The Cavalier Daily
Serving the University Community Since 1890

Your family will love Fry’s Spring Station

Casual, delicious and convenient

<p>I ordered the Funghitown pizza, which was a vegetarian pizza topped with mushrooms, caramelized onions, white sauce, mozzarella and arugula.</p>

I ordered the Funghitown pizza, which was a vegetarian pizza topped with mushrooms, caramelized onions, white sauce, mozzarella and arugula.

Fry’s Spring Station, located conveniently on Jefferson Park Avenue, is the perfect place to take your family or friends for a delicious dinner that isn’t too fancy. The restaurant is near Scott Stadium and the Gooch-Dillard dorms meaning that it’s never quite as chaotic as the restaurants on the Corner. This locally owned and operated Charlottesville favorite is a must try for all University students, especially those graduating this May. 

Fry’s Spring Station is especially enjoyable in the warmer weather because of its open floor plan and large patio. The large windows give the space a lot of natural light and a refreshing breeze when they’re open in the warmer months. There is ample seating, but for a party of six or more it’s best to call ahead and make a reservation. 

Fry’s Spring Station offers a happy hour Monday through Friday from 3-7 p.m. offering $2 off pints and wine by the glass. On Tuesdays, happy hour is extended until 9 p.m. Wednesdays are all about the wine, offering all bottles and porrons for half off from 6-9 p.m. Thursday night is trivia night, and from 3-7 p.m., $12 local pitchers are offered. The trivia begins at 8 p.m. and goes until 10 p.m. Sundays offer music from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. and brunch from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. 

The food at Fry’s Spring Station is wonderful and very consistent. The menu is friendly to all and has many options, ranging from pizzas to macaroni and cheese to delicious fresh salads and hummus and veggie platters. The menu is affordable as well with no main dish coming in at over $14. 

I dined at Fry’s Spring with three of my close friends. We started the meal with my favorite dish on the menu: the Mezze Plate. The Mezze Plate is a beautiful bowl of white bean hummus served with fresh vegetables, spicy olives and flatbread. The Mezze Plate is the perfect size to share, but I always end up wanting more of that delicious hummus. 

For the main courses, we ordered three pizzas and the rigatoni pomodoro with a side station house salad. The pizzas are personal size and are enough for an entree, but I always end up taking home some leftovers. I ordered the Funghitown pizza, which was a vegetarian pizza topped with mushrooms, caramelized onions, white sauce, mozzarella and arugula. The pizza was a little sweeter than I expected from the caramelized onions, but I loved the fresh bite given by the handful of arugula placed on top. 

The crust of the pizza is phenomenal. It is thin, crispy around the edges, and sprinkled with a little bit of cheese. Seven of the eight pizzas served are available to order with a gluten free crust and many of them are available in a vegetarian option. There is also a section on the menu that allows the creation of a personalized pizza. This option starts at $10 plus an additional $1.75 or $1.50 for the various toppings available. 

The service at Fry’s Spring Station was prompt and attentive. Our water glasses were never empty for long and our waiters took our orders quickly. The food also came out in a very timely fashion, though the restaurant wasn’t very busy when we dined. I was also grateful for the ease at which they split the checks — this can be so frustrating at some restaurants. We were able to pay for our own entrees and split the Mezze Plate evenly between the four of us. My meal came to a total of $16, and I took home half of my pizza for lunch. 

Fry’s Spring Station is a must visit — it’s easily accessible from Grounds, kid and parent friendly and the menu has something for every palate. I have never had a bad meal here and can’t wait to try more of the menu. Fry’s Spring Station is one of my favorite restaurants in Charlottesville, and I hope everyone gives it a try. 

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