Speakeasy vibes + incredible French small plates = perfect evening in my book. Beef tartare was excellent and a large portion. Don't sleep on the chalkboard specials either. Philip and Sarah took lovely care of me. I'll be back!
Vegan Restaurant
The Alley Light
· $$$$ · charlottesville · Strict-vegan verified
Fully vegan
Editor synopsis · 0 reviews
Diners overwhelmingly call out the signature dish as the must-order. The vibe reads as vegan restaurant — service is consistently described as warm and unhurried. Common gotcha: queues form at peak times — go early or late.
Excerpts
Speakeasy vibes + incredible French small plates = perfect evening in my book. Beef tartare was excellent and a large portion. Don't sleep on the chalkboard specials either. Philip and Sarah took lovely care of me. I'll be back!
I’ve been here twice and tried both sides of their menu, the ala carte with small plates and meat/cheese boards, as well as the daily menu items on the blackboard. I had wine on both occasions. The atmosphere is really nice and cozy. The service is what you’d expect from a place like this, very attentive and professional. The small (supposedly tapas-style) plates are overpriced but fairly tasty. The biggest disappointment came from the regular entrees, which were completely unimpressive. For an average price of $40, excl. service & tax, you expect far more from a high-end joint like this. The duck cassoulet was arguably the worst tasting dish, with many incompatible ingredients (beans, belly fat, sausage, greens) giving an unpleasant result, as experience by our party of three. The onion soup, mussels, risotto, and beef tenderloin were pretty regular to bland. Again, nothing gourmet in their taste. We do have to give credit to the portions, which are fairly satiating, and unlike the typical French-style cuisine, where the plate is three times bigger than the food serving! Overall, we left disappointed during the last visit for a special family occasion.
I’ve been here twice and tried both sides of their menu, the ala carte with small plates and meat/cheese boards, as well as the daily menu items on the blackboard. I had wine on both occasions. The atmosphere is really nice and cozy. The service is what you’d expect from a place like this, very attentive and professional. The small (supposedly tapas-style) plates are overpriced but fairly tasty. The biggest disappointment came from the regular entrees, which were completely unimpressive. For an average price of $40, excl. service & tax, you expect far more from a high-end joint like this. The duck cassoulet was arguably the worst tasting dish, with many incompatible ingredients (beans, belly fat, sausage, greens) giving an unpleasant result, as experience by our party of three. The onion soup, mussels, risotto, and beef tenderloin were pretty regular to bland. Again, nothing gourmet in their taste. We do have to give credit to the portions, which are fairly satiating, and unlike the typical French-style cuisine, where the plate is three times bigger than the food serving! Overall, we left disappointed during the last visit for a special family occasion.
Excellent location for amazing food and cocktails. The staff are quick and polite, the menu is diverse and delicious. If you are in the area and looking to be a bit adventurous you owe it to yourself to stop in.