Parallel 38
2055 Bond St,Ste 180, Charlottesville, VA, 22901
Parallel 38 Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Charlottesville for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Charlottesville for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Charlottesville for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
2055 Bond St,Ste 180
Charlottesville, VA, 22901 - Phone (434) 923-3838
- Website https://www.p38cville.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :Closed
- Mon : Closed
Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Accepts Bitcoin : No
Good For : Dinner, Late Night
Parking : Garage, Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Trendy
Noise Level : Loud
Music : Background
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Coat Check : Yes
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Dave H.
Only popped in for a drink, but had positive impressions. First, bartenders were incredibly nice and eager to talk about the menus. Second, unlike the "wine bar" next door in the Stonefield complex, this wine list was obviously put together by someone who knows a lot about wine, as opposed to someone in corporate planning. Some interesting by-the-glass pours that you don't see elsewhere. Only four signature cocktails, but they looked great, if not cheap. The one we ordered--the tequila-based one--was stellar. We had just a few snacks, which all tasted great. I look forward to giving this place a more comprehensive spin, but right now it looks like an asset to the area.
(4)Vicki R.
The most delicious and memorable meal we have had in a long time. Great service, and creative choices fill the menu. Also a short 1block walk from the Hyatt. Make sure you put Parallel 38 on your must try list. Wait staff very knowledgeable about menu selection, everything our server suggested was just incredable.
(5)Christina A.
4/5 is a safe bet, I'd lean towards a 4.5 The wine list was amazing and clearly put together by someone who knows wine. The cocktail list was also interesting, if short (try the Jamey was a Ginger) - but we sat at the bar and the bartenders were extremely helpful. But the food. Oh my goodness, the food. First, the olive oil is amazing. I could probably sit at the bar, drink wine and eat their pita bread dipped in olive oil and be a very happy woman. We had a trio of spreads - the hummus, the labneh and the htipiti. The labneh was our favorite. However, I have one not-so-positive thing to say here - the hummus was not good - it was oddly sweet and we didn't even finish the bit on the plate. The gnocchi were very good. The sauce that they were in was incredible - they were a bit more dense than what I'm accustomed to, but not sufficiently so that it detracted from the dish. We had the shrimp and a braised goat shank, but the highlight for me was the pork belly. Some sort of pita, labneh and pork belly sandwich would be to die for...I can't even imagine! On top of that, everything was quick - we were in and out in an hour. That being said you could also easily take your time here, especially if you sit at the bar and don't feel the need to succumb to the pressure of people waiting for a table. If you're looking for a comparison to Mas, Mas does have more options (many of which are unnecessary or not as good) and there you'll often find yourself at the end of fairly inattentive service and a long wait, whereas at Parallel 38 the service was as great as the food.
(4)Suz S.
Love this place! The wine selection is unparalleled, and the tuna is the freshest I've had in Cville. Such a talented chef!
(5)Theresa T.
Parallel 38 was recommended to us by a friend in Annapolis and we were blown away. We eat at a lot of great restaurants all over the country and can easily say THE BEST COCKTAILS ever and simply amazing, fresh dishes. We brought our kids this time and the pork belly gyro on the lunch menu was a huge hit!! We tried 10-15 tapas plates and one was as good as the next. A home run!!
(5)Kyle H.
The positive: The food and wine were delicious! Excellent presentation, and you could tell that the kitchen staff and chef take a lot of pride in what they put on the table. You could also tell the ingredients were top notch. The negative: Portions, portions, portions. This may be a result of the quality of ingredients and needing to maintain acceptable margins, but I'm sorry, $10 for two shrimp topped with a few chunks of chorizo and cheese (although tasty), is not okay. Most small place establishments will suggest 2-3 plates per person. We had 8 between three, and probably could've had double. If margins are the driver, I'd dial down ingredient quality a notch (from 5 to 4) to make dishes more affordable or portions slightly larger. I want this place to be successful. I've seen their wine list, and it looks amazing. I also can't wait to try more of their dishes, but if I need to order 4-5 dishes to feel satiated, I may have to wait for a special occasion instead of the regular dining experience I want this to be.
(3)Seth R.
This place is okay--we went for dinner and dishes were hit or miss. Trio of dips were bad--hummous was especially disappointing--but eggplant soup and arugula salad were excellent. Tuna tartar was good, gnocchi and lemon potatoes were okay, but nothing special (I could make better at home). Restaurant was empty on a weekday night. I probably won't return as there are many, many better places in Cville.
(3)Ann J.
What a refreshing find in Cville! Coming from D.C. I've really been disappointed by the so called foodie scene here in Charlottesville. Most applauded restaurants in town have absolutely terrible service and inconsistent food at best (I'm looking at you Mas), but wow Parallel blew us away!! The service was incredible. Very attentive, knowledgeable and nice! The owner stopped by our table and helped us pick phenomenal wines that we hadn't had before and man, the food! Our favorites were definitely the pork belly (NOM NOM NOM), the bronzini, the labneh, the potatoes, the olive oil cake....Seriously, I could go on and on here. OH and the persian collins cocktail is by far, the best cocktail I've had in a LONG time. Little tip, if you get the potatoes, get a side of labneh to eat with them. The atmosphere was great as well. Hip, modern, loved the music. We've already been back three times. Do yourself a favor, go to the restaurant that Tom Sietsema, the entire Cville community (just won Best New Restaurant in Cville) and the James Beard Foundation as applauded.
(5)Martin D.
Love this place! The menu is focused and provides just the right balance of choices for all tastes in a small plate format. Pricing is nice and the quality is fantastic. The wine selection and by the glass options are reason enough to return, and I definitely will start with a special cocktail next time. The service staff is friendly and knowledgeable. I prefer to make a place like this the star of the evening, but you can do a gourmet snack before the movie if that is your speed.
(4)J H.
May 2014 visit was very enjoyable. It was early in a five week road trip so I cannot remember a specific dish, just that my wife and I enjoyed ourselves here. The room was cavernous and not crowded on a friday at 9:00pm. The small plates allowed us to sample many different tastes. They do better with meats than vegetarian sides.
(3)James L.
Eat here! Have the samfaina, have the grilled lamb strip loin, have the cheeses and kebabs, have the pork belly, have the barrel aged cocktails and wine. Everything is fantastic. Sit at the bar and stay longer than expected talking to knowledgeable mixologists. Relax and enjoy a great meal with good people. We were in from out of town and enjoyed the place so much we visited two nights in a row. Great food, great drinks, great staff. Talk to Steve or any of their knowledgeable folks. You will not be disappointed.
(5)Wei-li P.
Each dish is exquisitely prepared and presented. three out of five dishes are perfectly flavored, including the seafood saffron soup.The lamb chop is a disappointing but the shrimp gamba is one of the best. The pear desert is also must try. Overall, it is pretty satisfying.
(4)Ben Q.
Decided last minute to give it a try after hearing positive first impressions from friends. Walking in immediately felt like I had stepped into something much needed and new to Cville. We started off with a great bottle of wine recommended by the server along with a plate of sauteed mushrooms. We asked the server about gluten free options which she immediately was able to provide a slightly alternative menu. To follow we ordered the lamb tartar which was amazing! I would totally recommend it whenever you stop in. We also got the shrimp and potatoes which where bother coming back for. Cooked to perfection. After finishing the second course, the owner joined us to ask about our experience. After a wonderful conversation about the meal, he proceeded to indulge us with about another five outstanding dishes, including scallops you'd must try ( best in town ) & tuna tartar ( delicious, but lamb was better tho :) ! ). The service was great! Professional yet casual and having fun. Overall a must try in Cville!
(5)Cat B.
I probably cannot stress enough how great of a find this was. This is a great restaurant. The indoors have high ceiling and open space, and they have some nice outdoor seating for when the weather is nice. To start off with, their craft cocktail menu is amazing. I know it's a wine bar, but they have some seriously awesome cocktails. Are they expensive? Not really compared to any city/craft cocktail menu. Personal favorites were the Strawberry Moon and the Persian Collins (if you like gin GET THIS ONE). If you love the taste of bourbon, their manhattan is great. Their wine list is extensive. They have a lot to offer from all different regions. The food is also phenomenal. It's a small plate/tapas restaurant as is growing popular. If you don't like this trend, then this place probably isn't for you. It is definitely a Mediterranean themed menu. It offers everything from hummus, tabneh, specialty meat & cheeses, vegetable small plates, meat small plates, and seafood small plates. The specialty cheeses were awesome, the specialty meats were delicious (try the Lomo!). The desserts were phenomenal. Our table split the goat cheese creme brûlée and the lemon olive oil cake. The goat cheese creme brûlée was everything you hope for in a goat cheese dessert. The goat cheese was strong tasting but the sweet crunchy topping balanced it nicely. The lemon olive oil cake was delicious and came with a very subtle cinnamon allspice ice-cream. We were really nervous the ice-cream would be overpowering but they managed a great blend. I would give this two very enthusiastic thumbs up and recommend it for sure.
(5)Ibrahim A.
Worst meal I've had in Charlottesville. Although it is a tapas place, portions were way too small and overpriced. Additionally most of the dishes were not cooked properly. Service was half decent.
(1)Amy H.
This place has a wonderful ambiance. Really cool decor that is a nice change of pace for Charlottesville. Our waiter was very knowledgeable, friendly, and accommodating. The wine list is huge, lots by the glass, and interesting. The waiter knew a lot about wine, too, and let me have a little taste of one I was unsure I'd like. Overall, the food was quite good. We ended up picking 7 different items (too many for 2 people but they all sounded so good!) and really liked most. Everything was well prepared and nicely presented. The spreads and pita were wonderful. I found the fish to be too salty. The gnocchi were out of this world. Definitely going back, am glad I have a better handle on the menu and portion sizes now.
(4)Jill C.
Great service and great food. The wine list is extensive and all by the glass in many price ranges. Pleasant surprise to have such a great experience at a new restaurant in cville!
(4)Molly B.
One of the best meals that I've had in Charlottesville. Flavors were excellent and presentation was beautiful.
(5)Tom R.
My expectations were high after reading all the great reviews BUT amazingly Parallel 38 actually exceeded them! Fantastic wines and fresh and creative cocktails were a pleasant start to our dining experience. After that came the food- DELICIOUS! It is hard to pick out a standout dish as they were all fantastic but I admit to having dreams about their Gnocchi dish... but then again the mushrooms were sooo good.... At any rate I can't wait to go back!
(5)Deidre C.
Couldn't have been more delicious and the atmosphere is awesome. Sitting in a bar side table I felt nice and cozy. Great wine, great food, great service, hands down. Plus the bar manager is a total stud, and the owner made me feel right at home. Give it go, you will not be disappointed.
(5)Laura M.
When visiting from New York we were pleasantly surprised by this amazing restaurant. The decor is understated, subtly beautiful and comfortable. The waiters are attentive and knowledgeable about all aspects of the meal and particularly well informed about the wines. The food is impeccably prepared and presented beginning with the traditional yet wonderfully light hommus to the delectable grilled calamari, fluffy gnocchi and lamb chops with a garnish of succulent stewed lamb. The desserts are of the same high quality as the rest of the selections. We truly appreciate the individual french pressed coffee. We were a large party on a busy Saturday night and the service never wavered. More importantly, there is a friendly yet professional atmosphere at Parallel 38. We look forward to our next trip south to visit this wonderful destination.
(5)Jerry C.
Great new hipster vibe eatery in C'ville. Plates are on smallish side, but larger than tapas. Very eclectic, interesting and fairly priced wine list. Creative and adventurous chef with some superb dishes to offer ... had grilled octopus with citrus (a little chewy but tasty). My wife had an excellently grilled Bronzino that was delectable. The naan is not homemade (but they keep it coming), is served with good quality olive oil. Excellent upscale furnishings and locally quarried soapstone bar and kitchen counters.
(4)Andy M.
Excellent meal - all tapas were very tasty. Wine selection was outstanding. Solid service. Overall a Great place and we highly recommend it when in Charlottesville.
(5)Rachel M.
After trying to figure out where to go for diner last Saturday night my two friends and I decided on trying something new. We ended up at Parallel 38. I have been back twice since. First time we sat at the bar and had wonderful service and great recommendations from the bar tender Jessie who was a delight. The decor, food and some of the best service I have had makes you want to keep coming back. So far we have tried : the beet salad, mushrooms, cauliflower, lamb tartar, sampler spread, lamb chop, tuna tartar, flank steak, and my absolute favorite the fried pork belly. This is heaven in your mouth. Having a huge love for wine Parallel has absolutely fulfilled my need for a wonderful wine selection in Charlottesville. I would absolutely recommend this restaurant.
(5)Amanda A.
Decent service and large drink selection; however, I was completely unimpressed with the food. Since the restaurant serves tapas dishes I was expecting much better flavor in each of the dishes. It seemed as if more care was given to presentation and plating then really getting a good flavor profile. The hummus was the most disappointing both in texture and flavor - it was a little sweet. I did really enjoy the cauliflower dish though.
(3)Sonja P.
I dunno. Maybe I'm not a tapas person. I went in starving, and almost $70 later still left hungry. The food was all really good, but for the price, I'd like to feel a little less empty. The cocktails were all amazing, and there's a great wine selection. I'll be back for drinks for sure, but not so sure I'll be back for food.
(3)Elena L.
Let me start by saying I am a huge Justin Ross fan. Its hard not to like someone who consistently steered you towards excellent, off-the-menu drinks at the Whiskey Jar, so I was excited to see he was a part of this restaurant venture. On the Parallel 38...First, I think it fills a much needed void in the Cville food scene. It definitely has a vibrant, modern ambience, which contrasts it nicely with the stodginess of most of Cville's nicer restaurants. Also, the value of the food here is incredible. Given the richness of the food and size of the portions, this makes for a reasonable, lovely night out, which is pretty rare with tapas restaurants. Service: I came with a rather large group of girlfriends to celebrate getting engaged and our treatment was truly Michelin star worthy. I haven't had that much doting in a restaurant since I was at Gramercy Tavern this fall. We were instantly congratulated for the occasion and had a lovely bottle of prosecco waiting for us to start our night. Justin personally greeted us and fielded questions about the menu/drinks/etc. Our server, whose name I do not recall, was equally attentive ensuring that we ordered enough for everyone to try each item that was ordered. Since it is my pet peeve when servers do not mention when a order comes with 3 of something for a party of 4, etc. I appreciated that not once at Parallel 38 did I have to worry about this. Food: My girlfriends and I, two of whom live in NYC, were very impressed by the quality of the food. We started with the three spread sampler, ordering the hommus, htipiti, and labneh. For me, the labneh was clearly star of the show. It had the cool, simple yogurt flavor, without being bland as I so often find labneh to be. We ordered the mushrooms as a side. I love when a chef gets good mushrooms and does not mess with them. They were prepared simply, but well with just simple olive oil and seasoning. These were definitely a popular dish at the table. We then had the pork belly, scallop, and shrimp dishes. The scallop dish was my favorite. It was cooked flawlessly, which seems to still be a challenge for other restaurants unfortunately, and the quinoa give it a great rich flavor. The pork belly was also delicious and quite different from most pork bellies I've had recently. It is almost pork belly a la porchetta. It has a very strong umami flavor, which I enjoyed. Finally the shrimp. I love the simplicity of the gambas at mas, but the gambas at Parallel 38 is a very well conceived dish. The fennel and feta bring a great mediterranean flavor and lightness to the shrimp, which I actually prefer to classic soaked in olive oil and garlic. All in all, this is some of the best, and most modern food I've had in Charlottesville. I often find restaurants here are sitting on their laurels, getting by with food being decent because they are just Cville institutions and lack the competition of big cities. I think the food at Parallel 38 really elevates the city's offerings. Final Notes: I think Parallel 38 is wonderful. I look forward to going back to try more of the menu and revisit some of my favorites. Just as importantly, at least for me, I appreciate knowing that I am in for a great dining experience and attentive service when I come here. Definitely worth a visit!
(5)K O.
Afternoon tapas al fresco in the shade. Excellent service. 100 wines by the glass. Bronzino in brown butter was amazing!! Meatballs had a delectable sauce but were a bit salty and tough. Tabboleh was refreshing with quinoa and herbs. Highly recommend the lemon olive oil cake - and the accompanying dollop of spicy chocolate granache. Located next door to a movie theatre, this place is ideal for a bite to eat at mealtime or in-between.
(4)Jake F.
I've been here twice now, and the experience was consistent. Both times, the place was more than half empty. It's a large high-ceilinged space, dark and not particularly welcoming. There is one of those nouveau mixologist cocktail lists with a bunch of weird ingredients that apparently justify charging an arm and a leg for a drink. The cocktails were pretty awful, as was the music that they pumped through the cavernous space (it sounded like the Phantom of the Opera on demerol). Service here was attentive and friendly, although the hostess initially tried to seat us at the worst table in the place. The food is truly mediocre. There really wasn't a single dish of the four or five we ordered that was outstanding in any way. Plus, the only bread to be had here is something they refer to as naan, which is actually packaged pita bread. This is really odd in a tapas place, where good bread is such an integral part of the experience. I think this place suffers from a poor menu concept, and poor execution in the kitchen. I didn't think there was anything Mediterranean about the food at all, except perhaps for a selection of Greek-inspired dips. And this certainly bears no resemblance to good Spanish tapas. So I don't really care what award the chef has won -- there is nothing award-winning on this menu in my opinion. I agree with other reviewers who suggest Mas as a much better dining alternative if you are in search of tapas and/or great food. Two visits to this place was more than enough for me. I won't be back.
(2)Ryan C.
The pork belly alone is reason enough to walk in the door, literally melts in your mouth. Bar staff was great and the cocktails and wine were very good. I'd recommend hanging at the bar for a few hours a slowly enjoying different tastes.
(5)M K.
Having recently moved here from DC, we've been exploring the food scene pretty actively. I've found a few great restaurants (zocalo, mas, ten, continental divide, etc.), and Parallel 38 really stands with Charlottesville's best. My husband and I were incredibly impressed with the food. Everything was so full of flavor, uniquely prepared, and clearly used high quality ingredients. They had a fun cocktail menu and a large selection of wines by the glass. The service was also great -- we had a chance to meet the owner, who chatted with us for a while. He has worked in impressive company among awesome DC chefs (and "Top Chef" chefs!), and seems to know what he is doing. It is great to have another high quality mezze/small plate/tapas restaurant in town. As much as I'll hate to fight for reservations, GO GO GO! Please keep this restaurant in business, Charlottesville! I know we'll be back.
(5)J G.
We ate here in a tearing hurry and they were awesome about getting us in and out super fast -- without compromising the food! I don't think you could do it on a busy Saturday, but we were grateful and impressed. Especially recommend the mushrooms and the shrimp -- the mushrooms were flavorful and juicy but a tiny bit crisp around the edges. Perfect. The feta-sausage-fennel-sweet onion topping on the shrimp took three really nice shrimp to new heights. Take your time, too -- we wished we could have.
(4)Cat H.
We really enjoyed our whole experience here. The wait staff knew there stuff and super friendly . Food is really good ... Yes expensive but at least good food:) their flat bread .. Which they kept giving us was delicious! The beet salad was really good and the potatoes as well ... We had so much ( there was 4 of us ) so we really got to try almost everything . There were no complaints ! Yum! They also have a vegan menu . We had a couple plates off the vegan menu and even that was delicious ! So excited to have them in charlottesville!
(5)Mary T.
Went to Parallel 38 for lunch with a co-worker. We loved the space, the food and the service. It was lunch so we did not explore the wine list. The lunch specials were outstanding and very fairly priced. I had the steak skirt gyro and the mix of marinade flavors and sauces were perfect. My co-worker had a vegetarian chick pea dish and was equally impressed. More food than we could eat. The servers were down to earth and brought extra sauces to try. We will return for dinner.
(5)Shawna K.
Upon entering Parallel 38 on a rainy Saturday evening, we were immediately struck by its echoing spaciousness and the massive fiberoptic jellyfish hanging from the ceiling. Our interest was piqued and we were excited to see if the food and service would live up to the impressive space. After being seated by the hostess, we surveyed the menu, searching for the cocktail listing so thoroughly lauded here on yelp. We waited quite a while before a waiter greeted us with an iPad in tow and we ordered some cocktails off the menu. Our waiter was very kind, but the open seating lead to an impersonal feel. I received a spicy tequila drink that was far too sweet for my taste, while my date ordered the 'strawberry moon,' also far too sweet to enjoy before a meal. We then moved on to our appetizer - the 3 spread sampler (we selected hommus, htipiti, and tapenade). Our first plate came quickly enough, but it's quantity was a tad disappointing. We received three dollops of spread and three small pieces of pita bread. The htipiti and tapenade were decent but the hommus was oddly sweet. Although we quickly had our pita replenished, between the sweet cocktails, slow service, and measly portions, our appetite for Parallel 38 had been thoroughly satisfied.
(2)Elizabeth B.
This is my favorite place to eat in Charlottesville. We got about 7-8 dishes to share between the 4 of us, which worked out great. We got to try a lot of things and still leave with full tummies. Our hostess, Carter, recommended the tagliatelle (it's kind of like a lamb stroganoff with feta) and it was the star of the night! I also really enjoyed the meatball pizza, roasted cauliflower, and spicy mussels. If there is any criticism I could make, it would be that the music was kind of goofy (the theme from requiem for a dream?! why?!), but it's not too loud or anything. Overall, the service and outdoor seating area was perfect. It was a beautiful evening, and my guests from out of town had a great time.
(5)Robert S.
Surprisingly delicious! I came here for my sister's rehearsal dinner. I wasn't expecting much, since I associate mall restaurants with bad food. However, I was pleasantly surprised on how good this place was. Recap: 1. Parking - Easy. Typical mall parking. Didn't see any valet. 2. Décor/Atmosphere - Modern and warm. Lots of woody décor, but pretty nice. I wouldn't mind if wifey brought me here on a date. 3. Food - Pretty good. We had a variety of dishes. First course: Labneh - smooth, creamy, but slightly tart yogurt that was served with warm pita. Combine that with the Htipiti and it's a match made in heaven. Second Course: Housemade Gnocchi - clean, simple dish. The gnocchi had a firmer texture than Italian made gnocchi. Mushroom Risotto - well made. Packed with mushroom flavors but not overwhelmed with cheese. The Arborio rice was cooked perfectly. Third Course: Meatball - It was delicious but didn't stand out. It tasted exactly how it's described. A meatball. Samfiana - Well done roasted medley of veggies. Baby went to down on the zucchini. Fourth Course: Chicken Skewers - Well done. Generous chunks of chicken that was lightly seasoned with citrus flavors. Very light, but packed with flavor. The chicken was also very juicy. Sauteed' Shrimp - Probably one of my favorite dishes. A bit on the messy side due to the crumbled chorizo, but well worth it. Last Course - Dessert Lemon Cake - Firm, but moist. Fantastic summer flavors and a great way to finish the meal! Our table also ordered a bunch of cocktails. A little pricey, but all of them were very good. 4. Service - Excellent. Our server made great recommendations. We wanted to do shots of patron, but she suggested another tequila that might be my new favorite. 5. Restroom. - Not sure, didn't go. 6. Price - Reasonable. It's not cheap, but it's not overly expensive. Good value for the money. 7. Baby Friendly - For the most part, yes. The place was noisy and there was plenty of room for him to explore around. Not sure if there was a changing table in the restrooms though. Overall, I had a great time here. The food was delicious, service was excellent, and drinks were strong. Highly recommend for large rooms or intimate dates. There's also outdoor seating if you want to bring your pup.
(4)Henry H.
Based on a lot of Yelp reviews, we decided to stop here for a simple dinner and early birthday celebration. We booked our reservation through Open Table and was quite pleasantly surprised when our server, Olivia, acknowledged the birthday and sent over a half glass of Cava. Tapas were perfectly sized for two of us. We started with a really good eggplant melitzano which was not at all like the babaganoush we were familiar with but brought out best in eggplant. Not mushy but chunks of possibly blanched eggplant with garlic flavor and red onions. The spicy tuna tartare had a lot of freshly chopped herbs with just enough spice to make the dish interesting. The lamb leg skewers were very tender but could have stood a little more searing to improve upon the flavor overall. The octopus was not as fresh as hoped and high on the citrus. That goes as well for the crispy cauliflower; a little too heavy handed on the vinegar and not enough crisp but still tasty. Ambiance was fantastic - cool vibe that would appeal to all ages. Service was very pleasant and on point. Solid three star rating overall from us!
(3)Alexandria T.
I have visited Parallel 38 a handful of times, and each time had a great experience. The decor and set up of the bar creates a trendy vibe, but the space is large, industrial, and not super inviting. On a few visits, I was there just for drinks, and another time I enjoyed a full meal. They have great cocktails, and the service at the bar was great. On the visit where I was there to dine, we started off with cocktails at the bar while we were waiting for our table to be ready. The Lust for me and the Fire & Honey for him--both were super tasty and crafted well. We were seated at our table and began to pour over options. Parallel 38 is tapas style, so be prepared to share! At the suggestion of the server, we ordered five different items from the menu. We started with the tapenade, which was very dominate on the olives. I liked it, but if you're expecting something with a more layered taste, this is not the dish for you. We moved onto a butternut squash risotto, which was my second favorite dish. It was creamy and rich--everything a risotto should be. Next up was the skirt steak--I abstain from red meat, but I did try one of the potatoes that was served with it, and it could have used a little more time in the oven. We also ordered the samfaina, which said it was zucchini, squash, and eggplant; however, there were only a two or three pieces of eggplant in it. The ahi tuna was the star of the show for me--I could have eaten a whole serving myself! We wanted to order dessert, but our server informed us they were out of the one we wanted. He brought our check, and then a few minutes later, he came out with a different dessert that was one the house! Overall, I have enjoyed my experiences at Parallel 38 and would recommend enjoying cocktails and dining to others!
(4)Lauren G.
Fantastic wine list for all the lovers out there! The food... Fantastic. We didn't have one bad/disappointing thing all night. However I will say the bar and restaurant were pretty dead yet out service was extremely slow. I've worked in the industry so I have a lot of patience with this so it didn't bother me too much. More attentiveness would've been appreciated
(4)E M.
Great tapas place. Lots of cocktail, wine and small plate choices. Kind of loud inside for conversation. Big outdoor patio looks like the better choice if the weather is nice.
(4)Danielle W.
Went here the other day for the first time for dinner and had a wonderful experience. We had a dip trio (hummus, htipiti and tzatziki), the gnocchi, grilled asparagus, and lamb skewers. Hummus was nothing special, but the other two dips were great. The gnocchi and asparagus were our favorites. Tapas tend to be overpriced, particularly when you're getting a "small plate" of food, so I wasn't too surprised here over their prices. Just wish things were a tad cheaper. Lamb skewers were $14, and you get about 5 bite-sized pieces of lamb. They recommended 2-3 plates per person, and for the two of us, four plates were fine. We wanted a lighter dinner. Overall the food came out perfectly and quickly, so we had no complaints, and happily devoured everything. Impeccable plating. Great place for a date night. Interesting choice of music, though. Felt like I was in a European nightclub at times. We will definitely be back :)
(4)Laura F.
Parallel 38 has some great tapas and is a good addition to the Shops at Stonefield area. I think it's a little overpriced for what you get and for the Charlottesville area, but I have enjoyed the meals I've had there (both lunch and dinner). They have several wines on tap, which is hard to find, and a pretty extensive drink list. I've always had helpful and knowledgable servers and would recommend giving it a try.
(4)Chad S.
Just to be clear and fair to this establishment, this rating is less about anything they really did wrong and more about my experience I sat at the bar, which there were a total of 4 other patrons at when I arrived. Along with those 4 we're two other tables with 2 people a piece. To begin with, the bar tender was not extremely attentive. He wasn't terrible, he gave me drink & food menus promptly, but took a bit to take my orders... Even presenting him with the international body language of being ready to order. The food, I had the meatballs, chorizo potatoes and beef tar tar. The best way to describe all the dishes, average. Nothing really wrong with them per-say; although I didn't care at all for the way the tar tar was seasoned; the presentation lacked and overall the food was... Well... Average. While the wine selection is pretty vast, I'm not certain; based I had; that they might not need some refinement. I have to say, the 2 I had were absolutely terrible. Perhaps they'd been open too long or perhaps they just suck... I don't know but not great (and no I didn't cheap it out... In fact of of them was $19 per glass) The interior of the place looks warm & inviting. The EDM music choice... spot on to mix with the visual vibe. Unfortunately, between the absolutely terrible sound system with no subwoofers the lack of sound absorption panels in this cavernous concrete and steel structure, it makes it a bit taxing and probably has a pretty negative unconscious impact on the amount of money they make. They probably should have spent a little less on that gorgeous Mark Schuyler-Designed fiber optic chandelier and put another $5000 into sound & acoustics... They either had no thoughts on the sound or someone decided to cut the budget to the cheapest thing they could do outside of just not having anything at all. Overall, the food was average... In fact, had it not cost me (by myself) $65 for 2 glasses of lousy wine and 3 average tasting samples of their food, I'm not sure I would have given them such a low rating. A restauranteur in RVA I know says it best... "Being in this business is easy, all you have to do is make sure it's the right temperature, the right music, the right staff, the right food and the right mix of them all to be successful... Easy, right?" Would I go back here again? With my expectations properly set, yes. I'd say this is still a good place to go for after dinner drinks and hang with your peeps. In fact, with my expectations now in check, my next visit will likely yield an improved update to my review with it being based solely on drinking. Missed expectations... That's probably the best way to describe my experience. But in all fairness, I bet if you take this review and apply it to your visit, you may not be disappointed.
(3)Chanhong L.
I enjoyed almost all the dishes we ordered: the calamari, gnocchi, shrimp skewers, and samfaina (mixed vegetables) were delectable, but the highly-rated pork belly was just okay in my opinion. We regretted ordering the grilled cauliflowers because we could've made it ourselves, but luckily it was free because they forgot about it until we reminded them. In addition to the six dishes we ordered, we also had complimentary pita and olive oil, which made us more full and satisfied making the meal overall a very enjoyable and filling one for three.
(5)Ann N.
Went for dinner because I was craving scallops and a customer posted a really yum picture of a scallop dish. To my disappointment they no longer serve the scallops. The cocktails and food were okay, we had hummus, the steak and fish. Our waiter was a little slow, maybe because it was already late in the evening. The ambience and decor is very nice, love the chandelier!
(3)Heather L.
No highchairs available! I've never been some place that didn't have highchairs for little ones. The hostess seated us and didn't bother to tell us that they didn't offer them. We left before ordering.
(2)Jenny C.
We came here to celebrate a birthday Sunday night and had a wonderful, elegant experience. The waiter was friendly and useful, providing excellent recommendations, and 2 of the servers brought out a cake lit with a candle and topped with ice cream at the end. All our orders were delicious, but I especially recommend the gnocchi and the yogurt appetizer dip because I think they are uniquely decadent to this restaurant. The waiter explained to us about a special process they use to boil the gnocchi, and although I don't quite remember the details, it certainly had a pleasing texture and richness. Similarly, the yogurt dip had an airy-ness to it that was very satisfying (plus the pita bread was freshly made, warm, and unlimited)! The restaurant itself is also beautifully styled, inside and out, with plenty of openness, yet the amount of room between tables allowed for privacy. I especially liked the entire wall of wine bottles (like a built in bookcase, the kind you need a ladder for). I would definitely come back for a special occasion or important guest.
(5)Brian M.
This place was a shockingly great experience and amazing food spot in a budding mall in Charlottesville. First, the decor is very cool with some unique lighting. Perfect spot for a date night! I loved the fact that they had plenty of outdoor seating as well. Came here for lunch and took advantage of the outdoor seating. Menu is tapas style. We got a few tasty items such as the meatballs, yukon gold potatoes and the sea scallops. The sea scallops were pure amazing and each bite was this perfect blend of buttery goodness. The yukon potatoes were a huge hit for us as well and it came with a very tasty aioli as well. Also took the server's recommendation on a glass of Tampranillo from Matchbook. This was a fantastic easy to drink red that compliment our meal! The show stopper and the reason it got 5 stars is because of the pork belly gyro! This ranks as one of my favorite things I have gotten in a restaurant, ever! The pork belly was flavored perfectly and had the consistency of being flash fried. Place gently on a bed of cucumbers, pickled red pinions, greens, tzatziki sauce on a warm pita! This was a wow moment for me and I had to fight inner fat boy from ordering another one for the road. If you are in Charlottesville this is a must to visit.
(5)Julia N.
I'd say every tapa dish was quite interesting and each one was either a hit or miss, or had elements in it that were either hits or misses. I noticed when there were misses, it tended to be because either the dish or some kind of element in the dish was too salty. Lots of sodium. But maybe it's just me, who knows? Other than that pretty delish. You shouldn't be too worried about paying what seems to be a lot for a "small" portion tapa because when we added it up it was pretty much the same price for three people ordering three entrees and two appetizers at a Thai restaurant. Ordering five tapas for a party of three didn't seem to be enough though so we ordered one of their steak sandwiches that is served on a flat bread with fries. That alone was enough for one person's full meal.
(4)Michelle A.
I would have posted pictures of how awesome our food looked, but they were all so good looking that we devoured it as soon as it came out. Honestly did not have anything that we didn't like: mussels, skirt steak, calamari, potatoes, dip trio, dessert - especially the lemon olive oil cake DELICIOUS! I can't believe we waited this long to stumble in. Not only was our food excellent, but the service was great too. They were attentive, knowledgeable and on top of everything brought us free desserts on the house for my mother in laws and grandfather's birthdays (which we were celebrating while we were there) and it was completely unexpected. We will definitely be back again soon!
(5)Cassidy T.
We came in from out of town and this place looked like a good place to grab something to eat. The food was fantastic. Whatever they marinated the cauliflower in was amazing. Two of us split the cauliflower and a 2 meat and cheese plate. The portions were perfect. The atmosphere was a little spacious and we think we would have enjoyed it more if we sat at the bar seeing how it was just two of us.
(4)Eldon T.
Simply fantastic! We had lunch today and between five of us had a lot to try. Pork belly and steak gyro, the tuna and lamb tartare, the meatballs and of course the cocktails. Persian Collins is an excellent take on the classic. I'd say better than the classic! The presentation was just perfect. And the service was friendly and attentive. The only bad thing is that we live way too far to come visit more often but we will keep it on our list to come back to.
(5)Len S.
This is a great spot with small, very creative dishes. Parallel 38 will not disappoint!
(5)Callie K.
Swoon! I would date this place if I could. The ambience is wonderful all the way down to the music. And can we talk about those rustic wheeled tables in the bar?! I die. The food was on point. Small plates get so much criticism. But let me tell you...this is small plates on a whole different level. Every bite is delicious and after two plates I was full. I couldn't even finish all of it! The Matchbook Arsonist Chard was fabulous--and a great pairing with prosciutto (melt in your melt) and hummus (the pita bread alone will make you sigh). If I lived here, this would be my spot.
(5)Janice S.
WOW!! A friend and I came here on a whim during a girls weekend away. I had never had tapas and wasn't quite sure what I was in for, but I like trying new foods. When we initially arrived for a Friday night dinner, I absolutely wanted to try the pork belly and gnocchi since so many people had raved abut them. But in the end, there were too many other yummy sounding foods. I ordered the melitzano and the harissa fries. Both were out of this world! We also had the hummus, citrus potatoes, roasted cauliflower, and asparagus with romesco. All were wonderful....but I was obsessed with the melitzano. My friend and I found this restaurant SO good that we returned two days later for lunch. We shared a falafel and ordered the melitzano again...mmm mmm MMM! We also tried the labneh and WOW - another out of this world dish! The atmosphere was nice....when we arrived Friday night there were no free tables, but we were seated at the bar immediately. The noise level was pretty high...but not outrageous. On Sunday, we got there as soon as they opened and it was virtually empty....nice and quiet. The staff was nice both times....attentive but not invasive. Water was kept filled, questions were answered, food arrived timely.....all in all a pleasant experience and I'm looking forward to returning the next time I'm in Charlottesville.
(5)Diana X.
Excellent service, and a creative menu that was both interesting and delicious! The cocktails were great too.
(5)Doobly D.
It's alright. Food is not bad, hit or miss on the plate. Server forgot an order while we were there and drinks took almost 10 minutes per order. Next to a chain movie theater lol
(3)Marbles L.
Tried out this new restaurant when a friend came to visit. The decoration was modern-ish, but was slightly dimmer than I would have liked. Spread Trio: We got the hommus, htipiti, and labneh. Htipiti was voted the best among us, we could really taste the red peppers, not overwhelming. Hommus came second, very smooth and goes well with the naan. Labneh tasted a like a smooth cream cheese, not bad, but probably won't order again. Beets & Carrots salad: Very fresh beets, carrots, tossed with arugula and greens. Not bad, but nothing too special. Gnocchi: EXCELLENT! These are the best gnocchi I've had in a long time. The gnocchi was delicate, soft, and warm. They melt in your mouth and you would keep going back for more. Samfaina: Pretty good vegetable dish. All the vegetables were cooked perfectly, the sauce goes very well with the vegetables. Roasted Pork Belly: Do not be fooled by its look, because this was very delicious. The pork jus reduction gave the pork belly an extra kick. If you have any naan left, dunk the naan in the pork jus! The meat simply falls off and almost melts in your mouth. Suggest to pair this with a vegetable dish, as the pork jus may be a tiny bit too salty on its own. Grilled Brizola Steak: Steak was cooked well, and the citrus potatoes added the much needed acidity to the dish. I would recommend not ordering this dish together with the pork belly though, as the pork belly was really much better. Drinks: Akrotiri heat was good, but the Persian Collins was a miss. Overall, a bit pricey, but good experience. Our wait staff was very knowledgable and friendly.
(4)Samantha C.
Parallel 38 has a very cool, hip ambiance that manages to also be warm and inviting. The food is spectacular (I especially recommend the lamb loin) and there really seems to be something for everyone on the menu. On a side note, there was a ton of parking near the restaurant, which I appreciated.
(5)Alex M.
The Lamb tartare is awesome! I would defiantly recommend this place. They have really great wine list and the bar area is separated off from the restaurant by a low wall which makes you feel like you are in a bar but doesn't cut you off from the open atmosphere of the space. The food was nicely presented and very tasty. It is small plate dining (tapas style) but the portions are good and the price reasonable. It knocks the socks off it's C'Ville tapas competitors. I really great venue with good food, and smiling staff.
(4)Gregg E.
Went here with my wife for light bite and glass of wine on a Sunday afternoon - I have no idea where we ditched the kids! Very nice, modern place. Food was solid, service was attentive, although given the fact that is was pretty empty, I would hope for good service. But the staff wasn't cloying or uninformed and were there when you wanted them and became invisible otherwise. Certainly a lot of pretty - space, plates, food. But an interesting menu and executed well. But not memorable - I can't recall what we had. I just know it wasn't spectacular or horrible. Menu and wines were fully priced, but no more so than most of the other places at Stonefield.
(3)Phillip F.
90 bucks spent on a cheap glass of wine, and 5 tapas dishes. Some dishes are a hit (lamb kibbeh) others were a miss (shrimp, gorgonzola, and chorizo). Wine selection was good, but nothing outstanding. There are better curated lists throughout the city. WAY OVERPRICED. You'll get better variety and better value, not to mention better tasting, meals at MAS. won't be back here.
(2)Hugh M.
Parallel 38 is, first and foremost, one cool place to eat. The use of "tapas" or "mezze" instead of actual meals is always an appealing one. Here, it is done exquisitely. We got the trio spread (without hummus), a cheese not listed online, the gnocci, the samfaina, the bronzini, and the scallops. All of them were delightful, the theme being delicacy with appropriate punches for an overall light lunch. The samfaina and scallops stood out as the best for me. Definitely plan on returning when next in Charlottesville. People may complain about it not being enough food, but that is on American society, not this restaurant.
(5)Blaine B.
Small portions. Had the steak and the scallops, both of which were very good. Solid wine list but horrid scotch selection. I definitely enjoyed myself but just too expensive for what you get.
(3)Anna H.
Very cool concept for a restaurant and it follows through with excellent food, service and atmosphere! When my sister-in-law told me we were going to eat here, I immediately said, "So it's Korean food?" Because when most people hear 38th parallel, they think of the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea (well, at least I do). Instead, the concept is basically that the food served here all come from the Mediterranean portion of the 38th North parallel on the globe. They even have a huge chalk sketch of the map with the parallel drawn through it. What's nice is that Charlottesville also lies on the 38th parallel, which makes this restaurant concept relevant to its city alone. That's pretty cool. Anyway, on to the food! It's tapa style, so here is what we ordered and what I thought about each dish: - Three spread sampler: we ordered two so that we could sample all four spreads. I particularly liked the Labneh and Tapenade Vegetables: - Manitari: basically mushrooms, which were good, but not my favorite - Gnocchi: SO GOOD!! MY FAVORITE! We all loved it. We even took our extra pieces of pita and scooped up the extra sauce. Delicious! - Koinoupidi: cauliflower and very tasty Meats: - Arni Psimeno: lamb chops were very delicious - Choirini Panseta: pork belly = MY FAVORITE MEAT DISH! Seafood: - Bronzino: Mediterranean sea bass that was super good - Cheteni: scallops that were TO DIE FOR! MY FAVORITE SEAFOOD DISH! We didn't order drinks because two of us were unable to imbibe. My wine expert brother-in-law did mention that their list was very good, but that their prices were a bit too high for what was on there. Service was attentive, informative and friendly. Everything came out in a very timely manner; however we seemed to have to wait for our desserts a little longer than all the other plates. It wasn't really a bother, just seemed strange given how quickly everything else came out. All in all, it was a very pleasant dining experience and if I lived in Charlottesville I'd definitely introduce other folks to this restaurant!
(4)Mollie S.
I'm expecting, but still eager for a quality social getaway with the husband from time to time. P38 offered a comfortable, modern atmosphere complete with a patient, knowledgeable server and gracious, adept bartender. I've gone to plenty of places to request a virgin cocktail, and usually end up with a less than satisfying, frequently underwhelming beverage. Not so here. Our server offered me options of their house cocktails that tasted great without alcohol. I settled on a "virgin Persian" and was not disappointed. The bartender actually paid attention to the drink, and I was very happy. My husband opted for "the shrub" (alcoholic), and he too was very satisfied with the balance and flavor of his cocktail. Unfortunately, we'd only stopped here for a pre-dinner drink. We'll definitely be back for the tapas.
(5)Debra E.
Really enjoyed this place. The spreads we got we fabulous; we ran out of room to get much else, only the spicy pork pizza which was yummy. Next time we must come with a bigger group so we can try more things!
(5)Marcia C.
The drinks here are fabulous along with the decor and service. My only problem is that it is very expensive and the tapas are very small. I know tapas are not meant to be large portions but these are really tiny. If they're going to be so small they have to be perfect and they weren't. Still very good but not what you would expect for the size and price. It's still a great place to go.
(4)Lynne B.
Fantastic small plates and a world class wine list. Two new menu items, the panzanella bread salad and the mushroom pide are delicious. It isn't hard to see why they won the James Beard Award last year.
(5)Joseph S.
My wife and I came here for dinner on a Friday night and it is located in a nice upscale shopping center away from downtown. Their cocktail list was big, they only have one draft beer option, and I was surprised for being a wine bar they didn't have many local selections, more influenced internationally. We ended up splitting 6 shared plates; four of which were excellent! The hummus and cheese platters were above average, and the grilled shrimp were out of this world! The ambiance is really cool and I would definitely come back.
(4)Adrián L.
Would rate this a 3.5 if I could based on their dishes being a real hit or a miss. We had 5 dishes there, 3 were great: the lamb loin. Gnocchi, and the grilled shrimp with chorizo. The lamb was very tender with lots of flavor. The gnocchi was very unique in that it was seared giving it a crispy texture and served in a cream sauce with peppers. The shrimp was severed with lots of chopped up flavorful chorizo. The meatballs and wings are a real miss. The meatballs were over cooked and rubbery in texture . The wings were very dry with too much dry rub seasoning. The wine selection is great in that there are 70 wine by glass options.
(4)Joey D.
Decided on this Mediterranean tapas spot for a nice dinner out while in the area. Little pricey, but overall the experience was good. The Wine: We both had a glass of the Brut Reserve, Mont Marcal Cava Sparking Wine. It was reallllly good. The Food: Spread Trio: Hommus, Htipiti and Labneh. (all excellent) Manchego Cheese w/Naan bread (mild but good flavor) Citrus Potatoes (really enjoyed these) Sauteed Mushrooms (mix of wild mushrooms, little heavy in the herbs) Sauteed Shrimp (these were ok, the chorizo was strong) Pan Seared Bronzini (loved everything about this) Olive Oil Cake with Ice Cream (yuuum) Staff: Little awkward, but nice overall. Atmosphere: Modern, spacious, somewhat loud.
(4)Zoe Z.
Decor is intriguing. Menu looks interesting. But in the end the experience can't live up to the $$$ of your check. Our neighboring table complained about the food to the manager. To me, the tapa dishes are fine, pork belly is worth trying. Or maybe the ambience put you in higher expectations?!
(3)Sally M.
After much anticipation of yet another dining destination in The Shops at Stonefield, we were truly delighted on multiple levels with our exploratory visit to Parallel 38. Upon first walking in, the high ceilings and low music envelope you in a room that is spacious and open, but somehow feels cozy and inviting to stay for quite some time. Closer observation leads to a beautiful soapstone bar, furniture salvaged from old railroad structures and blue prints showing the evolution of it all. Where to start? I guess at the beginning: the cocktail list, albeit brief, does a spectacular job of illuminating classic liquors with modern twists and technique. Try the Jamey Was A Ginger, a Jameson based cocktail, enhanced by a spiced apple espuma. For those of you opposed to Catholic Irish Whiskey, you may be converted. Moving on to the wine list...the wine list is what will define Parallel 38. With bottles to represent a little bit of everything, the list is extensive, selective yet approachable. And vast. And the cuisine. Tapas. Delectable. Locally sourced and wonderfully prepared. Delicate Gnocchi with confit tomatoes, skirt steak jazzed with harissa to add depth to a classic twist on steak and potatoes, Pork belly cooked to perfection accompanied by tender cipolini onions. And as trendy, edgy and hip the place felt, there was a constant air of non pretension. The owner Justin Ross, greeting guests and welcoming the first time enjoyers. The bartenders and staff smiling and sharing the newly born history of the room, menu, and abundant personal recommendations. The earnest guidance when you came to a fork in the menu and couldn't decide which dish to choose...all of shows a staff that truly believes in what they are sharing. And a passion to share it. All in all, delightful. We are thrilled to have another restaurant in Charlottesville that pushes the envelope and excites the senses. Also to say- there is no pre-definition here, from date night to pre-movie cocktails and small plates, its a go for any occasion.
(5)Charlie X.
This review is so long overdue! My friends and I have been to Parallel 38 several times and loved it each time! Each time, we sat outside and enjoyed people watching while waiting! The drinks here are amazing! They're so different and nothing that I ever thought of ordering and liking. The dishes here are all amazing! Especially the fish and I rarely even like fish! This is the perfect place for catching up with longtime friends or for a nice date with the love of your life! Do not miss out!!!
(5)Christian S.
We had an absolute great time at Parallel 38. From the hostess through the dinner service everything was so well done. We had to wait at the bar for a few minutes before a table was ready for us - we didn't have a reservation. Our server, Mike, was great. He made some good recommendations and even warned us that a large party was about to put in orders so that we could get in front of them. We tried a dip trio, the beet & carrot salad, the yukon potatoes, lamb sirloin, and goat meatballs. Everything was amazingly delicious and the portions were perfect for sharing (with 2). I can't remember the wines we tried but one was a Turkish red and the other was a Spanish Rose. Both were wonderful. You have GOT to go visit Parallel 38!
(5)Michael C.
Is it a restaurant? A bar? A club? The food suggests a restaurant, the wide selection of wines by the glass suggests a bar, but the decor and ambiance suggests a club. Oh, and it's essentially a shopping mall restaurant. But despite the multiple personality disorder and its less-than-appealing surroundings, Parallel 38 is a decent addition to a sorely needed addition to the Charlottesville restaurant scene (I mean, how many boring New American restaurants can one place have?). The highlight of Parallel 38 is the huge selection of wines by the glass. It's nice to see a restaurant in Charlottesville with such diverse geography on its wine list (Greece, Lebanon, and Israel joins, among others, the usual suspects France, Spain, and Italy). And it's nice to see a restaurant do more than haphazardly throw Virginia wines onto a list and call it a day. The one flaw, though, is that the reds are served a touch too warm, enhancing the alcoholic note at the expense of the aromatic notes. The food is unfortunately less successful and certainly not on par with Zaytinya (one of the owners of Parallel 38 was formerly the beverage director and general manager of Zaytinya). The cauliflower was a tad undercooked and the earthy flavor was a bit too present. It could have been charred more, and it would not have minded some more citrus or olive oil to impart a slightly stronger flavor. The patatas bravas were also a mixed bag. Some had a nice crunchy exterior that gave way to a very tender interior, but others had no crunch and were more like chunky mashed potatoes. On the other side of the spectrum compared to the cauliflower, the aioli served with the potatoes was too heavy on the citrus. The calamari was cooked well, but the flavor of the sauce was a bit too light, especially since the sauce did not really adhere to the surface of the calamari. The tuna tartare, though, was more successful except for the accompanying sauce which was unappetizing. Because there's really no other place in Cville with so many wines by the glass and they just opened, I'm starting them off with 4 stars (rather than the 3 they would get if I reviewed for only the food).
(4)Joseph W.
Get the pork belly. That is really the main thing you need to know. Also, the barrel aged Manhattan was amazing. Took my wife here for her birthday and had a great experience. The restaurant brought over complementary sparkling wine and an appetizer platter of dips. Great selection of wines by the glass, and a very good cocktail menu. The interior has a great feel with a beautiful chandelier as the centerpiece. Definitely plan to spend time and enjoy yourself with a leisurely meal. If you're trying to have a quick bite, tell your server ahead of time and they can accelerate the plates coming out of the kitchen. Highly recommend!
(5)Theresa P.
Parallel 38 is a nice surprise in the Charlottesville area! Love the ambiance and the service was amazing! We sat at the bar on our first visit. The bartender (Jesse) and wait staff were very attentive to our every need. They knew the menu well and gave us some great suggestions! Everything Jesse suggested was fantastic. The Lemon cake for dessert is A MUST try!! The food was incredible and we were very satisfied with the portions- it's a tapas place!! We knew what to expect. We usually eat at Mas Tapas but I must say, Mas Tapas now has some competition. We will definitely go back!
(5)Jennifer T.
Parallel 38 is conveniently located and has a great atmosphere for date night or girls' night out. These two factors have brought me back on 3 different occasions; unfortunately, the food has not. The menu items are fairly unique and presented well, but they fail to knock it out of the park in terms of flavor. Overall, the dishes are inconsistent - one dish will be too salty, the other not salted enough, too much hummus, not enough bread etc. There is a lot of local hype surrounding this restaurant, but I'm left feeling underwhelmed each time.
(2)Christopher P.
Okay eats but limited menu, spacious atmosphere matching neighboring Rock Salt, and weak wi-fi.
(3)Isabel E Paul M.
Excellent service. Thanks Johnny ! Flavors exotic. Pork belly was excellent as was Bronzini and everything else. We'll be back.
(5)Justin F.
Regular customer at Parallel 38. I've enjoyed every visit to the point that the cooks and FOH staff can do no wrong in my eyes. I'm a humble Somm in the CA wine industry but I know what I like and what I don't. This is a must wine and food pairing experience in Charlottesville.
(5)Don O.
Every bite was excellent, well-seasoned and delicious. Very good value for the money. Favorites are: scallops, pork belly and trio of spreads for appetizer. My only suggestion: add more items to the menu.
(4)