That would be the trip we just took over to Carlton Avenue, where we scouted out the leading edge of the outer-Belmont dining scene. There, we were part of the very first lunch

The guy’s nothing if not ambitious. As we reported several weeks ago, Alejandro Montiel, already piloting a successful ship in Crozet (La Cocina del Sol, that is), took over the former Rococo’s space on Commonwealth Avenue last year. And is he turning it into a restaurant? No, he’s turning it into two restaurants. Restaurantarama recently […]

Social climbing is generally considered an unsavory affair, but what Karen Laetare is up to is more like mountain-hopping—somehow more palatable. For eight years, she’s been running Brix Marketplace in a funky old building that sits on a curve of Route 53, between Monticello and Jefferson Vineyards. That’s an elevated spot, but a fickle one […]

Guess what we saw last Tuesday when we were strolling down the Mall? Why, the newly reopened doors of The Nook. Being devoted correspondents—as well as hungry for lunch—we marched right in and asked for a table.

The last year has been a turbulent one on the W. Main Street corridor, and we blame the stormy weather there for the fact that our metaphors are all mixed up. One longtime fixture bit the dust (Blue Bird Café) while another rose from the ashes (Blue Moon Diner). In the Main Street Market a […]

So, given much thought to Ruckersville lately? Yeah, neither have we. The place feels like a distant and, well, trafficky universe north of the airport on Route 29N. But, despite our perhaps unfair lack of attention, Ruckersville does in fact have a restaurant scene, which appears to be expanding. We caught wind of two late […]

Quick: Hoos or Hokies? If you’re the type who has a deeply considered and passionate response to this question, Restaurantarama has A) nothing in common with you, and B) just the restaurant for you. Seriously—we are not a sports person. Blame it on one too many withering glances from not-at-all-well-meaning jocks in our high school […]

Slowly but surely, the separate universe that is Belmont is earning its stripes as a dining destination. It’s worth a trip across the bridge to the town-within-a-town for brunch at Mas or lunch at La Taza, and soon you’ll have another reason to make the journey (or, if you live in Belmont, to cheer): a […]

Most of the time, we at Restaurantarama are privy to would-be restaurateurs’ solemn oaths that they will be opening their new eateries “in late spring”—which means August—or that they’re “just waiting on the health inspector”—which means that the kitchen equipment will be delivered sometime next month.

An odd sight popped up on the Downtown Mall during the last week of December. Right next door to Chaps, where a long-established coffee cart known as Java Hut sits outside the ice-cream parlor, Sal’s Caffe Italia opened its own coffee cart. There they were, looking like Tweedledee and Tweedledecaf. Whispered rumors of a feud […]