Charlottesville Restaurant Tips by Hopkid Top 5 Page for this destination

The Hardware Store Restaurant: CLOSED - Eat at the Hardware Store!

SINCE CLOSED

What else would you call a restaurant that's in a former hardware store? The menu at this place is huge: sandwiches, crepes, chicken, ribs, etc. The choices are many...it would take you qutie a while to read the entire menu. We went for lunch and had sandwiches which all have names. I forget the names of the sandwiches we had but I had a pastrami and corned beef with melted swiss on rye. It came with a pickle and an assortment of potato chips. Rita had the chicken salad and bacon on wheat. We also ordered sides of sweet potato fries (yummy) and cheese fries (just alright). The service was good as our drinks were kept filled.

The Hardware Store has outside seating on the Mall which is a great thing on a nice day!

Favorite Dish: Sandwiches, sweet potato fries

Address: 316 East Main Street

Comparison: about average

Directions: On the Downtown Mall between Second and Third Streets

Phone: 434.977.1518

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 4

Theme: Local

Bizou: Simple but sophisticated

Bizou offers up traditional samplings but with a contemporary treatment and presentation. The interior is reminiscent of an old-time greasy spoon with its narrow space. They also offer seating outside on the Downtown Mall. The menu has seafood, meat, and chicken dishes. Not bad.

Address: 119 W. Main Street

Comparison: about average

Directions: On the Downtown Mall between First and Second Street NW

Phone: 434.977.1818

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 3

Theme: Local

VAVino: Wine Bar

VA is the abbreviation for Virginia. Vino is, well you know. As the name suggests, this wine bar on the Downtown Mall offers up tastings of vintages from the many wineries in the Commonwealth. Customers can order specific wines or partake in one of several "flights" which may feature a specific varietal or have some other common theme. There are also food items on the menu along the lines of cheese plates, fondue, terrines, panini, bruschetta, and even some sweet things. Great for a relaxing evening before or after dinner.

Favorite Dish: We didn't actually go here because it was closed when we walked by...but it looked pretty cool. Great interior.

Address: 401 East Main Street

Comparison: about average

Directions: On the Downtown Mall between Third and Fourth Streets

Phone: 434.974.9463

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 0

Theme: Wine Bar/Wine Tasting

Website: http://www.vavino.com/

Tea Time Desires: It has to be good!

Yes, they have tea and even boba tea (cold tea with large tapioca balls). But when we walked by we noticed that they have homemade dumplings. Mmmmmm. If we had seen this before going to eat at the Hardware Store Restaurant, we definitely would have eaten here! Next time for sure! I'll update this tip after checking it out!

Favorite Dish: It's gotta be the dumplings!

Address: 413 E. Main Street

Comparison: least expensive

Directions: On the Downtown Mall between Fourth and Fifth Streets

Phone: 434.293.8768

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 0

Theme: Chinese/Dim Sum

Cafe Cubano: Breakfast and Coffee Downtown

We went here for breakfast and it was very good. I had the blueberry waffle with fruit. The fruit came on top of the waffle which surprised me a bit but it was all very good. The waffle was cooked perfect: slightly crispy on the outside and fluffy soft on the inside. Rita had the salsa omelette which was prepared with egg whites on her request. It came with a great salsa verde sauce, tortilla, slice of grilled ham, and nice breakfast potatoes seasoned with thyme and sage. The coffee is first rate as well.

If the weather is nice, grab a table outside after ordering.

Favorite Dish: Blueberry waffle, coffee

Address: 112 W Main Street

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: On the Downtown Mall between First and Second Streets

Phone: 434.971.8743

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 4

Theme: Breakfast

Splendora: Gelato!

A walk in the downtown mall on a warm spring or summer day would not be complete without a gelato. And you can get one at Splendora. They carry a wide range of flavors including Italian favorites pistachio, dulce de leche, hazelnut, and straccitaella. I would have to say that it's not quite as creamy as the real stuff in Italy but the flavor is definitely there. Get it in a cup or cone but do get it!

Favorite Dish: Gelato, gelato, gelato!

Address: 317 East Main Street

Comparison: least expensive

Directions: In the Downtown Mall between Third and Fourth Streets

Phone: 434.296.8555

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 4

Theme: Ice Cream

Website: http://www.splendoras.com/

The Korean House: Korean in the Blue Ridge

Korean food is the great alternative to other Asian cuisines and is often overlooked. But it's started to become more well known outside of the big cities like LA and NYC which have Koreatowns. Even Charlottesville has its own Korean restaurant and the Korean House serves up authentic dishes you'd expect at Korean family's home. In fact, the women who work there will make you feel like you are at home!

Set in a light industrial complex next door to a country billards bar, the Korean House offers little in the way of ambiance. But the aromas you experience once you set foot inside the door will dispell any reservations one might have based on the exterior appearance. Mandu, or Korean dumplings, are good starters. Their seaweed noodle soup is exceptional with a wonderful broth and homemade noodles cut in rough patches. The kalbi and bulgogi is brought to your table (no tabletop grills here) cooked to perfection - tender, juicy, and with that wonderful marinade flavor. And don't miss the seafood scallion pancake. The size of a dinner plate it could feed two people fairly easily. Oh, and they have authentic tofu dishes, brought to the table still boiling and with a raw egg broken over the top. Get the spicy tofu for a sinus-busting experience!

Favorite Dish: Seaweed noodle soup, haemulpajun (seafood & scallion pancake), kalbi

Address: 221 Carlton Road, Suite 8

Comparison: about average

Phone: 434.244.0736

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 4

Theme: Other

Website: http://www.thekoreanhouse.com/