Grace Tang ‘21
Staff Writer
Christina Luk ‘21
Staff Writer
Bang! - Asian Tapas
213 2nd St. SW, Charlottesville, Va.
Grace: I am biased toward Bang! since the restaurant offers two of my favorite things: tapas and staple Asian classics with a twist. The restaurant is conveniently located a few blocks from the Downtown Mall, and has the perfect atmosphere for a date or night out with friends. I visited Bang! for dinner and I was struck by the beautiful lights strung outside the cheerful two-story brick building. The service was fantastic, especially as the waiters knew their menu very well and gave great drink suggestions from their extensive list. My top choices include: scallops, any steamed buns, and tuna poke. Bonus points for the delicious variety of vegan and vegetarian options available. Rating: 4.2/5
Christina: Bang! It’s trendy, it’s fun, it’s pretty much everything you expect from a restaurant with an exclamation point in its name. The small plates are a little pricey for my taste, but they taste. So. Good. And remember to order a classy cocktail to add to the atmosphere. Everyone at your table will thank you. This is a very good place to bring your friends or a date, maybe even back-to-back the same week because you can’t believe how tasty everything is. I recommend the Tuna Poke, Chickpea Spring Rolls, and seasonal Rockfish. Rating: 4.0/5
Sushi King – All-You-Can-Eat Sushi
2849, 171 Seminole Ct, Charlottesville, Va.
Grace: VALUE and VARIETY are the two things that come to mind when I think of Sushi King. When a friend first informed me of $13 all-you-can-eat sushi in Charlottesville, I was very cautious. However, I was pleasantly blown away by how good the sushi was. Pro Tip: Order a bunch of rolls and ask for all of your sushi in a boat, with dry ice if you want to be extra fancy. TRUST ME, your Instagram and Snapchat will thank you later. Additionally, there is a self-serve appetizer and dessert bar to indulge in. My personal favorites include: Dragon Roll, Volcano Roll, and Steak Hibachi. Rating: 4.0/5
Christina: There are days when you want something nice, and there are days when only sheer quantity will fill the void inside. For the latter, I recommend Sushi King. For the round number of $12.99, you can run the gambit of culinary delight. Get the spring rolls, get the shrimp tempura, get the fried rice, hibachi steak, and miso soup. Get all the sushi you want and then turn the menu over and get all the rolls. How many rolls, you wonder? Thirty, dear reader. One for each cold October day as we inch inexorably closer to the PILA auction and the beginning of the end. When you go, remember me, and order the Sea Angel Roll. Rating: 5/5
Tara Thai and Silk Thai: The Thai-Thai Grudge Match
Silk Thai: 2210 Fontaine Ave, Charlottesville, Va.
Tara Thai: 1107 Emmet St. N, Charlottesville, Va.
Grace: Silk Thai is phenomenal. A friend recommended the location for dinner after the OVaL hike last Friday, and it was a surprise gem. The restaurant is tucked away in a corner, and the inside is decorated with a funky assortment of art. As soon as we entered, the smell of delicious goodness hit us like a brick wall. I don’t think it’s possible to go wrong with anything on the menu, but the particularly good options include: soup (Tom Yum and Tom Ka), drunken noodles, crispy duck, and pineapple fried rice (that comes in a real pineapple). The value-to-price ratio is incredible since every dish is enough for two or three meals, so you can enjoy your food for meals to come. Rating: 4.5/5
Christina: For those of you who have been looking for the perfect Thai restaurant to stress-eat your heart out, look no further than Barracks Road, because Tara Thai is the place for you! It’s close to school, decently priced, and generously portioned. Nothing strongly stood out when I walked in, but trust me when I say that the food here is delicious. I strongly recommend ordering the panang curry and your drink of choice while you settle in to professor-watch. I have it on good authority that this is the favorite haunt of Professors Bowers and Barzun. Do you have a particularly good question about legal history or theory? Keep it to yourself and take another bite of curry. Rating 4.5/5