Whether you’re a University student, a long-term local or just visiting the city, Charlottesville’s culinary culture is not one to miss, with its cuisines and dishes from around the world located mere miles apart. A diverse array of chefs and owners dedicate themselves to the art of cooking for the assorted line up of plates.
As Pride Month wraps up, here are some of my top dining choices for your next meal out that are owned and operated by LGBTQ+ members of the Charlottesville community.
MarieBette
Beyond Charlottesville's restaurant scene, I am a fervent believer that the bakeries the city has to offer are just as strong. A highlight for me is MarieBette, a European-inspired eatery located on Rose Hill Road — with a secondary, smaller location called Petite MarieBette on Water Street — that serves up some of the best croissants I have ever tasted.
A Charlottesville staple since 2014, MarieBette was founded by Jason Becton and Patrick Evans. The couple first met at the International Culinary Center, and after years in separate culinary pursuits, they decided to pursue their own business together. MarieBette is named after their two daughters — Marian and Betty.
Some of my favorite items from MarieBette include the almond croissant and the brioche feuillette, both of which have perfectly flaky layers. For more savory dishes, I recommend a classic bacon, egg and cheese english muffin or my personal favorite, the croque monsieur — which can be described as a fancier grilled cheese with French influence. Regardless of what you get, make sure you pick up a loaf of french bread or sourdough to take home with you, all of which are made fresh in-house.
Additionally, if European-inspired fare isn't to your taste, I highly recommend you check out Sbrocco’s, another establishment owned by Becton and Evans. Co-owned with Melissa Portera, Sbrocco’s is a Maury Avenue donut and espresso bar with some fantastic fried delectables.
Firefly
For the perfect place to take your family for a fun meal, look no further than Firefly. Firefly is a LGBTQ+ owned restaurant and game room at the heart of the historic Woolen Mills neighborhood located in the old Linen Building warehouse.
Serving classic American bar fare — from burgers to tater tots — Firefly has been owned by Jennifer Mowad since 2023. Mowad also owns Cocoa & Spice — the chocolate shop right next door to Firefly — and refers to herself as “the Lesbian Chocolatier.” Firefly prides itself on being a welcoming environment for all — it is a certified safe space by Cville Pride and hosts a pride happy hour every month. Additionally, Firefly hosts Mood Ring Open Mic — an open mic night for “queer, trans and allied creatives” — monthly.
Beyond a welcoming culture, Firefly encourages everyone to have a good time. From pinball to Pac-Man, while you wait for your meal there are many options to keep you and your companions entertained. My favorite way to enjoy Firefly is to take a board game to the table and play while I wait for any of their on-draft drinks and their famous chicken wings, which were featured on an episode of “Cheap Eats” with Ali Khan.
It’s Mr. Baker
For donut lovers, make sure to check out It’s Mr. Baker at the IX Art Park farmer’s market every Saturday from April through November. Based in Richmond, Darrick “Mr. Baker” Harris is a self-taught baker with over 10 years of experience. While offering a variety of pastries and baked goods, Harris specializes in gluten-free and vegan donuts.
Some of my personal favorites include the sweet potato donut — which is perfectly moist with a fantastic cinnamon sugar coating. For cartoon fans, the Homer Simpson donut is a nostalgic pick, with the picture-perfect strawberry glaze and sprinkles atop the vegan vanilla fluffy base. For a non-donut pick, I highly recommend trying one of his cinnamon rolls, which range in flavors from classic to pistachio cream.
Harris’ stand has been recognized repeatedly for its delicious bakes. In 2021, former First Lady Jill Biden visited Harris and tried his signature blueberry lemon pound cake. He was also included in Spoon University’s list of "The 15 Best Desserts in Richmond To Eat Before You Die” in Richmond. With such flying endorsements, next time you are at the IX farmer’s market, be sure to stop by the It’s Mr. Baker stand.
Conmole
As I approach my final year at the University, Conmole is one of the restaurants on the top of my list to try before I leave. Conmole is an Oaxacan restaurant located in the Belmont neighborhood that has been dazzling Charlottesville since 2019. The Oaxaca region is famous for its mole — a rich, complex sauce that is typically made of ancho chiles, pepitas, green chile and Mexican chocolate, amongst other ingredients.
From friends who have been fortunate enough to dine at Conmole, I have been recommended the mole negro con carne, which pairs juicy, slow-cooked chicken with the complex mole sauce for which the restaurant gets its name. Another highly regarded dish from the restaurant itself is the enfrijoladas con carne asada, a medium hanger steak served with fried tortillas dipped into refried black beans, and paired with queso fresco, chipotle crema and fresh avocados.
Regardless of what I end up getting, I am sure I will be blown away by Conmole, which was voted best new Charlottesville restaurant in 2020.
As someone who considers food to be one of their love languages, I can think of no better way to celebrate love than to explore the delicious cooking of these establishments.
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