Bodo’s Bagels

by Charlottesville29

For the story behind Charlottesville’s most popular place to eat, click here. The quick guide to Bodo’s is below.

Why Bodo’s?

Bodo’s, a bagel bakery, may be Charlottesville’s signature restaurant. It has become so embedded in Charlottesville culture that it is now a Charlottesville institution to call Bodo’s a Charlottesville institution. Combined, Bodo’s three locations employ 120 area residents and feed roughly 6,000 people a day. Bodo’s popularity is partly because the bagels are great. And, cheap too. But, a bigger reason may be that the entire Bodo’s experience is so congruous with Charlottesville. Like Charlottesville itself, Bodo’s is a happy place to be.

What to Order

Given the breadth of the menu at Bodo’s, it seems silly to suggest specific items to order. There are infinite possible combinations. But, as longtime customers, we can offer a few ordering tips. First, when we order a sandwich, we almost always ask for it “cut in half.” We have yet to crack the mystery of why this makes the sandwich so much more appealing to us, but it does. Maybe it will work for you. Second, if we add condiments, we typically like to request “EZ” — as in “EZ Mayo” or “EZ Mustard.”  This invariably provides a sufficient amount without going overboard. Beyond that, for specific sandwich suggestions, we decided to ask the experts, Bodo’s owners and staff, for their single favorite way to enjoy a Bodo’s bagel. The results are magnificent.

2012 Picks

Owner Picks

  • Kokola:  Smoked Turkey on an Everything, hot, cheddar, herb cream cheese, sprouts, cucumber, lettuce, and tomato
  • Smith: Lox on an Everything, watercress, corn salad, pesto, lettuce, onion, and EZ mayo
  • Jenson: Avocado on an Everything, cheddar, sprouts
  • Fox (founder and former owner):  Pastrami on an Everything, kalamata spread, tomato, onions

Staff Picks

  • Amanda:  Peanut butter on a Raisin, walnut cream cheese
  • Shequita: Egg and ham on a Wheat, vegetable cream cheese
  • Sam:  Egg and sausage on an Everything, cheddar
  • Crystal B.:  Egg white and ham on a Garlic, swiss, feta, sprouts, onions, mustard
  • Patrick:  Sausage on a Raisin, muenster, lettuce, tomato, onions, mayo, mustard
  • Kayla: American Cheese on a Plain, hot, butter
  • Brianna: Turkey on a Whole Wheat, hot, provolone, pesto, cucumber, onions
  • Shelly:  Turkey on an Everything, provolone, bacon, lettuce, tomato, onions, mayo
  • Anna F.:  Smoked turkey on an Everything, cheddar, bacon, avocado, sprouts, lettuce, tomato, onions, mayo, pepper spread
  • Justine T.:  Smoked turkey on an Everything, muenster, bacon, vegetable cream cheese, lettuce, tomato, mustard, horseradish
  • Joe:  Smoked turkey on an Everything, hot, Swiss, hummus, kalamata olive spread, pesto, mustard
  • Keith:  Smoked turkey on an Everything, muenster, bacon, lettuce, tomato, onions, mustard
  • Hannah: Ham on an Everything, hot, American, lettuce, mayo
  • Victoria:  Ham on an Onion, hot, provolone, American, butter, mustard
  • Beth D.:  Pastrami on an Everything, muenster, pesto,  sprouts, watercress, lettuce, onions
  • Mike: Pastrami on a Plain, Swiss, pesto, mayo
  • Jered:  Corned Beef on a Raisin, Swiss, sprouts, honey, mayo, caesar dressing
  • Cody:  Salami on a Plain, muenster
  • Emily:  Tuna on an Onion, Swiss, sprouts, tomato, mustard, pepper spread
  • Ricardo:  Tuna on an Everything, cheddar, bacon, avocado, lettuce
  • Matt:  Tuna on an Everything Wheat, bacon, lettuce, tomato
  • Kelly:  Chicken salad on an Everything
  • Claudia:  Egg salad on a Plain, bacon
  • Cindy:  BLT on an Onion, mayo
  • Olivia: NoBull Burger on a Sesame, provolone, avocado, sprouts, watercress, onions, mayo, mustard

2017 Picks

Owners’ Children’s Picks

  • Alexander: Turkey on an Plain, bacon, lettuce, EZ mayo
  • Gus: Cucumber on a Garlic
  • Orly: Bacon on an Plain, cinnamon sugar, butter 

Staff Picks

  • Kelli: Egg and Bacon on a Cinnamon Raisin, Swiss, American, tomato, mayo, EZ mustard
  • Alyssa: Egg and Sausage on a Cinnamon Raisin, muenster, jalapeno lime cream cheese, sprouts, onions, horseradish, mustard
  • Sara: Hummus on a Wheat, Swiss, avocado, tomato, sprouts, cucumber, onions
  • Scott: Five Slices of Tomato on a Salt, jalapeno lime cream cheese, honey, EZ mayo and black pepper (very messy!)
  • Jojo: Tomato on a Plain, mayo
  • Miranda: Lox Spread on a Sesame, cucumber, onion
  • Adam: Turkey on and Everything, cheddar, provolone, onions, mayo, mustard, horseradish
  • Ashley: Pulled Chicken on an Everything Wheat, sprouts, EZ onion, tomato, XT mayo, XT bbq 
  • Jered: Ham and Smoked Turkey on an Everything, hot, muenster, Swiss, sprouts, tomato, onion, mayo, mustard, bbq, pepper spread
  • Alec: Capicola on an Everything, Swiss, jalapeno lime cream cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion
  • Evan: Roast Beef, Corned Beef, and Pastrami on and Everything, Swiss, provolone, muenster, lettuce, tomato, onions, sprouts, cucumber, horseradish, kalamata, mayo, mustard 

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