The Charlottesville 29

Where to eat in Charlottesville

Tag: Smyrna

04/17/2026

Five Finds on Friday: Lou Sumpter

Today’s Five Finds on Friday come from Eastwood Farm and Winery chef Lou Sumpter, who next week will help prepare a special dinner spotlighting the women who built some of Charlottesville’s favorite food and beverage ventures. In “How She Built It,” Athena Eastwood will lead a discussion with Gail Hobbs-Page (Caromont Farm), Kitty Ashi (Monsoon Siam), Emily Harpster (SugarBear), and Susan Sweeney (Cake Bloom), providing an “honest look at what it means to build, lead, and persist.” Guests will also enjoy a four-course wine pairing dinner, featuring a menu created by the panelists, and a celebratory Blanc de Blancs toast.

April 23, 6 pm. Menu below. Tickets available here. The Charlottesville 29 readers can receive a 20% discount with the code CVILLE29. Sumpter’s picks:

1) La Famila with Poblano rice, chorizo mac n cheese, and esquite mayo at Al Carbon. “Incredibly consistent and delicious Peruvian chicken. Definitely a go-to, and never not in the mood for it.”

2) Narragansett and a Shot of Whiskey or Fernet Branca at Dürty Nelly’s. “Best bar ever, best bartenders, amazing vibes, perfect watering hole, and open all day.”

3) Meze Trio and a Smyrna Sour at Smyrna. “Amazing food and cocktail program. Meze trio is a must with any meal there. I especially love the yogurt goat cheese dip. It’s no surprise they’re on the James Beard list. Well deserved.”

4) Pork Hot Bun at Marco & Luca. “Perfect place to hit before a show at The Jefferson or a night on the mall. Fast and delicious.”

5) Rives St. Lager and a Högwaller Burger at Högwaller Brewing. “Great beer, burgers, and people. Great location right on the Rivanna. Perfect spot to hit after a hike or ride on the trail.”

How She Built It Menu

First course – Cherry Tomato Tart (Eastwood & Caromont)

• Caromont fresh goat cheese, roasted tomatoes, white soy sauce, herbs

Second course- Tropical Salad (Monsoon Siam)

• Mixed tropical fruit, rainbow tomatoes, shrimp, Asian green bean, cashew, cilantro lime dressing, fried taro basket

Third course – Curry (Monsoon Siam)

• Braised chuck roast, yellow curry, pumpkin puree, bokchoi, pickled radish and carrots, fried onion, mint relish.

Fourth course – Strawberry Belle Cake (Cake Bloom) and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream (SugarBear)

• Almond cake/St Germain strawberries/cream with vanilla bean ice cream

02/13/2026

Five Finds on Friday: Joel Cuellar

Today’s Five Finds on Friday come from Joel Cuellar, former Spirits Sommelier of Brandy Library, who now presides over Speakeasy + Whiskey Bar at The Doyle Hotel, where he is beloved for his service, cocktails, and knowledge of all things spirits. A world expert on whisky and permanent judge at New York International Spirits Competition, Cuellar has a palate that can discern a whisky’s origin, age, and barrel type. Saturday, February 28 is a rare chance learn from him at a Virginia Distillery Company Whisky Dinner. Guests will begin and end their evening with an apertif and digestif prepared for the occasion by Cuellar. In between are four courses paired with Virginia Distillery Company whisky, which Cuellar calls among the best spirits in the world. Menu below. Tickets here. Cuellar’s picks:

1) Burger at Smyrna. “I feel like every single dish I have tasted here is always the best it can be and while the burger doesn’t seem like the best choice out of the ethnicity of their cuisine, for me there’s no better execution in town. Perfect blend of flavor and texture. Also, best fries.”

2) Octopus at Zocalo. “At the bar, I always run polls on where is the best anything in town and I started to ask my customers where is the best octopus, so I can go to all these places to draw my own conclusions. Chef Will Miguel at Zocalo took the title. Its texture, flavor, presentation make for an exquisite dish I can always go back to.”

3) Sopes at El Comalito. “Out of the hands of Lucia, all the dishes here have the authenticity of someone who grew up with them, not a recently acquired knowledge. Try with any of their fresh salsas for a kick and you are totally savouring real Mexico.”

4) Old Tom Gin from our dear friend Ivar at Spirit Lab Distilling. “Old Tom differs from London Dry in the fact that it is aged in an oak barrel and has somewhat of a little sweetness to it. Rich texture followed by a multilayered mouthfeel, a bold collection of botanicals well integrated. It’s a pleasure to make a drink with it. Howeber, I personally like to sip this one, maybe with the addition of a few drops of water. Perfectly rounded and an amazing long finish.”

5) Notorious P.I.G. at Ivy Provisions. “If you have lived in the Tri state area (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut) you may have seen an old Italian Salumeria, where you might have routinely picked up a sandwich. This is the memory, well executed: generous amount of cold cuts, cheese, shredded lettuce, oil and vinegar. And some hot peppers on top.”

11/28/2025

Five Finds on Friday: Jason Inofuentes

It’s a Thanksgiving tradition for Five Finds on Friday to come from a reader drawn at random. This year’s winner is Jason Inofuentes, Albemarle County’s Program Manager for Broadband Accessibility and Affordability. Inofuentes’ picks:

1) Santa Fe Enchilada and a House with Salt at Continental Divide. “This is the best kind of comfort food. The chicken is slow-cooked to perfection, the sauce is rich, and you cap the whole thing off with a pumpkin muffin. I sometimes wonder what other goodness Continental Divide serves, but I’ll likely never know.”

2) Meyer Lemon Granita at Smyrna. “I can’t recall anything else I ate the first time we went to Smyrna, I know it was good, but thinking back on it, this dessert is all I can remember. Delicately sweet, and balanced by mint and lemon, it is a perfect way to end a great meal.”

3) Jefferson at Bellair Market. “When I first visited Charlottesville, my friends insisted we get the best sandwiches in town. I was skeptical when we pulled up to a gas station, but 25 years later, this remains one of the best sandwiches I’ve had. And it’s perfect for Thanksgiving.”

4) Huarache at Guadalajara Pantops. “A thick corn tortilla, a thin layer of refried beans, thinly sliced tender steak, cotija cheese, onions, cilantro, and a special set of hot sauces. It isn’t fancy, but it’s perfect.”

5) Princess Cake at Albemarle Baking Company. “When people meet me, they probably aren’t expecting me to ask about their dessert preferences in the first five minutes. But that is the depth of my evangelism for this cake. I want everyone to get to experience the perfect slice of cake, and this is it.”