Orzo Kitchen and Wine

First of all, I've been a fan of Calvino Cafe for months and I knew about Orzo because they are under the same ownership. My friend S and I went to Orzo a few weeks ago because we had been dying to check it out. It was an early dinner because we were going to another function later that night, so it was fairly empty and we were seated immediately with a warm greeting. The waitstaff was beautifully attentive and helpful in answering our questions about the menu. As always, it was a pleasant surprise that there were enough vegetarian options on the menu that I had a hard time deciding what to order. S decided to get the shrimp scampi. I had been hearing about the pumpkin ravioli for a while (which they get from our own local Mona Lisa Pasta) so I decided on that. There was also a salmon dish and a seared tuna steak that looked fantastic. Both entrees were about $15.

While we waited for our food, the waiter brought us a dish of warm pita bread with a delicious red pepper hummus. It was a fantastic alternative to the bread-and-butter combo in your average restaurant. The food arrived quickly and S and I were immediately satisfied with our choices. The shrimp scampi was very garlicky, but somehow the white wine sauce balanced it out perfectly. The dish was so delicious I think that S actually cleaned her plate with her bread. The pumpkin ravioli was perfectly crisp. The combination of the pumpkin, pine nuts, and cranberries made this dish both sweet and savory.

The atmosphere was light, but sophisticated. The waitstaff was friendly, informative and attentive and the food was delicious. I've been dying to go back ever since...

jak n jil

This morning I met up with my family to watch my fourteen-year old brother's soccer game at Darden Towe Park (my family conveniently just moved to Afton not too long ago, so I get to see them frequently). In case you are wondering, they have a stacked rec league team and they played an awesome game. Anyhow, after the game we all wanted to grab some quick lunch. Not being one to embrace McDonalds if at all possible, I suggested we hop on over to Riverside Lunch. There were no tables available, however, so we just crossed the street and went over to Jak n Jils, the "famous hot dog" place. Well goodness me, were we in for a treat. I had heard great things, but this place exceeded my expectations. While the fam all got hotdogs, I ordered the Greek burger, which came with feta, tziki sauce, lettuce and tomato, fries, coleslaw, and a really good pickle. So wonderful! And the chocolate milkshakes were fabulous. This local joint had a constant flow of people, many ordering just their soft serve ice cream.

If you're looking for a good greasy spoon, this is the place my friends. Super friendly staff, great atmosphere, and food that hits the spot. Sorry R, this is probably not too vegetarian friendly. But man was my burger good...........

A Pleasant Surprise at Eppie's

Nothing is worse than being in the middle of exams when the weather is beautiful and all you want to do is enjoy all that Charlottesville has to offer. Thankfully, study breaks are always allowed and that's exactly what S and I did this afternoon. We hit the downtown mall in search of some really good lunch; we just weren't sure exactly where to find that...
Eppie's is a downtown classic that I'm embarrassed to say I had never experienced. After barely a minute glancing over their menu we were both convinced that the meal would be a perfect spring lunch. S got the curry chicken salad, which she described as a really great chicken salad with the added benefit of fresh salad greens. I got the Santa Monica salad which was a mix of fresh spinach, goat cheese, fresh corn off the cob, grape tomatoes, and dates served with their super light vinaigrette. Both were served with a perfect side portion of fresh pumpkin bread. I was more than willing to pay the $8 for this higher quality lunch. And we're definitely going back on a Monday for the Fiesta Bowl special.

The Buzz Around Town

So I am pleased to inform everyone that I have just heard some rumors about two new places coming to the corner...... disclaimer: this is not fact, nor has it been confirmed by anyone who is actually in charge of any of the new places. It's all by word of mouth.

Coming to where Sublime used to be on Elliewood: Marco and Luca's (read: the dumpling place from downtown). Hopefully they will be serving up their characteristic dumplings, sesame noodles, and pork hot buns. Who needs overpriced smoothies when you can have cheap dumplings?!

Coming to where ONeils used to be on the Corner: Trinity at the Corner, an upscale bar (?). Sorry, I don't have any details on this one. But I do know they are completely gutting the place, so don't expect it to look anything like the old ONeils.

DESSERTS is STRESSED spelled backward

Hey everyone!

So the big debate in Charlottesville is dessert, and if you are on UVA Grounds, then the hands down answer is always Arch's Frozen Yogurt on the Corner. Here, I am going to do a brief on some of the particular hot spots around Charlottesville. From here it is all up to you; luckily, the testing will be pretty tasty.

The UVA "Corner"

Arch's: It may be an icon, but I personally think it is overrated. It's frozen yogurt people, why in the world would you stand in a 20 minute line and pay $5 for a waffle cone? Granted, it is good, and the various Wow Cow flavors change which can make each day an adventure. But beyond the hype and the sorority girls, the individual looking for a spot to chat or a local hangout, stay away. Though, if you are on Grounds for the first time, Arch's is somewhere everyone on Grounds has been. You gotta go at least once.

The White Spot: This little hole in the wall is one of the oldest running businesses on the Corner and the actual only place that sells real ice cream (Hershey's to be exact). It may never really be packed, but it doesn't take away from the down home feel this small sweet spot has. You should go, not everyone does it, be different.

Rita's: The newbie to the Corner, Rita's opened last summer right around graduation. The first week was free which got everyone hooked (I went 12 times in 7 days). It serves Italian Ice, which is novel, and custard. Both are excellent. I go for the custard. The ice flavors change and are always good--Passion Fruit is the best--nothing breaks the heat like flavored ice...and the employees are so nice!

Alderman on UVA Grounds: It probably sounds weird to send people into a library for dessert, but whether you need to drown your exam sorrows in frozen yogurt or want to avoid some of the Corner crowds, it's a great option. Here, you get tart frozen yogurt, something totally different from anything else offered. With fresh fruit options and two sizable portions, this is a great way to spend an hour at Mr. Jefferson's University.

Downtown:

With so many restaurants and shops downtown it can seem overwhelming to pick just a place for dessert. I recommend looking at individual restaurant dessert menus to anyplace you choose to sit down and eat. There are a few A+ choices for just dessert alone.

Timberlake's: Granted, it looks a little sketch on the outside, and yes, it actually still is a drug store, but OMG have you had the milkshakes?! This little gem is a must eat when it comes to being a local in Charlottesville. The milkshakes are the bomb! And they are big enough to share (or eat by yourself...:)

The Nook: One word: cheap. This diner went under new management in the past couple of years and it really shows. With good home diner food, the expectations for dessert can be set a little high. But have no fear! It certainly does the job. No choice is wrong here.

Splendora's: Oh the Italians have done it again. Gelato is not frozen yogurt nor ice cream. It is totally in a league of its own. This bright yellow building brings a smile to everyone's face. The flavors change with the season. The best bet is to get some of your friends together and share the sampler-- keeps the decision making down for everyone.

Champs: I love popping in here for some good ol' fashioned ice cream and fun. The employees are very kind and hospitable. The people inside are 9 times out of 10 regulars. The milkshakes are a little pricy, but dang tasty. Great place to get and go.

So head on out there for your own dessert and research... ENJOY!!!

12th Street Taphouse On Main

What can I say about the less-than-overt competition to Michael's Bistro on the corner?
The first time that R and I went to check it out it happened to be St. Patrick's Day. We had been passing 12th Street for weeks, itching to go in and check it out, so this seemed the perfect occasion to get a beer.
We walked in at around 10:30 just as the band was wrapping up. There was no hostess in sight so we walked up to the bar hoping to get a drink. It wasn't particularly busy considering it was basically one of the biggest beer nights of the year. But we were completely ignored. I couldn't get the bartender's attention and several waitresses walked right past me despite my attempts to flag them down. Needless to say, R and I were not impressed so we left and went (you guessed it) to Michael's Bistro.

After we had gotten over our hurt egos we decided to give Taphouse another try. We wanted to try out some of the much anticipated menu items. So M, R, and I went on a Saturday night for a very belated birthday celebration. Despite our hesitations the menu had so many good options, including several vegetarian friendly ones, that we all deliberated for several minutes before deciding. But now, just a few weeks later, I've already forgotten what we ordered. And that's exactly how I feel about Taphouse- It's forgetable. I would be okay if I never went back, but I do admit that I often hear people saying it's their favorite place to go for drinks...
I guess it's just not for us.

preview of coming attractions

Soon to be posted:
-12th St. Taphouse
-Mono Loco
-Horse and Hound
-Cafe 88