Lee's Grill

This is a small restaurant just east of 14th and University on the Corner. It has very good cheap Asian food. It has Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai and other Southeast Asian dishes. I had a Vietnamese beef noodle soup and Betsy had a grilled beef dish. Both dishes were very good, and at the right price this place will become a once-in-a-while lunch stop for me. The service was excellent and the waitress made us feel very comfortable. I think they do take out too, so it might give us a break from Asian Express.

Little John's

This place is great. I have been here for lunch many times, and I have had many of their sandwiches (it is mainly a sandwich joint). For the price, it is probably the best place for lunch on the corner. Everything I have had there is good, and I have had a lot. My favorite is the "Five Easy." They heat their sandwiches in a very hot oven right behind the counter. The sandwiches are delicious, and not pretentious like some of the other sandwich places in town. The staff is very friendly, and very good at what they do. They move a lot of people through the line very quickly during lunch. Also, I am not sure if they make them on-site, but their muffins may be the best I have ever had. Little Johns is on the corner, right in the middle of all the shops and restaurants on University Avenue. I highly recommend this place, even if you are not on a graduate student budget. Also, it is open 24 hours, and apparently their breakfast is good too.

Mellow Mushroom

I have been here a couple of times for lunch. My favorite pizza is very thin crust New York style and although this is not what they make at Mellow Mushroom, they do make excellent gourmet style pizza. I especially like their "Gourmet White" pizza, which has a couple of different cheeses and fresh vegetables. It is a little on the pricey side for lunch, especially because I usually get their delicious cinnamon sugar pretzels (in general I usually end up spending 8 or 9 bucks), but I will probably continue coming here for lunch every month or so. The Mellow Mushroom is on the corner, east of 14th street on Main St.


Betsy says "my older sister had our family all together for dinner at Mellow Mushroom before her wedding and everyone loved it. Grandma was a little confused as to what 'shrooms' were but enjoyed her sandwich even with the mysterious shrooms on it. I made my own pizza with meatballs, sausage, and olives on it and it was very good. Their salads are also fab and fresh."

Christian's Pizza

The first night in our new house - we picked up some highly recommended pizza from Christian's. We got sausage, peppers and mushrooms and it was delicious. I was especially surprised by how good the pizza was reheated. Charlie has been back several times and ordered by the slice for a cheap lunch. " I haven't had a bad slice yet", he says. Christian's is named in Charlottesville's Best Of and we would agree. There is a shop on the Downtown Mall on the west end close to the Omni and there is also one on the Corner (14th and University). Enjoy!

Sandwich shops

Take it Away - behind the Corner on Elliewood (near some fun bars) is a small sandwich shop. While the menu only lists simple deli meat options, what makes the sandwich is the awesome house dressing - don't get a sandwich without it and if you do, at least get it on the side. The shop offers sprouts, cucs, and watercress as your sandwich toppings (no traditional tomato, lettuce, onions) and you do have the option to add cheese. Don't forget to pick a fun bread option! With toppings a sandwich will run you about $6. Probably my favorite sandwich shop in a while. There are some seats inside and you have the option to bring your lunch to the grounds right across the street.

The Market at Exxon - Up 29 is an Exxon gas station (prices for gas aren't too bad either) with a little white shop that sells wonderful sandwiches. You can get the Thomas Jefferson that has a great herbed mayo, cranberry sauce and turkey. There is also The Birdwood that has turkey, avocado and chipotle mayo. The combos sound a little funny bute every sandwich I have had there so far has been great! Sandwiches run about $6.50 and don't forget to get a frequent buyer card that allows you a free sandwich after purchasing 5. There are even seats inside so you can enjoy your "pit-stop". There is another "The Market" on Ivy Rd. on the right as you head west out of Charlottesville towards Crozet.