The Hitching Post Steakhouse & Saloon is a rustic dining destination nestled in the heart of Kingwood, West Virginia, within The Appalachian Hotel. Opened around three years ago, it was established by Beth Peddicord and her son Hunter, fulfilling a vision to provide the local community with a quality dining experience Upon entering, guests are greeted by Amish-built furniture and wagon wheel chandeliers, which evoke the spirit of the Old West. A warm, crackling fireplace adds to the cozy ambiance, making it an inviting spot for both casual meals and special occasions. The restaurant offers a diverse menu featuring prime aged beef, fresh seafood, and unique dishes like elk medallions with blackberry red wine sauce. Popular items include jumbo lump crab cakes and a variety of steaks. The salad was crisp and well-dressed, the French dressing adding a classic tang that complemented the fresh greens perfectly. The steak was cooked to the right temperature and had a rich, savory flavor, but the crab topping fell flat, tasting slightly off and detracting from an otherwise solid dish. Overall, the meal was enjoyable for the steak and salad, though the seafood component was disappointing.

Grade: B

Plaza Maya II, located at the end of Kanawha City, is the second branch of the popular Plaza Maya restaurant, which is on the other side of town.



Known for its authentic Mexican food, the restaurant serves a wide variety of dishes, with favorites like tamale-stuffed chile relleno and chicken soup, alongside complimentary homemade chips and salsa. The chips were crisp and the salsa fresh with a mild kick.



My main dish was "SEAFOOD CHIMICHANGA - One flour tortilla filled with crab meat and shrimp cooked with vegetables and covered with melted cheese. Served with rice." The seafood chimichanga was satisfying, with tender crab and shrimp tucked into a soft tortilla, balanced by gooey melted cheese and a side of fluffy, spiced rice.



Grade: B

Known for its train-themed décor and casual, hometown vibe, the Whistle Stop Bar and Grill in Buckhannon serves up classic bar and grill fare like juicy burgers, wings, BBQ, pulled pork, and hearty sandwiches. The spot doubles as a bar, offering drink specials and occasionally live music. It has even earned recognition in Upshur County as “Best Bar & Grill, Wings & BBQ." I ordered buffalo chicken wonton nachos with drizzle of ranch & buffalo sauce. This ginormous portion was delicious, even aa the bottom chips began to get soggy. The "railyard stacks" were a bit messy to look at but undoubtedly divine. Five fried green tomatoes loaded with bacon, pimento cheese, ranch & sweet sauce drizzle. A bit of a struggle to eat, but worth it. Grade: B

Boba Tea & TCG in Oak Hill is a unique shop that combines bubble tea with trading card games like Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, and Disney Lorcana. Bright displays of trading cards and collectibles set the tone for the big, open gathering space. Walking past all of this, I approached the Boba counter and perused the menu of fruity and milky tea options, plus tapioca or popping boba. The West Virginia Sunset is a blend of lemonade and sweet tea with peach and lemon popping boba. I do not enjoy sweet tea, but my boba-rista said that she doesn't either, but enjoys this drink when it's heavier on the lemonade side. So, she made mine how she likes hers. And it was delightful. Sweet, a little tart, and all delicious. I took it uo go, but if the setting was a bit more cozy, I would have enjoyed it there. Grade: B

ABC Coffee Shop is located on the campus of Appalachian Bible College in Mount Hope. The shop serves up coffee - hot, iced or frozen - with a variety of flavored syrups and limited snack options. I ordered a hot chocolate, which was rich and velvetty in all the best ways. I also ordered a sugar cookie cake cup from Bloomy Baker. This one had pumpkin buttercream, which wasn't bad. I would have loved some exciting flavor options. Grade: B

Mizu Sushi & Hibachi, located at 102 Lakeview Drive in Parkersburg, is a Japanese restaurant offering sushi, sashimi, hibachi, and other kitchen entrées. One unique feature is their "All You Can Eat Sushi & Hibachi - $22.99 per person." Like a buffet concept, but made to order. I ordered a deep-fried sushi roll filled with crab and egg, as well as some General Tso's chicken. The deep-fried sushi roll was a bit soggy on the outside, but I enjoyed the rich, savory filling of crab and egg. The General Tso’s chicken was sweet and tangy with a sticky sauce that clung well to the pieces, though it leaned slightly on the sugary side. Grade: B

The Pizza Station opened its Parkersburg location at 430 Third Street (formerly the Third Street Deli site) in downtown Parkersburg, officially welcoming customers in January of this year. Owned by Bill Sams, this marks a second site for The Pizza Station, which has been serving St. Marys and surrounding communities since 1984. The train-themed Parkersburg restaurant operates seven days a week, offering homemade pizza, pepperoni rolls, subs, salads, and desserts, including fruit pizzas, which remind me of Pizza Hut back in the day. I learned that when you order a to-go order, you go around back and into the basement to pick it up. My meal for the evening was a pepperoni roll with a side of pizza sauce and a cherry dessert pizza. The roll has a warm, slightly chewy interior with crust just firm enough on the outside to give some texture without being tough. The pepperoni brings good salty flavor, and the pepperoni’s oil seeps into the dough, which adds richness. The side of pizza sauce was key for me, as it cuts through the richness of the roll’s meat + cheese, giving a refreshing contrast. The small cherry dessert pizza is a sweet and tart treat with a light crust and a generous layer of cherry topping. The flavor is bright and tart-sweet, though the center can get a bit soft from the filling. It’s simple but satisfying, best enjoyed fresh out of the oven. Grade: B

Covenant House's Chef's Challenge featured a gourmet, sit-down, multi-course meal prepared by local celebrity chefs. Each dish uses food typically found in the food pantry—that’s the challenge! It was a wonderful evening for an even better cause. Here are some of thosw tasty bites: HORS D'OEUVRES

Bulgogi Blini with Pickled Cabbage Slaw (Korean)

Spicy Tuna Bites (Japanese-American)

White Bean and Sausage Soup with Kale Chips (Italian)

Creamy Collard Green Dip Crostini (Southern-American)

Chef Mandy Gum & Students, Carver Career Center Roasted Vegetable Display

Chef Betty Reed, Embassy Suites SOUP

Butternut Squash Bisque

Chef Dennis Harris, Sleepy Hollow Golf Club SALAD

Fried Green Tomato Salad

Chef Keith Jackson, Black Sheep Burrito and Brews VEGETARIAN ENTRÉE

Wild Mushroom Lasagna

Chef Evan Wilson, Fazio's MEAT ENTREE

Roasted Stuffed Chicken with Wild Rice and Almonds Glazed with a Moonshine Plum Sauce on a bed of Collard Greens

Chef Todd Jones and Chef Dan Smith, Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center DESSERT

Antipasto - Caprese Salad

Primo - Spaghetti & Meatballs

Dolce - Tiramisu Reimagined

Chef Morgan Morrison, Rock City Cake Company Bruleed Pumpkin Upside Down Mini Cakes Chef

Teri Blevins, Lil' Bit of Heaven Cupcakes