The Charlottesville 29

Seared rockfish, at Broadcloth

For the Charlottesville food community, the challenges of 2021 were relentless. Restaurants fought tooth-and-nail to survive a pandemic as well as a staff shortage crisis. Amidst it all, 2021 somehow also saw a burst of creativity, with a extraordinary number of new restaurants. In Charlottesville, 2014 is the gold standard for restaurant openings – a year that gave us Lampo, The Alley Light, Oakhart Social, Parallel 38, Public Fish & Oyster, MarieBette, and Al Carbon, among others. It’s too early to say whether 2021’s crop will have the staying power of 2014’s entrants. But, they do have the potential. Just a few of the openings this year:

• Akira Sushi Ramen — Japanese on 29N
• Al Carbon — a 5th Street location for the popular chicken spot
• Birdhouse — local rotisserie chicken from a C&O veteran
• Bobboo Bar — The Quirk hotel’s intimate spirits bar
• Broadcloth – tasting menus from former Clifton Inn Chef Tucker Yoder
• Café Frank – Jose de Brito’s own restaurant, at last
• Cake Bloom – a cake and bubbles bar on West Main
• Champion Ice House – fried chicken and beer with Craig Hartman
• Crushpad – a wine bar from the Metropolitain team
• Dairy Market — food hall with Angelic’s Kitchen, Chimm Street, Citizen Burger Stand, Dino’s, GRN Burger, Manila Street, Mashu Festival, The Milkman’s Bar, Take It Away
• Danbap – Korean BBQ bowls located at Kung Fu Tea
• Inka Grill — Peruvian on The Corner
• Lampo2GO – in IX Park, takeout location of beloved pizzeria
• Lucky Blue’s Bar – cheesesteaks, bowls, and burritos in a downtown bar
• Marigold — Jean Georges comes to Keswick
• Multiverse Kitchens – virtual restaurants from the Keevils
• Pineapples Thai Kitchen – the Monsoon Siam team in the Coca-Cola building
• Sammy’s — Philly cheesesteaks on The Corner
• Siren – star chef Laura Fonner’s first restaurant
• South & Central – Dairy Market steakhouse from Wilson Richey
• Stella’s — soul food in York Place 
• Taste Shack — classic sandwiches with a chef’s attention to detail
• The Ridley – Southern-inspired cuisine in The Draftsman hotel
• Vision BBQ – in-house smoked barbecue, to-go
• Yummy MO:MO – Nepalese in a gas station