Just a short walk from Grounds, Feast! is a one-stop shop for thoughtfully prepared staples that are perfect for upgrading your school-year menu. Locally owned and operated since 2002, the market is a Charlottesville icon that combines neighborhood charm with a deliciously curated selection of food — from pre-made dips to fresh soups and salads. Recently, I ventured out to Feast! in search of a delicious array of snack items.
Tucked along West Main Street just before arriving at the Downtown Mall, Feast!’s quaint brick storefront greets visitors with playful window doodles and hand-scrawled specials that draw passersby inside. Outside, the modest cement patio may seem understated, but as I crossed the threshold, the space came to life as a cozy market-meets-café.
Casual wooden tables anchor a warm seating area near the entrance, inviting customers to linger. Just beyond, the pick-up counter hums with the steady rhythm of pre-orders waiting for grab-and-go. For customers dining in, steaming soups and sandwiches emerge on parchment-lined trays straight from the kitchen.
Continuing straight ahead through the dining space, I made my way between metal shelves, which showcased local finds alongside gourmet snacks — everything from pantry staples to indulgent treats, like Milk Chocolate Maple Bourbon Pecans and Keogh’s Truffle Butter Potato Chips. On the right, the cheese and deli counter glows as a focal point, staffed by employees eager to offer a taste or guide you toward the perfect pairing. For the truly indecisive people like myself, Feast! offers free daily samples — on my visit, a Vermont Cow’s Milk White Cheddar paired with Hot Plum Chutney — a touch that captures the store’s imaginative spirit.
While each indulgent section I passed bore endless culinary possibilities, the back of the market stole the show for me. The refrigerated case brims with a constantly rotating selection of house-made dips, seasonal salads and comforting prepared foods. Each neatly packaged container seems to be designed with students in mind — practical for a dorm fridge yet still effortlessly appealing.
After browsing the variety of delectable pre-assembled offerings, my friends and I purchased our snack spread at the checkout counter and headed back home for a mid-study tasting journey.
We commenced with the Greek Goddess dip, a vibrant introduction to the lineup that proved, fittingly, to be nothing short of divine. Packed with bold herbs and a vinegar-forward brightness, the fresh flavor struck an impressive harmony. A hint of mayonnaise peeked through, but the use of Greek yogurt kept the profile light and delivered a silky consistency, equally well-suited as a veggie dip or sandwich spread.
I opted for a classic crudité pairing, the crisp crunch playing beautifully against the smooth dip. At just $6.95 for a half-pint plastic container, adorned with a sleek label that channels an upscale, gourmet grocer vibe, the Greek Goddess is a budget-friendly must-try for students.
Next came the Artichoke and Parmesan dip, which surprised me at first with its strong cream cheese focus. Almost too rich for my taste — mirrored in its $7.95 price tag, just a dollar above the Greek Goddess — the cream cheese notes actually grew on me after a few bites, especially once paired with a simple base. For this, I recommend the Mi Niña tortilla chips, which you’ll also find in Feast!’s pantry. The dip’s smooth puree, flecked with tender artichoke bits, melted on the tongue, while nutty parmesan and bright scallion rounded out its character. My friends unanimously labeled this their favorite.
To refresh our palates, we tasted the newly-released Asian Cucumber salad next, featuring cucumbers sliced just thinly enough to soak up the tangy marinade while still retaining a satisfying crunch. Cilantro added a fragrant lift, and ribbons of red onion brought just enough sharpness to balance the acidic-sweet interplay of vinegar and sugar. Selling for $3.95, this light and lively salad served as a perfect interlude between the richer spreads.
We closed our sampling with the Herbed Hummus. Olive oil lent depth, lemon kept it citrusy and roasted garlic fell softly into the background without sharpness. The result was a velvety dip with layered notes and a less dominant chickpea role than in traditional versions of hummus. Paired with Laiki crackers that we also purchased from the pantry, this combo was endlessly snackable and around $10 in total.
As someone with a gluten allergy, I especially appreciated the black rice crackers, which were pillowy and full of buttery crunch, unlike some gluten-free options that can feel dry or bland, making them the perfect vehicle for the mellow hummus. For me, it’s rare to find a market where gluten-free options feel plentiful and every bit as exciting as their traditional counterparts.
Feast!’s dips and prepared foods also impress with their shelf life. Even several days after my visit, the containers I’d tucked away in my apartment fridge were just as fresh and flavorful, making them the perfect fallback for nights when groceries run low or cooking is simply too much effort.
More than just a market, Feast! is a celebration of all things delightful, a place where snacks become small luxuries and food becomes a way to connect. Each visit offers the chance to discover something new, for both busy students and Charlottesville locals alike, making it a destination worth returning to again and again.
Read More
‘Don’t Fix the Furry’: Dr. Courtney Plante on the Furscience project
By Dana Douglas | 4 days agoAnthropomorphic Within Universities, the University’s furry club, hosted a Zoom meeting with Dr. Courtney Plante to learn about his renowned study called the International Anthropomorphic Research Project — more commonly known as “Furscience”
Dear first-year self, can I be you again?
By Emily Barrie | 4 days agoThere is some type of magic that comes with the unknown that makes the first year of college so special — even if I spent far too much time wishing I had all the answers
To be lovers, fighters or lovers who fight
By Madigan Wirkus | October 2, 2025From accidentally shutting the car door on a foot to feeling like flowers were not sent often enough, these fights sometimes seemed to define us.
