Practical matters
Questions, answered
the short version of how the house works
- How do I make a reservation?
- By phone: 434-293-3663. Tastings takes reservations the old way and is not on the online booking networks. Lunch is served Tuesday to Saturday 11:30 am to 2:30 pm, dinner Thursday to Saturday 6 to 9 pm.
- What does it cost to drink a bottle from the shop with dinner?
- Five dollars over the retail shelf price. A $50 bottle in the store is a $55 bottle at the table. This has been the house arithmetic since 1990 and it makes Tastings the least expensive place in central Virginia to drink seriously good wine with dinner.
- Is there a wine list?
- No, on purpose. The retail shop is the wine list: thousands of bottles, every one tasted by Bill Curtis before it was stocked. Tell the house what you like, what you want to spend, and what you're eating, and the right bottle finds your table. There are usually bottles open to taste; ask what's pouring.
- Where do I park?
- In the Market Street parking garage directly above the restaurant — Tastings sits at its base at 502 E Market St, one block off the Downtown Mall. Street parking on Market and 5th works too.
- What are the hours?
- Wine shop: Tuesday and Wednesday 10 am to 7 pm, Thursday to Saturday 10 am to 9 pm. Lunch: Tuesday to Saturday 11:30 am to 2:30 pm. Dinner: Thursday to Saturday 6 to 9 pm. Closed Sunday and Monday.
- What kind of food is it?
- From-scratch, French-leaning American cooking built around wine: lobster bisque (real lobster, real butter, real cream, period), Chef William's crabmeat casserole, oak-grilled tenderloin, and a blackboard of daily specials. The kitchen names its farms on the menu.
- What is the weekly wine dinner?
- Most Tuesdays at 7 pm the house runs a themed dinner: a regional flight matched to a set menu, announced in Bill's email newsletter. Seats go to the newsletter list first, then by phone. The tradition goes back to the Wine Club of Charlottesville, which Bill founded in 1981.
- Can I order cheese without eating in?
- Yes. The cheese case sells at retail, ordered by email for pickup, half-pound or full pound, with 24 hours' notice appreciated. The current case and an order form are on the cheese page.
- Does Tastings cater?
- Yes, locally. Call 434-293-3663 or email billcurtis@tastingsofcville.com for a personal consultation.