West Virginia doesn't have a shortage of cool burrito joints: Black Bear Burritos, Black Sheep Burritos, and now, add The Burrito Bar at Breeze Hill to that list.


The Burrito Bar was the perfect post-rafting meal. We made the short, winding trip up the road, over cracked pavement until we reached the restaurant. The beautiful, outdoor space is at the top of a hill, giving nice views no matter which direction you look.

It's also a great space for live music, which we missed just by a bit - but the winding wooden deck leads to lots of little nooks to gather and hang out.

The menu features a few different kinds of appetizers, tacos, quesadillas and burritos.

Some of the most popular choices include:

Pillow smoked chicken, seasoned rice, refried pinto beans, cheddar, shredded cabbage & chipoltle crema $9.50

Lost Paddle steak strips, seasoned rice, coffee’d black beans, pepperjack, shredded cabbage & red crema $11

It's cool they're named after some of the big rapids on the Gauley River. We went with the Iron Ring because it had a little bit of heat.

Black Sheep Burrito & Brews is a well-known hipster burrito joint in Huntington that I've been dying to try for, well, ever. I still haven't gone (hopefully soon!), but they did open a location in Charleston, where the former Charleston Brewing Company used to be. It's this sort of joint-venture now, with Black Sheep dishing up the food and Charleston Brewing Company brewing and selling their beer.

Charleston Brewing Company's food wasn't well-received, and they adjusted, but overall, it seems this is combining the best of two worlds.


The interior is nicer, brighter than I remember from the former place. We were sat near the back by the bar, so it was a little busy being right by the kitchen. But not too bad. I liked the music and ambiance.

I was there on the weekend, so it was the brunch menu. I had kind of wanted a burrito since it was my first time there, but they had french toast, which is hard for me to pass up.

It was whiskey cream french toast with bacon marmalade and cinnamon-vanilla infused blueberry syrup. And it was OK. Pretty heavy on my stomach, which was already not feeling great. But if you're thinking this would be your generic IHOP french toast - it's not. It's a darker bread, with a berry sauce - less syrup. More healthy? Not bad by any means, just not out of this world.

So, I'm OK with it. I think I want to try the one in Huntington - and a burrito - for the full experience. I want to love this place, so another dish, another time.

Grade: B

The new Black Bear location opened up in Suncrest. I found out via their announcement on Twitter. Being the devoted blogger I am, I headed over there after work to scope out the new place. It's located along University Avenue, near the party store. As you can imagine, this location is huge.

.....and we are OFICIALLY open at Black Bear Evansdale!!!
— Black Bear Burrito (@BlackBearMotown) July 16, 2012

When we walked in, I was almost overwhelmed by the amount of space. Not only was it gigantic, but it was kind of sparse, which only added to that effect. The downtown location is, well, cluttered. This one is more streamlined and neat. That may also be because they haven't accumulated memorabilia yet.

There are menus up front and large paw prints that you can follow to the register to order. It guides you over to the orange wall. I already knew what I wanted: Fish Tacos. Black Bear has changed their menu slightly - I think they offer one or two less burritos than they had before. That's not to say you couldn't make it yourself; it's just not pre-suggested for you tied up in a cutesy name. But fish tacos are now a regular on the Black Bear Burrito. It used to only be a special (if you don't like Black Bear's Facebook page to see the specials, you aren't living), but I assume, after much positive feedback, it's now a regular. What better way to celebrate than to order it?



For $8.75, you get "two soft taco tortillas filled with Monterey Jack cheese, a crunchy cabbage blend, fresh roma tomatoes, and a generous portion of seasoned Tilapia. We add an awesome 'Best Coast' dill sauce...we serve 'em flat. You fold and eat!"

It's the same order-at-the-counter, get a toy, fill-your-drink-up-at-the-fountain, find a table and have the server come find you. Is it sad that I was excited to see a new crop of toys? For the record, we had a toy bus. The fountain machine is really tall, so if you're pretty short, you might actually have trouble reaching it. Our food came out fairly quickly, especially considering it was the first day. While one member of the group had a slight mix-up with her order, the rest of ours were perfect.

I hadn't had the fish tacos before, but I was happy with my decision. They were full of tender pieces of fish, and the dill sauce was a perfect complement. A little crunch with the cabbage added some more substance to this dish. I enjoyed it. I made a mess eating it, but it was worth it. I can see how this would be a big seller. I must say, though, I might have to stick with my Irie Member or Bear Trap or Good Calypso. Love them and can't get 'em anywhere else.

I hope this location does well. It seems like it can serve a different crowd. While we were there, there were lots of children. I don't know if that's any indication of the future, but it may seem more "restaurant" -like, as opposed to the sort of loungey/bar/restaurant the downtown location has going on. It still has local art and even some of the decor is locally produced. But only time will tell what this will morph itself into.

Grade: A

With a sign reading "Chico's Fat," it's no wonder many are hesitant to try this High Street restaurant. Situated near the top, the unassuming restaurant's name is actually "Chico's Fat California Burritos & Tacos." This Cali-style Tacqueria's specialty is their fat burrito, but they also serve traditional Mexican fare.

I had tried this once a few years ago, but it somehow got lost in the shuffle. Recently, when I went to the Arts on the River festival, I discovered a love for their fish taco. Panko-encrusted tilapia with baja slaw and spicy jalepeno crème fresh. Unique and tasty, that taco lured me into checking out the restaurant.

As soon as I walked in, I first noticed the colors. Bright blues and greens and reds - reminiscent of southern Cali decor. Only one other couple was in the restaurant, which already makes me happy. I'll gladly skip the crowds. It's an order-at-the-counter, assembly line type of place, much like Qdoba. But the vibe here isn't "HEY, we're MEXICAN." It's more like, "this is a cool, chill place to relax and get a huge burrito."

I walked up to the counter to look over the menu options. Soups (like chicken enchilada), salads (like avocado salad), burritos, burrito bowls, nachos, quesadillas, tortas (a Mexican sandwich), combination plates (you can choose two or three: taco, tamale, enchilada, tostada, chimichanga), and tacos are all here. I feel like I had to try their signature burrito. They have a few different types:

• Basic Rice - Choice of beans, pico de gallo, cheese and salsa
• Regular Rice - Choice of beans, choice of meat, pico de gallo, cheese and salsa
• Vegetarian Rice - Choice of beans, tofu, pico de gallo, cheese and salsa
• Super Rice - Choice of beans, choice of meat, pico de gallo, sour cream, guacamole, cheese and salsa
• and a Mojado - Choice of red or green sauce and cheese broiled

I chose the Super Rice because I wanted everything! So, here's how it works. You pick the general item you want, whether it's a burrito, a taco, a quesadilla, etc. Then, you choose your beans:

• Black
• Refried
• Pinto

Then you choose your meat, which is awesome:

• Carne Asada - Marinated grilled steak
• Chili Colorado - Steak & poratoes simmered in red sauce
• Barbacoa - Mexican BBQ shredded beef
• Carnitas - Slow roasted pork
• Al Pastor -  Marinated roast pork
• Chili Verde - Stewed pork in green sauce
• Pollo Asado - Marinated grilled chicken
• Pollo En Salsa Roja - Spicy stewed chicken

Seriously, who gives that many meat options? And they all look pretty killer. I decided on the Barbacoa - Mexican BBQ shredded beef.

Then, you choose your salsa:

• Mild
• Medium
• Hot
• Verde

So far, I was super happy at how easy this all was. It's not like reading some fancy dish name, then reading the description to figure out if you like every component. Instead, you get to build a burrito the way you want it with tons of options. When I was finished, I ended up with a Super Rice Burrito, with black beans, Barbacoa, pico de gallo, sour cream, guacamole, cheese and mild salsa. It was all made right in front of my by a very friendly guy. I added on a fountain soda for a total of around $11.

Apparently the owner, a WVU grad, originally wanted to open up a BBQ restaurant, but the current location was too small. Maybe that's how the Barbacoa was formulated.

I took my basket containing the foil-wrapped burrito and side of chips and salsa to a booth that lined the slender dining way. The fountain soda dispenser was a bit different. Instead of pressing your cup against a button, essentially, you manually pull a level which pours the beverage into your drink. Rather than the gushing of a typical fountain soda, this instead slowly pours it in. It just struck me as odd.

At our table was a candle of the Virgin Mary, or Virgin de Guadalupe. Interesting. On the walls were some framed art, maybe posters of musical groups.

I took a quick bite of my salsa and chips - nothing too mind-blowing here. It was basic. But it's free and on the side, so I can't complain. I unwrapped the behemoth of burrito and began prodding it with my fork. Some of the burrito had began to rip from the sheer enormity of the thing, so I thought fork would be the best way to go. Everything was fresh and flavorful. The meat was well-seasoned and had a smokey flavor. The cool sour cream rounds out my trifecta of tastiness. Creamy guacamole and generous portions of slightly spicy rice and beans made this lip-smacking burrito marvelous.

Everything tasted as if it was made that day - the salsas, sauces and meats. I have an appreciation for that freshness and attention to the smallest details. I had a hard time finishing the entire thing, but I'll be damned if I didn't. With awesome ingredients, tremendous variety, huge portions and great service, what's not to like?

Besides, it was pretty cool to see them wrap up a huge burrito in a near-artistic fashion. What they do is truly an artform. Check it out. And you must try the fish taco if you get the chance.

Summer Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Closed Sunday. 456 High Street, Morgantown, W.Va. 26505 (304-241-4712)

Grade: A

Black Bear is a Morgantown local favorite. It has strong ties to both the Morgantown community and WVU (opened by WVU alums), so it's a hot spot nearly every day of the week. I planned a small gathering at Black Bear Tuesday night for my adviser who is leaving the journalism school. I also brought one of my best friends, Kayla. Double bonus.

Black Bear is located on Pleasant Street, right downtown across from 123 Pleasant Street. A parking garage is located next door, but during the school year, it can be a hassle to find parking here. If you can, just walk up. They have an old-school sign out from and a chalk clapboard with the day's specials. If they are having a band playing that night (typical on the weekends), sometimes they'll list them there, too.


Black Bear has a very open feeling. As soon as you walk in, there are a couple dozen tables, including small, large and bar areas, and a small table that has a few menus on it. I grabbed a menu and picked a seat while Kayla decided on what she wanted. I already narrowed it down: the Bear Trap. Maybe because I had been debating on what I was going to order all day at work ...



The Bear Trap is a a honey wheat tortilla with lettuce, roma tomatos, Swiss cheese, cold cut honey smoked turkey, crispy bacon and sweet honey mayo. It's kind of like heaven. My other favorites include: Mr. Teri Yaki, Thai One On, Good Calypso and Gouda Riddance. These aren't typical burritos - they're super creative, with fun, fresh ingredients and fuse modern with traditional. Black Bear offers a ton of vegetarian and vegan options quite easily - most burritos include the easy alternative, such as tofu and fakin' instead of chicken and bacon. There are "build your own" burritos, quesadillas, nachos, salads and salad wraps so you can customize it any way you want.

Kayla thought my choice was so good, she opted for the same thing. The counter is all the way toward the back of the restaurant, but because the faces are so friendly and welcoming, it's not a daunting trip. We ordered at the register, got cups for our drinks and retrieved our toy car to put on the table. Oh yeah, that's the other thing, instead of boring slips or calling out numbers, patrons get a fun, colorful toy to put on the edge of their table so the servers know where to bring the food out. We grabbed our silverware, filled our cups and had a seat at a huge table. The wait wasn't long for our food, but the local art around the restaurant makes the time go past when you're gazing at the beauty.


My burrito was delicious - I knew it would be. Everything here is fresh, most of it is local, so it's helping support local business. The art on the walls helps support local artists. And the food, well that helps support hungry customers. The honey mayo on this burrito is really what sets it off. It's a slightly tangy, sweet spread that just fits perfect with the wrap and yummy veggies, cheese and turkey. The burrito also comes with their homemade slaw - not too mayonnaisey and a little spicy, as well as their baked chips. Perfect sides for this dish. My sandwich, slaw, chips and drink totaled less than $10. That's not bad for the quality of the ingredients and the deliciousness that resides within.

My friend Heather and I also split an ice cream sundae. Vanilla ice cream, chocolate syrup, whipped cream and a maraschino cherry made this one a classic. For $4, you can't go too wrong here. And it was enough to please the both of us. They also have beer on tap, but I haven't been able to check that out yet.

This hip, local restaurant helps give back to the community and delivers awesome, creative food that keeps me coming back for more. Check out their Facebook for specials and giveaways!

Other stories to check out:

• Restaurant Road trip
• Best Places to Eat After the Game
• YouTube Video

Grade: A