Mesob

Mesob
104 14th Street Parking Garage
N.W. Suite #8
Charlottesville, VA
(Check out their online menu!)

It’s hard to find good Ethiopian food in Central Virginia so Mesob is a blessing to those who love this terrific cuisine. Mesob boasts a nice lunch buffet on weekdays and features a variety of tasty dishes. The injera is very good – soft and spongy, absorbing all the flavors of your meal. (And in recent visits, the injeras has been even better than usual. I really enjoy it when it is a bit sticky and soft.)

I always love the cabbage dish although I am not sure what it is called. I’m also not sure what they do with it but it has a great flavor, slightly sweet and delicious flavor that soaks right into the thoroughly cooked vegetable.

Other buffet items have included Alicha Doro Wet, which, according to their menu, consists of chicken drum sticks and hard boiled eggs in a wonderful broth of “spiced and purified butter, garlic, tomato, turmeric, and onion.” I’m pretty sure that I’ve also had the Minchet Abish-Alicha Wet, which is a dish of minced meat “stweed in spiced and purified butter, onion ,turmeric, tomato paste, and garlic.”

For vegetarian lovers, I don’t think can go wrong with the cabbage but there is also the Gomen, which is a dish of chopped “and boiled collard greens cooked with olive oil, onion, ginger, garlic, and jalapeno.”

All in all, this is a terrific place with friendly service and excellent food.

(Images by AG)

Lunch at Brasserie Montiel

Brasserie Montiel & Coffee House
2001 Commonwealth Dr.
Charlottesville, VA

I have given this restaurant a fine review in the past for their breakfast options (crepes are good for any time of the day!) but their record with lunch items is also very good. Their chicken potpie is hearty and perfect for a cold, rainy day. The pie isn’t actually a pie as the puff pastry comes on top of everything else. The pasty itself is flakey and well baked. I think I prefer my pies to be a bit gooier but I’m probably an outlier. The chicken, carrots, and gravy are well done.

The jambalaya is also an excellent lunch item. Filled with tasty sausage, mussels, shrimp, okra, and a variety of excellent spices, this dish is also quite filling. I had my doubts about it when I saw the quantity (it comes in a somewhat small portion in a square plate) but this is a filling dish so order a cup of coffee afterwards or you’ll fall asleep at work. It was $12 and more than I usually spend on lunch so I think I will reserve this dish for very special occasions.


Finally, the mini-cheeseburgers are, as you can see, well-presented and a good lunch-sized meal. I think I prefer my burgers to be a bit less rare than this (it was a bit pink in the middle) but the taste was good and the fries complimented the dish very well. The fries, by the way, have a bit too much salt in them but that’s my health-conscious side talking. They taste great.

(Image by MB)

Bistro La Viola

Bistro La Viola
253 South 16th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102

This “bring your own wine,” cash only restaurant in downtown Philadelphia is a great place to dine if you like a cozy atmosphere and some tasty veal. The dining room can only fit around 70 people and it gets very tight very quickly on busy evenings so go early. On nice days, one might be tempted to sit outside but there, one might be distracted and annoyed by the city traffic.

Start with the Grigliata Di Calamari (grilled calamari marinated in lemon juice, garlic and peppered extra virgin olive oil) and you’re on your way to a wonderful evening. The calamari is well grilled with some charcoal taste that is not overwhelming. They might add a bit more lemon though as the dish can verge into the too sweet category. The dish is not filling and leaves plenty of room for the Vitello Alla Viola (veal medallions with fresh mushrooms, garlic and prosciutto in a rich veal sauce). What can I say about this except that I am craving it now. The thinly cut veal is perfectly cooked and is juicy and tender. The sauce brings out the rich taste and the mushrooms compliment the dish perfectly.

The tables fill up quickly and since it is “family style,” you may end up with some happy couple sitting next to you as you are enjoying your food. A small price to pay though as the food is terrific and the waiters watch over you like hawks.

(Image by AG)