Neighborhood: Belmont

Mas 

Open kitchen at MasI’m ambivalent towards tapas. On the one hand, it’s fun to try a variety of flavors over the course of an evening, and since they’re built for sharing they promote a more social dining experience. On the other hand, my taste buds are usually sufficiently excited by the standard two or three courses of a non-tapas meal, and I’m not a good sharer. Regardless of which camp you’re in, this hip bacony beacon in Belmont will make a believer out of even the least adventurous and sharingest among us.

The physical space of Mas is unusual. Situated funkily in the hairpin elbow of Carlton Avenue and Monticello Road, the yellow-umbrella’ed patio, which would… Read More

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La Taza Coffee House 

la taza - 7When the sun is shining and the temperature is warm, there’s nothing like a weekend brunch at La Taza. The patio is large, scenic, and dog-friendly. The coffee is strong, delicious, and fair trade. The juice comes with champagne (if you want it), and the food has a Latin American flair.

Humbly called a coffee house, I think La Taza has one of the more interesting brunch menus in town. Their Huevos Benicio is potatoes layered with ham, pepper jack cheese, and eggs covered in salsa and sour cream with tortillas on the side, while the Machaca includes scrambled eggs, peppers, tomatoes, cheese, tortillas, and… Read More

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Al Hamraa 

alhamra - 06If you’ve ever been to the IX building, you may have passed a stretch of curtained glass with lights glowing inside. There was no big sign to advertise what might be happening in there, and unless you really stopped to investigate you probably thought the menu by the door was a flyer tacked to a corkboard.

Had you gone in, you would have seen what too few other Charlottesvillians have had the pleasure to see: A grand, ornamented dining room, looking as if it was lifted from the streets of Morocco and put back down next to the Blue Wheel Bicycle shop here in Cville. The bar is one of the most romantic in… Read More

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Tavola 

tavola - 8
Tavola, the latest Belmont restaurant in the former Crush Wine Shop space, has been open for less than two weeks and I’ve already heard stellar reviews from three people.  After dinner last night, I’ll add my stellar review to the chorus.

The owners did a great job transforming the space: it’s cozy without feeling cramped, specials are on the chalkboard, and the kitchen is open (which foodies always love)…

The menu is… Read More

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