Dining after a night downtown: The best late night spots that we hope will be open in the fall

Going downtown in Blacksburg is quite the experience. With bars like Top of the Stairs, PK’s and Sharkey’s we’ve got plenty of options to choose from. However, a challenge bigger than deciding the order of bars to hop from is where to eat after you get that post-drinking hunger. 

Benny Marzano’s, commonly referred to as “Benny’s”, is the go-to pizza place regardless of the occasion. The first of many Benny’s pizza restaurants across the east coast, Benny Marzano’s has been serving up their famous “Virginia Slice” pizza in Blacksburg since 2011. For nearly a decade now, Hokies past and present have been treated to good pizza both in taste and in price. What makes this place so special to all those that go downtown is that their store hours are perfect for those seeking to cap their night off with good eats, staying open until 3 a.m. on some nights.

“The best post-downtown place to eat is hands down Benny’s” said Brandon Moses, a senior studying political science at Virginia Tech., “ “Great location, value and overall environment. Some of my favorite memories come from Benny’s at 1 a.m. It’s called, ‘Home of the Drunk Slice’ for a reason.”

For those that crave breakfast food at night, perhaps Waffle House is the place to go after a tour de downtown. Hashbrowns, pancakes, egg sandwiches and of course, waffles, are just some of the many options you can choose from. What makes Waffle House a standout among the competition is that, under normal business hours, the restaurant is open 24/7. In other words, no matter how late of a night your downtown time ends up going, you can rely on Waffle House to be there to serve you.

If pizza and breakfast food aren’t your cup of tea, maybe tacos and nachos might suit you better. Taco Bell is a great low-cost option for those looking to get Mexican-inspired food at night. Similar to Benny’s, Taco Bell has normal store hours that are perfect for those who want to wait until it’s late to eat. Quesadillas, burritos and tacos of all kinds, Taco Bell is certainly a place to consider when deciding where to eat.

Right in the heart of downtown Blacksburg is D.P. Dough, a calzone-oriented restaurant that caters to late night crowds regularly. It’s as if their entire menu was crafted with bar hoppers in mind. With calzones, wings, “stix” (various types of breadsticks), D.P. Tots (their take on tater tots) and more, any taste with any appetite can be treated to the variety that’s offered here.

If you’re looking to go to a bar and not have to bother with finding a place to eat afterwards, perhaps Rivermill Bar and Grill is the place for you. Offering both traditional and Tex-Mex food, Rivermill has great restaurant options as well as a full-fledged bar, with a broad selection of beers on tap. 

A spot that’s walking distance from all downtown Blacksburg bars (it’s right next door to TOTS) and stays open quite late is Jimmy John’s. Popular for it endless sandwich options and Jimmy Chips, Jimmy John’s has been a staple of downtown Blacksburg nightlife eating for some time now. Open as late as 3 a.m. during normal business hours, Jimmy John’s is the place to go to if you crave cold cut subs after having a night of cold drinks. 

“I usually get Jimmy Johns because it has the most selection that doesn’t have cheese (since I can’t have cheese) and is extremely fast. Also it’s right next to TOTS,” said Evan Jones, a senior at Virginia Tech studying Computer Science. 

As simple as it may sound, deciding what place you want to eat at after going downtown is actually a big deal. With so many options to choose from, it can be intimidating to decide where to go. Regardless of where you choose to eat after your time downtown, make sure that it caps your night off as a memorable experience.