Went to the Outback for dinner last week. Hadn’t been in a while, but Nancy loves their pasta dishes, and I was hoping for some Bang-Bang Fried Chicken. Unfortunately, they no longer offer the Bang-Bang Chicken, but our dinner was very good, almost perfect. Almost. Our server was excellent, got us our water and drinks early and checked on us frequently, even though we were eating outside – … [Read more...]

The Italians take their pizza seriously. Each region cherishes its own version with different doughs and sauces, but always with fresh local ingredients and baked with loving care. Perhaps the most noted pizza region in all of Italia is Napoli, better none in America as Naples – the home of authentic Neapolitan Pizza. In Old Napoli, as Dean Martin would say, the pizza is prepared in a round shape … [Read more...]

There are a lot of good places to eat breakfast in Cville – IHOP, The Villa, Tip Top Restaurant, Tony’s Diner and others. but none are better than Sam’s Kitchen, a small diner tucked away in the corner of Woodbrook Shopping Center. Sam’s serves up meals throughout the day, but they serve breakfast all day, every day. One of their specials is their noted Bountiful Brunch. It’s a genuine tummy … [Read more...]

I like Kentucky Fried Chicken – the original recipe, but I don’t particularly care for their Charlottesville restaurant on Emmet Street. My last three experiences have not gone well. The first snafu was about a year ago. It was a Sunday night, I pulled up to the window, and they said they were out of chicken. Really. A chicken restaurant that was out of chicken.  I left in amazement and went … [Read more...]

By Nancy B Beth Gladwell, an old friend, visited us for the weekend. Beth and I decided to have a girl's day and went shopping, visited garden centers and shopping centers and had a great time. Since Jim had fed us an incredibly big and delicious breakfast, it was a while before we were hungry for lunch. We decided on a late lunch at Michie Tavern on Monticello Mountain. They have the … [Read more...]

I asked Nancy what she wanted for her recent birthday. She said she wanted me to book a hotel room in Virginia Beach, drive there, spend the night and eat at Bubba’s Restaurant for lunch the next day. And we did. We drove to Virginia Beach following a friend’s funeral on Saturday, stayed in a waterfront room at the Wyndham Hotel that night, then drove to the north end of Virginia Beach the next … [Read more...]

I place into nomination Chick-fil-A for Governor of Virginia, or for Mayor of Charlottesville, or for Postmaster General of the United States. If the folks who run this well-oiled machine ran any government organization, the people would be far better served. Chick-fil-A has efficiency down to a science. Nancy and I were both under the weather with nasty colds and decided to let the fast-food … [Read more...]

Hilltop Market used to be just a small convenience store. They sold lots of live bait to fishermen headed out to the Rivanna Reservoir. They sold some canned goods, drinks, snacks and fresh produce. Then they opened a small deli. Since then, Hilltop Market (now called Hilltop Grocery) has become one of the best go-to lunch destinations for many in Charlottesville. You’ll find men in business … [Read more...]

Every now and then, the Brits will get something right. Fish and Chips is one example. Considered the national dish of the United Kingdom, Fish and Chips first appeared in the UK in the 1860s, when small shops began to pop up. It was one of the few foods in the UK not subject to rationing during the war years, which contributed to its popularity. The fish (usually Cod) … [Read more...]

Last Sunday, it was order-out night. Chinese sounded good, but our go-to place for home delivery, Chopsticks, closes on Sunday. There is another Asian restaurant not far from us, Taste of China, and we decided to go there and try it. Inside, it didn’t look like a normal Chinese restaurant and the menu was strange – no typical appetizers like Wonton Soup and Fried Wings and Shrimp, so we left. A … [Read more...]