 for Charlottesville
St. Petersburg, Florida
Top Contributor
110 reviews 110 reviews
77 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 15 cities Reviews in 15 cities
29 helpful votes 29 helpful votes
3 of 5 stars Reviewed 22 May 2013

Special menu for graduation left a lot to be desired. Not just the selection but the preparation was disappointing. Service was positively excellent. 4 out of 10 enjoyed their meal. I really enjoyed the green salad which was a plain but very tasty collection of greens. The desserts were excellent, to that all agreed. I give this an average rating... More

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See 19 more reviews by Caroline Y for Charlottesville
2 reviews
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 21 May 2013

My husband and I had reservations here on a Saturday night for a Virginia wine country weekend to celebrate our anniversary. With live jazz, a smart atmosphere, friendly service, and a great martini menu, this place is well worth the price. We tried the fried sweetbread appetizer (our first time ever trying sweetbread, and felt inspired to do so after... More

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Washington, DC
2 reviews
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 18 May 2013

Thjey do well with everyhting on the relatively short menu, with emphasis on local products. Crab cakes are especially good, made with truly all-lump crabmeat and just enough binder to hold it together. The kitchen is great with vegetables -- my green beans (which are usually undercooked or dtringy) were perfect.

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Jacksonville, Florida
Senior Contributor
43 reviews 43 reviews
30 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 15 cities Reviews in 15 cities
5 helpful votes 5 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 15 May 2013

May 8, 2013 Hamilton's was on our inn's list of top 20 restaurants in Charlottesville. We looked at their menu online and noticed they had a jazz ensemble on Wednesday and Saturday nights. That clenched it for us, twas Wednesday. Called and made a reservation. Hamilton's is located in the Pedestrian Mall which is lovely to walk around. There is... More

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See 5 more reviews by Robin P for Charlottesville
Asheville, North Carolina
Top Contributor
66 reviews 66 reviews
25 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 17 cities Reviews in 17 cities
30 helpful votes 30 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 12 May 2013

Spectacular food & incredible Bloody Mary's. Located on the pedestrian walk near old downtown. Absolutely worth the few extra minutes to sit outside and enjoy. This is a must eat venue.

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See 5 more reviews by Bacsusa for Charlottesville
Top Contributor
53 reviews 53 reviews
38 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 15 cities Reviews in 15 cities
5 helpful votes 5 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 7 May 2013

Fantastic food, creative preparation with a southern flare. Reasonable price for what you get. Great location on the mall.

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See 4 more reviews by Fludoc for Charlottesville

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