Tiffany’s Seafood
Once upon a time in a land not-so-far away, there was a fabulous seafood restaurant. The land not-so-far was Charlottesville, and the restaurant was Tiffany’s Seafood.
Today, there really are no seafood restaurants in town. Some, like Rhett’s, have seafood specials from time to time, and some, like Bonefish off the usual salmon, shrimp, and frozen fish entrees. But there is not a single restaurant that you can go to now – every day of the week – and get a Captain’s Platter, perfectly fried.
Tiffany’s opened its door in the early 1970’s, a vision Jimmy Ballas. The restaurant was located for 30 years in Ivy Square. It was a small, delicate restaurant with no more than 40 tables. The wait staff was unusually efficient and the food incredible.
Tiffany’s offered the full gamut – Crab Balls, Angels on Horseback, Oyster Brochette, Flounder With Crabmeat Stuffing, Maryland Style Crab Cakes, Soft Crabs in Season, Chowders, Soups, Platters and most any combination of fried or broiled seafood you could imagine.
I remember way back, when Trout Unlimited staged dazzling banquets that we would meet at Tiffany’s for lunch for planning sessions. I often ordered their Oyster Po Boys and sometimes a fresh, Fried Flounder Sandwich. I also remember decadent desserts. Their Cheesecake of the Day was my favorite.
After 30 years, the owners of Ivy Square basically evicted Tiffany’s with a giant increase in rent. The restaurant shut down for several months but resurrected itself in the North Wing of Seminole Square Shopping Center. We ate there numerous times, but it was never the same. The atmosphere was more like a bar and grill and the food steadily went downhill. But for about 40 years, Charlottesville had one of the finest seafood restaurants anywhere.
Rest in Peace, Tiffany’s.
