So, where’s the best place to eat breakfast in Charlottesville? The big fellas, IHOP and Waffle House, are certainly contenders, but many would argue for a local establishment – the Villa Diner,  now located on Emmet Street near the old Lord Hardwicke’s location. Once sited near University Hall, the new location is even easier to access, say some of the regular patrons. My wife, Nancy, and her … [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 some really good and fresh produce. Then they opened a small deli. Since then, I’d guess about 20 years ago, Hilltop Market has become one of the go-to lunch destinations for many in Charlottesville. You’ll … [Read more...]

Sometimes it’s worth going to a restaurant for the scenery alone. If the food is good, that’s a bonus. Such is the case at Graves Mountain Lodge where the scenery is breathtaking and the food fabulous. Graves Mountain has a storied history. Captain Thomas Graves sailed the “Mary and Margaret” to Jamestown in 1608, and served as a representative in the Virginia Assembly at Jamestown in 1619. In … [Read more...]

You eat well throughout the week, counting calories, nibbling on celery sticks and helpings of kale, and then you say – to hell with this – I want real food. That’s when Nancy and I get in the car and head for Riverside North. We order greasy cheeseburgers, onions rings and a basket full of French Fries. Next week, we’ll diet, but for now, we’re eating food as God intended. That happened to us … [Read more...]

We had a very pleasant dining experience last week. Nancy and I decided to go to our usual last-minute restaurant – Bonefish Grill - where we sit at the bar, get great service and often order the same-old, same-old. We love their Kobe Beef-type burgers and their Fish & Chips, but this time Nancy surprised me and ordered the Crab-Crusted Cobia and was it ever good. You don’t see cobia on … [Read more...]

  I’m not the greatest one to write a review about Mexican restaurants. When we go, my wife Nancy often has to interpret the menu. “Tell me one more time the difference between a fajita and a tamale?” But I know what I like, and I enjoy El Agave Restaurant in Ruckersville. Many say it’s as close to authentic Mexican cuisine as it gets in this area. My sister, Johanna, who lives in … [Read more...]

  Travinia’s Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar has become one of our go-to restaurants when we feel like Italian, an upscale dinner and a cozy atmosphere. Nancy especially likes it when we can eat outside on their patio near the fire pits. Almost always, I order a veal dish or one of their authentic Italian entrees, but recently I felt like I didn’t need all that pasta and ordered the … [Read more...]

By Sherman Shifflet If you haven't stopped by Carl's Ice Cream in Fredericksburg, then by all means hop in your car, pick up a few friends and head in that direction. Anytime I'm in the Fredericksburg area, and even when I'm not so close, my car is programmed to take me to 2200 Princes Anne Street  for the best ice cream you've never eaten. Don't just take my word; ask anyone who has been … [Read more...]

We were on the road, needed a place to stop and eat and decided against fast food. One place beckoned. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store. Cracker Barrel is to travelers what honey is to Winnie the Pooh. They are known for good food, friendly service and reasonable prices. Cracker Barrel was founded in 1969 with a menu based on Southern Cuisine. Today, Cracker Barrel has over 600 stores in 42 … [Read more...]

My southern roots go deep. My daddy and his family were raised in Clemmons, just outside Winston Salem.  My mother’s people were from Raleigh. My second daddy was from the Wilson area. My closest aunt and uncle were from Charlotte. I grew up eating southern food and enjoying southern hospitality. So it was with great enthusiasm that Nancy and I went to dinner with my daughter Angelin and her … [Read more...]