Parallel 38

We had a wonderful evening at parallel 38 tonight!
There was four of us and we ordered 12 small plates! Our favorite was the sirloin. It was cooked medium rare, sliced thin and had a delicious demi-​glacé. We voted the hummus in second place. It was delicious and came with warm and flavorful naan. Next came the beef skewer which was really good and had a yummy mint, yoghurt sauce. Another really good dish was the chicken risotto with stewed romas. Also near the top of our favorites was a salad called «greens». It was a combination of arugula and very tasty vinaigrette with chopped sweet beets and a slice of some grilled gourmet cheese.
On the downside were the meatballs. We found them to be quite bland and the tomato sauce was just boring.
The Sautéed shrimp was also a disappointment. The shrimp are very large and slightly rubbery. The accoutrements on top of the shrimp were a bit too much. I couldn’t quite figure out everything that was on there. It seemed to be a Ragu of tomatoes, onions, peppers, chi orzo and maybe feta cheese?
The cauliflower was flash fried and also just kind of boring. The Yukon gold potato dish was all right, nothing special in our opinion.
The asparagus was cooked very nicely but we didn’t like what it came with. It also had manchego cheese sitting on top which would’ve been better had it been melted!
Lastly we had two of the four desserts. One was called a chocolate panna cotta. This one was really good, although I did not think the sliced red grapes around it were relevant. Also the bourbon milk froth, to me, totally missed the mark.
On the other hand the olive oil lemon cake had an absolutely delicious accoutrements but the cake itself was dry and tasteless. There was a spicy chocolate ganache with cookie crumble white chocolate on the side that was out of this world delicious. We all wish there was more of this and less of the cake!!!
Our servers name was Maddie and she was absolutely wonderful. She was extremely helpful in helping us decide what and how much to order.
Overall it was a very nice dinner. Like I mentioned before some dishes were absolutely wonderful and some were not that good. I have always said this sometimes it’s better to have less on the menu and do them all perfectly then to have too much and do only them half well!

Went on a Friday night, late around 10:30. The place was 99% empty; an Italian joint across the sidewalk had 4 – 5 tables, so we wavered to be honest… However, I am glad we stayed and gave it a try.
First of all the service was probably the best I have gotten from a restaurant in a very long time. Efficient, quick and genuinely friendly. Soft spoken, polite, very Southern in a way I guess… Then the food, with a selection of recipes from countries along the 38^th Parallel (doh!) Of course like most, I was hardly awake in Geography class, so I didn’t know that the 38^th Parallel crosses countries like Greece, Spain, and even California (which was its own country once). Its all small plates inspired by their cuisine, but it was surprisingly filling. Two of us we finished 5 selections, desert, plus a bottle of very good wine and walked two blocks over to our hotel full and perhaps a little tipsy!
I hope they stay in business, really, is is a big space, so I would think it needs a lot of more traffic to do well. Their bar by the way, seems very cool and it was definitely busier than the restaurant. Overall we ate in about 8 different places (all Unilocal recommended) in our 3 days in town, and this was the only one we would go out of our way to visit again.

Good food in a fun and modern environment. The premise of the place is that they serve food from Mediterranean countries that, like Charlottesville, lie on the 38^th parallel, using locally-​sourced ingredients. Nice idea, and it helps that some pretty yummy cuisines (Spanish, Italian, Greek) fit the bill.
We came for lunch on a Sunday with a group of 6. We had reservations, but it wasn’t crowded. We ended up all sharing a bunch of the small plates, and we were pretty much at the limit of the number of people who could all share the same dish (for most dishes, everyone only got a bite or two — so we ordered a lot!).
Some highlights:
–The pita was warm, fresh, and yummy — we kept asking for more. Went well with everything!
–Gnocci — soft and creamy. I didn’t want to share.
–Samfaina — lovely.
–Skewer platter — the beef in particular was very good; tender
I was disappointed with the crispy curry cauliflower; it was super salty, and not crispy. Everything else was good, though.

I went there for my 21^st birthday back last August but I forgot to write a review. They took over an hour (almost an hour and a half) to get our appetizers out and they brought everything out in segments, sometimes forgetting dishes. We also struggled to flag down any waiter/​waitress to even pour us drinks. The food was satisfying and the bartender was kind to give me a drink on the house. Overall, it was OK but it’s out of my way so I don’t plan on coming back here any time soon.

My wife and I ate here while on a trip to Virginia. We had a great experience and the food was fantastic! We wish we lived closer. Everything we ordered was hot and fresh. They were also very accommodating on specific food needs and very informational when asking questions on items on the menu.

Amazing as always! Johnny is an outstanding waiter who was very friendly, attentive and knowledgeable. He and the amazing food are the reason we came back!

Delicious and fun! This Mediterranean restaurant specializes in small plates that can be shared. We went on a Wednesday and thus were able to take advantage of the «two for the price of one» Wednesday special. Especially yummy was the roasted pork belly, but all of our selections were delicious. (For those staying at the Hyatt Place, this is a short walk from the hotel and is too good to miss!)

Phenomenal wine list, food and service. Definitely a place to be at in Charlottesville. I recently moved to Richmond from Charlottesville and make a point to visit this place each time I’m back town. Get the klavikadere, yes that’s a wine, from Turkey and the sautéed shrimp, with fennel, Perot and chorizo. If you call yourself a foodie or a wino, this is home.

I think I got lucky because I went with a friend who’s been here multiple times before. We got a range of small plates — the mushrooms, cauliflower, steak, trout special, fusilli, risotto and the anchovies. It was a lot of food for two people, but it was so yummy that we pretty much finished it all!
The flavor for all the dishes were heavy, just the way we liked it. The pasta dishes were done well, with the risotto creamy and mixed in well with pork and the fusilli al dente with the sweet and sour tones of tomatoes. The veggies were great and packed a punch of flavor. The only thing is that they only coat the outside of the veggies with herbs and spices, and so if you get a large head of cauliflower, the inside will be very bland.
My favorite was the trout — the outside was seared until crispy, and it perched on top of beans, cheese and some cranberries, giving it a terrific mix of savory and sweet.
The only thing I wouldn’t recommend is the chocolate panna cotta — it was way too dense and thick.
Service was okay — not amazing but not terrible.

I thought I wrote my review previously, but I guess not. The food here is great. There are some dishes that fall a little flat, but overall really good and decent prices. The service here is amazing. We came on a pretty busy night, and some of our plates came out very slowly, but both the server and front of house manager stopped by to apologize, gave us some extra dishes on the house while waiting, and took off a couple items from our bill. The restaurant itself is pretty spacious and open, and has a cool feel/​theme. The majority of the dishes come from countries that fall on the the 38 degree line around the world (which also runs through VA — cool concept).
I feel like the menu may have changed since I came in October, but here’s what I remember:
larrun gazta idiazabal — amazing cheese. I have since tried every shop I can to find it with no luck. we also tried the blue cheese which was good.
calabrese/​prosciutto — both were pretty standard, but good
tuna tartare — this was amazing. so good we ate it so quickly. probably my favorite dish of the night
I believe we also had fries, meatballs, tagliatelle with lamb, pork belly, and I can’t remember what else. They were all good, except I vaguely remember being let down by the pork belly. We didn’t save room for dessert. Anyway, can’t wait to go back to try more. I don’t understand the reviews about portion size — it’s like people have never had tapas/​small plates before.

Beautiful space with a great staff! We just had drinks at the bar and also tried a meat and cheese plate. Our bartender made some excellent suggestions on some of the items to try and we loved everything!
They have a BIG wine selection and even some wine on draft too! You can even order in 1, 5 and 8 oz pours… not that anyone wants a 1 oz pour… unless you have your taste buds set on that Opus One!
*Buy one get one apps on Wednesdays too!
* baby friendly (they have highchairs) but we had a kid-​free night

The entrée portion size for the price was ridiculous. The pilaf tasted fine, it was nothing notable. What was notable was the tiny ass bowl it came in. For $ 10 I got a measuring cup full of rice.
In addition to the exorbitant price for a small portion of mediocre white washed Mediterranean food, the service was awful. At an empty bar it took the waiter ten minutes to even acknowledge us and the service did not improve after he did. This occurred as we watched other waiters standing in the corner chatting. I do not recommend this place if you are hungry or want to be attended to by the wait staff.

Rediculously overpriced and average food. Save your money and get COSTCO SAMPLES of same offerings down the street for free. Additionally, wine pour is 5oz not traditional 6oz per glass…20% higher for wine already priced at 300% ++ markup. Bring a pillow. You’ll need it waiting for service.
Walked in with few Birthday cupcakes from my daughters favorite CC shop. They wanted to charge $ 10 to light the candles on the cupcakes (fork fee??). Went next door to fire pit. Enjoyed better value in wine, fabulous dinner and my daughter was able to blow out her candles and enjoy her favorite cupcakes (no additional charge).

Parallel is probably the most underrated restaurant in Cville. The bartenders are knowledgeable, friendly, and are clearly passionate about what they do. They’re always able to recommend a great drink or glass of wine, and they really take pride in their craft. My husband and I have always enjoyed chatting with them. The cocktail menu is extensive and they really put the time into each cocktail to make it perfect.
The restaurant is big and open, but has a great ambience and a huge bar with really nice low-​top tables and couches behind the bar. It feels like a high end place in NYC (but much bigger and more affordable).
Their menu has always been small plates, my favorite being the hummus. It’s just a really perfect hummus with great chick pea flavor, and the pita bread they make to go with it is hot and delicious (and they keep bringing it out as you finish it). I don’t eat here often but I definitely should. More than once, we’ve been sitting at the bar and the bartenders offered us a plate someone ended up not taking or that was extra. One time it was their scallops, which were perfect. Most recently, we were given someone’s steelhead trout with couscous and harissa sauce. This plate might have been the best thing I’ve eaten in Charlottesville. The fish is cooked sous vide and then pan seared. It was cooked perfectly and had an incredible crispy crust that almost tasted like bacon. The couscous was cold and along with the hot fish and harissa, was a perfect dish.
I know they’ve recently changed up their menu to appeal to a larger crowd (post-​movie bunch), and that some people find their menu expensive for the portion sizes. But I really think the quality of their dishes is worth every penny, and I have noticed the portions getting larger as time goes on. Parallel is a must try whether you’re looking for fantastic cocktails or inventive food.

Came on a Wednesday night with a friend for their buy a plate, get a plate free deal. Fantastic deal. Definitely do it. It’s a hip open area with a warehouse-​type ceiling and a (honestly pretty hideous) fiber-​optic chandelier in the middle, but modern décor and lots of space. Great for a dinner date before heading next door to watch a movie!
We each ordered three dishes we were interested in trying for a total of six dishes. Each dish was priced around $ 10, but since there was the buy-​one-​get-​one-​free, we ended up paying about $ 17 pre-​tip each. Amazing!
I enjoyed the pacing of the meal a lot, and the range of «small plates» was fun to try. These were perfect portion sizes for sharing between two people, 2 – 3 plates per person. I was pleasantly full at the end of our meal.
— Grilled calamari: both of us agreed this was a little heavy-​handed on the vinaigrette and though the calamari was good, there wasn’t that much of it under all the onions, don’t know if I would recommend it.
— Mushroom flatbread: great mix of fresh flavors, the balsamic was delicious, and we both enjoyed the chunky mushrooms! Would recommend if you’re looking for something more carb-​y.
— Spicy Mussels: yummy mussels, great sauce, chermoula had a nice kick. Pretty good size for $ 9!
— Roasted Pork Belly: came out in a large chunk with garlic and baby onions. Great crunch on the outside, nice texture and flavors. A little salty, but it’s pork belly, it was still delicious. Yes.
— Fusilli: this was fairly standard, it was pasta. The ragout was generous and tender, though, which I appreciated!
— Chorizo Potatoes: great way to finish off the meal. Perfectly cooked potatoes and a touch of cinnamon on the chorizo, which was a nice surprise and a fun flavor. And I’m a big fan of garlic aioli anytime, anywhere.
All in all a great, fun meal with lots of small plates. And super pricing when the discount was taken into account! Would definitely come back on a Wednesday.

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.

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.

Based on a lot of Unilocal 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!

I have visited Parallel 38 a handful of times, and each time had a great experience. The décor 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!

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.