I warned Escafe about the rave review I’d be giving it, and here it is.
Setting
Located just west of the three blocks between 2nd W and 3rd E that informally constitute “restaurant row” of the downtown mall, Escafe seems seldom stumbled across by newcomers and tourists. My mom and I did just that, however, when I moved here in 2001, and it has been a favorite lunch destination when she visits ever since. I think that most restaurants get one chance to win over a diner, two chances with me. But if every meal I’ve had at Escafe were its one chance, it wins every time.
Service
Loyals (as opposed to “regulars”) were nervous when Doug and Sean announced they were leaving in 2003, but the “new” Escafe is hardly a departure. I’ll take a server with a sense of humor over a server who acts like he knows everything, and I think Escafe’s unpretentious but attentive (busy nights exempted) service is as much of a selling point as its food. Over the years, Escafe has employed a handful of Cville’s most infamous personalities, and “personality” seems to be a job requirement. We love Micah behind the bar, and we love belmont behind the turntable.
Food
I have never met a salad I didn’t like at Escafe, especially its Asian cabbage toss. Its menu changes seasonally, so I can’t recall past entrees but do know I’ve liked them all. The menu has always had appetizers, soup and salads, sandwiches, entrees, and specials, but it’s not overwhelming. Most recently, I had salmon over seafood risotto, and I’d stopped ordering salmon because chefs invariably cooked it past the medium I requested. I lightly grilled my server about the fish, and he assured me it would be lightly cooked. The meal secured Escafe a top-3 spot (finally!) in my Charlottesville restaurants.
Scene
As belmont, yo pointed out, there’s no predicting when Escafe is going to go from family dining to most-straight or mostly-gay bar, but my cool straight friends and I don’t care. It’s nice to get checked out by a woman from time to time, and to smoke inside a bar if I want to! And actually, everything about Escafe after 10:30 is unpredictable. This past year, a private party was being thrown on Mardi Gras, but when a friend and I got a little tipsy at South Street and wanted to keep the night going, they invited us in to booze and dance. In short: not for the high-strung scenester.
Question: where did Bluegrass Sunday go?
Website
Bitch, moan, whine. I’m sorry. Update it, please! The royal blue background, outdated menu, and unattributed quote about the food are the culprits. All you need is one page with the menu, directions, phone number, hours, reservation policy, and maybe a photo of the exterior in the evening. No photos of your food, ever. I advise against Flash. Only chains do that, and they use plastics and high-tech photography and waste my time with little videos of kangaroos or the ever-insulting models eating steak. The splash screen is very charming, though, so whatever you spent on it is worth it!
Ready for the check?
Dinner for two could cost between $40 and $100, depending on whether you order sandwiches and beer or appetizers, seafood, and cocktails. I can think of few comparable Charlottesville restaurants. Expect it to be really crowded on weekends year-round, and do consider it for private parties. (If anyone has thrown a private party there, please tell us about your experience!)
Related posts:
- Restaurant News: Aqui Es Mexico and Escafe (aka “The Cafeteria”)
- The Upstairs Restaurant Review
- The Local Restaurant Review
Hey lilith, I really like the structure of the review. It hits every aspect that people want to know about a bar/restaurant in town. It’s funny, places that have been around Cville for a while seem to go on a rollercoaster as to what people are saying about the caliber of the food. I know this is true at Rapture, Fellini’s, Blue Light, Mas, etc. Lately I’ve heard people say the food’s crap at escafe, but I’ve nothing but good experience in my one or two meals there in the last 6 months.
Oooh Mardi Gras was fun. The first couple hours presented the challenge of spinning zydeco music (um…) but it totally degenerated into a true bacchanal after that. Yay! But anyway, some other points…
I have no idea what is up with the web page, but they also have a myspace page which is equally unupdated.
I think that lunch there is on haiatus, but I have not sure why.
Bluegrass sunday ended when the resident band abruptly (and I mean with no warning at all) moved their scene to fellinis. I have no idea what the back story is here, and cast no aspersions, Im just relaying what was reported to me. There have been a few bands on Sundays since, but not for a while.
The joint is closed mondays, and that is when a lot of the private parties go down. I have played a few of them (i guess Im kind of an option). This one scenester (no names, right?) had her 50’s birfday there and was carried down the walkway btw the icepark and the omni on an egyptian litter (!), all pharaoh’d up and whatnot, and in through the open glass wall to begin the party! Outrageously fun. I have no idea about the business end of parties there, but its a good spot.
Im no gormet, but the food is very, very good and always has a few vegetarian options.
Peak hours on dance party nights seem to be btw 12:00 and 1:15… but there is really no telling what will happen or when (or with who… yow!).
And lastly, once and for all, my dj name there has absolutely nothing to do with the name escafé, it is just a very bizarre coincidence.
The bluegrass band that played at Escafe had a falling out one night with management. From what I recall, it had something to do with not getting drinks comped and charging the band for booze. You’re welcome for the detailed insight.
Also, it’s haunted.
Oooh wendy! Do tell.
I’ve long had mediocre eating experiences at Escafe, but I’ve heard good things since the menu overhaul/new chef. I’ll have to give them another go.
The bartenders (Tall white dude, asian girl) are always friendly and helpful, though.
Good! Next rave review is going to Eppie’s. Dan, get ready!