Our Favorite Things: A Joyful Message from Charlottesville Restaurants
Help save our restaurants by buying gift cards:
Charlottesville Restaurant Gift Card Program.
Many thanks for the talents of
Ian Atkins and Justin Esposito.
The Charlottesville 29
If there were just 29 restaurants in Charlottesville, what would be the ideal 29?
Video | Featured
Featured
The Charlottesville Restaurant Gift Card Program: Help save our restaurants
Photo by Tom McGovern
Charlottesville restaurants take care of us, feed us, and, despite modest margins, are the first we ask for donations to support our charitable causes. Now, it’s our turn to help them. If we don’t support them now, they might be gone forever.
The Charlottesville Restaurant Gift Card Program: The gift of Charlottesville food is a win-win. It helps save restaurants that make Charlottesville special, while bringing cheer to loved ones. Why not buy some for yourself, too? Buying a gift card just pays now for a meal you would have bought later anyway. Some restaurants are even discounting gift cards, which means buying them actually makes you money.
Aberdeen Barn: GIFT CARD: (434) 296-4630
Ace Biscuit & Barbecue GIFT CARD: (434) 202-1403
Al Carbon GIFT CARD
Albemarle Baking Company GIFT CARD
Angelic’s Kitchen GIFT CARD
The Alley Light GIFT CARD: (434) 296-5003
Bang! GIFT CARD
Basil Mediterranean Bistro GIFT CARD
Bavarian Chef GIFT CARD
BBQ Exchange GIFT CARD
Beer Run GIFT CARD
Belle GIFT CARD: (434) 996-4919
Bizou GIFT CARD
Blue Moon Diner GIFT CARD
Bodo’s GIFT CARD
Brasserie Saison GIFT CARD
Brazos Tacos GIFT CARD
C&O GIFT CARD
Champion Grill GIFT CARD
Chimm GIFT CARD
Citizen Burger Bar GIFT CARD
Conmole GIFT CARD
Continental Divide GIFT CARD
Corner Juice GIFT CARD
Crozet Pizza at Buddhist Biker Bar GIFT CARD: (434) 202-0592
Dr. Ho’s Humble Pie GIFT CARD: (434) 245-0000
Duner’s GIFT CARD
Feast! GIFT CARD
Firefly GIFT CARD
Fleurie GIFT CARD
Fry’s Spring Station GIFT CARD
Great Harvest GIFT CARD
Guajiros GIFT CARD
Hamiltons’ GIFT CARD
HotCakes GIFT CARD: (434) 295-6037
Junction GIFT CARD
Kanak GIFT CARD: (434) 328-2775
Kardinal Hall GIFT CARD
Kitchenette GIFT CARD: (434) 260-7687
Iron Paffles & Coffee GIFT CARD
Ivy Inn Restaurant GIFT CARD: (434) 977-1222
Ivy Provisions GIFT CARD
Lampo GIFT CARD
Lemongrass GIFT CARD: (434) 244-8424
Little Star GIFT CARD: (434) 252-2502
MarieBette Cafe and Bakery GIFT CARD
Mangione’s on Main GIFT CARD: (434) 327-4833
MAS GIFT CARD
Maru GIFT CARD
Maya GIFT CARD
Mel’s Cafe GIFT CARD: (434) 971-8819
Milan GIFT CARD: (434) 984-2828
Miller’s Downtown GIFT CARD
Mochiko GIFT CARD
Moe’s Original BBQ GIFT CARD
Monsoon Siam GIFT CARD
North American Sake Brewery GIFT CARD: (434) 767-8105
Now & Zen GIFT CARD
Oakhart Social GIFT CARD: (434) 995-5449
Orzo GIFT CARD: (434) 975-6796
Pad Thai GIFT CARD: (434) 293-4032
Paradox Pastry GIFT CARD
Passiflora GIFT CARD
Pearl Island GIFT CARD
Peloton Station GIFT CARD
Peter Chang’s China Grill GIFT CARD: (434) 244-9818
Petite MarieBette GIFT CARD
Petit Pois GIFT CARD
Pippin Hill GIFT CARD
Pronto! GIFT CARD
Public Fish & Oyster GIFT CARD: (434) 995-5542
Quality Pie GIFT CARD
Rapture GIFT CARD: (434) 293-9536
Red Pump Kitchen GIFT CARD
Renewal GIFT CARD
Revolutionary Soup GIFT CARD
Roots GIFT CARD (434) 529-6229
Royalty Eats GIFT CARD
Sal’s Caffe Italia GIFT CARD: (434) 295-8484
Smoked Kitchen and Tap GIFT CARD: (434) 205-4881
Shadwell’s GIFT CARD
Southern Crescent GIFT CARD
Sticks GIFT CARD
Sultan Kebab GIFT CARD: (434) 981-0090
Szechuan GIFT CARD
Take it Away GIFT CARD: (434) 295-1899
Tavern & Grocery GIFT CARD
Tavola GIFT CARD
Ten GIFT CARD
Thai Cuisine & Noodle House GIFT CARD
The Bebedero GIFT CARD: (434) 234-3763
The Fitzroy GIFT CARD
The Local GIFT CARD
The Pie Chest GIFT CARD: (434) 977-0443
The Shebeen GIFT CARD (434) 296-3185
The Virginian (via Citizen Bowl) GIFT CARD
The Whiskey Jar GIFT CARD
The Wool Factory (Selvedge Brewing, The Workshop) GIFT CARD
Three Notch’d Brewing GIFT CARD
Thyme & Co. GIFT CARD: (434) 282-2436
Tilman’s GIFT CARD
Timberwood Grill GIFT CARD
Timberwood Tap House GIFT CARD
Tonic GIFT CARD: (434) 226-4270
Vita Nova GIFT CARD: (434) 977-0162
Vivace GIFT CARD
Vu Noodles GIFT CARD: (434) 465-1267
Zocalo GIFT CARD
Featured
A Culture of Takeout: Charlottesville Restaurant Dining at Home
A big part of what makes our area special, Charlottesville’s restaurants are on the brink. To help them survive, our restaurants invite Charlottesville to embrace a culture of takeout. Through their remarkable ingenuity during the pandemic, Charlottesville restaurants have shown how desperately they want to serve us. It is up to us to give them that chance. Restaurants need us. And, we need them. As often as we can, let’s brighten our lives of seclusion with a restaurant meal.
This list will be updated with changes and additions. Also included are restaurants offering on-premises dining. Send updates or additions to charlottesville29@gmail.com. Tip generously!
Restaurants of The Charlottesville 29
Takeout and on-premises dining. 8am – 3pm. Call (434) 202-1403. Menu.
Takeout and delivery only. 11am – 9pm. Order online or call (434) 202-2609. Menu.
Takeout and on-premises dining. Takeout Tue-Sun, 5:15 – 6 pm. Must order the day before by email. Menu.
Takeout and curbside pickup. 11am-7pm. Order online or call (540) 832-0227. Menu.
Curbside pick-up and on-premises dining. Family-style meals, too. Tues-Wed, 12pm – 7pm; Thu-Sat, 11 am – 8 pm; Sun, 11am – 6 pm. Order online, call (434) 984-2337, or email info@beerrun.com. Menu.
Takeout, plus on-premises dining. Thu – Sun, 11:30am – 2pm, 5pm – 9 pm. Order online.
Drive-through only. Credit card only (Visa, MC, Discovery). Menu.
Curbside pick-up and on-premises dining. Wed – Sat, 5-9 pm. Order online. Order by 7 pm. Menus.
Takeout only. Tue, 3-8pm; Wed-Thu, 11am-8pm; Fri-Sat, 11am-9pm; Sun, 11am-8pm. Call (434) 245-0000. Menu.
Takeout and on-premises dining. Thu – Sun, 4:30 – 8:30 pm. Call (434) 293-8352 or (434) 293-3091. Menu.
Takeout and on-premises dining. Pickup: 5pm – 9pm. Call (434) 234-7394. Menu.
Takeout and on-premises dining. Tue-Sat, 11:30am – 8pm; Sun 11:30am – 3pm. Order online.
Curbside pick-up and on-premises dining. Wed-Sun, 5-8:30 pm. New menus each weekend. Pre-order by email at ivyinn@ivyinnrestaurant.com to reserve time slot. Menus posted weekly.
Curbside pick-up only. Wed-Sun, 12pm until sold out. Order online. Wait in your car to be texted when your order is ready. Menu.
Takeout and on-premises dining. On premises: Thu-Sat, 5 – 9 pm; takeout, Wed-Sat, 11:30am – 4pm. Order online.
Takeout and curbside pick-up only. 8 am – 4 pm. Order online or call (434) 529-6118. Menu.
Takeout and patio dining. Tue-Sat, 4 – 9 pm. Order online or call (434) 979-0990. For takeout, upon arrival, stay in the car and call for instructions. Menu.
Curbside pick-up and on-premises dining. Takeout 3:30 – 8 pm. Menu.
Takeout and on-premises dining. Order online or call (434) 984-2828. Menu.
Takeout and patio dining. Thu-Sun, 4:30 – 8:30pm. Order online.
Takeout only. Call (434) 293-4032. Menu.
Call (434) 244-9818. Menu.
Takeout and patio dining. Tue-Thu, 12pm – 8 pm.; Fri-Sat, 12pm – 9pm. Call (434) 979-7647. Menu.
On-premises dining and wine tastings, by reservation. On select dates, “Evenings on the Hill” – extended hours for sunset dinners and wine. Tue-Sun, 11 am – 6pm, plus extended hours on select dates. Daytime Menu. Evenings on the Hill Menu.
Takeout and on-premises dining. Tue-Sun, 4-9 pm. Call (434) 995-5542. Menu.
Takeout and delivery only. Mon-Fri, 10am – 8pm. Extra large soups available to stock fridge or freezer. Order online or call (434) 296-7687. Menu.
Takeout and on-premises dining. 12pm – 9pm. Call (434) 981-0090. Menu.
Curbside pick-up and on-premises dining. Order online.
Takeout and on-premises dining. Tue-Sat, 4pm-8pm. Order online or call (434) 295-6691. Menu.
Takeout and patio dining. 4-8pm. Meals for Four for under $50. Order online. To pick up, call (434) 977-4944 from Zocalo’s reserved spots across from the library on Market St. Menu.
More Restaurants
A Pimento Catering: “Bit e Pezzi”
Takeout, Thursday through Saturday. Order 48 hours in advance. Email bitepezzi@apimentocatering.com to be added to weekly menu newsletter.
Takeout only and on premises dining. 5-8pm. Call (434) 296-4630 or email angela@aberdeenbarn.com. Menu.
Takeout and delivery only. 11am – 9:45 pm. Call (434) 245-0095. Menu.
Curbside pick-up and takeout. Mon-Sat, 8am – 5pm. Order online or call (434) 293-6456. Menu.
Takeout and dining at Dairy Market. Wed-Thu, 11am-9pm; Fri-Sat, 11am-10pm; Sun, 11am-4pm. Order online.
Takeout and delivery. Order online or call (434) 979-1888. Menu.
Takeout only. Mon-Fri, 11am – 3pm. Order online or call (434) 984-1862. Menu.
Takeout and on-premises dining. 5 – 8pm. Order online. Menu.
Takeout only. Tue-Sun, 11am – 8pm. Order online or call (434) 202-7594. Menu.
Takeout only of carry out deli items, dinner items, packaged goods, beer and wine. Fri-Sat, 11am – 6pm; Sun, 11am – 4 pm. Order online. Plus, a weekly online farmer’s market, with pick-up each Wednesday.
Curbside takeout and on-premises dining. Restaurant and food truck menu items. Call (540) 948-6505. Menus.
Curbside, contactless pick-up, and on premises dining. Wed-Sat 9am – 4pm; Sun, 9am-3pm. Menu.
Takeout, delivery, and on premises dining. Order online or call (434) 977-1970. Menu.
Curbside pick-up and on-premise dining. Wed-Fri, 2 – 7pm; Sat-Sun, 11am – 4pm. Order online or call (434) 980-6666. Menu.
Takeout only. Thu-Sun, 8am – 2 pm. Order online.
Takeout only. Tue-Sat, 11am – 8 pm. Sun, 10am – 3pm. Order online.
Call (434) 295-4911. Menu.
Curbside takeout only. Mon-Fri, 8am – 1pm. Call (434) 806-6202, or just honk the horn.
Takeout and outdoor dining. 5 – 8pm. Order online. Drop down to Retail menu for drinks.
Takeout only. Call (434) 288-1120. Menu.
Takeout or dining at Dairy Market. Wed-Sun, 11am-8pm. Order online.
Takeout and delivery food, beer, and wine. Mon-Fri, 11am-3pm. Order online or call (434) 234-3662. Menu.
Takeout and delivery. 11am – Midnight. Order online or call (434) 977-2710. Menu.
Open to all. Curbside pickup of meals, beer, and wine. Order online or call (434) 566-0192. Menu.
Curbside pick-up and outdoor dining. Tues-Sat 4:30pm-9:30pm. Order online or call (434) 328-2519.
Takeout only. Wed – Sat, 5 – 7pm. Order online in advance.
Curbside pick-up. Wed-Sat, 11am-7pm; Sat-Sun, 9am – 2 pm. Order online or call (434) 234-2089. Menu.
Curbside pick-up. Wed-Fri, 3-9pm; Sat-Sun, 12pm-9pm. Call (434) 823-2132. Menu.
Curbside pickup and delivery. Call (434) 202-0592. Menu.
Meal kits from the team behind Bizou, Bang!, The Space, and Luce. Order by Thursday at 12 pm. Pickup or delivery Friday. Order online.
Takeout and dining at Dairy Market. Wed-Thu, 11am-8pm; Fri-Sat, 11am-9pm; Sun, 11am-8pm. Order online.
Takeout only. 11am – 8pm. Order online or call (434) 872-9488. Menu.
Curbside pick-up only. Mon-Thu, 11am – 6:45pm; Fri-Sat, 11am – 7:45pm. Order online or call (434) 212-1377. Menu.
Takeout, curbside pick-up, and personal grocery shopping delivery. Mon-Fri, 10am – 3:30pm. Order online or call (434) 244-7800.
Takeout and on-premises dining. Tue-Thu, 11am – 8 pm; Fri-Sat, 11am – 9pm; Sun 10am – 3pm. Order online.
Fox’s Cafe
Takeout only. Mon-Sat 6:30am – 2:30pm. Call (434) 293-2844. Menu.
Takeout and curbside pick-up only. Mon-Fri, 4 – 9pm; Sat-Sun, 11am – 9pm. Call (434) 202-2257 or order online.
Curbside-pickup and USPS delivery. Order online or call (434) 202-7813. Limited quantities/varieties baked fresh daily.
Takeout food and coffee. Download the app to order online or call (434) 984-0200. Menu.
Curbside pick-up only. Wed-Sun, 11am – 4 pm. Order online.
Takeout and delivery only. Mon-Sat, 10am – 8pm; Sun, 10am – 6pm. Order online or call (434) 465-2108. Menu.
Takeout only. Tue-Sun 12-7pm. Order online or call (434) 293-3210.
Takeout and on-premises dining. Mon-Sat, 5pm – 10:30 pm. Call (434) 234-4436. Menu.
Takeout, delivery, and curbside pick-up of food, beer, and wine. Call (434) 295-6037. Menu.
Takeout only, with table-side, contactless pick-up. Order online or call (434) 806-3800. Menu.
Takeout and curbside pick-up. 11am – 3 pm. Call (434) 202-1308 or order online.
Takeout. Order online or call (434) 328-2775. Menu.
Curbside pick-up and on-premises dining of food, beer, wine, and cocktails. Tue-Sat, 11am – 10pm; Sun, 11am-8pm. Order online.
Takeout and curbside pick-up. Mon – Fri, 11am-3pm. Menu.
La Michoacana
Takeout and on-premises dining. Mon-Sat, 11am – 9 pm. Menu.
Takeout only. Tue-Fri, 11am – 7 pm; Sat, 12pm – 7pm. Order online or call (434) 244-8424. Menu.
Takeout only. First come, first served of soups and take-and-bake meals. Menus updated on Facebook.
Takeout and curbside pick-up. 4 pm – 7 pm. Order online.
Takeout. Order online or call (434) 284-5846. Menu.
Takeout and on-premises dining. Mon-Wed, 4-8pm; Thu-Sun, 4-9pm. Call (434) 327-4833. Menu.
Marco & Luca (Seminole Square location)
Takeout only. Mon-Sat, 10:30am – 7pm. Call (434) 227-6690. Menu.
Takeout and delivery only. Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri: 11:30 am – 3 pm, 5 pm – 8:30 pm; Sat, 11:30 am – 9 pm; Sun, 11:30 am – 8 pm. Order online or call (434) 956-4110. Menu.
Call (434) 971-8819. Menu.
Curbside pick-up and delivery only. 11am – 8pm. Order online or call (434) 972-9366. Menu.
Takeout and delivery only. Tue-Sun, 9am – 7pm. Call (434) 984-1551. Menu.
Curbside pick-up only. 11am – 5 pm. Free delivery for orders over $50. Call (434) 977-1234. Menu.
Takeout, curbside, pick-up and delivery only. Tue-Thu, 11:30 am – 2:30 pm and 5:00 – 8:00 pm. Fri-Sat, 11:30 am – 8:00 pm, Sun 11:30 am – 7:30 pm. Order online or call (434) 284-5165. Menu.
Moe’s Originial BBQ: Ivy Road and Water Street
Takeout, curbside pickup, and boxed and catered meals. Call (434) 244-7427 (Ivy Road) or (434) 202-2288 (Water Street).
Takeout and curbside pick-up only. Order by email at monalisacville@gmail.com or call (434) 295-2494. Menus.
Takeout and delivery. Mon-Thurs 12pm – 2:30pm, 5pm – 8:30pm; Fri 11am – 2:30pm, 5 – 9pm; Sat-Sun 12 – 2:30pm, 5 – 9pm. Order online or call (434) 971-1515. Menu.
Takeout only. Mon – Fri, 11am – 2 pm; Mon – Sun, 4:30pm – 8:30pm. Order online or call (434) 284-7117. Menu.
Takeout and curbside pick-up only. 5-9pm. Call (434) 971-1177. Menu.
Takeout, delivery, and patio seating. Thu-Sun, 8am – 1pm. Order online or call (434) 872-0100 x 2. Menu.
Curbside pick-up and delivery of food and retail wine. Call (434) 975-6796. Menu.
Takeout and on-premises dining. 11am – 9 pm. Call (434) 328-8786. Menu.
Curbside pick-up, counter service, and on-premises dining. Wed-Sun, 8 am – 2 pm. Order online.
Takeout and curbside pick-up. Mon-Fri, 11am – 8 pm. Saturday, 10am – 4pm. Also available for “micro-catering.” Call or text (434) 305-4238. Menu.
Takeout, curbside pick-up, and delivery only. 8am-2pm. Order online or call. Menu.
Takeout only. Order online or call (434) 328-8833 (The Corner) or (434) 284-5466 (Barracks). Menu.
Takeout only. Order online.
Takeout and curbside pick-up only. Order online or call (434) 284-5120. Menu.
Curbside pick-up only of beer. 4 – 8 pm. Order online.
Takeout and patio dining. Mon-Sat 12 – 8 pm, Sun 12 pm – 3 pm. Order online.
Curbside pick-up. Mon-Thu 12pm – 7pm, Friday 12pm – 8pm, Saturday 3 – 8pm. Order online or call (434) 465-2421. Menu.
Takeout and on-premises dining. 9 am – 5 pm. Call (434) 971-3546. Menu.
Takeout only. Order with the App or call (434) 529-6229. Menu.
Takeout and curbside pick-up only. Order online or call (434) 923-3287. Menu.
Takeout only. 8am – 9pm. Call (434) 205-4622. Menu.
Takeout and on-premises dining. Dinner: Tue-Sun, 5-9 pm; Lunch: Fri-Sun, 12pm-3pm. Order online.
Curbside and takeout only. 11am – 8 pm. Call (434) 202-2568 or order online.
Takeout only. Order online: Preston — Pantops.
Takeout and delivery. Order online or call (434) 295-9671. Menu.
Takeout only. Order online or call (434) 296-9090. Menu.
The Corner: Takeout only. 10am – 3pm. Order online.
Dairy Market: Takeout and dining at Dairy Market. Mon-Sat, 11am-8pm; Sun 11am-6pm. Order online.
Takeout and delivery. Order online or call (434) 984-9998. Menu.
Takeout and on-premises dining. 11:30 am – 8:30 pm. Order online.
Takeout and delivery. Order online or call (434) 984-9944. Menu.
Curbside pick-up and delivery only. 11:30 am – 9:30 pm. Closed Tuesdays. Order online or call (434) 964-1212. Menu.
Curbside pick-up and delivery only. Order online and then call (434) 974-1326 to have food brought to your car. For delivery, $25 minimum or $5 fee if under. Call for availability. Menu.
Takeout only. 11am – 8:30pm. Order online or call (434) 249-5291. Menu.
Takeout and delivery only. Family meals available. 11am – 7pm. Call (434) 234-3762. Menu.
Takeout and on-premises dining. Wed-Thu, 5pm-9m; Fri-Sat, 5pm – 11pm. Sun, 10:30am – 2pm, 5 pm – 9pm. Order online.
Curbside pickup or delivery, in tandem with Junction. On-premises dining. 4 – 9pm. Order online. Menu.
Takeout and nearby delivery. 4 – 7pm. Menus.
Takeout and curbside pick-up. Mon – Sat, 9am – 4pm. For curbside pick-up, call (434) 977-0443. Menu.
Curbside pick-up, and on-premises dining 10am – 7pm. Discounted regular menu. Call (434) 296-3185. Menu.
Takeout, curbside pick-up, and on-premises dining. Wed-Sun, 12pm – 8pm. Call (434) 284-5101. Menu.
Takeout and curbside pick-up only. 8am – 3pm. Call (434) 296-9977. Menu.
Takeout, delivery, and on-premises dining. Family meals available. 11am – 7pm. Call (434) 202-1549. Menu.
Three Notch’d Craft Kitchen & Brewery
Curbside pick-up and delivery of food, beer, and wine. Sun-Thurs, 12-8pm; Fri-Sat, 12-9pm. Order online or call (434) 956-3141. Menu.
Takeout only. 11am – 3pm. Call (434) 282-2436. Menu.
Takeout, curbside pick-up, and “picnic-style” patio dining. 12 – 6pm, Fri-Mon. Order online.
Takeout and curbside pick-up only. Order online or call (434) 975-3311. Menu.
Takeout and on-premises dining. Mon-Sat, 6am – 9pm; Sun, 6am – 3 pm. Call (434) 244-3424. Menu.
Takeout and on-premises dining. Wed-Sat, 11am-10pm, Sun, 12pm-8pm. Order online.
Takeout. Order online or call (434) 977-0162. Menu.
Thu-Mon, 11 am – 7 pm. Order online or call (434) 443-4352. Menu.
Takeout, curbside pick-up, delivery, and patio seating. 5-9pm. Order online or call (434) 979-0994. Leave a message with name, phone number and desired pick up time. Menu.
Takeout only. Tue – Sat, 11am – 7pm. Order online or call (434) 465-1267. Menu.
Takeout window only. Mon – Sat, 11am – 7pm. Call (434) 977-5000. Menu.
Chicken from Al Carbon. Photo by Tom McGovern
Grilled Pork Steak, Oakhart Social.
02/01/2021
Introducing Café Frank, a new restaurant from Chef Jose de Brito
For fans of Jose de Brito’s cooking, this has been a long time coming. The chef finally has his own place.
De Brito says his passion has always been the same: to share his love of French food with as many people as possible. “I love the depth of French food,” he once explained. “The terroir, the cheeses, the markets in Provence, the butcher in the village, the apertif, the millions of ways to make charcuterie, the hundreds of ways to do bread, the millions of sauces, pastries, pies, regional dishes, and more.”
It was twenty years ago that de Brito first brought the food he loves to Charlottesville, at Ciboulette, a gourmet shop and café that grew a following so devout that some even called it reason to move to Charlottesville. De Brito’s passion was evident from the sheer scope of Ciboulette’s lunch menu:
Ciboulette lunch menu, July 2006
After de Brito closed Ciboulette in 2006, his regulars followed the elusive chef from one stop to the next (HotCakes, Trinity, Fleurie, etc.), always hoping he might one day open his own restaurant, so he could pursue his passion without constraint. Not surprisingly, the stop at which de Brito earned the most acclaim was the one at which he had the most freedom: The Alley Light, where restaurateur Wilson Richey gave de Brito near carte blanche. The results were astounding – turning heads even outside Charlottesville. The James Beard Foundation named The Alley Light one of 25 semifinalists for best restaurant in the country. De Brito himself was a semifinalist for Best Chef Mid-Atlantic. And, award-winning critics at The Washington Post and The Washingtonian heaped praise.
De Brito left The Alley Light in 2016, and has spent the last five years between his second home in Washington, Virginia, where he cooked at Inn at Little Washington, and Charlottesville, where he has cooked at Fleurie. While both restaurants are outstanding, with extraordinary dishes, neither allowed de Brito the full freedom he craves to explore his passion to the fullest.
Introducing Café Frank
Now, de Brito has that chance. His own restaurant.
Café Frank, a collaboration that reunites de Brito with Richey, is set to open in March in the former home to Splendora’s, on the downtown mall. The aim is to create a classic Charlottesville café showcasing the food de Brito loves.
Once the restaurant is fully up and running, daytime offerings will include de Brito’s sandwiches, salads, pot pies, and pastries to enjoy to-go or on-premises in a seat-yourself setting. Gourmet pantry items will also be available, including wines and ingredients from de Brito’s kitchen such as oils, condiments, and seasonings.
From 4-6 pm will be Aperitif Hour, a happy hour inspired by the traiteurs, tapas, and cicchettis of Europe. De Brito will create a selection of small bites each day, served with a choice of sparkling wines or apertif cocktails. The wine list will be the work of Richey, who once founded The Wine Guild, while the bar program belongs to Mike Stewart, formerly of Kama. Managing the restaurant will be industry veteran Johnny Frankenberger.
For dinner, the entire menu will be de Brito’s, which is good news for both the chef and his fans. Further details to come, but for now “an obsession for yumminess” is how de Brito explains his plans. “My goal will be for the guest just not to eat but to notice,” de Brito said.
Even before the restaurant is fully open, it will soon join the Culture of Takeout with daily offerings designed to travel well and enjoy at home, not unlike ones he had been cooking at Fleurie. Examples include wagyu beef pot roast and red wine reduction; paella; braised Berkshire pork and sauerkraut in Riesling; and a casserole of pork shank, belly, sausage and beans.
The first sneak peek of De Brito’s creations will be on Valentine’s Day, when Café Frank will offer a multi-course menu to enjoy at home. Menu below. Advance ordering required. Details here.
Café Frank Valentine’s Day Dinner
APERITIF
Selection of canapés to enjoy before dinner
APPETIZER
Lobster and seafood with root vegetable salad, cognac mayonnaise
MAIN COURSE
Roasted butternut squash stuffed with braised Wagyu beef, bacon, mushrooms, Syrah reduction
DESSERT
Passion fruit & chocolate tart
Selection of miniature sweets
01/24/2021
M18: Celebrate Mas’ Anniversary Like Never Before, with the 2020 Dish of the Year
When the pandemic cancelled the epic party Mas Tapas throws for its birthday each year, the restaurant sought another way to commemorate the occasion that would be no less special. They seem to have found it. From January 26-30, celebrate at home while helping those in need with Chef Ketola’s M18 Anniversary Package: Celebrating 18 Years of Tapas, Wine, & Community.
The exclusive package is full of goodies, including the first time Mas has ever offered the 2020 Dish of the Year: a shrimp salad sandwich made from Mas’s gambas al parilla and alioli on Albemarle Baking Company bread. Emblematic of the Culture of Takeout, the 2020 Dish of the Year brings together for the first time two of Charlottesville’s most iconic foods — gambas from Mas and bread from Albemarle Baking Company — neither of which the pandemic could stop.
“Mas anniversaries have always been a celebration of our community,” said chef Michael Ketola. “As I thought about how we could celebrate this year, my mind drifted to the Christmas video we participated in, and that inspired me to reach out to The Charlottesville 29 and Albemarle Baking Company to set up a package that could be celebratory for our customers, inclusive of our colleagues, and give back to the community we hold so dear.”
The one-time-only package includes a limited edition “M18” anniversary t-shirt, with the words “Somos Mas Fuertos Juntos.” Thanks to the generosity of Mas, Albemarle Baking Company, and Blue Ridge Graphics, $29 from each package will go the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank. While COVID-19 has inconvenienced everyone, the hardships have been particularly acute for the less fortunate, as the number of people needing food assistance has spiked during the pandemic.
“We are all together in our hearts and stronger together as a force for positivity in our community, even if we can’t celebrate physically together right now,” said Ketola. “That’s why the shirts say ‘we are stronger together.’ It reaffirms our commitment to loving and caring for each other.”
How to Order
Packages are available January 26-30. A limited number will be available each day, so early same day ordering is encouraged. Order packages, as well as extra t-shirts for pick-up, at: mastapas.hrpos.heartland.us/menu
For t-shirts to be shipped, order through Blue Ridge Graphics, where 100% of proceeds will benefit the food bank:
https://stores.brgtshirts.com/mas_tapas/shop/home
Chef Ketola’s M18 Anniversary Package:
Celebrating 18 Years of Tapas, Wine, & Community
$100
Gambas Bocato (first time ever offered) (Two of The Charlottesville 29’s “2020 Dish of the Year” in collaboration with Albemarle Baking Company. This sandwich incorporates the eponymous garlic alioli, with gambas al parilla, served chilled on artisan Albemarle Baking Co. brioche.)
Olivos Mezclado (beautiful blend of Spanish Castelvetrano, Lucque, Alfonso, and Empeltre Olives with garlic, thyme, and lemon)
Albondigas (spherical tidbits of beef, lamb & pork suspended in a sassy, smoky Romesco sauce with queso Manchego)
Datil con Tocino (organic Medjool dates wrapped in Applewood-smoked bacon, oven-roasted crispy)
Boquerones (vinegar-cured Cantabrian white anchovies with organic garlic, lemon, herbs, Arbequina olive oil)
Hummus (tapas of classic, lightly spicy spread of chickpeas, tahini, lemon and garlic with bread)
Mas Anniversary T-shirt (Mas will call for a size and confirm a pick-up time)
01/23/2021
Holy Mole: Mole from Conmole Makes Dinner Easy and Charlottesville’s Bounty Even Better
When “Comal” became “Conmole” last year, a main reason for the change was the restaurant’s plan to begin offering its signature moles for sale. A mole is a slow-cooked Mexican chile sauce typically served with a protein or vegetables. Conmole’s outstanding moles are the backbone of its menu, and when the restaurant changed its name last February, its aim was to launch sales of its moles by the end of the year. Not even a pandemic could stop it from doing so, as online mole sauce sales are now underway.
This is excellent news for Charlottesville diners. While Conmole’s moles take hours to develop their flavor, making dinner with them at home can take just minutes. Just sauté a protein or some vegetables, smother it in your favorite mole, and you’ve got a world class meal.
The Culture of Takeout Meets Charlottesville’s Bounty
A great plus of the Culture of Takeout is convenience. Place your order, pick it up, and a delicious dinner is yours. Sometimes, though, it can be fun to spend a little more time to use foods from the Culture of Takeout as ingredients to create your own dinner. With Charlottesville’s bounty, the possibilities seem endless. And always delicious.
Tonight’s dinner began with a soup of turnips and butternut squash from Whisper Hill Farm. As much as we miss Whisper Hill Farm’s tomatoes in the warmth of the summer, the farm’s beautiful winter vegetables sustain us through the cold. By themselves, the turnips and squash would have made for a delicious soup. The addition of Conmole’s guajillo mole made a great thing even better.
Guajillo peppers are a classic ingredient of Oaxaca, where Conmole co-owner Benos Bustamante is from. The recipe for Conmole’s guajillo mole comes from his mother Yolie Bustamante, using toasted guajillos, onions, tomatoes, and Yolie’s secret blend of spices. For our soup, to accent the smokiness of the peppers and spices, we added a little Mezcal. Why not? Turnips, butternut squash, and guajillo mole. Thought it came together in just minutes, the result, wow:
Next was a simple sauté of shrimp and chorizo in the same guajillo mole. The shrimp came from Surfside Sustainable Seafood, a business re-launched last year by restaurant industry veteran Lenny Craig. Craig’s business model is simple: source sustainable seafood from Virginia’s coast and deliver it to Charlottesville restaurants and consumers. Craig posts offerings each week, takes orders, and then makes a run to the coast to retrieve them. Our shrimp were fresh — never frozen — shell-on Carolina shrimp, 16-20 per pound.
The shrimp were sautéed in Mexican chorizo from the charcuterie wizards at JM Stock Provisions.
Pour over Conmole’s guajillo mole, and ahí está!
