A peek inside the new burger joint, scheduled to open early fall.
PHOTO BY MARISSA D’ORAZIO

The chic-but-unnamed new burger-joint/music-venue replacing Orbit Billiards on the Corner proudly touts a Fast Times at Ridgemont High still painting. Owners Andrew Watson, JR Hadley, and John Adamson (of Toad’s Place in Richmond) let the Hook know that the bottom floor will be a non-smoking restaurant, and the top floor will have a bar and proudly showcase musicians with room for up to 200 audience members. Maybe our CVS-induced Charlottesville music void is about to get filled.

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Just 13 days after the John Kluge-owned Ponderosa Steakhouse auctioned off all of the assets at its Charlottesville location, Kluge’s company Metromedia confirms today that it has shut down all of the company’s corporate-owned Bennigan’s and Steak & Ale restaurants. Metromedia has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy for both of the chains. According to the Chicago Tribune, the move is a sudden one, as Bennigan’s managers all received phone calls at midnight last night to shutter the restaurants immediately. Kluge was the richest man in the world in the late 1980s according to Forbes, and lived in the Charlottesville area until 2001, when he moved to Palm Beach, Florida and donated his Albemarle County estate to the University of Virginia.
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Four years ago this Sunday, Italophiles Mark and Victoria Cave open the espresso and gelato bar Milano in the West Main Market to accompany their Italian-inspired home and garden store, Verity Blue. According to Mark Cave, the idea was to create “an authentic Italian experience” for folks by contrasting Verity Blue’s “rustic, Tuscan aesthetic” with Milano’s “more modern, industrial style.” In addition, former Dish author and Italian profesori Christina Ball teamed up with the Caves to open her Ecco Italy language and culture center in the West Main space, creating Charlottesville’s own Little Italy.

On July 3, however, Milano, Verity Blue, and Ecco Italy all moved into the famed Pink Warehouse on South Street, and– more important to foodies– began offering more than espresso and gelato. Unfortunately, despite a big party to celebrate the move, it seems that many people don’t know that Milano has an expanded menu.

In fact, the Caves brought in well-known cooking instructor and former enoteca chef Marisa Catalano (photo left) to create that menu, and hired manager Clinton Jones to turn Milano into a full-fledged restaurant.

According to Jones, Milano is now serving both breakfast and lunch (don’t worry, they’re still serving espresso, gelato, and sweets) with an Italian flair– i.e. panino, tramezzino, etc. In addition, Jones says their luscious desserts will be available all day and they’re open seven days a week, 7am to 9pm.

“The place really looks beautiful,” Jones says.

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The wines for Friday, July 18:

Les Pouches Samur, France: The wine is made by a well-respected cooperative, Cave de Saumur, Just poking your nose into the glass should make you smile. You’re greeted with lush, tangy aromas of fresh yellow peach mingled with that telltale mineral character coming from the limestone soils that dominate the vineyards. The wine is surprisingly rich and soft on the palate even though it packs plenty of acidity. Excellent Chenin from Loire $12.99

Monchof Estate Riesling, Germany: This wine blew us away�ˆ‘the winery was founded in 1177, so these guys have been making wine for a minute or two. The vineyards in the Mosel Valley are piled with blue/gray slate and go straight up. The fruit produced is some of the best in the world. The aroma is classic peach and white flower. Flavors of peach and pear are wrapped in a tangerine frame. The finish is crisp and fresh�ˆ‘Excellent! $18.99

Domaine de Nizas Le Mas VDP, France: This estate named �€žLe Mas�€� or �€žLittle Farm�€� produces artisan style wines. A blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier, it exhibits flavors of grapefruit and lychee with minerality notes. A nice long, elegant finish.

Chateau Maurel Fonsalade, France: One of the best values in red wine. A blend of Syrah and Grenache, this wine is produced from 50 yr old vines. Biodynamicaly farmed, the wine is deep, dark and earthy. Velvety and full bodied with dark fruits and a hint of leathery spice. $9.99

Crush wine Shop
(434)-972-WINE (9463)
email: [email protected]

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There’s been yet another accolade for the tiny-but-tasty barbecuery on East Market Street. This time— just a coupla months after a nod from the Wall Street Journal— it’s the 2008 Maxim Food Awards, found in the August edition, the one with Amber Heard on the cover. Here, the popular lad mag offers its “definitive guide to the world’s tastiest things.” And the world’s best pulled-pork sandwich is found at… Jinx’s Pit’s-Top Barbecue. “For a mere $4.50,” says Maxim, “this juicy ’sammich’ on Texas toast will transport your mouth to the Mississippi Delta.”

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