Ripley is home to a new steakhouse: Roadhouse 2081.
"It all began in 1990 as a family-owned and operated Ponderosa Steakhouse here in Ripley, WV. After the expiration of our contract with Ponderosa in 2020, we decided to update and remodel our building into a new casual family steakhouse named Roadhouse 2081, with the emphasis on "Food, Spirits, and Friends." We have and will always be totally committed to great quality food, impeccable service in a very clean atmosphere! That has been our family way for 31 years and going forward the Roadhouse 2081 way!"
The building is really lovely; dark wood; rustic but clean and not cluttered. Service was quick, and the colors were reminiscent of fire.
The menu features many steakhouse staples like potato skins, prime rib, sirloin and shrimp. For my money, though, I went with the sirloin with sides of veggies and mac & cheese. I liked the extra spices on the sirloin, and the flavor was tasty, but a little overdone for my liking. Just a touch. The mac & cheese and veggies were OK - they could've benefited from some of the seasoning on the steak!
Grade: B
The Tap is part of a revitalization of the main street area in St. Albans, in. my opinion.
There's coffee, ice cream and now, a tap house. "We are a local tap house in St. Albans, WV. We have a specialty food menu along with some of the finest craft beer, wine, ciders & seltzers from the state of West Virginia and the surrounding areas."
The space is lovely, but not too big. It's been packed each time I've gone. Because of that, I think, service has been hit or miss.
Drinks have been decent - I had a house sangria, but I appreciate the variety they bring in from places like The Peddler and Weathered Ground.
When I've gone for brunch, I tried the chicken and waffles; the chicken cut itself could have been a better quality, but I did enjoy the waffle with the local syrup.
Avocado toast (with goat cheese!) was pretty tasty and stacked with toppings, and the breakfast pizza was the winner of the group.
It had that ooey, gooey cheese and comforting flavors that hit the spot on a Sunday.
Grade: B
Let's hit up yet another Gino's location - this time in Summersville.
I went with an old stand-by: the wings in the tangy gold sauce. I really enjoyed the sweetness with a bit of tang. My only downside was that they were a bit on the dry side. Dipping them in blue cheese really helped, though!
Grade: B
Local Eats is a new food truck that has been making the rounds at area events.
I was able to check them out at the Clay Center on a very warm day.
One thing that's really fun about this food truck is that their offerings are creative. They're embracing food truck cuisine in a fun way: walking tacos, walking banana puddings, waffled chicken tenders, and more.
After a bit of a wait, I received my food. The chicken tender waffle cone was tasty - a sweet waffle cone filled with hunks of crispy chicken bites drizzled with BBQ sauce and there was a side of syrup, too. I managed to get two things that didn't have flat bottoms, so I was balancing things precariously.
The walking banana pudding was my favorite. Because it's like such a smart idea that I haven't seen elsewhere, and it's so simple. And so good.
The mac & cheese wasn't bad; you could tell it had been reheated though, as it was separating a bit. So, they're still new and nailing down the timings - but the food, I would go back just to try out the rest of the menu.
Grade: B
A roving coffee truck is making its way through the Kanawha Valley.
Bee Box Coffee sets up in Scott Depot and Elkview currently, and I was able to catch them at the latter location.
The little trailer is cute with its honeybee theme. They were out on a supply run when I arrived, but I stuck around because I already was struggling to find time to visit them. They were out of a few things, but in general they have lattes, cappuccinos, mochas, loose leaf teas and frappes.
I ordered a caramel frappe - not realizing it would be totally cream-based and no coffee - but it was still very tasty, just without the zip. Sweet, thick and super creamy.
Grade: B
Sometimes it's not a restaurant that is the gathering place of a community - but a convenience shop.
That idea is what drew me to Olin's Day and Night Market. They are kind of a one-stop-shop that has a little bit of everything from packaged food and coolers to beer and produce.
They did have a few packaged sandwiches, which I grabbed for lunch. A ham and American cheese sandwich would have been better if there was cheddar - but for a quick sandwich, it's not bad at all. There were some communal condiments at the bottom, which I declined but did add some packets of mayo, which gave it a bit more moisture and flavor.
Grade: B
In my never-ending quest to try a new restaurant every time I dine out, I come across lots of little-known spots like bars & grills.
That's the case with Billy Sunday's in Hurricane. There are lots of great dining options in Hurricane, but been there, done that. So, when I learned of Billy Sunday's, I wanted to check it out.
It is a bar & grill, so lots of TVs, some neon lighting and domestic specials.
I went with two apps: cheese cubes and pepperoni rolls. Pepper jack cheese balls are one of my weaknesses. Why is a fried little bit of spicy cheese SO GOOD. It just is. So much better than mozzarella sticks or any other fried cheese. These particular ones were a little over done, so the cheese wasn't nice and melty - it kinda shrunk a bit into a hard casing. Still better that cheese sticks.
The pepperoni rolls were a nice rendition. I liked that they had ample parmesan on top and had a side of marinara. I only would've stuffed a bit more cheese inside those swirls of pepperoni. I guess I was really on a cheese kick on this particular day. Still delicious; more cheese would take it to the next level.
Grade: B
There's a cute little building in Point Pleasant on 1st & Main that I've always wanted to see something cool open up in - and recently 1st & Main Burgers & Fries did just that.
The burger (and fries) joint has a walk-up window for you to place your order and park benches outside to enjoy your meal.
The menu features smashburgers with a variety of toppings. The weirdest one to me - which of course is the one I ordered - was "The All 4-1 Burger" which included a burger, hot dog, hot dog sauce, onion an American cheese.
The hot dog was split open, which made sense for the burger. I was wondering how it was all going to come together. So instead of fighting as the main protein, the hot dog just seemed more like a topping - like bacon. The burger was a little extra crispy, but I liked it overall.
My friend went with The Main Classic, which was standard with lettuce, tomato, mayo, ketchup, pepperjack cheese and fried onions. I snuck a bite and enjoyed this one one, too. Both pretty straight-forward, decent homecooked burgers.
Grade: B
There are few things I love more than a giant bowl of pasta. I don't think I'm ever not in the mood for pasta.
Padrino's Italian Restaurant in Beaver came across my screen a little while ago while searching for restaurants in the area. Initially, I thought I had already been there because there is a Beckley restaurant with the same name.
I later learned these two aren't related, but I didn't know that at the time. The interior had that general Italian restaurant flare - like painted windows with planter window boxes and cobblestone bricks.
I ordered a pasta dish, which comes with garlic bread. These were a little on the hard side, but not overcooked. Maybe just a bit old.
The dish, I believe, was a ziti, but made with penne noodles. Either way, it wasn't bad. The sauce was average - not super flavorful. And I would've loved some ricotta mixed throughout, instead of just the melted mozzarella on top. Not bad overall, though,
Grade: B
Hinton is a lovely little hidden gem in West Virginia.
There are stunning views, cute shops and a few tasty restaurants.
When I was there last, I checked out River City Grill & Pub.
The interior is wood paneled with pool tables and TVs. It definitely gives off a pub vibe.
But the outdoor space is where it's at. A large deck overseeing the water is the perfect place to enjoy a meal. If it's not too hot.
I ordered a tomato appetizer, which was topped with cheese. Because they were packaged to-go, they got a little mooshy, but I still ate them.
Also had a hot dog. With ketchup and onions. Not bad. Overall, fine food - but the view is what you're here for.
Grade: B
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