The Charlottesville 29

Where to eat in Charlottesville

Tag: The Charlottesville 29

02/04/2015

Petit Pois

Pois201 Main Street . Charlottesville, VA . (434) 979-7647
http://www.petitpoisrestaurant.com/

Why Petit Pois?

Many Charlottesville restaurants have seasonal menus. In a city so committed to local sourcing, Mother Nature demands it. But, few restaurants transform themselves with the seasons as much as Petit Pois, the more casual sibling of Fleurie. It’s like several restaurants in one. In winter, it’s the closest thing in Charlottesville to a French bistro, serving hearty French classics, faithfully prepared, in a cozy 25-seat dining room. In warmer months, a 65-seat patio at the center of the downtown mall draws crowds for optimal people-watching, epic lunches, and breezy dinners of lighter takes on locally-sourced French fare. Any time of year, there are few spots as reliable for a great meal as Petit Pois, a necessity in The Charlottesville 29.

What to Order

Though the menu changes seasonally, some dishes are year-round fixtures. Below are our favorites, the chef’s picks, and appearances in Five Finds on Friday, where a chef or personality has named a Petit Pois dish one of the best in town.

Our Picks

  • French Onion Soup
  • Chicken Liver Mousse
  • Skate Wing
  • Steak Frites
  • Moules Marinieres
  • Bouillabaisse
  • Pomme Puree

Chef’s Picks

  • French Onion Soup
  • Beet Salad
  • Moules Marinieres
  • House Burger
  • Crab Cake
  • Bourride
  • Profiteroles

Five Finds on Friday Picks

petit pois soup

 

01/21/2015

Parallel 38

p 38

817 West Main Street . Charlottesville, VA . (434) 260-8793
http://www.p38cville.com/

Why Parallel 38?

Parallel 38 is Charlottesville’s best restaurant featuring mezze, small plates of food rooted in the Mediterranean. Justin Ross, who co-owns the restaurant with Steve Pritchard, once managed perhaps the nation’s most renowned mezze restaurant, Jose Andre’s Zaytinya, in Washington D.C..  And, it shows.

The concept is ingenious: celebrate regions that hover along the 38th parallel, which are unusually rich in food and wine: Greece, Italy, Spain, Turkey, the Napa Valley, and Charlottesville itself. Ross has a strong background in wine, and his list features nearly 100 carefully chosen wines, all available by the glass, focused on the same regions as the food. Once in a cavernous space in Stonefield, in 2017 Parallel 38 moved to its much different Midtown location while barely missing a beat. Formerly home to l’ Etoile, the two-story building with several small rooms makes for a setting that is cozy, dark, and inviting.

What to Order

All dinner guests receive warm, puffy, ovals of pita bread straight from the oven, with olive oil for dipping. For ordering, below are our suggestions, Ross’s suggestions, and appearances in Five Finds on Friday, where other area chefs and personalities have named a dish from Parallel 38 one of the best in town.

Our Picks

  • Htpiti
  • Labneh
  • Sauteed Shrimp
  • Fried Smelt
  • Skewered Lamb
  • Roasted Pork Belly
  • Meatballs
  • Lemon Olive Oil Cake

Owner’s Picks

  • Gnocchi – soubise, peperonata, fine herbs
  • Boer Bok Skewer – Autumn Olive Farms heritage goat, ras el hanout, grilled naan, tzatzik
  • Roasted Pork Belly – cipollini onions, roasted garlic, sumac, pork jus reduction
  • Pan Seared Bronzini – brown butter, barberries, saffron potatoes, tomato concasse
  • Lemon Olive Oil Cake – vanilla ice cream, spicy chocolate, lemon curd, milk crumble, allspice

Five Finds on Friday Picks

01/06/2015

Peter Chang China Grill

P Chang2162 Barracks Road . Charlottesville, VA . (434) 244-9818
https://peterchangtogo.com/

Why Peter Chang?

Charlottesville is home to two restaurants whose kitchen staffs were trained by Peter Chang, the former Chinese Embassy chef who some have called the best Szechuan chef in America and who has won praise from the New York Times, the New Yorker, the Washingtonian, the Washington Post, and more. One is Taste of China, where the elusive Chang first appeared in 2009 only to leave a year later. The other is Peter Chang China Grill, opened in 2011, the flagship restaurant of what has become a series of restaurants around Virginia and beyond. And truth be told, either could warrant inclusion in The Charlottesville 29, particularly now that Chang’s attention is divided among the many locations of his namesake restaurants.

But, what ekes Peter Chang ahead is that Chang himself is sometimes there. While the cooking at Peter Chang is good any night of the week, it can be truly stunning when Chang is present, particularly at special events with multi-course feasts all prepared by Chang. We lack the experience at restaurants around the country to know whether Chang is truly the nation’s best Szechuan chef. But, having enjoyed his food many times, dating back to his days in Northern Virginia, we can say it would be no insult to Szechuan food in America to say that he is.

What to Order

The massive menu at Peter Chang can be daunting. While the standard Chinese-American options are fine, the good stuff awaits those who order adventurously, particularly from the specials menu. Alternatively, below are our suggestions, Chang’s own favorites, as well as appearances in Five Finds on Friday, where a local chef or personality has named a Peter Chang dish as one of the best in the area.

Our Picks

  • Dry Fried Eggplant
  • Scallion Bubble Pancake with Curry Sauce
  • Cilantro Fish Roll
  • Grandma’s Noodles
  • Hot and Numbing Shredded Tofu Skin
  • Bamboo Fish
  • Braised Fish in Sichuan Sauce
  • Hot and Numbing Combination in Hot Pot

Chef’s Picks

  • Dry Fried Eggplant
  • Chicken and Eggplant with Ginger and Onion Sauce in Clay Pot
  • Hot and Numbing Combination in Hot Pot

Five Finds on Friday Picks

changs