Great Restaurants for Parent's Weekend

With over 300 restaurants in the area, Charlottesville ranks among cities like New York for having the most restaurants per capita.  Whether you’re a first year or an upperclassman, you may have yet to step outside of the bubble and try the delectable dives and tasty treasures that lie beyond the Corner.  With Parents Weekend coming up and friends wanting to visit, impress them with your foodie knowledge of the greater Charlottesville area.  Show them our cuisine is bigger than Bodos. 
 
Breakfast
Bluegrass Grill & Bakery (Downtown Mall): You had me at “Pig Candy.”  This place offers a bacon lover’s side dish composed of bacon baked in brown sugar, cinnamon and cayenne pepper.  My favorite plate is the “Duke,” rightly named for including the “nobility” of the breakfast order: eggs, bacon, and sausage.  The Duke includes two eggs, bacon, sausage and hollandaise sauce on a warm English muffin.   If you’re not big on the pig, try its counterpart, the “Dutchess”: an English muffin topped with two eggs, tomatoes, spinach, and avocado hollandaise.  One note of caution-this place draws long lines, especially on Sunday mornings. Get there early; put your name on the list; and walk around the Downtown Mall while you wait for the best breakfast in town. 

Lunch
Belmont BBQ (Belmont):  The BBQ you always want, but can’t always find.  Belmont BBQ gives it to you straight.  Their delicious pulled pork sandwiches are my go-to AND they have both sweet and savory sauces.  Go here if you’re looking for a quick meal that satisfies and makes you salivate. 
The Nook (Downtown Mall): A 50’s style diner perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner.  However, their Mac N’ Cheese menu is their signature.  I’ve had their Bistro Mac N’ Cheese which includes penne paste with three different cheeses, ham, and tomato, topped with bread crumbs and served with a side of toast.  Their mac n’ cheese dishes range from home-style to gourmet.