Those that have lived in Charlottesville for many years remember the familiar signs outside of Bodo’s stating the fact that the bagels are coming.

Well, now I’d like to know when are the toasters coming? Would it ruin the entire system they got over there to spend 30 seconds toasting my everything wheat bagel? Are they in such a hurry that they can’t handle a simple customer service request by a longtime customer? I’m pretty sure that every other bagel joint that I have eaten in had a commercial quick toaster. Why do they not believe in toast? My life would be complete if I could not have to drive out to my house to get my bagel toasted! I also hate the fact that they throw away hundreds of thousands of plastic forks and knives there every here. Think about 30 years of that in the landfill… They already have a dishwasher, right?

For many years Bodo’s only took cash or a check for orders over 20 bucks. When they opened the branch on The Corner they realized that college kids all use ATM cards for purchasing stuff and they needed to move into this century and take credit cards. Hell even The Riverside takes credit cards now.

Am I whining here? Can I PLEASE get my damn bagel toasted! Do you guys agree? Are there other stupid things like this here in Charlottesville that drive you batty? Like the fact that gas costs more here than anywhere in the entire Commonwealth? Or the fact that Big Jim’s is gone for good! Or the fact that the city is not gonna do anything with all the bricks they are removing… Let’s hear your Charlottesville bitches and whines!

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This is the fourth “Week O’ Charlottesville Lunches” article. I will feature my favorite lunch places around the downtown mall. Monday, we covered Eppie’s, Tuesday, Rev Soup, Wednesday, Feast, Today, Bodo’s Bagels.

I don’t know if it’s possible to talk about lunch in Charlottesville without mentioning Bodo’s Bagels. As much as a staple the Downtown Mall is to Charlottesville culture, Bodo’s is the same to food. The bagel place has been around for many years and has three locations that serve the same menu.

You go to Bodo’s for cheap, high quality food and quick service. I know this one actually may require a drive for some, but it’s close enough to the mall to warrant it being one of my favorite lunch joints.
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This is the third “Week O’ Charlottesville Lunches” article.  I will feature my favorite lunch places around the downtown mall.  Monday, we covered Eppie’s, Tuesday, Rev Soup, Today, Feast!

Since we covered a local food paradise yesterday, I thought it would make sense to talk about another supporter of the local food movement.  Feast, while not directly on the downtown mall, sits about 5 minutes away from the Federal Courthouse.  Don’t complain about walking there.

Feast excites me each time I visit.  Feast prides itself on offering high-end everything.  It’s part retail, part restaurant and you can find everything from artisan meats and cheeses to local produce to bulk olive oil. I digress. This is a lunch review…

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This is the second “Week O’ Charlottesville Lunches” article. Yesterday we covered Eppie’s, today, Rev Soup!

Sure, we may have made fun of the small apples at Revolutionary Soup, but if you’ve been living in Charlottesville for longer than 3 weeks, you should know about this place.  Sure, its underground location on 2nd Street across from the movie theater may dissuade you from a visit, but have no fear, my friend.  Also, you shouldn’t call it Revolutionary Soup… you should call it Rev Soup, because if you don’t, everyone will know you are a dummy.

Rev Soup makes a serious effort to fill its menu with local items.  It’s hard to go in there and anonymously report on this stuff, but if you look on the pillar on the main counter,  you will be amazed at how much of the menu is actually produced nearby.  Now we all know Charlottesville residents are suckers for local food items (and should be), but when I go to a restaurant, my first thought is the food.  Service, Ambiance, Local Food, etc., are a close second.

So, how is the lunch?

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Today I start a feature on my favorite lunch places near the Downtown Mall. I will feature 5 hot lunch spots each day this week, updated before lunchtime.

We’ve reviewed Eppie’s in the past as part of our Veggie Tales. I am not a vegetarian, so you should listen to my opinion, because it means a lot more.

Eppie’s sits in the heart of the Downtown Mall with a little 10 foot wide entrance, you may have missed.  Next to the Tea Bazaar, the Southern American influenced “fast food” place should not be missed.  I say “fast food,” only because Eppie’s does the factory line, but the food is far above and beyond the crap which we typically refer to as fast food.

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Most of us are obsessed with the downtown mall usually out of convenience. What is off the beaten path? My interest in procuring a new breakfast spot has yielded a diamond in the cville rough: C’ville Coffee. Located at the corner of Harris and McIntire in what seems to be an antique/furniture business park, it serves up more than just coffee.

My curiosity with Cville Coffee began with the Chocolate Chip Honey Bunches I tried at the City/Farmers Market a couple of weeks ago. Something so simple and delicious surely had to come out of a creative kitchen, or at least a business that really cares about its customer experience.

About an Owner

I had lunch with Toan Nguyen, owner of C’ville Coffee soon after our introduction at the City/Farmers Market. We discussed everything from business to politics to the local “green” initiative. He has quite a colorful past, influenced very much by his wife’s career ambitions. She was a high-powered San Francisco lawyer in the 80’s, no doubt slinging together crazy private equity and leveraged buy-out deals in the hay day of financial market abuse (just a thought, not actually confirmed). Confronted with the realization that working for the Firm would not allow for a great family life, she told Toan she wanted to move back to cville where she attended Uva Law.

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