Two0Four sends in a rumor for you foodies:
Belmont BBQ is opening up at least two new locations, one in Waynesboro, and one on 29 north, perhaps by the mens warehouse, I vote for forest lakes
The new mystery bar and restaurant next to CRUSH is hiring. Musical chairs anyone?
I do know something about The Local and Belmont BBQ’s plans after the break:
Belmont BBQ is absolutely in the expansion stage. They want to franchise the business. Any takers? Critiques?
That “mystery bar and restaurant” is called The Local. Their website currently is in development. Little birdies tell me the food is going to be modern American bistro with $15 to $20 entres, a swank copper/teak? bar, and an upstairs/rooftop deck space. I think one of the weeklies did a feature on it, but I got bored trying to find it. Anyone else have deets?
Popularity: 27% [?]
Tagged as: Barbecue, BBQ, Belmont BBQ, Charlottesville, Food, Local, Restaurant, The Local
nice folks (especially the guy from Jersey), but lousy food…
I was speaking of Belmont BBQ, and my thought was good conversation can only take you so far. If the food is lousy, and the BBQ definitely falls in that category, then you are doomed. Granted, they give you nice portions. So if you are stoned or drunk, then taste might not matter.
The BBQ at the Crush party was tasty, and it came from there I think. Maybe it was the weather.
I’m actually quite a fan of Belmont BBQ, and would love to see another location closer to my house, provided the quality of the food stays the same.
You know what I want? A Guad up by Forest Lakes. Pantops is getting one. I cry foul.
</sorta on-topic>
colfer: correct, and hand made by Kellie too on cheddar biscuits…..yum
Will the rise of belmont mean the fall of west main street?
Was West Main ever really up?
Silmo - tru dat. I’ll probably get pelted for this, but I’ve always believed that the key to west main’s “emergence” is the presence of a nationally recognized chain of sorts. Kinda like what disney did to times square. I suppose the Market could be that “Disney.”
National chain, eh? Hm…maybe they’ll put another Peace Frogs™ store there. Seems like a great idea.
Stanley - there is really very little redeeming about the Guad that would actually require more than ONE restaurant, nevermind the three that are currently turning out over-processed, dumbed-down versions of Mexican food and margaritas with Mountain Dew - think about it, there is a REASON why your food is so cheap and comes out so fast.
Hazyview - the arrival of an Applebee’s across from Feast, Gearharts, the Organic Butcher, and ABC would be the end of West Main Street. Keep the corporate to 29 — that way, I just never have to go up there!
I absolutely love Belmont BBQ! But then, I think red sauce BBQ is a crime against humanity. Good BBQ don’t need no stinkin’ sauce. Although I love getting their Inferno sauce, on the side. Yummy. Just the right level of hot. If anyone can handle the heat of their Dragon’s Breath sauce, I doff my stylish, yet imaginary, hat to you.
towniegownie, I’m not putting Guad up for Mexican food of the year or anything. But I’d embrace any Mexican or Central American offerings in the Hollymead area, and Guad seems the likeliest to expand there. That said, if Aquí es Mé, El Paso, or The Taco Truck wants to open up shop in the ‘mead, even better.
Aquí es México, that is. (¡Coño!)
Stanley: that is caliente my friend
I just read that Mellow’s gonna do soy cheese pizzas. Hollllllllllllllerrrrrr!!!!!!!! Now if they could move it from the corner to downtown, it’d be perfect.
is it just me or did the comments on this thread just drop down in intelligence a few notches?
First of all west main will never be “midtown” (now really that is just silly) Our town will never be big enough to have a mid-town, you gotta head north of the mason dixion for that…
As for Belmont Barbecue, it is decent for what you find in the city, and excellent onion rings, however if you were to go any further out you would find much more stellar examples of someone subscribing to one school of the ‘cue or another — not dancing the fine line between the two trying to please the average yuppie…barbecue lends itself to franchising so i am not surprised but it would be nice if it stuck to it’s roots a bit longer
is it just me or did the comments on this thread just drop down in intelligence a few notches?
You mean just then, when you clicked on “Submit Comment”? Hm. I’m not so sure. I really do appreciate the self-reflection, but you’re probably being too hard on yourself.
clickclick, the intelligent folks have departed to start their VD cuddlin’. Ooooops, gotta go.
clickclick,
Do not confuse “BBQ” and “Barbecue”. Belmont (and Big Jim’s) are “bbq”. Barbecue is what you find at Jinx’s Pitstop. Jinx’s is the only actual barbecue in town. While Belmont claims they do not boil its meat (which then makes it bbq), it is sheer fabrication. One taste of Belmont’s bbq (which is a couple shades better than Big Jim’s) clearly shows it is boiled at some point.
Is it just me, or do we go down the path of the great pulled pork debate at least once a month here? I’m not trying to hate, I’m just saying…
/countdown to someone starting in on pizza
“Keep the corporate to 29 — that way, I just never have to go up there!”
Exactly.
About the BBQ:
Belmont BBQ, imho, is run by wonderful folks in a great location, but I just can’t even call it good barbecue. I know that hurts to say, but it just isn’t good. Also, I never see people in there and the two times I’ve eaten there I have been the only person in there. They must be doing well somehow though to open up another location (or two).
The Blue Ridge Pig is good barbecue. The only good barbecue I’ve ever had from a place with multiple locations is from Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in Syracuse, NY (other locations in ROC City and the NYC). If you’ve eaten at either place you know what I’m talking about and that kind of food can’t even be mentioned in the same breath as Belmont BBQ. Sorry…
Hazyview @9 -
I once had occasion back in 2003 or so to speak with the franchise rights-holder for a chain restaurant who wanted to open his franchise for his chain on W. Main. He was forbidden by corporate HQ to open on W. Main, they wanted his restaurant on 29 North. He was frustrated beyond reason and was thinking about selling the rights. I don’t know if he did sell them, but ultimately the franchise did open up in Hollymead, so once again, the large corporate HQ bullies got their way.
CRUSH… BBQ… MAS… FRIDAY… COMPLETE. woops caps… The Local with its roof top bar? Belmont has it going on.
I am thinking that Horatio has never tasted REAL BBQ. I have been to Belmont Bar-B-Q and it is far from the boiled BBQ that people are used to eating. I think he thinks because it is tender, it has to be boiled. Belmont Bar-B-Q serves the real thing. Keep up the good work.
Blue Ridge Pig.
’nuff said
(sorry lys)
The Belmont bbq owner is too arrogant. Jinx’s is too. Just because they each have the ability to smoke meat, they shouldn’t cut down everyone else. They talked to me from the start like I didn’t know anything. I would like to support a local barbeque place - but sorry, quality has to come with some level of graciousness. Most bbq joints near here are indeed imposters. But the arrogance of the aforementioned spots is just too much for me to bare.
I love me some Pierce’s in Williamsburg
Yeah I wish that I-64 exit went straight there instead around a goddess’s harp of a route. Or summin. How about Durty Nelly’s? Worthy to some degree, eh? With a fireplace, darts, and three-potato salad.
You know everyone is entitled to their opinions and while some of you out there may have distinguishing palettes, others may not, so for everyone of you that likes one place in town over another there will be someone else who doesn’t…. at least while you are talking about Belmont BBQ you are leaving some other restauranter in peace. I happen to eat there quite often and have gotten to know the owner quite well, I can assure you that the meat is not boiled, and if he has ever been arrogant (which I don’t think he has) I know that someone obviously mistook what he said out of context. He goes out of the way to provide excellent BBQ at a reasonable price to all of his customers. Quite frankly, I don’t know how we did without him as long as we did. So here’s a very happy thank you for all you do to keep our BBQ lovers stomachs well fed and we look forward to your expansion and many more scrumptious meals at your establishments.
My hat is off to your comments, BBQLover. The owner of Belmont BBQ has always been an upstanding and impressive gentleman, and has provided me with the service that will continue my frequenting of his establishment. I have only been there on a handful of occassions, but I have enjoyed the food (which I will agree, is not boiled), the company, and the hospitality I have received from those at Belmont BBQ. I, too, am excited for the expansion of the establishment, and I only wish to see its success - not only in Belmont, but in its future locations, as well. These are good people, with a great idea, and great food
I agree with BBQLover, Belmont BBQ’s meat is not boiled and the owner is far from arrogant. Those guys at Belmont go over and beyond what most establishments do in this area to make you feel welcomed. I am also impressed by how clean this restaurant is (not like some other BBQ joints in C’ville). The food is good (especially the ribs), the service is fast and the atmosphere is inviting. I hope they open a location north of town so I don’t have to drive all the way to Belmont to get good BBQ, but until they do I’ll make the trip because it’s worth it!!
Belmont BBQ is one of the best I’ve eaten. Kudos to the chef. Would like to see one at Forest Lakes or somewhere 29N.
I have been around the world and back again, and let me tell ya’ill something about barbeque: BELMONT BBQ is where it is AT!!!!!! I mean the ribs are absolutely AWESOME and the pulled pork, which is pulled fresh everyday, OH MYYYY!!!! We have not even begun to talk about those unique types of sides!! Yes, the Belmont BBQ is a WONDERFULLY CLEAN and Friendly atmosphere! The quite attentive and CHARMING blonde gentleman in the back, along with the distinguished yet sooooo humble owner upfront makes this the #1 BBQ eateries in the WORLD!!!!! THANK YOU BELMONT BBQ FOR EVERYTHING!!!!!!!
shaddup about the bbq already. “it’s good!” “no, it sucks!” “it’s boiled!” “no, it’s not!”…
The White Spot is, at best, and not even that, an interesting place to eat BBQ.
yikes!! I can’t imagine eating BBQ there. you have to make sure your burger was cooked recently as opposed to hours ago when you eat at the White Spot. I’ve watched them cook a pile of burgers and eggs and set them to the side to beat the late night/early morning rush of folks needing alcohol sopping material.
Per the Jan, 24th dish section of the Hook:
“We want to create a great neighborhood restaurant where people don’t have to spend a hundred bucks to get a nice meal and a bottle of wine,” says The Local’s newly hired chef Matthew Hart. “There’s a real lack of restaurants in town that are reasonably priced.”
To accomplish that, Hart says they’ll adopt the bistro or trattoria model, focus on simple rustic “peasant food” done right, using as many in-house ingredients as possible, and keep entrees between $12 and $15.
Is it $12-$15 or $15-$20?
$15 - $20 entrees don’t seem any more reasonable than other places I won’t patronized based on the higher prices & lesser food
I forgot that I wanted to ask with all the new restaurants in a 1 block (or less area) Mas, La Taza, Belmont BBQ, Crush, Saxx, & now the Local. Where are people supposed to park? There was no where to park after Mas opened with their 10 or so space lot. Glad I don’t live near there.
Where are people supposed to park?
Walk. Bike. Take a bus or a cab. Problem solved for the local residents and the patrons. (And if you can’t take public transportation to get there, that’s a failure of your local, state, and national governments. Ring ‘em all up and raise hell.)
Plus there are lots of churches and businesses within a few blocks of these establishments that aren’t open at night. Empty expanses of asphalt while a parking problem exists makes no sense, maybe stakeholders with divergent hours of operation will come together to make things work, but probably not.
Park at my house, its a three block walk…
/at least seven spots available.
My name is Fabia, not Fabio, bad typo!!!
Are you related to Fabio?
No I am not, are you???
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