Best fried chicken 2013: Wayside Fried Chicken

Wayside Fried Chicken 2203 Jefferson Park Ave. 977-5000 waysidechicken.com Runner-up: Michie Tavern 683 Thomas Jefferson Pkwy. 977-1234 michietavern.com When it was first eaten, fried chicken was a sign of wealth. If that’s true, we should consider Charlottesville pretty wealthy, since it has so many fried chicken spots. Wayside lands at the top of the pile […]

Best Bloody Mary 2013: Beer Run

Beer Run 156 Carlton Rd. #203 984-2337 beerrun.com Runner-up: Fellini’s #9 200 Market St. 979-4279 fellinis9.com Here’s a good excuse to indulge in a Bloody Mary (as if you needed one): Drinking the red cocktail might have positive health effects, given that the drink contains lycopene, an antioxidant found in tomatoes that allegedly reduces the […]

Best Mediterranean 2013: Orzo Kitchen & Wine Bar

Orzo Kitchen & Wine Bar 416 W. Main St. 975-6796 orzokitchen.com Runner-up: Aromas Cafe Barracks Road Shopping Center 244-2486 aromascafecville.com Mediterranean food is enthusiastic about ingredients de la mer, and why shouldn’t it be? The Mediterranean Sea takes over an area of 965,000 miles—that’s a lot of room for inspiration! Orzo, in the Main Street […]

Best power lunch spot 2013: Bodo’s Bagels

Bodo’s Bagels 505 Preston Ave. 293-5224 1609 University Ave. 293-6021 1418 Emmet St. N 977-9598 bodosbagels.com Runner-up: Hamiltons’ at First & Main 101 W. Main St. 295-6649 hamiltonsrestaurant.com The thing about people in power is that they’re often in a hurry—off to a meeting or to get their shoes shined (we’re guessing). It makes sense, […]

Best bartender 2013: Nick Crutchfield

Nick Crutchfield at Commonwealth Restaurant & Skybar Runner-up: Amanda Wood at Zocalo Tom Arnold, Sandra Bullock, Bill Cosby, Chevy Chase, and Bruce Willis were all bartenders before they got famous. We can’t be sure of Nick or Amanda’s acting prowess, but one thing’s certain: When it comes to pouring a tall one in this town, […]

Best steak 2013: Downtown Grille

Downtown Grille 201 W. Main St. 817-7080 downtowngrille.com Runner-up: Aberdeen Barn 2018 Holiday Dr. 296-4630 aberdeenbarn.com Necessity is the mother of invention. For Henry Ford, inventor of the gas-powered vehicle, that necessity was finding a way to turn a profit on the wood scraps used in the production of his Model A. With some help […]

Best family-friendly restaurant 2013: Tip Top

Tip Top 1420 Richmond Rd. 244-3424 tiptoprestaurant.com Runner-up: Eppie’s 412 E. Main St. 963-9900 eatateppies.com Real talk. There are some places kids just really shouldn’t be: airplanes, museums, and, depending on how good of a job you’re doing as a parent, some restaurants. Luckily, Tip Top and Eppie’s provide solid options where little ones can […]

Best vegetarian menu 2013: Revolutionary Soup

Revolutionary Soup 105 14th St. NW 979-9988 108 Second St. SW 296-7687 revolutionarysoup.com Runner-up: Eppie’s 412 E. Main St. 963-9900 eatateppies.com A 2006 TV ad for Nutri-Grain bars features a very enthusiastic office worker who eats one of the snacks and then decides he feels so “grrrrrreeeaaaat!” that he quits his job, proposes to his […]

Best restaurant wine list 2013: C&O

C&O 515 Water St. E 971-7044 candorestaurant.com Runner-up: Commonwealth Restaurant & Skybar 422 E. Main St. 202-7728 commonwealthskybar.com When a champagne cork pops out of the bottle, it reaches a speed of around 40mph. Coincidentally, that’s also how fast readers decide they’d like a glass of vino with their entrée—and C&O makes it easy with […]

Best sandwich spot 2013: Bodo’s Bagels

Bodo’s Bagels 505 Preston Ave. 293-5224 1609 University Ave. 293-6021 1418 Emmet St. N 977-9598 bodosbagels.com Runner-up: Bluegrass Grill & Bakery 313 Second St. SE #105 295-9700 The most important meal of your day, breakfast is not to be taken lightly. Readers know Bodo’s is the best way to break the fast, offering up a […]