The Charlottesville 29

Where to eat in Charlottesville

Tag: Parallel 38

10/06/2017

Five Finds on Friday: Kelly Davidson

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Today’s Five Finds on Friday come from Dr. Kelly Davidson, who fifteen years ago yesterday dashed the hopes of young men everywhere when she married me. It’s not easy being the spouse of a food freak, and her support over the years has allowed me to pursue my passion without limit. It can mean having to grow accustomed to answering not: “Which restaurant should we eat at tonight?” but rather “How many restaurants should we eat at tonight?” On the other hand, you do get to eat well. Happy Anniversary, little one. Kelly’s picks:

1) Italian Cream Cake at Paradox Pastry.  “Four layers of cake with coconut, pecans and a yummy cream cheese frosting. If you love coconut, this is the cake for you.”

2) Smokey Dokey at The Alley Light. “The mix of smoke from the mezcal plus a little heat and citrus is just right.”

3) Labneh at Parallel 38.  “I love, love, love this. I could and would eat it on almost anything. When P38 closed, I tried to make it . . big fail. Now that they have re-opened, I can’t wait to get my fix!”

4) Everything Bagel w/ Cream Cheese from Bodo’s with Face Bacon from JM Stock Provisions. “My traditional birthday dinner for years is a childhood favorite: a bagel with cream cheese and bacon. After many versions, I think we finally perfected it: Bodo’s everything bagel with plain cream cheese, topped with plenty of face bacon from JM Stock. Makes getting older a lot more bearable.”

5) The Fat and Sassy at Dr. Ho’s Humble Pie. “Sunday plan: wine at Pippin Hill followed by a stop at Dr. Ho’s for this delicious mound of cheese and garlic atop Dr. Ho’s pizza crust dipped in ranch. Not a day to wear your skinny jeans.”

 

 

 

05/11/2017

Parallel 38 is Back!

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When Parallel 38 announced in January that it was closing, regulars were devastated. In its three years at Stonefied, the restaurant earned a spot on The Charlottesville 29, was named C-VILLE’s Best New Restaurant, won raves from Tom Sietsema, and developed a loyal following that even included many top chefs. In 2016, for example, former Clifton Inn chef Craig Hartman said the best thing he ate all year was at Parallel 38, while in 2015 another former Clifton Inn chef, Christian Kelly, said the same thing. Among those lamenting the loss of their favorite restaurant was food podcaster Jenée Libby, who penned a heartfelt eulogy.

Well, now they have reason to rejoice. Parallel 38 is re-opening at 817 West Main Street. Co-owner Justin Ross admits he considered other projects after a lease disagreement forced the January closure. But, in the end, the pull of Parallel 38 was too strong, particularly after finding what Ross deems to be a perfect location on West Main, the former home of L’Etoile.  “We took one look at the new space and it screamed Parallel 38 to us,” Ross says.

Guests can expect a similar menu of mezze from Parallel 38’s same chef as before closing, Johnny Garver. “We will still have our core menu items,” Ross says, “but our new location will allow us to be more adventurous, so expect this menu to be a bit more fun.”

For the restaurant’s rebirth, Parallel 38’s customers have themselves to thank, at least in part. “The support that this community showed us in our final weeks was one of the more amazing things I have witnessed,” says Ross. “It showed us that we had accomplished our goal to become a part of this amazing community, and we can’t wait for our new opportunity to do it all over again.”

Check back for an opening date, which should be next month. And, welcome back Parallel 38.

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01/16/2017

Parallel 38, You Will Be Missed

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One of our favorite Charlottesville restaurants is closing its doors.

When it opened in 2014, Parallel 38 filled a void in Charlottesville dining by focusing exclusively on mezze, under the stewardship of a former manager of one of the nation’s best mezze restaurants. It also boasted the area’s largest selection of wines by the glass, spot-on barrel-aged cocktails, and an interior as transporting as any in town.

Add to that stellar food, and you’ve got a lock for The Charlottesville 29. And, we’re not the only ones to heap praise. In 2014, The Washington Post’s Tom Sietsema said Parallel 38’s food was comparable to a three star restaurant in D.C. or New York. In 2015, Maya chef Christian Kelly ate the best thing he ate all year there. And, last year The BBQ Exchange’s Craig Hartman likewise named a Parallel 38 dish the best of the year. Indeed, every year since it opened, it has made FSR Magazine’s list of Top 100 Independent Restaurants in the country.

In the end, the restaurant’s undoing was the same nagging challenge that dogged it throughout – its location at Stonefield, a shopping center some love but others love to hate. After the original owners sold the shopping center last year, Parallel 38 and the new owners could not reach agreement on a new lease. And, so it goes.

Personally, we will feel Parallel 38’s absence most acutely on birthdays. I threw my wife a surprise birthday party there. She threw me a surprise birthday party there. Twice. (Does that make me trusting, or gullible?)

Beyond the labneh, pork belly, wine, cocktails, and naan a-la-minute, though, what we will miss most are owners Justin Ross, Steve Pritchard, and their staff. What a great crew, full of heart. Parallel 38 has been an enormous supporter of the Charlottesville community, with regular fundraisers for charitable causes around town. To boost bids for an already incredible donation for last year’s Charlottesville 29 restaurant auctions, Ross, one of the nicest guys in the business, offered to volunteer at the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank for a number of hours in proportion to the winning bid.

The good news is that they’re not gone quite yet. You’ve still got a few days to squeeze in your last visits. And, what better way to thank them for three great years and their tremendous community support than to send them out with a bang?

Parallel 38’s last day is Sunday, January 29. Go!