Date
1/28/2012
Location
Just off Hydraulic, west of 29
2001 Commonwealth Drive
What I ate
Smoked salmon, asiago, and mini farfalle in a light grappa sauce
Chianti slow cooked beef stroganoff with wild mushrooms and au gratin potatoes
Affogato al caffe
Who went
Cassie, Kelsey, Alex, Cathryn, Bobby, Stu, Chris, Raj
Website
Brasserie Montiel
Thoughts
What a day! I'm going to try to keep this review to dinner, but I can't let the rest of the day go without mention. Awesome times heading to Blue Mountain Brewery for lunch, wandering Grounds, and drinks after dinner. Those of you in the "who went" section - you know how much fun the day was. The rest of you - I'll switch back into restaurant review mode from here on out.
Brasserie Montiel is far enough out of the main road to go unnoticed, but easy enough to find if you know where you're going. It's a small, cozy space that worked great for our group. We occupied our own little corner of the restaurant and it was exactly what we were looking for. Our waiter was a little out of sorts and gave us the weirdest receipt I've ever seen, but that didn't detract much from the experience. Looking at the non-Restaurant Week menu, it seems like it'd be a nice place to go for a fancy dinner if I'm ever back in Charlottesville for an extended period of time.
Now to our focus, the food. Far be it from the Jewish kid to turn down smoked salmon; I'm glad I gave into that stereotype. The sauce was the best part of the dish and I could've used a little more fish (surprise surprise), but it was a light, tasty way to start off the meal. The cheese melted into the grappa sauce and coated all of the pasta. I'm really happy that they gave me a spoon for the stroganoff. I thought I was keeping up my dignity for the first half of the dish, but I switched over to the spoon when I realized how much of that delicious sauce I was leaving behind. The beef was tender and the whole thing just made me feel good to be eating it. I'm still not entirely sure what constitutes a stroganoff, but I think that's more because of what I ate growing up rather than what I was served at this dinner. Whatever they call it, it was delicious. The only disappointing part of the meal was my dessert. Following the success of my birthday dinner, I was excited to try another version of affogoto (see Tre Piani). While the taste was similar, very little else was. The plate looked pretty and I liked the little pot the affogato was in, but it came to me already combined and starting to get soupy. I did snag a bite of Cassie's much-tastier dessert, but mine just fell flat. It wasn't enough to bring down the whole meal, but it was a disappointing finish.
Recap
Pros - tasty food, relaxed ambiance
Cons - confused wait staff
Overall - I had a great meal and recommend a visit, though be sure to choose your dessert carefully. I'm happy they joined in on Restaurant Week because I'm not sure I would've found them otherwise.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Tre Piani
Date
1/4/2012
Location
In Forrestal Village
120 Rockingham Row, Princeton, NJ
What I ate
Mushroom pizza
Tortellini in bolognese (half-portion)
Spicy grilled tuna steak with avocado risotto
Affogato
Who went
Mom, Dad, Dan, and Julie
Website
Tre Piani
Thoughts
Another birthday(ish) dinner! Again, there's a decent gap between the eating and writing dates, so don't expect the best details.
It amazes me to come home on breaks and find local places I've never visited. I lived 15 minutes from Tre Piani for the first 18+ years of my life but never ate there until recently. I don't think I've been to Forrestal Village since middle school. I was definitely missing out. We had a great dinner and I'll have to seriously consider going back next time I'm up at home. The space is very open with particularly tall ceilings and it's really well-lit without being garish. Our waiter was a little too doting, but had some great suggestions and was very knowledgeable about the food. This is the first place in a while where the maitre d' really made an impression on me. He made easy conversation, checked up on us during the meal, and even gave me a little background on my dessert.
The menu feels a little scattered, but it give you a ton of options. We took advantage of that flexibility and turned a pizza and a pasta into family-style appetizers. The pizza was great and the pasta was much tastier than anything I've tried to make myself. I'm not sure how they made that sauce, but I'm going to have to keep trying to figure it out. I got a taste of Dan's tuna tartare, which was excellent. It's probably for the best that I can't find good-quality tuna around here or I'd waste a lot of money trying to recreate that. Redundancy was certainly not a risk when it came time for the entree. My tuna steak was quite tasty and the spiciness actually came through. I'm not sure how, but the creamy avocado risotto was delicious by itself and an excellent complement to the tuna. As good as rest of the meal was, the dessert may have been the best part. I'm a sucker for anything interactive and dynamic, so pouring the hot espresso over the creamy, rich gelato satisfied both of those criteria. Plus, the whole thing looked quite elegant in the balloon glass. I just checked a thesaurus for synonyms for "delicious" and I still can't find a word good enough to describe the affogato. It seems like such a malleable dish and I'm going to try to recreate that as well as make some new iterations.
Recap
Pros - awesome food, great ambiance
Cons - probably too expensive to go regularly, but great for special occasions (note: that's what Tre Bar is for)
Overall - This was just a really good meal, one of the best I've had in a while. I thoroughly recommend a visit for fancy dinner. Take a look at the specials (most are at the bar) if you're looking for a great-but-not-that-expensive night out.
1/4/2012
Location
In Forrestal Village
120 Rockingham Row, Princeton, NJ
What I ate
Mushroom pizza
Tortellini in bolognese (half-portion)
Spicy grilled tuna steak with avocado risotto
Affogato
Who went
Mom, Dad, Dan, and Julie
Website
Tre Piani
Thoughts
Another birthday(ish) dinner! Again, there's a decent gap between the eating and writing dates, so don't expect the best details.
It amazes me to come home on breaks and find local places I've never visited. I lived 15 minutes from Tre Piani for the first 18+ years of my life but never ate there until recently. I don't think I've been to Forrestal Village since middle school. I was definitely missing out. We had a great dinner and I'll have to seriously consider going back next time I'm up at home. The space is very open with particularly tall ceilings and it's really well-lit without being garish. Our waiter was a little too doting, but had some great suggestions and was very knowledgeable about the food. This is the first place in a while where the maitre d' really made an impression on me. He made easy conversation, checked up on us during the meal, and even gave me a little background on my dessert.
The menu feels a little scattered, but it give you a ton of options. We took advantage of that flexibility and turned a pizza and a pasta into family-style appetizers. The pizza was great and the pasta was much tastier than anything I've tried to make myself. I'm not sure how they made that sauce, but I'm going to have to keep trying to figure it out. I got a taste of Dan's tuna tartare, which was excellent. It's probably for the best that I can't find good-quality tuna around here or I'd waste a lot of money trying to recreate that. Redundancy was certainly not a risk when it came time for the entree. My tuna steak was quite tasty and the spiciness actually came through. I'm not sure how, but the creamy avocado risotto was delicious by itself and an excellent complement to the tuna. As good as rest of the meal was, the dessert may have been the best part. I'm a sucker for anything interactive and dynamic, so pouring the hot espresso over the creamy, rich gelato satisfied both of those criteria. Plus, the whole thing looked quite elegant in the balloon glass. I just checked a thesaurus for synonyms for "delicious" and I still can't find a word good enough to describe the affogato. It seems like such a malleable dish and I'm going to try to recreate that as well as make some new iterations.
Recap
Pros - awesome food, great ambiance
Cons - probably too expensive to go regularly, but great for special occasions (note: that's what Tre Bar is for)
Overall - This was just a really good meal, one of the best I've had in a while. I thoroughly recommend a visit for fancy dinner. Take a look at the specials (most are at the bar) if you're looking for a great-but-not-that-expensive night out.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Ho-Ho-Kus Inn and Tavern
Date
1/3/2012
Location
1 East Franklin Pike, Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ
What I ate
Fall squash soup with marshmallow, roasted pear, and brown butter
Sea bass, "sugo alla fagioli", broccoli rabe, smoked garlic
Fig hazelnut tart
Who went
The whole family
Website
Ho-Ho-Kus Inn and Tavern
Thoughts
Disclaimer - I wrote this almost 4 weeks after we actually went, so the details are a little fuzzy.
Our directions were a little screwy, but we found the Inn without too much searching. The bar area seems like a great place to hang out, a nice relaxing evening with good food. The dining room has a very cozy feel to it, complete with a fireplace. Yes, they had candles in it instead of a real fire, but that probably would've made things uncomfortably warm and unnecessarily exciting for anyone coming too close to the flames. I'm glad we were one of two families in our section of the dining room; it would've been a little cramped to have more people in there. I don't remember much about our waiter other than that he was particularly knowledgeable about the food and the area (we had to get Dan at the train station), both of which were helpful.
When we were looking for a place to go, I remember the marshmallow in soup as a pretty striking idea; it lived up to expectations. The little bit of burnt sweetness made those spoonfuls quite good. I know it's tough to balance, but I would've liked that little background sweet taste to be throughout the soup, not just the little spot where the marshmallow melted. The pear should have helped, but I couldn't detect much of that flavor. The smoked garlic was pretty strong and helped keep the broccoli interesting. The fish was well cooked; crispy fish skin is quickly becoming one of my favorite things. I'm still not entirely sure what sugo alla fagioli is, but it was mostly beans and a tasty way to make it a more filling dish. All of the things that go into that dessert are among my favorites, so I was off in my own blissful world during that course.
It looks like they do a bunch of special events, notably craft beer tastings. If you're in the area, I'd keep an eye on their calendar and find something that sounds like fun; it shouldn't be difficult.
Recap
Pros - Good food, comfortable setting
Cons - Probably not great if crowded
Overall - It was a really good meal and a great time to catch up with my grandparents. I don't know if the food alone was worth the hour-long drive, but that was because we were finding a central meeting point. If you're in the area, I definitely recommend stopping in and getting a meal.
1/3/2012
Location
1 East Franklin Pike, Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ
What I ate
Fall squash soup with marshmallow, roasted pear, and brown butter
Sea bass, "sugo alla fagioli", broccoli rabe, smoked garlic
Fig hazelnut tart
Who went
The whole family
Website
Ho-Ho-Kus Inn and Tavern
Thoughts
Disclaimer - I wrote this almost 4 weeks after we actually went, so the details are a little fuzzy.
Our directions were a little screwy, but we found the Inn without too much searching. The bar area seems like a great place to hang out, a nice relaxing evening with good food. The dining room has a very cozy feel to it, complete with a fireplace. Yes, they had candles in it instead of a real fire, but that probably would've made things uncomfortably warm and unnecessarily exciting for anyone coming too close to the flames. I'm glad we were one of two families in our section of the dining room; it would've been a little cramped to have more people in there. I don't remember much about our waiter other than that he was particularly knowledgeable about the food and the area (we had to get Dan at the train station), both of which were helpful.
When we were looking for a place to go, I remember the marshmallow in soup as a pretty striking idea; it lived up to expectations. The little bit of burnt sweetness made those spoonfuls quite good. I know it's tough to balance, but I would've liked that little background sweet taste to be throughout the soup, not just the little spot where the marshmallow melted. The pear should have helped, but I couldn't detect much of that flavor. The smoked garlic was pretty strong and helped keep the broccoli interesting. The fish was well cooked; crispy fish skin is quickly becoming one of my favorite things. I'm still not entirely sure what sugo alla fagioli is, but it was mostly beans and a tasty way to make it a more filling dish. All of the things that go into that dessert are among my favorites, so I was off in my own blissful world during that course.
It looks like they do a bunch of special events, notably craft beer tastings. If you're in the area, I'd keep an eye on their calendar and find something that sounds like fun; it shouldn't be difficult.
Recap
Pros - Good food, comfortable setting
Cons - Probably not great if crowded
Overall - It was a really good meal and a great time to catch up with my grandparents. I don't know if the food alone was worth the hour-long drive, but that was because we were finding a central meeting point. If you're in the area, I definitely recommend stopping in and getting a meal.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
622 North
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.
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.
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.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Semolina
Date
What I ate
8” Chorizo pizza: Spanish chorizo sausage, Guindillas de Ibarra, cilantro, bittersweet Spanish paprika, red peppadews, fresh mozzarella, and San Marzano tomato sauce.
Thoughts
2010 has been the year of The Pizza in Cville. With Fry’s Spring Station (formerly a car garage), Brixx (formerly Boston Market) and Rise Pizza Works opening - not to mention classics like Christian’s Pizza - the gourmet pizza market may seem a little saturated. Semolina is a sort of branch off from Basil Mediterranean Restaurant with both having the same owner.
9/1/2010
Location
1329 W. Main St.
Location
1329 W. Main St.
Charlottesville, VA
What I ate
8” Chorizo pizza: Spanish chorizo sausage, Guindillas de Ibarra, cilantro, bittersweet Spanish paprika, red peppadews, fresh mozzarella, and San Marzano tomato sauce.
Malheur 10 golden ale
http://www.semolinacville.com/about.html
Thoughts
2010 has been the year of The Pizza in Cville. With Fry’s Spring Station (formerly a car garage), Brixx (formerly Boston Market) and Rise Pizza Works opening - not to mention classics like Christian’s Pizza - the gourmet pizza market may seem a little saturated. Semolina is a sort of branch off from Basil Mediterranean Restaurant with both having the same owner.
Walking into the restaurant, you’re ushered upstairs where the seating is with the downstairs being reserved for the kitchen and take-out service. The place is covered in World Market décor, but the food and beer is anything but cookie-cutter. Katie got there about 45 minutes after everyone and had to brave the extraordinary girth of the beer and food menus alone. This place has a serious variety of approximately 200 beers with everything from Yuengling to Barley Wines to organic beers. The beers we tried between the four of us: the previously mentioned Malheur 10, Augustijn Ale, Hacker-Pschorr Weizze, Orkney Dark Reserve, Ayinger Brau Weisse, Pinkus Organic Pilsner, and the Brewdog Hardcore (an imperial IPA). Apparently their heffeweizens are pretty good since they were out of all but the Hacker. None of them disappointed as we all took at least a sip from each, and everyone agreed that the Malheur had a way of working every different tastebud in your mouth.
The pizza. Wow. I’ve really enjoyed going to Fry’s Spring since it opened, but this place puts FSS to shame. Not only does it have more combinations, but the variety and quality of the toppings is amazing. We all seriously had a hard time narrowing it down to about 4 different pies (I kept an eye on the Venison and Blueberry as well as the Wild Boar and Cranberry pizzas). In the end Nora got a clam and bacon, Tiff the bleu cheese, and Katie the Florentine. Again, as with the beers, we all sampled one another’s and, again, a round of “yums.” The flavors of each pizza exploded on the palate. My chorizo was excellent and totally did its Spanish inspiration right.
I also love places that have a pitcher of water on the table, and it was a good thing for this place to have since it was really warm inside. About halfway through the meal, we had to ask the waiter to adjust the air conditioning. Random observation: The huge, sharp knives on the table made everyone want to put it between their teeth and swing from ropes boarding ships pirate-style.
Recap
Pros -moderate prices, ample beer list, GREAT pizza
Cons - can be a little on the warm side temperature-wise
Overall - Overall, this place is definitely worth another (and probably more) visit since there are plenty of other tasty entrees and beers to try. At one point, Nora pointed out that the place was technically just a “beer and pizza” joint, but it’s definitely somewhere you should take a friend in from out of town.
Recap
Pros -moderate prices, ample beer list, GREAT pizza
Cons - can be a little on the warm side temperature-wise
Overall - Overall, this place is definitely worth another (and probably more) visit since there are plenty of other tasty entrees and beers to try. At one point, Nora pointed out that the place was technically just a “beer and pizza” joint, but it’s definitely somewhere you should take a friend in from out of town.
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