I introduced one of my best friends to Ten last week– she had not yet been, she’d heard it was fantastic, and she was not in the mood to eat a lot. Perfect.
I enjoyed going to Ten last year throughout the winter, which had as much to do with the space as it did with Ted or the crowd I ran with. The light fixtures set against a dark backdrop give the high-ceiling space an almost ethereal glow. Unlike its brother business downstairs, the space is open enough that winter coats and scarves can be shed and hung on the provided rack without having to maneuver through throngs. And, of course, the only smoke is coming from the food. I’ll get back to that, actually.
Like Escafe, Mono Loco, and Zinc, a winter cider drink is now being offered. I go for the red wine and lychee martini myself, but purists can count on their sake offerings.
I’ve now had about half of the menu, and I might try more if not for the calamari– a must, every time. I order calamari often, and it is second only to Vic and Anthony’s in Houston. The tempura avocado is how I imagine comfort food behind the pearly gates to be. The harami wasabi kobe skewer is another favorite, as well as the wasabi tobiko. (It’s not on the sushi/sashimi menu, but you can order it!) I’m not as excited by the rolls at Ten as some, so I’ll leave them to you to try.
The service this past week was excellent. Thor and I had dinner and drinks on the patio a couple of times this summer, and the stairs were… significant. We couldn’t blame them for trying.
The one difference about this recent visit from all of my previous ones was the aroma in the dining room. They have a dish that cooks at the table. I love the concept. I traveled to Austin last year and went to one of Lance Armstrong’s supposed hangouts, Uchi, and seared my own meat on heated smooth black rocks. Expensive, a little contrived, but cool. The only problem with Ten’s concept was that the meat being cooked and infusing the air was fish, and the diners let it overcook. I went back a few days later to get a drink, and turned away at the bottom of the stairs because it’s… potent. It wouldn’t have stopped me, but I planned to be around single people that night, and I think I can stop talking now.
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Tagged as: Charlottesville, Downtown Mall, Restaurants, Restaurants/Bars, Reviews
My impression of Ten was that it was just a bit pricey overall.
Definitely enjoyed the different skewers and the rolls we had, but the bill went over $100 kind of fast once we had a couple of drinks.
Ten? Meh. I’d give it a seven.
There’s a waiter at Ten that is so knowledgeable (esp about sake,) that I got him name: Burt. I haven’t been to Ten in a while, so I don’t know if he still works there, though.
yeah, burt is awesome. he’s worked at a few places around town, but i think he has found his niche at ten. which is unfortuante, becuase that place is ridiculous. over priced, sub par food, mostly bad service (burt being an exception) strikes me as the type of place where people go to show off how cool they are. trite, hackneyed and a waste of money.
Ten is the best restaurant in Charlottesville currently.
crud buster– are you serious? the best restaraunt in charlottesville? seriously? i would be interested in knowing the criteria you use to make such a bold statement. i’m not hating, i’m not trying to start an argument, i am not saying my palate is better than yours– i just would really like to know what it is about that place that stimulates you so.
The best thing about Ten is Burt and the best thing about Burt is his brilliant concoctions that he’s always working on. I love the ambiance, I love him, and it’s a fun place to drink on occasion, but I honestly wind up a little frustrated when I eat there. When we have places like C&O or OXO in town that will yield the same bill AND a full stomach it’s hard to swallow the cost for dinner there despite the Japanese angle. Also, on a moderately related note, are there any takers on arranging a calamari show-down? I am thinking this because, while my opinion may be completely booze induced, I recall that the calamari at Cassis was pretty damn divine. Or the bourbon was. No, it was the calamari, definitely the calamari. Anyway, arbitrary though it may be, I would love to put Charlottesville’s fried mollusks to the test!
i just would really like to know what it is about that place…
His ten percent investment perhaps? Just kidding, Im sure it is owned by he who shall not be named…
Seriously though, the one thing I will give them is presentation but thats hard to blow with Japanese food. The food while good, does not merit the price. The service is some of the worst I have ever had (tried them four times) with skipped orders, missed orders, misunderstood orders all in some random procession. I must have missed this Burt fellow, perhaps he was off at a saki symposium with Ernie.
And the interior, while interesting, is somewhat schitzophrenic. Its as if they quartered the place with curtains, gave four four different interior designers for different pharmacological cocktails and turned them loose in a quadrant each. Would have been awsome to be there the moment they tore the curtains down to behold their frankenstien and I… I… Oh. Dear.
Damn. I have become one of you. A foody villain. I dont know the first thing about restaurants so what am I doing restau-ranting? I figured this might eventually happen, I just thought it wouldn’t be so soon. I was so sure I could get out… I just…
I know where this leads. Next thing you know I will be posting reviews of the Burger King on fifth street just to get my fix. Thanks a lot, lilith and Thor. I knew I should have listened to my DARE (”Dining And Reviewing Enables”) councilor… Oh what a world! Oh the humanity!
Back in the day while working in snotty joints as a wine dude I was often asked what our best wine was on the menu. This was a fixit that would serve up a flight of the best years in Bordeaux. Want a glass each of 29′, 45′ and 61′ we had it. Put a botte from 1900 (a monumental year- and interestingly enough, matched in praise by 2K) on the table for only a couple grand.
So my answer is…”the best wine in the house for my mother in law is the White Zinfandel.”
Point being- the best wine/resturant/bar is purely subjective and is that which is enjoyed more than anything else for that person. Ack! The snobs I have fobbed while wearing that tastevin!
For my wife and I, belly up to the raw bar at Blue Light and be served by the guys handling the oysters. They recognize us as low maintenance and high tipping so the service is tremendous. Food is fast and hot. Beer is cold and quick. I like it better than the meal I had in a French Laundry one time. Good food, but too damn slow and by course 8 I wanted to take a walk among the vines.
B’yo - it gets really bad when you start plating your own food, as in my sandwich halves are always cut to make two neat triangles which I stack upon each other a la a Gourment cover photo. Or when you buy the appropriate garnish even though you are eating alone and no one will know if you have chives sprinkled over your potato soup vs parsley. When you reach the point of self criticism, you’ve truly reached the foodie dark side.
Ha!
danpri, you reminded me: L’Etoile is doing a Burgundy dinner tomorrow night. $85 per. Everyone, there you go. Reservations required.
L’etoile’s wine dinners are excellent (and usually very reasonably priced for the quality of the wines they serve).
There have been a lot of best restaurants in Cville over the past 10 or so years—Metropolitain clearly was the best at one time, OXO had a brief run, Fuel was even putting out great food for a brief period. Duner’s has been very good at certain points.
One disclaimer: When I say town, I’m talking Charlottesville with an emphasis on downtown. So I’m eliminating Fossett’s and the Clifton, which are both probably better than Ten. I don’t think Ten is the best restaurant ever, but I can’t think of anywhere else I’d prefer to go that’s high end. Fleurie’s service is, and always has been, hideous. OXO is past its prime. C&O food isn’t worth discussing. Cassis, no. What am I missing?
I’ve had great experiences at Ten. I’m not an investor. I go out a lot. I like Burt. The service isn’t terrific but it’s not awful either. The food for the most part has been really good.
Please give me else something to consider, as I’m pretty fed up with almost all the restaurants in this town.
go to bashirs on a saturday night. seriously.
Please give me else something to consider
Well, the Burger King down fifth street extended is really excellent. Their drivethru is generally pretty quick, and they have easy interstate access. When dining in, I have found the inerior design laid out in an appealing variety of semi-tertiary colors, the tables a sturdy faux-mica affair. If you can get there when Donald is working register number three, you’ll find he is fairly knowledgable of both items on the grill and the many options at the drink fountain (his reccomendation to accompany my Fish Sandwich with Dr. Pepper was unexpected, yet very good!). I have found the Whopper at this location particularly whoppy. When done right, it is not to be missed. In fact I think my only complaints would be the oft depleted ketchup packets in the condiment kiosk, and the rather rough surface of the steel mirror in the lavatory. But these are easily overlooked as you comest upon some of the finest paper wrapped cuisine Cville has to offer, all while gazing out of 270 deg view that spans from the Shell station to the Waffle House.
And as if that weren’t enough, I hear (thanks to my little birds, who are pidgeons) there is a new burger super combo meal option starting in December. You heard it here first. Can anyone confirm?
Ugh. That particular Burger King is the slowest in town. I once waited 7 minutes for a Coke. I know, pathetic, but sometimes I need my highfructosecornsyrup rush.
And I like Ten by the way. It’s like an exotic appetizer tasting party. And it’s not so expensive if you get a guy to pay for you.
I’m so happy that people know Burt. If I don’t see him working at Ten, I honestly walk out.
Hmm…I’d be interested to know where the best calamari is in town. I’ve always enjoyed Downtown Grill’s.
Well nay nay, like ten with burt, it is best when donald is working.
jus sayin.
Hamilton’s has some very good stuff.
Personally, L’Etoile tries too hard in my opinion. It’s like they have all the right ingredients, names and ideas, but execution of the meal isn’t mouth watering orgasmic… then again this is Charlottesville, not a major metropolitan area.
OH, PS Aren’t these pictures really good?
Please observe my edited comment above– it is a Burgundy wine dinner that L’etoile is hosting, and the speaker is Chris Reynolds of Exclusive Wines.
I know it’s going to sound so silly and high-falootinesque, but I have this thing about risotto. It’s not supposed to be made with cream. It’s rice and stock. Some butter or oil are understandable, but if it is rice in cream, call it just that. So L’etoile’s rice in cream is very good. But risotto it is not.
crud buster, I agree with you on several accounts. One, I tend not to consider non-downtown restaurants when considering a fine dining locale. Two, I agree Duner’s is hit or miss. Their serving staff never changes, but chefs do come and go. That could contribute to (or completely account for) the inconsistency. Cassis, no. But why? It’s fantastic food and I love the interior. Restaurant popularity is so arbitrary sometimes! I disagree about OXO being past its prime, though. Very disagree. I probably never ate there when it was prime, but I love it so much now!
oxo has some bitch-ass rice in cream: pea risotto, spicy shrimp risotto, wild mushroom risotto…mmmmm
I don’t think he’s a bartender…is he?
The one wine dinner we attended there was awful. It might have been the layout of the restaurant that broke everyone up and didn’t allow for communal dining or discussion of the wines, or the winery that was the driving force, or the pedestrian wines, but Mrs. Stormy and I were both disappointed. We loved the sponsoring retailer, and had really enjoyed the previous wine dinner they put on that we attended at C&O.
PS - I hope the blockquotes turn out properly. I am a dolt when it comes to HTML.
Stormy, nice htmling.
Re: L’etoile, I am so glad you brought it up. Upstairs dining, downstairs dining, and some two-tops outside the main rooms. Where in the world (and by world I mean restaurant) do they do the lecture?
I wish I could remember the blogger, but someone who has their blog posts on Cvilleblogs wrote about a really bad experience at L’Etoile…the host and waitress came off as really nasty.
The winemaker we had went from room to room, giving his spiel over and over again, which didn’t leave a lot of time for questions, which turned out okay for us because we thought the wines were only meh.
We haven’t tried a wine dinner at Wild Greens yet, though we’re considering it based on some of the selections they’ve had and the retailer they work with.
Oxo’s wild mushroom risotto … mmmmm, indeed
I had my first experience at Ten last night. I can’t say that I loved it and I can’t say that I hated it either. I left Ten confused, maybe even chagrined, and $250 poorer.
The service was consistently slow (highlighted by my friend and I waiting half an hour for 1 beer and a Jameson on the rocks). The wait staff was friendly, however, and the restaurant was pretty busy. I thought that the food was good - not great. It also seemed a little too pricey. There were 8 of us and the bill including tip was almost a grand. I think part of the problem was that my group was slightly naive about we were getting ourselves into. In the end, I felt that Ten was representative of a lot of Charlottesville’s “elite” restaurants. Slow, pricey, and so-so food.
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