Charlottesville, VA, restaurant suggestions
 

We need restaurant recommendations for our trip to Charlottesville, VA. We would like somewhere that is nice, but not stuffy. We like most everything -- American, Italian, French.

We are staying at the Boars Head Inn -- how is the restaurant there? Also, heard good things about the following restaurants: Clifton Inn, Ivy Inn and C&O. Can anyone give me some feedback on them?

Thanks!

Pretty town...check out www.chowhound.com....they have been very helpful in the past with great restaurant suggestion another site might be www.tripadvisor.com

From experience I can recommend the C&O and the Ivy. I love the C&O and the atmosphere is definitely not stuffy. The Ivy Inn is slightly more formal and traditional. Food is excellent.

Don't know about the Clifton Inn.

We had a nice meal at C&O last July. I highly recommend it for both food and atmosphere.

Zoroco (I think that is how you spell it) was delicious. I was in Charlottesville last weekend and that is where we went. It is somewhat spanish food with an American twist. They are in the outside downtown mall (on 5th St.).

Also try Aberdeen Barn. It's a great little steakhouse.

Carmello's is a great Italian restaurant as well.

Oxo is a fabulous french restaurant that is also in Charlottesville.

I have no idea where the exact location of the other three, because I was driven there by a family member. I wasn't paying attention. Sorry!!

lucienne78 was probably thinking of ZoCaLo -- I haven't dined there yet but have heard good things about it.

My favs:
Italian: La Cucina
Mediterranean: Bashir's Taverna (Fri & Sat nights often have live music like Flamenco and sometimes belly-dancing)
French-American: L'etoile

Oxo is good but a bit pricey and stuffy.

Other options:
Great tea, good food and funky atmosphere: Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar

Locally made beer and O.K. food:
South St. Brewery ($2 pints on Tuesdays)

A good site for reviews and to find addresses for the places above is:
http://www.charlottesville-dining.com/