I was so excited about discovering Gino's pubwich, that I decided to go try it again at a different location.
Setting my sights on Malden, I put in an order for another pubwich and a small order of the boneless wings.
The sandwich, which is made up of ham, mozzarella, provolone, mayo, tomato and sweet onion, kinda looked like it was made inside out. It didn't have the nice golden brown all over like my previous one. It was also messier, so I had pieces falling out as I was eating it. It wasn't bad, but I was not as excited as I was with the Hurricane location.
The wings are pretty similar - I enjoy this tangy gold flavor. But instead of a cup of homemade bleu cheese, I got a packet of dressing. Not nearly as tasty.
Grade: B
After hearing some good reviews about Up Da Hollor Pizza in Cabin Creek, Dawn and I made a special trip out this way just to check it out.
They weren't doing inside dining at this point, so we were just there while waiting for our food. The restaurant has gray walls with galvanized metal and purple accents. Plus some homemade decorations.
I ordered small cheesy bread sticks and a personal sized pizza. They weren't joking about the sizes. The personal was about the size of my hand. And the small cheese sticks were about half the size I thought they'd be. So definitely something to think about when ordering!
They both, though, were pretty decent. The pizza, though small, was tasty. I liked the cheese blend and they weren't stingy with the amount. The cheese sticks, again, were small but covered in a nice thick layer of cheese. The sauce was average - not too remarkable. But with a lot of cheese, I'm happy.
Grade: B
T&L is probably North Central West Virginia's favorite hot dog. With 7 locations in the area, T&L is often a go-to for hot dog enthusiasts. Their locations, including this one on Main Street in Bridgeport, have a retro theme with things like juke boxes, fun decor and neon lighting.
This T&L may look like a house from the street, but they're even outfitted with a drive-through in the back parking lot area. In the time of COVID-19, this is perfect. I pulled up to take a look at the menu.
Of course, I had to try a traditional West Virginia slaw dog with chili, slaw, mustard and onions. These are slim dogs, so you could easily put away two or three if you're hungry. But, I added a side instead: fresh cut fries.
I'm not the biggest fry - or potato - fan really, but occasionally, I'll get a craving. These were nice and salty, but a little limp for my liking. Nonetheless, a cheap and easy lunch.
Grade: B
Fayetteville has no shortage of amazing restaurants, and there's one that keeps changing it up. You may remember the New River Curry House, which opened to much fanfare. They have since rebranded and expanded their offerings as part of Wanderlust Creative Foods.
"Our concept is simple: Serve high quality food at a fast pace and affordable cost. We have hand picked dishes from around the world that we will know you will love. Our menu is Wanderlust, just like you!" their Facebook reads.
My friend Brittany and I went to check it out. They actually weren't open at the time listed, but after browsing around town for an hour or two, we came back and they were ready. The interior is cozy with some eclectic decor. She ordered a Caesar Salad, which came with a large parmesan crisp. I don't think that's kale? But she seemed to like it well enough.
After looking over the menu full of samosas, tacos, lamb burgers, Turkish spaghetti and chicken tikka masala. I started off with naan dumplings, which were by far the biggest hit of our meal. It had seasoned chicken and veggie filling wrapped in naan dough and fried. It was served with hot pepper jelly and candied peppers. It was a beautiful combination of textures and flavors. And I especially appreciated the local touch with hot pepper jelly.
For my entree, I went with Chicken Pimentos. Pimento cheese is one of my buzz words that when I see it on a menu, I go for it. So, I assume the word pimento drew me to this offering. This is a different take on the pimento pepper than I'm used to seeing: seared chicken breast and thigh in a white wine reduction sauce with pickled cherry peppers over rice. It was still a straightforward chicken breast, but I loved the pickled peppers.
Grade: B
Scootin Noodles is a new food truck in the Huntington area that features bowls and burritos: glazed chicken; cheese, sausage and egg; breakfast; teriyaki chicken; and teriyaki beef. The menu is fairly small, but I like the concept of noodles and burritos. What about combining them??
I went with the teriyaki chicken, and it was good. I thought maybe it would have this nice teriyaki glaze on top, but it was more like a melted cheese. A sauce would have really brought the dish together. Otherwise, I appreciated the different textures and colors with the peppers.
Grade: B
There are two No. 1 Kitchens in the Huntington area serving Chinese food, which can make it a little confusing. I've been to the one along Route 60, so now we're trying the one along Washington Avenue.
I had called in an order at this location and went to pick it up. I've been trying a lot of different Chinese restaurants during the pandemic because many were designed with takeout in mind, so it simplifies the whole process.
They were really busy on this day, and I had to wait in line for a little while to make it to the counter. After a little bit of a wait, I took my order back to my car and made my way home.
First up: I had a pint of sweet & sour chicken. It stood up fairly well for my drive, but it did get a touch soggy. Otherwise, standard breaded white chicken meat and a tub of red sweet and sour sauce. Does anyone local serve a different kind of sweet & sour sauce??
Next up was fried dumplings. I love these with a dumpling sauce, and I think mine was left out this visit, but they had a tasty, well-seasoned filling.
Shrimp fried rice can be hit or miss with me - and this was somewhere in the middle. It thankfully wasn't dry and overly saturated with oil... but it also didn't have much flavor at all? So, it was OK.
And, one of my favorites: crab rangoons. I don't think I can order Chinese food without getting an order of crab cheese rangoons. Generously filled with a cream cheese mixture enveloped in a crispy wonton wrapper, it can't be bad. These were decent. A little too greasy, but thankful for a hefty amount of filling.
Grade: B
Rapid Fired Pizza is a chain restaurant featuring made-to-order pizzas with tons of topping options - and all made fast. Their Huntington location is the first in West Virginia, and I just so happened to be in town on one of their first days open.
They make it easy to order online and either order one of their specialty pizzas or choose from all sorts of fun ingredients to top a pizza that they assemble right behind the counter for you. Here are the various options:
Sauce: Classic Red, Spicy Red, Sweet Red, Applewood Smoked Bacon BBQ, Buffalo, Garlic Sauce, Margarine, Olive Oil, Pesto, Ranch, Taco, White, Mac n Cheese
Cheese: Cheddar Jack Cheese, Feta Cheese Crumbles, Goat Cheese Crumbles, Mozzarella Provolone Mix, Fresh Mozzarella Slices, Parmesan Cheese, Ricotta Cheese, Vegan Cheese
Meat: Anchovy, Bacon, Beef Crumble, Chicken, Ham, Jalapeno Pepperoni, Pepperoni, Sausage, Sausage Crumble
Veggies: Artichoke Hearts, Arugula, Banana Peppers, Basil, Black or Green Olives, Cucumber, Green or Red Onions, Green or Red Pepper, Jalapeno, Lettuce, Mushrooms, Pineapple, Fresh Garlic, Spinach, Roasted Tomato, Tomato
Seasoning: Cinnamon Streusel, Crushed Red Pepper, Firecracker, Oregano, Parmesan Cheese, Sea Salt, Taco, The Bomb
Dipping Sauce: Classic Red, Spicy Red, Sweet Red, BBQ, Buffalo, Chipotle Ranch, Garlic Sauce, Pesto, Ranch, Rapid Fired, Sweet Habanero, Taco
Hot Sauces: Mean Green Ghost, Gusty Garlic Habanero, Hip Hot Habanero, Jumpin' Jalapeno, Kickin' Cayenne, Smokin' Chipotle
The pizza I created had sweet red sauce, ricotta, sliced mozzarella, garlic, artichoke, cooked mushrooms and parmesan. And it was soooo good, with the exception that the crust simply just didn't stand up to the weight of the ingredients. It became soggy and difficult to even pick up. I finished it with a fork. That could be my fault for choosing so many - or it could be my win because the flavors were perfection. It was umami heaven. Judging by the photo below, I think it's clear it was indeed enjoyed.
Grade: B
West Virginia's version of a 24-hour diner is The Omelet Shoppe, which has locations in Virginia, Beckley, Parkersburg and, at one point, Princeton. Parkersburg was the only West Virginia located I hadn't yet been to, so while driving through the area in search of breakfast, I found myself here.
I placed an order online (who knew they had that capability?!) for bologna cheese bagel. Typically, I'd stroll in, find an uncomfortable seat amongst the rest of the late-nighters turned to early-morningers.
There's certainly a vibe to the place, but on this occasion, I actually had to stand outside in the breezeway before being greeted due to occupancy limits. They already assumed I was the online to-go order and handed me my bag. I'm glad I remembered the drink because that was almost forgotten.
Once I had my food, I got back in my car and continued on my journey. At this moment, let's reflect on The Omelet Shoppe. It serves a crucial role in the landscape of restaurants. It's not high-end, and it's not trying to be. It is quick, easy diner food that you can likely make at home. But it's cheap and often the perfect place after a long night out, shift workers, truck drivers and others looking for a warm meal in a no-frills joint.
The bagel sandwich was perfect for a one-handed breakfast. I added both cheddar and swiss and mayo to give me all those comforting flavors. Side note: I am sad McDonald's no longer has bagel sandwiches. They're like a guilty pleasure. This bagel sandwich hit the spot, though. Points off for it being lopsided, making it more difficult to eat and the bagels on the dry side. Overall, though, simple, quick and tasty.
Grade: B
Everybody loves pizza, right? Well, *most* people love pizza (sorry, lactose-intolerant friends). This means there are a LOT of opinions on pizza. Do you like a super thin crust or a thick, puffy crust? Sweet sauce or slightly spicy sauce? Tons of toppings or minimal? We all have our own preferences, and I always try to keep an open mind to new styles. And, I tend to get my standard cheese pizza with mushrooms as a benchmark. So, let's check out a new-to-me spot in Huntington.
Monty's Pizza in Huntington calls itself the "Cadillac of Pizza Places." OK. I called in a small with mushrooms and made my way to the building. It looks kinda old school from the outside, and I was happy to see the drive-up pick-up window. That makes things easier in these COVID-19 times (and, let's be honest, outside of those times, too). So, I dug in right away. It's a thinner crust that they cook to dark golden brown. There was ample stringy cheese and I liked the sauce; it was fairly subtle and mild. Overall, it made for a decent pie. Pretty standard, solid pizza.
Grade: B
East Flavor is a Huntington restaurant that opened in the fall in a space that many of my Huntington friends say is "doomed" - 322 10th Street. What they mean by this is that there are a lot of restaurants in this space that ultimately fail.
Truthfully, I feel like this is the case for many towns. And, I'm always rooting for the new ones to change the trend. East Flavor is no exception, so I placed an order online to pick up at the restaurant. At this time, I felt more comfortable getting food to go - but still wanted to support this new restaurant. My quick view inside showed a large space, lots of finished wood and teal accents with small decorations.
I ordered pad thai, tempura don and an Angry Dragon roll. I keep hoping I'll find a pad thai that lives up to my dreams of some favorites in Morgantown, but this just wasn't quite it. It wasn't bad, but it was a little bland. But, I also know this is probably not their specialty.
The tempura don was on the "danburi" list, and I was curious about it. It was tempura prawns and veggies on top of rice with house sauce, but mine was missing a sauce. But, tempura anything (fried anything) can't be too bad.
Finally, the Angry Dragon roll has shrimp tempura (sensing a theme?), spica tuna, avocado, topped with spicy crab salad and spicy mayo. I enjoyed this the most of the bunch. But I also rarely turn down sushi? Very yummy.
Grade: B
All work property of Candace Nelson. Powered by Blogger.