The Cavalier Daily
Serving the University Community Since 1890

Traditional Corner joint serves 'College' fare

"Ya, I need a chicken gyro," said the late-night customer placing his order well after midnight. Such off-hour feasting is easy at The College Inn on The Corner, open from 7:30 a.m. until 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday and from 8:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday.

As fourth-year College student Maneesh Jain points out, the Inn also delivers from 11 a.m. up until the wee hours of the morn' when the restaurant closes.

"They're always really reliable about delivering," Jain said. "My friends and I order from the College Inn all the time," he said.

While enjoying a large Pesto & Three-Cheese Pizza after catching a late movie with a friend, he said he thoroughly enjoyed his meal at the Inn.

"It's really tasty. I'll order it again if I have the chance," he added.

The prices are somewhat reasonable. Jain's eight-piece large pesto cost $13.24. It ended up being way too much food for them to finish in one setting, and both friends went home with doggy bags.

Enhancing the appetizing price are the delicious fresh ingredients that go into the pizza.

"It takes us four hours just to cook our sauce daily. It takes a lot of effort," College Inn co-owner George Mastakas said. "But it pay off 'cause everybody loves it."

Also made on the premises is the seasoned cooked spinach, which exquisitely complements ricotta, mozzarella and mushrooms atop the Spinach pizza (sml $7.75). The Spinach and the Pesto are just two of the Inn's eight specialty pizzas. For a little deviation from the usual mozzarella and tomato sauce, the Greek Style Pizza (sml 8.75) is highly recommended with its feta cheese, fresh tomatoes, onions, fresh basil, olive oil - and the essential black olives.

Jain's companion, third-year Commerce student Rama Nemani, emphasized that the setting of the restaurant is quite relaxed.

Obtaining comfortable seating is not an issue in the dining room, which is dominated by booths. The sequestered environment created by these wooden barriers allows for cozy dinner conversation with companions.

Host Bill Pruitt occupies the stall in front of an old photo of the Virginia women's basketball team, and points to a more contemporary piece of memorabilia which hangs opposite him, a blue and orange football jersey.

Cavalier football coach George Welsh gave it to the restaurant, Pruitt said.

The restaurant has accumulated quite a collection of University mementos over the many years of its existence, which dates back to the 1920s. The Inn's holdings have grown so large that some items are kept in basement storage, according to Pruitt.

The restaurant's patrons are a diverse group, he said. Hospital staff frequent the establishment during the day, whereas students are more likely to visit at night.

The Washington Debating Society comes there every Thursday, said one member who had just stopped in to visit with Pruitt.

Co-owner George Mastakas, who bought the restaurant three years ago with his cousin John Ballas, said he has made only a few changes in the restaurant - which has been an institution on the Corner for years.

Since purchasing the Inn, the two have added couple of items, but the core of the menu, which offers everything from omelets to chicken souvlaki to subs for around $6, has remained the same.

Jain, who eats at the College Inn about once every two weeks, listed the reasons for his continued patronage: "It's a friendly atmosphere, it's open till two in the morning, it has a wide selection of vegetarian food," he said.

Vegetarian dishes include various salads, pastas and different specialty pizzas (or you can create your own). But meat lovers have nothing to fear. They can enjoy the variety of gyros, souvlaki, meat pizzas and hamburger platters that the extensive menu has to offer.

"The most unique thing about our menu is the diversity. It covers a wide variety," Mastakas said.

The service at the Inn is as informal as the atmosphere. Our waiter, a member of a local band, was patient with our indecision in the face of so many choices and consistently kept our water glasses full.

There's only one drawback to the late-night plenty the College Inn has to offer - they don't accept the Corner Meal Plan.

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