In Charlottesville, Virginia, outdoor adventure and culinary excellence go hand in hand. Located on the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Charlottesville’s outdoor recreation scene cannot be understated. From hiking for miles along the Rivanna Trail, mountain biking in Preddy Creek Park, or kayaking on the mighty James River, there’s something for every adventurer on land and water. For a little more tranquility, the Charlottesville greenways offer opportunities for scenic picnics and exploring the trails that make up the magnificent wilderness. From riverbanks to ridgelines, these nine restaurants offer takeout, letting you take your meal to-go so you can enjoy the Charlottesville area’s scenery with delicious food in hand.
1. Bellair Market
Bellair Market is a locally owned and family-operated gourmet-to-go convenience store and gas station that has served the Charlottesville community since 1991. Known for its signature sandwiches, the menu at the Market at Bellair offers sandwiches for kids and adults, plus salads, snacks, and desserts. Perfect for a mid-day picnic, grab an Ivy sandwich, which includes light and fresh toppings, or go all in with the Smokin’, which has smoked turkey, smoked gouda, and all the fixings on French bread.
2. Belle
Creating a sense of belonging and community is at the forefront of business at Belle. Serving breakfast, lunch, and a coffee menu that includes seasonal drinks that rotate often, plus brunch on Sundays, this reputation stands true in all of Belle’s operations. All ingredients served at Belle are sourced responsibly and breads for the Sandos, their paper-wrapped deli sandwiches, and pastries are handmade and baked in-house. Try the #4, which boasts smoked trout, greens, red onion, and a boiled egg on a brioche bun for a delicious yet convenient lunch.
3. Chimm
Chimm is a Thai and southeast Asian street food destination in the Charlottesville area. For online orders, customers can customize their meal, personalizing every bite. The menu includes a robust selection of delicious appetizers, stir-frys, noodles, and a bánh mì sandwich made with fried tofu and lemongrass chicken with pickled daikon, cucumbers, and cilantro, and topped with the housemade vegan bún sauce on a Vietnamese baguette. Chimm’s delicious, on-the-go delicacies are perfect for a day outdoors in Charlottesville.
4. Cumbre
Cumbre’s Argentinian roots are infused into menu items from the specialty empanadas to the artisan pastries. The extensive coffee menu gives guests a wide variety of choices, and when paired with one of Cumbre’s many empanadas, guests can experience a Latin culinary masterpiece full of incredible sweet and savory flavors. Customers can take these delicacies to-go or eat them outside the front of the bakery, which has tables, chairs, and umbrellas.
5. Farmacy
Women- and minority-owned Farmacy is an award-winning Mexican fusion restaurant in Charlottesville. The menu is filled with delicious burritos, tacos, nachos, sandwiches, and quesadillas, and guests can’t miss out on the top-selling Super Naan Taco. Using as much locally sourced and organic ingredients as possible, these high-quality dishes are made with an emphasis on clean, whole foods. Farmacy is a café, caterer, and food truck and all food items can be taken to-go.
6. Luce
Located under a downtown streetlight, Luce is a quaint hole-in-the-wall that offers a small but curated menu of Italian pastas that are rolled, filled, and cut by hand. Not to mention the fired signature pizzas and cult-favorite side items that provide the charm of a home-cooked meal straight from Italy. Grab the signature bolo pasta, which features pappardelle, pork ragú, toast crumbs, mint, and parmesan, and grab a side of the garlic parmesan breadsticks to pair for a hearty and flavor-packed lunch, perfect for fueling a day of fun in Charlottesville.
7. Q noodles
Q noodles is another Charlottesville staple that serves fresh ingredients and delicious meals crafted with care and passion. The expansive menu includes a variety of soup dumplings, a vast dim sum menu, noodles, rice, and homemade desserts. All food items can be ordered for pickup with only a 20-minute wait time. Perfect to grab on the way to your outdoor adventure, Q noodles is where convenience meets gourmet.
8. Take It Away
A University of Virginia community favorite, Take It Away is known for some of the best sandwiches in Charlottesville. Since 1992, Take It Away has aimed to create a home away from home for students and the surrounding community. Opt in for a signature sandwich like the Chancellor, a loaded turkey and Virginia ham combo with havarti cheese, pickles, and romaine on pumpernickel. Or build your own masterpiece, but don’t forget to add the house dressing, Take It Away’s famous sandwich sauce. Pair with a side of salty chips or finish it off with an order of the Trash Can.
9. The Wich Lab
Aris Cuadra is the head chef and founder of The Wich Lab, a unique sandwich shop that honors innovation and tradition with every item produced. With a menu of just seven sandwiches, guests are sure to taste the love and care that goes into every bite. Pick up a to-go order of the Fuhgeddaboudit sandwich, which pays homage to Cuadra’s New York background. It’s packed with mortadella, soppressata, Swiss cheese, pecorino, mozzarella, arugula, onion, muffuletta stuff, and finished with Duke’s Mayo.
Learn more about Charlottesville’s takeout options at VisitCharlottesville.org.
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