Pickles Eatery is a cozy pub in Wheeling that serves up standard bar fare -- most notably, the wings, which have won numerous local awards. Wings were not on the menu for this trip, though. Instead, the star was "The Famous Fulton Philly" thinly sliced beef, grilled onions, peppers, and mushrooms with provolone cheese on a fresh hoagie bun. Next was buffalo chicken dip with tortilla chips. My mom LOVED this! Finally, we had a side of slaw and also hot pepper cheese balls with ranch. It's like a greatest hits of bar food. All in all, I thought it met expectations. Each dish was satisfactory and just as it should be. If you're looking for straightforward pub food, this is your spot. Grade: B

Lee Street Lounge is primarily a bar and entertainment venue. It does, however, have a limited menu of fried apps and pizza. Occasionally, they will have other specials or additional items.



I went around the holidays when they had drag bingo. It was so entertaining and fun to be part of the lively atmosphere. I even won a round of bingo!



For food, they actually had just hot dogs and nuts available outside that I think was a separate sort of fundraiser.



Though I wasn't mad at a simple hot dog with ketchup! Even if that is sacrilegious in most parts of southern West Virginia.



I thought it was only appropriate to stop back to experience the food coming out of their own kitchen.



On a return visit, I had a trio of cheeseburger sliders and a side of fries. Pretty basic. A bit cold. But serviceable.



Environment and experience are great. Food could use a little work.



Grade: B

Let's keep this short and sweet. I have tried to visit Novichenks on and off for several years and have not been able to order food for one reason or another.



I have seen evidence of a menu once existing. It consisted of fried appetizers, wings, sandwiches, and that's about it. Very short. One page. But elusive to me on every trip. Whether there wasn't a cook in that day, or they weren't operating the kitchen, or they couldn't deep fry. Whatever the various reasons, I've only ever been left with a drink. Maybe it's a me problem.



So, my vodka cranberries have been satisfactory. The space is definitely geared toward locals, and I don't feel a huge pool to visit again in the future. In this case, not because of bad food, but just sheer lack of it.



Grade: D

There's something about a rooftop bar that drives people crazy.



And Huntington is home to one of the coolest ones in the area. LaFontaine's has Huntington’s first open-air rooftop lounge!



It's located above LaFontaine's Tobacco and Wine Shop in a really cool like retro space that gives off all the Gatsby vibes. I met my friend Alex for a drink and some snacks to check it out!     



We went with some pretzels and beer cheese, as well as Gigi's Pepperoni Rolls, which are from a local producer. There's both an indoor and outdoor space - both are great depending on the weather. But I love how much light comes in through the windows.



Both snacks were good and really the perfect accompaniment for a good beer. I love a little snacky snack with a drink. Most likely not going to have a whole meal here, but you can fill up on snacks, drinks and a good time with a unique view.




Grade: A

The Cocktail Bar in Parkersburg is a bit of an odd bird. At one point, this spot was a coffee bar, then they migrated to TCB, and now they're also The Cocktail Bar. 



There are neon signs, it's dark inside and a little loud too. It is kind of this weird combination of high-end and low-end. 



We started with buffalo chicken dip as an appetizer, which was decent but I wouldn't have minded more flavor and more punch.



For my main meal, I went with a steak, asparagus, and sweet potatoes on the side. That's actually not bad. It had much more flavor than the appetizer, and it was a nice portion. My only qualm was that it was a little over for my personal preference. But it was still pretty good.



I had to also try one of their cocktails, which was fun and certainly on the sweet side but I like them like that.



Grade: B

Barboursville has some really great little places.



Recently, they added to that lineup with 1861 Public House.



The pub is really cool; it has like a garage door-esque front window, a very sleek vibe and some mighty fine cocktails.



I had the Pink Elephant, which has blanco tequila, mezcal, simple syrup, lime, pineapple, and raspberry. It was a little strong, but still sweet, for a really nice balance.



I also had a buffalo chicken pizza. And, I know food really isn't their main draw - but this was pretty damn tasty. Sweet drink, tangy pizza = happy Candace. Plenty of toppings, nice mix of textures, a solid little lunch!



Grade: A

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

The Briergarten is a hidden beer garden in Lewisburg that offers a collection of drafts on 17 taps.



"Taking Inspiration from the German beer gardens of Berlin and Bavaria, Briergarten was created to provide a fun and upbeat atmosphere, where friends and family can enjoy a pint (or liter!) of their favorite brew, along with classic German bratwurst, WV pepperoni rolls, and Bavarian pretzels—all in a convertible, open-air venue."



Beer is definitely the highlight here - in addition to the brightly lit space. The food menu is fairly small. Sausages, pepperoni rolls and pretzel rolls are the extent of it - I think they're likely just working with a microwave and/or toaster in the back. 



I went with a bratwurst (hold the sauerkraut) with each kind of sauce: a Dusseldorf style horseradish, a Bavarian style sweet and spicy, and a currywurst ketchup.



The bratwurst itself was decent - I would've loved a bit more snap to give it some texture. Same thing with the pretzel bun - it was a bit on the too soft side. Not bad - just when there are so few options, I want those options to be done really well. This was good. Especially when it's paired with a good brew. 



I did enjoy that there was a variety of sauces to choose from, and all of them were decent. Overall, it's a really cool space to spend some time with friends, enjoy a beer or two and have a sn ack. 



Grade: B

When The Pitch opened at Shawnee Sports Complex, it made headlines. 



People were excited about another restaurant concept from Chef Paul Smith.



They had a fun, upscale bar food motif.



And, they have a unique beer filling system that carries Stumptown Ales - arguably one of West Virginia's most beloved breweries. 



And now, The Pitch has a franchised location that just opened in Kanawha City. Sara and I went to check it out, and despite arrive one minute before they opened, we were four down on the waiting list. It has been super busy. But once we were seated, things moved pretty quickly. I went for the "cornfused" appetizer, which has sweet potato tots and corn fritters (like a southwest corn) and chicken "wings," which are just strips. If you're in the mood for bar food that is a notch above the rest, you won't be disappointed. Nothing too crazy, but standard items with just a twist, solid flavors and a fun atmosphere makes for a good time.

Grade: A