Take Five: Food in Charlottesville’s Belmont Neighborhood

Charlottesville’s 12 vineyards have made the Virginia city a bucket list item for many oenophiles. But there’s more to do here than sniff, swirl and sip.

For instance, eat.

To snag a truly memorable meal, venture (slightly) off the beaten track. Just two miles southeast of the University of Virginia and five blocks from a popular pedestrian mall sits the historic neighborhood Belmont. Founded in the 1700s as farmland, Belmont recently underwent a culinary renaissance. Small, independent restaurants dot its main drag, each with a truly drool-inducing menu.

Here are five spots to visit that will leave you fat and happy.

1. Tavola

Michael Keaveny cut his culinary teeth at age 15 as a prep cook at a Sicilian family restaurant in Hartford, Connecticut. Now he’s at the helm of Tavola (pictured above), which C-Ville Weekly readers voted the “best Italian restaurant” for four consecutive years. Keaveny earned that accolade by recreating classic recipes from the old country with indigenous ingredients, and serving them in a warm, welcoming setting. An open kitchen lends a homey feel, making you feel you as though you’re an active participant in the meal, even if all you’ve done is select between the bucatini all’amatriciana (marinara, calabrian chili red onion, olli pancetta and grana padano) and the linguini alla carbonara (house made sausage, oil pancetta, egg, onion, pecorino romano and black pepper). Then again, choosing can be rather onerous. Indecisive diners may prefer a seat at Tavola’s bar, where they can try several items from the cicchetti (small snacks) menu.

2. The Local

Scheduling a date night? Check out The Local, where bewitching details, including a wrought-iron balcony, strung lights and stained glass, set the mood for romance. Unsurprisingly, the restaurant hosts many a rehearsal dinner. True to its name, The Local is a staunch supporter of area artisans; everything from its flour to its floor originated in the Charlottesville region. It’s also a place that makes comfort food elegant, so go ahead and indulge in the gnocchi Bolognese, meatloaf or buttermilk-Tabasco braised fried chicken.

3. MAS Tapas

MAS Tapas opens its doors at 5:30 p.m., and you’d best be punctual. This Spanish-style restaurant has a cult following and it doesn’t take reservations, so long waits are the norm. However, no matter how long the wait, it’s worth it. Just ask any of the foodies from Washington, D.C. who travel 100+ miles for the artisanal brick oven breads, slow-cooked meats, fresh seafood and paellas.

The menu is robust and the dishes small, which allows diners to feast on the many flavors of España (recreated with fresh Virginian ingredients) in one meal. Try the bocadillo jamon (Serrano ham, Manchego cheese and alioli on wood-oven bread), the gambas al’ parilla (grilled jumbo shrimp with garlic aioli and grey salt), the churrasco con chimichurri (a melt-in-your-mouth grilled skirt steak with a thyme, oregano and parsley sauce), or the porktupus (pork sausage, octopus and pork belly wrapped in a chickpea crepe with arugula, goat cheese and a special sauce).