A reader writes in and asks “we are looking for the best Easter brunch in CVille. Any suggestions? I see brunches on the site, but not Easter specific?”
Related posts:
Weekend Brunch Guide (needs some updating)
Two facts:
1. The Tavern (on Emmett) been closed since at least Saturday, with a sign on the door about re-training. (Although I haven’t looked today.)
2. The Health Department report. Do you ever look at the Virginia Dept of Health Restaurant Inspections site? Huuge time-waster. Anyway, the most recent report for the Tavern was extremely negative [link].
Those are the facts.
Here is the speculation:
Most of us are obsessed with the downtown mall usually out of convenience. What is off the beaten path? My interest
in procuring a new breakfast spot has yielded a diamond in the cville rough: C’ville Coffee. Located at the corner of Harris and McIntire in what seems to be an antique/furniture business park, it serves up more than just coffee.
My curiosity with Cville Coffee began with the Chocolate Chip Honey Bunches I tried at the City/Farmers Market a couple of weeks ago. Something so simple and delicious surely had to come out of a creative kitchen, or at least a business that really cares about its customer experience.
About an Owner
I had lunch with Toan Nguyen, owner of C’ville Coffee soon after our introduction at the City/Farmers Market. We discussed everything from business to politics to the local “green” initiative. He has quite a colorful past, influenced very much by his wife’s career ambitions. She was a high-powered San Francisco lawyer in the 80’s, no doubt slinging together crazy private equity and leveraged buy-out deals in the hay day of financial market abuse (just a thought, not actually confirmed). Confronted with the realization that working for the Firm would not allow for a great family life, she told Toan she wanted to move back to cville where she attended Uva Law.
The Breakfast Battle: Bluegrass Grill vs. Blue Moon
I am sure after at least 10 comments on Blue Moon everyone is fully aware of my love affair with the place. It is not only a Sunday morning tradition, but the highlight of my week (that and South Street on Tuesdays—which Thor beat me to discussing). I make it a point about once a month to try a new breakfast place (Sunday or otherwise). My most recent new place was Bluegrass Grill & Bakery. I went on a weekday to avoid the mass line that seems to enviably appear every Saturday and Sunday morning.
I’ve been charioting around all of Charlottesville for the last few months trying to figure out, what, in fact is the Best Breakfast Place in Charlottesville. We’ve done a brunch roundup before, but since I’m Thor, I’m an absolutist.I needed an answer for myself. More importantly, I needed an absolute answer so cVillain readers could tell me I’m wrong (or right). So, here it goes…
We’ve had our issues with the C-Ville’s Best Of and Charlottesville-dining.com. First of all, C-Ville’s Best of List claims that Bluegrass Grill & Bakery takes the top spot. Secondly, Charlottesville Dining has Shenandoah Coffee and Spudnuts as the Top Breakfast Joints (eliminating those places with 1 vote). I wholeheartedly disagree with these rankings. Here’s why…
