Sugar, Spice, and Marco and Luca

Bryn Dotson, staff writer

Most locals have been to the beloved Marco and Luca restaurant. There are three restaurant locations in Charlottesville: one on the historic Downtown Mall, one on the corner, and one in Seminole Square Shopping Center on 29-North.

When you first enter the quaint restaurant, the order desk is directly ahead. You are almost instantaneously hit with the smell of sizzling dumplings, a compliment to the subtle smell of peanut oils used.

The staff is always friendly, even in times of culinary chaos, with lines out the door, and orders stacked on one another. The staff are incredible and clearly comfortable in their element.

The downtown location has a cozy and intimate atmosphere, with soft, warm shades of orange and muted reds in the decor. The tables are perfectly spaced, avoiding a cramped environment.

Even on busy days there is enough seating. While waiting for your food, you can sit in the comfortable seating with friends and family.

The restaurant is incredibly family friendly and always plays appropriate music for all ages. There is a large window lined with bar stools to eat at and is an ideal place to people-watch. A front row seat to the many unique, colorful street performers of Charlottesville is the best view in downtown.

The wait for food is generally pretty short. You are signaled to pick up your delicious dumplings from the front counter usually under five minutes.

The dumplings are the main attraction at Marco and Luca, with good reason. While they may not look like much externally, the pork, ginger, and leek-filled flavor bombs are delectable. The crunch of the outside compliments the soft, warm inside.

The dumplings are blanketed with a sweet and spicy soy sauce concoction. One order includes six delightful dumplings at the reasonable cost of $4.

Marco and Luca also offers vegetarian options, such as their mouthwatering sesame noodles and their homey veggie hot bun. They have just included new items to their menu, including their chicken curry, which is average. The texture of the chicken can be unappealing at times.

Marco and Luca is a fine dining restaurant, it thrives off of the diverse community on the Downtown Mall.

I enjoyed my experience not only for the food, but the sense of community and the scenic view from the large glass windows, by which you can observe the personalities of Charlottesville.