Best Eats in the ‘burg circa 1997. Pick your bracket!
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The men’s team isn’t going dancing. Again. So, there will be no JMU Sports Blog NCAA bracket challenge. We’ll save that for whenever the Dukes make it back to the tourney. In the meantime, we thought we’d throw together a little bracket challenge of another sort, our Best Eat’s in the ‘Burg Bracket (old guys who were on campus 15 years ago version). Sure, we realize that goofy brackets might be the autotune of the sports blog universe, but what do you expect us to do? We told you it was gonna be a while until football season.
Here is how it’s gonna work. Todd seeded 16 eateries, as seen on the bracket. We’ll profile half the match-ups after the jump. You the readers can then vote in determine which eatery moves on to the next round. First half of the bracket today, second half tomorrow. We’ll keep voting until one restaurant is declared the winner. From there, well, that’s it actually.
Selection Criteria: The aim of the committee was to find the 16 best teams, regardless of types of food. Large national chains were not considered unless the Harrisonburg outpost had something particularly remarkable to set it apart from other franchises. High-end dining, such as it is in the ‘burg, was also excluded so as not to skew the bracket.
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1. Dave’s/Gus’ Taverna – Chicken Souvlaki and Spanikopita – Todd’s Take: A real blueblood of Harrisonburg establishments. No need to wax poetic about the good old days here, as Dave’s is still gettin’ it done. Rob’s Take: I’m partial to back when it was Gus’s and I could roll in with 4 friends all sharing the same fake ID, and get your fill on $1.85 pitchers and tasty gyros.
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16. Smokin’ Pig – Todd’s Take: Way off the radar joint on the way to Melrose. Probably wasn’t really that great, I just didn’t know good Q back then. Rob’s Take: The place had fried pickles man. Fried pickles are awesome.
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8. Mr. J’s – Todd’s Take: Mr. J’s v. JM’s delivery is the ultimate chick matchup. The Sunday morning bagel excursion said “good guy with potential” to Lady Dukes while it amounted to the most dreaded of high-profile walks of shame for the guys. Of course, we wouldn’t know because our presence was never requested on these trips (girls are smart enough not to publicize their walks of shame).
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9. JM’s – Todd’s Take: In the days when fat, not carbs, was still the enemy, the late-night call for soft pretzels from JM’s was a sure thing in a boozed up girls’ house. Rob’s Take: Sadly, late night food was about the only sure thing if I ever found my self at a girls house after dark.
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5. Jess’ Quick Lunch – Todd’s Take: Clearly the Duke of the bracket. Overseeded based on name and reputation, but I challenge you to name me one menu item you still really want to eat. And don’t even try for chili dogs, this ain’t know Vienna Inn.
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12. Blimpie – Todd’s Take: The first of three chains to make the field. But the Blimpie on Port Republic (in what is now Dave’s Express) was an absolute late-night show in its day. I’ve been to other Blimpies and they all eat ass. Probably why this franchise was kicked out of the chain, but the oversized portions they filled their subs with were enough to gain lbs just looking at. Confessional: I was once found on my kitchen floor sleeping on half of a large tuna melt with hot peppers. Rob’s Take: Agreed. Also, I was there when Todd woke up with the half eaten tuna sub underneath him on the kitchen floor and I swear on all that is holy, the very first words that came out of his mouth when he woke up were “I can’t believe I didn’t finish my Blimpie.”
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4. The Little Grill – Todd’s Take: Big sleeper. My first introduction to vegetarian items and the place I learned the difference between the RiP’s (Richmond Princess’) I hung out with who posed as hippies and actual hippies. But a great place for solid food a little off the usual JMU track.
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13. DoublePunch at PC Dukes – Rob’s Take: Maybe this was bigger deal to me simply because I was one of about 14 members of the student body in 1993 who actually signed up for the “Freedom Plan”. This doozy of a meal plan gave me unlimited trips to D-Hall and a pair of special dining services boxers shorts (I’m dead serious), but prevented me from Double Punching at Dukes. It took me about 3 months to switch meal plans, but once I was able to appreciate the wonder that came from delaying gratification during the day for the promise of a $7 spending spree at Dukes.
That’s it for today. Check back tomorrow for the rest of the round 1 match-ups!
Kinda shocked not one Chinese buffet-style restaurant made the field.
China Inn was the Virginia Tech of this bracket. Gotta draw the line somewhere.
They must have really sold the freedom plan to us PVIers. I, too, lasted a few months before switching to the glory of the double punch (and 6 grilled cheese sandwiches) at Dukes. I didn’t get boxers though. I think I got a koozie.
This is my favorite blog post/bracket challenge ever! You are finally speaking my language! I think I’m pulling for Blimpie–TD too many good memories (and some bad ones–something about Blimpie causing me to get a DUI..).
Priz, it might have been a PVI thing. Gastner was the only guy I knew who had the stupid plan. The boxers were the most random swag I ever got. They had the dining services/Freedom Plan logo on them.
This is spectacular….although I’m a little skeptical about Finnegan’s Cove and El Charro making the field.
All this talk of the ‘freedom plan’ (I kept mine all year) yet no D-hall? Pickn’peal shrimp, grilled chicken, waffles, the ice cream treasure chest, karaoke, napkin man, pledge races, did I mention the panel?, frogurt, way-down-yonder-on-the-chattahoochee karaoke!!
D-hall is in a class by itself and was not tournament eligible. We should have specified, but we thought it was assumed. Now you’ve got me hungry.
I may still have a D-Hall placard name card for “Hot Lips Nuggets” from chicken nugget night. It was on my door in Eagle for most of freshman year.
I believe there was also a D-Hall nugget variety called “Sweet Lips Nuggets.”
D-Hall’s “Wing Dings” was my favorite meal of the week freshman year.
The Wing Dings were great; I remember making piles of those on my plate.
Kind of sad, in a way, that Blimplie is probably going to beat Jess’s, but hey, I voted for Blimpie. Lived off that place during the Blizzard that January (’96?).
Who seeds Smokin Pig at 16???
Would have loved to have seen Calhoun’s and Kleine’s on here! Great bracket though, and even better idea!