Tucked into downtown Charlottesville, the C&O Restaurant has been serving up fine dining experiences for an impressive 50 years. This isn't your typical coastal seafood shack, but rather an elegant establishment that's earned its wings as a local institution. With three distinct dining areas — a cozy bistro, intimate mezzanine, and upstairs dining room — there's a perfect perch for every occasion.
What strikes me most about the C&O is its staying power in a college town where restaurants come and go. Five decades of operation tells you they're doing something right, and the fact that they still pack the house enough to recommend reservations speaks volumes. The downtown location means convenient parking validation, and the Tuesday-through-Saturday dinner service suggests they're focused on quality over quantity.
