Love Affair with the Omni

Do you remember how Audrey Hepburn's character, Holly, would go to Tiffany's when she had the blues or the mean reds in Breakfast @ Tiffany's? The Omni is my Tiffany's. The palm trees, high ceilings, beautiful fountain, world class service, and phenomenal food inspire memories of Bermuda- all 5 minutes away from our home in the University Area.

What could this beautiful hotel have to do with living it up in Charlottesville on a mere Shoestring, you wonder?

It is the very embodiment of the concept. Like Hepburn with her Cracker Jack ring going into Tiffany's for an engravement, you can take the free trolley from the University and get dropped off directly in front of the hotel. For the same price as an easily forgotten meal on the Corner, you can instead bring that $10 bill here and order any one of the many innovative wonders from their lunch menu in an atmosphere that will relax, inspire, and invigorate you.

We love to end our time on the festive downtown mall in this magnificent, air-conditioned oasis.

Executive Chef, Morgan Oliver, stopped by our table with steaming fresh coffee & a plate of croissants while we sat under the palm trees waiting for the lunch shift to start after our jaunt @ the farmer's market across the street.

Passionate about both food & service, Oliver shared with us his commitment to using 40% local ingredients in his menu- including the Polyface Farm chicken that we ordered on Foccacia bread with sundried tomatoes, caramelized onions, and basil mayonnaise.

I had never had their lump crab cake topped with aoili, perfectly accompanied by the lightest, butteri-est challah bread that I have ever had:



Why any work-wary local would spend their lunch break at any other spot in town is beyond me! My husband faithfully orders their bacon cheeseburger, which is a hard burger to compete with.

There's just something about wiping ketchup from your lips with a starched, white cloth napkin. It can inspire gratitude to replace even the meanest of reds.

Be Well!
~A & L

Note: the Attractions book has a couple of buy one, get one free coupons to this find, so grab a book & go with a companion. Before tip, the two of you will have lunch for $5 each!

Starting in August, you will be able to buy the 2011 directly from our site!