Burtons Grill & Bar — Restaurant in Charlottesville

The Hotel California of Charlottesville (Minus Don Henley)

Ever wanted to feel like you're dining in a fancy hotel without actually booking a room? Well, buckle up buttercup, because Burtons Grill & Bar is here to fulfill that oddly specific fantasy! The décor screams "corporate luxury" in the most endearing way possible – like when your aunt tries to recreate a Pottery Barn catalog but actually kind of nails it.

The Main Event: Chicken & Waffles Gone Rogue

Let me tell you about their chicken and waffles, or as I like to call it, "The Identity Crisis Special." They've somehow transformed this Southern classic into what appears to be a burger's fever dream. Picture this: two golden waffles playing bun dress-up, sandwiching a piece of chicken that's living its best life. The chicken is wearing a crispy coating that's crunchier than my morning meetings, while staying juicier than celebrity gossip on the inside.

The whole thing is topped with gravy and a dollop of butter that sits there like a crown, just waiting for the syrup to turn this entire creation into what can only be described as "breakfast dessert." For a chicken and waffles virgin, this was like going from zero to hero in one bite.

And those hashbrowns? They're playing some sort of mysterious flavor jazz that I couldn't quite identify, but my taste buds were absolutely here for it. They're the kind of potatoes that make you question every other potato you've ever eaten.

The Maxx Burger: A Beautiful Mess

My wife's Maxx Burger came perfectly cooked to medium-rare specifications but apparently decided it was having an existential crisis mid-meal. It was like watching a delicious game of Jenga – eventually, you just have to admit defeat and grab a fork. The flavor was on point though, proving that sometimes the messiest relationships are the most satisfying. The fries were the reliable sidekick every burger needs – not trying to steal the show, just doing their job perfectly.

Service & Wallet Impact

Our waiter had that perfect balance of attentiveness without making us feel like we were being stalked by the friendliest person in Virginia. However, the bill hit harder than my caffeine crash at 3 PM – $50+ for two entrees and some tea makes my wallet want to cry in the corner.

The Verdict

Is Burtons worth it? If you're cool with hotel-chic vibes and don't mind your chicken and waffles having an identity crisis (in the best possible way), then absolutely! Just maybe skip the fancy coffee that morning to offset the cost. The food is undeniably good, even if your wallet might need a moment of silence afterward.

Rating: 4 out of 5 fancy hotel lobby chandeliers 🪩

Pro tip: Bring cash and an open mind – one for the bill, the other for accepting that sometimes the best chicken and waffles come disguised...

We've been here before and liked it. Went for wife's B-Day, a table for 4 Halloween night.

The host station needs a refresher. The guy who showed us where to sit barely acknowledged we were there as he was sorting through menus I assume. We thought we would have a chance to say we were here for our reservation and thought we were being ignored, but suddenly he said "this way" or something to that effect, led us to our booth and that was it. No greeting or anything.

The lighting is too dark for my preference (this was after dark for dinner). I like to really see my food. I'm not asking for bright lights, just not so dim.

Our server was good. I wish I could remember her name but I'm terrible at remembering names and didn't pay the check myself so I dont have the receipt. She was very nice, did everything right and put up with my dad's joking around. The overall team service was good too. Everything came out to the table in a timely manner. I felt sorry for the staff and cooks having to wear masks. I always wished chefs and cooks would wear hair nets and masks, but the ones you can breathe through easily, not the type they were wearing.

Food was very good. I and another diner had the beef tips. It was great, seasonings were on point, I only added some pepper. The broccoli didn't even seed salt and I need some salt on my food. The one note my wife made, as she also had broccoli on her salmon plate as well, was how pedestrian broccoli is for such a relatively upscale restaurant. Broccoli is everywhere; something a bit more special would have been good (for the price of the dinners here), but the broccoli was cooked perfectly.

The other diners were also very happy with their meals.

We started with the risotto fritters which were also very good.

My wife had the key lime pie, and although the server was nice to add a candle, the actual pie was just OK. Had much better at lesser restaurants. The 7 layer chocolate cake was just OK too. A large portion for a table to share so that was nice, but just not something to rave about or order again.

So, 5 stars being perfect; the lack of a friendly greeting, dim lighting and average desserts for an above average priced restaurant lands at 4 stars.

Really good food and drinks, but fairly pricey. At $13 a cocktail, this is special occasion drinking and dining. The sandwich plates alone are...

I am going to edit my review, since I never heard from the managers yesterday (1/3/24) evening after spending $100 in take out! I ordered well, well done and received a rare burger. I did not ask for lettuce or onions and received that on my burger.

I requested my wings to be well-done with a side of ranch, my daughter had to put them in the air-fryer so she could eat them and then they came with two sides of blue cheese. My crab crusted haddock did not have any lemon butter sauce and was dry and I could not finish it. Needless to say my other daughter did not eat her cheeseburger, because she does not eat rare meat, lettuce or onions. I called the restaurant twice and was told because they were too busy the managers would have to call me back. Burtons should be used to the crowd by now and your never too busy to address your customers concerns.

They are closed today (1/4/24), so I am out of $100 and it's a disappointment.

I dine at Burtons often because I enjoy the atmosphere & food. It has always been a favorite dining venue for me before moving to Charlottesville. However, it's a hit or miss with the service and food at the Charlottesville location. I ordered takeout yesterday evening and my food had some missing ingredients. I contacted the restaurant to inform them and drove back to get the ingredients. The manager on duty whom I've never seen before, (I have dealt with Ashley and Jason who has always provided quality customer service) was the opposite rude and obnoxious and showed he had no interest in the error on Burton's part.

I am looking forward to the location opening up in Richmond. I drive there often because there are more options to choose from to dine and it will be worth the drive when you have horrible customer service right...