Steps off of the Downtown Mall in what used to be a barbershop, Cumbre prides itself as Charlottesville’s newest coffee shop and bakery. The quaint shop offers authentic Argentinian delicacies like empanadas, alfajores, medialunas and more. Cumbre is a perfect spot to go grab a delicious, affordable lunch, complete with an espresso drink and a sweet treat. The best part? There’s not a line — at least not yet.
Located downtown on E Jefferson Street, Cumbre’s good eats are a quick 10-minute drive away. The shop is open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. seven days a week, and they offer both take-out and dine-in options. My friend and I went midday on a weekday and were some of the only patrons there, hinting to me that we had found one of Charlottesville’s newest hidden gems.
Walking up to the 480-square-foot building, I thought an entire restaurant could not possibly fit in such a small space — but I stood corrected. Cumbre made up for limited indoor dining space with a classy outdoor patio, laden with pea gravel and furnished with picnic tables and large umbrellas to protect patrons from the elements.
As we moved inside, jaunty music followed us into the restaurant, and the smell of empanadas and coffee enveloped our senses. Painted on the far wall was the English translation of the restaurant’s name, Cumbre, from Spanish — “Highest point or greatest degree of perfection, intensity or greatness in something.” I was intrigued whether our lunch would make Cumbre worthy of its name.
Three employees greeted us with bright smiles at the counter and answered our questions about the menu. We ordered a box of three empanadas, a sandwich, some cookies and some espresso. Soon after we sat down, each dish came out on an oval wooden tray with sparkling water and a shortbread cookie — a small touch that really elevated the dining experience.
Of course, we couldn’t go to a coffee shop without vetting the coffee, so my barista bestie ordered a cortado. According to her expert opinion, it was wonderfully smooth with a robust flavor. We were especially impressed by the intricate foam art on the top, considering a cortado does not consist of much milk. At only $3.50, it’s some of the more affordable quality coffee in town.
Next, we opened the box of three empanadas, which came at $12. Each empanada was branded with the type of filling on the side of the pastry, so there were no worries about mixing flavors up.
I reached first for the sweet corn and cheese. This empanada had a subtle chili flavor that united the sweet corn kernels with the sharp cheese. The texture of the filling was silky, and it contrasted exquisitely with the slight crunch of the outer shell of the pastry.
My friend’s favorite was the spinach and artichoke empanada, and I understood why — it had the creamiest filling out of all three. The flavors of the gooey cheese and fresh spinach were perfectly balanced in the flaky shell. Having tasted many bland spinach-artichoke dishes in the past, I was pleasantly surprised to bite into the well-balanced, earthy flavor profile of this empanada.
While each empanada was heavenly, the knife cut beef was my favorite. The name of this empanada refers to the traditional Argentinian method of filling an empanada with hand-sliced beef, rather than ground beef, to bring moisture and flavor to the pastry. The sliced beef made the empanada incredibly rich and juicy, and it was exquisite in concert with the perfectly-crusted dough.
The goodness at Cumbre didn’t stop with the empanadas — they also had a selection of breakfast toasts, sandwiches and salads. We decided to share the Prosciutto Pleasure sandwich. While a tad steep at $12.50, I would argue it’s one of Charlottesville’s better sandwiches. Thin prosciutto, fresh cherry tomatoes, mozzarella and pesto were layered on a fresh baguette. The sandwich came warm, which allowed all the flavors to melt together. The acidity from the tomatoes brightened the pesto, and the saltiness of the prosciutto made the melted mozzarella somehow taste even better.
No meal is complete without a sweet treat. The alfajores were calling our names from their spot next to the cash register in hand-wrapped packages. The cornstarch cookies filled with dulce de leche struck the perfect balance of cookie to filling — something not even Oreo has figured out yet. The shortbread-like texture of the cookie and the creamy dulce de leche made for a cookie that was both crumbly and moist. At $4.50, it might be a little pricey for a cookie, but if I were to splurge on a treat, I would reach for it again.
As small and unassuming as Cumbre might appear, inside you’ll find something exciting and totally unique. Cumbre’s mission to bring authentic and delicious Argentinian flavors to Charlottesville really shows in the taste and presentation of their products. I went home raving about empanadas, and I already have plans to bring my roommates for a fun, low-cost lunch. I believe Cumbre is beginning to climb to the summit of their success, and I’d recommend visiting the cozy cafe before there are too many people in queue.
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