Virginia: Charlottesville, Richmond and Hampton Roads

In September, Mrs. JiLS and I will be vacationing in Virginia -- specifically, flying into Richmond then driving to Charlottesville (and possibly Orange County to visit the Barboursville Vineyards), and then down to Williamsburg and perhaps, if time permits, deeper into Hampton Roads (Norfolk, Virginia Beach). I was a student at William & Mary in the mid-1980s and haven't been back to the area since; Mrs. JiLS went to Williamsburg when she was six years old. Neither one of us has been to Richmond or Charlottesville (unless touring Monticello counts). I spent a lot of time in Norfolk, but to go to movies at the Naro Expanded Cinema and escape Williamsburg, not so much to eat. So other than Pierce's Pitt Barbecue outside Williamsburg, this one seafood place at the edge of James City County ("Captain Somebody's," styrofoam plates, soda in cans), lots of Greek-owned pancake houses in Williamsburg, The Big Apple, Paul's Deli or the Green Leafe for beer, and that Italian place near the Williamsburg Food Lion that had the "family size" calzone that weighs about four pounds, I haven't a clue. Any suggestions? Our preferred food focus would be on local flavor and regional specialties, not high-end.

When I visited Charlottesville a local suggested I visit the Michie Tavern. The menu is a buffet with pork barbecue and fried chicken, choice of several sides, desserts, etc. The food was good, plenty of it, and a nice place for lunch. A little touristy, but good.

The Bluelight Grill was an excellent seafood restaurant with a great raw bar. I ate here twice and loved both meals. The downtown mall is a great place to spend an evening. There are other restaurants to choose from on the mall also.

dicksond reported - We went to a movie in Charlottesville, rather than eating. The tip on going downtown to the mall was good. Breakfast was at a place called the Tavern on Emmet (biz 29) just north of the UVa campus. Good corn pancakes, excellent omelette, and lightning fast service, particularly given that the cook seemed to be spending most of his time visiting with people in front of the restaurant, and the place was a little busy. Mushy, but flavorful potatos. We would go back.

Hey!

I also am a W&M alum! Are you on our emailing list? PM me if you want to be.

I haven't been back in quite a while, but Wine Spectator recently (like maybe 2 months ago) had a really nice piece on visiting wineries in Charlottesville (and other smaller wine producing areas). The article isn't on-line, but many of our local wine shops keep back issues.

I imagine if I were back in the 'burg I'd go to the Trellis, which I loved back in the mid-80s, but who knows if it's any good now?

Lee

There is an excellent sandwich shop inside an Exxon station in Charlottesville - unfortunately I can't remember the street, but I am sure if you asked a local, they would iknow. Also about 20 minutes away, there is a very good, kitschy German restaurant... again, I can't remember the name, street. Sorry so vague, but I am sure if you ask someone they would know.
LO

LO wrote:There is an excellent sandwich shop inside an Exxon station in Charlottesville - unfortunately I can't remember the street, but I am sure if you asked a local, they would iknow. Also about 20 minutes away, there is a very good, kitschy German restaurant... again, I can't remember the name, street. Sorry so vague, but I am sure if you ask someone they would know.
LO

LO -- If you aren't already working as a travel agent for "Adventure Travel" vacationers, you missed your true calling! Here's a quote I found online:

Bellair Market

"Where Ivy Road meets Route 29 just west of the University and just down the street from Zazus, you'll find a little Exxon gas station. One thing that separates it from other gas stations in town is the size of the parking lot. Easily capable of handling 25 cars, the parking lot at Bellair Market is one indication of the great sandwiches that are made inside.

"For the last six years, Bellair Market, located inside the Exxon shop, has been making high-quality sandwiches named after famous Charlottesville people and locations, including a Jefferson and a Monticello.

"The Ednam is very popular and pairs smoked turkey with avocado and bacon. Surprisingly good together, the avocado and crisp bacon secures this sandwich the "neatest combination of ingredients" award. The smoked turkey is rich in taste and balances out the harsher avocado and bacon.

"You visit Bellair Market because it is in a gas station, but you keep coming back because the sandwiches are so good. "

Sounds like a winning combination ("Eat Here; Get Gas")! We'll probably stop in. What else (besides the sandwich described here) would you recommend?

Unfortunately, I can't take credit for finding this place, my uncle lives a few minutes away from there and always takes us there when we visit.
The Ednam is fantastic, its what I had last Labor day. hubby and uncle had the sandwich with all the delish cured meats, salamis etc. They also have really good dill pickles.
I think the German place is Ludwig's restaurant http://www.ludwigsrestaurant.com.
Have a great trip!!
LO

Charlottesville recs:

1)The most popular sandwich place in town is Bodo's bagels. It has multiple locations, including one right across the street from Mr. Jefferson's Rotunda, and serves bagels at least as good as NY Bagel & Bialy, though in a somewhat different style. Bellair Market is more gourmet and more expensive, though not necessarily better. Depends on your mood. Take it Away on Elliewood Ave. near the Rotunda/"Corner" also makes a nice sandwich for picnics on the Lawn or in one of the Pavilion Gardens.

2)Best pizza place in town is a few minutes outside town further down the same road as Bellair Market--Crozet Pizza. Good place with lots of local flavor, but not outstanding by Chicago standards. Good, though, and a good place to go after sightseeing on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Sylvia's Pizza on the downtown pedestrian mall (and elsewhere) used to be outstanding, but went downhill after the original owner sold it a few years ago. May be worth checking out.

3)A good "shabby chic" type restaurant is the downstairs dining room at the C&O Restaurant on the downtown mall. The place has been around forever, and has very good upscale comfort food. Good steaks, soups, pork chops, desserts. And you can wear jeans/shorts. There are probably several other upscale-type places on the mall, but I can't make any recommendations. Places are always closing down and re-opening there, so use your best judgment. The Ivy in on Rte 250 is a very good upscale place, too, but it is dressy. Metropolitain used to be the best upscale (but not dressy) restaurant in town. Don't know if it is still around.

4)Also on the downtown mall is a very good ice cream parlor, Chaps. Very good homemade banana ice cream, excellent black raspberry ice cream, excellent malts.

5)If Revolutionary Soup on the downtown mall is still around and you're in the mood, give it a spin. Fresh ingredients prepared by good cooks who care about their work.

6)Good Nouveau Tex-Mex: Continental Divide on Main Street about 6 blocks from the Rotunda. Great Nachos with Chili. Good fish specials, quesadillas with unusual ingredient combinations, etc. The guy who owns this place also owns a nearby brew pub that has pretty good beer and less successful (at least as of a couple years ago) food. Definitely worth checking out--I think I remember the name as Water Street Brewing Co.

7)Best Barbecue in Central Virginia: The Blue Ridge pig on Rte 20 (?) in Nellysford. This is about 20 minutes outside town, but so worth it. Great pulled pork and potato salad. Not the best barbecue I've ever had, but very, very good. Plus the old stone building is loaded with rustic charm. A great place to go after hiking Humpback rock or other nearby areas.

Good place to get good pastries and ingredients for an upscale picnic: Foods of All Nations, Ivy Road. An independent "gourmet" grocery store that churns out good fruit tarts, croissants, ganache brownies and strawberry cream tortes.

The Downtown Mall is the "don't miss" place in Charlottesville as far as eating, drinking and merriment are concerned. If you're there on a Friday evening, it will be crazy, as the town sponsors a "Fridays after 5" festival in the summer featuring local music, a lot of drinking, and total mayhem. A little like Milwaukee's summerfest, but on a much smaller scale. Just as energetic, though. The mall also has a few fun bars with outdoor seating.

My recommendations are rather limited and may be a bit south.

First, if you have the chance, one of the "must sees" in Petersburg, VA is the Blandford Church which features 14 Tiffany stained glass windows, one for each state in the Confereracy.

Second, there are two BBQ joints of note:

1) All the locals swear by Kings BBQ. The old man who put me up for 2+ years ate there 3x a week for its pit BBQ. He claimed that it was for the BBQ ... I started wondering if it was for teh waitresses.

King's Barbecue #2
2910 S CRATER RD
PETERSBURG, VA
23805-9223

2) Many years ago, I had this 85 year old lady eating lunch at the hospital daily. After a few weeks, we became good friends. She invited me over to taste her family's BBQ. It was special.

I made the mistake of asking about the sauce. Her son looked at me and asked, "you plannin' on marrying my daughter???"

Little Pig Barbecue
3329 W WASHINGTON ST
PETERSBURG, VA
23803-2745


Wish I could help you more. However, when I lived in Virginia, I was broke and ate most of my meals at the hospital where on $3 you could eat like a king.