About
In the heart of Charlottesville’s historic Midtown district, West Main serves up Southern-style favorites in a cozy, welcoming atmosphere. With two full bars, friendly and attentive service, and an extraordinary Sunday brunch, we’re proud to be a go-to spot for locals and visitors alike!
Our unique 193-year-old building offers three separate stories of dining, drinking, and meeting space – each with its own distinct energy and appeal. With so much room to spread out, there’s a spot to suit nearly any purpose, whether it’s date night, a family dinner, a large private party, or just a laid-back drink with friends at our popular happy hour.
On the main floor, the high-backed booths in the dining room provide coziness and privacy, while cocktail tables adjacent to the bar offer a more casual, sociable experience. The two upstairs dining rooms are charming and private – perfect for smaller events of up to 40 people. Downstairs, a large open space allows for a completely different experience from the upper levels of the restaurant, catering to more adventurous crowds of up to 200 people.
West Main’s stand-out menu features soul-fueling American and Southern fare (shrimp and grits; crab cakes; baked mac ‘n cheese…) – alongside more than 40 different whiskeys and many great local beers and wines. A few other in-house creature comforts: ping pong, arcade-style video games, comfy couches, multiple flat-screen TVs, and incredible daily food and drink specials. Free parking is available for our customers in the gravel lot behind the restaurant all day.
West Main resides in the Inge building at 333 West Main Street in Charlottesville, Virginia. The building was erected in 1820 in what was historically known as an African-American part of town. The Inge family ran the main portion of the building as a grocery store, while the upstairs housed the family. Under the guidance of patriarch George P. Inge the store became a hub of Charlottesville commerce, supplying nearby businesses and homes with the freshest seafood around and functioning as a social center of town. Many local residents still recall coming to Inge’s store as children to buy candy and listen to stories from the shopkeeper, who was commonly found in a rocking chair on the front porch. The Inge family often had famous guests staying at their home – notably including Booker T. Washington, a classmate of Mr. Inge.
By the late 20th century, the building had transformed from residence/grocery store/gathering place into full-service restaurant and bar. A fire broke out in the 1980’s, causing extensive damage to part of the restaurant’s first floor. However, the fire was luckily not a total loss, and the owners actually decided not to repair one area of the floor – thusly giving the building’s front entryway and downstairs bar the unique, open concept look they have today. In our estimation (and we hope you’ll agree!), this charming 193-year-old structure actually benefits from the would-be “flaw.”
The Owner
Anderson McClure graduated in 2001 from UVA’s McIntire School of Commerce with a Bachelor’s of Science in Finance. While in school, he worked at the venerable Biltmore Grill and a tiny sliver of a place called The Virginian Restaurant. This job at the Virginian turned out to be the first step for a growing restaurant company in Charlottesville. Anderson purchased the struggling Virginian in 2001. Revitalizing the Virginian brand led to the creation of West Main in 2004, No. 3 in 2006, the purchase of The Biltmore Grill in 2009, and the creation of Citizen Burger Bar in 2012. The company focuses on offering simple American food in fun and inviting atmospheres, with service being paramount to success. Anderson is currently looking for restaurant spaces in the DC metropolitan area.