Calvino Cafe
Taking up where Milano left off, Calvino has moved into a notoriously difficult-to-promote space jutting out of the Main Street Market. Fortunately, Kate the owner goes out of her way to make your experience here well worth the trek to almost-downtown. Calvino is the new Greenberry's, the new Mudhouse, the new place to study. And thank heaven most people haven't figured that out yet.
But this blog has never been about studying, or, let's face it, I'd be studying instead of writing. This blog is about food. So to the food!
Kate has managed to do a remarkable thing with this tiny space; go seasonal with a limited menu. For the summer, a shrimp and spinach number with deliciously roasted tomatoes has a bright lemon zing. It might be the most "refreshing" lunch in town for this time of year. In the winter, shrimp is traded with lamb for a stick-to-your-ribs wrap. It is bested as comfort food only by 1) the pork and tuscan bean wrap, also at Calvino, and 2) my mom's brisket. And, perhaps most importantly, there is flavor. It avoids all of the complaints I had regarding Orzo's Orzo, despite being run under the same flag. I can't imagine going to Orzo for lunch when better, cheaper food is around the corner.
Breakfast may be another matter. While the egg paninis are good, they harken back to the awkward panini that Orzo was trying to pull off for lunch. The large chunk of egg is filling, but a bit greasy, and makes it difficult to taste anything else. That being said, unless you want to wait for Bluegrass Grill & Bakery, Calvino has the second-best breakfast in town. Impressive when dozens of restaurants now pretend to serve brunch.
The blended drink options are supposedly fantastic as well; I am yet to try them, so consider this review partially incomplete. But the coffee is certain amazing - significantly better than a place like Greenberry's - and Kate cares about what she serves which clearly comes through.
Buried in there is the main problem. The owner may care, but no one can be there 24 hours a day. Beware of the service when the owner is absent - the children get lazy, the food gets half-assed, and it seems people are more concerned with perfecting their mozy than getting you a delicious wrap.
All in all, Calvino is unquestionably worth it (lord knows I'm there more than I'm in my own apartment) and a fantastic place to study. A final note: bring a sweater - that place gets chilly.
- M.
Showing posts with label Cafes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cafes. Show all posts
Grand Cru of the Golden Emperor
Grand Cru Wine Bar
This post starts off with a lengthy explanation of why I'm reviewing this place (which seems counterintuitive, but I swear it's not). If you aren't interested in my crazed tangents, skip ahead kind reader.
Grand Cru Wine Bar is, well, a wine bar. They have flights of wine for tastings, bottles to purchase, and all around the experience is clearly geared towards an appreciation first of wine, second of the food. Yet I've never actually had the wine here. Why? Because I work in Ballston, I don't live there, and it wouldn't be appropriate to drink during my lunch hour...or would it? I could go after work, but at that point I'm tired and just want to go home.
So I was worried that it wouldn't be fair to review a wine bar having never had the wine (see my posts on Orzo and Kluge). But then I realized that I'm not the only one in a position never to actually drink at Grand Cru - in fact, Ballston is a ghost town come 7pm. The people that live here get dinner in downtown DC. The people that work here don't eat dinner here. There may be dozens of people just looking for a new lunch spot, wine or no wine. So, fearless and intrepid Ballston nine-to-fiver, I come to fulfill my obligation to you. Let this review be your guide to new and delicious sandwiches.
With Big Buns, Pupatella food cart, the sandwich shops (like Potbelly and Cosi), and the foot court at the mall, it's hard to justify another lunch spot. Which I think is why Grand Cru is largely abandoned at noon. But don't let that turn you away - the sandwiches are some of the best around, and competitively priced (well, to Big Buns anyways).
The parisian tartine is a delicious country ham and melted gruyere open-faced sandwich on some "rustic" French bread. It's better than 'good', and including a tiny mixed green salad with balsamic reduction it's only $7. The crabcake sandwich on brioche is just a few more bucks, and it beats a burger from next door anyday. Other offerings are various salads, antipastos, and (for the wine tasters) tapas. A carpaccio for lunch will cost you only $9.
In the end, Grand Cru is a change from the ordinary. It's a little gourmet, a little treat-yourself spot with ambiance and charm. After 8 straight weeks of Potbelly and Lean Cuisine, the change is more than welcome. Plus, you can sit outside. How amazing is that?
-M.
This post starts off with a lengthy explanation of why I'm reviewing this place (which seems counterintuitive, but I swear it's not). If you aren't interested in my crazed tangents, skip ahead kind reader.
Grand Cru Wine Bar is, well, a wine bar. They have flights of wine for tastings, bottles to purchase, and all around the experience is clearly geared towards an appreciation first of wine, second of the food. Yet I've never actually had the wine here. Why? Because I work in Ballston, I don't live there, and it wouldn't be appropriate to drink during my lunch hour...or would it? I could go after work, but at that point I'm tired and just want to go home.
So I was worried that it wouldn't be fair to review a wine bar having never had the wine (see my posts on Orzo and Kluge). But then I realized that I'm not the only one in a position never to actually drink at Grand Cru - in fact, Ballston is a ghost town come 7pm. The people that live here get dinner in downtown DC. The people that work here don't eat dinner here. There may be dozens of people just looking for a new lunch spot, wine or no wine. So, fearless and intrepid Ballston nine-to-fiver, I come to fulfill my obligation to you. Let this review be your guide to new and delicious sandwiches.
With Big Buns, Pupatella food cart, the sandwich shops (like Potbelly and Cosi), and the foot court at the mall, it's hard to justify another lunch spot. Which I think is why Grand Cru is largely abandoned at noon. But don't let that turn you away - the sandwiches are some of the best around, and competitively priced (well, to Big Buns anyways).
The parisian tartine is a delicious country ham and melted gruyere open-faced sandwich on some "rustic" French bread. It's better than 'good', and including a tiny mixed green salad with balsamic reduction it's only $7. The crabcake sandwich on brioche is just a few more bucks, and it beats a burger from next door anyday. Other offerings are various salads, antipastos, and (for the wine tasters) tapas. A carpaccio for lunch will cost you only $9.
In the end, Grand Cru is a change from the ordinary. It's a little gourmet, a little treat-yourself spot with ambiance and charm. After 8 straight weeks of Potbelly and Lean Cuisine, the change is more than welcome. Plus, you can sit outside. How amazing is that?
-M.
A Feast for a King
Restaurants:
Cafes
Main Street Market
If you haven't been to Main Street Market, please stop reading this review and go. Immediately. Do not pass go, do not collect $200 (although you may end up spending that much easily). And when entertaining out-of-town company, there's no better place to give the impression that Charlottesville, too, has some culture ;)
Main Street Market is comprised of 8 or 9 different vendors serving a variety of different foods and wares. When it came time for a few classmates of mine to take a Criminal Law professor to lunch, we took her straight to Feast for some of the best soups and sandwiches in town.
Feast is run by a UVA grad who's returned here to offer us some tasty treats and a specialty grocery store. There are only seven artisan standard sandwiches, but they range from a classic mozzarella/tomato/basil (with optional prosciutto) to a warm corned beef Reuben with a Russian dressing. And then there's the daily special - which of course I couldn't pass up. Apples, ham, and chevre could not find better partners. And everything is local to Virginia, as much as possible. Apple season just ended here, and Virginia ham is in a class of its own. You'll find some sandwich to meet your tastes, but since there are only seven, you'll probably only find one.
Feast's strength is in the browsing potential. While your waiting for your lunch to be prepared you can shop the impressive wine selection, the constantly changing cheese offerings (and tastings available around the store), vinegars and oils, nuts, Virginia products, and chocolates. Stay away from the produce - yes, it's locally grown, it's organic, it's all the jazz, but so is the produce at Food of All Nations for half the cost. Nearly all of these items can be purchased in a pre-made or custom-ordered gift set. You design it and they'll take care of it, like a Williams and Sonoma, Harry and David, or Dean and Deluca - but with more tiny college town local charm.
The ever-growing cafe and store is intimately familiar with the University faculty and administration, and for good reason. Anytime an event needs catering, Feast is there. Offices are encouraged to take note - you can preorder your sandwich and pick it up to go. Check out the take-away menu at www.feastvirginia.com
Our lunch ended with a single chocolate from Gearhart's, but with a sample size of 1 I'm hesitant to give it a review. Suffice it to say, the Taj with cardamom, rose, and candied ginger was an experience bordering on nirvana. Perhaps my reluctance to say more is to keep people away, though rumor has it that during the holiday season Gearhart's shuts down 4 days before Christmas because they have so many orders to fill...
In addition to Feast and Gearhart's you'll find an organic butcher, Seafood @ West Main, a florist, a coffee shop, one of the best bakeries in town, and Orzo - a wine bar with Siesta and WiFi time during the afternoon. But that's for next time.
-M.
If you haven't been to Main Street Market, please stop reading this review and go. Immediately. Do not pass go, do not collect $200 (although you may end up spending that much easily). And when entertaining out-of-town company, there's no better place to give the impression that Charlottesville, too, has some culture ;)
Main Street Market is comprised of 8 or 9 different vendors serving a variety of different foods and wares. When it came time for a few classmates of mine to take a Criminal Law professor to lunch, we took her straight to Feast for some of the best soups and sandwiches in town.
Feast is run by a UVA grad who's returned here to offer us some tasty treats and a specialty grocery store. There are only seven artisan standard sandwiches, but they range from a classic mozzarella/tomato/basil (with optional prosciutto) to a warm corned beef Reuben with a Russian dressing. And then there's the daily special - which of course I couldn't pass up. Apples, ham, and chevre could not find better partners. And everything is local to Virginia, as much as possible. Apple season just ended here, and Virginia ham is in a class of its own. You'll find some sandwich to meet your tastes, but since there are only seven, you'll probably only find one.
Feast's strength is in the browsing potential. While your waiting for your lunch to be prepared you can shop the impressive wine selection, the constantly changing cheese offerings (and tastings available around the store), vinegars and oils, nuts, Virginia products, and chocolates. Stay away from the produce - yes, it's locally grown, it's organic, it's all the jazz, but so is the produce at Food of All Nations for half the cost. Nearly all of these items can be purchased in a pre-made or custom-ordered gift set. You design it and they'll take care of it, like a Williams and Sonoma, Harry and David, or Dean and Deluca - but with more tiny college town local charm.
The ever-growing cafe and store is intimately familiar with the University faculty and administration, and for good reason. Anytime an event needs catering, Feast is there. Offices are encouraged to take note - you can preorder your sandwich and pick it up to go. Check out the take-away menu at www.feastvirginia.com
Our lunch ended with a single chocolate from Gearhart's, but with a sample size of 1 I'm hesitant to give it a review. Suffice it to say, the Taj with cardamom, rose, and candied ginger was an experience bordering on nirvana. Perhaps my reluctance to say more is to keep people away, though rumor has it that during the holiday season Gearhart's shuts down 4 days before Christmas because they have so many orders to fill...
In addition to Feast and Gearhart's you'll find an organic butcher, Seafood @ West Main, a florist, a coffee shop, one of the best bakeries in town, and Orzo - a wine bar with Siesta and WiFi time during the afternoon. But that's for next time.
-M.
The Sunday Brunch Dilemma Pt I
Restaurants:
Cafes
Cafe Cubano
The Flat is boarded up tight. The queers aren't awake to open up Escafe. Bluegrass Grill & Bakery has a slow moving line out the door. What's a slightly hung-over gay man in search of brunch to do?
It's with this picture painted that I present to you Cafe Cubano: a fall back.
Cafe Cubano is located on the downtown mall, right across from Marco and Luca's dumpling shop. The ambiance is stripped bare - you stand in a constantly shifting line until you finally elbow your way to the front. There's one copy of the menu, and it's on the wall behind the cashier. You can attempt to read it from afar, but chances are you'll be at the front of the line long enough to re-read every ingredient seven times. From there you'll get a number to put at your table, and drinks show up (unannounced) at the bar.
Since it's Sunday morning, you're probably a few hours away from thinking about homework. You also weren't anticipating going to Cafe Cubano. But if for some reason you had the foresight to bring your laptop, they have free WiFi, and an attractive-enough wait staff to substitute for otherwise poor people watching.
There's nothing particularly stand-out about Cafe Cubano. The menu has the breakfast basics - slightly egg-heavy omelettes, slightly over-cooked french toast, and slightly overpriced sides. The potatoes are slightly cold and slightly underseasoned - all in all, it's difficult to finger just one problem, but combined it leads to a generally unsatisfactory meal.All 15-some-odd menu items range from $4-$8, so you won't have any problems convincing friends that it's a good plan C.
That being said, make sure to get some coffee. The sizes are good, and the caffeine is plentiful. Nearly every flavor combination is available, and don't shy away from the exotic sounding; mint and caramel can be a better mix than you think.
When all else fails: Cafe Cubano. When all else works? Well, nobody said Cafe Cubano was the hottest spot north of Havana.
-M.
The Flat is boarded up tight. The queers aren't awake to open up Escafe. Bluegrass Grill & Bakery has a slow moving line out the door. What's a slightly hung-over gay man in search of brunch to do?
It's with this picture painted that I present to you Cafe Cubano: a fall back.
Cafe Cubano is located on the downtown mall, right across from Marco and Luca's dumpling shop. The ambiance is stripped bare - you stand in a constantly shifting line until you finally elbow your way to the front. There's one copy of the menu, and it's on the wall behind the cashier. You can attempt to read it from afar, but chances are you'll be at the front of the line long enough to re-read every ingredient seven times. From there you'll get a number to put at your table, and drinks show up (unannounced) at the bar.
Since it's Sunday morning, you're probably a few hours away from thinking about homework. You also weren't anticipating going to Cafe Cubano. But if for some reason you had the foresight to bring your laptop, they have free WiFi, and an attractive-enough wait staff to substitute for otherwise poor people watching.
There's nothing particularly stand-out about Cafe Cubano. The menu has the breakfast basics - slightly egg-heavy omelettes, slightly over-cooked french toast, and slightly overpriced sides. The potatoes are slightly cold and slightly underseasoned - all in all, it's difficult to finger just one problem, but combined it leads to a generally unsatisfactory meal.All 15-some-odd menu items range from $4-$8, so you won't have any problems convincing friends that it's a good plan C.
That being said, make sure to get some coffee. The sizes are good, and the caffeine is plentiful. Nearly every flavor combination is available, and don't shy away from the exotic sounding; mint and caramel can be a better mix than you think.
When all else fails: Cafe Cubano. When all else works? Well, nobody said Cafe Cubano was the hottest spot north of Havana.
-M.
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