When those boards come down from the front of Howdy's Dari-Owl, you know summer has officially begun. That's the local sign of summer, at least. (They close right before Labor Day for the summer)

It's located along the main drag in Follansbee, so it was usually a little too far for my family to travel, but once in a blue moon, I'd get a sweet treat from here. Each summer, a bunch of young girls work here for some pocket money, and it has become a staple in town.

Across the road is a mill, which always smells terrible. That's part of the charm of Follansbee, But if you can handle that, there are some picnic tables near the gambling area (fairly new). If not, you can simply eat in your car or head out.

It only has two windows, and you can look over all the options: ice cream cones, hand-dipped cones, flurries, sundaes, and apparently they even have some food like hoagies, hotdogs and burgers. I've never had the latter, though.

I went for a caramel sundae, large. They only take cash here, so be sure you have some on hand. After a minute or so, my sundae was delivered to me in all its enormous glory. This was indeed a tower, a TOWER, of ice cream. So much so that it was kind of difficult to eat.

That's a good problem to have.

Soft-serve vanilla, topped with whipped cream, some nuts and caramel made up a good sundae. I only wish the caramel was more decadent, thick and rich. It was more like the Smuckers kind you can get at Kroger - but that's splitting hairs. Caramel is delicious in all its forms. I'm always a fan of supporting local businesses, and this is the only one of its kind in the area. If you're looking for a cool treat during a blistering summer day, stop by.

Grade: B

DeeJay's BBQ Ribs and Grille is a local favorite. It's known across the region for having the best ribs in the area. I decided a long time ago that I wasn't a big ribs person (or much red meat, for that matter). I felt like every time I got them, they were stringy, chewy, messy and just not worth the hassle.

DeeJay's changed all that.

It's located in Weirton on Three Springs Drive, but it's definitely famous throughout the Ohio Valley. The safari-themed restaurant boasts large, plastic palm trees out front, so it's hard to miss.


When I walked in, I was seated near the waitress' station. Odd, but it was still a nice atmosphere. It doesn't seem like you're in a typical restaurant for the area. It's kind of tacky with plastic plants, fake animals and jungle-themed fabrics, but pleasantly so.

Their famous BBQ ribs are what everybody gets - tender pork baby back ribs, hickory smoked, charbroiled and covered with their famous BBQ sauce and served with two sides, or the traditional plain potato skins, fresh tossed salad or cole slaw. Expect to spend around $20. You can upgrade the potato skins with cheese, bacon and sour cream for only 60 cents more.

I got a half rack (you can also get a rack or super rack), with the upgraded potato skins and mushroom caps. There are other options on their menu besides ribs here, but don't waste your time.

We got some bread and butter for the table. Take it or leave it.

When my platter came out, I was kind of shocked. Did they mistake my "half" ribs for a "super rack"? No. Huge portions - totally justifies the price. It was that whole slab, plus another four or so stacked on top. I began poking at it with my fork to see if I could do with those wipes that were sat at our table.

So. Tender.

I could pluck the meat off the bones effortlessly with my fork, deliver it to my mouth to receive a sweet, tangy BBQ'ed heaven, then toss the bone in the bowl. They were falling off the bone tender, tangy, spiced and seasoned to perfection. The sauce is sweet, with a kick, but the flavor of the meat also is prominent.

The potatoes are awesome, too. Like, of course I want four miniature baked potatoes with cheese, bacon and sour cream on top. The cheese is like a nacho cheese, and the sour cream is kind of ranch-y. All in all, a perfect complement to the ribs. My mushroom caps were okay - just cooked mushrooms. Nothing too special there. But go for their main meal, and you won't be disappointed.

Naples Spaghetti House is a local favorite for Italian food. I've only been here twice, but I've had good meals both times. It's located in downtown Steubenville (take a right off Market Street bridge, go two blocks, turn left). There's a small parking lot, and they DO take credit cards.

When we walked in, they had to find an area to clear off for us before we could get a seat. The layout of this restaurant is pretty awkward, and the way they placed tables is as if they just wanted to squeeze as many people into an awkward space as possible. I had to ask the couple sitting to the table next to us to move so I could get out of our table. She took our drink orders, and I was happy to see a huge cup brought back (less refills!).


When you sit down, there's a placemat with a map of Italy on it. The furniture is old, worn, and the waitresses are past their prime. But that's part of its charm. The menu has pastas, chicken, veal, and seafood dishes, as well as sandwiches.

I opted for their Italian Platter - rigatoni, ravioli and gnocchi. You can choose which sauce - tomato, meat, marinara or mushroom. I went with marinara. They also came with salads. They're known for their house red wine vinaigrette dressing; they even sell it, along with their sauces to-go. A small bag of bread came out first. Nothing special here. Doesn't seem homemade.

A basic salad came out next: iceberg lettuce, couple radishes, tomatoes, olives. Their house dressing really is good. It's light, refreshing, homemade and tasty. Tangy like oil and vinegar, but full of flavor. Opt for it instead of the ranch or thousand island, which are generic.

Finally, the main course came out. I was expecting three separate portions, but they just kind of threw all three types of noodle down and covered it with a sauce. The gnocchi was dense; It was too thick for me. It wasn't very flavorful. The rigatoni and ravioli were pretty good, though. I got the cheese (you have the option for meat) ravioli, and it was fantastic. It was creamy and the homemade noodle really makes a difference here. The rigatoni was also good. The marinara was hearty and perfect consistency. I topped mine with parmesan cheese and enjoyed my meal.

Is this a five-star dining establishment? No. It's a hometown place where you can get a decent Italian dish. Enjoy the environment and a tasty meal.

Grade: B

Jay's Getaway? The three-year-old local craft beer haven, which boasts more than 100 beers (and wine), has food? They DO. I was just as surprised as anyone else. How had I missed the paper menus behind the counter? Not sure, but recently, I saw another patron order a sandwich and I wanted to get in on the action.

This giant (yet tiny) beer garden is tucked away on Chestnut Street. It's quite small inside, but it's usually not too crowded and you can sometimes snag a seat on the comfy couches or one of the couple tables. Pick up a beer list and choose something different - this is the place to do it. The bartenders are very knowledgeable and friendly. The interior is modern, simple, neat. The crowd is generally a bit older (and by that, I mean, not 18-22).


There's a board on the wall above the entrance that keeps track of top patrons' beer progress. Some people have more than 100 next to their name. You can keep a beer card in the container to keep track. Once you hit around 80 beers, you have a chance of going up on the wall.

They have six beers on tap, tons of bottles, and some food. They have four $6 paninis, as well as some pretzel rods, nuts, pickled eggs, and a cheese/meat/olive plate. I didn't realize they had food and had just eaten before, so I opted for the small cheese/meat/olive plate so all my friends could pick at it, too.

In the meantime, I had a Wild Blue (yummily sweet) and a pumpkin cider, which pleasantly got me feeling very fall-ish. The bartender brought out the tray, and I was still shocked they had food. I don't know where they keep it. I don't think they have a kitchen.

The tray seems as though it could be a good complement to many types of beers. The olives were spicy, while the salami was dry, slightly smoked. Crackers salty and cheese was creamy and smooth. I also got a side of spicy mustard, which you could taste hints of horseradish. I ended up making tiny sandwiches all night long.

Clearly, the standout here is the beer. I'm not sure you have a better selection in the area, and if you are clueless (like me), the bartenders are totally willing to help you find something you like. Some finger foods, awesome ambiance, amazing bartenders and more beer than you can imagine - what's not to like? Open Monday thru Friday 4 p.m. to midnight and Saturday 7 p.m. to midnight.

Grade: A

I tried Milano's II before the original location, because the original location isn't necessarily the easiest to find. Try Googling it - it says 2 Brookstone. Except I don't know what Brookstone is. After some searching, I found it to be on Greenbag Road between Morgantown Printing and Binding and a dance studio in Sabraton. You go across a small bridge, and it's in a small plaza - there are signs on the windows.


The dining area is a decent size, with some booths along the wall and tables in the middle. They have basic pizzas, white pizzas, hoagies and salads. Since my friend and I are indecisive, she got a small white pizza, and I got a small mushroom pizza so we could try a little of both. Small pizzas are $6, plus $1 for a topping. One thing: You can't just get a "cup" of water - they said my friend could get a cup and get water out of the bathroom faucet, but something about city code and not having the correct filtration. Odd. I got a bottle of pop anyway.

We had a table full of pizza - two trays full of pie. The regular is a nice, flat pie, with a good tangy sauce and Italian cheeses. Many have said this is some of the best in town, and I would say it's comparable to Pizza Als and the now defunct Original Pizzeria. These NY-style pizzas are pretty frequent in town. If you try a place that's not a chain, it's most likely a nice, flat pie. It's really good. I love the sauce - tangy, slightly sweet. Cheese for days. Mushrooms add a little salt and texture for me. Loved it.

The white pizza was also tasty - garlic, herbs, cheese. It looked more like a plain cheese pizza, but the garlic was prevalent. Maybe next time I'll add some ricotta or spinach to it. Either way, this place puts out some good pies. If Pizza Al's is the best on the Evansdale side of town, Milano's is the best on the Sabraton side. They both have II locations, too. I see a trend here. I don't think you could go wrong with either.

Grade: A