In a small, unassuming building hidden behind a gas pump, Hunt Country Market & Deli serves my favorite sandwiches in Charlottesville. The take-out shop offers a variety of signature subs, all aptly named after racehorses in true horse-country fashion. Each sandwich is only $6.99 and is handmade as soon as you order. Hunt Country is the perfect spot to grab some lunch for a picnic, or my personal favorite — the best way to fight Foxfield famish.
Located at 2048 Garth Road, the deli is a 20-minute drive from central Grounds. The beautiful drive takes you through Virginia horse country, with rolling green fields dotted with cows and horses. The deli is situated almost directly across the street from the iconic Foxfield Races — a two-minute stroll away when you want to grab a bite. The parking lot is tight, but it is situated next to a small field strewn with picnic tables if you decide to stay to eat. They are open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.
The market has been a staple for the town of Free Union for longer than I can remember. As a Charlottesville resident, I have seen Hunt Country serve everyone — farm workers on their lunch break, equestrians after a foxhunt and attendees of Foxfield alike. I have always enjoyed reading the list of their signature sandwiches — which includes sassy names like “Boss Mare” and “Italian Stallion” — browsing their ready-to-eat foods and watching the staff assemble my food behind the deli counter.
My experience this time around was no less enjoyable than past visits. Homemade bird houses and the familiar jingle of the door greeted me as I walked into the small space. I ordered my sandwich with a handwritten order sheet and grabbed a freshly made brownie from the pastry baskets next to the checkout counter. The cashier cheerfully rang me up and gave me his recommendations for the next time I came. As I sat and waited for my order, I watched the staff playfully banter in the kitchen.
I received three sandwiches and a brownie for under $30 — which is a steal in my book — and brought them outside to have a car picnic by the Foxfield acres.
The first sandwich I ordered was the “After the Hunt” — an untoasted sub that has been my go-to order for years. The fresh six-inch baguette was lathered with boursin cheese and stuffed with turkey, bacon, American cheese and a pile of cucumbers, avocado, sprouts and tomatoes. The fresh veggies brought a sweetness and tang to the creaminess of the boursin, and the crispy bacon added a nice texture. The baguette is perfectly crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, with the boursin acting as a barrier to stop the tomatoes from turning the bread soggy. For $6.99, I got more than my money’s worth, and the sandwich will continue to be a staple of mine far into the future.
The next sandwich I ordered was called the “Sly Fox” — you might be sensing a theme here — which is served on untoasted rosemary and sea salt focaccia. The sandwich was drizzled with light lemon vinaigrette and spread with a bright and flavorful fresh pesto. It gets better though, with a three-cheese combo of swiss, provolone and cheddar complementing the turkey, cucumbers, lettuce, sprouts and tomatoes. Once again, the sandwich was only $6.99 — a price I would have paid for the focaccia alone.
Ending with a bang, I ordered the “Harvest” — the only warm sandwich of my selection — which they took care to double wrap in foil to preserve the goodness inside. The baguette was spread with apple butter, which I could have eaten out of a jar. The sweetness of the apple swirled with the brie and hot turkey, turning this simple sandwich into a symphony of flavors. My only complaint about the $6.99 bite is that there should be more apple butter — but that may be my sweet tooth talking.
The homemade pastries at Hunt Country cannot go untouched, hence why I grabbed a brownie for the road. The hunk of heaven was almost as big as my head. The fudge brownie has been perfected in the back corners of the Hunt Country kitchen, and it is interspersed with chunks of chocolate. I could not eat the rich confection in one sitting, but I can confirm that the delectable dessert is just as good hours later. The huge treat was only $3.29, and it took me three sittings to fully finish it.
Hunt Country remains my favorite sandwich shop after this visit, and I highly suggest a trip there for anyone who hasn’t tried their food. The perfect balance of textures and flavors in all of their sandwiches continues to impress me, and I have yet to eat a bite I didn’t enjoy. The sandwiches are cheap for the amount and quality you get, making it an outstanding lunch to grab with friends. The wait for my sandwich was less than ten minutes, but I suggest going early if you are making a trip during Foxfield as they do get busy. I will be making the trek across the road to grab my lunch during Foxfield this weekend — and I advise you to do the same.
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