College Game Day: Favorite Eats

Updated September 29, 2015.
Fall Saturdays are made for college football, and thankfully, Virginia is beautiful in the fall, which makes your game day drive all the more exciting.
Food and great friends are the other exciting part of the day. Whether your team wins or loses, the experience is shared with those you love spending time with. Huddle close and cheer hard, as our dedicated team of “locals” recommend some awesome eats for the remaining gridiron weekends at these major Virginia colleges and universities.

— BLACKSBURG —

The home of the Virginia Tech Hokies, Blacksburg spills over with football fanatics blazing orange and maroon paths to Lane Stadium several Saturdays each year.

Downtown Blacksburg

College Town Dining
– Buffalo Wild Wings
– Macado’s
– Top of the Stairs
– Sharkey’s
– Big Al’s Sports Bar

— CHARLOTTESVILLE —

The Wahoos play in Charlottesville, and they’re also known as the University of Virginia Cavaliers. Those fortunate ones find themselves in Thomas Jefferson’s beautiful “academical village,” with his noted architecture all around them. Come game day, however, the near ivy league gloves come off and the eye blacks go on as the ACC’s hard hitters dare walk into Scott Stadium.

University of Virginia. Photo by James Beeler.

The biggest event is when the Virginia Tech Hokies make the 145-mile trek up Interstate 81 for the Battle of the Commonwealth Cup. The traditional rivalry is the day after Thanksgiving. Certainly, it’s going to be a Black Friday for one team or the other.
College Town Dining
– FIG
– White Spot
– Spudnut’s
– The Virginian

— HARRISONBURG —

The Royal Dukes of James Madison University hold down the turf in Harrisonburg, but those Eagles of Bridgewater College are just a hop, skip and a jump away within Rockingham County. Fortunately, the two are not rivals and do not play each other.

James Madison University. Photo by Greg Comer.

College Town Dining
– Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint
– Union Station
– Bella Luna Wood-Fired Pizza
– Strite’s Donuts

— LEXINGTON —

Lucky, lucky, there are two colleges in Lexington. Washington and Lee University and Virginia Military Institute share this historic town and its treasures.

The Palms, Lexington

College Town Dining
– Southern Inn
– Berky’s
– Palms
– Salerno
– Frank’s Pizza

— WILLIAMSBURG —

Nestled just outside of Colonial Williamsburg in Historic Williamsburg is William & Mary, home of Tribe football.
College Town Dining
– The Crust Cafe
– MAD about Chocolate
– Blue Talon Bistro
– Retro’s Good Eats

— LYNCHBURG —

The Flames of Liberty University are always Big South Conference favorites, hoisting the Sasser Cup 11 times. Will this be the year they finally take it back home to Lynchburg?
College Town Dining
– Buffalo Wild Wings
– Macado’s
– Doc’s Diner
– Original Italian Pizza

— RICHMOND —

Another city that boasts two major schools, Richmond loves its Spiders and its Virginia Commonwealth University Rams (though the Rams don’t play football). Whether it’s touchdowns or three-pointers that attract you, Richmond has tremendous dining to offer.

Buz and Ned’s Real Barbecue

College Town Dining
– The Village Cafe
– Carytown Burger & Fries
– Buz & Ned’s Real Barbecue
– Sugar Shack Donuts
– Home Team Grill

— NORFOLK —

Both the Old Dominion University Monarchs and Norfolk State University Spartans call Norfolk home base.
College Town Dining
– Perfectly Frank
– Monarch Sports Grille
– The Dirty Buffalo
– Handsome Biscuit

— HAMPTON —

Hampton University Pirates battle nearby schools for Coastal Virginia glory. The Battle of Bay is an annual clash with the Spartans of Norfolk State.
College Town Dining
– Six Little Bar & Bistro
– The Turtle Bar & Grill
– Old Town Tavern
– The Taphouse

See more Virginia college football teams and learn about their towns at Virginia.org/CollegeSports.