The best part about brunch is that, since it technically counts as two meals, you can eat double the amount of food. Win. Brunch is also the perfect meal for those who are indecisive. Instead of just breakfast or just lunch, why not both? But if you're an indecisive bruncher, chances are it can be hard for you to pick a brunch spot. Here is a list of my favorite brunch places in Charlottesville, Virginia.
1. Pigeon Hole
Pigeon Hole is a Charlottesville classic, and if you don't go to any of the other restaurants on this list, you must go here. Technically, brunch is only offered on Saturdays and Sundays, but Pigeon Hole's extensive breakfast and lunch menus mean that this is not a problem. If you're in the mood for breakfast, choose between classic selections such as egg biscuits, French toast, pancakes, and the 2 Pigeons in a Hole (two eggs over easy nestled in grilled toast). For lunch, choose between classic salads and sandwiches like grilled cheese and heartier options like mac and cheese and chili. The brunch menu boasts a Shrimp Florentine and the Rancher (steak with poached eggs).
It's definitely going to be hard for you to pick your order. Pigeon Hole can get crowded, especially on the weekends, so make sure you go early and are prepared to wait a little bit to get a table. Pigeon Hole also has new late-night hours Thursday-Saturday, 10 p.m.-3 a.m., because sometimes you just need some Pigeon Hole.
Pigeon Hole French toast.
2. Fig
If you're looking for classic Southern brunch food, then Fig is your place. Choose between a Cajun egg burger, Oreo pancakes, shrimp and grits, and an assortment of omelets. I love the menu's variety because there is always something that looks good to me. The specials are also fantastic. The last time I went one of the specials was pumpkin pancakes!
Fig is also perfect for larger parties because of their online reservation tool, which makes booking a table for your special occasion or large group so easy. It's refreshing to find a restaurant in Charlottesville that takes reservations. Brunch is served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays with $2 mimosa pints and $5 bloody Mary pints.
Fig bloody Mary and iced tea.
3. Ace Biscuit & Barbecue
Even though it's technically not a brunch place, Ace Biscuit & Barbecue offers all-day breakfast and an extensive lunch menu, so it qualifies in my book. It's perfect for when you're feeling like getting away from the Corner area and want more of a traditional menu selection.
For breakfast, you can build your own biscuit or get a variety of pre-selected biscuit items (think biscuits and sausage gravy, a rib biscuit, and a smoked beef biscuit). And if you're not feeling biscuits for whatever reason, they do have the traditional fried chicken and waffles. The lunch menu items will blow your mind. You can get a sandwich, bbq bowl, or a lunch specialty item like the Ace Burger (house ground brisket, bold & spicy sauce, smoked pimento cheese, and dill pickles) or the Ace Cuban (pulled pork, country ham, homemade dill pickles, pepper jack cheese, and mustard). And with 12 specialty sauces that include Cider Mustard, Molasses, and Virginia Red, Ace's sauce selection just can't be beat.
Egg biscuit with hash browns (picture by Mike P, Vintage Virginia Dining)
4. Cafe Caturra
Don't be deceived by Cafe Caturra's lively wine bar scene at night -- the restaurant also does brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The brunch menu boasts an impressive cocktail list with classic mimosas and bloody Marys but also includes an adventurous Morning Flame (club soda and gin with lemon juice, an egg white, jalapeño, cucumber, and orange zest), a Red Eye that promises to cure hangovers, (Champion Killer Kölsch Beer with house-made bloody Mary mix and a raw egg), and the Strawberry La Parisienne (Sauvignon blanc with Elderflower Liqueur and a muddled strawberry).
For your meal, choose between paninis, salads, traditional brunch items (pancakes, French toast, shrimp and grits), and more unconventional items like the crab and shrimp frittata, the lox and cream cheese platter, and the Caturra "Cure" (a baguette covered with seared beef, melted Gouda, sausage gravy, and two eggs over easy).
Huevos Rancheros from the brunch menu.
5. Bluegrass
A local hole-in-the-wall restaurant on the Downtown Mall, Bluegrass will be sure to please your tastebuds. Third-year Sarah Hill says, "You must go to Bluegrass! You may have to wait in line for a little, but it's definitely worth it. You must try the Hungry Norman (eggs served on top of sausages with an English muffin covered in goat cheese and blackberry jam). I've eaten it on my birthday for the past two years!"
Other menu items that caught my eye were the pig candy and chocolate bacon, the bacon cinnamon bun, the Dirty Frenchman (French toast topped with brie, honey, and lavender), and the Nova Scotia omelet (smoked salmon or shrimp with spinach, tomatoes, capers, and herb cream cheese).
Remember that it's cash only, and if you can, go during the week instead of on the weekends to beat the crowds!
Pig candy and chocolate bacon at Bluegrass Grill and Bakery.
We are so lucky to be in a town like Charlottesville with a thriving food scene. Skip the mediocre omelet, cereal, or granola bar that you would usually be eating for breakfast and splurge at one of Charlottesville's best brunch spots.
