Dinner and a movie: Stonefield's date-night options bloom

In its inexorable march toward local date-night dominance, The Shops at Stonefield now boasts two casually upscale restaurants with the March 4 opening of Travinia Italian Kitchen.

Facing the courtyard in front of the new Regal Theater, the Charlottesville Travinia is the 10th location in a chain that now stretches from Northern Virginia to South Carolina and will soon extend to Florida. It's one of six full-service restaurants planned for Stonefield and joins the already-opened Burtons Grill.

Decor in the approximately 240-seat restaurant is modern with warm lighting, comfy-looking couches and an expansive bar, but perhaps the most alluring decorative feature is outside on the patio where gas log fire pits surrounded by comfortable chairs might tempt diners to enjoy a pre- or post-movie beverage al fresco.

The menu features traditional Italian fare including chicken or veal scaloppine, cannelloni and a plethora of pasta dishes, but those looking for a lower-carb night out will find plenty of selections in the surf and turf options– seared tuna and oven-roasted sea bass, for instance, or gorgonzola crusted New York strip. Like Burtons, Travinia offers gluten-free and kids menus as well, and vegetarian options include a wild mushroom carbonara, salads and a slew of gourmet pizzas.

There are signs that the other restaurants planned for Stonefield aren't far behind Travinia. Pasture, which will serve up Southern dishes tapas style, is under construction directly across the street from Travinia, and signs in nearby windows also promise burger joint Black and Orange as well as Tex-Mex place Cyclone Anaya's are coming soon. Dish will stay tuned!

Travinia will serve lunch and dinner daily.