In the beginning, there was steak.
The moment when humans decided that cows looked better on a plate than in the field has to rank up there with learning to stand upright.
Vegetarians, be warned: This is not the column for you. In general, we try to find restaurants with broad appeal, which everyone in our increasingly gastronomically diverse society can enjoy together. This week, however, we're narrowing our focus to that exquisite marriage of flesh and fire. This is where you vegetarians may want to stop reading.
For the rest of you: run, don't walk, to the Aberdeen Barn.
No, it's not convenient. Located off of Route 29 North, the "Barn" is set inauspiciously between Red Lobster and Econo Lodge.
It also ain't cheap. Steakhouses, almost by definition, serve basically only prime cuts of meat and, as an alternative, expensive seafood.
But if a great dining experience is the perfect combination of unique atmosphere, unforgettable food and impeccable service, then the Aberdeen Barn has mastered the formula. And it might just be the best restaurant in Charlottesville.
Walking in, you're instantly hit by waves of heat from the central bar, where grill masters expertly wield steaks over white-hot charcoals. It's a loud, bustling contrast to the subdued, dimly lit dining room with cozy tables and plush booths. It's a room laden with traditional hospitality, from the maitre d' who seems to know everyone's name to the pots of homemade cheese dip and breadsticks that greet each diner.
It's also a bit of a time warp: the wait staff and the patrons are middle-aged, making us obviously the only table of Wahoos without their parents. It's a bit like stepping back into 1950. It may not be hip, but a classic never goes out of style.
But this is a steakhouse, and it hardly matters if you're eating off the floor as long as the meat is great. Good thing the Aberdeen Barn serves up some of the best beef either of us has ever tasted.
James, never one to turn down a classic, went for the filet mignon. Two words: like buttah. It was the most tender and juicy filet he has ever tasted. Ann, while tempted by the massive prime rib (available in two sizes), went for the Delmonico, a cut from the heart of the rib. Exquisitely marbled with fat and with a pure taste that only the highest quality steak has, it was as perfect as a dish gets. Definitely enjoy your steak plain -
Read More
Body count: The stigma is outdated
By Madigan Wirkus | 19 hours agoWhether you’ve been in a long-term relationship since freshman year of high school or are a master of the late night catch-and-release, if you are at all active, you, too, have a number attributed to you.
A review on a year with a roommate
By Rosie Strickland | 6 days agoMy roommate has indirectly taught me the importance of learning how to build my own routine.
Africa Day captures the ‘essence’ of African heritage
By Kate Johnson | April 21, 2025Saturday's sold-out event featured a four-hour program of modeling scenes, dance performances and musical acts in the Newcomb Ballroom.
