Posts Tagged Parking

Aromas Café

Jul 11

People have funny ways of communicating deliciousness. Our friend Rachael’s eyes bulge as she stares at you in silence, thoughtfully liquidating her food like a cow chewing its cud. My mom slaps her hand on the table so hard that the silverware clanks and jumps, and then she says, “Y’all gotta try this” in a way that suggests your very life depends on it. My wife Erin’s reaction, however, is the scariest, as I remembered during our last trip to the always delicious Aromas Café in Barracks. More about her reaction below.

Aromas participates in the tradition of “strip mall chic” that restaurants like Lime Leaf and Copacabana – not to mention every… Read More

Tags: Charlottesville, Cuisine: Mediterranean, Cuisine: Moroccan, Good for Vegetarians, Neighborhood: 29/Barracks Rd, Outdoor Seating, Parking, Rating: 4 stars, Restaurant: Aromas Café

Savour

Mar 26

Posted by Erin in Reviews | 4 Comments

Drinking the last of our wine at the table with Chef Ed Nafei hours after the other diners and servers had left the restaurant was the finale to a truly memorable and amusing dining experience at Savour. How did we get to that point? We have our friend and dining companion Liz to thank, as well as Chef Ed’s appreciation for a challenge and his uncanny ability to read people. When we were seated at our table several hours earlier, Chef Ed had warmly greeted us right away and asked if we had any questions about the menu. As he started to describe the three fish specials, Liz – who has a discerning palette… Read More

Tags: Charlottesville, Lunch, Neighborhood: 29/Emmet St, Parking, Rating: 4 stars, Restaurant: Savour

Bamboo House

Jul 6

Posted by Erin in Reviews | 2 Comments

There have been many interesting theories about the mysterious, windowless Bamboo House north on Route 29. 1) It’s a cocktail bar acting as a front for the dreaded central Virginian mafia. 2) It’s a strip club/Asian massage parlor. 3) It’s some sort of mason, rotary, Kiwanis-type clubhouse. 4) It is a tasty Korean restaurant. If you suspected the answer was option 4, you’re right! Well, at least you’re right about the fact that it serves Korean food. Sadly it is not tasty, but it’s worth a visit for the delightfully peculiar experience.

If David Lynch was scouting locations for his next movie in Charlottesville, the Bamboo House would inspire quite a flick. As anyone… Read More

Tags: Charlottesville, Cuisine: Korean, Neighborhood: Madison, Parking, Rating: 2 stars, Restaurant: Bamboo House

The Palmer at Zinc

Mar 22

Posted by Erin in Drinks | 6 Comments

It’s that perfect time of year when the first warm weather brings scores of gleeful people out of hibernation to toast in the sun. So it was great timing this past Saturday to discover my new favorite seasonal drink at the always delightful Zinc.

The Palmer starts with an invention that, like the paper clip and sliced bread, is so simple and yet so brilliant that it’s a miracle it took this long to discover: Sweet Tea Vodka. That’s right, it’s the alcoholic cousin of the classic southern refresher. Zinc uses Firefly sweet tea vodka, made in South Carolina, and tops it with lemonade on the rocks to make an Arnie Palmer… Read More

Tags: Charlottesville, Cuisine: French-American, Neighborhood: Main Street, Outdoor Seating, Parking, Restaurant: Zinc

Lime Leaf

Jan 10

Posted by Erin in Reviews | 14 Comments

I count eight Thai restaurants in the Charlottesville area, which is something to celebrate in a town of this size. But none is worth celebrating as much as Lime Leaf, the delicious gem tucked away north on Route 29 in the Rio Hill Shopping Center. I get a case of food rage every year when I read “Best of C-ville” and Thai ’99 tops the Asian category yet again. I’m not sure how C-ville voters continue to prefer one of the least impressive Thai places instead of the obvious best, but I hope anyone who hasn’t yet visited Lime Leaf will make the trek north to give the true deserving Thai champion… Read More

Tags: Charlottesville, Cuisine: Thai, Good for Vegetarians, Neighborhood: 29/Rio Hill Shopping Center, Parking, Rating: 5 stars, Restaurant: Lime Leaf

Taste of China

Dec 6

Posted by Erin in Reviews | 3 Comments

We started to get excited after reading various food blogs about a renowned yet mysterious Szechuan chef who had attracted a devoted cult of followers in DC before disappearing. After sightings in Atlanta and Knoxville, there was a rumor that THE Peter Chang was behind the new nondescript Taste of China restaurant in Albemarle Square. I tried to keep my expectations in check, but they shot up when we arrived to see the restaurant name in neon Chinese, as well as English, outside the strip mall exterior. And up even further when we walked in to an absolutely packed place featuring very little English, with a menu… Read More

Tags: Charlottesville, Cuisine: Chinese, Good for Vegetarians, Near Carmike Cinema, Neighborhood: 29/Albemarle Square, Parking, Rating: 4 stars, Restaurant: Taste of China

Tokyo Rose

Nov 10

Posted by Erin in Reviews | 5 Comments

I’m perhaps the least qualified person ever to review a sushi restaurant. I avoid raw fish and hate the taste of seaweed. Yet I’m a big fan of Tokyo Rose, so consider this a heartfelt yet unqualified restaurant review.

Apparently back in the day this Ivy Road spot was a hot destination spot with great live music. Now, not so much. Since Tokyo Rose’s reopening in 2005, every time we visit there’s always a sprinkling of patrons but it doesn’t exactly scream nightlife. The setting is nice enough with a sushi bar that I’ve never seen anyone sit at and a private room with traditional Japanese floor seating. Supposedly there’s a downstairs karaoke bar but we have… Read More

Tags: Charlottesville, Cuisine: Japanese, Neighborhood: Ivy, Parking, Rating: 3 stars, Restaurant: Tokyo Rose

Mas

Nov 1

Posted by Jed in Reviews | 10 Comments

I’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

Tags: Charlottesville, Cuisine: Spanish, Good for Dates, Good for Vegetarians, Neighborhood: Belmont, Parking, Rating: 5 stars, Restaurant: Mas

Zinc

Oct 20

Posted by Erin in Reviews | 8 Comments

Only in a food town like Charlottesville do you find “anglo-franco tapas style comfort food” served up in a former service station. Zinc, the bistro on Main Street where you can get anything from fish and chips to steak tartare with quail egg, has a lot going for it. The beautiful courtyard patio feels far removed from the street and is one of my favorite outdoor eating spots. The bar area is cool and usually uncrowded, and the interior hints at its garage past while showcasing an open kitchen and funky industrial feel.

The menu reinforces the quirky blend of personalities with a wide range of options for… Read More

Tags: Charlottesville, Cuisine: French-American, Cuisine: Local, Good for Dates, Neighborhood: Main Street, Parking, Rating: 4 stars, Restaurant: Zinc

Beer Run

Oct 20

Posted by Erin in Reviews | 9 Comments

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Beer Run on Carlton Road, here’s the premise: take a convenience store and fill it with beer and wine, throw in a cheap menu with bar classics like nachos and burgers, and add some picnic benches outside. This simple but smart idea has created a popular spot that’s great for the casual and devoted drinker. But I must admit – bring on the ire of the Beer Run devotees – I’m perplexed when people get really enthusiastic about this place. Maybe I just need to change my perspective. As a convenience store to grab a six pack on your way to a party, it’s a gold medal winner. As a casual… Read More