Back in June, James “Jinx” Kern, owner of Jinx’s Pit’s-Top Barbecue had a “brush with genius” when David Byrne and his band, in town for a concert at the Pavilion, popped into the little barbecuery on East Market Street for some lunch. “There’s an irony here,” said Jinx. “Back in 1985 I dated an ER doctor who was crazy about me because she thought I looked like David Byrne. That’s how I became a Talking Heads fan.” Jinx didn’t have a camera on hand, but Byrne took a photo of them together and promised he’d send it to him. Well, it looks like Mr. Byrne is a man of his word.

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Lunch at Savour might be one of the best-kept secrets in town. All lunch entrees are priced at just $9.
PHOTO BY RYAN HOOVER

Formerly the Hong Kong Buffet on Emmet, Savour is a fine dining establishment with an eclectic menu. The restaurant has earthy terra cotta and sage walls and contemporary chic décor, with beaded chrome sconces, cushy leather chairs and white tablecloths. A tiled fireplace in the center of the room casts a luxurious yet relaxing glow across the room.

Both lunch and dinner begin with a basket of warm, crusty bread. Soft, whipped butter, piped into a rosette, melted nicely into the bread.

Dinner entrees (called appetites) are priced at $19, but for $30, can include appetizer (a bite) and dessert. Ordered separately, appetizers and desserts are each $7. A bite, the beef baguettini sounded cute from the name. Thick slices of baguette arrived filled with a shredded beef filling seasoned with garlic. Jus and horseradish came on the side for dipping.

I ordered the chicken and prawns in a piquant sauce with garlic, tomato, jalapeno, lime, cilantro and tequila. The chicken breast was topped (more)

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The basement of C&O had every table filled with diners.
PHOTO BY STEPHANIE GARCIA

Nearly every table at the Melting Pot was full of guests. Manager Jennifer Burke expects Tuesday night to be the busiest in the week.
PHOTO BY STEPHANIE GARCIA

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In Charlottesville’s first annual Restaurant Week, the dining rooms of eight local eateries were packed– or so some diners assumed.

“We were surprised to hear that some of the restaurants weren’t open,” Melting Pot manager Jennifer Burke says. “The feedback we were getting was that the ads didn’t mention that some restaurants were closed Mondays– I guess that annoyed some people.”

Indeed, a couple visiting UVA from Annapolis, Maryland, reported they chose to visit the Melting Pot due to it being one of the few (more)

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The 12th Street Taphouse will soon have a much smoother sidewalk linking it to the nearby Central Grounds of UVA as construction work on the adjacent West Main Street sidewalk appears to be wrapping up.

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For the first time in over a decade, area foodies are spending less on eating out.
FILE PHOTO BY RYAN HOOVER

It’s no secret that restaurants are struggling these days, but for the first time in over a decade, the numbers— in the form of meals tax revenues— are now showing the depth of the decline.

Since the late 1990s, meals tax revenues have been a cash cow for the city and county, as both governments tack four percent on top of every restaurant bill (more)

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