Charlottesville doesn’t exactly hurt for places to eat, and this year’s crop of newcomers gave us plenty of reasons to rearrange our dinner plans. Chefs came home, familiar restaurant spaces found new life, beloved bakery fare got dressed up for dinner, and somebody finally asked the important question: Why shouldn’t the food at a bowling alley be good? In this year’s Best of C-VILLE, readers gave the Best New Restaurant crown to The Jervey—but one winner hardly tells the whole story. From pho and Argentine asado to proper pub fare and plates made for sharing, we found plenty more new arrivals worth getting excited about. Here are a few of our favorites—and yours.
The Jervey
Charlottesville spoke: The Jervey took home Best New Restaurant in this year’s Best of C-VILLE, and it’s easy to see the appeal.
The Belmont steakhouse occupies a former service station across from Mas, but you’d never guess the building’s past from inside. Wall-to-wall windows, starburst chandeliers, a sprawling bar, and mid-century styling give the room big-city glamour without making it feel too precious. Come in jeans or dress for dinner; either works. There’s even artwork above the bar that doubles as TVs, ready to reveal themselves when there’s a game worth watching.
The ownership team includes Andy McClure and brothers Scott and John Shanesy, familiar names to fans of Belle and Ciaccia, alongside Donnie Glass and Ross Johnson. In the kitchen, chef John Shanesy takes a French-meets-American approach to steakhouse comfort food…