Fleurie
by Charlottesville29
108 3rd St. NE . Charlottesville, VA . (434) 971-7800
http://fleurierestaurant.com/
Why Fleurie?
Rumors of fine dining’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. Sure, recent years have seen a rise in downscale eats, offering inexpensive ways to eat well, without pomp and circumstance. All the while, chef-owner Brian Helleberg has sustained his serene temple of elevated French cuisine on the downtown mall, Fleurie.
How has Helleberg bucked the downscale trend? It’s not stubbornness. It’s passion. Having worked under such legends as Yannick Cam, Gerard Panguad, and Jean-Yves Schillinger, Helleberg loves everything about sophisticated French dining – the experience, the service, the presentation, and of course the food. Fleurie reflects Helleberg’s passion, remaining one of the few places in town where you can still dine on crisp, white table cloths, and where the servers are committed professionals. The food is exquisite, too, celebrating the attention to detail demanded by classic French cooking, with the kitchen’s own riffs.
What to Order
Fleurie offers a daily three-course prix-fixe menu. Since it changes often, dish availability can vary. Below are our picks, Helleberg’s picks, and appearances in Five Finds on Friday, where a local chef or personality has named an item from Fleurie as one of the best in town.
Our Picks
- Autumn Olive Farms’ Heritage Pork, Prepared Nose to Tail (2018 Dish of the Year)
- Seared Foie Gras
- Sautéed Skate
- Whole Poached Lobster
- Lamb du Jour
- Warm Chocolate Cake
Chef/Owner’s Picks
- Sautéed Veal Sweetbreads with sunchokes, pickled pearl onions and veal jus
- Lamb Carpaccio with haricots verts and shallot salad
- Vanilla Mille Feulle with inverted puff pastry, candied orange and thyme
Five Finds on Friday Picks
- Lobster Bisque — Wilson Richey (Ten Course Hospitality)
- Lamb Carpaccio — Nick Leichtentritt (Milli Coffee Roasters and Sicily Rose)
- Foie Gras and Passion Fruit Mousse — Carol Davidson (Mum)
- Foie Gras with Sauternes — Melissa Boardman (Fleurie)
- Quail Stuffed with Mushrooms and Pistachios, Sauteed Endive, Quail Jus — Sidney Hall (Moon Maiden’s Delights)
- Squid Ink Risotto with Chorizo — Nick Leichtentritt (Milli Coffee Roasters and Sicily Rose)
- Rack of Lamb — Luther Fedora (formerly, Horse & Hound)
- Sautéed Skate — Jeff Deloff (formerly, Threepenny Cafe)
- Wines by (former) Sommelier Erin Scala — Robin McDaniel (The Alley Light); Michael Davis (The Wine Guild)
- Reserve Wine Pairing — Stephanie DeVaux (Holmes Dinner Club)
Photo by Tom McGovern