Bang!

I recently visited Charlottesville with some friends, and rather than relive our college days drinking cheap beer on «The Corner», we decided to give Bang a try. Turns out we made the right choice!
First off, you are going to want to sample a lot of food, so I recommend coming here in a group of 4+ people (or just have the appetite of 4+ people like me). I like a little spice, so my favorites were the fried rice balls with chile sauce, pulled pork tacos with wasabi slaw, and the firecracker shrimp, but there are plenty of options for those who don’t like spicy food as well (sushi rolls, tuna sashimi, etc.). I was also a big fan of the coconut rice, which was slightly sweet but still a great palette cleanser — and a refreshing take on rice at an Asian restaurant!
To drink, I tried the «Afterglow» martini (bourbon and lemon-​based) and enjoyed the subtle sweet and sour flavors. They have ~40 other martinis as well, but my girlfriend wisely encouraged me not to sample them as aggressively as I did the food.
Overall, a bit pricey for Charlottesville, but well worth it!

I’m surprised Bang doesn’t have more stars! Yes, it’s pricey, but worth it in my book. I just wish the portion sizes were bigger. We’ve been here twice (the second time just this past weekend) and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves both times.
That’s not to say that every dish is a winner — our least favorite was the tofu pad thai (the tofu was cooked well, but the sauce was far too vinegary for my taste). But we really liked everything else; a couple highlights were the beef dumplings, mussels in a curry, the spring rolls, sirloin, and the tuna tartare pizza (though it’s not really a pizza, more like a flatbread). For dessert, the donuts were predictably delicious. But the real star for me… the fried rice balls as an appetizer. Those were, well, bangin’! Love that umami flavor…
Definitely order a martini as well. I tried the seasonal pumpkin one. It was sweet and I liked it a lot, but it may not be to everyone’s taste. You can’t go wrong with The Joe.

I’ve eaten here twice an both times, found the food to be exceptional.
I always order an absurd number of dishes… And they are all pretty fantastic.
Additionally; the elixir menu is pretty innovative.
As far as value… Worth every penny… Whether your by yourself or with a group; do yourself a favor and try as many things as possible… Pretty certain you wont be disappointed.
If your wondering why with such high praise I only give the place a 4… I’m being a hard ass… With a places like this, I always find myself looking for a critique to offer the owners … Not to slam them, but because I can tell with a place that has so much going for them, the owners actually care and want to know how to improve.
My critique… I always sit at the bar and while the staff are accommodating and fairly professional; I think the fact that a significant other or bestie is always hanging at the bar is a distraction that prevents the bar staff from making guests feel really welcome and comfortable.
Tonight, just like the last time, I would have ordered desert if it was offered to me, but instead she handed me the check… Kind of signaling they wanted to start wrapping up… So she could get off work to hang with her friend.
Also, I kind of think when one asks a guest if «you want me to box that up for you» they’d actually box up the food instead of tossing the box and a bag on the bar next to you and then walking away to reengage with your friend.
Again, I’m really pulling here… But these are the reasons this was not a 5 star review.
But again… To be clear… I will def. be back and will love every minute of it.

Tapas style Asian food with a twist! They have great drinks, especially martinis with a huge variety. I tried the chicken satay, coconut rice, edamame, and the pork tacos. Everything was great and our waiter was very personable and had great recommendations.