Category: Food & Drink

l’étoile

817 W. Main St.
979-7957
letoilrestaurant.com

Runner-up:
Petit Pois
201 Main St.
979-7647
petitpoisrestaurant.com

And we thought there were too many dining options in Charlottesville! Turns out, there are even more in Paris, with over 5,000 restaurants currently in operation. Locally, our taste of the City of Love doesn’t come better than at l’étoile, where owner Mark Gresge serves up la cuisine Française with a Southern twist. At Petit Pois, get a tuna niçoise with a view. The tiny restaurant is located at Central Place on the Downtown Mall—perfect for people watching.

See more:

Star of the show: Now 20, l’étoile keeps shining

Five Finds on Friday: Ian Redshaw of L’Etoile

Milan Indian Cuisine

1817 Emmet St. N
984-2828
milan-indian-cuisine.com

Runner-up:
Himalayan Fusion
520 E. Main St.
293-3120
himalayanfusion.com

Readers know Milan has the best curry in town, but as it turns out, everything else on the restaurant’s menu is pretty darn tasty too. The Emmet Street spot serves up tandoori, seafood, and vegetarian options. At Himalayan Fusion on the Downtown Mall, get a taste of the menu with the lunch buffet.

See more:

Best Buffet: Milan Indian Cuisine

Best curry 2013: Milan Indian Cuisine

Milan Indian Cuisine

1817 Emmet St. N
984-2828
milan-indian-cuisine.com

Runner-up:
Wood Grill Buffet
576 Branchlands Blvd.
975-5613
woodgrillbuffet.com

In 2010, the Art of Living Foundation in Ahmedabad, India, created the largest buffet in history, with 5,612 different dishes. Your pick for best buffet doesn’t have quite that many options, but who needs them anyway? Options are for people who can’t make up their mind and readers clearly can. They voted Milan the best buffet again this year, just ahead of 29N’s Wood Grill, which gives you a little taste of everything.

See more:

Best Indian 2013: Milan Indian Cuisine

Best curry 2013: Milan Indian Cuisine

Milan Indian Cuisine

1817 Emmet St. N
984-2828
milan-indian-cuisine.com

Runner-up:
Just Curry
425 E. Main St.
970-2001
justcurryon.com

There are currently at least 12,000 restaurants in the U.K. serving curry. There are far fewer in Charlottesville, but readers are glad not to have such tough decisions to make. Milan offers a spicy menu of curry options (tell the waiter you want it “Indian hot” and see if you can take the heat), while Just Curry returned to the Downtown Mall this spring after a few years away. Owner Alex George serves up six varieties in mini, medium, or large with Indo-Carribbean sides like peas and rice or plantains.

See more:

Best Buffet 2013: Milan Indian Cuisine

Best Indian 2013: Milan Indian Cuisine

Basil Mediterranean Bistro

109 14th St.
977-5700
basilmedbistro.com

Runner-up:
College Inn
1511 University Ave.
977-2710
thecollegeinn.com

The idea of delivery—a.k.a. dinnertime for lazy people—is already a brilliant one. Add to that concept restaurant-quality food brought straight to your door and it’s almost too good to be true. That’s what readers get with Basil Mediterranean Bistro: dishes like the Pear & Cheese (beggar’s purses, cremini mushrooms, walnuts, pears, and basil with a gorgonzola cream sauce) or the Chicken Shwarma (chicken, onions, Romaine lettuce, Roma tomatoes, and tsatziki sauce in a pita) can be at your house faster than you can say “Let’s eat.” And here’s more good news: If you’re drooling, you’re already at home. At College Inn, order anything from burgers to souvlaki to a chef salad.

Five Guys

321 E. Main St.
293-2847
Barracks Road Shopping Center
975-4897
201 Connor Dr.
963-4897
fiveguys.com

Runner-up:
Citizen Burger Bar
212 E. Main St.
979-9944
citizenburgerbar.com

In 1998, Burger King went fry-to-fry against McDonald’s to see who served the best spuds. The debate was never truly settled (though Burger King did end up giving away 15 million orders of fries in one day as part of an elaborate marketing campaign), but it doesn’t matter. Neither holds a candle to our local options. In first place, Five Guys, with regular or Cajun flavors. In second place, newcomer Citizen, where the sweet potato frites make for a perfect accompaniment to the joint’s top-notch burger options.

See more:

Best Burger 2013: Citizen Burger Bar

Best New Restaurant 2013: Citizen Burger Bar

Upstanding Citizen: The Downtown Mall burger bar takes the win with a good conscience

Beer Run

156 Carlton Rd. #203
984-2337
beerrun.com

Runner-up:
Fellini’s #9
200 Market St.
979-4279
fellinis9.com

Here’s a good excuse to indulge in a Bloody Mary (as if you needed one): Drinking the red cocktail might have positive health effects, given that the drink contains lycopene, an antioxidant found in tomatoes that allegedly reduces the risk of cancer and the damaging effects of osteoporosis, diabetes, and infertility in men. Grab an extra spicy version at Beer Run or try a tall one at Fellini’s, where you can choose from a veritable buffet of accoutrements.

Wayside Fried Chicken

2203 Jefferson Park Ave.
977-5000
waysidechicken.com

Runner-up:
Michie Tavern
683 Thomas Jefferson Pkwy.
977-1234
michietavern.com

When it was first eaten, fried chicken was a sign of wealth. If that’s true, we should consider Charlottesville pretty wealthy, since it has so many fried chicken spots. Wayside lands at the top of the pile with more than 40 years in business and the crispiest skin around. In second place, Michie Tavern, which won C-VILLE’s own fried chicken contest last summer.

Orzo Kitchen & Wine Bar

416 W. Main St.
975-6796
orzokitchen.com

Runner-up:
Aromas Cafe
Barracks Road Shopping Center
244-2486
aromascafecville.com

Mediterranean food is enthusiastic about ingredients de la mer, and why shouldn’t it be? The Mediterranean Sea takes over an area of 965,000 miles—that’s a lot of room for inspiration! Orzo, in the Main Street Market, takes the top spot again this year, just ahead of Aromas Café, where owner Hassan Kaisoum serves up traditional dishes from his native Morocco.

See more:

Angelo Vangelopoulos’ Rising Star pick: Tommy Lasley of Orzo Kitchen & Wine Bar

Bodo’s Bagels

505 Preston Ave.
293-5224
1609 University Ave.
293-6021
1418 Emmet St. N
977-9598
bodosbagels.com

Runner-up:
Hamiltons’ at First & Main
101 W. Main St.
295-6649
hamiltonsrestaurant.com

The thing about people in power is that they’re often in a hurry—off to a meeting or to get their shoes shined (we’re guessing). It makes sense, then, that our more powerful readers would appreciate a fast, easy lunch option like Bodo’s. For those of you looking to exert your power over a sit-down meal, Hamiltons’ provides an upscale dining option with a menu that includes crab cakes, hearty salads, and a reliable vegetarian blue plate special.

See more:

Best Sandwich Spot 2013: Bodo’s Bagels

Best hangover menu 2013: Bodo’s Bagels

Craig Hartman’s Rising Star pick: Curtis Shaver of Hamiltons’ at First & Main