Kyoto Restaurant — Restaurant in Hollymead

Hidden in a strip mall off Rt 29 in Charlottesville, this little oasis of a restaurant was a welcome respite from the fast food chains that surround the area. The staff is amazingly friendly, eager to please, and very attentive - down to the detail of making sure my pot of Fresh Mixed Fruit Tea was sweetened to the right degree (it was, and is a soothing nectar that I will dream about whenever I am sick) and that I ate my pork bun at the right temperature. Paper cranes and swans suspended from the ceiling in a colorful origami display lend some whimsy to this dimly-lit, and nicely appointed strip-mall restaurant. The music varies from delicate harp melodies to simple bird calls, complimented by the light trickling of water from the entryway fountain. The kitchen is separated by glass, giving the feel of a market shack at one end and only adding to the ambiance. While the majority of the menu will look like any Chinese take out place in America, the teas (served by the pot) and the freshness of the food's preparation elevate this from just a lunch and dinner destination, to a place to come for a comforting hot beverage and snack anytime. Try the dim sum menu for small portions. The Gyoza was fresh, light, crispy and flavorful. The Pork Bun was more like a giant steamed dumpling than the ones I've had over the years, but it was still good. The steamed dumplings were actually quite large and doughy - almost a meal in their own right. Everything was so fresh! The fried bananas were a delightful way to cap off the meal, with a light crispness, drizzle of honey and smattering of...

I ate here while traveling for work. It was a rough day at the office kind of day, and honestly those times are what beat you down the most. One of my favorite things in the world is a nice fried pork cutlet. It's not terribly fancy , but it always hits the spot . I found this place on Google and said " hey, this day can only go up from here". I stopped by and placed my order, the person that took my order was crazy kind and took my to go order, and told me my wait time. I ordered my pork cutlet and tempura, and waited about ten minutes before it was ready. It actually came out really quick. It smelled great as soon as it was handed to me. I got back to the hotel and started to dig in. Not before long, I found myself in the middle of a flashback to my travels in Japan. It reminded me of the meals I would have in the small towns outside of Osaka or Yokohama, eating my meals in the humdrum sounds of the traffic and trains. One of the few moments , I have ever felt peace in my life. I absolutely surprised this place was empty when I stopped by. The ingredients were fresh, the portions were large, and in my experience a fantastic value for the cost. This place is truly a gem, and should definitely have more love. My meal was awesome, and reminded a weary traveler of a...

As someone who works in the culinary field and has prepared most cuisines, I was quite pleased with Kyoto restaurant. The service was timely and polite. The lady who waited on me and my wife was quick to take our order and did much more like pouring our hot tea and clearing our used dishes as we finished with them. The food was amazing both in flavor and esthetics. My wife had the sweet and sour shrimp was delicious and a very reasonable portion for the price. I had the Kyoto curry, it was a little different in that it wasn't spicy at all and it was thickened with potatoes but it was wounderful very flavorful and aromatic. If you are on the fence about Kyoto go for lunch it is much cheaper and you can try them out before you pay for a big dinner you may not like. I love this restaraunt and will...