TEN
My favorite spot for sushi in the area, and it’s excellent by any standard. TEN is a modern Japanese tapas-style restaurant on the second floor of the Downtown Mall, helmed by Master Chef Pei Jen Chang, who sources from the finest local and international sea and farm purveyors. The menu spans traditional and original creations — the sake selection is one of the largest in Virginia, and the Asian-inspired cocktails are inventive and delicious. The bar stays open late on Friday and Saturday nights with a limited menu — a wonderful late-night option after the Downtown Mall.
The Alley Light
One of the most special restaurants I know of anywhere. Tucked into an actual alley on the Downtown Mall with no sign on the door, The Alley Light was inspired by Harry’s Bar in Venice. The cocktail program by Micah LeMon is genuinely extraordinary. The food — intimate country French small plates — is beautifully composed and changes regularly. In 2015 the James Beard Foundation nominated it for Best New Restaurant, and the Washington Post gave it three stars. You may walk past it twice without finding the door. That’s part of the magic.
The C&O Restaurant
⭐ Sarah’s Long-Time Favorite: Don’t be deterred by […]
The C&O is one of Charlottesville’s most storied restaurants — housed in a beautiful old building that was originally a railway station, with a faded Pepsi sign outside that belies one of the most exceptional dining experiences in the state. The downstairs is rustic, with exposed brick and rough-hewn barn wood; the upstairs is more formal. The menu is country French at heart but ranges globally, and it changes monthly. The scallops are among the best I’ve had. The Steak Chinois is a legend.
⭐ Sarah’s Long-Time Favorite: Don’t be deterred by […]
Bizou
Bizou has been shaping the Charlottesville dining scene since 1991, and it has not missed a beat. Founded by two young chefs — one from France, one from West Virginia — in a tiny space on a then-quiet Downtown Mall, it’s grown into one of the most-loved restaurants in the city. Red booths, vintage film posters, jukeboxes, and an open kitchen in the entrance foyer: the atmosphere is warm and slightly eccentric in the best way. The menu is inventive Franco-American, with a constantly rotating cast of dishes built on local and seasonal ingredients. Outstanding brunch. Reliably excellent […]
Petit Pois
⭐ Sarah’s Long-Time Favorite: The patio […]
A gorgeous little French bistro — sister restaurant to Fleurie — tucked into the Downtown Mall with both a sweet interior and wonderful outdoor patio seating. The kitchen works with local farmers and artisans for everything, giving classic French preparations a distinctly Virginian character. The coq au vin and trout amandine are mainstays worth ordering. The lobster bisque is extraordinary. The wine list is thoughtfully curated, service is warm, and the whole experience has the feel of a real neighborhood bistro rather than a tourist destination.
⭐ Sarah’s Long-Time Favorite: The patio […]