Date
9/25/2011
Location
North end of downtown
622 North Main Street
What I ate
Wisconsin cheddar ale soup
Linguine diavolo
Who went
Kelly, Justin, Jackie, Courtney, Curtis, Sheree, Tim, Sara, Emily, Chris
Website
622 North
Thoughts
I've driven past this place dozens of times without giving serious thought to eating there. It's a pretty unassuming location - close enough to downtown to be lumped into that strip but far enough from the more highly-trafficked areas not to get that much notice. We were in the dining area, but the bar menu looked pretty good and, while it's a bit small, the bar seems like a good place to catch a game. That said, they should clearly mark where each section is. It was a little off-putting to walk into the bar expecting a fancy dining room.
They did a good job with the decor, going for the quaint-but-fancy bistro look. We were all a little surprised at the space, rather the lack thereof. Our waiter was attentive and nice; our drinks were out quickly and quickly refilled. Our food, however, took quite a while to make it to our table. They have an impressive roster of beers and wines as well as a fun menu to read. We spent a while discussing the range of options. The 3- and 4-course tasting menus look interesting, though they aren't much of a deal compared to those items individually.
Once it arrived, the food certainly did not disappoint. My soup was really good - I'm going to have to try to turn some homebrews into something similar. Courtney got a massive salad that probably could've passed for a meal itself. My pasta was one of the better ones I've had in a while. The sauce was great - multiple people can attest to that - and the vegetables with it were surprisingly good. The corn added a good texture and the peppers were tasty, too. With any luck, the rest of the group will weigh in on what they had - there was a good variety of soups, salads, entrees, and desserts all around the table.
Recap
Good - really tasty food, nice ambiance
Bad - slow service
Overall - The food was great and it's a nice place for a good dinner out as long as your group likes conversation. I'll definitely be back.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
Amelia's
Date
9/16/2011
Location
Christiansburg, just off of 460
1130 Cambria Street NE
What I ate
Chicken of Modena (with tomatoes and broccoli, balsamic vinegar sauce, over breaded eggplant)
Who went
Will, Jess, Seth, Rachel, Cassie, Jay, Laura, and Sara
Thoughts
First impressions are not always the best impressions. Amelia's is just off of 460, in a little residential area, and doesn't look that great from the outside. Not bad, just nothing special. Inside, it has all the hallmarks of "generic Italian place from home" right down to the little vending machines in the lobby. I'm fairly certain we were in the room reserved for parties, so I didn't really mind the folding tables. All of these things together were making me start to doubt the good reviews I had heard before making the trip.
The review were certainly vindicated shortly after we sat down. Our waitress was nice and willing to give honest opinions about her favorite dishes which was very helpful because a few of us were paralyzed by the paradox of choice. The menu had a bunch of interesting dishes (see: what I ate) to go along with a bunch of Italian standards. There was also a good selection of sub and pizza options. My chicken was really good, especially when I could pull together a bite of all of the elements of the dish. There was more breading than eggplant under the chicken, but eggplant wasn't the focus of the dish so I wasn't too disappointed. All in all, it was plenty of tasty food for a pretty good price.
Recap
Pros - Good food, friendly service
Cons - Nothing glaring unless you have restrictions on carbs or dairy, but then you shouldn't be getting Italian food...
Overall - Definitely worth the trip. I admittedly haven't explored many of the options around town, but I'm certain Amelia's is among the best Italian places near Blacksburg.
9/16/2011
Location
Christiansburg, just off of 460
1130 Cambria Street NE
What I ate
Chicken of Modena (with tomatoes and broccoli, balsamic vinegar sauce, over breaded eggplant)
Who went
Will, Jess, Seth, Rachel, Cassie, Jay, Laura, and Sara
Thoughts
First impressions are not always the best impressions. Amelia's is just off of 460, in a little residential area, and doesn't look that great from the outside. Not bad, just nothing special. Inside, it has all the hallmarks of "generic Italian place from home" right down to the little vending machines in the lobby. I'm fairly certain we were in the room reserved for parties, so I didn't really mind the folding tables. All of these things together were making me start to doubt the good reviews I had heard before making the trip.
The review were certainly vindicated shortly after we sat down. Our waitress was nice and willing to give honest opinions about her favorite dishes which was very helpful because a few of us were paralyzed by the paradox of choice. The menu had a bunch of interesting dishes (see: what I ate) to go along with a bunch of Italian standards. There was also a good selection of sub and pizza options. My chicken was really good, especially when I could pull together a bite of all of the elements of the dish. There was more breading than eggplant under the chicken, but eggplant wasn't the focus of the dish so I wasn't too disappointed. All in all, it was plenty of tasty food for a pretty good price.
Recap
Pros - Good food, friendly service
Cons - Nothing glaring unless you have restrictions on carbs or dairy, but then you shouldn't be getting Italian food...
Overall - Definitely worth the trip. I admittedly haven't explored many of the options around town, but I'm certain Amelia's is among the best Italian places near Blacksburg.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Al Dente
Date
7/12/2011
Location
925 2nd Street SE
Ix Building
What I ate
Asparagus cream soup
Carpaccio with arugula, parmigiano, olive oil, and truffle oil dressing
Parmigiano gnocchi with arugula and caramelized onions in a gorgonzola cream sauce
Braised leg of lamb with rosemary and figs
Who went
Kelly, Meghan, Matt, Patrick, and Miles
Website
Ristorante Al Dente
Thoughts
After missing out on three consecutive Restaurant Weeks, I finally made it back and it couldn't have been any better. I found a handful of friends who would be around or passing through and we went to place that was new to all of us. The Ix building was a little tough to find - it's easier to go by way of 6th Street - but it's a really nice spot. Al Dente is off in the corner and has a pretty garden with some trees screening your view of the construction on the other side. The restaurant itself is a nice, little space and everything, from the furniture to the silverware, is old; they make it work well. Our waiter did a great job of being around only a little bit and making light conversation when he was there, but letting us talk and eat uninterrupted most of the time. While we never wanted for a conversation topic, it did take a little while between some of the courses.
Most importantly, there was food! I need to mention how this menu is different from other RW menus (and it's not even Passover!) - not only did we get a bowl of soup in addition to the three courses, but they offer a traditional Italian dinner menu, giving us an appetizer, a pasta course, and a meat course. Sure, we missed out on dessert, but we had a lot of great food; I'll take that trade.
The big stalk of asparagus in our soup was a little cumbersome, but was a nice touch when I figured out how to cut it using my spoon and the side of the bowl. The soup itself was delicious and a really nice way to start the meal. While looking at the RW menus, it was tough to differentiate between things that looked delicious and things that looked really tasty. Then I stumbled across something that has been on my "to eat" list for a long time. The carpaccio did not disappoint! To say it tasted like the best rare roast beef I've ever had is an understatement. The bite of beef, parmigiano, and arugula with the dressing was just awesome. If I can find beef I trust around here, I'm going to try to recreate this dish. The gnocchi were quite good and, had this not been a fancy dinner, it's entirely possible I would have eaten the sauce with a spoon.
Yes, I usually talk about all of the food in one paragraph, but the lamb deserves some special attention. I've been craving figs ever since our fig trees at home started showing fruit. This hit the spot and then some. The lamb was tender, the figs were sweet and delicious, and the sauce was a great way to tie them together. There was something awesome on the side that I can only describe as a "squash hash". All in all, it was just a really tasty plate of food.
Recap
Pros - great food, relaxed but still refined atmosphere
Cons - a little too long between courses
Overall - This was such a good meal; I'd call it one of the best dinners I've had in a long time. I can't believe I hadn't found this place in 5 years of living in Charlottesville. If you live there or are just passing through, you should seek it out and have some outstanding Italian food.
P.S. Meghan had some interesting chicken-filled rice balls. They had a nice crispy texture but there wasn't that much taste to 'em. I told her I'd mention them, but you should look for her comment.
7/12/2011
Location
925 2nd Street SE
Ix Building
What I ate
Asparagus cream soup
Carpaccio with arugula, parmigiano, olive oil, and truffle oil dressing
Parmigiano gnocchi with arugula and caramelized onions in a gorgonzola cream sauce
Braised leg of lamb with rosemary and figs
Who went
Kelly, Meghan, Matt, Patrick, and Miles
Website
Ristorante Al Dente
Thoughts
After missing out on three consecutive Restaurant Weeks, I finally made it back and it couldn't have been any better. I found a handful of friends who would be around or passing through and we went to place that was new to all of us. The Ix building was a little tough to find - it's easier to go by way of 6th Street - but it's a really nice spot. Al Dente is off in the corner and has a pretty garden with some trees screening your view of the construction on the other side. The restaurant itself is a nice, little space and everything, from the furniture to the silverware, is old; they make it work well. Our waiter did a great job of being around only a little bit and making light conversation when he was there, but letting us talk and eat uninterrupted most of the time. While we never wanted for a conversation topic, it did take a little while between some of the courses.
Most importantly, there was food! I need to mention how this menu is different from other RW menus (and it's not even Passover!) - not only did we get a bowl of soup in addition to the three courses, but they offer a traditional Italian dinner menu, giving us an appetizer, a pasta course, and a meat course. Sure, we missed out on dessert, but we had a lot of great food; I'll take that trade.
The big stalk of asparagus in our soup was a little cumbersome, but was a nice touch when I figured out how to cut it using my spoon and the side of the bowl. The soup itself was delicious and a really nice way to start the meal. While looking at the RW menus, it was tough to differentiate between things that looked delicious and things that looked really tasty. Then I stumbled across something that has been on my "to eat" list for a long time. The carpaccio did not disappoint! To say it tasted like the best rare roast beef I've ever had is an understatement. The bite of beef, parmigiano, and arugula with the dressing was just awesome. If I can find beef I trust around here, I'm going to try to recreate this dish. The gnocchi were quite good and, had this not been a fancy dinner, it's entirely possible I would have eaten the sauce with a spoon.
Yes, I usually talk about all of the food in one paragraph, but the lamb deserves some special attention. I've been craving figs ever since our fig trees at home started showing fruit. This hit the spot and then some. The lamb was tender, the figs were sweet and delicious, and the sauce was a great way to tie them together. There was something awesome on the side that I can only describe as a "squash hash". All in all, it was just a really tasty plate of food.
Recap
Pros - great food, relaxed but still refined atmosphere
Cons - a little too long between courses
Overall - This was such a good meal; I'd call it one of the best dinners I've had in a long time. I can't believe I hadn't found this place in 5 years of living in Charlottesville. If you live there or are just passing through, you should seek it out and have some outstanding Italian food.
P.S. Meghan had some interesting chicken-filled rice balls. They had a nice crispy texture but there wasn't that much taste to 'em. I told her I'd mention them, but you should look for her comment.
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