The Ridley

The Ridley is a distinguished Black-owned Southern restaurant located at 1106 W Main Street in the heart of Charlottesville, Virginia, situated within the elegant Draftsman Boutique Hotel just minutes from the University of Virginia campus. This restaurant represents a remarkable tribute to Dr. Walter Ridley, who made history as the first Black student to earn a doctoral degree from a major historically white public university in the South when he received his doctorate of education from UVA in 1953. The restaurant's concept was built around a powerful question: what would a modern Southern restaurant look like if designed around inclusivity? The answer is a warm, welcoming space where guests can enjoy elevated Southern cuisine paired with meticulously crafted cocktails featuring local Virginia wineries, breweries, and distilleries. The menu showcases creative twists on familiar classics alongside heritage Southern dishes, all made with locally-sourced ingredients whenever possible. Whether you're catching the game at the bar with a locally brewed beer, working remotely over coffee on the patio, gathering with colleagues for weekday lunch, or celebrating with family during weekend brunch or dinner, The Ridley offers versatile dining for every occasion. Open daily from 7am to 10pm Sunday through Thursday and until midnight on weekends, The Ridley has earned 4 stars from over 620 Google reviews, becoming one of Charlottesville's most beloved dining destinations.