Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, August 24, 1993                   TAG: 9308240658
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-1   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: KEN DAVIS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

GRAZING THE VALLEY - A REAL MAN EATS QUICHE - AND LIKES IT

It was an agreement that epitomized the beauty of the democratic process - which, of course, means that it was mutually acceptable to my two compatriots and forced upon me.

But being the amiable, laid-back, easy-going type, I went along with majority rule, deciding that someone should be courageous and risk eating a strange meal every day.

Besides, I thought to myself, the newspaper was paying the bill, and the special might end up being surf 'n' turf.

So for the price-is-no-object type, my sampling of Blacksburg's college cuisine is for you.

The food fest began on a Monday afternoon at Blacksburg's staple of college eateries, Macado's on University City Boulevard, with a lunch special of quiche Lorraine and fresh fruit.

Quiche?! Why did it have to be quiche?

Beyond the effeminate connotations associated with the dish, I've always found it difficult to stomach foods that I have a hard time pronouncing. Thus, I immediately considered bailing out of this little arrangement and going out for a cheeseburger and vanilla shake at McDonald's.

A man's got to know his limitations, as the great philosopher Clint Eastwood once said.

But it wasn't that bad. In fact, it was good. Unfortunately, an egg pie and a cup of fruit doesn't exactly satisfy the heartiest appetite. Luckily, my comrades and I ordered a few potato skins, which helped offset my lingering hunger.

Appetite notwithstanding, the price for a lunch special at Macado's is reasonable considering the quality of the food, and the atmosphere and service are even better than the price.

On to the next restaurant - the College Inn on North Main Street in downtown Blacksburg.

This is not the kind of place you want to take someone on that all-important first date. The ambience is a cross between Mel's Diner and a mess hall.

And no surf 'n' turf.

However, if you're like me, then friendly service and good food are all that's important to you. In that department, the College Inn ranks right up there with the best of them.

Although the service was indeed a little slow with our meal, it was quite friendly, and the special - the College Inn Club - was good and was enough to fill me up without having to resort to appetizers.

The third stop on this trek was BT's in Radford, which sits on the corner of Tyler Avenue and Downey Street across from Radford University.

The atmosphere has a kind of wish-we-were-more-charming-than- we-really-are feel.

Not that it matters. The food and service are excellent, and it's all at a good price. My special was a perfect chicken parmigiana sandwich with a cup of soup on the side. It was accompanied by great service.

But no surf 'n' turf.

Day Four took us to the Hokie House, a college-hangout-wannabe on Main Street in Blacksburg.

Luckily, it isn't as much of a college hangout as it used to be, so it's a great place for you to get away from fellow obnoxious college students like me.

Additionally, the Hokie House blend of good food, atmosphere, service and price made it a favorite on our tour. I got a chicken fillet sandwich with a mound of french fries large enough to sink a ship served by a friendly, helpful waitress.

But no surf 'n' turf.

We ended our week's worth of free meals at the Scoreboard on Norwood Street in Radford, a sports bar which served me a chicken sandwich special - known as the Technical Fowl - that ranked right behind the Hokie House's special in taste and price, even if it has a corny name.

As with the others, they don't serve a surf 'n' turf, but the Scoreboard reigns supreme in atmosphere and service, with enough TVs and friendly people so you feel like you're eating at a friend's apartment.

Fortunately for students looking for good food, our tour of the New River Valley's college hot spots was only a small portion of what's out there. And whether you're looking for a greasy spoon or a four-star restaurant, the area has something to suit your individual tastes and give you a good reason to leave the dining hall.

However, if you're looking for a surf 'n' turf lunch special, go to school somewhere else.