{"id":455,"date":"2010-03-17T23:53:17","date_gmt":"2010-03-18T03:53:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jmusportsblog.com\/?p=455"},"modified":"2012-03-18T21:26:22","modified_gmt":"2012-03-19T01:26:22","slug":"best-eats-in-the-burg-circa-1997-pick-your-bracket","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jmusportsblog.com\/?p=455","title":{"rendered":"Best Eats in the ‘burg circa 1997. Pick your bracket!"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The men’s team isn’t going dancing. Again. So, there will be no JMU Sports Blog\u00a0NCAA 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<\/strong><\/em> (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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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.<\/div>\n

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Selection Criteria: The aim of the committee was to find the 16 best teams, regardless of types of food. \u00a0Large national chains were not considered unless the Harrisonburg outpost had something particularly remarkable to set it apart from other franchises. \u00a0High-end dining, such as it is in the \u2018burg, was also excluded so as not to skew the bracket.<\/div>\n

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[polldaddy poll=2916971]<\/div>\n
1. Dave\u2019s\/Gus\u2019 Taverna<\/strong> – Chicken Souvlaki and Spanikopita \u2013 Todd’s Take:<\/em> A real blueblood of Harrisonburg establishments. \u00a0No need to wax poetic about the good old days here, as Dave\u2019s is still gettin\u2019 it done. Rob’s Take: <\/em>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.<\/div>\n
vs.<\/strong><\/div>\n
16. Smokin\u2019 Pi<\/strong>g<\/strong> \u2013 Todd’s Take: <\/em>Way off the radar joint on the way to Melrose. \u00a0Probably wasn\u2019t really that great, I just didn\u2019t know good Q back then. Rob’s Take: <\/em>The place had fried pickles man. Fried pickles are awesome.<\/div>\n
[polldaddy poll=2917048]<\/div>\n
8. Mr. J\u2019s<\/strong> \u2013 Todd’s Take: <\/em>Mr. J\u2019s v. JM\u2019s delivery is the ultimate chick matchup. \u00a0The Sunday morning bagel excursion said \u201cgood guy with potential\u201d to Lady Dukes while it amounted to the most dreaded of high-profile walks of shame for the guys. \u00a0Of course, we wouldn\u2019t know because our presence was never requested on these trips (girls are smart enough not to publicize their walks of shame).<\/div>\n
vs.<\/strong><\/div>\n
9. JM\u2019s<\/strong> \u2013 Todd’s Take:<\/em> In the days when fat, not carbs, was still the enemy, the late-night call for soft pretzels from JM\u2019s was a sure thing in a boozed up girls\u2019 house. Rob’s\u00a0Take: <\/em>Sadly, late night food was about the only sure thing if I ever found my self at a girls house after dark.<\/div>\n
[polldaddy poll=2917054]<\/div>\n
5. Jess\u2019 Quick Lunch<\/strong> \u2013 Todd’s Take: <\/em>Clearly the Duke of the bracket. \u00a0Overseeded based on name and reputation, but I challenge you to name me one menu item you still really want to eat. \u00a0And don\u2019t even try for chili dogs, this ain\u2019t know Vienna Inn.<\/div>\n
vs.<\/strong><\/div>\n
12. Blimpie<\/strong> \u2013 Todd’s Take:<\/em> The first of three chains to make the field. \u00a0But the Blimpie on Port Republic (in what is now Dave\u2019s Express) was an absolute late-night show in its day. \u00a0I\u2019ve been to other Blimpies and they all eat ass. \u00a0Probably 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. \u00a0Confessional: I was once found on my kitchen floor sleeping on half of a large tuna melt with hot peppers. Rob’s Take: <\/em>Agreed. Also,\u00a0I 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.”<\/div>\n
[polldaddy poll=2917056]<\/div>\n
4. The Little Grill<\/strong> \u2013 Todd’s Take:<\/em> Big sleeper. \u00a0My first introduction to vegetarian items and the place I learned the difference between the RiP\u2019s (Richmond Princess\u2019) I hung out with who posed as hippies and actual hippies. \u00a0But a great place for solid food a little off the usual JMU track.<\/div>\n
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13. DoublePunch at PC Dukes<\/strong> – Rob’s Take:<\/em> 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.<\/div>\n

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That’s it for today. Check back tomorrow for the rest of the round 1 match-ups!<\/div>\n