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 dinner.
⭐ Sarah’s Long-Time Favorite: Over 30 years in, and son Travis Burgess has carried the baton beautifully from founder Tim. Still indispensable.