By Harper Hope 

During a treacherous, humid, four-hour UVA football game last month, I was dying for a satisfying meal. I did not want Dippin’ Dots, a soft pretzel, an ice cream sandwich, or the nachos that Scott Stadium offered. My empty stomach was fuming, and watching a football game that I did not understand the rules of had made me impatient. 

Suddenly, when I was about to lose all hope, my friend Ruby Goff (‘24) suggested we go to Bodo’s Bagels. This sounded perfect. I had never heard of this local institution, but the thought of a yummy bagel with cream cheese intrigued me. I would later find out that this bagel place is well-known in the Charlottesville area, being given the title of “king of bagels” by C-VILLE Weekly. George Siminton (‘24) says, “Bodo’s Bagels seem like the center of Charlottesville and UVA, as a staple in their community.”

Photo credit: Tom Feary.

With ten minutes left in the game, my friends and I walked to the car. We drove for about five minutes until we reached our destination: Bodo’s on Emmet Street. We walked inside to a true place of beauty. It was very old-fashioned, reminding me of a diner. All I remember was a distinct bright orange color being almost everywhere I looked. From the walls, to the doors, to the floors, everything was orange! I wondered if this was intentional and if it was supposed to add to the bagel aesthetic. Alice Oakey’s (‘24) eye was instantly drawn to the decor. Oakey says, “I like the bagel door handle, and I like that it’s so cheap.” 

The seven of us finally ordered our meals. My order consisted of a sausage and egg whole wheat bagel, no cheese, with a six-ounce side of cream cheese. My total came to $5.70, an extremely reasonable price for a bagel sandwich, especially with the additional extra cream cheese. I will give it partial credit for being the warmest and softest bagel I have ever tried in my whole life. However, the flavor did not live up to the hype I had been hearing. It was missing something and did not measure up to my staple bagel shop in Richmond, Einstein Bros. When I told Katie Cullen (‘24) my opinion, she dubbed it, a “hot take.” My friends munched on their bagels, happier than ever. Goff (‘24) says, “I crafted the best bagel sandwich possible. It was tasty. I fell asleep right after.”

The Emmet Street Bodo’s was first founded by Brain Fox in 1988. His success was primarily due to his mindset: cheap prices, high volume foods, and most important, efficiency. With these goals in mind, he created one of the first fast food bakeries in Charlottesville. In 2005, the third Bodo’s opened; all stores are located in the Charlottesville area. These stores are now run by different managers and are jointly owned.

Based on the aesthetic alone, I expected this bagel shop to have been open for centuries. I appreciated the old fashioned look, as it reminded me of my childhood. However, what I liked most about Bodo’s is that it had an extensive menu. There are salads, sandwiches, soups, and, of course, their specialty bagels. Liam Harbour  (‘24) shared, “I like Bodo’s because of the cheap prices, fresh taste, and local vibes.” 

Overall, I would rate my Bodo’s experience a solid 9/10. Although the food did not stand out to me as much as I had hoped, it was still very delectable after a long day. Eating it with all my friends enhanced the experience, and, as Oakey said, the bagel-shaped door handle was pretty epic.

Featured image credit: Ben Schumin via flickr.