Kids have four preferred main food groups: fried stuff, creamy stuff, cheesy stuff, and condiments. And while we’ll admit that we’re into all of that too, we expect a little…elevation. In this issue, we’re focusing on grown-up versions of childhood staples, from PB&J to ranch dressing. Dig in (food play encouraged).
By Nathan Alderman, Shea Gibbs, Brian D. Hamilton, and Caite Hamilton
Totcho typical nachos
Mark Weber, who founded Firefly Restaurant and Game Room, loved tater tots in any form. One of his original creations was the tater tot nachos—aka tater totchos. They’re still the top appetizer on Firefly’s menu.
In its canonical version, tater totchos (fried in 100 percent non-GMO sunflower oil) are drizzled with a house cheese sauce and topped with black beans, pico de gallo, avocado, and sour cream. But don’t hesitate to ask for extras: A bit of bacon or pulled chicken on top will make this into a full meal. They’ll also make a vegan version if you like, dropping the sour cream and subbing in a housemade cashew cheese sauce.
Bonus: Totchos are also available at Firefly’s food truck, Firefly on the Fly.—BDH
Pies in our eyes
The same things that make pizza an ideal kid food—handheld, easily shareable, just the right amount of messy—make it perfect food for the kind of sociable dining championed by Oakhart Social. The West Main Street restaurant’s menu may change with the seasons (chicken fried octopus sando, we hardly knew ye) but pizzas have been a staple of this eclectic joint’s small and not-so-small plates for years now.
Past topping experiments—like marinated mushroom and black kale with garlic potato cream sauce, or chili lime roast shrimp with goat cheese—may have rotated off the menu, but Oakhart Social has plenty of standbys to keep its blazing-hot wood-fired oven busy.
These days, diners can choose from the classics: tomato-and-basil-topped Margherita, pepperoni, sausage, or the eternal kid staple that is plain cheese. But even here, Oakhart’s snuck in a few surprises, like the pickled jalapeños adding heat to the sausage pie, or the pistachio pesto and roasted garlic that give complex flavors to good old pepperoni. No wonder Oakhart’s pies consistently earn rave reviews from diners on Yelp, who particularly praise the crispy, puffy, oven-charred crust.
And if you—or, somewhat less probably, your kids—want to wander off the beaten path, Oakhart’s happy to oblige with a seasonal selection or two. As we type this, that means summer squash pizza with Appalachian cheese.—NA
…Since sliced bread
When Totally Baked launched in spring of 2020, owner Sarah Taflan offered up a menu of both classic cupcakes (chocolate chocolate, red velvet) and sinfuls (vanilla bourbon, margarita). But it’s the peanut butter and jelly version that has us reminiscing about snacktime. In Taflan’s creation, vanilla cake is filled with strawberry or raspberry jelly, then topped with silky peanut butter buttercream. More, please!—CH
On the sauce
The one food that bridges the gap between kid-friendly and adult staple? Ranch dressing. Pour it on everything—pizza, tacos, and maybe even salad (though that seems like kind of an afterthought?). Toss the Hidden Valley (for shame!), and turn your attention to three local housemade options. You’re a grownup, for goodness sake.
Buttermilk chive ranch at The Local
The best thing about ranch? It fits in on menus from diners to elevated Southern comfort. In Belmont, The Local drizzles it over its River Oak Farms chicken dish to balance the kick of the housemade hot sauce, but as with most ranch, you can always ask for an extra side of it for dipping.
Beer ranch at Champion Ice House
When Champion Brewery’s Hunter Smith and BBQ Exchange’s Craig Hartman teamed up to create Champion Ice House in Gordonsville, we expected great things, but we couldn’t have dreamed up the liquid gold that is beer ranch. Slather it on Ice House wings, Parmesan fries, or use it as a creamy addition to a bratwurst sando.
Salad sauce at Dr. Ho’s Humble Pie
The pies may be humble, but the folks at the North Garden ’za spot should get extra bragging rights for their ranch Salad Sauce. Bottled and sold exclusively at the restaurant, it blends mayo, buttermilk, Romano cheese, and a special spice blend.—CH
The in-between
For nearly 20 years, we’ve been counting on Feast! to serve us upgraded classics utilizing local ingredients. The Main Street
Market shop’s version of ham and cheese—the rosemary ham and goat cheese panini—combines creamy Caromont Farm goat cheese with Virginia Chutney Co. spicy plum chutney and fresh arugula, all on grilled focaccia. And we can’t forget the rosemary ham. Artisan made in Emilia-Romagna, Italy, it’s boiled with black pepper, rosemary, garlic, and herbs.—CH
Don’t monkey with the dog
There are some things that just can’t be elevated (and why would you want to try?). Enter the foot-long. Jak ’n Jil’s “famous” (as it says on the sign) version is best with the restaurant’s “always homemade” chili, a side of fries, and a shake. Open since 1944, the High Street spot hasn’t changed since we were kids.—CH
A great sandwich? Baloney!
In 2017, Bon Appetit magazine named Charlottesville native Mason Hereford’s New Orleans sandwich shop, Turkey and the Wolf, its best new restaurant of the year—and heaped praise on its fried bologna sandwich. Closer to home, Holly’s Diner couldn’t resist paying homage.
Holly’s version starts with two quarter-inch slices of Boar’s Head bologna, fried crispy on a griddle (with a weight to keep the edges from curling up). Those two discs of tasty lunchmeat surround a fried egg topped with melted Havarti cheese, with more cheese and fried onion straws on top, all nestled between two slices of Texas toast spread with mayo and Dijon mustard.
No wonder Holly’s goes through an estimated 40 sandwiches—and up to 25 pounds of bologna—every week.—NA
Cool for kids
Our favorite spots for a tasty meal or a good beer—with little ones in tow
Charlottesville overflows with great spots for a grown-up night out. But you don’t have to give up your social life just because you have kids. Parents with small children simply face a different calculus: Is there something on the menu the kids will eat? And even more importantly, something to keep them occupied so you can actually relax and enjoy your meal?
We crowd-sourced this question and added our own favorites to give you a look at the best family-friendly places around town (because babysitters are expensive!).
Beer Run No kids’ menu per se, and yes, the beer is off limits. But locals prize the Carlton Road spot’s relaxed vibe, and outdoor picnic tables mean the wee ones have a little room to roam while you’re waiting for the food. Plus, the nachos are some of the best in town and the breakfast tacos are fun for all ages.
Bodo’s One preschooler we know sticks with butter on plain whole wheat, while another has been known to order liverwurst and onion. Either way, low prices, kid-friendly options, and seat-yourself dining rooms make this Charlottesville favorite a no-brainer for kids.
Brazos Tacos Texas-style tacos, a sneaky-good chicken and tortilla soup, and chips with queso and guacamole are best enjoyed on a sunny day at picnic tables on the outdoor patio. Grown-ups can finish off their margaritas and Tecates while their younger relations explore the porch swings and book installation across the grass at this IX Art Park spot.
Firefly This lively restaurant/bar/arcade is perennially popular with families. Check out Firefly’s abundant games—from foosball to Donkey Kong—and its local food. Chase your chicken tenders and tater tots with a Shirley Temple from the dedicated kids’ drink menu.
Kardinal Hall Open-air tables with flexible seating, plus bocce and ping pong, add up to a place where the whole family can stretch out and relax. The kids’ menu has the usual grilled cheese/chicken nuggets/hot dogs, plus organic carrot sticks and ranch dressing for the pint-sized vegetarian in your life.
Roots Natural Kitchen Even picky eaters like food in bowls. And what’s not to like? The West Main Street spot combines delicious with healthy. Grab an entrée for yourself, and a bowl for your kid (under 12) is free.
The Nook This Downtown Mall stalwart won’t be setting any speedy-service records, but the staff is nice to kids and, aside from the basic children’s menu, it has what must be the longest dedicated mac-and-cheese menu in town. Diner staples like the BLT on toast are a step up in quality from standard greasy-spoon fare, and the outdoor patio is a short hop from the Virginia Discovery Museum carousel and the free speech chalkboard while you’re waiting for your meals to arrive.
Three Notch’d, Champion, and Random Row Who says breweries are just for beer drinkers? All three of these local craft taprooms have dedicated fans on the parent scene. Champion’s comfort food-oriented menu has pretzels and cheese dip and a hella-good hot dog, while Three Notch’d, with its kid-zone play area, serves an $8 children’s meal that includes an entrée, a side, and a scoop of Virginia-made Homestead Creamery ice cream. Random Row serves pizzas from the RVA’s Billy Pie, and has board games and a chalkboard coloring wall.