In the midst of last week’s snow-tastrophe, my date and I braved the icy roads in his trusty 2007 Camry so we could eat our way through a Charlottesville Restaurant Week menu. Yes, one of those twice-a-year, three-course, $35 meal deals. Seeing as this was my last Restaurant Week of college, and I don’t yet have a big-girl job with a big-girl salary, no amount of snow was going to come between me and a budget-friendly tasting menu.
That night, we weathered the 10-minute drive from Grounds to the west end of the Downtown Mall and sat down at The Whiskey Jar, a Southern restaurant and whiskey bar known for their nightly live music. For all its talk of simplicity, the rustic saloon far surpassed my expectations. What initially appeared to be another run-of-the-mill bar, I found, was truly a love letter to Virginia, with quality, locally-sourced food on the table, merry locals by the bar and live music in the air.
A few hours before dinner, I perused The Whiskey Jar’s website, where I read a bit about the restaurant’s mission. According to Will Richey, the restaurant’s first owner, the idea for the bar stemmed from a passion for “place.” He wanted to pay homage to Virginia’s Piedmont region through traditional Virginia food and drink. Hence, everything on their regular menu — which changes seasonally — embodies local cuisine, from classic, homestyle fried chicken to simply prepared local vegetables.
I also learned from my online search that The Whiskey Jar has nightly live music, from rock and swing to bluegrass, furnished by local artists. I was excited to see what genre would come with our dinner.
Once we entered the restaurant, I took in my surroundings, which brought Richey’s mission to life. It was a no-frills atmosphere, with wooden tables, floor boards and wall panels. String lights and framed wall art made the space feel cozy. At the front of the restaurant, large windowed doors made for great people-watching. My favorite design feature, though, was the enormous bar, with a grand display of 125 whiskey bottles on the shelves. It made the place feel worthy of its namesake.
Our first course arrived quickly, only five minutes after we placed our orders. I got the Alston’s BBQ Mac & Cheese, complete with hickory smoked pork and house-made sauce. I was able to fit all of the components of the layered casserole — macaroni, saucy pork, breadcrumbs and scallion — into one balanced bite. The pulled pork, perfectly tender, melted into the cheesy pasta. There was a nice acidity and sweetness from the barbeque sauce, and the breadcrumbs brought a subtle crunch, adding welcome texture to an otherwise soft dish. Although the mac and cheese was a little rich for a starter, the serving was small, so it satiated my initial hunger without weighing me down.
Now, I couldn’t go to The Whiskey Jar without tasting some whiskey. As I waited for my entrée, I sipped on an $11 Old Fashioned, mixed with Elijah Craig Kentucky whiskey, demerara simple syrup and Angostura bitters. The drink came out a beautiful dark amber color, on the rocks and garnished with a muddled orange peel. It was strong yet smooth, warm and citrusy, with a hint of sweetness and a satisfying bitter finish. Yum. I’m no whiskey aficionado, but I imagine even visiting members of the Whiskey Society of Central Virginia would agree that this is a fine, full-bodied cocktail that does the Elijah Craig justice.
For dinner, I opted for the Fried Chicken & Brown Sugar Bacon Collard Greens. Talk about a heaping plate of food. A half chicken, breaded and fried, sat on top of a thick bed of greens. I grabbed the chicken leg and dove right in.
The chicken had a beautiful contrast of textures. An ultra-crispy, craggly crust, straight out of the fryer, gave way to juicy, tender meat underneath. The collards were prepared equally well, slow-stewed to softness, and the brown sugar and bacon made each bite a little sweet and salty. My only qualm with this course? The menu promised the chicken would come with gravy or garlic jalapeño honey, and my plate didn’t come with either. Although the other components of the dish were well-seasoned, I missed that saucy addition — I think it would have really tied the whole thing together.
Then came my favorite course — dessert — and this one didn’t disappoint. I ordered the Bread Pudding, which came out of the kitchen enveloped in a cinnamony, caramelly aroma. The block of pudding was drenched in a maple vanilla sauce that brought an earthy, deeply caramelized flavor to every bite. To my delight, the custard wasn’t too eggy, and my spoon cut effortlessly through the soft, cinnamonny layers. It was the perfect warming dessert to finish what had been a hearty, wintery meal.
While the food was delicious, the real star of the evening was Matthew O’Donnell, The Whiskey Jar’s Thursday night Celtic musician. Starting at 7:30 p.m., he sang Irish jigs, sea shanties and pop and rock requests, moving between his accordion, bouzouki, cittern, tin whistle and kick drum to accompany each song. All the while, bar patrons danced in front of his setup, and diners at their tables swayed in their seats. Not only did O’Donnell’s jaunty tunes elicit smiles from the crowd, but his songs united all the different dining parties in a shared rhythm, transforming the restaurant into a true gathering place.
Needless to say, I thoroughly enjoyed myself at The Whiskey Jar. I’ll be returning soon to try more of their regular menu items and listen to more musicians. I’d encourage other students to do the same, especially since most of the food offerings are within budget, each coming in under $30. If you’re looking for live music beyond jazz at Miller’s or student-band indie at Coupe’s, it’s a great place to go out with friends.
The Whiskey Jar is open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday to Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. Thursday and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday. They do not take reservations.
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