Where To Eat In Charlottesville If You're Trying To Eat Local

Food trends are seemingly endless these days: rainbow foods (SMH), avocado everything, over-the-top desserts; it seems like everyday there's something new that every foodie on Instagram has proclaimed to be the next big thing. But, one "trend" that seems to be here to stay (and with good reason) is the trend of eating local.

Thanks to this trend, people are starting to show more interest in where their food is coming from and how it's made. Hopefully this interest doesn't go away anytime soon, as eating local is both better for the environment and our own personal health. Here's where to get in on the fun in Charlottesville:

1. Timbercreek Market

Don't just take my word on the freshness of Timbercreek's foods—take their website's, which proclaims "We grow it, we cook it, we serve it!" Timbercreek's meat and produce are all grown at nearby Timbercreek Farm, which is pesticide-, herbicide-, antibiotic- and hormone-free. They also have a fire deli and made-to-order sandwiches (try the chicken salad).

2. Revolutionary Soup

Rev Soup is very transparent with their customers about where the food they're eating comes from. If you've visited their Corner location, you may have seen the map of Virginia on the wall pinpointing exactly where they source their ingredients from, which is pretty dope.

3. Greens To Grounds

While not technically a restaurant, Greens to Grounds is a UVA organization that gives students access to local produce. Each week they have a variety of locally grown fruits and veggies, as well as snacks, like bread and hummus. It's a great option if you struggle to make it to the farmer's market each Saturday. And for all you first years out there—they take Plus Dollars!

#SpoonTip: Check out the Greens to Grounds website for recipes using each week's featured produce.

4. Citizen Burger Bar

The go-to burger joint in Cville just keeps giving us reasons to love it. The people behind Citizen Burger have made it their mission to bring a better burger to the people, starting with the meat they make them from. They only source their meat from local farms that raise grass-fed cows and free-range chickens, making Citizen for the animals and for the people. 

5. JM Stock Provisions

If you've ever been stumped in the meat aisle at the grocery store thinking "WTF am I supposed to do with this cut of meat?", stop by JM Stock. They're a whole-animal butcher, meaning they source whole animals from local farmers and butcher the meat themselves, so the staff is super knowledgeable about what they're selling you.

#SpoonTip: Stop in for a made-to-order sandwich from their deli or check out their artisan cheese selection.

6. The Local

No surprise this Charlottesville favorite made the list—their commitment to serving local food is in the name. The menu descriptions of every dish include what farm the meat, cheese or produce came from, so you know exactly what you're eating.

7. Public Fish & Oyster

There's nothing worse than seafood that has clearly spent more time in a plane or truck than the ocean. You won't run into this problem at Public, as they serve mostly Virginia-sourced oysters, which is the best we can ask for in landlocked Charlottesville. 

8. MAS Tapas

The chef at MAS actually started the restaurant as a way to counteract the growing presence of fast food in Charlottesville at the time. Sticking with the tradition of Spanish tapas, MAS serves simple dishes that truly let the freshness of the food shine through, which will certainly leave you wanting mas.

9. Beer Run

With over 900 craft beers in stock, Beer Run is basically heaven for beer enthusiasts, but their commitment to using local products is equally impressive. They only serve Trager Brothers Coffee, and most of the bread products they use come from Charlottesville bakeries like Mariebette.

10. The Whiskey Jar

The Whiskey Jar's owner, Will Richey, is a man truly dedicated to the local food movement—so much so that he bought Red Row Farm in 2011, allowing him to stock all his restaurants (Rev Soup, Alley Light, The Bebedero, The Pie Chest) with the freshest possible produce. Exhibit A: The Whiskey Jar's infamous summer tomato sandwich that's only served during peak tomato season.

Clearly, eating local isn't that hard in a place like Charlottesville. But it's not something that's exclusive to eating out—the farmer's market is an easy way to buy your own local food, plus it's often cheaper and more fun than shopping at the grocery store. This is one trend that everyone should most definitely embrace.