The Charlottesville 29

If there were just 29 restaurants in Charlottesville, what would be the ideal 29?

Tag: Charlottesville restaurants

10/14/2014

Milan

Milan

1817 Emmett Street . Charlottesville, VA . (434) 984-2828
http://www.milan-indian-cuisine.com/

Why Milan?

The Charlottesville 29 would not be complete without at least one Indian restaurant, and we are fortunate in Charlottesville to have several good ones. What ekes Milan ahead of the competition is not just great food, but unfailing hospitality. Since moving to the United States from India in 1996, owner Charanjeet Ghotra has spent his life in the restaurant industry. And it shows. What also shows is that much of Ghtotra’s staff has been with Milan since it opened in 2003. Pronounced like Bob Dylan’s last name (not the city in Italy), Milan offers Charlottesville’s most complete Indian restaurant experience.

Note: while Milan excels at traditional dishes, its owners’ other restaurant, Kanak, offers more unusual options, and also could warrant a slot in The Charlottesville 29.

What to Order

The Milan kitchen is so consistent that chances are you’ll be happy with your go-to Indian restaurant order. But, Milan also excels beyond the standard Punjabi fare that fills menus of Indian restaurants across the U.S.. So, if you must stick with an old favorite, consider pairing it with something new. Better yet, bring a group of friends, and let Milan create a feast for you.

Below are our favorite dishes, as well as picks from Ghotra, and appearances in Five Finds on Friday, where other chefs and personalities have named a Milan dish one of the best in town.

Our Picks

  • Hara Bhara Kebab
  • Lasooni Gobhi
  • Bhindi Masala
  • Goat Vin d’ Alho

Chef/Owner Picks

  • Bhel Puri
  • Hara Bhara Kebab
  • Lasooni Gobhi
  • Lamb Rogan Josh
  • Chicken Tikka Masala
  • Coastal Shrimp Curry
  • Scallop Patia
  • Baingan Bahar (eggplant)
  • Chicken Chettinadu

Five Finds on Friday Picks

07/24/2014

Brookville Enters The Charlottesville 29

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The next entry into The Charlottesville 29 is Brookville.  If there were just 29 restaurants in Charlottesville, we would want Brookville to be one of them. Why?  See our guide to Brookville.

 

06/06/2014

Five Finds on Friday: Twenty Paces

Twenty Paces

On Fridays, we feature five food finds selected by local chefs and personalities.  This week’s picks come from the team behind Twenty Paces, the new sheep dairy and creamery on land leased from Bellair Farm. Still early in their first year of production, Twenty Paces’ outstanding ricotta is already available at Feast! and Flora, and also served at tavola, The Ivy Inn, and C&O, among others.  All four Twenty Paces partners are veterans of the farmstead cheese industry, and all are also big fans of breakfast, as their picks reflect.  For further information about the dairy, including investment opportunities, holler at them at info@twentypacesva.com.

1)  Glazed Spudnut from Spudnuts.  Bridge Cox says that “a simple glazed spudnut from Spudnuts is all I need. Perfectly yeasty and glazed with just a bit of crunch.”

2)  Turkey Croissant from Blue Ridge Pig.  Kyle Kilduff says that the only thing he craves as much as Dr. Ho’s nachos (see #5), is Blue Ridge Pig’s turkey croissant. “Criminally underrated.  And, just as good for breakfast the next day.”

3)  Plain Bagel with Cream Cheese from Bodo’s.  Herd manager Tom Pyne says he has to get up and go quickly, but still makes time to prepare his toasted plain bagels with cream cheese, which he says he devours with wild abandon.

4)  Apricot Jam from Jam According to Daniel with HomeSlice from Sub Rosa Bakery.  Melanie Pyne says she likes HomeSlice bread from Richmond’s Sub Rosa with butter and apricot jam for “a tasty breakfast snack with ‘The Girls.'”

5)  NacHo’s at Dr. Ho’s Humble Pie.  The team says that they often “quantify budget and lactation numbers, sketch big dreams, and figure out new ways to find private investors over Dr. Ho’s nachos and a pitcher of Long Hammer IPA.”