Wayside Takeout & Catering

Wayside Takeout & Catering, home of Ole Virginia Fried Chicken, has been a Charlottesville institution for over 50 years, serving what Southern Living magazine calls 'some of the best fried chicken in the south.' The restaurant was purchased by current owner Calvin Cummings in 2004, who brought his industrial engineering background back to the restaurant world after 20 years in textiles. Located at 2203 Jefferson Park Avenue in Charlottesville, Virginia, Wayside has built a reputation for consistently delicious, golden-fried chicken that keeps locals coming back generation after generation. The menu extends far beyond fried chicken to include breakfast served from 7am, grilled entrees, fresh seafood dinners, made-to-order salads, and an extensive selection of Southern sides like macaroni and cheese, collard greens, and hush puppies. The family-friendly atmosphere accommodates both dine-in guests and takeout customers, while their catering division handles everything from boxed lunches for business meetings to full on-site catering for weddings and events. Wayside delivers through DoorDash and GrubHub, making their famous fried chicken accessible throughout the Charlottesville area. Open Tuesday through Saturday from 7am to 7pm, this University of Virginia-area favorite combines fast, friendly service with authentic Southern cooking that has earned its place among Virginia's culinary landmarks.