The Charlottesville 29

Where to eat in Charlottesville

Tag: Vu Noodles

08/22/2025

Five Finds on Friday: Holly Hammond

Today’s Five Finds on Friday come from Holly Hammond of Whisper Hill Farm, whose August tomatoes are worth waiting all year long. The tomatoes will be among the offerings at Tomato Tomato Fest, Tuesday August 26 at The Little Market at Lampo. Tomato farmers, artisans, and vendors will celebrate the Charlottesville area’s tomato harvest, while Lampo makes a special tomato-centric menu for the occasion. Details here. Dress in tomato gear, enter gardening and art competitions, and celebrate this year’s harvest. Hammond’s picks:

1) Basil Tofu at Cafe 88. “Jenny is always at the front counter, ready for my favorite order when I go to Cafe 88. When I asked her for her favorite tofu dish, she did not hesitate -Basil Tofu. Wowee! She sends this bento box out of the park, with crispy tofu fried to perfection, saucy eggplant, and green beans. Everything cooked to perfection. Being a veggie farmer, I am particular about these things, and Jenny nails it with this dish. To be honest, everything she sends out is excellent.”

2) Avocado Toast at Petite MarieBette. “There’s something special about going into PMB on a Sunday morning after a long week farming and a vibrant Saturday sale at IX Farmers Market. The vibe is chill, and the staff is always warm and friendly. Pair that with an iced London Fog and their Avocado Toast with an egg, and life is good. Avocado toast might not be something I would typically order, but theirs is done so deliciously. Perfectly mashed avocado on a slice of their multigrain sourdough topped with corn, cotija, and pickled onion. What’s not to love?”

3) Banh Mi at Vu Noodles. “Julie soars in the kitchen, and her banh mi is no exception. That toasty baguette with tofu, vegan mayo, cilantro, cucumbers, and jalapenos hits the mark every time. She is also just a bright human whose spirit shows up in her food. Truly, a Charlottesville treasure.”

4) Veggie Pizza at Mona Lisa Pasta. “After eight hours of setting up and selling to our wonderful customers at market, the perfect place to pick up lunch to bring back for the crew is Mona Lisa’s. If you haven’t ordered pizza from them, you are missing out. A little Italian gem in the heart of Cville, you can find all kinds of things to love at this shop and take home a delicious meal. The veggies on their pizza are cut and cooked perfectly, with not too much sauce or cheese on the pizza. The best after-market meal.”

5) Caesar Salad at Dr. Ho’s Humble Pie. “I can’t forget to mention another favorite place to go out on a weekday evening. It’s always hopping, and the staff at Dr. Ho’s gets it done. The best way to start your meal is with their Caesar salad. The dressing is cheesy, and the salad always comes very well dressed, with that classic crunchy romaine and flaky parmesan, and croutons. Don’t sleep on that Fat and Sassy either.”

 

07/18/2025

Fine Finds on Friday: Jannatul Pramanik

Today’s Five Finds on Friday come from Jannatul Pramanik, guest host at the next event for Oenoverse Club, Blenheim Vineyards’ wine club dedicated to expanding opportunity in and through the Virginia wine industry. Photographer, food Instagrammer, oenophile, artist, traveler, educator, recruiter, and UVa employee, she is truly a Jannatul of all trades. On July 27, she will be at Blenheim Vineyards sharing and discussing some of her favorite wines. Tickets and info here. Jannatul’s picks:

1) Goat Curry from Rum Punch. “This is one of those you-eat-so-quickly-that-it-doesn’t-even-make-it-home kind of meals. Anything from Raquel’s farmer’s market stall is absolutely fire but my favorite definitely has to be the goat curry over rice with a side of plantains. Tender pieces of goat drenched in a flavorful curry fully soaking into the rice is my idea of a perfect Saturday lunch.”

2) Neuk Gan Sal and YangNyum Galbi, Banchan, and SooJungGwa from Bulpan. “Bulpan is one of those places that leaves you speechless every time you go. From the quality of the meats to how beautifully and intentionally they’re cooked, this Korean BBQ experience will keep bringing you back for more. The owner has really taken the time to thoughtfully curate the menu and it shows from the moment you sit down to eat that they really care about providing you a wholeheartedly good meal. I usually go with friends so we can take advantage of their combos – any combo with the neuk gan sal or yangnyum galbi is a win for me. Add all the quality banchan. The kimchi is top notch – I’ve left with a whole container of it to enjoy at home. And, round out the meal in refreshing satisfaction with their SooJungGwa, a traditional Korean chilled cinnamon and ginger punch.”

3) Five Spice Lemongrass Tofu Banh Mi from Vu Noodles. “Vu Noodles has become one of my go-to lunch spots because of their banh mi. From the crunch of the toasted hoagie roll to the flavors of the tofu to the refreshing bite of the pickled daikon & carrots, this banh mi hits the spot every time. I’ll usually also get it with all the spicy toppings – jalapenos, chili oil and dried blend red peppers for that extra kick, even on a summer day. Add an iced Vietnamese coffee and you’re in for a real treat!

4) Snack Mix from Ethos Wine & Tea. “Whenever I go to Ethos, whether I’m grabbing a happy hour glass of wine or hanging out at their monthly craft nights, their snack mix is always a constant part of my experience. The perfect blend of crunch and savory goodness with furikake and roasted chickpeas to supplement all the delicious wine and tea they have to offer. The snack mix has become one of my favorite things to munch on while hanging out at Ethos for any and all occasions.”

5) Kimbap and Spicy Braised Beef Back Ribs from Sussex Farm. “If you’ve ever had the chance to meet Jen and eat her food during her days at the farmers markets, you know how much thought and care goes into her delicious meals. Although she is no longer at the markets, she does do once in a while drops where you can pick up goodies directly from her farm. Her kimbap and spicy braised beef ribs are my favorites. Super fresh ingredients grown on her farm with flavors that always have me coming back for more. On top of that, Jen is an absolute delight so getting a chance to eat her food again but this time at her farm is truly a treat.”

11/10/2023

Five Finds on Friday: Lisa Richey

Today’s Five Finds on Friday come from Lisa Richey, the very supportive ex-wife of Charlottesville’s most prolific restaurateur Will Richey. Lisa suggested Will provide her background:

“I have shared many of the greatest meals of my life with Lisa. We both share whatever that thing is that makes a person seek out great, authentic, well made cuisines. We have traveled extensively together, and we started a farm together. It was not to produce food alone, it was to produce food that was interesting to us in ways that we connected with. We still reach out to each other for travel tips knowing that the first priority when traveling for each of us is researching the best places to eat. Lisa’s recommendations are always at the top of my list.”

Lisa Richey’s picks:

1) Gulf Coast Salad as a Wrap from Revolutionary Soup (owned by Will Richey). “Look, I want to eat healthy, but eating a salad with a plastic fork is a bummer. The combo of shrimp, hard-boiled eggs and avocado makes this my healthy go-to lunch, and putting it all in a wrap makes it easier to eat at my desk. And yes, I do frequently order the Lisa Quesadilla. I’m a sucker for anything with goat cheese.”

2) Fried Chicken and Collards at The Whiskey Jar (owned by WIll Richey). “Sure, I love the BBQ Nachos, and The Jar Salad, but if I’m craving something from The Jar, it’s fried chicken with the honey jalapeno dipping sauce. The collards remind me of how we used to eat when we lived on the farm, but now I don’t have to actually harvest anything which somehow makes this recipe taste even better. I also adore the Creamed Spinach and Sweet Potato Dumplings. I also think The Jar is the best place for a business lunch with out-of-towners – you can get French or fusion in most cities, but the client who seems shocked at how small CHO is definitely needs the full Southern experience, sweet tea encouraged. (And yes, I am from NJ.)”

3) Dealer’s Choice at The Alley Light (founded and formerly owned by Will Richey). “I think this place has the best ambience of any restaurant in town. Robin and Chris continue to make The Alley Light shine, so much so that it’s hard to pick just one dish. However, I always start with the Anchovy Toast, as it is the perfect way to set your palate for everything that’s to come. Then I order whatever carpaccio is on the specials board, followed by something braised. Micah and team make magic at the bar. Their attention to detail, down to the glassware, is evident and joyful. I usually request some sort of high ball with a gin base, and I love how the bar incorporates local fruits and herbs.”

4)  Wine List at Cafe Frank (owned by Will Richey). “The great irony that Will’s first sit-down restaurant (The Jar) sells basically no wine wasn’t lost on us. Cafe Frank is the bistro I always assumed he’d want to run. It’s a great spot to go for happy hour and order an assortment of snacks while splitting a bottle of wine with that friend you’ve been meaning to make plans with for months. Also, the Mushroom Fritters go perfectly with a bottle of Burgundy.”

5) Classic Burger at Högwaller Brewing (owned by Will Richey). “I live right down the street from Högwaller, which may buy my future cardiologist a beach house someday. But until then, my idea of a perfect weekend day is a sauna at Rivanna River Company, followed by a Classic Burger and a Rives Street Lager. It’s just a burger, sure, but it’s the platonic form of a burger. And I love a beer that is both delicious but also low enough ABV that I don’t need to take a nap later. Mark makes awesome beer, and it has been a blast checking out the new taps each Thursday and chitchatting with folks around the firepit.”

“Wait, Other People Are Crazy Enough to Own Restaurants?!”

1) Banh Mi at Vu Noodles. “This may be the official sandwich of Apex Clean Energy employees. This is the only tofu I have ever craved and I probably eat this once a week.”

2) Clam Pizza at Lampo. “If I had a bat signal, it would be checking Instagram to see if this pizza is on special. When I was little, my grandfather made me linguine with clams for any special occasion, so you could say this flavor profile is my Ratatouille moment. Tavola’s linguini con vongole also makes me feel like I’m back home.”

3) Omakase at Ten. “Let the chef choose the fish, and feel like you’ve been transported out of Charlottesville to a city large enough to have a subway. Don’t sleep on the seaweed salad. I’m also a fan of the harami miso.”

4) Lobster Roll (Connecticut Style) at Public Fish & Oyster. “My oldest friend in town and I frequent this happy hour, splitting a lobster roll and a dozen oysters. She gets a Negroni and I go with a Negroni Sbagliato. The french fries that come with the lobster roll are ideal with the oysters, especially if you get a side of horseradish.”

5) Shaved Salad at Oakhart Social. “Few salads are craveable. This one clears that hurdle easily, and it’s usually the reason I end up at Oakhart. Also, their tuna crudo is fantastic.”