I was in central Virginia doing some sightseeing and needed to find a place for dinner. Earlier in the week, a friend suggested that I stop in Charlottesville. Following his advice, I went there and ended up on the city’s Main Street, which is a pedestrian thoroughfare lined with shops and restaurants. The place that caught my eye was Marco & Luca Dumplings and it is fantastic!

Marco & Luca Dumplings has been a mainstay of Charlottesville since 2001 when it was started by husband and wife team Sun Da and Dragana Katalina-Sun. Their first shop was quite small, but in 2003 Marco & Luca moved to its current location on main street. It quickly gained a reputation for innovative cuisine.

In 2010, they opened a second location on Elliewood Ave and a third location in Seminole Square. Sun and Dragana have been recognized by the local community and were awarded the Chuck Lewis Passion Award in 2015. The award celebrates entrepreneurs who has overcome adversity. As immigrants to the U.S. running a small business, they certainly have.

Marco & Luca’s menu is small and straightforward. The main items are Dumplings, Cold Noodles, and Steamed Hot Buns. They also have Hot & Sour Soup and Chicken Curry with Rice. Canned soda is available for drinks. The dumplings are fried and made with pork and onions (leeks). There are two types of noodles: Sesame or Sweet & Sour Spicy. Likewise, the steamed buns come in two varieties: pork or veggie.

My first choice was easy; I had to try their dumplings. They come in plates of 7 and I ordered one plate. The dumplings come out hot and crispy. But as the crispy exterior hides a juicy interior. While not labeled as such, they remind me of soup dumplings; the juice squirts out when you bite into one. The dumplings are served swimming in Marco and Luca’s Soy Sauce. This is a thick sweet and sour sauce. I loved it, dipping the dumplings as much as I could in order to soak up as much of the sauce as possible.

I was also interested in the steamed buns. While steamed pork buns are a favorite of mine, I decided to go with the veggies. I wanted more vegetables in my meal. I was surprised that they are served with the soy sauce. (I have never seen them served that way before.) I liked the texture of the bun, which is key. I also liked the flavor. But as good as it is, it’s no substitute for a pork filled steam bun.

Marco & Luca’s has a warm, friendly atmosphere. It has the vibe of a fast food restaurant. Indeed, many of the customers were ordering food to go. But the Chinese decor makes it feel a bit like a sit down restaurant. There is a display on the wall showing photos and news clippings, which I think is a nice touch.

Thoroughly enjoying both the food and atmosphere, I highly recommend Marco & Luca Dumplings. If you are ever in (or near) Charlottesville, you should eat there.