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Cocktail being poured over ice into a glass. - Cafe Frank, Charlottesville, VA

Cafe Frank

4.8 (541)
$31 to $50
Contemporary French / American
317 E Main St, Charlottesville, VA 22902-5233

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A photo of Cafe Frank restaurant

Cafe Frank

4.8
$31 to $50
Contemporary French / American
Charlottesville

Make a booking

2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 10 times today

About this restaurant

  • Charming
  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Good for special occasions
Café Frank is a vibrant, intimate Franco-Italian restaurant and cocktail bar on Charlottesville's Historic Downtown Pedestrian Mall. We can't wait to serve you!

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary French / American, Contemporary Italian, Cocktail Bar
  • Hours of Operation
    Happy Hour Mon, Thu–Sun 16:00–18:00 Dinner Mon, Thu–Sun 17:00–22:00
  • Phone number
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Catering
    Café Frank offers a limited number of offsite dinners and private events. Family-style, plated, or cocktail-style formats available. Best suited for 20–100 guests. Minimums apply. Inquire directly to check availability.
  • Private party facilities
    Private dining at Café Frank, from our upstairs Study for up to 25 guests to main dining room buyouts for up to 40 guests. Designed for business dinners, celebrations, and rehearsal events with smooth service and straightforward planning.
  • Private party contact
    Kate Corey: (434) 825-9496
  • Area
    Charlottesville
  • Cross street
    4th Street NE
  • Parking Details
    Street Parking
  • Public transport
    Bus Stop 11015 on E Water St at 3rd St SE
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine
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All Experiences

  • UVA Graduation 2027

    USD 47.50 per person

    Prepaid

    1 - 10 people

    21 May 2027 - 23 May 2027
    Celebrate UVA Graduation 2027 with an unforgettable dining experience at Café Frank. Enjoy a $95 per person prix fixe menu, specially curated to make your celebration memorable. A 50% deposit is required to secure your reservation, which will be applied to your bill. Cancellations made at least 7 days in advance are eligible for a full refund. A 20% gratuity will be added to all parties, and reservations are limited to 2 hours to ensure we can accommodate everyone on this special weekend. Book early to secure your spot!
    UVA Graduation 2027 photo
  • UVA Graduation 2027 - Upstairs

    USD 47.50 per person

    Prepaid

    1 - 10 people

    21 May 2027 - 23 May 2027
    (This reservation is for our second-floor dining room, The Study. There is no elevator, so all attendees will need to ascend a flight of stairs to access the space.) Celebrate UVA Graduation 2027 with an unforgettable dining experience at Café Frank. Enjoy a $95 per person prix fixe menu, specially curated to make your celebration memorable. A 50% deposit is required to secure your reservation, which will be applied to your bill. Cancellations made at least 7 days in advance are eligible for a full refund. A 20% gratuity will be added to all parties, and reservations are limited to 2 hours to ensure we can accommodate everyone on this special weekend. Book early to secure your spot!
    UVA Graduation 2027 - Upstairs photo

Private dining

Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at Cafe Frank.

4.8

4.8
(541)
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.9Service
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Charlottesville

    Best Overall

  • Charlottesville

    Best Service

  • Charlottesville

    Best Ambience

  • Charlottesville

    Healthy

  • Charlottesville

    Hot spot

  • Charlottesville

    Neighbourhood gem

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Cafe Frank dazzles with its "impeccable service" and "outstanding chef's creations," making it a favorite for celebrations. Guests are captivated by the "cozy and inviting atmosphere," and dishes like the "crispy mushroom appetizer" and "best French onion soup in town." It's a "special occasion dining" gem in Charlottesville.
541 Reviews
  1. Jonathan Gold

    Asheville / Western North Carolina44 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We enjoyed our experience at Café Frank. It exceeded our expectations. It had the vibe of eating at a great local establishment. The food was quite good, especially for the region. It's not over the top nor a culinary experience. But we didn't look at it that way. Service was, however, impeccable. The team there was friendly, engaging, and attentive. This is definitely a place we'd go back to when visiting. In closing, I'd say it is the combination of good food with great service that made this place memorable.

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  2. Henry

    Virginia2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 1 November 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    As far as we’re concerned, café Frank is New York City: owner’s personal engagement, wait staff’s eager personal presence, menu’s variety and sophistication.

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  3. Vivian

    Virginia1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 26 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We recently celebrated our anniversary at Cafe Frank, Thank you for such an exceptional experience. From the first sip of your crafted cocktails, we were completely won over. The chef's creations were outstanding. The mushroom dish was genius—crispy and full of flavour without any excess moisture. For the mains, the seared scallops paired with the crispy potatoes were a clever twist on fish and chips that far exceeded our expectations. The chef truly deserves 5* + Special thanks to Dylan for his exceptional service. When the wine I originally ordered was unavailable, he recommended a replacement that paired even better with our meal. We also loved the intimate seating layout. Being able to chat with neighboring tables and share recommendations made the night so memorable. For us, dining out is all about community and shared experiences, and we left feeling like we were part of the family. Thank you again for a wonderful evening. We look forward to returning soon.

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  4. Erin Gold

    Baltimore / Maryland46 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 25 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food and service were fantastic! Will definitely return.

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  5. Anjali

    Berlin5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 24 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I never miss a chance to come here when in town. My favorite!

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  6. Paula

    Virginia1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 24 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This was an exceptional evening with amazing service food and fun! We will be returning on the regular!

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  7. Shawn Gold

    Washington, D.C. Area5 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on 24 October 2026

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Convenient location. Friendly staff. Menu was limited and food preparation was average. Portion size was very small.

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  8. Carrie

    Virginia1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 24 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Loved the mushroom tagliatelle and duck confit. Delicious!

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  9. Barbara

    Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill13 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 23 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had an early dinner reservation, hoping to avoid the usual din of later dining. After offering a table close to the front of the restaurant, the host seated us near the back in what was likely the ‘quiet spot’. We were ready to order food & wine & our waitress took both orders. The wine was delivered immediately and while we were waiting for our food to enjoy the combination of food & wine, the waitress inquired if we’d like fresh glasses when the food was served. A nice touch. As we enjoyed our meal, the restaurant filled as expected. We were able to hear each other throughout the meal! Always a pleasure.

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  10. Christine

    Virginia1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 18 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Definitely a special occasion dining experience from a $ standpoint. We had a great time and a great meal but can’t put this on the casual dinner out list. Wait staff was awesome and the charming table by the window was perfect. Best French onion soup in town, hands down!

    Is this helpful?

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary French / American, Contemporary Italian, Cocktail Bar
  • Hours of Operation
    Happy Hour Mon, Thu–Sun 16:00–18:00 Dinner Mon, Thu–Sun 17:00–22:00
  • Phone number
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Catering
    Café Frank offers a limited number of offsite dinners and private events. Family-style, plated, or cocktail-style formats available. Best suited for 20–100 guests. Minimums apply. Inquire directly to check availability.
  • Private party facilities
    Private dining at Café Frank, from our upstairs Study for up to 25 guests to main dining room buyouts for up to 40 guests. Designed for business dinners, celebrations, and rehearsal events with smooth service and straightforward planning.
  • Private party contact
    Kate Corey: (434) 825-9496
  • Area
    Charlottesville
  • Cross street
    4th Street NE
  • Parking Details
    Street Parking
  • Public transport
    Bus Stop 11015 on E Water St at 3rd St SE
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine
Gift card

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FAQs

Smart casual is the guide, polished but relaxed, a nice fit for date nights and special evenings when many guests dress up a touch for anniversaries or celebrations.

Sunday is a wonderful choice for brunch at Cafe Frank, guests praise the cozy wood-stove brunch and recommend making a reservation if you plan to go after noon.

Cafe Frank’s posted hours: Happy Hour, Mon, Thu–Sun 4:00 pm–6:00 pm; Dinner, Mon, Thu–Sun 5:00 pm–10:00 pm.

Cafe Frank feels intimate and cozy, a small, vibrant Franco‑Italian bistro with a fireplace/wood stove and warm lighting; when full it can become lively and a bit noisy, but guests consistently praise the welcoming, attentive service.

Expect generous entrée portions at Cafe Frank, several guests describe the servings as generous or plentiful and say they sometimes skip appetizers because entrees are ample.

Yes, Cafe Frank is a lovely pick for date night, with an intimate, cozy dining room and many guests celebrating anniversaries and special evenings there.

Cafe Frank is at its calmest early in dinner service, around the 5:00 pm opening, when guests report comfortably quiet, conversational meals.

Yes, Cafe Frank hosts private parties; guests have used the restaurant for events such as rehearsal dinners.

Yes, Cafe Frank offers outdoor seating on the Downtown Mall (patio/courtyard); guests frequently mention sitting outside and enjoying the weather, people-watching, and live music.

How FAQ content is generated

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Virginia
  4. Charlottesville
  5. Charlottesville

Make a booking

A photo of Cafe Frank restaurant

Cafe Frank

4.8
$31 to $50
Contemporary French / American
Charlottesville

Make a booking

2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 10 times today
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