About
The Charlottesville 29 answers the question: if there were just 29 restaurants in Charlottesville, what would be the ideal 29? Background: the site’s organizing principle, the reason for the number 29, and the project’s inherent flaws.
The Charlottesville 29 is created by writer Simon Davidson. Called “Charlottesville’s most prolific food writer,” Simon has authored three newspaper columns, including The Daily Progress’s current restaurant review, Dinner With Simon. He has written for The Charlottesville 29, Travel + Leisure, C-VILLE Weekly, Eater, The Local Palate, and Edible Blue Ridge. He also appears Fridays on WINA’s Charlottesville Right Now. His work has been chronicled by The Daily Progress, the University of Virginia, American Weekender, StoryCorps, Eat It, Virginia!, C-VILLE Weekly’s Power Issue, and others. He can be reached at charlottesville29@gmail.com.
Newspaper Columns
- Dinner With Simon, The Daily Progress – 2025-present
- At the Table, CVILLE Weekly – 2013-2018
- A Question of Ethics, Roll Call – 2007-2015
Dinner With Simon, The Daily Progress
Little Manila has grown from a $180 lumpia stand to a Filipino family legacy (free pdf)
December 13, 2025
The Chef’s Chef-d’œuvre: Yoshi Tauchi makes poetry at Omakase Obscura (free pdf)
October 25, 2025
Ivy Inn, Still Radiant After All These Years (free pdf)
September 27, 2025
Charlottesville’s Sultan Kebab is a Turkish Delight (free pdf)
August 9, 2025
At Inka Grill, Peruvian Flavors and Charlottesville Are a Dream Come True (free pdf)
July 5, 2025
Nose to Tail and Farm to Fire, All Steaks Shine at Black Cow (free pdf)
June 7, 2025
At Smyrna, Peerless Cuisine is Worthy of Celebration (free pdf)
May 8, 2025
El Tio is Where Charlottesville Chefs Go for a Good Meal (free pdf)
March 30, 2025
Other Food Writing Samples
The Timeless Passion for Service: Why Restaurants Will Be Back
The Charlottesville 29, May 12, 2020
Virginia Spirit: How Charlottesville Helped American Single Malt on the Map
C-VILLE Weekly, September 10, 2025
Thanking the Pig: Fleurie’s “Autumn Olive Farms’ Heritage Pork, Prepared Nose to Tail”
The Charlottesville 29, December 19, 2018
Globetrotting in Charlottesville: At These Ten Restaurants, Immigrants Are Enriching Charlottesville with Flavors of the World
The Local Palate / The Charlottesville 29, July 1, 2022
A Love Letter to Charlottesville
Edible Blue Ridge, March 28, 2024
High Steaks: Dining with Governor Ralph Northam at Prime 109
CVILLE Weekly, October 31, 2018
Why Chefs Indulge at Riverside Lunch
CVILLE Weekly, May 24, 2017
Op-Ed Samples
Take back the public square: Why silence won’t slow polarization
The Hill, September 2, 2024
Is 2024 another Flight 93 election?
The Daily Progress, October 31, 2024
Courage and Conviction: Lessons in humanity from a school board race
November 6, 2023
Living With Gratitude
December 26, 2025