Diner breakfast

Washington, DC, April 10—

BREAKFAST IN A DINER seemed the logical approach in a small town University town at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. We did the usual online research, Googling "best breakfast charlottesville," and settled on the Blue Glass Diner, where we had biscuits, eggs, and grits, and that legendary bottomless cup of coffee. Could have done worse.

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DINNER, after a day at Monticello and a two-hour drive back to Washington and search for the Hertz parking garage and the quick subway ride, was in the Palena bar, and not really dinner: all we needed was a snack. I had my reliable Caesar salad, which comes in quotes on this menu, perhaps for its lack of raw egg and anchovies. Still, a nice crunchy quarter of romaine, good croutons, a nice dressing, and a chunk of seared tuna; on the side, a plate of deep-fried shoestring potatoes, Duchess potatoes, lemon slices, and onion rings, with a spicy mayonnaise. I wouldn't mind going back for dinner, on the restaurant side.

Martini, three to one, olives, up