Down Sam Houston Avenue lies Corner Pocket, a nice smoke-free pool hall where the only beverages are of the non-alcoholic variety. In the short time Corner Pocket has been in town, it has quickly become a staple of college student life in Huntsville, offering an alternative place to study, somewhere to escape from the drudgery of campus life or the noisy, crowed bar scene.Traditionally speaking, most pool halls are not known for cuisine that is much more than chicken wings and beer, with smoke so thick you develop lung cancer after only a few visits. I was a little skeptical about the quality of food, but after one visit to Corner Pocket last week, I can see my suspicions were unfounded and just plain wrong. This food is good.The menu at Corner Pocket can best be described as a variation on a deli-style menu. They have soups, sandwiches and breakfast items, along with some local favorites. Now anyone can make a decent sandwich, but a truly great sandwich needs the best meats, cheeses and bread. It requires attention to detail–things like grill-toasted fresh bread, melted cheese and a wide assortment of vegetables to top it with. My grandmother taught me details make all the difference. The greatest compliment I could make about Corner Pocket’s food is that it reminds me of my grandmother’s cooking. But what is it on the menu that is so great? Well, to start off, fresh bagels are delivered every morning from Manhattan Bagels in Houston, and they mix the best ingredients into cream cheese daily to create delectable spreads such as honey nut, strawberry, and honey apricot. It opens at 6:30 a.m., and I can’t think of a better way to start the day than with a freshly baked bagel and a cup of steaming coffee.Of course, if you are intelligent enough to have your classes start later than 9 a.m., you might be more inclined to stop in for some lunch or dinner and a quick round of billiards. Now this were I think owners Judy and Charlie Owens have really done their homework. They have a combo meal option, which includes any of their basic sandwiches, chips and a drink for $5.50 (tax included). To me this presents an almost perfect value for a meal, the food being a lot better than Subway. The price even includes a round of pool during lunch hours. However, if you want something a little different, I suggest you try one of Corner Pockets specialty items. The Grilled Rueben has been a traditional staple of delis, particularly Jewish ones, for over 50 years. Having a fostered a love of this sandwich since I was young, I can tell you the Corner Pocket Rueben is so good you could swear the owners are Jewish (but they’re not).The Rueben combines the finest toasted rye bread with thinly sliced corned beef piled insanely high and then topped with mild but flavorful sauerkraut. This is truly an example of the sandwich makers’ art. But if this doesn’t appeal to you, I suggest you try a quesadilla. I know everyone and their mom can make queasdillas. I mean, heck, even Taco Bell is making one now! So what makes this one so special that I would recommend it? In a word, “BACON.” I have tried just about every variation of the quesadilla known to man, but this one is in the running for one of the best I have ever had. First they start with two giant tortillas, fill it with grilled sliced chicken breast, lots of melted cheese and the freshly fried bacon. It is equivalent to the way Homer drools in nearly every episode of “The Simpsons.” Quite simply, it’s a meal in itself. Just get a drink and you will be good to go.Customers can get anything on the menu to go, so either call it in or come by. Corner Pocket is a haven from the pre-fabricated fast food that has infiltrated our societies’ eating habits. This is good stuff, so go try some, you will be glad that you did. Corner Pocket is open from 6:30 a.m. until 1 a.m., so forget Jack and the Bell, and go get something good.