OXO: This restaurant offers a seasonal, daily-changing menu of modern French cuisine. Despite the upscale sound, the fare is actually unfussy and unpretentious -- simultaneously earthy, subtle and intensely flavorful. Tender potato gnocchi, a Southern staple, are swathed in an excellent sauce.
And though some aspects of the atmosphere are utilitarian, the open kitchen, all-white walls, and exposed rafters are tempered by luxuriously cushioned settees, intimate tables and warm candlelight.
CASSIS: The menu abounds with staples of French home cooking: beef burgundy, duck confit, country pâté and steak frites. Although not completely traditional -- the steak was a much finer cut than you would find in a Parisian bistro -- it was absolutely stunning. The combination of charred beef and salty fries was ambrosial, and each element in this essentially simple dish was executed flawlessly.
The front of the restaurant is more modern, with metal tables and giant glass windows looking out onto the street. In the back, enclosed, comfortable booths are perfect for a more intimate dinner.
PALLADIO: With Mom and Dad footing the bill, this is the opportunity to go out with a bang. There are few better places to do so than Palladio at the Barboursville Vineyards. The white-columned Italian-style building is surrounded by rows of grapevines and rolling hills, and it feels like stepping into a Tuscan still life. This feeling extends to Palladio's dining room, as well. Cream colored stucco walls with vintage wine-themed artwork enhance the atmosphere of refined rusticity.
The cuisine similarly balances sophistication, comfort and creativity. Palladio serves refined Italian food with a focus on local meats and produce in a prix fixe dinner menu: expect to pay around $60 for a four-course meal or more than $80 to have a wine paired with each dish.
Dining at Palladio is an experience with no equal in Charlottesville. The stunning setting, charming atmosphere, impeccable service and, above all, the outrageously delicious food and wine will make your dinner truly unforgettable.
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