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Since Charlottesville is a college town, most restaurants are very casual. You will need reservations for popular fine-dining options like the C&O, and business casual is more appropriate for these upscale venues.
You may have to wait in line at this locally owned establishment (which has three locations), especially at breakfast, but locals swear these are the best bagels south of the Big Apple. In true New York style, bagels are boiled before being baked, and all 10 varieties are true water bagels made with no fats or preservatives. Lunchtime is also popular, and the low prices appeal to both students and visitors. There are also locations at 505 Preston Avenue and 1609 University Avenue.
Ever eaten gator bites or buffalo crawfish? Be sure and try them at Boudreaux's. What started as a project in business marketing for a pair of Virginia Tech students is now an established part of Blacksburg's downtown. The canopied rooftop is a particularly relaxing place to enjoy jambalaya or Cajun catfish, and they serve brunch on both Saturday and Sunday. Live bands often perform in the evening.
High on a hill with a spectacular sunset view, this lively restaurant has French, Italian, Spanish, and Brazilian dishes. Sit in the Olinda Room with its wall of windows. Try the porco reacheado (pork tenderloin stuffed with spinach and feta cheese) or the moqueca mineira (shrimp, clams, and whitefish in a Brazilian sauce). Brazilian radio often accompanies the meal. If you love chicken, try the sautéed version with pineapple and papaya. Carlos is also open for lunch on weekdays.
This lively downtown eatery was voted "Best Live Music Venue" in a reader's poll in a local publication and is also lauded for its great sandwiches and burgers. The dinner menu features steaks, pasta, and seafood with Southern sides like mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables. The restaurant is housed in the former Strand Theater in the historic district, and hosts live bands from rockabilly and country to bluegrass and jazz on Friday and Saturday nights.
It may look like a shack, but this red clapboard restaurant 12 miles west of Charlottesville has been serving up what is renowned as some of Virginia's best pizza since 1977. Choose from about three-dozen toppings, including seasonal items such as snow peas and asparagus spears. Matching the outside, the interior is rustic, with portraits of the owners' forebears and one wall covered with business cards from around the world. On weekends, takeout must be ordered hours in advance.
Get a bird's-eye view of Harrisonburg from the rooftop dining area at Dave's, an award-winning and family-owned local favorite. Like many casual Greek eateries, the menu runs from American classics like burgers and pizzas, to Greek and Italian fare like souvlaki, caprese salad, and linguine. But vegetarians need not worry as veggie pitas and burgers round out the menu.
Located on the historic riverfront, Depot Grille offers classic American favorites including steaks, pasta, chicken, barbequed pork ribs, and lump crab cakes. An extensive kids' menu and the sound of passing trains make this a good choice for families.
The enormous growth in seating since 1980, from 10 to 250, testifies to the popularity of this establishment in downtown Salem, as does its continual title as "best local restaurant" in an annual poll. Sports memorabilia line the walls of the attractive redbrick building near Roanoke College, and sporting events are likely to be on the many TVs near the bar. The menu runs from hamburgers to steak to seafood to pizza. If you have a big appetite, try a fully loaded calzone, which flops off the sides of your plate.
A homey restaurant with plenty of booths, Rowe's has been operated by the same family since 1947, and still maintains a rock-solid reputation for inexpensive and delicious Southern meals. The fried chicken—skillet-cooked to order—is a standout. A local breakfast favorite is oven-hot biscuits topped with gravy (your choice of sausage, tenderloin, or creamy chipped beef). For dessert, try the mince pie in fall, or the rhubarb cobbler in summer.
A gathering place and watering hole near the Virginia Tech campus, this storefront restaurant serves eclectic, inexpensive dishes. Try the Greek spaghetti with sautéed feta, garlic, and olives, or the "Mac Daddy": a single large meatball in marinara sauce and Parmesan. They also offer an extensive list of domestic and imported beers, and local bands perform here often. You can also purchase their craft beers to take home.
The original building, circa 1836, served as a public library and debating hall before becoming a retail space. In the Victorian era it was an ice cream parlor, and today it houses a full-service restaurant with both indoor and alfresco dining. Wood booths line the walls of the plant-filled room; the pressed-metal ceiling is original. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, and the menu features traditional salads, burgers and sandwiches, and steaks and pasta.
Homemade pasta—about 20 different kinds—fills the menu in this cheery, yellow-stucco restaurant in the city's Old Town. Owners Franco and Marcella Stocco and their son Riccardo serve up their native northern Italian cuisine, including lobster pansotti (lobster-filled ravioli in a sauce of white wine and lemon). Try the Trio Violino, an antipasto platter with duck breast prosciutto, homemade venison bresaola, and duck salami with a raspberry vinaigrette. A strolling violinist entertains diners on weekends. The outdoor patio, enclosed by potted plants, is a quiet spot in the midst of street bustle.
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