Charlottesville has no shortage of renowned restaurants and bars, nor does it lack praise for its food scene, garnering recognition over the years in everything from Food & Wine magazine to The Washington Post.
But when you’re short on time and funds, the convenience and cost of fast food is alluring, even in a town with a nationally famous food scene. You know what they say: You can have good food, quick food, or cheap food, but rarely can you get all three at the same time—unless you’re in Charlottesville. So this week, while you’re making Restaurant Week reservations with your wallet in mind, consider some of our favorite budget-savvy mid-day choices.
Fried Dumplings at Marco & Luca Dumplings, 112 W. Main St., Downtown Mall | $5.75
The Chinese dumpling (or potsticker) just might be the Far East’s greatest contribution to the American food landscape. The small pockets of unleavened dough can be filled with almost anything, but most commonly a combination of pork, scallions, and cabbage. Marco & Luca won the Chuck Lewis Passion Award in 2015 for its entrepreneurship and overcoming adversity, and if Chuck Lewis gave prizes for dumplings, the restaurant likely would have won that, too.
Blue Ridge at Dürty Nelly’s Pub, 2200 Jefferson Park Ave. | $12.50
For almost 50 years, Dürty Nelly’s has been part of Charlottesville culture. With rustic, wood-paneled decor and local live music, the pub has been a hot spot for good, cheap eats for decades. It’s said to have the area’s best Reuben, but the Blue Ridge is our favorite: deli-sliced roast beef, beer cheese, and bacon dragged through the garden with mayo and horseradish on a Kaiser roll.
Soup of the day at Bodo’s Bagels, various locations | $4.50
No list of Charlottesville lunch spots would be complete without Bodo’s. And while it says bagels on the door, too little is said about Bodo’s other offerings. The soup of the day is one of the spot’s best kept secrets, and it’s still less than $5 for a surprisingly generous serving. French onion is a personal favorite (with the cheesy potato coming in a close second).
Chicken Philly at The Virginian, 1521 University Ave. | $12
Claiming to be “the oldest restaurant in Charlottesville,” The Virginian is a long-time Corner favorite. The bar, a staple of any local pub crawl, is frequented by professors and mechanics alike, and the spot’s menu is much like the restaurant: traditional but appealing. The chicken Philly, a grilled chicken sandwich with onions and peppers, holds enough provolone to scare cardiologists at UVA Health.
Tortas at Tacos Gomez, 1305 Long St. B | $12
The food truck has become the American dream of home cooks across the country. Few are as skilled and successful at it as Tacos Gomez, where nearly every entry on the menu is a certified mind-blower—especially the infinitely customizable torta. It’s crunchy Mexican bread filled with whatever meat and/or veggie combo you can imagine, made to order. While it’s not as fast as slapping together a pre-made taco, it’s worth the wait.
Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken at Cafe 88, 923 Preston Ave. | $6
Mom-and-pop eatery Cafe 88 is home to some of Charlottesville’s most authentic Taiwanese food—from $8 Bento boxes to savory dim sum—and patrons have been singing the Preston Plaza’s praises since 2008. “Cafe 88 is always reliable with tasty dishes,” says one Yelp review. “I find that I’m always craving popcorn chicken and the place delivers.” Seasoned with five spice, rolled in cornstarch and sweet potato starch, and fried until golden, Taiwanese fried chicken is famous for its balanced flavors and textures.
New York-style pizza by-the-slice at Fabio’s, 1551 E. High St. | $2.99
In the endlessly warring factions of the pizza community, many consider New York-style pies the gold standard. If you were asked to draw a pizza, you’d likely sketch a New York-style pie: a circular, golden crust, red sauce, and melted mozzarella cheese, with the occasional red dot of sliced pepperoni. If you’re feeling flush, Fabio’s two-slice lunch combo will get you, well, two slices (with two toppings each) for $13.99.
Hoos Got Beef at Ivy Provisions, 2206 Ivy Rd. | $11.99
Ivy Provisions opened its doors in 2013 when founder PK Kamath saw room in the market for quick, affordable, and unique food. The Ivy Road spot is a go-to for students, locals, and visitors, with its quirky sandwich names and quality components. From the Gobbfather to the Notorious P.I.G., Ivy Provisions’ offerings are stacked high and tight with ingredients (don’t skip the pickle spear, which gets tucked in next to your sammy). Hoos Got Beef, our pick (this week), is the restaurant’s take on a classic roast beef and Swiss, with grilled onions and peppers and spicy mayo on toasted sourdough.
Gyro at Tip Top, 1420 Richmond Rd. | $9.25
From the outside, Tip Top looks to be your all-American greasy spoon. Inside, the Pantops mainstay takes it a step further, with the stainless-steel backsplash at the bar, classic vinyl stools, and checkerboard floors. But the Norman Rockwell façade belies its multicultural heritage: Tip Top has earned a reputation as home to some of the most authentic Greek and Italian food this side of the Mediterranean. Our personal favorite? The Gyro: grilled lamb and beef slices served on pita with tzatziki sauce (plus a little extra on the side for dipping).
Enchiladas Rojas at Guadalajara, various locations | $8.99
Guadalajara is one of Charlottesville’s oldest Mexican restaurants, with the Ornelas family opening their Market Street location in 1988. Since then, they have opened three more around the city. So many of Guad’s dishes have achieved legendary status that picking one is a challenge, but the enchiladas rojas practically define how Mexican food should taste and look. Red enchiladas are filled with seasoned and sautéed beef, rolled in tortillas, and smothered with cheese and a sauce made from different chiles (typically guajillo, anchos, pasillas, and/or chilis de arbol). The best part? It’s one of the restaurant’s lunch specials.
Western omelette at The Korner Restaurant, 415 Roosevelt Brown Blvd. | $8.75
A mom-and-pop diner that’s well known to those who work at the UVA hospital, the Korner has some of the best breakfast-for-lunch (a classic affordable lunch hack) dishes in Charlottesville. Admittedly not exactly a high-tech or flashy establishment, the Korner makes up in flavor what it lacks in sophistication. Its Western omelette is soft and fluffy, filled with ham, sautéed onions and peppers, tomatoes, and American cheese. The side of home fries—fried to a perfect balance of crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside? Showstoppers.
Grilled cheese and tomato basil bisque at Revolutionary Soup, 108 Second St. SW | $9.50
Founded by Will Richey as part of his Ten Course Hospitality Group more than 20 years ago, Rev Soup’s Corner and Downtown locations are popular destinations for the hungry and hip. Maybe the last thing you want for lunch in the suffocating summer heat is a bowl of soup, but the grilled-cheese-and-tomato-soup combo is a classic. And you can’t argue with a classic. Rev’s tomato bisque—traditionally prepared with seafood stock—is vegetarian, gluten-free—and delicious.
The Big Eater 5 Piece at Wayside, 2203 Jefferson Park Ave. | $13.85
Across from Dürty Nelly’s down JPA, Wayside is a testament to old-school Virginia cooking. Purchased by Calvin Cummings in 2004, the takeout and catering outfit’s been in business for more than 50 years, with a family-friendly setting and classic comfort foods that won’t devastate your bank account. Tear into half a marinated, hand-breaded fried chicken—one breast, thigh, wing, and two legs—with two sides for less than most places charge for an appetizer.
Double cheeseburger and fries at Riverside Lunch, 1429 Hazel St. | $10
Another restaurant with a deep history in the Charlottesville food scene, Riverside Lunch opened in 1935 and moved to its current location in 2000. Owner Lee Shifflett, who bought the place in 2018, says he serves 700 pounds of burgers a week, and his dedication to simplicity and consistency has turned the Riverside smashburger into a Charlottesville classic. With a simple recipe and veteran staff—most of whom have been there for decades—Riverside has stayed in business this long by not fixing what isn’t broken. That apparently includes the menu, too: It’s full of options that cost less than $5.
Belgian waffles at The Nook, 415 E. Main St., Downtown Mall | $10
Nestled on the Downtown Mall, The Nook is the kind of place you can wear either Levi’s or Brooks Brothers and won’t feel out of place. The menu has many options under $15, but only one that would make it on our list: Belgian waffles. The best this side of the Atlantic, they taste like someone figured out how to fry a cloud on a waffle iron (and then added homemade whipped cream and berry sauce). Try them once, and you’ll never eat an Eggo again.
Featured Image: Dürty Nelly’s Blue Ridge is stacked high with deli-sliced roast beef, beer cheese, bacon, lettuce, mayo, and horseradish. Photo: Tristan Williams.
