Von's Dough Shack

This place has gone through several owners so I sure hope it's gotten better since the last time I ate there. I've had some just ok calzones before but I have NEVER had a calzone that was served to me WITH A BITE TAKEN OUT OF IT!! Seriously. I ordered pick up, took it home, opened it and saw that it's already been eaten. I called and the owner who was working himself that night said sorry and come back, he'll get me another one. I was hungry, I went back. Seemed like someone took a bite out of the calzone, said it wasn't what they ordered and handed it back. The owner then hands it to me. EWWW! I'm pretty sure there's a health code out there that says you can't sell returned food back to customers. Sorry, Von's - I can't go back.

The calzone my husband and I split was all right. The dough was overcooked to the point of being chip-like and the insides were so hot that some of the juice from an unplugged hole burnt my husband's face. Overall, they have a pretty good selection and it wouldn't be bad for a to-go choice. The interior of the "loveshack" is what I suspect an acid trip might look like. All sort of weird colors, trim, and, my favorite (tongue in cheek), the picture of zebras triple humping.

The music that was playing was very loud and obvious (with profanity and "adult themes") rap/R&B. While I have nothing against those genres, when you have customers ordering, it seems like the wrong sort of music to have going (especially since you need to wait around 15 minutes for your order). The music is too obnoxious to be simple background noise, so you're kind of stuck if that's what they're playing at that time.

Decent food, crummy environment (unless you're into that sort of stuff), and little desire to go back and spend money there.

It might be nicer in the summer when people can actually wait outside.

A temple of tranquility. A sanctuary of solace. A glorious drunk munchie nirvana. The Joys of the Shack.

When I lived in West Lafayette, my day yielded to the radiant abyss that served salad in a box, cheesy sticks, and divine calzones. Best. Calzones. Ever. Combinations that will make you want to lick boxes. A party in your mouth! My pick was either the Italiano or the Four Twenty. If you have the cash or the resolve, make the personal challenge of trying the whole menu. Hey, it will make a great story about your college experience!

Before it was the Von's Dough Shop, it was Lov Shack. The sauces used to be bigger. Now you get a tiny version of what the dipping sauce used to be. Bummer. But it's still worth it. Every time I make the trip to Von's, I stop at the Shack for some nostalgic deliciousness. The inside is now painted in loud colors with simple cafeteria tables. The Shack slaves are always super cool, and if you can get them to hook you up with an extra sauce, it's totally worth losing a bit of your dignity.

The price is right for the amount of food you get. Get a fake Den Pop from them while you're there (Reference: Discount Den, around the corner). I can't quite express how deep my belief is in the Dough Shack. And God said, Let there be dough: and there was calzones.