Quick bites - the Corner

There are a few great places for food around town that aren't sit-down restaurants and thus don't fall into the regular theme of WEDS; I probably won't direct an outing there and thus won't ever write a full review, but I feel you should know about these places. Here's a quick rundown of places on the Corner.

Bodos - bagels, salads, sandwiches, soups, etc.
It's probably the best bagel place in town and the overall food quality is pretty good. I'm a big fan of the caesar salad - it's a little oily, but it's filling and tasty - and some of the bagel toppings. The bagels aren't as hearty as I'm used to, but they are light and hold up well enough to hummus, chicken salad, and other spreads. The specialty cream cheeses tend to be a little messy, but are good. Overall, it's a great place to go. Be sure to visit the other places on Preston Ave and route 29.

Littlejohn's - sandwiches, subs, sandwiches, and subs
If you're in Charlottesville, you already know how great they are. They have big, filling sandwiches that are delicious. You can pick and choose ingredients, but I usually only do that to get rid of bacon, cole slaw, or sauerkraut. The menu changes on occasion but has a few popular standards. They recently introduced some smaller sandwiches that are or sound tasty and the muffins are always good. They have a decent beer selection if you want one with your sandwich and you're going to wait at least 15-20 minutes to order on a Friday or Saturday night, but it's well worth it.

Qdoba - burritos, tacos, general Tex-Mex
Nothing special, but it's moderately-priced, pretty good, very filling food. The burritos are a meal unto themselves and the flavors are generally good. Some of the burritos are a definite miss - the new adobo chile burrito is far too sweet - but it's a decent choice for lunch. It's just a slight notch below Chipotle, but not so much that you'd walk to Barracks for lunch.

Take It Away - sandwiches, bread ends, some specialty salads
The sandwiches are really good and, while it's not that different from many other sandwich shops, it's still a solid establishment. You have a little flexibility and can put house dressing on anything, which is a Good Thing (tm). You can also get a bag of bread ends for $0.50 and use them to sop up any dipping sauce, like house dressing. They have a few specialty salads that are pretty good and they have Gearhart's chocolates and some other confections. Go there, get lunch, be happy.

Revolutionary Soup - soup, sandwiches, and salads
The soups are awesome and filling enough to be a lunch by themself. I'm a big fan of the spicy Senegalese peanut tofu soup and get it for lunch at least once a month. The lamb curry is also a favorite. While I've never gotten any of the sandwiches or salads, they look pretty good and put an emphasis on local ingredients. Brush up on your literature because you might earn yourself a little discount for reciting a few lines.

White Spot - typical greasy spoon
You're probably not going to go other than at 2 in the morning for a Gusburger while drunk, but it will be delicious. They churn them out at an alarming pace late at night and you can't move because there are so many people and no room. I still haven't gotten a grills with but I should. They have normal greasy spoon fare and a few Greek offerings, too. It's probably not worth it other than a late night Gusburger run, but you could do worse.

Arch's - ice cream, salads, ice cream, sandwiches, and ice cream
You go there for ice cream - you can get a variety of decadent creations - but the sandwiches and salads are pretty good, too. The Archers tend to be quite rich and it's all a little expensive, but it's a great indulgence every so often. They use frozen yogurt and soft-serve in a variety of flavors and you can mix-and-match toppings if you really want. Definitely worth the trip.

Michael's Bistro - slightly upscale pub fare
Located above Littlejohn's, it's often ignored. The food is generally well-prepared and tasty and they have a a creative, albeit somewhat limited, menu. The beer selection is one of the best on the Corner and they have a few combination beers that are awesome. I even had a professor recommend we go try their beer sampler after class let out that Friday afternoon. Definitely worth a trip, but it's a little on the expensive side. It's more upscale than most places on the Corner and I'm a fan of visiting every so often.

There are a few other places you should visit, but I don't feel like writing about at the moment. Be sure to visit Martha's Cafe, St. Maarten's Cafe, and Ritas (when it's open) and give some thought to College Inn, the Virginian, Zydeco (I've never been), and the Biltmore.