eat. shop. love. nyc.

My beloved brother has recently taken up the UVA colors as a transfer student into the prestigious University of Virginia McIntire School of Commerce. I couldn’t be prouder. As a UVA alum myself, I have fond memories of the Rotunda and the Lawn and the Ampitheatre, but also of the plentiful cheap eats around campus and downtown Charlottesville. This top ten list is for you, Dan!

1. Bun Thit Nuong (901) and Shaking Beef (605) at Saigon Cafe. (Ok, so technically Top 11 Eats.) 1703 Allied Lane, Charlottesville, VA 22903. (434) 296-8661. 901: Vietnamese BBQ pork served over cold rice vermicelli noodles and salad with fish sauce. So delicious and so cheap at $5.50 a bowl. 605: Huge plate of tender marinated beef chunks and perfectly steamed broccoli. $7.25 for the dinner portion; take home what you don’t finish. The weekday lunch specials used to be $2.95 when I was in school there, but I’m not sure how they’d survive on that! Service will be slow, but worth it. Avoid the pho here. It’s better in NoVa.
2. Soup Dumplings at Marco and Luca’s on the Downtown Mall. 110 2nd Street NE, Charlottesville, VA 22902. (434) 295-3855. 6 dumplings for $3. Moist, soupy, and makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside. If I’m wrong on the prices, you can blame inflation. It’s been a long time.
3. Blackened Voodoo Burger with Cajun Cheese Fries at St. Maarten’s Cafe. Go on a Thursday night for discounted burger ($4.99 plus extra for fancy burger, $1.19 extra for Cajun Cheese Fries.) Finish off the meal with a Bananas Foster Pie. Be prepared to burst.
   
4. Fried Chicken at Wayside Takeout. 2203 Jefferson Park Avenue, Charlottesville, VA 22903. (434) 977-5000. Great homestyle Southern fried chicken. Goodbye, life’s worries. Hello, clogged arteries.
5. Archers at Arch’s Frozen Yogurt. 2214 Ivy Rd Suite 110 or (Corner) 104 14th St NW, Charlottesville, VA 22903. (434) 979-2724. Pick your flavor combo. Call the Arch’s hotline for the flavors of the day. (434) 963-9363.
6. Caribbean Jerk Wings at BW3 (Buffalo Wild Wings). 1703 Allied Lane, Charlottesville, VA 22903. (434) 296-8661. Do they still do twenty cent wing night there? Looks like they’ve gotten more wing flavors since my time at UVA. Try them all!
   
7. Lunch Buffet at Panda Garden. 380 Emmet Street N (near Lambeth), Charlottesville, VA 22903. (434) 979-7150. Unlimited hot & sour and egg drop soup. Eat your fill of greasy, hangover Chinese food here. Get ready for some MSG-induced food coma.
8. Wild Turkey Sandwich at Littlejohn’s New York Delicatessen. 1427 W Main Street, Charlottesville, VA 22903. (434) 977-0588. One day, you’ll be hungry at 3 am, and this is the only place you’ll be able to get decent grub. Open 24 hours! Also, $2 Sam Adams. (Other notable late-night eat: Pita Pit near Arch’s, not 24 hours but you get to fill your own pita pocket.) Apparently, Pita Pit is gone. =(
9. Pokey Stix at Gumby’s Pizza. 104 14th Street NW, Charlottesville, VA 22903. (434) 977-6539. Pokey Stix are Gumby’s version of breadsticks, but the ranch dipping sauce turns it into a magical snack. Gumby’s is also gone! Where do kids get their pizza from nowadays?
10. Gus Burger at White Spot. 1407 University Avenue, Charlottesville, VA 22903. (434) 295-9899. Who knew a fried egg on a burger could be so goshdarn good? Also open late.

When you’ve tried everything from this list… turn to Yelp. I’ve got the link to C’ville restos here for you, just type in what you feel like eating or refine using type of cuisine. I’ve picked three that look promising, though I can’t vouch for them: Aqui es Mexico, Michie Tavern-Ca 1784 (near Monticello), and Ludwig’s Schnitzelhouse (Fontaine at JPA).

If you get homesick and groceries from Harris Teeter just aren’t doing it for you, you can check out the Asian grocery Yuan Ho (Chinese takeout and convenience store, 117 Maury Avenue, (434) 977-5868) or the World Market on Ivy if it’s still around.

I love you lots, brother dear. Study hard. Eat well. Make lasting memories. Wahoowa!