It’s no secret that the food scene in Charlottesville is second to none. All of the fabulous restaurants offer a variety of different types of food for every palate. In addition to restaurants that specialize in ethnic food or other categories, there are restaurants reserved for the best meal of the day: brunch. In no particular order, here are some of my personal favorite places to indulge in too much breakfast food in Charlottesville.
1. Pigeon Hole
Most students at the University of Virginia are familiar with the Pigeon Hole, arguably the cutest and most intimate brunch spot on The Corner. This little blue house nestled in the Elliewood alley seats only a few, so it’s important to get there early if you want to skip the wait.
Their brunch menu has a few items that are always there, like the amazing breakfast burrito and many of their delicious sides (my personal favorite is the cheese grits), but they also update the menu seasonally to keep us coming back for more. Bonus: Pigeon Hole is now open late night on the weekends, so it doesn’t have to be regular brunch hours in order to get your fix!
2. Oakhurst Inn
Another place that looks more like a house than a restaurant on the outside, Oakhurst Inn has more than just your typical run-of-the-mill breakfast options. With wholesome ingredients and fresh food, their menu will have you deciding for a long time. Between the fresh breakfast sandwiches and the buckwheat pancakes, this place has it all! Don’t forget to try out the side items here too, they will send your already great meal over the top.
3. Bizou
Now to head a little further away from student central, Bizou is located on the Downtown Mall, and the flair that their brunch provides will have you returning until you’ve tried each item. I’ve had some of the best french toast of my life here, and the atmosphere of the restaurant with the busy walls makes this a fun brunch stop to entertain you and your friends throughout the meal!
4. La Taza
If you’re in the mood for adding a more Hispanic flair to your regular brunch, this is the spot for you. La Taza offers the normal brunch favorites of pancakes, Eggs Benedict, and croissants, but they also have a choice of ‘Latin style’ entrees to add some spice to your day. I personally think that a number of the entrees are big enough to share or at least save some for later, so I recommend getting a group together to check it out, and everyone can get a taste of more of the menu than you would by yourself.
5. Cafe Caturra
Back within walking distance for those living in or near the university community, Cafe Caturra on The Corner offers the best brunch drinks menu with a stacked high Bloody Mary and other fruity cocktails that will compliment any item on their menu perfectly. This is a great place to take your parents when they visit you in Charlottesville because of the great seating choices of a more secluded upstairs area to enjoy guests, or the patio, where you can sit outside and do some serious people-watching while you enjoy your food.
6. Threepenny Cafe
Before going on, I have to admit that I personally have not been to Threepenny Cafe for brunch, so if you go and it doesn’t live up to expectations, I refuse to be held liable. However, in researching for this article, I checked out their menu, and it looks fabulous and has me wishing it was already tomorrow morning.
I added this spot to the list because of their breakfast pizza that I had for dinner recently, so I think that counts. It was fabulous and I cannot forget the taste of those mouthwatering pieces of bacon sprinkled over the top. If that doesn’t get you drooling and texting your friends to meet for brunch here, I’m not sure what will.
If you’re not a brunch person, I’m not sure why exactly you read through this entire article, but I appreciate it. If you are, you are in luck, because you have a lot of new places to test out just as C’ville welcomes the summer, and the freshest and ripest fruits will be incorporated in a lot of these places on a brunch menu near you.
