The Charlottesville 29

Where to eat in Charlottesville

Tag: Atlas Coffee

10/17/2025

Five Finds on Friday: Natalie Blazer

Today’s Five Finds on Friday come from Natalie Blazer, Assistant Dean and Chief Admissions Officer at UVa School of Law, and host of the podcast Admissible, on Apple and Spotify. You can follow it on Instagram. It’s Natalie’s anniversary next week, so she shares the spotlight with husband Michael Peloquin. Blazer’s picks:

1) Red Hot Blues and a Mezcal Special with Salt at the bar at Continental Divide. “This is a Friday night tradition that holds a sacred spot in our lives. Catching up with Matt and taking that first sip of margarita marks the end of a usually stressful week and the beginning of 48 hours of family togetherness. Fun fact: we both discovered the Divide around the same time: I was a first-year law student, back then we just called it Get In Here. Michael was a high school student in Arizona, visiting his older sister who was an undergrad at UVa. So it is very possible we crossed paths 20 years ago at the Divide, 13 years before actually meeting in D.C.”

2) Cabbage & Scallion Pancake and Roasted Broccoli at Oakhart Social. “Look, I’ve been reading the FFF long enough to know that practically everyone mentions Oakhart, so I almost didn’t want to include these dishes, but a list without them would not even remotely accurately capture our consumption habits. Another spot where sitting at the bar makes all the difference, as the food at Oakhart is matched only by the incredible hospitality. I don’t know how they get all their veggie dishes to be so dang good but they are positively craveable.”

3) Abruzzo Pizza, a Midnight Stinger (hers) and Spaghett (his) at Lampo. “I’m not a huge meat-eater, but the Abruzzo has me positively addicted. Everything at Lampo tends to be phenomenal, from the warm bread to the salads to the sandwiches. We always get a little of everything, but the Abruzzo is a staple. And we have to mention our love for waiting at Bar Baleno next door for Lampo bar seats to open up. Clearly, a recurring theme of our answers here is we love to sit at a bar and we love to be regulars. Beware if you sit next to us that we — Michael —  will instigate chitchat.”

4) Drip Coffee at Atlas Coffee. “How boring is this pick? But the centrality of coffee in our lives means we could not leave this one off the list. A true neighborhood spot, Atlas’s coffee is consistently perfect. Our dog Jerry loves it too because the barista never lets us leave without a treat for him.”

5) The Melrose at Greenwood Gourmet Grocery. “The vibes, as the kids would say, are immaculate at Greenwood Grocery, but I would not keep coming back were it not for the Melrose sandwich. Again, not being a huge meat-eater, this portobello mushroom sandwich with red onion, pimento cheese, and arugula on country bread hits the spot every single time. Michael has usually already eaten by the time we get to Greenwood, because he simply cannot start his weekend morning without a breakfast burrito from Polly’s Folly, but he’s always good to add on an Araucana or an Italian. Throw in some chips from their tasty selection, maybe one or two of the MarieBette treats they stock at the register, and our Saturday afternoon is made.”

11/26/2021

Five Finds on Friday: Jen Pease

It’s a Thanksgiving tradition for a reader selected at random to participate in Five Finds on Friday, and this year’s winner is UVa Associate Professor Jen Pease. Pease’s picks:

1) Miso Chocolate Chip Cookie from Cou Cou Rachou. “My platonic ideal of a cookie: the perfect balance of crispy/chewy and salty/sweet. We are so lucky to live in a town with several amazing bakeries, and Cou Cou Rachou is a fabulous addition. (My kids also wanted me to mention their favorite treats: the Prezzant and the Stuffed Chocolate Shortbread, both from MarieBette.)”

2) Migas Taco from Brazos. “I first tried migas tacos while visiting Austin a few years ago, and I was thrilled to find them on the menu at Brazos. Egg, veggies, cheese, and tortilla chips? On a taco? Yes, please. Great for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.”

3) Raspberry Triangle from Atlas Coffee. “Atlas is the epitome of the neighborhood coffee shop: the type of place where you always see familiar faces and the baristas start your order when you walk in the door. A latte and a raspberry triangle is my favorite way to start a workday.”

4) Beets from Oakhart Social. “My husband and I frequently have a hard time deciding which of the many great veggie dishes to order at Oakhart, but this one always makes the cut.”

5) Seabass Normandy from Café Frank. “One of the best dishes I have eaten this year. We love the atmosphere at Café Frank – another great addition to the Charlottesville dining scene.”

04/02/2021

Five Finds on Friday: Todd DeSorbo

Today’s Five Finds on Friday come from the Tony Bennett of college swimming, Todd DeSorbo. In just his fourth season at UVa, DeSorbo became the first coach ever to lead an ACC school to a swimming and diving national championship, when his women’s team took home the title last month. DeSorbo was subsequently named Women’s Team Coach of the Year. DeSorbo’s picks:

1) Burger with Bacon at Wayside Takeout & Catering. “This has become our staff’s go-to pre-Championship lucky lunch. The Monday prior to every ACC or NCAA Championship (including two weeks ago before our women won the National Title), we head to Wayside for a burger. If I had to pick a favorite food of mine, it’s for sure a burger, and Wayside does them right. Not to mention convenient to our place of work, the AFC pool.”

2) Piggie Smalls at Fry’s Spring Station. “If you’re sensing a theme in locations, it’s likely because when I first moved to Charlottesville I lived just behind Scott Stadium, and pretty much went from the house to the pool, and didn’t know much other than that there were several great food joints within walking distance. This turned out to be a family favorite and a staff favorite. We often have gathered here with all our swimming and diving staff and families to hang out. The pizza is phenomenal and the casual atmosphere is right up my alley.”

3) Black Coffee at Atlas Coffee. “Sorry to be sticking with the theme again here, but this was my go-to Thursday morning treat. It’s always been a goal of mine to be able to walk into a coffee shop (or bar) and be ‘regular’ enough that the barista knows what drink you want. I only went a few weeks in a row and they knew exactly what I wanted. I finally made it! Great coffee, great spot.”

4) Mother’s Day Roll at Tokyo Rose. “My family and I have eaten more sushi since the pandemic hit than probably in the previous five years. Likely because my 12 year-old son has decided he loves spicy tuna rolls, and Tokyo Rose’s are the best. Personally I love the Mother’s Day Roll. We haven’t been inside the restaurant in a year, but the takeout/delivery is just as good as dining in.”

5) Kimchi Pork Wrap at Beer Run. “This restaurant was introduced to us by the myth ‘The Charlottesville 29.’ This is a go-to for our family and friends. From family night out to champagne celebrations when our staff won our first ACC Title three years ago, Beer Run has been a staple in our eat out rotation. Great beer selection (almost too good), great food, and great casual environment. If you can’t tell, I like casual.”