Otto Turkish Street Food – C-VILLE Weekly

Take us out

In an ongoing effort to support local dining establishments during the pandemic, our writers have been enjoying a variety of takeout meals from some of their favorite restaurants. Contribute to this ongoing series by sending your own delicious experiences to living@c-ville.com.

Tonic
One of my favorite pre-COVID pastimes was seeking out the latest in local cuisine. While I’ve made an effort to support a variety of area businesses and eateries during the past several months, I’ve primarily frequented my favorite spots.

Enter Tonic, a new-to-me restaurant that has reinstated the thrill of discovery into my quarantine routine. Opened in August, Tonic has pandemic dining down pat. It offers socially distanced dining in a spacious outdoor seating area complete with a full bar and a seamless takeout option. The staff is helpful and friendly, and the hand-written specials menu adds a personal touch. The catfish features lightly battered filets paired with a unique huckleberry aioli—it’s easily one of the best dishes I’ve had in Charlottesville (so good, I ordered it twice!). Another highlight is the pickled shrimp Johnny cake, which is a Southern food trifecta of cornbread cake, tangy shrimp, and aioli. A trip to Tonic is not complete without the restaurant’s namesake: Try the signature house cocktail composed of Vitae Spirits’ gin and housemade tonic. —Desiré Moses

Guajiros Miami Eatery
I once lived in Miami, and for years I’ve missed the Cuban food and coffee that was woven into the culture. Guajiros is here to fill that void. Definitely the best Cuban sandwich in town, but don’t stop there. Owned by brothers from Miami, Guajiros’ menu has all of the things I miss: café con leche (dark-roasted sweet coffee), pastelitos (pastries with guava paste), ham croquetas, plantain chips, and a full range of sandwiches. Delicioso! —Paul Ting

Otto Turkish Street Food
If you’re craving fast casual but want to eat local, then Otto Turkish Street Food is the place to hit. Think Cava/Chipotle style, but with kebab. You’ll find bowls, wraps, and sandwiches, along with excellent sides. I opted for a bowl with chicken doner, and they did not skimp on the protein—my eyes widened at the plentiful scoops that went into my bowl. The doner kebab is cooked on a vertical rotisserie, then sliced into flavorful thin shavings. (Vegetarians will be pleased to know there’s also falafel.) Toppings include Mediterranean standards like hummus, cabbage, cucumbers, and greens, and more unusual options such as fried eggplant, beet salad, and celery labneh dip. I highly recommend the fried eggplant, and I was impressed with the celery dip, and wish I had asked for a second scoop. I found the tzatziki and arabesk hot sauce to be an ideal combination of mild and spicy.

I also enjoyed a side of the rosemary fries, which complemented the unique Turkish flavors of my bowl. The plentiful toppings and protein make this a new favorite in my rotation of fast-casual weeknight dinners. —Madison McNamee

Café Frank
Will Richey and Jose De Brito have teamed up again at Café Frank. Chef De Brito earned a James Beard award nomination during the pair’s previous partnership at The Alley Light, so expectations are high.

Prior to a full opening, the focus was on to-go entrées of classic, time-consuming French recipes such as choucroute, paella, and cassoulet. The paella was a perfectly executed dish of chicken, shrimp, mussels, and well-spiced rice. It has me eager to try the other options. —Paul Ting

Vision BBQ
There’s certainly no shortage of barbecue joints in the Charlottesville area, but Vision proves there’s still something to be said for doing things the good ol’ fashioned way—no chemical starters, no gas, no electric.

I sampled Vision’s specialty sandwich, The Hot Mess, as well as the standard for any quality BBQ spot, the pulled-pork platter. The pulled pork was slightly fatty, but overall not too dry, and it was complemented by tangy North Carolina vinegar sauce. The Hot Mess was a truly glorious experience. Though the spongy sub roll left something to be desired, the flavorful pimento, the light heat of the peppers, and the fall-apart brisket were a combination perfect enough to warrant a return visit. —Will Ham

Now serving Tex-Mex and Turkish

Tacos in the sky

As the season turns, the Downtown Mall is also seeing some turnover, starting with Champion Hospitality Group’s just-opened culinary venture, Passiflora, which offers Tex-Mex and Baja Mediterranean cuisine. While we are still mourning the loss of Commonwealth Restaurant & Skybar, it’s good to see new openings on the mall. “We put our hearts and soul into this restaurant, and we are excited to share it with Charlottesville,” says General Manager Elizabeth Hood.

Expect to find small plates for around $10, local brews, and plenty of vegetarian options. CHG hopes to finish renovations on the rooftop open-air bar in time to catch the last warm nights of the year: “You can absolutely expect to see live bands as part of the experience,” says Hood. Passiflora is open Thursday through Tuesday, and accepts reservations and walk-ins.

Nod to Nosh and hello wraps

Another transition took place on the outer rim of the Downtown Mall—Modern Nosh closed its doors in September. Known for kosher fare and loaded sandwiches, Modern Nosh was established with a mission to give back to the community. Over two years, the restaurant donated hundreds of pounds of bread and benefited non-profit organizations like The Women’s Initiative and the Companion Animal Fund.

“We are so sad to be leaving,” says owner Stephanie Levin. “With the large number of business people not coming back to work downtown, the loss of tourists, and the lack of outside seating, we just couldn’t find a way.” Levin hopes to reinvent Modern Nosh along with its vision of supporting the community sometime next year. “Numerous people have asked me to open a food truck—maybe so,” she says. “If I find a commercial kitchen, perhaps I will stick to catering.”

Otto Turkish Street Food is slated to open in the space on November 1, introducing yet more authentic flavors to Charlottesville. Owners Ali Sevindi and Haldun Turgay worked at The Clifton together for five years before officially partnering up. Now, they are excited to serve fast-casual fare like döner kebabs (seasoned meat stacked in the shape of an inverted cone that cooks slowly on a rotisserie) and homemade sauces at the corner of Southwest Second and Water streets. Specializing in wraps and bowls, Otto Turkish will have two rotisseries to choose from; one chicken and one a mix of beef and lamb.

Jughead’s a regular

Dairy Market’s food-and-beverage hall is quickly filling its 18 stalls, adding two more merchants this month. Moo Thru, a favorite ice cream stop for D.C. commuters, is expanding to a fourth location in the heart of Charlottesville. The family-operated creamery behind Moo Thru will supply dairy products to market vendors, including The Milkman’s Bar, the cocktail joint from Ten Course Hospitality. Milkman’s promises to be a ’50s-inspired soda-pop shop straight out of Archie comics—but with a lot more of the hard stuff.