Fighting the Sunday scaries and craving a peaceful end to the weekend, I recently decided to treat myself to a meal out on a quiet weekend night. Looking for a cool spot within walking distance of my apartment complex on Roosevelt Brown Boulevard, I excitedly made a dinner reservation for Maya. This restaurant offers — as their website describes it — “elevated Southern comfort food and seasonal ingredients in a comfortable intimate atmosphere,” so I went to put that claim to the test.
Maya is located in an unassuming spot across from the Charlottesville Amtrak station near Public Fish & Oyster and Orzo. The restaurant is open for dinner service seven days a week from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., with the bar open until midnight Thursday through Saturday. Reservations at Maya are encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome. The restaurant offers an early bird special every day from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., and pick up and delivery options are available Monday through Saturday from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Opened in 2006 by co-owners Christian Kelly and Peter Castiglione — accomplished Charlottesville chef and restaurateur, respectively — Maya’s namesake was inspired by Kelly’s daughter, and the restaurant served as a way for Kelly to move back toward his roots with farm-to-table service.
Walking up to the restaurant, the family focus was apparent with the “Y” on the sign looking like it was offering a hug. After passing families enjoying the covered outdoor seating, I was greeted inside and led to a dining room. This space reminded me of an art studio with abstract pieces lining its walls. My server brought over a glass carafe with water and a menu, sharing that Maya’s big thing for entrées is a protein and two sides for dinner.
Though I was far away from the action in the side dining room, I could still hear the clanking of dishes, the chatter of staff and calls of “corner” from the kitchen. Flashes of the show The Bear came to life.
I ordered the Pimento Cheese Fritters as a starter and the Local Chicken Breast with sides of macaroni and cheese and cornbread as my main course. The fritters were $15 and my entrée was $28.
I was quickly validated on my choice of starter, both by my server’s comments and the dish itself, which came out quickly. The three fried spheres were served on chive sour cream and topped with a dollop of homemade pepper jelly and chives. The fritters were breaded, creating a perfectly crispy exterior. The cheese packed quite a punch. The sharp kick of the pimento was lifted slightly by the sweetness of the honey — a pairing that I wouldn't have expected to work well together but far exceeded my expectations. The sour cream was light and also helped to tone down the heat of the cheese.
After just a short while, I was offered a fresh set of silverware and my entrée arrived all together on one plate. I started by digging into the nicely-sized portion of macaroni and cheese, which came topped with a herbed garnish. The dish was warm, the noodles soft and the cheese light, giving the noodles a subtle creaminess to them.
Turning to the cornbread, the crust was crisp and could easily flake off upon ripping pieces of the dish. Though it looked dense, the bread was light and crumbled apart upon the first bite.
Finally, I steered my fork toward the main event — the chicken. This dish normally comes with Virginia ham gravy on top, but I got mine without to fit my personal preference. Upon my first bites, I could immediately tell how tender it was. Topped with flavorful seasoning, the chicken was savory and had a smokey taste with crisped edges.
With just enough room left for dessert, I opted for the Chocolate Torte, which bumped my bill up by a very well-spent $10. A narrow slice of smooth, chocolate heaven, topped with whipped cream, crushed Oreo and powdered sugar was very well received. On top of the torte sat a pistachio lacey cookie, and leaning up against the dessert was a thin, shaved hollow stick of alternating chocolate types. Hazelnut espresso-infused whipped local honey usually comes drizzled on top, but I opted to get mine on the side. The torte itself was fudge-like and held an incredible richness, contrasted nicely by the sweetness of the honeys.
Maya served home both in the spatial and culinary sense and has its own spunky, charming character. The entire meal — from starters through dessert — was packed with flavor and hospitality, with my server calling me by my name throughout the evening. Though its prices are on the higher end, a night out at Maya makes for a great meal for a date, Family Weekend, graduation or just an indulgent outing. Maya’s website says it serves “elevated Southern comfort food and seasonal ingredients in a comfortable intimate atmosphere” — and it more than delivers.
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