No, Carol came to see Charlottesville. And I couldn't wait to show her — and do some exploring myself.
On the list was Tavola, an Italian restaurant in the Belmont neighborhood. One of my professors (a foodie himself) had recommended it. I thought that would be perfect for Carol. (Note: Tavola is on the special-occasion end of a student budget.) When we were in Italy this summer, we both swooned each time a plate of fresh pasta was set in front of us.
Tavola was no disappointment.
This is what I ordered: a rich pork ragu with pappardelle (those thick ribbons of pasta). I picked it because the pasta in this dish is housemade — and it tasted like it. That extra bit of chewiness and flouriness create a layer of freshness you can't get in a box.
Carol ordered this lovely penne dish with diced squash and other veggie trinkets. After her first bite, she said something to the effect of: "I think I never realized that I love squash!"
The restaurant itself is charming. Intimate, with a bustling bar and an open kitchen (the last bar stool gets a kitchen-table seat, essentially), Tavola has a nice neighborhood feel. Despite all the fancy words on the menu, it's not pretentious or intimidating.
They don't take reservations, so be prepared to wait if you come at prime time. We were debating whether to agree to an hour and a half wait when two seats came open at the bar. Score!
Next time, we'll have to save room for dessert. This time, I took Carol to Splendora on the downtown mall, a gelateria that makes its own gelato. My favorite is salty caramel. She ordered apple cider and dulce de leche. I mean, seriously.
One regret lingers: I wish I had kept track of the times Carol said, in astonishment: "I really thought Charlottesville was in the middle of nowhere!"
Tavola
826 Hinton Avenue
Charlottesville, VA
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2 comments:
Salty caramel gelato is my favorite! I can't wait to come visit and have a foodie adventure with you. Hope you're doing well!
Loved your post about Tavola. We went the other night, a Tuesday, and had a great meal too. I am so happy that Charlottesville has such a plethora of great restaurants. Please keep the posts coming you are my go to food guide.
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