The Charlottesville 29

Photo by Do Me A Flavor.

The Fish Sandwich

In some places, fish sandwiches are everywhere. One restaurant after the next grills or fries the fresh catch of the day, and slaps it on a bun. Inland here in Charlottesville, fish sandwiches are harder to find. And, the ones we do have tend to feature freshwater fish like catfish, rather than the saltwater fish sandwiches of the coast.

Perhaps it’s no surprise, then, that Charlottesville’s best fish sandwich comes from a local outpost of a restaurant founded on the coast of New England. At Burtons Grill, the sandwich starts with Icelandic haddock, a fish also native to the North Atlantic waters near the restaurant’s flagship in Hingham, Massachusetts. From there, it’s just a matter of execution. Lightly battered and fried, the haddock rests atop a buttered brioche roll, with house pickles, pickled onions, and plenty of house tartar sauce.

To ensure no gems eluded the 29+ years of research and sandwich consumption behind The Charlottesville 29 of Sandwiches, due diligence included asking top chefs to name their favorites. The chef-owner of one of Charlottesville’s best restaurants calls this his favorite sandwich in town.

#27: Fish Sandwich – Burtons Grill
(GFA)
The Charlottesville 29 of Sandwiches

Others of Note: Fish Sandwich at Kama, Catfish Sandwich at Blue Moon Diner, Fried Fish Submarine at Mel’s Café, Fried Fish Sandwich at Soul Food Joint, Torta Mexicana with Tilapia at La Michoacana, Blackened Catfish Sandwich at The Whiskey Jar, Fish Schnitzel Sandwich at Kardinal Hall (GFA), Preddy Creek at Peloton Station; Vegetarian Alternative: Tofu Sandwich at Kama, Vegan Alternative: Vegan “Crab” Cake Sandwich at Firefly (GFA).