Tag: Best of C-VILLE

C-VILLE Weekly’s Best of C-VILLE content is Charlottesville’s premier reader-generated rating for the best the community has to offer. It is published annually in September.

Categories
Best of C-VILLE Food & Drink

Best kebobs 2013: Sticks Kebob Shop

Photo: Aaron Cohen

Sticks Kebob Shop

917 Preston Ave.
295-5262
1820 Abbey Rd.
295-5212
stickskebobshop.com

Runner-up:
Ariana Grill Kabob House
909 W. Main St.
872-9906
arianakabob.com

The Turkish words shish kabob literally mean “skewer” and “roast meat.” You can’t get much simpler than that, but, there’s hardly anything simple about readers’ love of kebobs. In fact, it’s so complex that we added this entirely new category this year. Sticks Kebob Shop, with its customizable platter, sandwich, and salad menu, takes first place, while Ariana comes in second. The West Main Street restaurant specializes in authentic Afghan cuisine—plus, it delivers!

Categories
Best of C-VILLE Retail

Best place to buy a car 2013: Brown Automotive

Photo: Aaron Cohen

Brown Automotive

1357 Richmond Rd.
817-3380
brownautos.com

Runner-up:
Carmax
1448 Richmond Rd.
295-6351
carmax.com

The very first automobile race in the United States was held in Chicago in 1895, with Frank Duryea winning with the average speed of 71.5mph. All of the cars on offer at Brown Automotive reach that speed (and higher!), but the thrill of finding a new ride is second only to speeding down the open road in it. (Safety first though, of course!) And, for all that wear and tear acquired while doing your best Frank Duryea impression, Brown offers free inspections for life with any purchase. At Carmax, browse new and used cars online before even heading onto the lot.

Categories
Best of C-VILLE Services

Best lawn and garden care 2013: Snow’s Garden Center

Snow’s Garden Center

1875 Avon St.
295-2159
snowsknows.com

Runner-up:
Nigel Wood Tree Service
960-9575
nigelwoodtreeservice.com

There are approximately 50 million acres of grass in the U.S. and readers have no doubt Snow’s Garden Center could trim every last blade. And then some. The 101-year-old company cuts ahead of the competition with residential and commercial services, tree and shrub care, disease control, and seasonal cleanup. In second place, Nigel Wood Tree Service, a relatively newer company by comparison, chops the competition by focusing on, you guessed it, trees: removal, cabling, pruning, chipping, stump grinding, log splitting, lightning protection, and storm damage.

Categories
Best of C-VILLE Retail

Best place for a man’s suit: JoS. A. Bank

Photo: Aaron Cohen

JoS. A. Bank

Barracks Road Shopping Center
244-0015
josbank.com

Runner-up:
Men’s Wearhouse
Charlottesville Fashion Square Mall
29th Place
973-8094
menswearhouse.com

Fitting a suit is a fine science. Shoulder width, chest size, and arm length have to perfectly sync up to ensure that you look less like George Costanza and more like George Clooney when you walk out of the store. Our readers turn to JoS. A. Bank, which has been outfitting wannabe dapper gents for 108 years. At Men’s Wearhouse, get a quality suit for a steal. (Think George Clooney in Oceans 11. Get it? Steal?)

Categories
Best of C-VILLE Services

Best psychologist/counselor 2013: Susan Cunningham

Susan Cunningham

3101 Fontaine Ave. Ext.
989-4620
newcitycounseling.com

Runner-up:
David Mika
535 Westfield Rd.
978-2899

Here’s one of life’s cruel ironies: If you have a fear of words, you have what’s called hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia. When you’re a naturally anxious person, this kind of fact can really bog you down, which is why readers turn to Susan Cunningham, who specializes in treating anxiety, grief, depression, and women and couples with relationship struggles. Psychiatrist David Mika has been practicing for 30 years and aids in the evaluation, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental and emotional disorders.

Categories
Best of C-VILLE Food & Drink

Best pizza 2013: Christian’s Pizza

Christian's Pizza, which has four locations in the Charlottesville area, is venturing down I-64 to open a branch in Richmond. Photo: Jason Lappa

Christian’s Pizza

118 W. Main St.
977-9688
christianspizza.com

Runner-up:
Dr. Ho’s Humble Pie
3586 Monacan Trail Rd.
245-0000
doctorhoshumblepie.com

In a memorable scene from a season three episode of “Breaking Bad,” Bryan Cranston’s character throws a pizza on top of his garage, gets in his car, and drives away. In interviews with Cranston, he explains how that epic moment came together in one take and, when they went back to shoot the same scene again, he could never recreate it. That sort of magical moment happens for customers of Christian’s Pizza every visit—and luckily, the pie spot can recreate it over and over. As Dr. Ho’s expands its footprint this month, expect some crispy competition from Nelson.

See more:

Five Finds on Friday: Michael McCarthy of Dr. Ho’s

Categories
Best of C-VILLE Services

Best shoe repair service 2013: Ace Shoe Repair

Ace Shoe Repair

230 Zan Rd.
973-9011

Runner-up:
Bob’s Leather & Shoe Repair
1718 Hydraulic Rd.
978-2983
bobsshoerepair.com

When the Downtown Mall’s bricks were replaced four years ago, it was in no small part due to complaints from high heel-loving ladies—walking Downtown was a minefield of holes ready to swallow pumps. We’d imagine around that time, Ace Shoe Repair was booming with business. The Seminole Square cobbler must have proven itself; readers still think it’s the No. 1 place to go to save their soles. Bob’s Leather & Shoe Repair, which actually repairs even more than that (the Hydraulic Road biz does alterations and tailoring too) steps into second place.

Categories
Best of C-VILLE Services

Best computer repair place 2013: Quick Fix Computers

Quick Fix Computers

660 Hunters Pl.
220-5433
quickfixgeek.com

Runner-up:
NWG Solutions
913 E. Market St.
979-0555
nwgsolutions.com

Widely considered the world’s first computer programmer, Ada Lovelace (born in 1815) removed dead bugs from Charles Babbage’s analytical engine and her notes on the machine include the first processing algorithm. These days, “debugging” is a different process entirely, one that the folks at Quick Fix Computers know how to navigate with aplomb, according to readers. In second place, NWG Solutions, a Microsoft and Dell preferred partner.

Categories
Best of C-VILLE Food & Drink

Best sushi 2013: Ten

Photo: Aaron Cohen

Ten

120 E. Main St.
295-6691
ten-sushi.com

Runner-up:
Now & Zen
202 Second St. NW
971-1177

About 80 percent of the world’s bluefin tuna catch is used for sushi—and we’re not surprised. You’ll find many varieties of it on the menu at Ten. Maguro, Chu Toro, or Oh Toro are just three of the available cuts—and three of the reasons the second-floor Downtown Mall restaurant makes it to No. 1 again this year. In second place, bite-sized sushi spot Now & Zen, across from McGuffey Art Center, provides a fishtastic lunch option.

See more:

Five Finds on Friday: Pei Chang of TEN Sushi

Categories
Best of C-VILLE Recreation & Fitness

Best hiking trail 2013: Humpback Rock

Photo: Jack Looney

Humpback Rock

Runner-up:
Monticello Trail

“Humpback” is a bit of a misnomer, because hiking actually exercises almost all parts of your body—legs, knees, ankles, arms, hips, butt, abs, shoulders, and neck —instead of leaving you with a, well, humped back. Most folks can climb the four-mile trail in two and a half hours, which is perfect because that’s just what you need to reap the maximum benefits. At the Saunders-Monticello Trail, you can hike or bike the beautiful spot.